Headteacher (Acting) Message
Dates for the diary
16/02/22 - Inset Day 4
17/02/22 - February Holiday
18/02/22 - February Holiday
25/02/22 - S5/S6 Reports home
03/03/22 - S5/S6 Parents' Evening
09/03/22 - Parent Voice Meeting
Sports & Extra Curricular Update
S1 Football
Our S1 Football Team lost a hard fought game in our recent Scottish Cup fixture against Inverurie 2-1.
We will now compete our S1 Football Festival against Kirkcaldy High School, Viewforth and St Andrews.
S2 Football
Our S2 Team won their first Scottish Cup fixture against Fraserburgh Academy 5-3. We are still waiting to find out our next opponents.
S3 Football
Our S3 Team suffered a heavy Scottish Cup defeat, 8-1, against Queen Anne High School. Pupils showed a positive attitude and worked hard for the duration of the game.
The S3 Team have a Fife Cup tie against Queen Anne High School again later this week.
S4 Football
Our S4 Team were beaten in the Scottish Cup on penalties by Inverkeithing 5-4 in close fought tie.
Girls Football
Our Girls Under 18 Team with a mixture of pupils from S1 - S6 competed in Fife Schools Seven Aside Tournament at Kirkcaldy High School.
S3 Duke of Edinburgh
25 pupils are currently working towards their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. Pupils are gathering and updating evidence on a weekly basis around:
- Learning a New Skill
- A Physical Challenge
- Volunteering
S1 Burns Project
Some of our S1 pupils have been working on Burns poems and artwork. We have sent this work to some of our elderly and isolated members of the Balwearie Community.
Introducing the Social Subjects Faculty
The Social Subjects Faculty is made up of the Geography, History, Modern Studies and RME Departments.
Each teacher has shared the famous figures that they find inspirational.
Mr Airlie
Principal Teacher of Social Subjects and RME
My inspirational figure is Dr Martin Luther King, the leader of the civil rights movement in America in the 1960’s, who as a result became the youngest man to win the Nobel Peace prize. Although assassinated in 1968, his beliefs resonate with me today:
“The time is always right to do what is right.”
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Miss McFarlane
PT Social Subjects & Citizenship
My influential figure is Malala Yousafzai. She fought for her right to go to school when the Taliban were preventing girls from getting an education. Despite being shot and almost losing her life she would not be silenced. Malala continues to campaign for the right to go to school as she understands the power of an education. She is a true inspiration and we should feel incredibly lucky that we HAVE to go school.
Mr Stewart
Teacher of History
Emperor Heraclius I of the Byzantines is an inspiring figure primarily due to his never say die attitude. During his reign he was able to bring the empire back from the brink of destruction after years of personally campaigning against the Sassanians. Despite all of his achievements, the end of his life was met with disaster as much of what he fought for was brought to ruin by the coming of the Islamic Caliphate. Despite this he set out once again in his old age to defend his achievements and it was his reforms and initiatives that made sure the empire survived and lasted for another 800 years. I think we can all learn from Heraclius’s optimism in the face of defeat.
Miss Ingram
Teacher of Geography
For my influential figure there are 3 (sorry I can't pick one 😅)
Iain Stewart: Geologist who hosts documentaries about geology and the earth processes
Sylvia Earle: The queen of marine biology and oceanography!
David Attenborough: The overarching encyclopaedia of the natural world
Ms Sinclair
Teacher of Modern Studies
My inspirational figure is Nelson Mandela. He was elected as President of South Africa the day I sat my Modern Studies Higher Exam! I have chosen him because he never gave up the fight to get rid of Apartheid and replace it with a Democracy for all South Africans.
Despite being 27 years in prison and being isolated from society and his family, he never sought revenge or resorted to violence. He is a great reminder that we should never give up our freedoms and should value our Democracy!
Ms McLean
Teacher of History and Modern Studies
My inspiring historical figure is Robert the Bruce. While I do not condone his ruthless and barbaric tactics (they were of the time), Bruce was a resilient leader of men, whose bravery, strategic military mastery and sheer determination in the face of adversity, brought him success. Determination, hard work and belief in yourself ultimately helps you achieve your goals in life, whatever they maybe. "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again!"
Mr Hannah
Teacher of Geography
Impossible to choose just one inspirational figure so I am going with two!
Jackie Robinson - the first African American to play Major League Baseball, breaking the colour barrier in 1948.
Alexander Von Humboldt - the German polymath and geographer who lay the foundations for modern meteorology, mapping, biogeography and was the first person to identify climate change caused by humans. He has, ocean currents, universities and whales named after him amongst other things!!
Mr Clark
PT Closing the Gap & Teacher of History & Modern Studies
Colonel Sir George McCrae - formed (and led in the field of battle) a new battalion of volunteer recruits to fight in the Great War, the 16th Royal Scots. This was known as the 'Sportsmen's Battalion' due to the presence of professional football players from several clubs in the Lothians and Fife, and included representation from Raith Rovers. As a big Hearts supporter, I am proud of the contribution he and my club made to the war effort - certainly an inspiring figure!
Mrs Williams
Teacher of RME
My inspirational person is Brene Brown. She is a researcher, storyteller, and (currently enraged) Texan who’s spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. Brene Brown inspires me to be the best person I can and to teach pupils their true value, find joy and self acceptance.
Mrs Mearns
PT Guidance. Teacher of Geography & Modern Studies
My first influential figure was in fact my Geography teacher at school who opened my eyes with the phrase "Without Geography you are nowhere!". Also I must mention these two famous quotes:
"Geography is a subject which holds the key to our future" - Michael Palin
"I wish the world was twice as big - and half of it was still unexplored" - David Attenborough
Introducing the Admin Team
Our school Admin Team are critical to ensuring that the school functions! With a roll of over 1600 learners you can imagine all the paperwork we generate, ordering resources, organising reports, planning Parents' Evenings and keeping records.
Ms Carruthers
My role as a Clerical Officer is to provide administrative support to Mr McGuckin (S3 Depute Head) and Mr Robertson (S4 Depute Head) and several departments within the school.
My main responsibilities include enrolling pupils within the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) and the updating and maintaining of pupil information for exam entry.
Mrs Thomson
My role as a Clerical Officer is to provide administrative support to Ms MacLaren (S1 Depute Head ), Mrs Brawley (S2 Depute Head ) and Mr Booth (S5/S6 Depute Head) and several departments within the school.
My main responsibilities include the administration of P7-S1 Enrolments, Timetabling and Reporting.
Pupil Success
Eva Holburn-White has been selected to represent her Club Basketball Team at U16 Level in a tournament in Barcelona next year. This is quite an achievement for someone currently in S1. Eva is very excited and proud to be selected.
Balwearie Ski/Snowboard Trip 2023
Our school would like to run a joint ski/snowboard trip again next year during the first week of the Easter holidays along with Auchmuty High School. We are planning on going to Andorra and staying in a 4* Hotel in the city centre of Andorra la Vela. If your son/daughter is interested in going on the trip, there will be a meeting on Tuesday, 8 February in C202 at Break. Further information can also be obtained from Mrs McLean, Social Subjects Department.
Copyright acknowledgement - Murrayfield autumn 2017, Calum404 - Wikicommons
Credits:
Created with images by webandi - "calendar wall calendar days" • pixel2013 - "soccer sport ball" • KeithJJ - "basketball net score" • tookapic - "ski equipment backcountry skiing"