This year’s Prom will again take place in the Popinjay Hotel with a massive attendance of senior pupils and staff in attendance.   It will take place on Thursday 4^th June with coaches leaving the school at 6.30 pm for a 7 pm arrival.   Following photographs, the meal will start at 7.30 pm with coaches leaving the hotel to return to the school at midnight.

Pupils in S1/2 recently enjoyed a trip out of school to Laser Quest and McDonalds.   Pupils were given the opportunity to attend the trip as they had demonstrated outstanding behaviour and effort, as well as a desire to help their peers and members of staff in PE and SFA football programmes in recent months.   Pupils’ progress in other subjects was also taking into account.   Pupils were given the opportunity to compete in teams during the laser quest and challenges that they had to complete which tested their resilience, team work and co-operation.   All the pupils worked very hard on the trip and thoroughly enjoyed their experience:  they were a credit to themselves, their families and the school.   I am sure that all the pupils will be able to maintain this current high standard of behaviour and effort as they progress into S2/3.   Well done.

Primary seven pupils from the associated schools as well as those joining in August through the SFA football programmes will attend Braidhurst High for a curricular day on Thursday 21^st May.

SQA Examinations are now well underway with exemplary attendance and conduct evident.   Many pupils continued to attend school to receive advice and complete further study.

Glasgow University students visited the school on Tuesday and spent a couple of hours with first year pupils.   The focus was on future aspirations – going to college or university after leaving school.   The university students gave a presentation on benefits of attending college or university and gaining qualifications.   The pupils were then split into groups and took part in workshops.   The workshops encouraged pupils to look at famous people and identify the courses they studied at university.

The students from Glasgow University commented positively on the behaviour and input of all the pupils.   The pupils enjoyed the workshop and many felt it reinforced their plans for the future about attending university.   A large number of pupils stated they had not previously considered this as an option but were now interested.

We are looking forward to the next visit in S2.

On Thursday 30^th April the school library hosted an author visit from Sam Hepburn arranged through the Scottish Book Trust.   S1 pupils enjoyed Sam’s talk on being a writer and how she was inspired to write her young adult murder mystery novels ‘chasing the Dark’ and ‘If You Were Me’.   Pupils then had the opportunity to ask Sam questions and buy copies of her novels which she was also happy to sign.

After the disappointment of the Scottish cup semi-final being postponed because of the weather, the Braidhurst under fifteen squad were eager to get off to a good start in the match against very tough opponents in the shape of Grange Academy.

Braidhurst dominated early possession and looked the more likely to score with several chances forcing the keeper to make a save or just narrowly missing the target.   However against the run of play, it was Grange who took the lead.   After putting pressure on the Braidhurst defence, the ball broke to their left winger who played a low driven cross into the box, which the striker finished in the bottom corner.

This was a huge setback for Braidhurst, but they were determined to get it back, and straight away began to have more of the ball and made Grange chase the ball.   They continued to play balls into the final third but they were not quite making their targets.   With ten minutes to go before half time, Reece Geddes picked up the ball in midfield and with some empty space in front of him ran forwards and unleashed a venomous trike which was destined for the top corner.   The keeper did very well to get over to the shot but the power was just too much for him and he spilled it, to allow James Miller to smash home the equaliser from close range.   In the last few minutes of the half, Cameron Clark come very close to scoring after a superb shot from the edge of the box which hit the post and rolled along the goal line.

The second half began much like the first half and Braidhurst looked the more likely team to score.   The game was getting more frantic as time elapsed.   The Braidy strikers began to find more space in and around the box but could not convert these chances into goals.   As the game entered the last 10 minutes it looked as if it may go to penalties.   However, as Braidhurst pushed forward, they were awarded a free kick just inside the Grange half.   Lewis Gamble played an excellent ball into the back post and Tom Leighton was on hand to knock the ball into the net.   The score was now 2-1 with very little time left.   The boys worked very hard not to ensure that Grange did not have any goal scoring opportunities and after some last ditch defending managed to scramble the ball away.   With that, the final whistle sounded and Braidhurst had made it into the Scottish Cup final.

Well done to all the boys in the squad, they were a credit to themselves, parents and the school.