Parents of pupils in fifth and sixth years should have received an invitation to discuss pupil progress at the meeting with teaching staff on Tuesday 2^nd December starting at 4 pm.

A group of 26 S4 and S6 physics students took part in a lecture on space at Our Lady’s High School.    They were joined by other physics students from around the Motherwell area and were entertained by guest speaker, Professor Martin Hendry of the University of Glasgow.   The students listened to how the Universe was created and how cosmology has evolved over the last hundred years to where we are today in our understanding of space.   The talk was particularly aimed at students who will be following the new CfE Higher Physics course and the current Advanced Higher course as an understanding of cosmology is part of both.

N5 Music Technology pupils visited Reeltime Studios recently to gain valuable experience in the recording studio.   As part of their course, pupils have to be confident in capturing audio using a variety of microphone techniques and polar pattern.   During this session they learned about choosing the appropriate microphone/source to record drumkit, acoustic guitar, electric guitar and bass guitar including a variety of recording techniques.   Pupils thoroughly enjoyed working in a real studio, working with engineer and getting ‘hands on’ experience.   Once pupils had recorded instruments they used their mixing skills to create a finished track!   This is a new course being offered this year in Braidhurst High School to provide pupils with a broader range of skills and open up new doors in sound engineering and more!

Braidhurst High held a special remembrance service on Tuesday 11^th November when Mr David Ramage one of the school chaplains led proceedings.   After a poignant introduction by Mr Ramage the pupils viewed a very powerful film depicting scenes from World War 1.   Jamie Leslie then read a poem entitled ‘Diners’ followed by a prayer from the Rector Mr Hannan.   Holly Worton then read a poem called ‘In Memoriam’ followed by a reading by Marc Armitage.   Further poetry by Gillian Scott ‘Now Poppies Grow’ and ‘So Little Gain’ by Kirsten Cameron proceeded a prayer for peace by Senior Depute Mrs Kathryn Clarke.   Mr Ramage then delivered a talk on ‘sacrifice’ which was followed by the symbolic laying down of individual poppies by senior pupils and a closing prayer by Mr Ramage.

A group of 20 pupils studying German from National 5 to Advanced Higher level at Braidhurst High School visited the Glasgow Film Theatre last week.   Accompanied by Modern Languages teacher Miss Dawn Lennox and the German assistant Imke Reitenbach, they viewed the critically acclaimed German film ‘Der Ganz Groβe Traum’ (Lessons of a Dream).   The film told the story of an English teacher, Konrad Koch, who brought soccer from England to Germany in the late 19^th Century by teaching it to his class.   The real life Konrad Koch, a teacher in Braunschweig, wrote down the first German version of the rules of football and arguably organised the first ever match of football in Germany between pupils from his school and other schools.

All Braidhurst pupils found the film highly entertaining and enjoyed having the opportunity to practise their German listening skills.   Furthermore, pupils saw the relevance of the film to their school life, as Braidhurst High School is a Sports’ Comprehensive as well as a Football Academy.

Parents of pupils in fourth year recently attended a Parents’ evening when they were able to discuss progress with teaching staff.   This was arranged prior to the pupils sitting their preliminary examinations later in the term after which written reports will be issued.

Parents of pupils in second year involved in the Scottish FA Performance group based in the school recently attended a meeting to hear details of the forthcoming trip to Portugal in February.   This week long trip is to the World famous academy when the squad will receive intensive training from the Benfica staff as well as playing games against their youth academy team.