Braidhurst High 3^rd year Art pupils viewed this year’s Portrait exhibition in the school foyer. The exhibition had been mounted by pupils in the upper school Art classes for the Christmas concert. The exhibition had been greeted with great excitement by visitors to the school and really showed off the talent and expertise of the Art students. All the pupils who saw the work on display were inspired by the skill and talent on show.

Parent Council members held a meeting last week to discuss a range of school issues including the move in August towards a 33 period week structure. The Rector Mr Hannan outlined various models and in particular the proposal now put to all parents and carers. Mr Hannan also took the opportunity to discuss the current and possible future management structures for the school.

Members of the Parents Teachers and Friends Association held a meeting during the first week of the new term to make arrangements for future fund raising activities. The meeting was well attended and was very positive. The rector, Mr Derrick Hannan, took the opportunity to thank members for their continued practical and financial support.

Braidhurst eased into the last 16 of the Scottish Cup with, what turned out to be, a comfortable victory over Portobello in Edinburgh. Under a dark and tempestuous sky, with swathes of rain rolling in over Arthur’s Seat, the game kicked off on a heavy, bobbly park in Duddingston.

Braidhurst made the better start and after three minutes were a goal up, thanks to the pace of Dylan Falconer down the right wing, whose cross was delivered into the net by the dynamic Ryan Watt. The visitors pushed on for a second goal to cement their lead. The uncertainty of the surface led the Braidhurst defence to panic and the resulting effort from the hosts scraped narrowly passed the post.

Braidhurst made the Edinburgh side pay for their poor finishing with Nick Mullen stooping to head home number 2 from a Johnny McCabe cross. Shortly before half time it was three thanks to a header from Falconer following a wicked, dipping corner from Jake Hastie. Further goals from Mullen, Quitongo, and Falconer (twice), for his hat trick, followed by a late consolation from Portobello made the final score 7-1.

The Motherwell lads now face either Largs or Bannerman at home for a place in the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup.

Pictured here are almost 100 pupils who, along with staff, enjoyed a fantastic trip to Motherwell Civic Theatre on Thursday 19^th December. The visit is now a firm favourite of pupils and this year’s trip was as usual a great success. The story of The Wizard of Oz was a thoroughly entertaining family show with lots of audience participation and the show was enjoyed immensely by the school party.

The school hall was packed to capacity on Wednesday 18^th December for the annual Christmas concert. Following a warm welcome from the Rector Mr Derrick Hannan, the audience joined in singing ‘The First Noel’ which was followed by the wind band playing ‘You’d Better Watch Out’ and ‘Jingle Bells’. Members from the drama department then performed a sketch entitled ‘2 Wise Dudes!’ The audience was then entertained by the very talented choir from Logans Primary School who performed ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’ and ‘I Was a Hippopotamus for Christmas’. The school guitar ensemble then played ‘El Noy de la Miare’ followed by Dale Archibald with his version of ‘The Christmas Fairy’. The school choir then sang ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem’ and ‘Holiday Favourites’ followed by the audience singing, ‘Twelve days of Christmas’.

Following an interval, Mr Hannan announced the winners from the raffle before the Logans Choir entertained the audience by performing ‘Do I hear what I hear?’ and ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’. Members of the drama department then performed an excellent ‘Faulty towers Spoof’, followed by Dale Archibald singing the old favourite ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’. The volume was then increased when the school samba band played ‘Christmas Festival’ followed by an outstanding performance by the choir singing ‘Silent Night’. The wind band then played ‘Somewhere in my Memory’ from ‘Home Alone’ before the vocal duet of Sam Bell and Hannah Allan singing ‘A Mother’s Prayer’.

The drama department then entertained the audience with their next sketch entitled ‘God Angels’ before Mr Hannan gave a very sincere vote of thanks highlighting the input from staff, members of the PTFA, pupils and especially the Logans Primary School Choir. The evening finished in traditional form by the audience joining the pupils in singing ‘O come All Ye Faithful’.

Mr David Ramage co-ordinated and led the service at the end of term attended by a packed hall of pupils and staff. Some of the inputs from the Carol Concert were included, together with various video inputs and a really thought-provoking message from Mr Ramage entitled ‘Putting Yourself Second’. The Rector Mr Hannan led the assembly in prayer with Dale Archibald doing the bible reading.