The Higher Photography class took part in this year’s Glasgow University ‘Maths Inside’ photography competition. Andrew Gilmour in S5 gained a commended award for his photograph using the schools tower block to compose a photograph showing symmetry within the architecture.
The school library recently celebrated Book Week Scotland with a number of events including a series of S1 pupils Jamie Scallan and Briana McLeod interviewing staff about their reading habits and favourite books, the launch of our Reading Lunch club with staff and pupils gathering in the library to enjoy their food and a good book in golden silence, and finally a podcast was recorded with pupils, Eleanor Day (S5), David Blair (S3), Craig Young (S2) on the subject of “the book that has changed our lives.” The events were organised by school librarian Mrs Scott and were used to promote reading for pleasure amongst staff and pupils.
The Dragon’s Lair final was held on Tuesday 13th November in the Antrium Centre in Coatbridge and out of 6 finalists Braidhurst were represented by 2 teams. Entrepreneurs for ‘Educate Me’ were Finlay Anderson, Iona Eldhose and Rebecca Nevans who designed an app to educate children in all aspects of their learning by providing additional support and skills to improve their knowledge and understanding of a subject. The app would also include video tutorials, timetable, planners, games and prompters. Supernova – Solar Mower entrepreneurs were Ellie Anderson, Ryan Murray and Robbie Tollan who designed a new and improved lawn mower powered by solar energy to combat global warming by depending on reusable energy instead of using fossil fuel. The pupils attended an Information Day where they were advised on the completion of their business plan. This was submitted 2 weeks later and marked by one of Business Gateway’s Business Advisors. Out of 19 submissions, Braidhurst was overwhelmed to have 2 teams in the final. After selection, the pupils attended a briefing day regarding their presentation to the Dragon’s and had one week to prepare their pitch. On the day, the pupils excelled in their presentation skills and dared to enter the dragon’s den for 5 minutes of questions. Although both teams were unsuccessful in winning the title, they were complimented on the exceptionally high standard of their business plans and presentation skills.
The annual Children in Need event ‘Pancakes for Pudsey’ took place in the Hub last Thursday. Former Braidhurst teacher, Mrs Neilson, made and sold over 250 pancakes during lunchtime, while Hub staff and pupils provided various temptations such as ice-cream cones, popcorn and cakes. There were also competitions and a raffle. In total, £415 was raised for Children in Need.
The S3 Drama class were recently working with the Tron Theatre for a two week period where they participated in a range of workshop activities. These activities explored set design and costume as well as lighting. Pupils thoroughly enjoyed the experience and found them educational and fun.
On 30th October 2018, senior pupils Chloe McLaughlin (5M) and Matthew Sinclair (6L) joined 200 young people from central Scotland in a History lesson they will never forget. The pupils embarked on an emotional pilgrimage to the infamous Nazi death camps in Auschwitz, Poland as part of the ‘Lessons from Auschwitz’ project led by the Holocaust Educational Trust. They were accompanied on their visit by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Prior to their visit, Chloe and Matthew took part in an Orientation Seminar to hear the incredible story of a Holocaust survivor first-hand. Eva Clarke shared the story of her mother, an inmate and survivor of the Nazi death camps and of her own story of fate and good fortune to have been one of only a few babies to survive being born in an extermination camp. The heart-touching story evoked an emotional response from the audience and added a personal perspective to the events and atrocities of the Holocaust the pupils had previously studied from textbooks, films and photographs. On arriving in Poland, Chloe and Matthew explored the camps and prison cells at Auschwitz I which have now been dedicated to a museum housing evidence of the atrocities. The visit inside the gas chamber and the nearby crematorium, offered a chance to reflect on the terror felt by the inmates who met their untimely and inhumane end in the “showers of death”. The exhibits merely touche upon the scale of the mass murder experienced by the inmates in Auschwitz alone, not to mention the other Nazi death camps elsewhere in Poland. The tour continued in the afternoon to Auschwitz- Birkenau II. The sight alone of the railway tracks leading into “the gates of hell” sparked an emotional response from many students. Chloe and Matthew walked along the infamous railway tracks which brought many innocent men, women and children to their fate. The day ended with a moment of reflection with a short service of memorial and a candle lighting ceremony led by Rabbi Daniel Epstein in memory of the dead. Chloe and Matthew agreed that this was an appropriate and touching end to their visit. Reflecting on her visit, Chloe commented “The trip to Auschwitz has been an unforgettable experience. I believe it is extremely important that we never forget the horrifying and unimaginable torture that innocent people endured. ‘Seeing is not like hearing’ is a very true statement. Being able to see and walk around the camps has changed the way I view the Holocaust. We must remember each victim and survivor as an individual and not lose their identity as just a fact and statistic of the past.” Matthew mirrored the views of Chloe and remarked “I am privileged to have had the chance to witness first-hand the horrors of the Holocaust. The atmosphere is Auschwitz is indescribable. There is a feeling of calm and serenity in a place where so much terror and hatred was previously bestowed upon the camps innocent victims. My involvement in this project has had a lasting impression on me Chloe and Matthew will now work in school as Ambassadors for the Holocaust Educational Trust and will complete a Next Steps Project in which they will pass on the lessons they have learned from their involvement in the programme. This will include a presentation and lesson delivered to lower school pupils focussing on the theme of prejudice, racism and tolerance. The experience is sure to be one lesson from history that Chloe and Matthew will never forget.
On Friday 9th November, the Scottish Cup found its way to Braidhurst. Displayed in the assembly hall, and on the school’s artificial football pitch, pupils, staff and pupils of the School of Football programme, were able to have their photo taken with football’s oldest national trophy.
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