£27m new Holy Cross is opened

Nov 27 2008 by John Rowbotham, Hamilton Advertiser

MSP Margaret Mitchell last week officially opened the new £27m Holy Cross High School.

Guests, staff and some of the Hamilton school’s 1230 pupils watched as the Central Scotland Tory MSP unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion.

The school moved to their new home, on land at Bothwell Road Park, in August last year.

Mrs Mitchell said: “No-one could fail to be impressed with this superb new building and the positive welcoming atmosphere and the enthusiasm of the pupils, teachers and staff, which was evident during the tour of the school.

“I know just what a tremendous difference it makes for everyone to be under one roof.

“It will help preserve the links that have been established with the community and other agencies. Those links have involved pupils participating in charity fund-raising for numerous innovative projects.”

Head teacher Danny Boyle said staff and pupils were proud of the new school.

Education committee chairman Mary Smith, who also attended the opening , was sure that the children’s new environment would “motivate and stimulate” them every day.

Mr Boyle led Mrs Mitchell on a tour of the school before welcoming guests to the opening ceremony.

Head girl Emma Jane McCulloch acted as master of ceremonies and Father Stuart Parkes, the school chaplain, led those attending in prayer. Pupils Caitlin Tait and Lucy McAvoy performed “I Know Him So Well”, followed by a flute recital of Faure’s “Sicilienne” from Timothy McCabe.

Mark Patterson, deputy head boy, shared his reflections on the transition from the old school and Emma Jane gave the vote of thanks.

The new school, built as part of South Lanarkshire Council’s £300m schools modernisation, has 90 classrooms, two gyms and a games hall. There are two outdoor pitches, one of them a floodlit all-weather surface, while music and drama facilities include theatre-standard sound and lighting equipment.

The school was constructed by Morgan Ashurst.

Holy Cross’s former Muir Street school is currently providing decant accommodation for pupils from Rutherglen, who are having a new secondary school built.