Lynda Keith, an educational consultant with a specialism in mathematics and early years education, was back in Cathedral on Thursday 8th September. Lynda modelled a play-based lesson in Primary 2a, engaged in professional dialogue with infant staff and then worked
with the leadership team to write the next part of ‘Actve8: Let’s Play’, a bespoke document which will help Cathedral staff deliver play-based learning in their classrooms.
Lynda worked with Primary 7a in the afternoon on developing a ‘Publication Station’ in their learning street and also did a learning walk in the nursery to provide some input on how the playroom could be further developed. Lynda rounded off the day by joining our staff meeting, where Cathedral teachers received their next part of ‘Talk for Writing’ training from Miss Cameron.
Now that we are at a different stage of the pandemic, Cathedral Primary & Nursery Class are committed to being outward looking: learning from what’s happening elsewhere to challenge our own thinking. As well as Cathedral staff visiting other schools, an important part of looking outwards is opening the doors of the school to people who can see things with a fresh pair of eyes. We look forward to continuing to work with Lynda in the coming months.
Our children have been very busy this week and are actively exploring all areas of the nursery. We’ve listened to stories and sang nursery rhymes with our friends. We are following the snack routine and are able to select the healthy snacks we would like. We show that we can be responsible by tidying up after ourselves. We have followed the recipe to make playdough and have repeated this all week. We have displayed problem solving skills whilst using the ramps and balls. We have a lovely new stage outdoors and the children are enjoying putting on performances for each other.
Our School Improvement Plan for 2022/23 can be accessed by clicking on the link below:
It’s been great to see our returning children take on the responsibility of being buddies to our new children and supporting them to settle in. They are proudly wearing their buddy badges as they go about their nursery day!
As a special thank you for getting the new school year off to such a fantastic start, Cathedral pupils and staff were treated to a special performance
of ‘The Jungle Book’ on Thursday 25th August. M&M productions transported the children to a far off land, introducing them to Mowgli, Baloo, Shere Khan and other characters from Rudyard Kipling’s famous book.
73 very eager and enthusiastic new Primary 1 pupils joined the Cathedral Primary family on Wednesday 15th August. The boys and girls have settled into school life exceptionally well and their learning in mathematics, literacy and all other areas of the curriculum is already well underway. Mrs Gillespie (P1a), Mrs Laird (P1b) and Miss Forsyth (P1c) are very impressed indeed and Mr Young is so proud of each and every one of them! Well done, boys and girls!
OLGA Cathedral Primary School and Firpark Primary School are privileged to share the same campus. Cathedral and Firpark staff came together on Tuesday 16th August to begin to reconnect after COVID and explore how the two schools might work more closely in the coming months and years.
As Cathedral Primary arrives at the last day of the school year, with the summer holidays stretching ahead of both pupils and staff, our school community also bids a sad farewell to Mrs Munro. Mrs Munro has been part of the Cathedral team for twenty years and, as those who have encountered her will know, she never fails to have a smile and a kind word for everyone she meets. We will miss Mrs Munro a great deal and wish her a very long and happy retirement.
Primary 7 pupils gathered in Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral on the evening of 22nd June to celebrate their Leavers’ Mass and Graduation. In his homily, Fr Mark spoke of the children being at an important crossroads in their lives and encouraged them to have the courage to follow Jesus in the years ahead. The music was led beautifully by the school choir, accompanied by Mr John Pitcathley on the organ.
To mark the end of their time in Cathedral Primary School, P7 pupils enjoyed an afternoon of fun together at their ‘C in the Park’ music festival on 23rd June. A live DJ kept the beats going throughout the afternoon and the children had the opportunity to get their face painted, visit the tattoo parlour, grab a drink at the cocktail bar or just chill with their friends. A pizza delivery kept the children’s energy levels up… just as well as the event finished with a massive water balloon fight!
