Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral Primary School

North Lanarkshire Council have now finalised term and holiday dates for the 2026/27 academic year. These are detailed below:

August 2026

• Monday 10th August 2026 (Return date for teachers & In-Service Day)
• Tuesday 11th August 2026 (In-Service Day)
• Wednesday 12th August 2026 (Return date for pupils)

September 2026

• Friday 25th September and Monday 28th September 2026 (September weekend)

October 2026

• Monday 12th to Friday 16th October 2026 (October Week)

November 2026

• Monday 16th November 2026 (In-Service Day)

December 2026 – January 2027

• Schools close at 2.30pm on Friday 18th December 2026
• Monday 21st December 2026 – Monday 4th January 2027 (inclusive) (Christmas holidays)

Schools return on Tuesday 5th January 2027

February 2027

• Monday 15th February and Tuesday 16th February 2027 (Mid-term break)
• Wednesday 17th February 2027 (In-service day)

March 2027

• Friday 26th March (Good Friday)
• Monday 29th March (Easter Monday)

April 2027

• Friday 2nd April (Schools close at 2.30pm)
• Monday 5th April – Friday 16th April 2027 (Spring break)

Schools return on Monday 19th April 2027

May 2027

• Monday 3rd May 2027 (May Public Holiday)
• Thursday 6th May 2027 (In-service day – Scottish Government Elections)
• Friday 28th May 2027 and Monday 31st May 2027 (May Weekend)

June 2027

• Schools close at 1pm on Friday 25th June 2027

Primary 2 learners and parents enjoyed a family learning workshop in Cathedral school library on Wednesday 1st October. While teachers read a story to their class and spoke about the rules of the library, Mrs McCoy provided parents and carers with some practical ideas to help them support their child’s reading at home. Parents then had the opportunity to chose and read a book with their child.

Our next family learning event, for Primary 6 pupils and parents, takes place on Tuesday 7th October. The individual class workshops will give parents and carers the opportunity to learn about how we are supporting Cathedral learners to develop creativity skills and then work alongside their child in our new Investigation & Innovation Hub.

Please click on the link below to access our August – December family learning programme:

Aug – Dec 2025 Family Learning programme

Mrs McMichael and Mrs Murphy from Cathedral’s Attainment Team hosted a targeted family learning workshop on Wednesday 1st October at which parents and carers had the opportunity to learn alongside their child using the Read Write Inc. Fresh Start programme. The Attainment Team also provided parents and carers with learning packs to further support their child’s learning at home. There was a great buzz around the room and parent/carer feedback on the sessions was exceptionally positive. One parent said:

“Axel sees the Attainment Team as a very positive experience. He loves and thrives with the additional attention and focus.”

These P4/5 learners were very proud to share a maths ‘Milestone Moment’ with Mrs Duffy on Tuesday 30th September. Their maths group have been using different methods to develop their understanding of place value and they demonstrated their recent learning by using Numicon to represent larger numbers. Impressive!

If you’re wondering who the rather grown up looking Primary 4/5 is, he’s actually one of our S6 Our Lady’s High School helpers who visit Cathedral each week to work alongside our learners!

I understand positive things about friendships and relationships but when something worries or upsets me I know who I should talk to. HWB 0-44a

This week, the children have revisited who we can talk to if we are worried about anything or feeling sad. This has included important discussions about what we should do if we find ourselves in situations where we feel unsafe or need help.

Our young learners have been expanding their knowledge of numbers, finding and identifying them in the nursery environment and beyond. Some of the children have began to record numbers using a variety of mark-making tools such as stampers and loose parts.

The magnetic shapes have ignited curiosity and imagination amongst the children and they have had lots of opportunities to create simple patterns. This has included learning about what comes first, next and last and then continuing these sequences.

In the arts and craft area, the children have been enjoying messy play, measuring and following recipes. Our young learners particularly enjoyed the gloop tuff tray for mark making. The messier it got, the more fun was had!

Cathedral’s current group of nursery learners enjoyed their final day in the great outdoors on Thursday 25th September, and parents and carers came along to see them graduate from their forest adventures. Over the last few weeks, our young learners have gained many new skills and knowledge in the forest including working as a team to set up the forest area, safety skills while exploring, climbing and fire building. During the final session, parents and carers had the opportunity to make autumn crowns with their child and complete a scavenger hunt. Many congratulations to our forest graduates!

These three Primary 6b learners popped down to see Mrs Duffy and Mrs Campbell on Thursday 25th September to share the product of some exciting learner led-learning:

“During our learner-led learning, we chose to look at the Microbit site online.  We decided to combine two different electrical signs to make a step counter for our water bottles, with an anti-theft device.  We used straps, Microbits and external batteries.  We tested out our design and definitely think there’s a gap in the market for our invention!”

Following the Primary 1 Welcome Mass on Thursdays 25th, our young learners were presented with their 150th anniversary commemorate medals.  What a wonderful year to join the Cathedral family!

Our new Primary 1 pupils were formally welcomed to Cathedral Primary School at a special Mass in the cathedral on Thursday 25th September. Following the opening hymn, ‘Jesus loves me, this I know’, and the scripture readings, Fr Lamb said a prayer of blessing over the children, asking God to be with them throughout their journey through Cathedral Primary. He also blessed the special 150th anniversary medals which each child received once back in school.

During the Mass, Cathedral teachers renewed their commitment to their vocation as Catholic educators in the presence of the school and parish community.

Pupils raised the roof with the closing hymn, ‘If I were a butterfly’, specially picked for our Primary 1 learners.

For you gave me a heart

and you gave me a smile;

you gave me Jesus

and you made me your child.

But I just thank you, Father,

for making me ME!

Primary 6 buddy applicants were put through their paces during a round of interviews with Mrs Duffy on Wednesday 24th September.

Many congratulations to those Primary 6 pupils who were successful at interview. Our enthusiastic and committed learners responded to Mrs Duffy’s job advert, completed an application form and went through the interview process.  We look forward to seeing their leadership skills in action as they work with Cathedral’s youngest learners in the months ahead.