Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral Primary School

May 15, 2025
by Graeme Young
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Primary 5 learners build campfire to inspire writing

Primary 5c headed to Cathedral’s forest area, just outside the school grounds, on Thursday 15th May for some outdoor learning linked to their current topic, The Scottish Wars of Independence. After learning how to build a campfire, the children discussed the sights, smells and sounds that soldiers would have experienced when camping out before battle and created a bank of rich vocabulary which they’ll use to write a diary entry of a soldier. During their time together, our young learners enjoyed some traditional Scottish food, including oatcakes, but also couldn’t resist toasting marshmallows over the fire as a special treat!

May 14, 2025
by Graeme Young
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Cathedral welcomes local community to exhibition

Cathedral was delighted to welcome the local community to an advance viewing of our 150th anniversary exhibition on Wednesday 14th May, including residents from the local sheltered housing, members of the Deaf Hub and some of our friends from Firpark Primary. Our guests had the opportunity to walk through a timeline of Cathedral’s history, from the Victorian era to the present day; browse old photographs; handle various artefacts; and read the school’s logbooks, dating back as far as 1925. Mrs McCarthy was also on hand to share photographs of her classes through the years, which was hugely popular with visitors.

There was a wonderful atmosphere in the hall, with lots of memories and stories being shared, and it was great to see some brand new faces to Cathedral, all of whom were delighted to receive their invitation to our school.

Particular thanks to Mrs Mellon for pulling together the various elements of the exhibition in her usual magical way and to Redline Cabs for providing free transport to residents from the sheltered housing.

The main Mass to celebrate Cathedral’s 150th anniversary takes place in the cathedral this coming Tuesday, 20th May, at 10.00am. Our exhibition will then open Tuesday – Thursday in St Bride’s Hall, from 10.30am – 12 noon each day. All parents, carers, parishioners and residents of Motherwell and the surrounding area are most welcome to attend.

May 13, 2025
by Graeme Young
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Tornadoes form in Winners Wynd

Primary 4b learners donned their lab coats on Tuesday 13th May and were provided with various materials to form a tornado in a bottle. Our young scientists had to make a hypothesis, plan their method and then use the materials to achieve their goal. Despite this being an adult-initiated task, with Mrs McCulloch stepping back to allow the children to work things out for themselves, it wasn’t too long before tornadoes were appearing all over Winners Wynd!

May 12, 2025
by Graeme Young
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WWII learner-led learning in Ambition Avenue

As part of an opportunity for learner-led learning on the class Active8 task-board, this Primary 7 learner selected a provocation card in the STEM area on Monday 12th May which led to the construction of a Lego Anderson shelter. She described her learning on her record card and also identified the skills she used and developed which included planning, adapting, modifying and recording.

May 9, 2025
by Graeme Young
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Forest adventures continue for nursery learners

It’s been another fun two weeks of forest adventures for our nursery learners. The children have continued to develop their balancing skills using the tight rope. This fun activity required strength, agility and concentration. All of the children took up this challenge enthusiastically and some even supported their peers to complete the task.

Another popular activity has been den building. Our young adventurers had to source tarpaulin, ropes and bungees then use their problem solving skills to stop the den from blowing away by gathering bricks and logs from the forest floor. The children were so proud of their den, they decided to have their snack inside.

As always, the children left the forest exactly the way they found it. What responsible Cathedral learners!

May 9, 2025
by Graeme Young
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Local residents presented with commemorative medal

Milton Street resident, Mrs Ferguson, was so touched by her invitation to Cathedral’s 150th anniversary exhibition and gift of a chocolate bunny prior to the Easter holidays, she spent the holidays knitting three football mascots for Cathedral Primary to raffle for free. The winning tickets were drawn on Wednesday 7th May and the delighted winners visited Mr and Mrs Ferguson on Friday 9th to say thank you and present the couple with a Cathedral 150th anniversary commemorative medal. We look forward to welcoming Mr and Mrs Ferguson, along with other local residents, to our exhibition in school on Wednesday 14th May.


His Majesty’s Inspectors of Education (HMIe) will carry out an inspection of Cathedral Primary School and Nursery Class during the week commencing Monday 12th May. Please click on the link below to access an interactive summary of the strengths and good practice Cathedral Primary will share and celebrate with inspectors during their visit:

Preparing for Cathedral’s inspection |

May 8, 2025
by Graeme Young
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Habemus papam!

Cathedral school community joins with the Church throughout the world in praying for the new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV.

Faithful God,
You guide us on the path of life
and your goodness is our constant companion.

Be with our new Shepherd, Pope Leo XIV,
in his service of the Church.
Fill him with the power of your Spirit,
the peace of your presence
and the compassion of Christ.

May he walk with you,
in wisdom and humility,
and lead us, together with all God’s people,
to embody your love for the world.
Amen.

May 8, 2025
by Graeme Young
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Mr Young delivers pre-inspection presentation

On the first afternoon of Cathedral’s inspection (Monday 12th May), Mr Young will give a presentation on Cathedral’s strengths and next steps around four main quality indicators from How good is our school? 4:

1.3  Leadership of change

2.3  Learning, teaching and assessment

3.1  Ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion

3.2  Raising attainment and achievement

Ahead of Cathedral’s inspection, Mr Young delivered an amended version of the presentation to parents and carers on Thursday 8th May.

Cathedral’s interactive inspection page can be accessed via the link below:

Preparing for Cathedral’s inspection

May 8, 2025
by Graeme Young
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Primary 4 learners write to Mr Young

Primary 4a learners wrote persuasive letters to Mr Young on Thursday 8th May asking if he would consider providing their class with money to do some planting in the school grounds, including strawberries. The children took the time to talk about climate change, how this causes extreme weather and explained the importance of sustainability. Our learners also highlighted how their eco enterprise will help them learn about budgeting, something they are moving onto in their maths work. Mr Young was so impressed with Primary 4a’s persuasive letters, he agreed to give them the money straight away!


His Majesty’s Inspectors of Education (HMIe) will carry out an inspection of Cathedral Primary School and Nursery Class during the week commencing Monday 12th May. Please click on the link below to access an interactive summary of the strengths and good practice Cathedral Primary will share and celebrate with inspectors during their visit:

Preparing for Cathedral’s inspection |

May 8, 2025
by Graeme Young
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Cathedral learners inspired by the saints

The saints are our greatest role models. Cathedral’s ‘I AM…’ mirror has been relocated to the IGNITE Junior Chaplaincy board just inside the main entrance. The board invites Cathedral learners to look at themselves in the mirror, be inspired by the qualities of various saints and speak words of affirmation such as:

“I am humble like St Bernadette.”

“I am friendly like St Ignatius.”

“I am a leader like St Peter.”

and, most importantly, “I am loved by Jesus.”


His Majesty’s Inspectors of Education (HMIe) will carry out an inspection of Cathedral Primary School and Nursery Class during the week commencing Monday 12th May. Please click on the link below to access an interactive summary of the strengths and good practice Cathedral Primary will share and celebrate with inspectors during their visit:

Preparing for Cathedral’s inspection |

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