Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral Primary School

A warm welcome back from our Easter break, we hope you all had great fun. Lots of amazing learning opportunities, engaging our young learners whilst welcoming some new children who are starting their nursery journey.

We have spent time listening to stories that included rhyming words and have been building confidence in reciting familiar nursery rhymes. Our nursery rhyme of the week is ‘The Grand Old Duke of York’ which children have been joining in enthusiastically using their bodies to follow the actions.

Out in the garden, young learners have been using their imagination to create different modes of transport, including buses, trains and planes, developing creativity and teamwork building our communication skills with each-other. We have been reminding our children on SIMOA and what it means to us, how we can incorporate it into our daily routines and helping children understand how it supports our nursery values. We have enjoyed visits to our local environment, our forest school, library, and park. Children have explored, observed and connected with the wider world around them.

A highlight of the week has been welcoming our new ‘Ladybird’ visitors. The children have shown great curios as they begin to observe how they grow. This has sparked interesting conversations about the life cycles of insects and flowers.

Our P3/4 learners marked Earth Day with the kind of curiosity and enthusiasm that makes you feel genuinely hopeful about the future. They didn’t just talk about the planet — they explored how their own choices can help protect it. The big theme this year was understanding how we can reduce emissions and cool the planet, and the class threw themselves into the challenge.

Our P5–7 pupils have been showing incredible determination as they continue their after‑school cross country training. The club has settled into a great rhythm, with pupils pushing themselves, supporting one another and building the stamina they’ll need for the North Lanarkshire Cross Country Final later this term.

There’s a real buzz around the group. Whether they’re pacing laps, working on technique, or cheering on their teammates, the commitment they bring each week is something to be proud of. Mr Hamill has been especially impressed by the positive attitude and sportsmanship displayed.

Our school learning streets are sounding a little sweeter these days, with the launch of our summer‑term choir rehearsals with Mrs Shevlin. Mrs Duffy was absolutely delighted to hear those first warm, confident voices drifting down towards her office. There’s something special about the early weeks of choir season: the mix of excitement, nerves and the spark that comes when young singers find their harmony together. We look forward to hearing them perform at a number of events this term.

One of our young learners and her sister, a former pupil of ours, recently enjoyed an unforgettable experience serving as the official mascots for the recent Scotland–Belgium Women’s World Cup 2027 qualifier match played on 18 April 2026. The final score was 0–0 but a match they will never forget. She managed to keep her exciting news until after Spring break.

It was a truly proud moment for her and her family, and one that certainly deserves a special mention in her Rose Trainer Achievement Award record!

April’s wellbeing indicator is INCLUDED. Please use the prompts below to talk to your child about this indicator. This will help them complete their wellbeing wheel in school.

Nursery and Primary 1

• I can name some jobs in my local area.
• I can talk about the rewards of having a job.
• I can help my teacher and other adults in the school.
• I can control my behaviour in school.
• I take responsibility for my actions.
• I can find ways to solve problems.

Primary 2 – 4

• I can set and work on my own learning goals.
• I can talk about the skills needed for different jobs.
• I can talk about the skills I have.
• I can talk about the world of work.
• I take responsibility for my actions.
• I can recycle waste responsibly.
• I can make decisions and explain them.

Primary 5 – 7

• I know how peer, media and other pressures can influence my decision making.
• I can describe what my rights and responsibilities are at home, in school and in my community.
• I know how to reduce and recycle waste.
• I am given opportunities to make connections between my own skills and the world of work.
• I can use my investigative skills to find out about different jobs/careers.

Our first day of the Summer term on Monday 20th April saw sunshine and smiles all around with children and staff alike happy to be back in our wonderful school. As we begin this exciting last term at Cathedral Primary and Nursery, I am delighted that I will be leading the school full‑time as Acting Head Teacher. I have already been serving in this role two days a week for some time and this experience has allowed for a smooth, successful transition. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to take on the position full time and to continue supporting our excellent school community. During this period, I remain fully committed to ensuring continuity, high standards and a warm, nurturing environment for every child in our care.

Our dedicated staff team continues to deliver exceptional learning experiences both in the classroom and beyond the school day. This Summer term promises to be filled with rich learning, exciting opportunities and memorable moments for all our children.

Thank you for your continued trust and support. I look forward to working together to ensure this Summer term as always is positive, enriching and enjoyable for every child.

There’s LOTS to look forward to in the Summer term including First Holy Communions, the Primary 7 residential excursion to Lendrick Muir, our school show (Oliver) and our various class trips. Dates for the term ahead can be accessed via the link below;

Summer term dates for diary 2026

Marie Clare Duffy

It is with very mixed emotions that I write this message. On the one hand, I am excited to begin my secondment with the local authority today, supporting schools across North Lanarkshire. On the other, I know I will deeply miss our wonderful children and the day‑to‑day buzz of life at Cathedral.

That said, my new role will still bring me into Cathedral from time to time, and I look forward to sharing in some of next term’s key moments, including First Communions, the school show, and the Primary 7 graduation.

Please can I take this opportunity to thank each and every one of our learners for their hard work and enthusiasm throughout this term. It is always a joy to walk through the school and see everyone so engaged in their learning, from our youngest children in the Nursery and Discovery Drive to our senior pupils in Ambition Avenue.

I would also like to thank Cathedral’s dedicated staff team for their incredible commitment this term. You consistently give your very best for the children in your care, and I want you to know that it never goes unnoticed. Thank you, Team OLGA!

To our parents and carers, clergy, parishioners and friends of the school, thank you for your ongoing support. It is very much appreciated.

I wish our entire Cathedral family a very Happy Easter and a restful spring break. Mrs Duffy looks forward to seeing everyone back, refreshed, on Monday 20th April.

Learners and staff brought a burst of colour and fun to Cathedral Primary on Thursday 2nd April as they celebrated this year’s Crazy Hair Day. As you can see from the photographs, everyone embraced the challenge and came up with an array of wonderfully whacky hairstyles.

This year’s Lenten almsgiving has raised a total of £1068.78 for Missio and £372.67 for Brain Tumour Research, not forgetting our huge donation for the local Foodbank.

Many thanks to Cathedral families for your generosity.

We’re delighted to share some fantastic news from a recent national dancing competition in Blackpool.

One of our talented Primary 7 learners has worked incredibly hard, and her dedication, talent and determination truly shone throughout the event.

She delivered an outstanding set of performances, placing first in both her lyrical solo and lyrical duo, achieving first place in jazz, and finishing as runner‑up in her jazz solo. She also qualified for the Grand Champs and reached the finals in both lyrical and jazz — an exceptional accomplishment!