Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral Primary School

Here at Cathedral Primary, we ensure an appropriate balance of adult-led, adult-initiated and learner-led learning. These Primary 4 pupils took learner-led learning to a life-sized scale when they decided to transform a cardboard box into their very own Jubilee doors. The doors were completed on Friday 17th January and the children were keen to share their impressive collaborative creation with Mr Young. Well done, team!

Buddying resumed on Thursday 16th January and Primary 1c were very excited to head upstairs to enjoy reading with their Primary 7 buddies. The story bags included a soft toy, linked to the book, which added to the discussion and fun. What a great way to develop our school value of CONNECTION!

Cathedral Primary welcomed Mr Jack Rafferty (Grand Knight KSC Carfin) and Mr Michael Roche (KSC Action and Youth) on Thursday 16th January to present certificates to one of our Primary 6 learners who was successful in last term’s Knights of St Columba Christmas art competition. Our talented artist won second place in the local 7 – 11 years category and was also put forward to the national competition.

Following the presentation, Mr Rafferty and Mr Roche enjoyed a tour of the school and were absolutely blown away by the behaviour, manners, engagement and enthusiasm of Cathedral learners. No surprise there!

Mr Rafferty and Mr Roche also became the first visitors of 2025 to receive one of our commemorative 150th anniversary medals.

Mr Young was absolutely delighted to receive a personalised bracelet in Cathedral colours from this Primary 1 learner on Wednesday 15th January. He’d teamed up with his mum at home to make the thoughtful gift, which Mr Young will wear with pride! Thank you!

These Primary 1 learners had great fun in the Small World area of our Play Zone on Wednesday 15th January recreating a scene from one of the books they have been enjoying in class: ‘The Runaway Iceberg’. They selected blue material for the sea, carefully created the iceberg from cotton wool balls and then selected different animals, including a penguin, to complete their arctic world. Well done on your creativity and working so well as a team!

Mass to mark the official opening of our 150th anniversary year will take place in school on Friday 31st January, the Feast of St John Bosco. We are delighted that Bishop Toal will be the principal celebrant and that Provost Duffy will present our commemorative 150th anniversary medals to pupils and staff at the end of Mass.

Please note that, due to Bishop Toal and Fr Lamb being in Rome, we have had to make a change to the dates of our exhibition on the history of Cathedral Primary in St Bride’s Hall in May. The exhibition will now take place on Tuesday 20th, Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd May rather than Monday to Wednesday of the previous week.

Our full programme of events can be accessed via the link below:

150th Anniversary & Jubilee programme

THIS IS THE WEEK TO REGISTER YOUR CHILD FOR PRIMARY 1!

Children who turn 5 between 1st March 2025 and 29th February 2026 should be registered for primary school during the course of this week.

Here at Cathedral Primary, registration for our August 2025 intake will take place from Monday 13th to Friday 17th January 2025, from 1.30 – 2.45pm each day. Parents and carers should come to the main entrance and will be directed to the dining hall.

A birth certificate and a current council tax notice must be produced at the time of registration.

Information for parents/carers about registering their child for Primary 1 can be obtained by visiting https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/school-admissions/primary-school-registration-p1

Information on submitting a placing request can be obtained by visiting https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/school-admissions/placing-requests

Information on submitting an early entry request can be obtained by visiting https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/school-admissions/early-entry

Cathedral pupils were absolutely delighted to receive a cheque for £9135 from Mr Allan Blackley of Forgewood Holdings on Friday 10th January. The local charity’s generous donation will pay for a brand new outdoor theatre to mark Cathedral Primary’s 150th Anniversary. The theatre, which will be installed in February, will provide a fantastic facility for Cathedral learners to develop their performing arts skills and showcase their many talents.

Many thanks to Forgewood Holdings from the entire Cathedral school community!

House Captains went through the Smart School Council suggestion box during the first week of term and met with Mr Young on Wednesday 8th January to share and discuss the ideas which will be taken forward in the coming weeks. The Smart School Council action board has been updated with the three new projects:

1. A competition will take place to design a mascot for each of Cathedral’s six Houses. The winning designs will be made into real mascots.
2. A Cathedral talent show will be organised for the summer term.
3. Pupils will be consulted on how they would like to improve the toilets in Brainbox Boulevard, Winners Wynd and Ambition Avenue. This will include choosing paint colours and being given a budget to buy accessories such as pictures and plants.

Pope Francis has asked that 2025 be a year of Jubilee, with the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope‘. Here at Cathedral Primary, the Jubilee will be an opportunity for learners, staff, parents and parishioners to embark on a journey of faith, rediscover the hope that comes from God alone and look with confidence towards a future where, together, we can bring hope and healing to the local and global community.

To mark the Jubilee, a special ‘Door of Hope’ was installed in Cathedral Primary School on Thursday 9th January. This is not a ‘holy door’, as that title is reserved for specific doors located in a number of Rome’s great basilicas, including St Peter’s in the Vatican. Rather, Cathedral’s Jubilee door, which all members of our school community pass through daily, serves as a prominent symbol of hope and a constant reminder to learners, staff and visitors of the hope which has its source in God and the bright future he has in store for each and every one of us.

The scripture on the door comes from the prophet Jeremiah:

“I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord… “plans to give you HOPE and a FUTURE.” (Jeremiah 29: 11)

Cathedral learners and staff are invited to quietly say, ‘I have hope and a future’ each time they pass through the doors.

Cathedral’s programme of Jubilee 2025 activities and events, which will run alongside our 150th Anniversary celebrations, can be accessed via the link below:

150th Anniversary & Jubilee programme