Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral Primary School

Primary 3 – 7 brought Christmas joy to Cathedral Primary on Friday 6th December with their performance of carols and poems.

The choir opened the concert with ‘Carol of the Bells’ and ‘Let there be love’ before each year group took to the stage to sing two carols and perform a spoken piece. Carols included ‘It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas’ (Primary 5), ‘Somewhere in my memory’ from Home Alone (Primary 6), the well-known and beautiful ‘Away in a Manger’ (Primary 3) and a vibrant finale of ‘Merry Christmas everyone’ from Primary 7. One of the highlights of the concert was Primary 4’s rendition of ‘All I want for Christmas is you’, accompanied by P4 pupil, Praise, on the drums.

Well done to the children on their amazing performances and many thanks to their teachers for preparing them for the concert and to support staff for decorating the hall so beautifully.

Cathedral Primary choir had the privilege of leading a special service of carols and readings in Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral on Thursday 5th December. The event, which featured a host of well-known carols, gave those who attended a beautiful opportunity to pause at this busy time to prepare for the coming of Jesus at Christmas.

As always, the choir was conducted by Mr James Greechan, NSSP Choral Director for Motherwell Diocese, and accompanied on the organ by Mr John Pitcathley.

Lunchtime Christmas storytelling has been a Cathedral Christmas tradition for many years, founded by avid-reader, Mrs McCarthy, ten years ago. Discovery Drive was packed with pupils on Thursday 5th December, eager to listen to the first festive story of the season, read by Mrs Gillespie. What a wonderful way to spend a winter lunchtime!

These Cathedral learners played in a friendly campus football tournament on Wednesday 4th December, which welcomed other schools from the Motherwell area. They were thrilled to win all four of their matches, conceding only two goals across the competition. Most importantly, the Cathedral team was complemented for their sportsmanship throughout. We’re so proud of you!

Following a wee mix up of diary dates, Cathedral school community, along with a number of parents and parishioners, found themselves gathered in the hall for Mass on Friday 29th November… but without a priest! Mrs McLeish asked Mr Young what he was going to do, to which he replied, ‘I’m going to wing it!’. That’s exactly what Mr Young did, using the hymns and readings to improvise (with some help from pupils) a St Andrew’s Day prayer service.

Mr Young was very amused to find the above clerical shirt lying on his desk on Wednesday 4th December, courtesy of Fr Lamb! Although the joke did make him chuckle, Mr Young will DEFINITELY stick to being a heidie!

(This hopefully clears up the confusion caused by some children going home on Friday saying, “Mr Young said Mass today!”)

This Primary 5 learner, who is a member of the Motherwell and Wishaw swimming team, continues to excel in her sport. In a recent swimming competition, she came 1st in the 9 years and under front crawl, back crawl, breast stroke and butterfly. Well done on your amazing achievements and for being such a great sports ambassador for Cathedral!

To help our school and parish community prepare for the coming of Jesus at Christmas, Mass will be celebrated at 8.15am in the Music Room every Tuesday and Friday throughout the season of Advent.

All pupils, staff, parents and parishioners are very welcome to attend.

‘This time of Advent is a time of waiting for the Lord, who will visit us all on the feast of Christmas, but also, each one, in our own hearts.’ (Pope Francis)

Cathedral learners donned a touch of tartan on Friday 29th November to celebrate Scotland’s patron, Saint Andrew, and our country’s national day. There was the opportunity to taste some Scottish produce and the day concluded with a service in honour of Saint Andrew for pupils and families, led by Mr Young, Primary 4 and the choir.

PRAYER TO ST ANDREW

O Glorious St Andrew,

you were the first to recognise

and follow the Lamb of God.

With your friend St John you remained with Jesus

for that first day, for your entire life,

and now throughout eternity.

As you led your brother St Peter to Christ

and many others after him,

draw us also to him.

Help us to learn the lesson of the Cross

and to carry our daily crosses without complaint

so that they may carry us to Jesus.

Amen

Inspired by a range of stimuli, I can express and communicate my ideas, thoughts and feelings through drama. (EXA 0-13a)

I have explored numbers, understanding that they represent quantities, and I can use them to count. (MNU 0-02a)

Wellbeing Indicator: Achieving

UNCRC Article 19: You have the right to be protected from being hurt and mistreated, in body and in mind.

This week, our nursery learners have continued to develop their knowledge of characters and have revisited familiar stories with their friends. Each child has had the opportunity to retell a familiar story in their own words.

Playing outdoors during this week’s colder weather has got the children talking about the different things we do during the winter months and has inspired us to make our own hot chocolate and homemade soup.

Our young learners have been using their design and construction skills to create and build a variety of structures. The children have talked about safe ways to build with the wooden blocks and were able to explain why we should use just the right amount of blocks when building towers.

This week’s ‘focus children’ have been very proud to wear their red lanyard which reads: ‘Ask me what I have been learning about today’. Each child has demonstrated confidence when using their own words to talk about their recent activities, experiences and learning.