Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral Primary School

I can use the signs and charts around me for information. (MNU 0-02a)

 I am learning skills and strategies which will support me in challenging times, particularly in relation to change. (HWB 0-07a)

Over the past week in Cathedral Nursery Class, our young learners have been developing their independence and learning how to keep themselves safe when using a variety of resources in and out of nursery.

Our new-starts have been developing an awareness of nursery rules and routines and these young learners now know which group they belong to and the symbol and colour that relates to their group. This has helped each child gain a sense of belonging and begin to build good relationships with their friends and key adult.

The children have led their own learning by bringing in leaves, pinecones and berries they have found on their way to nursery. Staff have responded to this by providing materials and resources to further develop the children’s knowledge about autumn.

We have introduced and implemented our Childsmile oral health programme and the children have quickly learned to match the colour and symbol for their group chart to the ones on their toothbrush.

Cathedral school choir sang at a special Mass in Glasgow University Memorial Chapel on Friday 20th September to mark the 25th anniversary of the School of Education. The main celebrant was Archbishop Nolan.

Under the direction of NSSP Choral Director, Mr James Greechin, the choir led the music of the liturgy beautifully. Music included the hymn ‘Be Thou my vision’, a sung psalm, ‘Anima Christi’ during communion and a rousing ‘Hail Redeemer, King Divine’ to conclude the celebration.

Each and every choir member was perfectly turned out in their uniform and were an absolute credit to the Cathedral school community. It certainly was a very proud moment for parents and carers, Mr Young and the other Cathedral staff who were there to support the children.

This Primary 7 learner, whose current class topic is Amazing Africa, was very proud to show-off his version of a traditional Maasai necklace to Mr Young on Thursday 19th September. This type of jewellery, from east Africa, is traditionally worn by the Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania.

The second of our Active8 Family Learning workshops took place on Thursday 19th September. Mr Young’s presentation provided an overview of the approach, including information on Cathedral’s ‘overarching pedagogy’, which ensures an appropriate balance of adult-led, adult-initiated and learner-led learning across each week. Parents and carers received input on how to talk to their child about their learning at home before heading to their child’s classroom to see Active8 in action and learn alongside their child.

Here’s a snapshot of the positive feedback from this week’s Family Learning:

What I think about Active8

“Great idea to get children actively involved in the structure of each day’s learning”. P6

“Brilliant, great way to engage the children and make learning fun.” P6

“I think it sounds amazing and allows everyone’s learning needs to be met”. P3

“Seems like Orla doesn’t get a chance to be bored. She really enjoys learning.” P3

“She feels she is learning about things she is interested in.” P6

“It makes learning more fun. It helps me to be more involved in their learning.” P6

“I think it’s really good and teaches children responsibility. I wish this was something I’d had in school.” P5

What my child thinks about Active8

“ Joshua likes that he gets to choose what he wants to learn and when.” P3

“Orla finds Active8 interesting and learns new things independently.” P3

“She really enjoys this way of learning and finds it helps and encourages her.” P3

“My child thinks Active8 is a very fun and smart way of learning and it makes learning easy.” P3

“Lucas enjoys it very much. He likes the fact he can choose.” P6

“Eva thinks it’s good for controlling her own learning and time management.” P6

Mrs Campbell’s junior choir club got off to a rousing start after school on Wednesday 18th September. The first song the children learned was ‘All God’s creatures got a place in the choir’, accompanied by an enthusiastic Mrs Campbell on guitar. We just can’t get enough singing here at Cathedral!

Back in June, our current Primary 5 pupils were invited to create a sign for the new play park on Roman Road. This talented artist was selected as the winner and was absolutely delighted to be presented with a mini replica of her sign on Wednesday 18th September. We can’t wait to see her winning design at the entrance to the park next month!

As part of their class topic on the River Clyde, Primary 5 have become engineers and used their learning street’s technology resources to construct bridges.  Mr Young encountered these learners on his way through the school on Wednesday 18th September and got talking to them about their bridge. The children were able to identify where the weakest point of the bridge was (right in the middle) and, after looking at a picture of a Victorian arched bridge over the Clyde, worked out that they could strengthen their bridge by adding additional pillars. Well done, young engineers!

Cathedral learners had the opportunity to enjoy playing a variety of board games on Tuesday 17th September at Miss Forsyth’s after school club. These two friends connected over a game of ‘Guess who?’.

A new Come Clubbing @ Cathedral display is currently being created just outside Mr Young’s office and will provide Cathedral pupils with information on the full range of exciting clubs on offer during the course of this year.

On Tuesday 17th September, Cathedral school choir gathered in Motherwell cathedral with the six other schools involved in the National Schools Singing Programme (NSSP). The voices of over 200 children blended beautifully as they led the congregation in uplifting music throughout the thanksgiving Mass.

Cathedral choir’s next major fixture is this coming Friday, 20th September, when they will be singing in Glasgow University Memorial Chapel at a special Mass to mark the 25th anniversary of the School of Education.

These Primary 2 learners had the opportunity to create and sequence a story linked to their Knights and Castles topic during their time in the Playzone on Tuesday 17th September. As soon as they had drawn each part of their story, they were super keen to pop along to Mr Young’s office to retell their stories using their story maps, something all three learners did confidently and with lots of expression. Well done, story tellers!