Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral Primary School

Cathedral had two wider achievements to celebrate on Monday 5th February. One Cathedral pupil walked away with the gold medal at the Western District Boxing Championship over the weekend and another was awarded a trophy for scoring a hat-trick during a match for the Motherwell girls under 12s. Well done to you both!

Cathedral enjoyed a friendly football match against St Brendan’s at Our Lady’s High School on Friday 2nd February. Cathedral were in the lead at half time but conceded a goal and then lost 2-1 following a penalty. Both St Brendan’s and Cathedral players were a real credit to their school communities.

Mr Young walked into Primary 5/6 on Friday 2nd February to find the class doing boxercise as part of their weekly two hours of Physical Education. The children were giving it 100% and were certainly working up a sweat during their exercise regime. If Mr Young is ever in need of a bodyguard, he now knows where to come!

As we continue to look ahead to our inspection from HMIe, which is likely to take place between now and the summer holidays, this week’s Friday Focus is on Cathedral’s approach to Pupil Voice.

It goes without saying that Cathedral’s incredible learners are the most important individuals in our school. Every lesson, every assembly, every resource, every club, every trip, every special event, every change and improvement is about YOUR CHILD flourishing in their learning and reaching their full potential! Smart School Council puts Cathedral learners at the heart of change and improvement and, despite our large size, ensures every pupil has a voice.

Please click on the link below to find out how Smart School Council works and read about some of the improvements Cathedral pupils have led over the past few years.

Smart School Council

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

Primary 1

• I give ideas to my Pupil Voice group.
• My teacher asks me about my learning. 
• I help the teacher to make decisions about my learning. 
• I often tell the teacher what I think about my work. 
• I can make and keep good friends. 
• I show respect to myself, others and school property. 

Primary 2 – 4

• I take an active part in my Pupil Voice group.
• My teacher asks me about my learning. 
• I help the teacher to make decisions about my learning. 
• I can contribute to self and peer-assessment with respect. 
• I can make and keep good friends. 
• I show respect to myself, others and property. 
• I can listen to the ideas, thoughts and feelings of others. 

Primary 5 – 7

• I take on responsibilities in my Pupil Voice group.
• I regularly discuss my learning with my teacher. 
• I help the teacher to make decisions about my learning. 
• I can contribute to meaningful self and peer-assessment. 
• I have personal skills that help me to manage my relationships. 
• I show respect for myself, others and property. 

Our school community gathered to celebrate Mass on Tuesday 31st January, the feast of St John Bosco. The Mass was led by Primary 6 and, as part of Fr Lamb’s homily, Primary 6b re-enacted the life of the saint.

Through words and mime, Primary 6b told the rest of the school how John had many dreams throughout his life.  When he was nine, he had one that was especially life-changing. In this dream, there was a crowd of boys, laughing, playing, and swearing.  John tried to stop the boys by fighting with them but Jesus appeared to him and said, “You will have to win these friends of yours not by blows but by gentleness and love.” St John Bosco became a priest and went on to start schools for poor boys. Don Bosco’s success lay in his gentleness and his ability to see through the poverty and dirt, into the hearts and souls of the many boys he helped. St John Bosco is the patron saint of teachers.

St John Bosco, pray for us.

The second of our ‘Talk for Writing’ family learning workshops took place on Tuesday 30th January. As before, Mrs Tominey and Miss Cameron delivered a presentation on the ‘Talk for Writing’ approach and then several Primary 4 and Primary 7 pupils read some of their own compositions to demonstrate how they had used an original text to support their ideas and writing. The session finished with the opportunity for parents and carers to visit their child’s classroom to see ‘Talk for Writing’ techniques in action and enjoy reading the pieces in their child’s Taught Writing jotter.

Many thanks, once again, to Mrs Tominey and Miss Cameron for preparing and delivering the workshop and a special thanks to the six P4 and 7 pupils who helped bring the presentation to life.

There was some very creative joined-up learning in Primary 4b on 29th January when these three Primary 4 learners programmed their Micro Bits to display their spelling words for that week. Well done, you digital wizards!

A HUGE well done to these two Cathedral pupils who completed a 4 mile walk for charity on Sunday 28th January. Along with their fellow walkers they raised an incredible £1500 for the Beatson cancer charity. We’re so proud of you, boys!