Our most recent Smart School Council project focused on improving learning streets. Cathedral’s four learning streets (Discovery Drive, Brainbox Boulevard, Winners Wynd and Ambition Avenue) are extensions of classrooms and we want them to be vibrant, well-organised spaces which support our Active8 approach and inspire and facilitate amazing learning.
Pupils across the school were asked through Smart School Council how they would like to improve their learning street and came up with the following requests:
- We would like learning streets to be zoned to include a technology/construction area, a reading area, a Publication Station for independent writing and a ‘wellbeing area’;
- We would like systems in place to ensure resources are quickly replenished when they run out;
- We would like systems in place to keep learning streets tidy and organised, including brushes and dustpans to clear up after messy learning.
Staff in Winners Wynd worked together on the inservice day to respond to the children’s requests by zoning the learning street and reorganising and labeling resources. New technology/construction resources have been ordered, a well-being area set up and pupils are already enjoying the new reading area, where they can curl up with a book.
Pupils and staff from Brainbox Boulevard and Ambition Avenue are pulling together their final plans and the children will see these two learning streets transformed in the coming weeks.
Our latest Smart School Council focus is on how we can celebrate diversity across our school and campus. Cathedral pupils had the
opportunity to explore what makes us different and what makes us the same at our whole school assembly on Monday 20th November and this week’s Smart School Council meeting will ask the children to brainstorm their ideas for celebrating Cathedral’s diversity.
Our January – June Family Learning programme has now been finalised. Along with the usual coffee mornings and learning showcases, there will be the opportunity for Primary 3 – 7 parents to find out about ‘Talk for Writing’. Parents and carers across the school will also have the chance to enjoy reading a book with their child during the week of World Book Day. Please click on the link below to access our January – June Parental Engagement & Family Learning leaflet:
We’re particularly excited about our Parents & Partners Improvement Forum, which will take place on Thursday 18th January. This event will bring together parent/carer representatives from all seven stages (Primary 1 – 7) as well as various partners who contribute to Cathedral pupils’ learning, wellbeing and development. There will be the opportunity for delegates to evaluate Cathedral Primary using four Quality Indicators from ‘How good is our school? 4’ and then contribute to identifying and developing priorities for the 2024/25 School Improvement Plan. PLEASE NOTE SPACES FOR THIS EVENT ARE VERY LIMITED (8 PARENTS PER STAGE) AND MUST BE BOOKED IN ADVANCE VIA THE LINK WHICH WILL BE SENT OUT THIS WEEK.
Pupils, staff, families and parishioners celebrated Education Sunday at the vigil Mass in St Luke’s on Saturday 18th and the morning Mass in OLGA Cathedral on Sunday 19th 
November. Cathedral pupils led the bidding prayers and offertory and senior pupils from Our Lady’s High School the readings and Catholic Education Week address.
An array of Viking warriors and Viking gods took to the stage on Friday 17th November for
the Primary 3 Learning Showcase. The boys and girls took their audience on an exciting historical journey, filled with fascinating facts about Viking daily life, jobs, clothes, trading, invasions and beliefs. The children sprinkled in some humour when they articulated their Viking skills, which included raiding and pillaging, and also took to the catwalk for a Viking fashion show! Primary 3’s showcase finished with a rousing song, ‘Vikings Rock’, which got the entire audience clapping along.
Our Play Zone was a hive of activity on Thursday 16th November for the second day of play Family
Learning, this time for our Primary 2 classes. Once again, Mr Young began each individual class’s session with a presentation on Cathedral’s approach to play and then parents and carers had the opportunity to visit the Play Zone and learn alongside their child.
Bishop Toal visited Cathedral Primary on Wednesday 15th November to meet our confirmandi ahead of the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation on Monday 27th. The bishop explained what would happen during the celebration and then invited questions from the children.
Primary 7 pupils spent a day on retreat on Tuesday 14th November in preparation for celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation. The children began the day with Mass in the cathedral before heading over to St Bride’s Hall for several activities delivered by senior pupils from Our Lady’s High School who are working towards their Caritas award. In the first activity, the children designed a poster on the seven Gifts of the Spirit; in the second, they made a prayer wind chime; the third invited them to reflect on what makes them unique. Following input from Fr Lamb, the children returned to the cathedral for a time of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
Primary 1 parents and carers had the opportunity to attend a play Family Learning event on Tuesday 14th November. Each individual class’s Family
Learning session started with a presentation from Mr Young outlining the importance of play and how it is organised in Cathedral Primary School to facilitate adult-led, adult-initiated and child-led learning. Parents and carers then had the opportunity to visit the Play Zone to learn alongside their child.
There was an absolutely fantastic atmosphere at our Family Fun Night on Friday 10th November. As always, there was something to appeal to all ages and the queues for the sparkly tattoos and the tombola were equally long. The children’s entertainer held everyone’s attention in the gym hall throughout the evening, with some great dance moves from both the children and the grown-ups.