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 our Catholic ethos, which is central to the life and work of Cathedral Primary School.
Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral Primary School has educated the children of the parish since 1895 and we are justifiably proud of our long history and rich heritage.
‘From the first moment that a student sets foot in a Catholic school, he or she ought to have the impression of entering a new environment, one illumined by the light of faith and having its own unique characteristics.’
(Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education)
As a Catholic school, faith is the bedrock of 
Cathedral Primary and permeates the school’s day-to-day activities and routines, no matter how ordinary or apparently ‘unspiritual’ these may be. We constantly strive to ensure Gospel values inform and underpin everything we do, for only in doing so can Cathedral Primary successfully fulfil its call to be an authentic Christian community where faith is not only taught and spoken about, but lived and experienced.
All teaching staff, both current and prospective, are required to subscribe to the Charter for Catholic Schools in Scotland and must be granted approval from the Diocese of Motherwell before taking up post in Cathedral Primary School.
Of course, Cathedral welcomes pupils and families of other faiths, and of no faith at all, and this diversity makes a valuable contribution to our school community.
Please take the opportunity to explore the various pages in the ‘Faith’ section of our website.
This group of Cathedral learners spent part of their interval on Thursday 7th March gathering items from around the yard to make their own prayer space for the season of Lent. What a creative and thoughtful addition to our playground!
As part of our week-long programme of reading events, Cathedral pupils enjoyed a variety of book-related activities on Thursday 7th March to mark World Book Day.
This eager bunch of Cathedral citizens are currently making bracelets and earrings to sell to neighbours and family friends. All money raised (around £30 so far) will go to the SCIAF Wee Box campaign. Well done team on being so creative in your Lenten almsgiving!
Primary 3 pupils celebrated their First Reconciliation in Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral on Tuesday 5th March. It was a beautiful, prayerful occasion and there was barely a dry eye in the church when the children closed the liturgy with their thanksgiving hymn, ‘I’m accepted, I’m forgiven’.
As part of her class topic on living and working in North Lanarkshire, this Primary 4 learner was set the challenge of constructing something in the technology zone which would help people in the local area. She showed great inventiveness when she decided to make a defibrillator which, in real life, gives a jolt of energy to the heart to get it beating again after a cardiac arrest. Well done!
As part of our Family Learning programme, Cathedral pupils had the opportunity to enjoy some fun reading activities with their parent/carer during the week of World Book Day.
sessions took place in the school building, with parents and carers (and grandpas and grannies!) being able to read a book alongside their child.
Our current Smart School Council focus is celebrating diversity across our school, nursery and campus. House Captains updated our Action Board on Monday 4th March to help move things along to the next stage. 
been submitted and House Captains will go through these and select the winning entries in the next week or so. 
A number of Primary 6 pupils went through their 
Buddy interviews on Friday 1st March. The children submitted an application form a number of weeks ago outlining their skills and qualities and were then invited to interview. The boys and girls answered the questions confidently before being accepted for the role of buddying our nursery children. The boys and girls will now be given training in preparation for beginning in the nursery playroom and outdoor area.
An audience of family and friends were transported to sunny Brazil during Primary 5’s Learning Showcase on Friday 1st March. The performance was jam-packed with fascinating information about the South American country and included signing, dancing and (as always) lots of humour throughout. There were chuckles around the audience when one pupil took to the front of the stage to play the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer! The audience left with their feet tapping when the showcase concluded with vibrant music and dance from the Rio carnival.