Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral Primary School

A group of volunteers gave generously of their time on Wednesday 7th February to help out with our Nursery Ground Force Day. Following the cold winter months and recent storms, the small but eager team worked their socks off clearing and tidying the outdoor area of our nursery. What a transformation! Thank you to each and every one of you from the whole Cathedral family!

A group of Primary 6 and Primary 7 pupils teamed-up on Wednesday 7th February for Ground Force Day. Armed with gloves, litter-pickers, rakes and even hack-saws (under the watchful eye of Mrs McCarthy, Mrs Findlay and Mrs Shevlin) this incredible army of workers gave Cathedral’s grounds a major spring clean. Thank you to each and every one of you! WHAT A TEAM!

A team of Cathedral pupils took part in the North Lanarkshire Active Schools girls tournament at Braidhurst High School on Tuesday 6th January. Apart from one draw against Ladywell Primary, the girls won all seven of their matches:

Cathedral v Glencairn PS: 7 – nil

Cathedral v Ladywell PS: 1 – nil; 1 – 1

Cathedral v Newarthill PS: 4 – nil; 2 – nil

Cathedral v Our Lady & St Francis: 3 – nil

Cathedral v Christ the King PS: 1 – nil

What an incredible result! Well done, team!

The staff wellbeing board in Cathedral’s staffroom received a makeover on Monday 5th February. Sweet treats are currently on offer for our hard-working teachers and support staff, there’s the chance to choose a book to curl up with on a dark winter’s night and also a wee reminder that Mrs Murphy’s famous Lenten scones are coming soon!

Many thanks to Mrs Murphy for co-ordinating our staff wellbeing activities and to the incredible Cathedral staff for all you do for our young learners each and every day. It doesn’t go unnoticed!

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.