Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral Primary School

The week beginning Monday 18th December is the last week of term and there are a number of Christmas events taking place.

MONDAY 18th: an opportunity for Primary 3 – 7 pupils to enjoy this year’s infant nativity, ‘Gabriel’s Big Break’.

TUESDAY 19th: morning and afternoon performances of our infant nativity, ‘Gabriel’s Big Break’ (9.45am and 1.45pm).

WEDNESDAY 20th: Christmas parties in the morning (the children should come dressed in their party clothes); ‘Beauty and the Beast’ pantomime performance in afternoon for all Cathedral pupils.

FRIDAY 22nd: Movie-Duvet Day… an opportunity for pupils to come to school in their pyjamas or other comfy clothes, curl up with a blanket or teddy and enjoy some movies together.

PLEASE NOTE CATHEDRAL PRIMARY WILL CLOSE FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS ON FRIDAY 22nd AT THE SLIGHTLY EARLIER  TIME OF 2.30pm

Two Cathedral parents, Mr Purser and Mrs Cowan, appeared at our nursery on Friday 8th December like Mr and Mrs Claus! They are both members of a local community-run group called ‘From the Street (FTS)’ and turned up with toys and books for all of our nursery children as well as additional books for the school library. Local company ‘Murray Landscaping’ also donated a Christmas tree for the nursery playroom.

A HUGE thank you to ‘From the Street’ and Murray Landscaping for their generosity. You’re the sort of people who make Motherwell such a special place to live and learn!

Coach Willie expects three things from Cathedral footballers:

• A – Attitude
• C – Commitment
• E – Enthusiasm

The above seven children have shown all three ACE attributes throughout this term’s football training and, on Friday 8th December, each received a certificate in recognition of their endeavours. Well done to all of you and many thanks to Coach Willie for his ongoing commitment and input to Cathedral Primary

Primary 3 – 7 brought Christmas magic to Cathedral Primary on Friday 8th December with their performance of carols and poems. The choir opened the concert with ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ and ‘Of the Father’s heart begotten’ before each year group took to the stage to sing two carols and perform a spoken piece. Carols included ‘Walking in a winter wonderland’, ‘Somewhere in my memory’ from Home Alone, the well-known ‘The Angel Gabriel’, a gospel-style ‘Mary’s Boy Child’ and a vibrant finale of ‘Merry Christmas everyone’. Well done to the children on their amazing performances and many thanks to their teachers for preparing them for the concert and to support staff for decorating the hall so beautifully.

These five Primary 4 pupils approached Mr Young earlier in the term to ask if they could make and sell loom-bands for charity. The orders came flooding in and the children managed to raise an incredible £120 pounds, all of which will be donated to St Andrew’s Hospice. Well done, team!

Cathedral Primary choir joined pupils from St Brendan’s and St Bernadette’s Primary Schools in the cathedral on Thursday 7th December for a special carol service. The combined choir, connected through the National Schools Singing Programme, led the congregation in a number of well-known carols, with Cathedral pupils having particular responsibility for singing ‘Of the Father’s love begotten’: something they did beautifully. The choir was conducted by Mr James Greechan, NSSP Choral Director for Motherwell Diocese, and accompanied on the organ by Mr John Pitcathley.

Cathedral pupils turned up to Ambition Avenue in their droves on Wednesday 6th December for the first Christmas story-telling session of the season. Led by Mrs McCarthy and Primary 6b, the children had the opportunity to cosy up around the decorations and enjoy listening to ‘The Christmas Star’s Big Shine’. The session even included a selection of carols performed by Cathedral’s very own Christmas boy-band, ‘Gingerbread Bros.’!

This fun, festive lunchtime activity will continue every Monday, Wednesday and Friday throughout the rest of term. There are certainly lots more stories for Cathedral pupils to enjoy in the days ahead!

The young learners from Cathedral Nursery got our festive celebrations off to a great start on Tuesday 5th December with a performance of favourite Christmas carols. The children kicked-off with Jingle Bells, retold the story of Santa getting stuck in the chimney and introduced a new carol to the audience called ‘Pull, pull, pull the cracker.’ The concert finished with a dance-off between the children and the grown-ups to ‘Feliz Navidad’ before families enjoyed a cuppa and festive nibble in the dining hall.

Well done to our nursery children and many thanks to staff for preparing the children for their show.

To help our school and parish community prepare for the coming of Jesus at Christmas, Mass will be celebrated at 8.15am in the gym hall every Tuesday and Friday throughout the season of Advent.

All pupils, staff, parents and parishioners are very welcome to attend.

‘This time of Advent is a time of waiting for the Lord, who will visit us all on the feast of Christmas, but also, each one, in our own hearts.’ (Pope Francis)