Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral Primary School

On Tuesday 11th October, our whole school community joined parents and parishioners in Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral for a special Mass to formally welcome our new Primary 1 pupils and also bid a sad farewell to Fr Chromy and Fr Mark who both move to new parishes later this month. This was the first time since before the pandemic that the entire school had been able to gather together in the Cathedral, making it all the more special. The children participated in the Mass attentively and prayerfully and lifted the roof with their enthusiastic singing of the opening and closing hymns.

Towards the end of Mass, Fr Chromy prayed a special blessing over our new Primary 1 pupils, after which Fr Chromy and Fr Mark were presented with gifts of restaurant vouchers from pupils and staff and theatre vouchers from parents and carers.

In an email to Mr Young, one Cathedral parent wrote:

“It was a beautiful mass and the children of Cathedral Primary were out of this world. The singing, participation and behaviour of all pupils was outstanding and it was a joy to attend…. Cathedral Primary is a fantastic community to be a part of.”

Mr Young couldn’t agree more!

Primary 7 took to the stage on Friday 7th October for their Learning Showcase. The hall was packed with the children’s families who all thoroughly enjoyed the vibrant and humourous performance all about Growth Mindset. The children did themselves and their teachers proud and demonstrated just what a fantastic Primary 7 year group they are.

At the end of the assembly, Mr Young expressed how good it was to see the return of school events after two years of COVID. We look forward to more Learning Showcases throughout the coming year, as well as next term’s P1 & 2 Nativity and P3-7 Christmas Concert.

This year’s ‘Come Clubbing @ Cathedral’ programme, which offers pupils a wide range of extra curricular activities, is now well underway. Our Cooking Club has, once again, been very popular, giving budding chefs the opportunity to try out new recipes and develop their culinary skills.

Every Cathedral teacher runs a club at some point during the course of the year: their commitment to the children’s wider learning and willingness to go the extra mile is very, very much appreciated.

Following the launch of our Ca-Fi Connections initiative in August, almost all Cathedral and Firpark pupils have now had the opportunity to visit each other’s schools. On Thursday 6th October, the ‘Ca-Fi Council’ enjoyed a tour of Cathedral Primary together, along with Mrs McGuire (Principal Teacher, Firpark) and Miss Cawley (Principal Teacher, Cathedral).

The Ca-Fi Council has responsibility for leading and coordinating joint events and learning opportunities across the two schools.

Cathedral Primary has always been known for its strong musical tradition, so the suspension of instrumental tuition due to COVID-19 was a particular blow to the school. However, following a significant investment in new trumpets and trombones using the school’s Pupil Equity Fund, instrumental tuition has made a welcome return to Cathedral on an even bigger scale than from before the pandemic.

As can be seen from the photographs, the children were delighted to receive their new instruments last week and Mr Woods, our brass instructor, has expressed how impressed he is with the enthusiasm and commitment of Cathedral pupils. In an email to Mr Young, Mr Woods wrote:

”Thank you for your support (including financial) for our young musicians. Cathedral PS leading the way.”

We look forward to hearing the children perform later in the year.

There was a huge turnout for the Family Fun Night on Friday 30th September. The event had something to appeal to people of all ages and the queues for both the face painting and the tombola were equally long. Meanwhile, the children’s entertainer held everyone’s attention throughout the evening in the gym hall.

By the end of the night, an incredible £2846.20 had been raised!

A massive thank you to our dedicated Fundraising Committee for organising and running the event and to pupils and families for turning out in such huge numbers.

Many congratulations to Mrs Irwin on the arrival of baby Ava Margaret Elizabeth. Ava was born at 5.50am on Saturday 1st October, weighing in at a very impressive 8lb 13oz! Both mum and baby are home and doing well.

Three Cathedral pupils travelled to Carfin Grotto with Mrs Duffy on Friday 30^th September for a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Toal, followed by an opportunity to venerate the Relics of St Bernadette Soubirous. The pupils then joined Bishop Toal at the Grotto for the traditional Lourdes Water Liturgy and blessing.

Prayer of Saint Bernadette

O My God, I beg You, by Your
Loneliness, not that You may
spare me affliction, but that
You may not abandon me in it.
When I encounter affliction,
teach me to see You in it
as my sole comforter.
Let affliction strengthen
my faith, fortify my hope,
and purify my love.
Grant me the grace to see
Your hand in my affliction
and to desire no other
comfort but You.
Amen.

As the month of October begins, a special display has appeared in the school library, dedicated to Black History Month. We hope the books on this display will help highlight to Cathedral pupils the achievements of the Black community, celebrate their contributions to our country and learn about the important Black historical figures who helped make Britain and the world what it is today.

After a decade of dedicated service to Cathedral Primary School, Miss Love waved goodbye to pupils and staff on Friday 30th September. Our whole school community surprised Miss Love at the end of assembly with a procession to the Cathedral throne, an interview with Mr Young, the presentation of a gift and a very enthusiastic rendition of ‘If I were a butterfly’.

Miss Love will be greatly missed by everyone here at Cathedral, but we wish her success and happiness as she jets off to Saudi Arabia to take up her new teaching post.