Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral Primary School

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.

A number of visitors descended on Cathedral Primary on Friday 17th September for a photoshoot in advance of this year’s Catholic Education Week, which takes place in November.

Ten Cathedral pupils, along with Fr Mark, Mr Young and Mrs Carroll, our RE Co-ordinator, were joined by Barbara Coupar (Director of the Scottish Catholic Education Service) Louise Elliot (also from SCES) and Claire O’Neill (RE Advisor for the Diocese of Motherwell) for the publicity event. Paul Sherry took the photographs and these will be used to promote this year’s Catholic Education Week across Scotland.

Friday 16th September saw over two hundred family members fill Cathedral Primary dining hall for the first coffee morning of the year. The event was organised and coordinated by Primary 6 pupils and the boys and girls made sure every one of the guests was well looked after. As always, the raffle was very popular, with a huge array of prizes kindly donated for the event.

An incredible £1108 was raised for school funds and the money will be used to support and enhance the children’s learning experiences over the coming months.

A huge thank you to the Fundraising Committee for organising and setting up the event. Cathedral school community is very fortunate to have you!

We look forward to next term’s coffee morning which takes place on Friday 18th November.