On Thursday of this week we were delighted to welcome Dr Alasdair Allan, Minister for Learning, Science, and Scotland’s Languages. Dr Allan was accompanied by Ms Sheila Brown from Education Scotland, Cllr McKeown Chair of the Education Resources Committee, Cllr Adams and Mrs Isobel MacDougall, our Head of Area. The visit was to recognise the significant improvements that have been made in our school over the past two years. Dr Allan spoke with myself and staff about our journey in developing our Curriculum for Excellence and the positive impact this has had on all learners. He then visited Primary 1, 5 and 7 to witness first hand the fantastic learning experiences our children engage in each day. Dr Allan and our visitors were most impressed with our school and especially our children who once again excelled themselves. All our guests were presented with a copy of the school poem, based on the style of Edwin Morgan’s Open Doors poem, written by Kaila in Primary 7.
Our senior school show, Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat, was another huge success for our school last week. Primaries 5, 6, and 7 were directed superbly well by Miss Prentice and the result was a first class production. Audiences were amazed by the array of talent in our school. Once again the pupils, ably assisted by staff and parents, were superb. This is yet another example of a fantastic learning experience in our school. My thanks and congratulations to all involved.
Friday was our annual sports day – this year with a Commonwealth theme. Pupils worked together in their houses to complete a number of challenges to be the winning house who would win our newly purchased Commonwealth Cup for the first time. The Commonwealth Cup will be our legacy for the games and will now be presented to the winning house each year for efforts on sports day. One of the activities was the sprint challenge. Every pupil participated in this event and the the winners were each presented with a small cup – 3rd place Marcus Leslie, 2nd place Calum Hogan and Ist place Matthew Anderson. Congratulations to the three boys! (We think we might start a girls’ running club next session to get in training!) The winning house will be announced after our End of Session Mass on Tuesday 24th June. Special thanks to Miss McKendry, Mrs McCart and Tony Gilhooly, our Active Schools Coordinator, for organising this event.
Last Friday we held our Summer Fayre in the school. The sun shone and there was a great atmosphere as families enjoyed the stalls, bouncy castle and popcorn! The Karen Borden School of Dance entertained all with a fantastic display of song and dance. We raised a super sum of money – £1478.86! My grateful thanks go to our fundraising coordinator, Mrs Whitson, and all staff and parents who helped and supported what we now hope to be an annual event.
A week past on Thursday we welcomed Father Bogan to celebrate Ascension Thursday mass in our school hall. It was a beautiful celebration of mass with the liturgy being lead by our Primary 4 pupils who for the first time participated fully in a school mass receiving holy communion.
Our induction programme for Primary 1 continued last week with our Buddy Afternoon. We welcomed 24 boys and girls to meet their identified buddies from Primary 6 and then watch the premiere of Life in Primary 1, filmed by our current Primary 1s. The new intake and their parents will return this Friday for our induction morning.
The past two weeks have been most eventful, as I’m sure you will agree. I am amazed and most proud of the achievements of all involved with our school but know it is a result of our dedicated, hard-working staff, fantastic pupils and supportive parents.
Well done St. Cuthbert’s – we are certainly on the up!
Mrs Hendry
Head Teacher
