Blessings at campus site of new joint faith school
A CATHOLIC priest and a Jewish rabbi delivered a blessing at the site of a new £18.2million joint faith primary school campus in East Renfrewshire.
Building work will begin at Calderwood College in Newton Mearns, merging Calderwood Lodge and St Cadoc’s Primary School, in the coming weeks. The new school – thought to be a world first – will open in summer 2017.
It has been designed based on feedback from parents and representatives of both faith communities and will see a new buildings for each of the separate schools as well as shared spaces including an interactive zone at the centre as well as other shared learning areas.
At a ceremony on site yesterday, pupils from both schools joined Rabbi of Giffnock Synagogue and Calderwood Lodge Chaplain, Rabbi Rubin, and St Cadoc’s parish priest, Monsignor Monaghan.
Father Thomas Boyle, Catholic Education representative for East Renfrewshire and president of the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council, Paul Morron also attended yesterday’s ceremony.
Rabbi Rubin offered a traditional Jewish prayer for significant new builds before laying a stone for the new Calderwood Lodge, while Monsignor Monaghan addressed the gathering, before blessing a second stone, representing the Catholic faith.
A further stone was laid by Mhairi Shaw, director of education at East Renfrewshire Council and Marion Carlton and Maria McBride, head teachers of Calderwood and St Cadoc’s respectively.
Father Boyle said: “After nearly two years of planning and discussion between the authority and the two communities it’s wonderful to see Rabbi Rubin and Monsignor Monaghan pray for God’s blessing as the construction begins.
“May their blessings continue to be on both schools for the future.”
Paul Morron, added: “The bringing together of new Jewish and Catholic primary schools on a single campus is a momentous initiative.
“It delivers a powerful message to the wider community that two different faiths can work in close coop- eration. It’s an exciting venture that East Renfrewshire can be rightly proud of.
“We look forward to working with our Catholic friends and East Renfrewshire Council to the benefit of our children and the wider community.
“We’re also delighted to welcome a new Jewish school in the heart of the Glasgow Jewish community. It’s a strong vote of confidence in the future of the community.”
Mhairi Shaw, East Renfrewshire Council director of education, said: “The ceremony represents a significant milestone in the delivery of this exciting and innovative initiative.
“The joint faith campus is an excellent example of our creative and sector leading approach to providing high quality education services and facilities shaped by the views of our residents and community partners.”
St Cadoc’s Primary pupils will have the opportunity to transfer to the new Catholic primary school if they live within the designated catchment area.
Pupils at St Cadoc’s who don’t live in the new catchment area, but wish to attend the new school must submit a placing request to East Renfrewshire Council by January 31, next year.