School stars and flying the flag for Missio Scotland

THE year 2024-25 has not only seen a number of primary schools become Five Star Missio Scotland Schools, but many of them have continued on their engagement journey with us by achieving their Bronze School Award Flag too.

The Five Star Missio Scotland Schools initiative began life in 2022 with the aim of encouraging more schools in Scotland to engage more fully with the Pope’s Charity for overseas mission and the Bishops of Scotland’s chosen charity for Catholic primary schools.

To become a Five Star Missio Scotland school, schools must complete all the tasks shown on our Five Star Missio Scotland Schools poster namely:

• Pray the Mission Rosary during May or Mission Month (October)

• Fundraise for Missio Scotland

• Commission Missio Scotland Champions

• Enter our Christmas Artwork Contest

• Put on a Missionary Saints play

When all of these tasks have been completed and Missio Scotland has been provided with evidence (photo, video, social media post), the appropriate star is sent out to the school. When a school has a star for each of the five tasks on their chart, they become a Five Star Missio Scotland School and receive their own Missy Moo mascot.

In the 2023-24 school year, St Bride’s Primary School in Cambuslang became the first primary school in Scotland to become a Five Star Missio Scotland School. Joining them from Motherwell Diocese were: Sacred Heart Primary School in Bellshill, St Ignatius Primary School in Wishaw,  St Kevin’s Primary School in Bargeddie and St Ninian’s Primary School in Hamilton.

There were notable firsts in this regard throughout Scotland as St Mungo’s Primary School in Townhead became the first Five Star Missio Scotland School in Glasgow Archdiocese, St Ninian’s Primary School in Gourock did likewise Paisley Diocese—and were presented with a special award from Bishop John Keenan—while St Columba’s Primary School in Cupar became the first in Dunkeld Diocese to achieve the status (above).

St John’s Primary School in Ayr were the first Five Star Missio Scotland School in Galloway Diocese and they were joined shortly afterwards by Mount Carmel Primary School in Kilmarnock.

This year, these schools were joined in Motherwell Diocese by St Leonard’s Primary School in East Kilbride, Corpus Christi Primary School in Calderbank and St Mary’s Primary School in Calderdruix; in Paisley Diocese by St Joseph’s Primary School in Busby; and in Aberdeen Diocese by St Joseph’s Primary School in Inverness where Bishop Hugh Gilbert was on hand to present then with a special award for being the first Five Star Missio Scotland School from the diocese.

When a school achieves Five Star Missio Scotland status, they then move onto the next step in their engagement journey. In the years following achieving the status, if a school engages with Missio Scotland in any way (prays the Mission Rosary, holds an assembly, uses our resources) and fundraises for us, they receive a Bronze Flag (Year 2), a Silver Flag (Year 3), a Gold Flag (Year 4) and a Golden Missy Moo upon having engaged and fundraised consistently for five years.

Some of our Five Star Missio Scotland Schools have wasted no time in attaining their Bronze School Award Flags. St Bride’s Primary School in Cambuslang were once again the first school in Scotland on this front, followed by fellow Motherwell Diocesan school, Corpus Christi Primary School in Calderbank (above). St Ninian’s Primary School in Gourock were first once again in Paisley Diocese and were presented with their Bronze Flag just before the schools broke up for the summer holidays.

Here's to many more in 2025-26.

To find out more about becoming a Five Star Missio Scotland School and coming on an engagement journey with us, visit: https://www.missioscotland.com/missymoo