Catholic Social Teaching

The principles of Catholic Social Teaching are prominent within school both throughout the curriculum and in the school environment (school hall and each classroom). The design of our curriculum means that each learning block focuses on two specific principles. This offers the opportunity for the children to link their learning to the principles and living out their Catholic faith in the modern world. Please see our curriculum overviews on the curriculum page. 

LOOKING AFTER OUR PLANET

Our Laudato Si Leaders have been busy today creating their 'Don't drop litter' posters, which they have displayed around the school for all to see. Thank you to the team for reminding us all that we have a duty to look after our world - God's wonderful creation! #cststewardship #catholiclifestm

GOD'S CREATURES

Today our Laudato Si Leaders have been very busy. They have been enjoying looking God's creatures. They have made Cheerio bird feeders for all of the birds that visit our school gardens. Thank you to the leaders for taking the time to notice the small creatures around us. 

CLEAN AIR DAY !

Year 3 took part in a Clean Air Day for their Catholic Life Pledge. they looked at how they could raise awareness to reduce air pollution, in particularly tackling the issue of 'car idling'. The children all made their own pledge in how we they and we can reduce air pollution with the aim of taking greater care of God's planet. 

PEACFULLY PROTESTING TO PROTECT GOD'S PLANET

What a fabulous day Year 1 had today. All of the children took part in a variety of activities to help them to understand God's creation. The day was kickstarted with a scavenger tree hunt and the children collected a variety of leaves to create some beautiful nature inspired art work. The children made rain catchers and sorted objects, deciding upon whether they could be recycled or not. The children then made peaceful protester poster to promote the protection of the our beautiful planet. 

PROTECTING OUR LOCAL AREA

Year 5 have taken the time to focus on our local area. For one of their Catholic Life Pledges, the visited Queen Elizabeth Park, and tidied up the public space. They carried out a litter pick, they held a debate about renewable energy resources and took the opportunity to act out part of their English class text. They ended their visit with a prayer and liturgy session. 

Thank you year 5 for looking after our local environment.

Blackout Day

As one of our Catholic Life Pledges, Year 5 and Year 6 decided to take part in a 'Blackout Day'. The day involved learning in many different ways...without using energy! The purpose of the day and indeed our pledge was to support us and raise awareness towards becoming better stewards of God's creation in line with our CST principle of Stewardship.

SUSTAINABILITY

As part of a Catholic Life pledge, the children combined 'pleasure for reading' with recycling. Staff at the charity shops, the library and members of the public enjoyed hearing about our Catholic Life pledge and our sustainable approach to stocking our Reading for Pleasure areas. We bought a total of 230 books for the school! Book shopping was certainly thIRsty work so the children were treated to a well-earned hot chocolate! Thank you to the PTFA for supporting our pledge.

RECYCLING

The Year 6 children have been helping to recycle school uniform ahead of the new academic year.

THE BIG LENT WALK

The children have been busy getting ready for The Big Lent walk!

CONFIRMATION

Congratulations to all of our confirmands who received the sacrament this evening. It was fantastic seeing you grow into your faith even further. We are very proud of you. Please keep our children in your prayers.

PRAYER STONES

Year 5 spent the afternoon considering and compiling their own prayers; prayers to praise, prayers to ask, prayers to say sorry, prayers of thanks and prayers of adoration. Everyone created a prayer stone and placed the stone in the prayer garden for all to visit and learn about the prayer intentions. 

YEAR OF PRAYER

What beautiful artwork has been displayed in the KS2 corridor following on from our work on the first petition in the Our Father. The children looked at and listened to the Lord's Prayer and then created a piece of artwork which encapsulated how it made them feel. Thank you Y6!

WHOLE SCHOOL CHRIST THE KING LITURGY

Today, our head boys and girls led a liturgy for the whole school which centred around Christ the King. The children reflected on times when they were truly sorry and allowing Jesus to teach us to to earn our way into His kingdom. Afterwards, parents and parishioners joined us for some coffee and cake and reflected on the liturgy

CIVIC MASS BIDDING PRAYERS

Thank you to our Year 6 children who read beautifully at the annual civic mass this morning. It was fantastic to be part of this tradition, with the mayor, for the first time in four years since lockdown.

FATHER MARCO'S MASS 

What a fantastic celebration tonight at Father Marco’s Mass. We were especially proud of our Year 6 children who participated in the mass. As a school, we would like to personally thank him for all of the support and spiritual guidance that he has provided for both our children and staff. We wish him all the best in his new parish. They are very lucky to be having such a dedicated and kind-hearted Parish Priest. We will miss you.

PRAYER NOTES

Following on from learning about the Good Samaritan in our RE lessons, the children decided as one of their Catholic Life Pledges to send prayer notes to our school neighbours, to live out being a good samaritan. The children walked around the local area and posted their prayer notes.

LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR

Year 1 have completed their second Catholic Life pledge 'Love Thy Neighbour'. From our recent work on the story of The Good Samaritan, the children decided to help their neighbours, To spread some love, the children made Valentine day cards for the residents of Rowan Court Care Home. We hope that the residents enjoyed receiving the cards as much as the children enjoyed sending them.

PRAYING AT HOME

Thank you to all of the children and their families who have taken home the school prayer bags. Thank you for sharing your prayer intentions with us and for enthusiastically explaining how you have prepared a special area for prayer, using the prayer cloth, crucifix, holy water and calming music. 

CLASS LITURGY

Year 6 hosted a parent liturgy this afternoon

The children prepared and delivered a short liturgy about the upcoming Racial Justice Sunday. We thought about how racial discrimination had been too big a part of our history and what hopes they have for their future. We created a paper chain containing these wishes and offered them up to God. The different colours of paper represented the wonderful array of skin tones that we have in our world.

Staff Soup Lunch

Thank you to all of the members of staff who made home soup today. A big thank you too to all of the members of staff who gave a donation for a bowl of soup. All of the proceeds will be send to CAFOD.

GOOD SHEPHERD APPEAL

St Mary's were lucky enough to be part of an assembly all about the Good Shepherd Apeal! Jo talked to us about how we can help those less fortunate than us and even if we donate 1p, it would make a huge difference! After the assembly, Jo chatted with the Minnie Vinnies about how they can help to fundraise to support the Good Shepherd Appeal.