Embedded Files
Autumn 2 news
Autumn 2 news
Giving Back to Others
Our Year 6 children attended John Vianney Church hall to contribute to a Christmas dinner gathering of carers in Bexley by singing a medley of songs from their carol concert. Their singing was well received by all. One of the carers commented:
“I would like to say a big thank you for arranging this amazing performance from the children, they were absolutely brilliant. They brought tears to many of the carers eyes. They were all so enthusiastic which was so lovely to see. It was also really lovely to see a bunch of children without their phones etc. all present and enjoying themselves. Thanks again it was a special ending to the christmas party.”
Benny our prayer bear, has been enjoying Toddler prayer club with our toddlers sharing the nativity story and making their own advent wreaths.
Our children have been great disciples of Jesus in living our school mission statement and linking this to the Catholic Social Teaching and Gospel Value of the week. They have been sharing their actions in their class gospel value book and can identify this in their everyday lives.
CST - living the principles
CST - living the principles
Our children have demonstrated a strong sense of Human Dignity by thoughtfully discussing aspects of the school mission statement during the Monday Celebration of the Word. They contributed meaningfully to the Advent service by sharing their Advent promises, celebrated their learning through earning Outstanding learner stickers and badges, and proudly shared their achievements both in and out of school.
The Common Good has truly shone through our Opal project, with children sharing, cooperating, and playing together beautifully in the different zones. Our Unicef Charters are clearly reflected in the positive behaviour of our children both in the class and playgrounds. Our SANCTUS group has been leading Prayer Club sessions to all children across the school giving them the opportunity to deepen their faith and knowledge of Christ.
Our Pupil led groups demonstrate Solidarity, especially our librarians, reading buddies and SANCTUS group who have taken their role to supporting our children tremendously well with their reading and praying.
Subsidiarity has gone from strength to strength across the school. Our children make a significant difference to the school by assisting with planning and delivering different clubs for children. Our Unicef steering group have been working on caring for our common home and charity - giving others an opportunity to be heard. Using the Happy mind wellbeing programme, children are using practical activities to regulate themselves. They truly understand how they are kept safe by being able to name five trusted adults who they can talk to and friendship issues have decreased.
Our Eco Warriors have been excellent role models of Participation and Stewardship, carrying out their responsibilities with great commitment. They have supported litter picking, making and displaying posters about keeping the school tidy, turning off lights in rooms that are not in use, audits and reallocation of recycling bins. They have also worked in the Zen zone, focusing on activities that support the wellbeing of the pupils at lunch time. Inspired by their example, many other children across the school have also taken part in litter picking and keeping the school tidy.
The Preferential Option for the Poor has been at the forefront of our school community this half term. Our children have learned about a wide range of charities and thoughtfully chose which charity they wanted the donations from the Nativity and Carol Concerts to support. These included: Make a wish, Rainbow Trust, Great Ormond Street and British Heart Foundation.
Learning Council led staff meeting
Learning Council led staff meeting
The Learning Council led a staff meeting on the 22nd February to the full staff around Sustainability. They are working on Sustainability as it is part of the School Development Plan and is key in trying to keep costs down and keep the school site tidy.
The pupils led the staff meeting extremely well and presented key findings from their pupil questionnaires. They challenged staff to think about ways we can improve the provision for Sustainability further.
Sustainability Staff Meeting.pptx (2).pdf
Catholic Social Teaching at STM
Catholic Social Teaching at STM
Catholic Social Teaching is based on the belief that God has a plan for creation, a plan to build his kingdom of peace, love and justice.
It holds that God has a special plan for every single one of us, whoever we are. Our part in this plan isn’t just limited to things ‘spiritual’, or times when we do “religious things.” It involves every aspect of our lives, from the things we pray about, to how we live as a responsible global citizen.
Our part in this is a vocation for the common good, a call to treat everyone as our brothers and sisters. It is something that we all share.
The Catholic Church has principles of social teaching that we share with our children through all that we do, through the curriculum, special events and activity and through our ordinary actions in school. These principles include:
Human Dignity
Common Good
Participation
Subsidiarity
Stewardship
Solidarity
Preferential Option for the Poor
Distributive Justice
Promoting Peace
The animal mascots are used throughout the school during whole school assemblies, class worship and teachings in RE.
How CST is lived at STM
How CST is lived at STM
Human Dignity:
We show Human Dignity across the school by respecting and valuing each other. Each week we hold an Achievement Assembly celebrating the achievements of others across the school. Our Year 4 children delivered a class assembly about anti-bullying.
Common Good:
We show the common good through celebration our attendance and punctuality each week. Our Mini Vinnies collected items throughout harvest to donate to the local foodbank. Our Year 6 children are working with the parish to sing Christmas carols at care homes.
Participation:
Our Eco warriors have been established and are enjoying their roles in recycling, litter picking, creating posters about littering, developing wellbeing activities and looking after the school.
Subsidiarity:
All our children are given a voice as our children are nominated to be part of the Learning council and Happiness Heroes. Our children also write letters to be members of the Eco club, Mini Vinnies and Year 6 jobs. Our learning council and Unicef steering group voice the rights of the child.
Stewardship:
Our SANCTUS faith leaders, promote the spiritual and moral growth of our children across the school by delivering weekly prayer club focusing on the gospel of the week. Our Year 6 librarians encourage year groups to come into the library and have time to read together.
Solidarity:
Our children attend the diocesan and trust wide masses and events. At STM, we held a primary retreat day where children cam together to pray, make religious artefacts, meditate and make friends with each other. Our Year 6 children work together to complete jobs around the school including assisting in the lunch hall, taking messages from the office, reading one to one and with groups, as well as assisting children in their play at lunch time.
Preferential Option for the poor:
Our families and staff are very supportive in fundraising activities both for the school and outside charities. Our parents, staff and children completed the Big Lent Walk with other schools within the CCP. Our children attend our school disco, Christmas and Summer fair and the funds raised go back into the school for chrome books, play equipment and learning resources. Our children have participated in the Wear it Yellow fundraising day for Young Minds, Christmas jumper day for Save the children and donate to various chrities at their nativity and carol concerts. Our children also use their own initiative and make bracelets, hold bake sales at our discos and at the end of the school day to raise money for a charity that has touched their hearts.
Distributive justice:
We are a telling and all inclusive school. Every child is seen in the image and likeness of God. Our Mini Vinnies also focus on how they can help others and our community so they are treated fairly. Our Eco warriors also ensure that no fruit is wasted from the KS1 and sent to KS2.
Promoting peace:
We promote peace by ensuring that children know and understand that they have five adults that they can tell and talk to. We use restorative justice practices when there are conflicts between children. Our SANCTUS group offer prayer club across the school where children can take time to speak to God.
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