Spiritual Life of our School
"Pupils benefit from a well-developed curriculum for religious education"
Ofsted December 2017
At St Mary's we follow the RE scheme ‘The Way the Truth and the Life", which is implemented from Nursery through to Year 6. We try to live out our faith as well as teach it. We believe that this can be seen clearly in our Collective Act of Worship, Assemblies, Class and Whole School Masses, our general participation in the Church's Liturgy and our behaviour in class, playground and staffroom. We pride ourselves on the relationships you will see, not only between pupils but also between staff. Children not only respect adults but adults respect children too.
At St Mary's we support
Kanyike Project based in Kenya (Harvest time)
Missionaries of Charity International (Lejnt)
We also support other British based charities throughout the year including Children in Need, Poppy Appeal, Red Nose Day and Sports Relief.
Harvest Time
This is a time of thanksgiving, a time to reflect and appreciate how fortunate we are. Thank you to all the children and families who donated Harvest Baskets. Each year we sell the baskets after our Harvest Mass and the proceeds go to the Kanyike Project. This year we raised over £431 which will be used to buy new equipment for the recently built Nursery.
November - Month of Remembrance
Our Years 5 and 6 classes lead a whole school assembly at 11am on Remembrance Day. Year 2 make their own poppy wreaths and lay them after the two minutes silence. The children help us remember through prayer, music, pictures, videos and their own poems, those who have and are currently serving our country in all our armed forces.
This year we were honoured to be invited to lay a wreath at the War Memorial in town.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends"
John 15:13
Advent
This is special time of year, a time when we prepare ourselves for the birth of the baby Jesus. We discuss the advent wreath and its meaning in our assemblies and look forward to lighting the candles each week as we prepare for Christmas.
Nativity Plays and Carol Services
Foundation Stage
Our Nursery and Reception Classes join together in performing a Nativity Play - this is always a very special production with parents and grandparents enjoying the celebration with pride.
Key Stage One
Years 1 and 2 join together to perform the Nativity. Children obviously enjoy performing plays but they also gain the very special message that the baby Jesus, God's Son, was born in a very humble stable but was surrounded by lots of love. It is important that we all reflect on this and take time to love and care for others during this season.
Lent - Outward Looking, Putting Others First
Lent begins with an Ash Wednesday Mass in school. The children recognise the symbolism of the cross placed upon their forehead. This is an occasion when all children take a special part in the Mass.
During Lent we encourage all our pupils to place the needs of others first - making their own Lenten promises, they think about the needs of others.
During Lent each class has their own Lenten activities which they use to raise money for our Lenten charity.
Year 6 help serve the Lent Lunches run in St Thomas of Canterbury Church Hall which raise money for both Christian Aid and Cafod.
On Fridays during Lent Stations of the Cross are celebrated by KS2 and led by a different class each week. We also have a whole school Compline on Wednesday afternoons for Reception to Year 6.
Easter Production
Each year our Year 6 Class perform the Stations of the Cross as a tableau, parents and visitors join in with the rest of the school.
Our Year 3 and 4 children perform on a Passion Play to help us reflect on the events of Holy Week.
Prayer Life of the School
Daily life in school is punctuated by prayer. The day starts with a Morning Prayer, Grace is said before lunch and the day closes with a prayer.
Letter from Jane Goring, Chief Inspector of Schools, Diocese of Westminster
Section 48 (RE Inspection)
Mission Statement
dreaming bigger,
praying together,
growing in God's love.
Our Children Say...
Ofsted Statement
"Pupils thrive in this school both in terms of academic achievement and personal wellbeing."
Ofsted December 2017
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