Collective Worship
Collective worship takes place at the start of each day. We come together as a community before God to share in the life and stories of Jesus Christ, His Son. Daily worship is rooted in Christianity and covers our 12 chosen school values; one per half term. All pupils and staff come together for this spiritual time together to reflect on their lives and how they live them to the full. Pupils develop their moral and social thinking during worship; each worship has time for silence and reflection to think and pray for what we are grateful for and how that worship will impact on our lives moving forward.
Worship is led by the children and ably supported by our Worship Acolyte team, of which there are two per class appointed each year. Acolytes apply for the role having studied the job description for an acolyte! Fr. Paul, the priest at St. Mary's Parish Church leads a weekly worship alongside staff and other visiting clergy, retired clergy in our parish and lay preachers.
Collective Worship is exceptionally important to us as a school community, however, parents do have the right to withdraw their children. Please make contact with the Headteacher to discuss this.
Christian Distinctiveness Working Party
Our working party meets termly and consists of school leaders, governors and members of the local community and clergy. The purpose of the group is to guide the school's strategic direction in terms of Christian Distinctiveness as a Church of England School. As a result of the work carried out by the working party, the school was graded EXCELLENT in its last SIAMS inspection. A copy of the report can be found under 'statutory information, OFSTED and Performance Data' on this website. All minutes from these meetings are added to the next Governing Body agenda for information, discussion and questioning.
Eucharist
Each half term we come together as a school for a Eucharist service. Our service is taken by Fr. Paul and sometimes Canon Robert. Visitors are welcome to come along to share in the Eucharist with us, and indeed many do on a regular basis from the parish, including governors, volunteers and parents. Visitors, children and staff receive the sacrament or a blessing by Fr. Paul during the service.
Each year Fr. Paul prepares children for taking their First Communion. If you would like to explore this further for your child, please contact the Headteacher in the first instance. First Communion is offered to pupils in year 3 and above.
The Eucharist takes place at 9:30am on the penultimate Friday of each half term with coffee and biscuits after in the staff room! The dates are on the school calendar on the right hand side of this website for your information. We look forward to meeting you and welcoming you.
In Eucharist, half termly, Fr. Paul blesses each child in turn. Those children who have been admitted to communion take the holy sacrament of bread, the body of Christ, as do the adults.
Prayers
A Prayer for Today by Year 6
Dear God,
We thank you for giving us the patience and understanding to reach out to others and that them with dignity and respect.
Help us to remember that everyone is equal, to value other people, and to treat them well, just as we wish to be treated.
Amen
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Dear God,
Thank you for everything we have.
Help us to have a happy school where everyone is cared for.
Let our school teach us right from wrong.
Let our school friends help us when times get tough.
Help you school understand that everyone matters.
Let our school be the best it can be.
Amen
School Prayer - Written by our Worship Acolytes
Dear heavenly Father,
We are thankful for all you have created and for the people in our community; we give thanks for the life you have given us and all you provide us with.
We place our trust in you to keep us safe, keep us healthy and give us the strength to speak up and let other hear your words. We trust, you Son, Jesus Christ, will always be beside us to keep us from harm.
Jesus taught us to love one another, as we love you. We are grateful for the love you have shown us which reassures us each day.
Give us the strength, skills and knowledge to help us to achieve and live our life to its fullest. Send your Holy Spirit to guide us, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen
A Prayer for Giving Thanks following our worship around Psalm 148 (Creation)
Dear heavenly Father,
Thank you for all you have given to us. We appreciate the things which are unique to us and we share them willingly with everyone around. Help us to notice even the smallest things which seem mundane. We give thanks, to your Son, Jesus Christ, who died for us and rose again to save us all.
Amen
A Prayer of Peace
Dear loving father,
Teach me to trust in you so when the unexpected storms of life come, I will expect peace in the midst of those storms, knowing that you are near, you hear my cries, and you are with me and for me.
Amen
Spirituality
“My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (John 10:10)
At St. Mary's we place high value on the development of each and every child. At the heart of all we do in school, we not only develop our pupil's values to live successful and fulfilled lives but we also emphasise the children's spiritual development.
At St. Mary's there are many ways in which we aim to develop spirituality.
These include:
- the use of calming or thought-provoking music
- experiencing silence and the impact this can have on emotions, thoughts and feelings
- building time into every day to reflect on what has been and what is to come
- sharing 'Big Questions' and building in time to ponder -
- Is it possible to think yourself happy?
- Why do people often say their favourite colour is blue?
- Can kindness really change the world?
- yoga and meditation - we also run a yoga club after school
- time to develop thoughts and beliefs
- space to write prayers and think more deeply
Spiritual Areas
All classes throughout our school contain a Spiritual Area. Each area is a focus within the room and is utilised each day with the pupils. The Spiritual Area in your child's class is central to the class worship each Tuesday.
The children write prayers, reflect and learn about the life of Jesus and his teachings, through the gospels, in their Spiritual Areas. Some children like to take the time to be silent in their busy lives in their Spiritual Area; each area is personal to that class and the children who use it.