Mission Statement 2015

Transcription

1 At Sacred Heart we are inspired by Jesus to be the very best we can be. We look after one another and show respect and love through our relationships with one another. Jesus is in our hearts. Let your light shine Matthew 5:16 Prayer and Worship Policy Mission Statement 2015 At Sacred Heart we are inspired by Jesus to be the very best we can be. We look after one another and show respect and love through our relationships with one another. Jesus is in our hearts. Let your light shine Matthew 5:16 WORD (We learn from Jesus our special teacher) Jesus is our special teacher. He is always with us. Through the gospel readings we are able to follow in Jesus s footsteps, reflect on our decisions and choose the right path. This allows our bright colours to shine. At Sacred Heart we place Christ at the centre of all we do. WELCOME (We welcome everyone into God s family) Jesus welcomed all people as his message is for everyone. In school we show welcome and warmth to all by inspiring one another to reach their true potential and celebrating our unique talents and gifts. We are a welcoming faith community and remember that our God is the loving Father of us all. WELFARE (We show others that we love and care for them) Jesus said we should love one another as I have loved you. We do this in school by looking after each other; especially those who are vulnerable and by putting the needs of others first. We are always ready to forgive others and we say sorry with honesty, courage and meaning. WORSHIP (We listen, talk and celebrate with Jesus) Everything that we do in school is a celebration of God's creation, every subject, every activity, every moment. To help us remember this we have special times of prayer throughout the day, the week and the year. We often celebrate mass and we know that Jesus is with us in a very special way WITNESS (We live a life that helps other people know Jesus) We are never on our own. Jesus is with us in every place and situation in school. This gives us a special hope now and for the future. We follow Jesus and guide others as one body in Christ Jesus. 1 Page

2 Introduction Prayer, worship and liturgical celebration are central to the religious life of our school and form an integral part of each school day. We will continue to foster and deepen our pupils personal relationship with God Our Father daily in prayer. Through Prayer we become aware of God s presence in our lives and begin to realise His love for us. Legal Requirements We acknowledge the legal requirements that there must be a daily act of worship for all pupils. The act of worship is not designated curriculum time and will not be subsumed under any part of the curriculum, including Religious Education. The Place of Collective Worship in the Life of Our School We endorse the belief that Collective Worship takes into account the religious and educational needs of all who share in it. Those who form part of the worshipping community in church Those for whom school maybe their first and only experience of church Those from other Christian traditions or none Those from other faith backgrounds Collective worship will be an educational activity or experience to which all can contribute and from which all can gain. The Aims of Collective Worship We believe that Collective Worship in our school aims to provide opportunities for all pupils and staff to: Contemplate something of the mystery of God Deepen our relationship with God Reflecton, spiritual and moral issues Experience and develop a common ethos and shared values Enrich religious experience Grow in liturgical understanding and development Reinforce prayers that are part of the Catholic tradition Reinforce positive attitudes Participate fully Explore their own beliefs Respond to and celebrate life Experience a sense of belonging and develop community spirit 2 Page

3 An act of Worship in our school will: begin with an element which gathers/draws the community together focus more deeply on a theme conclude with a sense of renewed and deepened relationship with God be short and simple be orderly but informal have variety vary in terms of numbers involved be in a suitable setting to create the right atmosphere be led by staff and pupils In order to ensure that worship is stimulating for our community, staff and pupils are encouraged to use a variety of the following forms of worship: silence poetry meditation spontaneous prayer(p.r.a.y) scripture sayings singing video ritual dance visuals using artefacts gestures drama music formal prayers movement sign of peace prayer journals(ks2) The Eucharist Eucharistic celebrations form a very important part of our school life. Opportunities for children to participate are maximized and parents and other members of the school and Parish communities are encouraged to attend. Eucharistic celebrations include: Whole school Masses for Induction Harvest Epiphany Easter Christmas Leavers Mass Class Masses and Liturgies Other Prayer and Worship Opportunities Sacred Heart school recognises that Prayer and Worship does not always have to be timetabled and actively encourages prayer to be spontaneous throughout the school day. However, there are timetabled Prayer and Worship activities throughout the school year such as: Weekly meditation Weekly Rosary Club Class assemblies 3 Page

4 Pupil Chaplain assemblies Class Masses Lenten and Advent liturgies Weekly whole school assemblies Prayer is encouraged in a variety of forms- private individual prayer, group prayer and whole school prayer, both formal and informal using P.R.A.Y. (Praise, Repentance, Asking for others, Yourself) as a stimulus for variety. Classes will pray together first thing in a morning, before and after lunch and again at home time as a minimum. To provide focus and to give stimulation to prayer, the hall and each classroom has a prayer focus area which is refreshed regularly to reflect the different parts of the liturgical year of the Church. Children are actively encouraged to contribute to these areas and to have ownership of them. Pupil Chaplains Sacred Heart School has a dedicated team of Y6 Pupil Chaplains. One of the main aspects of their role in school is to plan and lead prayer for our school community. Their role has a high profile as the Chaplains are active and a visible presence for all the pupils. Resources Resources that can be used to stimulate of enhance collective worship are stored centrally in the hall and are reviewed regularly. New resources are purchased frequently so that religious areas are stimulating and interesting. Formal prayers will be taught and used throughout the school. These prayers will be an important element of the school s life of prayer and worship. Formal Prayers to be taught: EYFS and KS1 formal prayers Sign of the Cross The Lord s Prayer Hail Mary Glory Be Grace before Meals Grace after Meals Morning Offering Home time prayer KS2 formal prayers (in addition to KS1 prayers listed above) Act of Contrition Mass responses A knowledge and understanding of the Stations Of the Cross and Rosary 4 Page

5 Eternal Rest Parish Prayer SCHOOL PRAYERS Morning Offering Oh my God I give to you All I think or say or do, All my work and all my play, I will give to God today. Before Meals Dear God, Bless us oh God as we sit together, Bless the food we eat today, Bless the hands that make the food Bless us oh God, Simple Act of Contrition O my God Because you are so good I am very sorry that I have sinned against you And by the help of your grace I will not sin again. End of Day Prayers God Our Father, I ve come to say, Thank you for your love today. I thank you for my family And all the friends you give tome Guard me in the dark of night And in the morning, send your light.. After Meals Dear God Thank you for the food we have eaten, Thank you God for all our friends, Thank you God for everything Thank you God! ParishPrayer Jesus, you are our Good Shepherd. You guide us, lead us and feed us. Bring us together as one in your name, So that we may grow together in love for you and for each other, And serve you through all those in need, as we follow you, The Way, the Truth and the Life. Children will develop their understanding of the meaning the Hail Mary, Our Father, Sign of the Cross, Eternal rest and their roots in scripture. KS2 children will be encouraged to develop new contemporary versions of traditional prayer. Approved by Governors: September 2014 To be reviewed: September Page