Our Values in Action
Our school values are extremely important to use and run through every thing we do.
Our children certainly celebrate being unique and ensure they are 'precious in God's eyes'.
During Anti-bullying week we discuss how unique we are and talk about celebrating our differences. One way we show this is through having an 'Odd Sock Day', which shows that socks do the same job but all look different from the outside and can feel different as well. Our children recognise that it is good to have differences and accept each other for the person they are.
Last year we invited Shaun Gash into school to teach all the children what it is like to play wheel chair basket ball. Apart from having a good time it made our children understand the difficulties in using wheelchairs but more importantly it is about recognising the person.
Our children fully understand about celebrating uniqueness and accepting each other as a true person of God but ultimately it is about loving each person.
Our children take this value very seriously and provide much service to our parish and local community. Over the past year they have raised money for CAFOD, our local food bank, our local hospice-St John's and have sold poppies. Some of our talented singers have walked over to the local residential home and sang carols at Christmas and sang with Lancaster Singers adult choir for their carol concert. It has not stopped there as some wonderful volunteers have helped the Garstang Bloomers collect rubbish and tidy up the beds around the village.
Remembrance Sunday
This year two of our Year 5 pupils represented our school at the Garstang Remembrance Parade with the other two primary schools and high school. Together they showed service and respect whilst walking together and attended the service at St Thomas' Church. Towards the end of the parade both pupils laid a poppy wreath with the rest of the community to 'remember the fallen'.
The weeks prior to Remembrance Sunday, our school councillors sold poppies throughout the school.
Our children and staff are such a caring and compassionate family! They always think about others before themselves and fully enjoy helping each other.
Our Year 6 pupils act as buddies for our younger children- they help at lunch time during meals, then organise games during playtimes and read to the younger children just before the afternoon sessions.
We have noticed during lunch time if a child is on their own eating their lunch someone will move to sit next to them. One pupil has even offered to miss part of their playtime to help with cleaning up the tables after lunch.
Our pupils have wonderful manners and always say good morning when walking down the corridor and offer to help and open doors.
During our Y6 residential the care they showed each other was lovely to see, knowing that they were away from home they comforted each other if others where home sick, helped each other with equipment and kit, worked as a team and generally showed amazing compassion.
This has been one value which has shown elements of difficulty over the past year! Our children fully understand how to accept each other for who they are and celebrate the uniqueness of each other, however acceptance is not just about who we are as a person it is about accepting other people's views and opinions.
This year one very special moment was two of our pupils wanted to join the Catholic family and chose to be Baptised. This celebration took place during Owl class mass and Fr Geoffrey lead a beautiful service for us. They felt fully accepted into God's family and then continued to make their first Reconciliation and Holy Communion.
We have an amazing school sports team and they are extremely passionate about showing their talents and representing to school the best they can. This year these children have found it difficult to 'accept' certain decisions which have gone against them, but have worked hard to rise above it and show the resilience we have been working on. We are so proud of how they are accepting decisions, which they are not happy with and being that better person.
Our children show much respect to eachother as well as the staff within our school. We work as one family and team together. This has been mentioned by many of our visitors in school and also when we go out on visits to other schools or events.
Our children understand the importance of respecting each other's point of view and can listen with respect and understanding. During worship even the youngest of our children understand the need to be reflective and silent and show respect.
During our Easter reflections our children read, took part in drama and sang hymns with such respect and reverence.
Forgiveness is what we believe is one of our most important values we teach our children. Each day is a new start no matter what has happened the day before and if we are truly sorry we can learn from our mistakes.
In Year 3 our children make their First Reconciliation and ask God to forgive them for the wrong choices they have made. Our wonderful parish catechists support our children on their beautiful journey and have spoken about their excellent knowledge as they take part in discussion and prayer.
Our children are very good at forgiving each other and believe that every one is allowed to a fresh start.
