St. Peter s Catholic Primary School Worship Policy 2016-17 Mission Statement Like St. Peter, we know and love God our creator, Jesus our friend and the Holy Spirit our helper. We celebrate the joy of learning and playing together, growing as individuals and as a loving community. Rationale Statutory and Diocesan requirements are that all schools should provide a daily act of Worship. Every Catholic and religiously sponsored school should have a vibrant worship life with ample opportunities for student liturgies, times of prayer and reflection and should be suffused with religious symbols that nurture the faith identity of students (Thomas Croome) At St. Peter s we aim to provide a vivid experience of Worship across the school year that reflects the Church s Liturgical Year that supports each child s faith development. Purposes To outline the range of opportunities that define the Worshipping nature of St. Peter s To ensure that acts of Worship are explored meaningfully, respectfully and with clarity of purpose for all members of our school community To ensure that the Worshipping life of our school builds on the Mission Statement and Aims of our school To ensure that acts of Worship build on children s experiences and interests. That the delivery of acts of Worship are explored creatively to stimulate interest, meaning, and a sense of wonder and awe To ensure that acts of worship foster the social, moral, spiritual and cultural development of the children. To maintain strong links with the Parish and particularly the Parish Priest in the strategic planning of the Liturgical Year To ensure that links with parents support the children s faith development and liturgical experiences. To maintain close links with the Parish s sacramental education programmes Guidelines Mission Statement Our Mission Statement was reviewed and redefined in Summer 2005 and reviewed again in July 2013. The Mission Statement was agreed by the whole school
community and is known by them. It is displayed in all classes and prominently around the school building. Every child has a copy in their RE exercise book. The Mission Statement was reviewed following an INSET day led by Sr. Jude Groden, Primary Adviser for Religious Education at Brentwood Religious Education Service. All our teaching, support and office staff, together with our Parish Priest and some of our Governors participated in the INSET day. The concepts underpinning the Mission Statement was explored with the children during a series of assemblies. A child friendly 3 Dimensional model of The Mission Statement was made by the children with the support of a member of staff and is on display in the school entrance. The model is often displayed at assembly and on the occasions of other liturgies. The Mission Statements is often read, as the preface and as an integral part of school worship. The Mission Statement is made explicit on all written policy statements of the school. Prayer We recognise that prayer takes many forms: Formal Liturgical Reflective Through liturgical dance Gesture Mine Signing Prayer is woven into the daily life of our school through collective Worship and our celebrations. Prayer is offered at the beginning and end of the day, and before and after meals. There is a focal point in each classroom that is used to gather the children in prayer. Children are formally taught prayers as part Come and See RE programme and the calendar of prayer is in line with the liturgical year. A list of prayers to be introduced during each key stage is communicated to parents in the termly RE newsletter. Especially in the Juniors, children are invited to plan their own prayers and liturgies to share with their peers. Every assembly begins and ends with a prayer. Staff meetings and Governing Body Meetings always begin with a prayer.
Assemblies Our assemblies are for our whole school community of children and staff. The formal organisation of assembly is as follows: Monday (15 mins) The Headteacher leads whole school assembly in school hall. The focus of the assembly relates to the Sunday Gospel or Liturgical Calendar Tuesday (15 mins) Junior assembly led by teachers on a rota basis. These relate to Come and See themes and PSHE and Citizenship Education elements supporting the social, moral, spiritual and cultural development of the children. This will include recognising the cultural diversity of Britain. Wednesday (15 mins) Infant assembly led by teachers on a rota basis. These relate to Come and See themes and PSHE and Citizenship Education elements supporting the social, moral, spiritual and cultural development of the children. This will include recognising the cultural diversity of Britain. Thursday (15 mins) Whole school hymn practice and collective act of worship led by Deputy Headteacher. Friday (30 mins) Celebration and Certificate Assembly is led by the Headteacher. Here we celebrate the achievements of the children both at school and at activities and hobbies out of school. Each class celebrate an assembly each term to which parents are invited. The theme of these assemblies relate to Here I Am topics or the curriculum studied in class. Class Worship (10 mins) Class collective worship takes place at times when there is no whole school or Key Stage assembly. This is time for prayer and reflection and is often led by the children themselves. Class acts of worship comprise a prayer, a reading from scripture and the possible use of other reflective texts, music and song. ALL ASSEMBLIES COMPRISE OF A PRAYER AND A REFERENCE TO THE SCRIPTURES OR AN ASPECT OF OUR FAITH
Chaplaincy Fr. Tom Jordan, Parish Priest of St. Edward the Confessor, Romford, is our Chaplain and spiritual leader. Together with Fr. Tom, the Headteacher and Deputy review the worshipping nature of our school and the Liturgical Calendar on a regular basis. Masses Whole School Masses are celebrated at school and special feasts and celebrations such as the beginning of the academic year. On Holy Days of Obligation Mass at school is a parish Mass to which parishioners are always invited. Parents and siblings are warmly invited to attend school Masses. Junior Class Masses take place each term in the Autumn and Spring term. These Masses are arranged by individual teachers and their classes. The Headteacher supports staff in the preparation of Mass and by the guidance relating to the order of service given by Fr. Tom Jordan. In the last week of the summer term, Year 6 pupils celebrate with a Leaver s Mass, to which their families are invited. Liturgical Services Each term the Infant Classes celebrate a Liturgy Service on a given theme prepared by the infant staff. This takes place in the hall and parents and siblings are invited. A basic order of service comprises of Prayer, Scripture, Reflection and Hymn, with the added use of visual medium and the possibility of drama and movement. In the Summer Term, all classes prepare and celebrate a Liturgical Service based on a given theme appropriate to the Liturgical Year or RE topic. Weather permitting, classes are encouraged to use the Prayer Garden. Parents and siblings are invited. The children enjoy preparing simple refreshments for themselves and parents after the service. Reconciliation Services During Advent and Lent, a Reconciliation Service is celebrated in school by Fr. Tom Jordan for staff and pupils. During Lent, Fr. Tom is available for Year 6 children to make an individual reconciliation. Sacramental Education Sacramental Preparation is Parish based. The school supports the children involved in Holy Communion and Reconciliation preparation by reinforcing the themes relating to these Sacraments in the Come and See programme and by the general encouragement and interest we show to them.
Christmas The children are prepared for the celebration of Christ s birth during the Advent Season with a range of assemblies and liturgical services led by the staff. A Reconciliation Service for Advent takes place in school. The Infant Classes prepare and celebrate the Christmas Nativity in the school hall on two afternoons in the penultimate week of term. Parents, families and the Parish community including the Pre School are invited to join together for this occasion. The Junior Classes celebrate an Advent Carol Service at St. Edward s Church to which parents are invited. Easter The children are prepared for the celebration of Christ s Resurrection during the Season of Lent with a range of assemblies and liturgical services led by the staff. The children are given the opportunity to reflect upon the Stations of the Cross. A Reconciliation Service for Lent takes place in school. A service for the Distribution of Ashes takes place on Ash Wednesday at school. The Junior classes present the Easter Story to their parents and families at an Easter assembly. Resources, Artefacts and Display A wide variety of materials are available to support the worshipping life of our school. Many resources are class based and there is a variety of posters and other materials and artefacts available centrally. See RE Policy. Music for Worship He who sings, prays twice. (St. Augustine) Music is a gateway where strangers and friends alike can join in a common celebration of faith and life. (Fr. Liam Lawson) Once the children hear the Word, share the Word and sing the Word of God, they will never forget it; and with God s help, it will become a permanent part of their lives. (Christopher Walker) The Headteacher supports the staff in selecting hymns and songs to enrich the celebration of Assemblies, Mass and the Liturgical Year. Music playing and the learning of new hymns is a strong feature of our assemblies and celebrations. The children are encouraged to join in creatively with movement and gesture and a member of staff supports us in learning new signing of hymns. Hymns for Whole School Mass are selected by the Headteacher in consultation with the Deputy Headteacher and the staff.
Resources for the teaching and learning of hymns for worship are stored centrally in the hall. This policy was drafted by J. Waterfield and agreed by the staff and Governors in September 2015 It will be reviewed annually. J. Waterfield Headteacher September 2015