A Catholic school is a community of love and hope. It provides young people with a Catholic education, which perceives life as a faith journey. The ultimate aim of a Catholic school is to develop the full potential of all young people, leading to their life-long activities being guided by the Spirit and presence of Christ, in the service of God and of others.

Catholic education is distinctive in placing all learning and teaching in a Catholic moral context and in both challenging and supporting young people to develop in mind, body and spirit. The role of a Catholic school is to help everyone in the school community to discover the true value and dignity of each and every human being who, loved by God, has a mission on earth and a destiny which is eternal.

The Catholic school is an open community, concerned with the education of the whole person. It presents a unique, clear vision of God, people and life, centered on Gospel values and reflective of the teaching of the Catholic Church. Hence, the formation of each person is regarded as being as important as the information which is transmitted through the teaching offered.

The Catholic school is supported in its mission by the active partnership of the home, the school and the parish. Together, they provide support for the faith community, helping to form and develop in all a mature Christian conscience, and in addressing the increasingly secular influences of popular culture.

SCHOOL CELEBRATIONS DURING THE LITURGICAL YEAR

Autumn

Prayer tables are green at start of academic year.

Harvest Thanksgiving - A whole school assembly with gifts of food and drink. Harvest Gifts are kindly donated by families to the Manna foodbank.

Month of the Rosary: October is the month of the Rosary. Classes are encouraged to pray the Rosary regularly. 

Month of Remembrance: During November we remember all those souls who have gone to Heaven. We have an All Souls Mass, which is offered up for all of the faithful departed.  On the 11 November, Year 2 lead us in a Remembrance Assembly. A class from the school attends the Armistice Day ceremony at Staines War Memorial. The rest of the school take part in a two-minute silence on the playground.

Advent: This is the season to prepare for Christmas.  The Advent Wreath is placed in the hall. Each class has an Advent Calendar with thoughts for the day. The prayer table should be changed to purple. Year 5 attends the Advent Liturgy at Westminster Cathedral.

Christmas: EYFS/KS1 lead a Nativity play and KS2 take part in a Carol Service at Our Lady of the Rosary Church.

Reconciliation Services for Years 4-6.

Spring

Prayer tables are gold for Christmas season then green for Ordinary Time after Feast of Baptism of Our Lord.

Epiphany (if in term time) – Visit of the Wise Men– We attend Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary Church.

Candlemas: Celebration of Light and Jesus’ presentation in the Temple. We hold a Mass in school for parents, parishioners and pupils.

Lent: We attend an Ash Wednesday liturgy at Our Lady of the Rosary Church.  This season is to prepare for Easter. Opportunity for Prayer and Penance is given to all children. We encourage awareness of our greater responsibilities and of our privilege to help our brothers and sisters in the wider world. Each class takes part in a Lenten fundraising appeal. Classes in KS1 and KS2 attend Stations of the Cross at church. Year 5 take part in a whole day retreat during the period of Lent.

Reconciliation Services for KS2.

EYFS/KS1 Mother’s Day Assembly: Celebrated before the week leading up to the 4^th Sunday in Lent.

Easter – The Resurrection of our Lord is celebrated during the school holidays. Year 5 lead a Passion Play that is attended by their parents.

Summer

Prayer table in gold for Easter season until Pentecost, when they change to green for Ordinary Time.  

First Holy Communions: The children in Year 3 (there may be children from other year groups) make their First Holy Communion in May.

Month of Mary: A special Crowing of Mary liturgy takes place. The pupil chaplaincy team leads the Rosary in the sensory garden or the prayer area daily through the month.

Ascension: Celebration of our Lord’s return to Heaven.

Pentecost: Celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Service of Reconciliation: The whole school studies the topic of Reconciliation this term. 

Corpus Christi: Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. KS2 join in with Eucharistic adoration at the church. An outdoor procession takes place to celebrate this feast day.

Feast of St. Peter and Paul: A Mass is celebrated for this special feast day.

Leavers Mass: A farewell celebration for the Year 6 leavers. 

A number of other whole school and class liturgies take place during the year.