Catholic Life and Mission

Catholic Life and Mission

St Richard's Catholic Primary School Mission Statement

We at St Richard's Catholic Primary School

take Jesus Christ at the centre of all that we do:

To Know

To Love

To Serve

Know

Strive to learn more about God, the world he created for us and our role in caring for it.

Love

Learn to grow in love for Jesus and for one another.

Serve

Work to notice the needs of those around us - both in our school and in our wider community and work together to serve and be the face of Jesus for each other.

Our School Aims

• Provide an ambitious curriculum, rooted in Gospel Values, which has high expectations for all pupils, regardless of their starting point.

• Provide inspiring and memorable learning experiences to enthuse the children we serve, allowing them to experience the awe and wonder of the world in which they live.

• Celebrate the achievements and successes of each individual and encouraging others to do their best.

• Create a safe space in which children will challenge themselves, make mistakes and grow as individuals.

• Prepare children to become independent, resilient lifelong learners, equipped for 21st century citizenship.

• A school which proudly celebrates our wonderful mix of cultures, where children can see themselves reflected; following the example of Christ by showing respect for all members of our diverse school and parish community.

• For all members of our school community to feel safe, happy and valued by supporting their emotional and spiritual needs, allowing them to grow in love of God and each other.

• To foster imagination, independence, confidence and resilience to deal with life in a positive and productive way.

• For all to know they are valued and loved by God as unique individuals.

The St Richard's Way:

Inspired by the active way in which St Richard lived to serve his diocese with kind acts, at St Richard's Catholic Primary School, we try to live out the gospel values that we learn about. Our school family is committed to showing the love of Christ to others through serving each other, our school and our wider community. Some of the ways that we try to do this are:

Minni- Vinnies - Our children work alongside the St. Vincent De Paul Society in trying to be active in our faith and show love and support to others where it is needed in an active way.

Altar Serving - Our pupils support our parish by altar-serving at the school Mass that is also attended by parishioners and parents.

Faith Leaders - Share in planning and delivering class liturgies and whole school assemblies, leading prayers, reading and helping others.

Faith Buddies - Children in Reception and Year One each have a special Faith Buddy in Years 5 and 6. The older children help their Faith Buddy on the playground and support them when we go to Mass in the Church.

Supporting and raising money for various charities - Our children and families are very active in supporting different charities. Chichester Food Bank, Mary's Meals, CAFOD, Stone-pillow, Chestnut tree House and the Snow-drop trust are just some of the many charities that our children work to support in many different ways. Sponsored sports, cake sales, non-uniform days, sponsored hair-cuts and choosing to go without Christmas gifts are just some of the ways that the children themselves have chosen to live out their mission statement - To Know, To Love, To Serve.

Sharing our Gifts - St Richard's children are always looking for ways to share their God-given gifts with others. Children spend time reading to each other - older children reading to their younger Faith Buddies, inviting family and grand-parents for afternoon tea, singing for others - in concerts and visits to the elderly, praying for others and the world.

Catholic Social Teaching

Catholic social teaching (CST) is rooted in Scripture, formed by the wisdom of Church leaders, and influenced by grassroots movements. It is our moral compass, guiding us on how to live out our faith in the world.

The seven Catholic Social Teaching principles are:

Human Dignity

We believe every human person is made in the image and likeness of God. This is a gift that we all share as fellow human beings; we are all infinitely loved by our Creator. God is present in every human person, regardless of religion, culture, nationality, orientation or economic standing. Each one of us is unique and beautiful. We are called to treat every person and every creature with loving respect.

Option for the Poor

The option for the poor reminds us of God’s preferential love for the poorest and most vulnerable people. God’s love is universal; he does not side with oppressors, but loves the humble.

Solidarity

Solidarity requires people to recognise their responsibilities to each other and to actively help others. It's a way of life that's based on the belief that all people are created by God, are related to each other, and need each other to live.

Community Participation

God calls all of us to get involved in whatever way we can to help build a better world. This might mean sharing our skills and talents, volunteering and, when we are old enough, taking part in politics.

Stewardship

Stewardship is the idea of caring for the gifts God has given to us, including the environment, our talents, and other resources. It's based on the idea that everything we have is a gift from God, and that we should be grateful and generous with those gifts.

Rights and Responsibilities

Human dignity and a healthy community can only be achieved when human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. This means that every person has rights and responsibilities to one another, their families, and society as a whole.

Dignity of Work

Church teaching has upheld the dignity of work and participation. The human person should always come before the pursuit of profit. Workers have the right to join trade unions, to a just wage, to spend time with their families and to rest. Work is an essential part of our human dignity and everyone has the right to participate.

Our faith calls us to love God and to love our neighbours in every situation, especially our sisters and brothers living in poverty. Following in the footsteps of Christ, we hope to make present in our unjust and broken world, the justice, love and peace of God.

Our House Saints

The Bible uses the word ‘saints’ to mean all Christians (Romans 1:6-7). From the earliest times, Christians looked at good examples of other Christians, whose lives really showed the love of Christ.

Christians, whether they are living on earth or in heaven, belong to what is called the Communion of Saints. Communion means to belong together and saints are those who follow God’s way. They show us something about God. They may be kind, generous, loving, faithful, forgiving and caring.

The lives of the Apostles were studied because it was believed they showed how a Christian should live. When the children start their journey here at St Richard's they are allocated to one of four houses. We use the role model of 4 saints to group our pupils. Each house has its own dedicated saint and these saints have been chosen to reflect and celebrate the wonderful diversity we have within our school community.

We know that the children take great pride in being a member of their house. House points are awarded to children who have demonstrated positive learning behaviours and followed the gospel values through their words and actions.

Faith Leaders

At St Richard's, each class has two Faith Leaders who help to support the Catholic life at our school. They lead prayers and liturgies in class and in whole school assemblies. Each Faith Leader wears a special badge so that everyone in school knows they can go to them to help them with their faith.

British Values at St Richard's

We place a high value on British Values, such as democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs. These values are integrated into our curriculum and school ethos, helping to shape our pupils into responsible and respectful citizens who contribute positively to society.