Guardian Angels Catholic Primary School

As a Catholic school, we play a key role in the faith formation of every child. A pupil's experience of the Catholic life of the school will undoubtedly influence their faith as an adult and so it is important we offer an experience that is truly outstanding.

From the moment your child joins Guardian Angels, they will become active members of a Catholic community.

OUR FAITH

At Guardian Angels we look to Jesus as our guide as we pray, work celebrate and care.

The Catholic faith is at the heart of our school. We work very hard to treat everyone in school with care and respect just as Jesus taught us to 'love one another as I have loved you'. Our close link with our Parish is very important to us.

All of our assemblies and prayer services throughout the week are rooted in the teachings of Jesus.

All children have a daily act of worship. These take different forms.  Each week the children gather to praise God in singing, which supports our spiritual life and preparation for Mass and assemblies.

Monday  - We begin our week by gathering for our Gospel Assembly. We discuss this week's gospel and how it can be lived in our lives. 

Tuesday  - We come together for a hymn practice where we praise God though song.

Wednesday - School Mass is celebrated by joint year groups and regular whole school Masses throughout the term.  Mass is celebrated in the parish church. The Mass readings are prepared by children from all year groups, on a rota basis.  All parents and parishioners are very welcome to join the school at Mass.  You will be kept informed about Mass via the weekly newsletter.

Thursday - Key Stage assemblies and individual class collective worship takes place.

Friday - We hold our Star Pupil Assembly celebrating the gifts and talents we have been given by God. This lovely celebration assembly is a chance to all gather to praise God for our achievements. House points are awarded, certificates are given out and other achievements are shared and celebrated. Children also share achievements from outside of school.

• Throughout the week classes take part in whole class collective worship led by the class teacher, teaching assistant and children.
• Each class leads one class assembly during the year for the whole school to watch. 
• Our Catholic Faith is central to the day-to-day life of our school and all aspects of the curriculum, and pupils are encouraged to recognse the importance of their faith and they respond to all forms of liturgy and collective worship with respect and reverence.
• We have a liturgical life in that the experiences we provide are wide ranging and take place in school, out of school, in Church and in the wider community, and empower the pupils, parents, staff, governors and the parish.
• The Celebration of the Eucharist and prayer are central in our school.
• Our Parish Priest celebrates Mass for us at school. Each class takes on the responsibility of planning and taking part in the celebration of the Mass. In addition, we celebrate special Whole School Masses at the beginning and end of term, our school feast day and other significant occasions.
• All acts of worship have a liturgical structure which is planned for.
• Children say prayers at the beginning and end of the morning and afternoon sessions. These are suited to the growin spirituality of the children.

Early Years

On joining Guardian Angels, your child  begins a unique journey designed to ensure they achieve their full potential. As first educators of your child in their faith, you as parents will be supported by the staff to build a strong partnership with the school. 

During Reception each child will:

• Be actively involved in a daily act of worship including class liturgies, prayer services and assemblies

• Be given a class prayer bear to share at home and with their family

• Attend weekly Masses and contribute to Mass

• Be allocated a prayer partner to actively support the child in learning how to pray and how to contribute to the prayer life of the school

Key Stage One

During Key Stage One, all children will continue with the provision offered in Early Years. However as they grow in maturity, they will be encouraged to have more of an active role in key liturgical events.

During Key Stage One each child will:

• Lead a whole Mass with their class including reading in Mass, preparing liturgical music and participating in the offertory procession

• Begin to plan and lead collective worship

• Have the opportunity to become Liturgy Leaders

• Be given a class prayer bear to share at home and encourage the formation of a relationship with Jesus through prayer

• Take part in Harvest and Nativity 

Key Stage Two

A more diverse range of opportunities are offered to Key Stage Two children in order to enable them to develop Catholic life

During Key Stage Two each child will:

• Receive a preparation programme in order to prepare your child for the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation.  This is designed to allow your child to receive the sacraments with maturity and understanding

• Go to confession throughout the year particularly during Advent and Lent

• Develop and understanding of vocation through vocation days and workshops

• Attend a residential trip to Alton Castle to come together as part of one family on a Catholic retreat

• Take part in a Stations of the Cross Service and Christmas Carol Service

• Visit our local Cathedral, have a tour and attend Mass there

• Being fully engaged with fundraising in school whilst knowing the importance of Catholic Social Teaching 

• Attend and lead voluntary rosary during the month of October and May

• Support with our monthly parishioners afternoon teas, Easter and Christmas dinners to forge strong links between the parish and school

Social Action

At Guardian Angels we are committed to encourage our children to actively live their faith. Each child is encouraged to make small contribution throughout the year that can make a huge difference to the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves.

During their time at Guardian Angels, each child will have the opportunity to:

• Invite family members into school to share in a fundraising activity

• Choose a charity to raise money for

• Collect food for and learn how a Foodbank helps the local community

• Be encouraged to sacrifice as part of Lent

• Make deliveries to the Foodbank

• Decide how much money to give to charity

SMSVC

Spiritual, moral, social, vocational and cultural (SMSVC) is a key feature of life at Guardian Angels Primary school. Children are provided with a wealth of opportunities to develop spiritually through inspiring child led prayer services, collective worship, use of high quality prayer resources and thought provoking lessons. From a moral perspective, the children are encouraged to approach problems and decisions focused on 'What Jesus would do?' Lots of opportunities are provided for pupils to socialise with others from different socioeconomic, ethnic and other religious groups so that children develop a respect for all people as children of God. Children's cultural development is enhanced by our topic work in which we study national and international topics; engaging with the cultures of people who live there.

Gospel Virtues

Pupils at Guardian Angels Catholic Primary school are growing to be . . .

Grateful for their own gifts, for the gift of other people, and for the blessings of each day; and generous with their gifts, becoming men and women for others.

Attentive to their experience and to their vocation; and discerning about the choices they make and the effects of those choices.

Compassionate towards others, near and far, especially the less fortunate; and loving by their just actions and forgiving words.

Faith-filled in their beliefs and hopeful for the future.

Eloquent and truthful in what they say of themselves, the relations between people, and the world.

Learned, finding God in all things; and wise in the ways they use their learning for the common good.

Curious about everything; and active in their engagement with the world, changing what they can for the better.

Intentional in the way they live and use the resources of the earth, guided by conscience; and prophetic in the example they set to others