“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”- Matthew 25:40.
At St Scholastica’s we are committed as part of the wider Catholic Church to serve the common good in our locality and the wider world. We aim to go out and do good in our community, by inviting community members into school and by using our God given skills and talents to help and support those in need.
Over the years, we as a school community have supported many different charities locally, nationally and across the world including CAFOD, Save the Children, Catholic Children Society and many more. We have had held events ranging from cake sales, to dress up days, to our Lenten fundraising.
We continue to aim to stretch our awareness and time to ensure we as a school support those that are most vulnerable in our world. We are continually ensuring our children are developing their understanding of the responsibility that has been placed upon us to do what we can to show our support of and solidarity with all members of God’s family.
Over the years, we as a school community have supported many different charities locally, nationally and across the world including CAFOD, Save the Children, Catholic Children Society and many more. We have had held events ranging from cake sales, to dress up days, to our Lenten fundraising.
We continue to aim to stretch our awareness and time to ensure we as a school support those that are most vulnerable in our world. We are continually ensuring our children are developing their understanding of the responsibility that has been placed upon us to do what we can to show our support of and solidarity with all members of God’s family.
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PLAN FOR LOCAL CHARITY PROJECT
In September, we celebrate World Peace Day with a collective worship about peace. Each class also learn about a different Inspirational Peace keeper or leader from around the world. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9
Every September, our children take part in the Jeans for genes to raise funds for those children affected by genetic disorders. The children come to school dressed in jeans and donate some money. The funds raised provide grants to fund projects and services that can help transform lives. We pray for all the sick children around the world. Throughout his life on earth Jesus taught us how to care for the sick, We try to be witnesses to Christ in the world through our words and actions.
Our gratitude and appreciation for all the NHS does for us has never been greater. We have seen how much we rely on their compassion and care especially throughout the pandemic. When the children returned to school in September 2020, they were eager to show their appreciation to all the NHS workers. We organized a rainbow day where the children came to school dressed in rainbow clothes and collected money for NHS charities. We also created art for the practice waiting room and dropped of some treats for the Nightingale practice across the road from our school. All the children gathered in the playground to clap for the NHS workers and the staff from the Nightingale practice came out to hear them. The workers from the Nightingale practice really appreciated this sentiment and sent the children a Christmas tree and decorations further building and developing relationships in our community. As Pope Francis reminds us “No one saves oneself. The community is essential”. It is something we hope to do every year to show our appreciation for all they do for us.
Harvest Festival reminds us of all the good things God gives us. This makes us want to share with others who are not so fortunate. Every year during Harvest, the children bring in dried food to donate to the foodbank. At the end of Harvest we make food parcels and deliver them to those in need. The Bible tells us that generosity yields an amazing crop! When we refresh others through giving, we are refreshed ourselves. Through this harvest collection the children are reminded of Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Every year, we support the British Legions Poppy appeal. The Year 6 children sell Poppies in the playground and the money gathered goes to the British Legion. The Royal British Legion created the Poppy Appeal to help those returning from the First World War. A century on from the start of that conflict, they are still helping today’s Armed Forces families in much the same way, whether coping with bereavement, living with disability, or finding employment.
Every year we celebrate what makes us unique in anti-bullying week. In 2020, we made videos about our uniqueness entitled ‘5 things you might not know about me ‘. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn about each other and celebrate our diversity. In 2021, the children will join in odd socks day to celebrate the importance of our celebrating and embracing difference. As a school we are always finding ways to celebrate what makes us unique and ensuring we all learn and play in a loving environment. Living out our school mission ‘Living, loving, learning through Christ’.
Mitzvah Day International is an annual day of faith-based social action that takes place in November each year. The event is supported by many children from both Catholic and Jewish schools in the area. Our Year 6 children packed bags full of winter essentials for homeless people in London. The bags included hats, socks, gloves, toothbrushes and toothpaste and information. It was also a great opportunity to work alongside the Jewish community with the common goal of helping others.
Every Advent, each class creates a kindness Advent calendar to spread kindness around our school community and prepare us for the coming of the Lord Jesus. During our Advent day celebrations, the children make the calendar with daily challenges and then each day they spread a little kindness around our school. Advent calendars carry an underlying spiritual message of anticipation and hope by helping us remember and reflect on the coming of Jesus Christ.
Every year we support Save The Children charity by taking part in their annual Christmas Jumper Day! Save the Children movement operates in 117 countries around the world, providing unique care and attention to children based on their specific needs. It helps vulnerable children both nationally and internationally. Our pupils learn a little about the charity and come to school dressed in their Christmas jumpers eager to help those in need like Jesus did. Check out this website to learn a little about the people helped by the money we raised: https://stories.savethechildren.org.uk/
St Scholastica’s has a long history of supporting CAFOD the Catholic Agency For Overseas Development. Within our Come and See lessons, the Universal Church topic in the Summer Term, is dedicated to exploring and understanding the work of CAFOD and how this relates to Church teaching and Scripture.
Lent is a special time for almsgiving and we were delighted to join the CAFOD challenge to ‘Walk for Water’ to raise money for those who do not have access to clean and safe water. CAFOD asked that we walk to unite in solidarity with people like Abdul, Mohammed and their cousin Abdella who spends 10 hours each day collecting water for his family. The children were delighted to actively take part and also raise vital funds for people all around the world just like Abdul. Through our almsgiving in Lent we feel closer to God.
‘But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.’-Job 12 7-10
Our Green Team are responsible for ensuring that we are looking after the earth and our ambassadors for sustainability throughout our school. Wherever possible we reuse, reduce, recycle. Our Green team work to ensure that these beliefs are carried through every class.
The Green Team are responsible for delivering assemblies on sustainability, being aware and taking responsibility for the energy we use, monitoring recycling usage in classrooms and encouraging children to walk to school using travel tracker to record.
Our focus local charity is St Joseph's Hospice. We believe that their mission of care and compassion and catholic ethos aligns with our school. We believe that through the giving of our time throughout the year we will grow closer to God and spread his message in our community. Each one of us has a special gift that can be of use in God’s work.
In Pope Francis’ encyclical letter ‘Laudato Si’: Care for our common home’, he asks us to be ecological citizens; to come together to deepen our commitment to protect the goodness and beauty of God’s great gift. In order to learn about the effects of recycling and plastic pollution on our planet we had a school protect called ‘Reborn’. We learnt about the effects of pollution and created artwork from recyclable materials. We are committed to protecting our common home.