Collective Worship Policy for The Primary Federation of St. Aloysius (St. Aloysius RC Infant Junior and Nursery School) Mission Statement Infant School Our School is not an institution but a community and we place great value on this sense of community. Every member of the school should make a contribution to school life. No one should sit back and take. Children will experience a loving caring community, fostered by the example of all staff working in school. Relationships are built upon respect, understanding and tolerance. We will work to develop these qualities. Everyone will learn to respect the needs of others in our school family and in the wider world beyond. We recognise that each child is special and unique and that we care for them. We attach great importance to the development of self-esteem and will encourage children to feel confident and comfortable with themselves. An awareness of God s love will be developed through Catholic teaching relevant to the children s stage of development. They will experience a living faith built upon the teaching in the Gospels. God s message will be understood and practised in everyday life. Clergy, parents, governors and the wider community will be involved in liturgies relevant to the children s needs and experiences. Strong links will be fostered between school and home, Junior school, Church, Governing Board and wider community. We welcome and value the contribution all of these can make to help our children develop an understanding of the world and of their future role in it. A balanced curriculum will be given in keeping with the National Curriculum, Primary Strategies, Early Years Foundation Stage and other appropriate Government initiatives. A stimulating learning environment will be provided which will encourage the development of each individual s potential Junior School I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full (John 10.10) The purpose of St. Aloysius Junior School is to provide the highest standard of Catholic education for the parishes of St. Aloysius and St. James in an atmosphere that enables children to grow in a personal love of Jesus Christ through encounters with Him in the sacraments, in the liturgy, and in others. We aim to bring our children to the realisation of living life to the full by offering them: A learning environment that encourages love, acceptance, trust and respect for others A curriculum fashioned around the child of today who will become the adult of tomorrow
A school family which is a significant source of guidance in Catholic values and is a reflection of the wider family of the Church The Nature of Collective Worship We believe that Christian worship in a Catholic school names and celebrates God s presence in our lives. It is concerned with giving glory, honour, praise and thanks to God. It is our loving response, in word and action, to God s invitation to enter into relationship, made possible through the work of Jesus Christ and the witness of the Holy Spirit. The celebration of Catholic liturgies and prayers as an integral part of the learning and teaching should enable the school community to become reflective, experience the presence of God and should develop a mature spiritual life. 1 Legal Requirements We acknowledge the legal requirement that there must be a daily act of worship for all pupils. (This can take place at any time during the school day and can be either a single act of worship for all pupils, or separate acts of worship in school groups.) We understand that simply holding an assembly that includes a prayer, said either by the teacher or everyone present, does not fulfil this requirement. We also acknowledge that collective worship and assembly are distinct activities. They may sometimes form part of the same gathering, but the difference between the two will always be made clear. The act of worship is not designated curriculum time under regulations and will not be subsumed under any part of the curriculum, including religious education. In this school, as with any Voluntary Aided School, responsibility for arranging Collective Worship rests with the Governing Body after consultation with the headteacher. Parents have a right to withdraw their child from Collective Worship. However, given the importance of Collective Worship in a Catholic school, parents and prospective parents will be made aware of the fact that it can never be confined to timetabled slots but may take place in a variety of contexts other that those which are specifically structured, within Come and See RE curriculum. The Place of Collective Worship in the Life of St. Aloysius Nursery, Infant and Junior Schools Worship in St. Aloysius Nursery, Infant and Junior Schools is more than just a legal requirement. It is an integral part of school life and central to the Catholic tradition. Collective worship takes into account the religious and educational needs of all who share in it: Those who form part of the worshipping community in church; Those for whom school may be their first and only experience of church; Those from other Christian traditions or none; Those from other faith backgrounds. The Aims of Collective Worship Collective Worship in St. Aloysius Nursery, Infant and Junior Schools aims to provide opportunities for all pupils and staff: To contemplate the mystery of God To reflect on spiritual and moral issues To explore personal beliefs To respond to and to celebrate life To experience a sense of belonging and to develop community spirit To develop a common ethos and shared values 1 Christ at the Centre Rev Marcus Stock, 2005 2
To enrich religious experience To grow in liturgical understanding and development To pray using prayers which are part of the Catholic tradition To reinforce positive attitudes To participate fully To take time out to wonder at, to come to terms with and to give worth to. Principles All acts of worship in St. Aloysius School will: Give glory and honour to God; Be a quality activity, fundamental to the life of the school and its Catholic character; Enable pupils to develop skills so that they can prepare, organise and lead worship; Give pupils positive liturgical experiences, appropriate to their age, aptitude and family backgrounds in order to prepare them for the liturgical life of the Church. 2 Celebrations will be appropriate to the age and groupings of the children. Planning, content and celebration Collective Worship is planned following a structure with reference to the Church's seasons, Come and See, feast days, the curriculum and significant dates e.g. CAFOD Family Fast Day, Holocaust Memorial Day. Parish and parents are invited to participate in some celebrations. A variety of prayer styles will be used appropriate to the age of the children and the occasion. All staff from across the Federation meet at the beginning of each week starting with a prayer. Prayers are selected by the Headteacher and or Deputy Headteachers appropriate to meet the needs of the school community each week. Staff meetings begin in prayer and Governor s Meetings begin in prayer led by the Parish Priest, Fr Martin or the Headteacher. The timetable of Collective Worship is set out in Appendix 3 Recording Collective Worship is recorded in RE Co-ordinator files ( Staff keep records of their own Collective Worship and children have plans of their collective worship in their RE books) Monitoring and Evaluation Monitoring of Collective Worship is part of the school s Monitoring and Evaluation Schedule with Collective Worship being monitored once a term, recorded on the Diocesan Collective Worship form. Staff are given feedback with strengths and developing points. Collective Worship is monitored using Collective Worship monitoring form, (Appendix 1). Following monitoring, training needs will be identified and outcomes used to inform SEF 48. Resources Each class has their own Collective Worship Box which is housed in the appropriate place within each classroom (See Appendix 4) Each box contains a variety of artefacts and materials.children have access to these during the planning of their Collective Worship. The boxes are managed by the RE Co-ordinator and one teaching assistants from each school who have responsibility preparing liturgy display in the schools. Other shared resources are located in units on the corridor and hall (Infants) and in the hall (Juniors). The learning environment 2 Directory for Masses with Children, paragraph 9. 3
'Symbols and icons of the Catholic faith when displayed in school and throughout its premises will help the school community and visitors to experience the uniqueness and sacredness of this learning environment' 3 Focal points in each classroom and throughout the school will reflect the liturgical season and will reference Come and See topics. In this way they will be an outward sign of the school's ethos. Spiritual staff training A spiritual Staff training day is organised at least once every two years with our Catholic cluster schools. Eucharist The Junior School works closely with the Parish Priest and catechists of the Parish of St. Aloysius and St. James to prepare children to receive the First Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist. Year 2 Infant children are given the opportunity to attend a Thanksgiving Mass in the summer Term with their parents as part of their transition to the Junior School. The coordinator for Collective Worship The co-ordinator for Collective Worship is Carole Godfrey Policy Monitoring and Review This policy is monitored by the Collective Worship coordinator and is evaluated and reviewed by the whole school staff and governors every two years. The Foundation Governors in particular will play a most important role. 3 Christ at the Centre Rev Marcus Stock, 2005 4
Appendix 1 5
Appendix 2 The Role of the Coordinator for Collective Worship Formulating a written policy for Collective Worship Ensuring that there is a development plan for Collective Worship included in the school development plan Ensuring that Collective Worship is appropriate to the age, aptitudes and faith backgrounds of pupils Ensuring that Collective Worship takes account of the religious and educational needs of all who share in it and is rooted in the principles of the Directory for Masses with Children Organising themes for Worship Assisting the governors and headteacher to carry out their legal responsibilities with regard to Collective Worship Developing staff confidence and expertise e.g. through modelling different prayer styles Planning, recording, monitoring and evaluating Maintaining and developing effective procedures and documentation Observing Acts of Collective Worship and providing feedback Informing the headteacher of standards and developments in Collective Worship Communication Communicating to members of the school community the significance and content of Collective Worship Reporting to and consulting with the governors and headteacher regarding matters of concern and development Acting as consultant to colleagues Encouraging positive attitudes towards Collective Worship Informing newly appointed colleagues of school policy regarding Collective Worship Communicating with parents, governors and the parish community Liaison with the school chaplain Liaison with the Diocesan Department for Education Professional development / Ongoing formation Leading and organising inservice training and ongoing formation for Collective Worship Attending appropriate in-service courses, reporting back and leading staff training Keeping up to date by personal reading Resources Evaluating existing resources Developing the resources available for Collective Worship including visual aids, artefacts, drapes, music, visitors, leaders, new and relevant books, posters etc. Budgeting efficiently [Consideration should be given to the establishment of a planning group, which might include, the coordinator, the headteacher, deputy, staff, pupils, governors and school chaplain. It would be part of the role of the coordinator to lead this group.] 6
Appendix 3 St. Aloysius Nursery and Infant School Monday School Collective Worship Gospel Liturgical Year Led by Mr Conway - hall Tuesday Class Collective Worship/Task Planned by the teacher Led by the class teacher Wednesday Class collective worship Planned by the children Led by a group - class (Key Stage 1) Thursday Class collective worship task, e.g. passing around a prayer stone Led by the class teacher - class Friday See below St. Aloysius Junior School Monday School Collective Worship-Ethos-Statement to Live Led by Mrs Godfrey-hall By/Gospel from Sunday Tuesday Class Collective Worship-Planned by the children Led by children-class Wednesday Year Group Collective Worship-Planned by the children Led by children-hall Thursday Year Group Collective Worship-Planned by the children Led by children-hall Friday Whole School Collective Worship in Junior School - Gospel-Liturgical Year Led by Mr Conway-hall St. Aloysius Junior School Year Group Collective Worship Timetable 2013-2014 Autumn Term 2013 Year group liturgies ( Hall 10.45am) Group leading collective worship to prepare holy place over playtime break Week beginning 4 th November Wednesday 6 th November Y3 Thursday 7 th November Y4 Week beginning18 th November Wednesday 20 th November Y3 Thursday 21 st November Y4 Week beginning 2 nd December Wednesday 4 th December Y3 Thursday 5 th December Y4 Week beginning11 th November Wednesday 13 th November Y5 Thursday 14 th November Y6 Week beginning25 th November Wednesday 27 th November Y5 Thursday 28 th November Y6 Class liturgies: Y3 andy4 Week beginning 9 th December Wednesday 11 th December Y5 Thursday 12 th December Y6 Spring Term 2014 Week beginning 13 th January Wednesday 15 th January Y3 Thursday 16 th January Y4 Week beginning 27 th January Wednesday 29 th January Y3 Thursday 30 th January Y4 Week beginning 10 th February Week beginning 20 th January Wednesday 22 nd January Y5 Thursday 23 rd January Y6 Week beginning 3 rd February Wednesday 5 th February Y5 Thursday 6 th February Y6 Week beginning 24 th February 7
Wednesday 12 th February Y3 Thursday 13 th February Y4 Week beginning 3 rd March Wednesday 5 th March Y3 Thursday 6 th March Y4 Week beginning 17 th March Wednesday 19 th March Y3 Thursday 20 th March Y4 Wednesday 26 th February Y5 Thursday 27 th February Y6 Week beginning 10 th March Wednesday 12 th March Y5 Thursday 13 th March Y6 Week beginning 24 th March Wednesday 26 th March Y5 Thursday 27 th March Y6 Summer Term 2014 Week beginning 21 st April Wednesday 23 rd April Y3 Thursday 24 th April Y4 Week beginning 5 th May Wednesday 7 th May Y3 Thursday 8 th MayY4 Week beginning 19 th May Wednesday 21 st May Y3 Thursday 22 nd May Y4 Week beginning 9 th June Wednesday 11 th June Y3 Thursday 12 th June Y4 Week beginning 23 rd June Wednesday 25 th June Y3 Thursday 26 th June Y4 Week beginning 7 th July Wednesday 9 th July Y3 Thursday 10 th July Y4 Week beginning 28 th April Wednesday 28 th April Y5 Thursday 29 th April Y6 Week beginning 12 th May Wednesday 14 th May Y5 Thursday 15 th May Y6 Week beginning 2 nd June Wednesday 4 th June Y5 Thursday 5 th June Y6 Week beginning 16 th June Wednesday 18 th June Y5 Thursday 19 th June Y6 Week beginning 30 th June Wednesday 2 nd July Y5 Thursday 3 rd July Y6 Week beginning 14 th July Wednesday 16 th July Y5 Friday 18 th July: Y6 Leaver s Mass 8
Mass Timetable 2013-2014 St. Aloysius Junior School Autumn Term 2013 Whole School Mass- St. Aloysius Church Friday 27 th September 2013 Year 5 Mass- St. Aloysius Church 25 th October 2013 Year 3 Mass- St. Aloysius Church 29 th November 2013 Spring Term 2014 Year 6 Mass- School Hall 17 th January 2014 Year 4 Mass- School Hall 7 th March 2014 Year 3 and Year 4 Sorry Service Year 5 and Year 6 Sorry Service Week beginning 24 th March Summer Term 2014 Year 6 Mass- St. Aloysius Church 2 nd May 2014 Year 4 Mass- St. Aloysius Church 6 th June 2014 Year 6 Mass- St. Aloysius Church 11 th October 2013 Year 4 Mass- St. Aloysius Church 15 th November 2013 Whole School- Carol Service 19 th December 2013 Year 5 Mass- School Hall 31 st January 2014 Year 3 Mass- School Hall 21 st March 2014 Stations of the Cross Week beginning 31 st March Year 5 Mass- St. Aloysius Church 16 th May 2014 Year 3 Mass- St. Aloysius Church 20 th June 2014 9