Catholic Life & Education

St Lawrence Catholic School sees Religious Education as the Core and Foundation of the entire educational process. Because of this, each child is valued for what he/she is rather than for what he/she can do and every child is given equal opportunity for development to the highest potential. Through Religious Education we communicate the beliefs and values which should inspire and unify every aspect of school life and the Curriculum. This gives St Lawrence its distinctive nature as a Catholic School.

Children who become part of St Lawrence School are enabled to be in touch with God, to know his Church and to know the meaning of Discipleship. We believe that Religious Education is not a subject among many but the foundation of the entire education process. In addition to studying the Life and Teachings of Jesus, the children study a variety of World Faiths. This enables our children to understand more about the larger community outside home and school. We show the similarities rather than the differences. We have a duty to foster these similarities because God made all men and women to dwell on earth in harmony.

The Dr Margaret Carswell Framework Model, which is taught in a three year cycle and which links to the liturgical year, is used to deliver the RE curriculum. The content of this Model offers a systematic programme of study which comprehensively covers all the strands and requirements of the Curriculum Directory. Each topic plan sets out the areas taught from Revelation, Church, Celebration and Life in Christ ensuring progression and depth of provision.

Celebrating Faith During the Liturgical Year

Autumn

Prayer tables: Cloths are green at start of academic year.

Harvest Thanksgiving: We have a Junior Harvest Mass and Infants have a Harvest Service. Produce is collected for local food banks.

Month of the Rosary: October is the month of the Rosary. Classes are encouraged to pray at least a decade of the Rosary each day.

Advent: The prayer table should be changed to purple.

This is the season to prepare for Christmas Introduction and blessing of the Advent Wreath. 

Christmas: Celebration of the Nativity through drama led, EYFS & KS1.Juniors are led by Y6 in a Carol concert with a dramatisation of the nativity story.  Junior children take part in a Gift Mass and Infants take part in a Gift Service. All gifts collects are donated to local community.

Spring

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

Epiphany: (if in term time) – Parish Mass

Holy Family: (if in term time) – Parish Mass

Lent: The prayer table should be changed to purple. During the season of Lent all KS2 children and staff have the opportunity for Reconciliation with Fr. John in School.

Stations of the cross: KS2 visit our Parish Church for Stations of the Cross with Fr. John.

Easter: The resurrection of our Lord is celebrated during the school holidays however covered through 4 week RE topic. Special assembly and displays to highlight the importance of this feast. Foundation stage have an Easter bonnet parade and Y4 lead a Passion service in our Parish Church.

Summer 

Prayer table: Cloths are gold for Easter season until Pentecost where they change to green for Ordinary Time.

First Holy Communion: The children in Year 3 (there may be children from other year groups) make their First Holy Communion on a Saturday in May. The school community celebrates with all the children at the Parish Thanksgiving Mass and party in the school hall.

May the month of Mary:  In Honour of Our Lady KS2 hold a service led by y5 in our Parish Church. KS1 have a service in the school hall which is led by Y1. KS2 say the Angelus daily whilst KS1 recite the Hail Mary at noon.

Ascension: Covered in RE Topic work

Pentecost: Covered in RE Topic work

Corpus Christi: Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. Eucharistic adoration in the Church Yr2 -6.

Feast of St. Peter and Paul: Celebrated with Mass in our Parish Church.

Leaver Mass, assembly and disco: A farewell celebration for the Year 6 leavers. This is where they are presented with their Bible.

What are the Little Larries ?

In honour of our patron Saint Lawrence we have 'Little Larries' throughout KS2.

This group of children co-ordinates all the child led charity work in the school and encourages the school as a whole to follow in the steps of St Lawrence.  Our aim is to support the poor and sick and help to spread the faith by our example not only within our own community but also to work with our link school in Tanzania. Serving the Lord with a smile on our face.

Daily Prayer

There is a daily staff prayer and reflection which takes place at 8.30 am in the staff room. All teaching staff are expected to attend.

Every day children will take part in structured collective worship which is either key stage/whole school assemblies or Class collective worship.  All year groups will say the Morning Prayer, lunchtime prayer before and after and end of day prayer.  In addition to silent, spontaneous or informal prayer, children should be familiar with the following formal prayers of the Church

On Holy Days, children have the opportunity to attend morning Mass. During particular seasons of the Church, special services, such as Stations of the Cross during Lent, will be held in the Church or in the Hall.