St Maria Goretti

As a Catholic school, Jesus Christ remains central to every aspect of school life all pupils are educated in the beliefs and devotional practices of the Catholic church. Participation in daily collective act of worship remains at the helm of every morning and afternoon session, within RE lessons and at the end of each day. Every class prepares and leads Mass once a term, with parents, families and parishioners warmly welcomed.

The Catholic RE scheme ‘Living and Growing as the People of God’ is followed throughout the school. This is supplemented by work on the saints and stories from the Old and New Testaments, Circle time sessions and Personal, Social and Health Education. Children participate in special liturgies during the school year which are timed to coincide with events in the Church’s calendar.

Catachists from the Parish of St Maria Goretti work closely with school staff and families to prepare year 3 pupils for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion, whilst pupils in Years 5 and 6 prepare for Confirmation.

Relationships and Family Life (Sex Education) is taught formally in all classes and is integrated into Science and RE. Parents and carers are advised that, in desiring a Catholic education for their child, it is expected that all pupils will participate in RE lessons. Parents and carers have the right to withdraw their children, although this is strongly discouraged, but may be required to supervise their children during this period, if adult supervision is not available.

All pupils learn about other religions and cultures and are encouraged to show respect and acknowledgement for the beliefs of others through open discussion and shared experiences. This is reflected through the involvement of Muslim and Sikh pupils, both within school and the wider local community, who have worked with other schools by leading assemblies during Eid and Ramadan.

Year 6 pupils are given the opportunity to visit Alton Castle, an education centre which combines a spiritual retreat with outdoor activities. During Lent and Advent, liturgies take place during and after school. These prayer group sessions are led by staff and pupils, whilst after-school prayer sessions are led by a parish Catechist and pupils.

Catholic Social teaching

At St. Maria Goretti we continue to ensure that all members of our community understand the principle underpinning the ‘common good’. That it is the care for the greatest good of all persons.

“Because we are interdependent, the common good is more like a multiplication sum, where if any one number is zero then the total is always zero. If anyone is left out and deprived of what is essential, then the common good has been betrayed.” – The Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales Choosing the Common Good, paragraph 8.

Catholic Social Teaching

“The common good is the sum of those conditions of social life which allow social groups and their individual members relatively thorough and ready access to their own fulfillment” 
Vatican II

“Whenever our interior life becomes caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor. God’s voice is no longer heard, the quiet joy of His love is no longer felt, and the desire to do good fades.”
Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium

“The theological dimension is needed both for interpreting and for solving present day problems in human society”
Saint John Paul II, Centesimus Annus

The themes of Catholic Social Teaching are: 

• Human Dignity
• Community and Participation
• Care for Creation
• Dignity in Work
• Peace & Reconciliation
• Solidarity
  
  Find out more at: http://www.catholicsocialteaching.org.uk/
  
  Based on the words of St Paul, Christianity teaches that there are three virtues that are to be prized over all the others: faith, hope and charity.
  
  
  
  “Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbour as ourselves for the love of God.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1822

School Prayer:

Parish

Our school plays an active part in the life of the parish of St Maria Goretti.  Pupils and staff celebrate mass in the school hall and at St Maria Goretti Catholic Church at various times during the academic year in which the parish and parents attend. 

Sacramental Preparation

First Holy Communion - Parents Meeting

First Holy Communion - Information for Parents 

Preparation for First Holy Communion and Family Mass dates.

Confirmation Enrolment invitation.

Wednesday Word

Each week in school we share the Wednesday Word with our families.   Every Wednesday a 'word', inspired by the coming Sunday's Gospel, will be shared during whole school collective worship.  The youngest child in each family will take home the Wednesday Word leaflet home each week to share with their family. 

Wednesday Word Family Time presents an opportunity for even the busiest of parents to enrich relationships with their children through spending a very special 5 minutes together each week.