‘Virtues to Live By, enables children to explore each virtue over a three-week period to improve the school community’s virtue literacy and to deepen the understanding and appreciation of the essential role the virtues play in the education of the whole person towards human flourishing. The virtues chosen are common across cultures and faiths, but are sourced from the Christian tradition.
To ensure children and young people are given opportunities to:
Experience a positive and purposeful ethos providing a sense of belonging to their school community.
Grow in their knowledge and understanding of the virtues.
Practise the virtues to further the call to live life to the full.
Appreciate the connection between biblical and practical wisdom and living.
Hear the Christian story and encounter it in practice.
Understand their uniqueness and dignity as made in the image and likeness of God.
Know that our limitations are also opportunities for growth.
To notice, to reflect, to pray and to play
To exercise the cognitive, affective and behavioural components of character: know it in your head, feel it in your heart and show it with your hands
Children are encouraged to think about the statement at the beginning of the school day, it is reinforced throughout the day, explored in collective worship and circle times (written specifically for each statement) and reflected upon before going home.
The statements also support the RE curriculum and provide material and suggestions to involve parents and the wider community. Each statement is also linked to the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (PSHE) curriculum.
Since 2022, we have been working with Miss Kathryn Bradley, Choral Director of Salford Singing Programme, that works across the Salford Diocese footprint to deliver singing lessons focused on liturgical songs and hymns and some secular music. Kathryn works with Years 4 & 6 predominantly and delivers a weekly lesson to both year groups.
The children enjoy the sessions which underpin the Music curriculum which hugely enhance the prayer life of the school through our worship to God. Children have developed a wider repertoire of songs and an appreciation of a range of music not accessed through other routes.
The children have performed the hymn, Laudato Si’, inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical about our duty as stewards of the earth. This can be viewed here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KBv4zxV8OY
Our children took part in a special concert at St John’s RC Church in Rochdale with the Salford Cathedral Choir. The concert provided an opportunity for the children to showcase their skills in a setting of great beauty and reverence. Parts of their performance can be seen here;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nftghIosi4Y
