Our Christian Values
We have six Christian Values that are embedded in school life. They are:
Friendship, Respect, Perseverance, Courage, Compassion and Thankfulness.
Each value is linked to a story from the Bible and backed up with a biblical reference. This helps to explain what each value means. As the children move through St. Mary’s they will develop a deeper understanding of the story and its meaning.
AUTUMN 1 – FRIENDSHIP
The Christian Value we are focusing on this half-term is Friendship.
Proverb 17:17 ‘A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.’
‘Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.’ (Proverbs 27:6)
True friendship enables each person to grow and ensures that the unique individuality of each person is recognised. The special relationship we have with certain people; a friend loves and cares for you at all times. Christians believe that God’s friendship towards us will last forever. Friendship is a partnership of shared experiences, talents, interests and enthusiasms. Friends are not afraid to tell each other the truth and a friend’s loving criticism is worth more than the empty compliments of someone who does not really care for you.
How do we live this out in school?
‘I will be a good friend.’
We will be linking Friendship to the story of ‘Jesus heals a paralysed man’ (Luke 5:17-26)
AUTUMN 2-RESPECT
The Christian Value we are focusing on this half-term is Respect.
Respect has different meanings but all play a part in how Christians value themselves and the lives of others. Respecting those that love and care for us, our parents, carers and those in the local community, is common in all traditions. We should appreciate what's done for us, finding cooperation not conflict and take responsibility. Romans 13 states that we should 'Pay others the honour and respect you owe them'.
Respect for others - everyone is special; everyone's opinion matters; everyone's contribution is important; everyone's feelings should be considered; everyone's faith is sacred.
Respect can mean simply treating each other with politeness and courtesy, and recognising that everyone’s contribution is important and that everyone’s feelings should be considered. At St. Mary’s, we regularly discuss how respecting someone does not mean that we always agree with the other person but that we are prepared to listen and share our views without rudeness or impatience.
Christians recognise that respect needs to start with respect for ourselves and our own unique contribution to our homes, schools or communities. Having self-respect means being able to celebrate our gifts and talents, looking after ourselves and the bodies that God has given us. Having self-respect also means nurturing our talents so that we the best we can be, honouring how God has made us and being confident about who we are.
How do we live this out in school?
‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ John 2
‘I will show respect for myself, others and my school.’
We will be linking Respect to the story of ‘Jesus in the
Temple ’-John 2
SPRING 1 – PERSEVERANCE
The Christian Value we are focusing on this half-term is Perseverance.
Jesus frequently encouraged his disciples to 'endure patiently' the difficulties and obstacles they encountered and to persevere in the face of adversity. He himself trusted in God even when his enemies tried to stop his work and plotted his death.
How do we live this out in school?
‘I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.’ Philippians 4:13
‘Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.’ Hebrews 12:1
‘I will try, try and try again.’
We will be linking Perseverance to the story of ‘Noah’s Ark’ (Genesis 6-9)
SPRING 2 – COURAGE
The Christian Value we are particularly focusing on this half-term is Courage.
The history of Christianity is rich in stories of courage and endurance, both from the Bible and to the present day. Christians are motivated by faith in the grace of Jesus in giving us his life as a model to be followed and so are prepared to stand up for what is right in the face of danger and hardship. Jesus told his followers that, ‘If anyone wants to be my disciple, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’ (Matthew 16:24). For Christians, living with courage may mean sacrificing wealth, plans and ambitions in order to follow the path that God wills for them.
Courage is also about a life-long process of challenging ourselves to be the best that we can be – even when this becomes hard. For children at St. Mary’s, this could mean the courage to say ‘no’ when everyone else wants you to do something you do not want to do; the courage to stick at a task even when it is difficult or the courage to stand by your beliefs even when people laugh at you. This value is something that is important for children to develop as they go through their lives. It takes courage to stick at a task even when it is difficult and courage to stand by your beliefs even when people laugh at you.
How do we live this out in school?
1 Corinthians 16:13
‘Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.’
We will be linking Courage to the story of ‘David and Goliath’ (Samuel 1:17)
SUMMER 1 – COMPASSION
The Christian Value we are on focusing on this half-term is Compassion.
We teach children that their attitudes and actions must reflect kindness and compassion. Compassion is much stronger than sympathy; if you have compassion you step into someone’s shoes, share their experiences and sufferings and want to support them or act on their behalf. It is not just feeling sorry for someone but actually doing something about making their life or situation better. Compassion is about ‘standing in someone else’s shoes’ when they are having a hard time. In other words, trying to understand how they might be feeling and doing our best to try to help. Talk together about:
How do we live this out in school?
‘Be compassionate and kind to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.’ Ephesians 4:32
‘I will help others in need.’
We will be linking Compassion to ‘The Parable of the Good Samaritan’ (Luke 10:25-37)
SUMMER 2-THANKFULNESS
The Christian Value we are particularly focusing on this half-term is Thankfulness.
God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say thank you? Anon
We will be looking at why being thankful is important and discussing what the children are thankful for in their lives.
Thankfulness has always been at the centre of the life and worship of Christians. ‘Songs of thankfulness and praise…’ are at the heart of Christian worship. Jesus gave thanks to God (Matthew 11.25) and although the word ‘thankfulness’ is not common in the Gospels, recognition of his dependence on the Father infuses the whole life of Jesus. Thankfulness is a wholehearted response. It stems from a consciousness of God’s gifts and blessings. It is a joyfulness that erupts into praise. Paul frequently encourages us to ‘be thankful’ (Colossians 3:15), to ‘give thanks in all circumstances’ (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and says that our lives should ‘overflow with thankfulness’ (Colossians 2:7).
For Christians the greatest of all acts of worship is simply called ‘thanksgiving’ or Eucharist.
How do we live this out in school?
“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
Psalm 107:1
‘I will be grateful for what I have.’
Jesus' Golden Rule is:
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." We should not say or do anything unless we can answer "Yes" to the question, "Would I want that said or done to me?" Neither should we fail to do the good things we would expect of others, whatever their background, culture or religion.
This phrase is embedded into our Christian Values and Behaviour System.
‘To do as you would be done by!’