Catholic Life of the School
At St Mary and St John Catholic School, our mission is to ensure that "In the Light of Jesus, We Learn to Shine." Guided by Christ's example and inspired by the Gospel, we nurture every child to grow in faith, knowledge, and character. We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive community where each person is valued as a child of God and encouraged to use their unique gifts in service of others. Through prayer, worship, learning, and acts of love and compassion, we empower our pupils to shine brightly in school, in their families, and in the wider world.
Kindness Notes
At St Mary and St John Catholic School, we encourage our pupils to recognise and celebrate the kindness they see in others. Children write Kindness Notes to thank their friends and members of our school community for acts of care, compassion, and generosity. Inspired by the example of Jesus, these thoughtful messages help us to live out our Catholic faith each day by showing gratitude, building one another up, and reminding us that even the smallest acts of kindness reflect God's love in our community.
Prayer Intentions
As part of our prayer life, children are encouraged to write prayer intentions for their families, friends, and members of our school, parish, and wider community. This provides a special opportunity for a quiet moment of reflection, where they can speak to God and share what is in their hearts. Our school chaplains collect these prayers and respectfully share them during our Celebration Assembly, helping our whole school community to pray together and support one another in faith.
Haighfield Care Home
As part of our commitment to living out our Catholic values of service, compassion and community, a group of pupils, including our Pupil Chaplains, Subject Champions and members of the school choir, enjoyed visiting Haighfield Care Home to present residents with gifts created during our recent Enterprise Week. As part of their Design and Technology learning, each class completed a different enterprise project, designing and making high-quality products while developing creativity, practical skills and an understanding of the design process. The visit provided a wonderful opportunity to share these handmade gifts with others, bringing joy to the residents through acts of kindness, conversation and music, and demonstrating how our faith inspires us to serve and care for our wider community.
Stay and Pray
Each half term, every class hosts a Stay and Pray session, providing a special opportunity for families to join us in the classroom for a time of reverent prayer and reflection. These gatherings strengthen the partnership between home and school while nurturing our shared faith. From Reception onwards, children begin to take an active role in leading parts of the Celebration of the Word. As they progress through the school, they gradually develop their confidence and leadership, with each year group taking on increasing responsibility. By Year 6, pupils are able to plan and lead the Celebration of the Word independently, demonstrating the faith, skills and understanding they have developed throughout their journey at our school.
Share the Learning
Each half term, we warmly invite parents and families to join us for our Share the Learning afternoon. This special opportunity allows children to celebrate and share the learning they have enjoyed across a wide range of curriculum subjects, showcasing their achievements, knowledge and creativity. Rooted in our Catholic Life and Mission, these afternoons once again strengthen the partnership between home and school, recognising that parents are the first educators of their children. By sharing in their learning journey together, we celebrate each child's unique gifts and talents, giving thanks to God for the opportunities to grow, learn and flourish as members of our school community.
