Introduction to Our Faith

At St. Gerard’s, our faith is an integral part of our school life. Reaching out and influencing every part of our school day and year. We are very proud to take time throughout the day to pause and reflect as a community in class and collectively in larger groups.

Here at St. Gerard’s we are very grateful to have the parish right on our doorstep in the form of St. Gerard’s Catholic Church and Community Centre. We work hard to develop links with the wider community and regularly attend the church as a whole school and as classes.

Over recent years we have supported a range of charities, particularly during our Lenten fundraising activities. We rotate the charities on an annual basis and we are very grateful for the great generosity that our families show during this time of year.

Charities that we have worked to support in the past include:

• Macmillan
• Mary’s Meals
• Cancer Research UK
• Good Shepherd Appeal- Father Hudson’s
• CAFOD
• Spitfire Services
• St Chad’s Sanctuary
• Haginenon Tree planting programme in the Philippines

Typically, we have one off fundraising events such as wear it pink day, non-uniform days, sponsored walks. In addition to this we may have weeks where we collect food and toiletries for local services.

We are an inclusive school that is always looking to build on our existing links with other faiths and denominations as we work with parents to develop caring, compassionate, faithful children ready and prepared for the wider world.

Mini Vinnies

The society of St Vincent de Paul has been engaging with young people and education since it’s earliest days. The ‘Mini Vinnies’ programme involves young children to help them make a contribution to the future of our society.

Mrs Hepburn leads Mini Vinnies at St Gerard’s with children from Years 2 and 6. During the school year they organise fundraising events such as; guess the jar of sweets, a plant sale, raffles and ‘who can grow the tallest beanstalk.’

The monies raised are donated to various charities for the homeless, including St Chad’s Sanctuary.

​Working with the Community

We serve our parish and local community in many ways:

• Liaising with our parish priest in preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation.
• Holding special, reflective services and assemblies for the whole school community, especially during Advent and Holy Week.
• Participating in parish masses (altar servers).
• Carol concert (alternate years).
• ‘Stay and Pray’ led by each class where Parents are invited to work alongside their child in school.
• Celebration Assemblies are held on a regular basis.
• St. Gerard’s Spiritual Council is formed at the beginning of each year with representatives from each of the Key Stage 2 classes.

World Faith Week

We have the opportunity to study different faiths across the year and especially during our World Faith week. This which gives us an opportunity to:

• Learn about other faiths, beliefs and their customs.
• Bring our communities closer together.
• Celebrate the contribution that our faith groups make to society.
• Understand how people of different faiths interact and cooperate with one another.

Each class has a particular focus, with the younger classes focusing on a particular festival:

• Year 6 – Sikhism
• Year 5 – Islam
• Year 4 – Judaism
• Year 3 – Hinduism
• Year 2 – Buddhism
• Year 1 – Christianity
• Reception and Nursery – Catholic Life

Prayer Bags

To encourage families to pray together we use prayer bags which a child takes home on a rota basis. The prayer bags will help each family to come together to pray and know from the inside that Jesus Christ is with us always.

Cardinal Nichols wishes to encourage children to take the prayer bag home with them when it comes to their turn. He emphasised “You have a job to do. You are God’s messengers. A messenger for Our Lord. In fact you are the first and the best of messengers. Take the lead. You have something to say and it is this, ‘Here it is, it is our turn with the prayer bag, please can we sit down and pray together’.”

Fr Veasey of the Diocesan Education Service added “Part of our educational task is to support parents as first teachers of their children in ways of faith and to appreciate that in the ordinary events of family life, the joys and struggles, we discover the presence and life of God.”

Traditional Prayer

Our children learn these traditional prayers in each group throughout the school. We use them as part of our daily acts of collective worship.

• Our Prayer Book