The children experience worship through a range of media including art, music, prayer, dance and storytelling. Prayers are said in class daily and reflection is a regular feature of RE lessons. Spontaneous prayer is evident throughout the school. Whole School assemblies are led by the Head Teacher on Monday morning when the theme of Sunday’s gospel is explored.  Traditional prayers are well known. Other assembly focuses include the Mass, the liturgical seasons, local, national and international issues, achievement, or a school problem which needs to be addressed. Key Stage assemblies also promote spiritual and moral development and are timetabled weekly. On Fridays, we have an awards assembly: Pupil and Behaviour of the week. Every year, each class designs and leads leads a liturgy - parents of that class are invited and Fr. Gerard will join us. In one of the terms, each class will lead an assembly/liturgy instead of a mass which again the parents and the whole school are invited to.

We have a whole school Mass in September at St. Aidan’s Church to ask God’s blessing on our school year We also celebrate St. Aidan (Feast day August 31st) during this Mass. At the end of the school year, we have a Mass of thanksgiving. We also have a Harvest Mass;  advent and Lenten services draw together the end of the Autumn and Spring Term. Parents are always welcome to whole school Masses and class Masses. Each class also attends mass at St Aidan's church to coincide with their class saint feast day - Fr Peter plans a special homily on these occasions to celebrate the class' knowledge of their chosen saint.

The school Carol Service takes place at St. Aidan’s Church and all the parents are invited for this special gathering to celebrate Christ’s Nativity. Each class performs a carol and a reading which is re-enacted by Children throughout the school. During the Easter Term, Year 5 perform a very moving account of our Lord’s Passion which again is acted and there is music to accompany.

During the season of Lent, the Headteacher leads Stations of the Cross during assemblies and has introduced confessions for all the children before we finish the in the Autumn Term and the Easter Term.

The Pond Area has been completely revamped and classes now celebrate Mass, weather permitting, in this new area. This year, all children that received their First Holy Communion had a celebration Mass in the pond area.

Singing, is a great strength and the children evidently enjoy it. There is a hymn practice weekly led by Mrs Paull. A range of new hymns have been learnt and children are regularly singing ‘acapella’ in the classrooms to themselves or as a group. There are a range of choral events throughout the school year including the Carol Service, Year 6 singing at the Parish Christmas Lunch, the Coulsdon Yulefest, the O2, the Passion, the KS1 Nativity, the Year 2 and 3 production and the Leavers Production

 

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Reflection Books

Our Reflection books allow children to explore their spirituality and gives them time for quiet reflection. The children love having time to reflect and it enables them to have ownership of their own thoughts and chances to reflect on their R.E lessons which encourages their ability to participate in spontaneous prayer.

Spiritual Journey

Each year group has a Spiritual journey book that Is passed through the school with them. The books are a celebration of the spiritual journey the children go on as pupils of St. Aidan’s.

Displays

Our RE displays promote a love for Religious Education, the children are involved with the themes of the displays and they are often interactive enabling children to add thoughts, prayers, reflections or questions.

Prayer Leaders

We have year 5 and 6 prayer leaders. These children attend fortnightly meetings; taking part in individual challenges, getting prayers ready, running prayer groups and making sure children put their faith in action they keep records of examples of kindness that they see in the playground.

 

ADDRESS

ST AIDAN'S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL
PORTNALL ROAD,
COULSDON, SURREY,
CR5 3DE

CONTACT

TEL:  01737 556036
EMAIL: admin@st-aidans.croydon.sch.uk

Twitter: @St_Aidans_Sch