Catholic Life
Prayer and Liturgy
‘School collective worship is outstanding including a wide range of celebrations which offer a variety of different experiences and activities designed to enable all members
of the school community to participate and grow spiritually.’ Section 48 Denominational Inspection – October 2019
The Laleham Lea School Prayer:
This is our school.
Let peace live here,
May love live here,
Love of one another,
Love of mankind,
Love of life,
Love of God.
Let us remember, that as many hands build a house,
many hearts make our school.
Amen
As a Catholic School prayer is central to our school life. We start our day with our School Prayer and pupils are encouraged to pray before lunch and before they leave at the end of the day. Each child is nurtured through the spiritual support of our Catholic ethos, Mission Statement and care. We put our Christian values at the forefront of our daily routine and welcome children of all faiths who are sympathetic to our Catholic ethos. We encourage a high standard of behaviour based on values of love, respect, and a positive work ethic.
Each week begins with the Celebration of the Word assembly led by our Head teacher offering students and staff the opportunity to reflect on the Gospel reading and themes and prepare themselves for the week ahead.
We regularly celebrate Mass together either in our own Long Room or in the calm serenity of the John Fisher School Chapel. Year groups also take turns to attend Mass at John the Baptist in a weekly rota. Year 6 students are chosen to represent the school at the Diocesan ‘Beginning of Year Mass’ at St Georges’ Cathedral.
Classes take turns to lead regular Liturgies for the whole school and perform short role plays to help tell Bible stories. Our Pupil Chaplains regularly write their own prayers for assemblies and our newsletters and our Year 6 students will write their own bidding prayers for our School Masses. Year 6 students also visit their peers in Reception – Year 5 on Wednesday mornings and help to deliver an explain The Wednesday Word in more detail which often sparks thoughtful questions and reflections.
Each classroom has its own Prayer Table which is dressed with a display including drawings and prayers by the pupils to reflect the Liturgical Calendar and current RE topics.
Our weekly prayer club welcomes students from all year groups and during the Month of the Holy Rosary, parents are also invited to attend and pray the Rosary together.
Our Year 3 Pupils receive their Holy Communion in their Parishes and this is celebrated with a ‘Going Forth Mass’ with all the year’s Communicants in the John Fisher Chapel in June each year. This is followed by a celebration ‘breakfast’ in the Long Room at Laleham Lea.