Our School Virtues
St. Mary’s Primary School is a virtues-based school. Values are things we believe in that help us to make decisions about how to behave. They are the principles that guide our lives and are rooted in Catholic Social Teaching. Our values are those of our Trust: the Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust.
Some virtues are quite tricky to understand and difficult to do every day; others are easier to spot and simpler to do. Sometimes we forget about the virtues that are really important to us; we are too busy or we don’t actually know what the virtues are.
At St. Mary’s we are starting to look at virtues in detail so that we all have the words to describe them to each other and know how to spot them in ourselves and in others. We will celebrate when people are showing values – by sharing them both on the website and in school. We are sure that parents will help you to understand values at home and will celebrate with you when you have showed them.
It’s not just children who need to learn about virtues, adults have to think about them too and sometimes need to remind themselves to slow down and think about what is really important to them. Teachers at St. Mary’s will be trying to live the virtues at the same time as the children; that way we can all learn together.
Virtues Education is not just something that helps you are learn when you are younger; it is a set of tools that you will carry with you all your life. Understanding values will help you to make difficult decisions even when you are a grown-up. To feel valued is a special thing and something we want to make sure everyone experiences at St. Mary’s.