Catholic Social Teaching.
"Each one of you must be a microphone of God, each one of you must be a messenger a prophet." Oscar Romero
The Oscar Romero Award.
Exciting News!
We have been awarded our "Participator Award" and are now beginning work on "Developer Level".
The Oscar Romero award is a framework that supports Catholic schools to recognise and celebrate what they do to promote catholic social teaching and challenge them to weave into everything that they do including ethos, planning, curriculum development and practical choices.
The Oscar Romero Award will support our school in realising the calling of a Catholic school to empower young people and all who work in the school, to become true agents of the change they want to see in the world by putting their Faith into action.
Who was Oscar Romero.
Catholic Social Teaching is:
The underlying insight is that everyone has the right and responsibility to live in our world constructively, not destructively, and to ensure that we leave it in a better state than when we entered it.
Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’(Matthew 25:40)
At St. Simon’s we teach our children the principles of Catholic Social Teaching as a guide to help them to understand and live their faith in the world.
This means helping others in need and caring for the world given to us by God the Father.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLHvosRUfQc&t=4s
This Year We are Focusing on Human Dignity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPfx2rVtgxs
Every person is worthy of our giving...they are God’s handiwork, his creation. God created that person in his image, and he or she reflects something of God’s glory. Every human being is the object of God’s infinite tenderness, and he himself is present in their lives.’ Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel)
Each of us is made in God’s image. Every person has an innate human dignity no one can take away. Our common humanity requires that we respect and uphold the dignity of each and every human being. Everything else flows from this dignity.
Ways we show human dignity at St. Simon's:
Living out our Mission Statement.
Sharing our school values.
Staying safe online and celebrating Safer Internet Day
Our behaviour policy
RSE lessons and across the curriculum
Learning about other Faiths and Cultures
Fundraising for charities eg. Vinnie's Diner Ashford, Cafod, Water Aid, Save the Children.
Being an Inclusive school.
Prayer for Human Dignity.
Loving God,
We believe that each person is special because God made us all.
Help us try to make sure all people are treated with respect and have what they need because God made them too.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Solidarity.
all of you are one in Christ Jesus.’ Galatians 3:28
'No man is an island, entire of itself. Our lives are involved with one another, through innumerable interactions they are linked together. The lives of others continually spill over into mine: in what I think, say, do and achieve, and therefore my life spills over into that of others.'PopeFrancis.
Being in solidarity is recognising others as our brothers and sisters and actively working for their good. We are connected to people all over the world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MysRmBrpbeQ
Ways we show Solidarity at St. Simon's:
Charity fundraising - locally and globally
Playtime Buddies.
Sports Leaders.
Team and individual Sports Competitions.
Sharing Mass and Liturgy with the Parish.
KCSP sport and Mass days.
Learning collaboratively.
Transition Days.
Daily worship and prayer.
Cafod assemblies.
Prayer for Solidarity.
Loving God,
We believe that we are one big human family.
Help us to reach out to people who are suffering or sad, showing them the love you have shown
to us.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Subsidiarity.
'Together we want to give voice to all those who suffer, to all those who have no voice and are not heard.’ Pope Francis,
Subsidiarity is making sure that decisions are made at the most appropriate level, so that everyone can contribute and have a voice. Everyone has ideas and knows what is best for their families and communities. They should always have a say and the chance to influence outcomes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62l2IHXNz2w
Ways that we show Subsidiarity at St. Simon's.
Completing the big ambition questionnaire.
School council make decisions about what projects, such as charity fundraising and resources based on the views of children, teachers and parents.
Pupil voice across the curriculum and wider curriculum.
Parent voice.
School staff voice.
Our Prayer for Subsidiarity.
Loving God,
We believe that people who make decisions should listen to everyone.
Help us make sure everyone is treated fairly and can have a say.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
The Common Good.
‘The whole is greater than the part, but it is also greater than the sum of its parts.’ Pope Francis.
The common good is about respecting the rights and responsibilities of all people and leaving no one behind.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmE5gWBzfao
Ways we live out the Common Good at St. Simon's
Fundraising to benefit and improve our whole community.
The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.
Cafod
Vinnie's Diner- Soup Kitchen
Save The Children.
Children in Need.
Water Aid.
Our Prayer for the Common Good.
Loving God,
We believe that we are all brothers and sisters.
Help us to think about what is good for everyone, not just ourselves.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Stewardship.
“The value of creation does not lie in its usefulness for us. It lies in the fact of its existence from God....... The world is not ours; it is God’s. ... We are stewards. We are accountable to God.” —Sister Dianne Bergant, CSA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOgF2Kgel6k
Stewardship is all about caring for the many gifts that God has given to us. These include our environment, our own talents and other resources.
All living things are connected so we must use God’s gifts responsibly to meet the needs of everyone, now and in the future.
Ways we celebrate Stewardship of Creation at St. Simon's:
Outdoor Learning.
Harvest Festival Liturgy.
Prayer in our faith Garden.
Growing plants and vegetables to harvest in our raised beds.
Opal Play.
Art installations in the school grounds.
St. Simon's job centre promoting awareness of energy use- light monitor, litter pickers.
Through our curriculum,e.g. pollution, the story of creation, art.
Recycling of school uniform.
Recycling of books and games.
Our Prayer for Stewardship.
Loving God,
We believe that the world is for everyone.
We thank you for the gift of Creation.
Help us to take care of the planet and all people who live on it.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Option for the Poor.
“He said to them in reply, ‘Whoever has two tunics should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.’” —John the Baptist, Luke 3:11
A preferential option for the poor means that we think first about the needs of those who are the most vulnerable. Jesus taught that when we feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, look after the sick and visit those imprisoned, we are looking after him.
Ways we show the Option for the Poor at St. Simon's.
Provision of uniform.
Gifts at Christmas.
Early help and support
Pupil premium support across the curriculum and wider curriculum.
Access to essential goods.
Access to pastoral and SEND support.
LAC priority on admissions.
Charity Fundraising.
Loving God,
We believe that when we serve the poor we serve you.
Help us to take special care of those people most in need.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Distributive Justice.
All who believed were together and had all things in common.” Acts 2:44-45
Distributive justice is all about fair allocation of resources (including income, goods and services). God’s plan was for all people to share in the goods of this world. This means that no person should struggle to have the basic necessities of life such as food, shelter and clothing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWpoIo3mlgk
Ways we show Distributive Justice at St. Simon's:
Year 6 learn about fair trade.
We pray for refugees across the world.
Staff, children and parents are treated equally.
All pupils can access clubs and trips.
All pupils have necessary equipment for school.
Loving God,
We believe you want to bring your peace to our homes, our communities and our world.
Help us to be peacemakers, listening to and loving each other.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Participation.
“When each separate part works as it should, the whole body grows and builds itself up through love” Ephesians 4:16
We live in community with others, growing together. We are called to be active participants in all that we do. We have a responsibility to be inclusive so that we allow all people to participate. 
How we Participate at St. Simon's.
St. Simon's Job Centre.
Being a member of the school Council.
Being a pray leader.
Being a play leader.
Taking part in after school clubs.
Representing the school as a young Language ambassador.
Representing the school in sports competition.
Being a member of the school Liturgy Team.
Being a member of Minnie Vinnies.
Sharing scripture and prayers at Whole school Mass and Liturgies.
Running class stalls at school fairs.
Taking part in parish events.
Engaging fully in learning across the curriculum.
Representing the school at KCSP Trust events.
Representing the school on school trips.
Our Prayer for Participation.
Loving God,
We believe that everyone has special gifts and talents.
Thank you for the gifts you have given us.
Help us to make sure everyone can use the talents you gave them.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Promoting Peace.
‘...those who promote peace have joy.’ Proverbs 12:20
Peace comes from both justice and love and is dependent upon people understanding one another. Peace is not just the absence of war. It is part of God’s nature, and a value we should all seek to live out in our daily lives.
How we Promote Peace at St. Simon's.
We offer prayers and support to Ukraine.
Year 6 study refugees and drew chairs to highlight the number of refugees fleeing war and persecution.
Year 5 learn about wars across the world and history to create a reflective remembrance Liturgy to promote the importance of peace.
Our behaviour policy promotes respect and resolution.
Our Prayer for Peace.
Loving God,
We believe you want to bring your peace to our homes, our communities and our world.
Help us to be peacemakers, listening to and loving each other.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Charitable Giving.
Each year, we turn our concerns into action, fundraising regularly for a variety of charities chosen by the children.
In October, Year 3 leads the school in our Harvest Festival Liturgy. During the liturgy we said thank you to God for all the gifts he has given us, at the same time as thinking of others who are less fortunate than us. We collected donations of tinned and dried foods, which were used to create a harvest display.
All the goods were then donated to “Vinnie’s Diner,” a charity that prepares meals for the homeless and needy within the Ashford area.
Lenten Charities.
