GIFT
The purpose of the Ethos Group – GIFT – Growing In Faith Together – is to further develop the pupil voice and the children’s involvement in school decision-making.
Why have an Ethos group?
The Ethos Group, GIFT, supports our school in developing our Christian distinctiveness and work to promote the school core Christian values.
The group reports to the Head Teacher and the Governing Body about what it has discussed, planned and done. The Ethos Group work with other adults, children, parents, clergy and church members to develop positive working relationships. The work of the Ethos Group would be recorded in our School Development Plan and they would have an active role in developing part of the plan.
What does the Ethos Group do?
Meets fortnightly to discuss aspects of our commitment to our Christian ethos and values with the meetings minuted.
- Ask the children about their opinions about Collective Worship, the School Values and RE.
- Reviews the Reflective Areas around school
- Help children to reflect on the Spirituality and BIG questions
- Work with Mrs Abbott and Mrs Hunter and other adults, as well as the Lighthouse Crew, to plan and take an active part in worship.
- Take part in and lead prayer sessions in school with Rev Alison
- Work with Mrs Hunter to support church worship and church and school partnership.
- Be involved in supporting the development of reflective areas in classrooms, reflective areas around school and outside reflective spaces.
- Seek information about national and local charities and be involved in suggesting how the school can support others within our community and the world. (School charity work)
- Look at global issues and how we at St. John’s can take an active part in world issues. For example reducing plastic in our environment.
- Develop an ‘Action Plan’ on how pupils and other stakeholders can help to make a difference in our school, community and society.
- Establish events (such as an RE week, art week, friendship week or grandparent day etc.) to put our values into action.
- Work hard to develop spirituality within our school.
- Seek to find out more about Saint John the Evangelist (our school and church namesake), his feast day (27th December) and symbol (eagle) to share findings and information with staff and pupils so that we can learn more about our heritage.
How the children were chosen?
The children interested in become a member of the GIFT Ethos Group expressed an interest by writing a letter to Mrs Hunter and Mrs Abbott . They outlined why they wanted to be involved in the Ethos Group ‘GIFT” and what they could bring to the group.
Group members were chosen from Years 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Our GIFT group-
Monroe
Eloise
Liberte
Lucinda
Amelia
Ollie
Molly
Roary
Grayson
GIFT group have written bubble wrap worry prayers toady. They have been thinking about any worries or concerns that they might have or others might have. They pop a bubble and send their worry to God.
The leadership team along with their Chaplin from St. Anne's Academy came to share their 40 acts of kindness with us for lent. Our GIFT team welcomed them into school and will share the posters with each class explaining the challenges and spreading kindness around our community.
GIFT group have been very busy over the last half term planning which charities we will be supporting and different ways to spread kindness. Look our for their Red Nose Day posters around school and their special happiness jars with notes to make people smile. They will be busy making more to share with our community.
Well done to our school for your kind toy donations to the GIFT group appeal to support The Lighthouse Project Christmas toy Appeal. Well done to GIFT group for your fabulous posters and to Mrs. Abbott for taking them to the projects headquarters!
GIFT group have been busy filling the advent stockings with little slips containing acts of kindness. They will be hung on the tree and shared with the school during Collective Worship as we count down to Christmas.
What an amazing Autumn display you have created with wonderful Autumn poems, Harvest prayers and posters for our festival encouraging people to donate food to the food bank!
Our GIFT group met today to decide on which heart they would like to present to the class with the most heart pegs for their weekly kindness challenge. Light blue it is! They are busy making Harvest posters for our Harvest assembly! Could you donate food to the local food bank?
Our GIFT group have been looking after our school grounds today. They have picked up litter that has blown into our playground. Great work everyone you have shown that you care about our local environment and the world around us!
GIFT group with the support of year 6 children have been busy creating cheer up jars full of messages to make people smile. We want to make lots more before we start to gift them to our community. Please save and send in any small empty jars you have.
