St Mary's Live Simply Award
We are aiming to get the Live Simply Award. The Live Simply Award is a scheme for schools who can show how they have been living:
- simply
- sustainably with creation
- in solidarity with people living in poverty.
We have committed to nine faith-inspired actions which will demonstrate that we are living simply, sustainably and in solidarity with the world’s poorest communities. We will impact our global family, our local community and our school community and we will reflect the teachings of Jesus, Catholic Social Teaching and Laudato Si’ along our journey.
Our planned activities for the year 2025 are below:
School Actions
Art Competition on the Awe and Wonder of our surroundings
We are encouraged to find God in everyday moments. We can find inspiration in ordinary things. This appreciation of little things, like St Therese of Lisieux suggested, helps us grow in faith.The natural world is a gift from God, reflecting His beauty, goodness, and love. Producing artwork or photography is an act of appreciation and gratitude for the world God has made.
Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Regift, Recycle Campaign
In Genesis 2:15, it says, ""The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." We must continue this and children will encourage each other to rethink their actions and refuse to do things that might pollute the world. In Luke 12:15, it says, "Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions." Children will hear this teaching and know that their calling is to share and help those in need too. We will take action to Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Regift, Recycle. Children will be involved in implementing, raising awareness, and taking part in actions. The children will be inspired to take part in this action based on the Catholic Social Teaching about living sustainably and by linking all of the actions to stewardship, gratitude, and love for God's creation.
Use our school grounds more sustainably
The feeding of the 5,000 reminds us that with faith and care, even small resources can nourish man. The world is a fragile ecosystem that needs all creatures to play their part. Growing food teaches us the value of simplicity, gratitude, and generosity. It reminds us that food is a gift from God, not to be wasted but shared. We will grow produce, plant wildflowers and pollinator-friendly plants.
Local Actions
Develop links with local care homes
Catholic Social Teaching teaches about the dignity of every person. We know that every human being is made in God's image and deserves respect, including the elderly who may feel lonely or forgotten. We want to live simply in harmony with others in our local community so we will visit Rhiwlas Care Home to play games with and learn about the residents. We'll learn about each other together through "Show and Tell" activities.
By learning more about older members of our local community and developing relationships with them, we are answering Jesus' call to respect all and Pope Francis's call to develop intergenerational relationships.
Our Mini Vinnies visited Rhiwlas in February 2025. They played games and told each other about their memories. The Year 6 children had learnt about World War II earlier in the year so it was brilliant for them to be able to hear the residents' first-hand experience of being evacuated and having to hide in shelters.
Local community litter picks
We are taught to look after our world through Laudato Si. Pope Francis has called for us to protect our common home. The children know, through their study of the story of Genesis, that the Earth is ours to look after. We are guardians.
Support our local foodbank
In Luke's gospel, John the Baptist says, "He who has two tunics is to share with him who has none." (Luke 3:11). Our children recognise the Option for the Poor strand of Catholic Social Teaching and this inspires us to help those less fortunate than ourselves. Every year, our children follow Jesus's lead of caring for the most needy. Children are involved with organising, promoting and checking the donations.
Global Actions
Big Lent Walk 2025
Solidarity reminds us that we are all part of the human family, regardless of differences in faith or background. It is also an opportunity to show how faith can guide positive contributions to society. As John said, "Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." (1 John 3:18).
On our Big Lent Walk in April, each class will walk to Mass at our parish church via one of the town's 5 schools or 3 nursing homes. They will present Easter cards and a token of solidarity to representatives of each of the places visited. The Big Lent Walk will embody the principle of solidarity by fostering unity, mutual respect, and collaboration with others outside the immediate Catholic community.
We will take part in global CAFOD campaigns to fight injustices
The Church teaches that the Earth is God's gift to humanity and must be cared for responsibly. Pope Francis, in Laudato Si', calls for urgent action to protect our common home. In Matthew 25:35-40, Jesus teaches that whatever we do for the least of our brothers and sisters, we do for Him. This includes advocating for those suffering from climate disasters. Both the words of Jesus and of Pope Francis will be central to our efforts to support those in the world's poorest communities.
By leading campaigns to reduce waste and fundraising for climate-affected communities, we will be putting our faith into action.
We will take part in the World Day of the Poor
Jesus taught us to show compassion and kindness to those most in need. In writing prayers for the world's poorest communities, we can grow in faith and develop a heart for social justice.
A CAFOD poster we have on display in school says "Go to the Poor for there you will find God." This relates to the parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew's gospel, "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink...". By grounding our participation in the Catholic faith, we will see the World Day of the Poor not just as an event, but as a way of living out Jesus' love for the least among us.