St. Paul’s CE Primary Core Values
‘LEARNING’ to make a difference |
A core value is a central belief which is understood and shared by every member of the school community. Core values arise out of what we believe to be important about people, about society and about learning and knowledge. Our core values:
- Friendship and Nurturing:
High expectations for all in learning and behaviour.
- Respect and Tolerance:
Relationships based on equality, trust and sincerity.
- Honesty and Integrity:
Decisions and actions based on Christian values – ‘Doing the right thing’.
- Thankfulness and Joy:
Celebrating the gifts, skills and talents of all in our school community.
- Forgiveness and Peace:
Always being willing to say sorry and rebuild a broken relationship.
- Perseverance and Courage:
Personal drive and passion inspiring all.
High expectations for all in learning and behaviour.
- Keep your facial expressions polite.
- Older children are a good example to others.
- Forgive and forget.
- Be a Play Buddy making sure that children aren’t left alone during play time.
- Be willing to take turns.
- Remember your manners when speaking to people.
- Keep trying and help each other.
- Celebrate birthdays.
- Enjoy the friendship benches and use them to make new friends.
- Listen to your teachers.
- Be caring to others.
- Join in extra-curricular activities.
- Always do your best and be confident.
- Respect yourself and others.
Friendship
Biblical background: Christians believe they can call God their friend because of the relationship made possible through Jesus. Jesus was criticised for being the 'friend of sinners' and eating with those whom society rejected. Sharing a meal with someone is an explicit sign of friendship and the word 'companion' literally means 'one with whom you share bread'.
Bible stories:
- Jesus' special friends - choosing the twelve disciples (Matt 4:18-22 / Mark 1:16-20 / Luke 5:1-11)
- Jesus washes feet and prays for his disciples (John 13 onwards)
- John 15 “I am the vine and you are the branches”: The purpose of this teaching spelled out in verses 11-14 (you are my friends if…)
- The Emmaus Road story (Luke 24:13-35)
- The healing of the paralysed man (Matt 9:1-8 / Mark 2:1-12 / Luke 5:17-26)
- Loving enemies and doing good to those who hate you (Luke 6:27-36)
- Jesus and the woman at the well – a natural and friendly Q&A (John 4)
- Also: the relationship (ups and downs!) between Moses and God, Jacob and Esau, David and Jonathan
Bible verses:
- Encourage one another and build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5: 11)
- A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in times of need
(Proverbs 17:17)
- If one falls down, a friend can lift him up (Ecclesiastes 4: 10)
Relationships based on equality, trust and sincerity.
- Always treat people how you would like to be treated.
- Say “no” to bullying of any kind.
- Show kindness at all times
- Listen to other people and value their opinions.
- Show good manners at all times.
- Embrace British Values.
- Don’t leave people out.
- Follow school rules.
- Recognise and celebrate achievement and success of all members of the school community.
- Actively find out about different cultures, faiths and races.
- Reflect upon the Christian values in our society and use this knowledge to make good choices in life.
- Respect your own things and things that belong to the school and others.
- Be proud and interested in sharing family traditions.
Respect
Biblical background: The nature of God, as revealed in the Bible, presents all people with a choice. Those whose response is one of respect are acknowledging God's greatness, authority and involvement in the world. This will extend to respect for creation, including humanity made in the image of God. Respect flows from the need to live a life of interdependence with God and all that is around us.
Bible stories:
- Jesus and the Roman Centurion – we are all under God’s authority and need to respond to that
- Jesus goes to the Temple – notices the poor widow’s mite compared to the rich money bags
- Jesus goes to the Temple – turning over the trading tables for the centrality of worship/prayer
- The parable of the Good Samaritan – the foreigner is my neighbour
- Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch -
Bible verses:
- 'Always keep on praying for all God's people.' (Ephesians 6: 18)
- 'Do to others as you would have them do to you.' (Matthew 7: 12)
- 'Show proper respect to everyone.' (1 Peter 2: 17)
Decisions and actions based on Christian values – ‘Doing the right thing’.
- Tell a member of staff if someone hurts or upsets you.
- Be aware of other people’s feelings if you disagree with them.
- Keep yourself healthy and safe.
- Include everyone and share things.
- Listen to and follow your conscience.
- Be grateful.
- Know what is right and what is wrong.
- Always tell the truth and be honest.
- Be tolerant.
- Ignore gossip.
Honesty
Biblical background: Christians believe that truth is revealed in the Bible and supremely in the person and life of Jesus Christ. Through Jesus' teaching, we are given an insight into the nature of God and the way in which he means us to live.
Bible stories:
- Jacob and Esau
- The parable of the hidden treasure
- Adam and Eve
- Jesus and Pontius Pilate
- The parable of the Prodigal Son (the honesty that led to reconciliation)
- The story of Esther (the OT whole book!)
Bible verses:
- 'Tell the truth to each other.' (Zechariah 8: 16)
- 'Do not accuse anyone falsely.' (Exodus 21: 16)
- 'You know everything I do; from far away you understand all my thoughts.'
(Psalm 139: 2)
Celebrating the gifts, skills and talents of all in our school community.
- Enjoy a happy and safe environment.
- Applaud all children who receive special achievements.
- Join in with family fun nights for all of the school community.
- Applaud children who achieve special certificates.
- Enjoy sharing your talents at sports day, in choir, reading events and lots more.
- Be willing to share a smile with all you meet.
- Use all talents in all areas of school life to achieve your best results.
- Give people a friendly greeting e.g. good morning.
Thankfulness
Biblical background: Christians believe that God loves and cares for them in many different ways in all aspects of their lives. They know that their response to this provision should be one of thankfulness and praise.
Bible stories:
- Psalm 148 - a song of praise to God
- The healing of the ten lepers
- The loaves and the fishes
- The Last Supper (giving thanks for the bread and wine)
- Peter and Cornelius (Acts 10)
- The story of Joseph
- King David when the Ark of the Covenant enters Jerusalem
Bible verses:
- Every time I think of you I give thanks to my God. (Philippians 1:3)
- Always give thanks for everything to God the Father. (Ephesians 5:20)
- Always be thankful. (1 Thessalonians 5:16)
- The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My
heart leaps for joy and I give thanks to him in song. (Psalm 28:7)
- Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)
Always being willing to say sorry and rebuild a broken relationship.
- Be willing to listen to the views and opinions of others.
- Every day be patient, start fresh.
- Don’t leave any children out of games.
- Understanding children from different cultures, faiths and nationalities.
- Be willing to share ideas, problems or concerns with other children and adults
- Be willing to forgive others.
- Embrace learning in a peaceful and calm environment.
- Show you are sorry by changing your actions and words.
- Be willing to say sorry and ignore gossip.
- Be a good role model for making peace.
Forgiveness
Biblical background: Forgiveness is the means by which damaged relationships are restored. It is an act of will, motivated by love. For Christians, Jesus' death on the cross is the ultimate revelation of God's all forgiving love, and his sacrifice stands as a source of inspiration to forgive others, no matter what the cost.
Bible stories:
- Zacchaeus the tax collector
- The prodigal son
- Two men who owed money - Benjamin and Joshua
- Lot not looking back – holding a grudge
- Jesus on the cross
- Joseph with his brothers
- Jesus post resurrection – breakfast on the beach
Bible verses:
- Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive others. (Colossians 3:13)
- If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. (Matthew 6:14)
- Happy are those whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned. (Psalm 32:1)
- Then Peter came to Jesus and asked 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?' Jesus answered, 'I tell you not seven times, but seventy-seven times.' (Matthew 18:21-22)
- Be compassionate and kind to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you' (Ephesians 4:32)
Personal drive and passion inspiring all.
- Never give up
- Give yourself a new learning challenge every day.
- Try as hard as you can.
- Believe in yourself, raise your game and reach for the stars
- Encourage others to keep trying.
- Challenge yourself to do better.
- Be in school every day to achieve your goals.
- Always work hard, however difficult it may seem.
- Be brave – take a risk with your learning.
- Allow yourself to dream about what you want to achieve.
- Ask for help when needed.
Perseverance
Biblical background: Jesus frequently encouraged his disciples to 'endure patiently' the difficulties and obstacles they encountered and to persevere in the face of adversity. He himself trusted in God even when his enemies tried to stop his work and plotted his death.
Bible stories:
- Mary and Joseph travelling to Egypt
- Noah and the Ark
- Daniel in the Lion's Den
- Daniel in the fiery furnace
- David and Goliath
- Prophet Samuel and the anointing of David
- Jesus and the disciples on the lake in the storm
Bible verses:
- 'I can do all things through him who strengthens me.' (Philippians 4:13)
- 'Let us run with perseverance the race that lies before us. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end.' (Hebrews 12:1-2)
- 'Barnabus was a good man full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith.' (Acts 11:24)
- Barnabus was an encourager and we need to encourage others as they persevere with tasks.