At St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, we proudly work in prayer and partnership with parents as the first educators of their children. We have established strong working relationships between home, school and Parish communities to provide a comprehensive Catholic education. The children live out the school mission statement through the school values. Our overarching school value and motto is taken from the Gospel of Saint Matthew: ‘Let Your Light Shine’. Children utilise and celebrate their God-given talents in all aspects of their school life.
“You are like light for the whole world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; instead it is put on the lampstand, where it gives light for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5: 14-16
Pupil leadership roles
Every September, children in KS2 volunteer to take on a leadership role. In Y6, they apply to be a member of the Chaplaincy Team, describing why they would be suitable, their personal qualities and examples of any experience they have which will help them in their role. In Y3-Y5, they outline why they would like to become a Mini Vinnie and the class vote for 2 representatives. Children receive training and meet with the adult chaplains to support them in their work.
This year’s team are:
Serah, Amber, Isaac, Ruby, Harry, Alicia, Martin, Lucy, Cora, Summer
Head pupils Jude and Astrid also form part of the Chaplaincy Team.
They meet every Thursday lunchtime with Mr Downing to organise whole school chaplaincy provision.
This year’s team are:
Joy, Sofia, Emilia, Elodie, Maya, Charlie, Joseph, George, Aoibhinn, Thea, Karolina, Corey
They meet every Monday lunchtime with Mrs Asquith to organise activities supporting our termly charities.
Charities
Each term, we focus our efforts on supporting one of six charities. The children turn concern into action, for example by bringing in a tin from home, writing Christmas cards to the housebound, sending flowers to a nursing home or wearing non-uniform to fundraise.
Chesterfield Foodbank think that no one in our community should have to face going hungry. That is why they provide three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are in crisis. They are part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.
Each year we make an appeal to families at harvest time for non-perishable food items and essential toiletries to help stock up our local foodbank. The Chaplaincy Team and Mini Vinnies co-ordinate the collection and organise the donations into crates to efficiently hand them over to the foodbank.
Thank you so much to everyone at St Mary’s School for the generous donations you collected for Chesterfield Foodbank at Harvest time. Please pass on our sincere thanks to all the staff, parents and children for their kindness and support.
Your donations weighed 97.28kg, which equates to approximately 232 meals, helping us to provide around 26 food parcels for local people and families experiencing hardship. This will make a real and meaningful difference to those who are struggling to afford the essentials.
Support like yours is vital, and we are truly grateful for the care and community spirit shown by St Mary’s.
Jacqueline DeVeaux (Communications, Engagement and Funding Manager)
The SVP Society are an anti-poverty charity part of an international Christian voluntary network dedicated to tackling poverty in all its forms by providing practical assistance to people in need. Over 8,000 volunteer members, motivated by faith, visit vulnerable or isolated people across England and Wales and offer friendship and practical support.
Each year, after the blessing of the Advent wreaths, an appeal is made to support the local work of the Padley Martyrs SVP group. Families give any loose change after attending the service or donate online via a QR code in the school newsletter.
The Parish Office passed the donation taken from the collection at Mass on Friday.On behalf of Padley Martyrs would you please pass on our thanks to everyone who donated. It is a busy time of year for us and the additional funds will help spread some extra joy to our beneficiaries.Thank you again
Mike Scott (Padley Martyrs Secretary)
Mission Together is the Catholic Church’s official children’s charity for overseas mission and has been working in Catholic schools and parishes worldwide since 1843. The charity encourages children to pray, fund-raise and become missionaries themselves – children helping children.
Each year we take part in the Little Red Box Scheme to support Missio’s overseas children’s projects. Each class has a collection box and children and families are invited to bring in any loose change to support the cause.
Visiting St Mary’s was a lovely way to start the year. Thank you for your school’s support.
Claire Colleran (Education Outreach Officer)
Thank you for taking part last year – schools in the Diocese of Hallam are always so generous in supporting this Catholic children’s charity.
Peter Davison (Mission Together Volunteer)
Mary’s Meals provides life-changing school meals to more than 3 million children living in some of the world’s poorest communities. The promise of a good meal brings hungry children into the classroom, where they can gain an education and better opportunities for the future. Mary’s Meals makes it possible for hungry children to go to school and give them the energy they need to concentrate and participate in class.
Each year our Mini Vinnies organise a 10p fundraiser challenge. Children and families are challenged to bring in 10p for each week during Lent and add it to their class collection box. The money is counted each week and the totaliser display in the hall is updated to track how may meals can be provided with the funds.
Thank you so much for having me earlier in the week at your lovely school.
And thank you so much for supporting Mary’s Meals!
Congratulations on the total – I think that has doubled since I saw you!!
I’d be delighted to come back and have the t-shirts ready for the Mini Vinnies.
Kathleen Sheridan (Supporter Engagement Manager)
The Good Shepherd Appeal is the key fundraising initiative in Hallam for the provision of Counselling Services in Schools. These services are provided to our school to benefit our children, our families and our staff.
Each year we organise a whole school non-uniform day to raise funds for the appeal. Where possible, school representatives attend the celebration service held at St Marie’s Cathedral in Sheffield to present the cheque to Bishop Ralph.
Ashgate Hospice provide, educate and campaign for excellent care and bereavement support. They provide palliative and end-of-life care free of charge to people aged 18 and over. They care for people living with a variety of life-limiting illnesses.
Taking inspiration from the Ashgate Sparkle Night Walk fundraising event held in Chesterfield, in school we organise a Mini Sparkle Walk in memory of Glyn Davidson – a former firefighter and school governor. This is an annual community event and families are always highly supportive of this very worthy local cause. To date, the fund has raised over £38,000 enabling Ashgate Hospice to continue providing crucial end-of-life care to its residents.
The Glyn Davidson Tribute Fund
Year 3’s fundraiser for Ashgate Hospice
Thank you all so much for your generous donation to Ashgate Hospice, we really appreciate your support!Thank you so much for your further Sparkle Walk donations!
Leigh Allwood (Community Relationship Fundraiser)
