Spirituality

A Caring Christian Family Where We Grow Together
Let Your Light Shine ~ Matthew 5:16

What is Spirituality?

At Bunbury, we believe in the importance of creating opportunities for children to grow spiritually. Each child and staff member has a reflection jotter to record thoughts and moments of spiritual awe and wonder. The children have spiritual activities that they take part in such as appreciating the outside world around us and this bank of activities is added to by the children through suggestions. 

Please watch the video below which helps to explain children's spirituality and how to ignite their spiritual growth. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGNXewx4wtQ

Our Bunbury Definition: 

‘Spirituality is not something we can see but inside all of us it is about giving time and space to reflect on the bigger picture and create a safe and inclusive environment for awe and wonder.’

Prayers

As part of daily routines the children are involved in worship and prayer.   Here are our prayers that the children and staff say together.

Collective Worship - Call to Worship
We are here to worship, 
We are here to pray, 
We are here to listen,
We are here to meet with God and God will meet with us.
Amen.

School Prayer - Written by Ethos Council April 2019

Dear God

Thank you for everything we have learnt today. Thank you for our school, friends, food, water and play. Help us to always 'let our light shine.' Amen

Dinner Time Prayer 
For what we are about to receive may the Lord may us truly thankful,
Amen

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power, and the glory

for ever and ever.

Amen

These are displayed in each classroom and children are invited to lead and/or join in with prayer at different times during the school day including: lunch time, worship and the end of the school day.

Reflection Areas

We understand that the world we live is an increasingly busy and demanding one and that school life is no different to this. Therefore, it is important for the children to be in an environment in which they can reflect on their own beliefs, values and thoughts to encourage the exploration of their own spirituality.

Jesus showed us the importance of retreating from the busyness of the world. In Mark 1:35, we read about Jesus getting up early in the morning and going to find a place where he could pray alone.

Our reflective areas teach pupils to be ‘still’ and are a place to worship, reflect, demonstrate curiosity to explore life’s big questions and provide an opportunity to show gratefulness.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46. 10

Each classroom has a reflection area, which is changed and added to regularly during each term and reflects the current Christian value. They are interactive areas where the children can go to ponder, reflect and pray in a calm, inclusive space. To engage the children in thought and prayer, the areas enable children to choose from activities such as: considering their responses to big questions, reading a bible story, drawing pictures, writing their own prayers and more. Each week the children also have the opportunity to complete a value nomination tag where the children write the name of a fellow pupil who has demonstrated the current Christian value to receive the award in our celebration worship. This encourages a deep understanding of the current Christian value and what it looks like in action.

Here are some of our classroom reflection areas:

Whole School Outdoor Reflection Area

As a school, we also felt it was important to have a reflection area for the whole school community to engage with. As a result, our outdoor reflection area was brought to life to impact children’s spiritual lives. Every child in the school has decorated their own individual pebble for the pathway. As it is positioned just off from the main playground, all children can have access to it on a regular basis. This area is currently growing with the help of our Ethos Committee who have helped to design the area and choose the interactive activities for other children to engage with.

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 25: 4-5

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