Faith in Action

As a school community we are committed to putting our Faith in Action. Each academic year, students and staff focus on raising money to support local, national and international charities. Below outlines the organisations we are currently supporting, including Alice Charity, Foodbank, Hudson’s Care and CAFOD.

Catholic Life and Mission

Throughout Lent as a school community we focussed on prayer, fasting and almsgiving, fundraising for our international charity CAFOD and our local charity, Alice Charity. During Lent we raised £438.79 for our International charity CAFOD through Family fast day: – £240.00, Walk against Hunger sponsorship: – £115.50 and the Sixth form Staff vs Students Football match donation: – £83.29. This is a total of £784.28 for CAFOD this academic year to date. We also donated a vast amount of sanitary goods, dried, tinned and long-life products as well as Easter eggs to the People’s Pantry for Alice charity.

Alton Castle Retreat – September 2024

European Day of Languages – September 2023

On Tuesday 26th September we celebrated the European Day of Languages. Students created and read prayers in different languages and shared with others within the school.

Reverse Advent Calendars for the Foodbank during Advent

Our school community work together to collect goods for the foodbank and we focus on our Catholic social teaching; The common good. Our school community responds really well to coming together to collect for our wider community.

Harvest foodbank collection October 2022

Catholic Pupil Profile

Our Y7 students have dedicated time within RE lessons to reflect on the Catholic pupil profile.

Catholic social teachings

Dignity- Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you (Jeremiah 1:5)
Solidarity- In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers [or sisters] of mine, you did it to me. (Matthew 25:40)
The common good- You are not making a gift of your possessions to the poor person. You are handing over to them what is theirs. (Saint Ambrose (340-397 AD)
The option for the poor- The spirit of the Lord is on me, for he has anointed me to bring the good news to the afflicted. He has sent me… to let the oppressed go free. (Luke 4:18)
Peace- Peace… is an order that is founded in truth, nurtured and animated by charity, and brought into effect under the auspices of freedom. (Pacem in Terris, 1963, #167)
Care for creation- Who turned the wonderworld of the seas into underwater cemeteries bereft of colour and life? (Catholic Bishops of the Philippines, 1988)
The dignity of work and participation- A small number of very rich men have been able to lay upon the teeming masses of the labouring poor a yoke little better than that of slavery itself. (Rerum Novarum, 1891, #3)

St Thomas More Feast Day

We had wonderful afternoon celebrating the feast day of St Thomas More, on the 22nd June. Each form group created their own form banners ready for sports day and had a celebration event.

Students learnt more about St Thomas More and enjoyed the afternoon celebrating together as forms and bringing their own ideas and thoughts to their Saint banners.

Transition

We have a fantastic transition programme here at St Thomas more which involves learning all about our Catholic mission and how we strive to allow each individual to flourish in the image and likeness of God.

Retreats

Our school retreat programme:

Y7- In-house retreat including a visit to our local Catholic Church

Y8- Alton Castle Residential

Y9- In-house retreat during advent

Vocations Day

Y10- Lourdes

Y11- In-house Retreat

Sixth Form- Lourdes

Staff retreats

We have liturgically themed staff retreats at Lent and Advent. This consists of a number of activities after school for staff to engage to focus on the real meaning of the liturgical season.

Events in School

Stations on the Cross

On 23^rd March St Thomas More hosted a torchlit process on the Stations of the cross with over 100 members from the parish and MAC community in attendance promoting parish and community links. Students from the MAC led each station wonderfully. As we walked around each station, the students from both the primary schools and St Thomas More Catholic Academy, demonstrated their faith and the sense of community shone through. Thank you to Father David for being part of such a special event.

Year 4 Lenten Retreat

Students in year 4 from across our MAC schools were welcomed to St Thomas More for a Lenten Retreat.

The morning involved students ‘walking in the footsteps of Jesus’, as they prayed the Stations of the Cross on a tour of our fantastic school.

Also, students were introduced to the Art Department, where they created story stones of the events of Holy Week.

The story stones were used during the closing liturgy, where students shared their creative pieces with their friends and staff.

Year 10 El Salvadorian Crosses

In year 10, students have been involved in creative lessons whereby they have designed their own El Salvadorian Crosses.

These crosses link to the art, statuary and sculpture topic of the Good and Evil unit.

Students have been studying the importance and significance of art and sculpture in the Catholic faith.

Finally, students have explored the life and work of Oscar Romero in El Salvador, and the mission he carried out in standing up for social injustice.

Some students used this creative lesson to dedicate their artwork to the people of Ukraine, praying for peace in the coming weeks and months.

Vocations Day

Year 9 students had a wonderful opportunity to take part in our annual Vocation’s Day. We welcomed a variety of speakers in to school to deliver sessions that covered all areas of vocations. The students reflected on talks led by relatable role models and we are so grateful for the speakers that gave up their time to be with our students. We also included some lovely prayer stations led by Kenelm Youth Trust that were an activity for all students throughout the day. Quotes from students following the day: “Take a leap of faith”