Courageous Advocacy

“Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves. Protect the rights of all who are helpless” Proverbs 31:8

At St Lawrence C of E Primary School, we are courageous advocates for the common good, locally, nationally and globally. We recognise that life is full of ups and downs and that at times all people will face challenges that they need help and support in overcoming. We believe that people are worth spending time with, that people need time to grow and need loving attention. The Christian Gospel says that every person has a unique task to do, with God, and for God, whether they know it or not.

Within the community our school stands up for what it believes in. Our Christian Values of Love, Compassion & Respect and British Values (Rule of Law, Tolerance, Democracy, Mutual Respect and Individual Liberty) ensure that opportunities to discuss current world issues, to challenge injustice and to engage in activities that can bring about change are always present. Such as:

• Fair Trade School – we are a Fair Achiever School
• Holocaust Memorial Day
• WW1 Centenary – Mutual Respect and Peace Remembrance activities
• D-Day
• Collective Worship planning
• Equality: Black History Month; International Women’s Day
• 40 Days of Lent
• Politics – General Election; Brexit; Voting for Head Boy and Girl: Democracy
• Refugee Week
   

We understand that life can be challenging at times and that all people, including friends, family and global citizens will face difficulties that they need help to persevere with in order to overcome them. We aim to inspire courageous advocacy and instill our Christian Values in the whole St Lawrence community. To ensure that we and our community give, inspire and flourish together, we have been and are supportive of a range of charities in our local area, nationally and globally. Some of these include:

• Alive & Kicking (footballs for Kenya)
• Christian Aid
• Toilet Twinning (toilets in Liberia, Malawi, Burundi, Guatemala & Uganda)
• Alton Food Bank
• NSPCC
• Children in Need
• Comic Relief
• Sports Relief
• British Heart Foundation
• Muscular Dystrophy UK
• Princess Trust
• The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.
• Harvest Festival Food Donations.

Our children have a good understanding of the meaning of belonging to a local and global community and the sense of responsibility that comes with belonging; therefore developing their ability to empathise and make a small sacrifice to benefit others. Together we consider the beauty and fragility of our environment, the actions we take, and the impact these actions may have on the well-being of everyone. Our school community and curriculum actively embraces a responsibility for the world in which we live. We are diligent to show our connection with, and care for, the world in which we all live and care for the people who live in it:

• Links with Brendoncare Residential Home
• Links with Library Club
• Head Boy and Head Girl laying a wreath at the Cairn as part of the Remembrance Service in the town
• Developing links with our newly twinned school in Rwanda
• Celebrating Earth Day as a whole school and considering our part to play
• Becoming a Fair Trade School and promoting this within out community

During Collective Worship, the children tied ribbons onto the railings to represent their prayers for all refugees in this country and all over the world.