Prayer is an important part of the rhythm of the school day. At key parts of the day, opportunities for prayer are timetabled along with spontaneous moments reflecting particular liturgical seasons celebrations, and local and national events.

Each class has a prayer table that children are all responsible for. It has Holy artefacts, statues of Our Lady and ‘child-friendly’ bibles and story books. A candle is lit each prayer time, and the children are encouraged to turn to the prayer table as a focal point to reflect and consider the words they are saying.

The prayers at the start of the day and end of the day are like the ‘bookends’ of our day. We guide the children to reflect on these times of stillness and quiet. We support them to think about their day ahead, how they can make it successful, to consider their actions and follow God more. At the end of the day, we might discuss something the class has done together that day that has been successful and that we are thankful for or maybe something we would like to ask for help with or forgiveness for. We encourage the children to think about why it was good or how it could have been better.

Morning prayer

Thank you God for each new day,

We come to school to work and pray,

Thank you for each girl and boy,

Fill our hearts with love and joy

Amen

Afternoon prayer

God our Father I come to say

Thank you for your love today;

Thank you for my family and all the friends You give to me.

Guard me in the dark of night

And in the morning send your light.

Amen

Grace before meals (Lunch time Prayer)

Bless us O God as we sit together,

Bless the food we eat today,

Bless the hands that made the food,

Bless us O God,

Amen