They are:
Forgiveness
Friendship
Respect
Each value has an accompanying Bible story to help us to consider the message of each value.
The parents have chosen:
Forgiveness – Jonah and the Whale (The Book of Jonah)
The pupils have chosen:
Friendship – The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15)
The staff have chosen:
Respect – Noah’s Ark (Genesis 5)
Defining Spiritual Development
It is very difficult to put into words what ‘spirituality’ actually is because it is a very personal experience. It differs from person to person, and often spirituality changes within people during their lifetime. Spirituality can link to faith, but is not reliant on faith.
Our definition of ‘Spirituality’ is that it is an on-going, reflective journey.
It is something that makes us ask big questions, deepens our understanding of the world around us and encourages us to consider our relationships. Relationships with ourselves, others, the world and beyond. Spirituality enables our children to be happy, flourish, succeed and live life in all its fulness.
At St Uny CE Academy, we have adopted the 'Windows, Mirrors and Doors' approach towards spiritual development.
Windows: giving children opportunities to become aware of the world in new ways; to wonder about life’s ‘WOWs’ (things that are amazing) and ‘OWs’ (things that bring us up short). In this children are learning about life in all its fullness.
Mirrors: giving children opportunities to reflect on their experiences; to meditate on life’s big questions and to consider some possible answers. In this they are learning from life by exploring their own insights and perspectives and those of others.
Doors: giving children opportunities to respond to all of this; to do something creative as a means of expressing, applying and further developing their thoughts and convictions. In this they are learning to live by putting into action what they are coming to believe and value.