Courageous Advocacy at St Matthew's

 

‘Love Your Neighbour As Yourself’ Mark 12: 29-31

 

'Courageous advocacy’, which we instil in our children, enables our school community to develop a greater awareness of the challenges others face in life and how they, as individuals, can support causes and make a difference in our school community, local community and further afield. At Stretton St Matthew's we encourage and support our children to be "courageous advocates".  This means they champion causes which are special and meaningful to them.  These may be global issues or matters far more personal and closer to home. We believe this develops resilience, teamwork, courage and independence and an understanding of the wider world and how they can help make it a better place.

 

Every child in our school is a courageous advocate for the common good locally, nationally and globally. We fundraise and support a range of charities, stand up for what we believe and challenge injustice to bring about change. We take time to reflect upon and appreciate how lucky we are to be part of such a nurturing school environment, surrounded by supportive peers and staff, which allows us to live life in all its fullness and flourish as individuals. 

 

Supporting a wide number of charities, locally, nationally and globally, is an integral part of life at Stretton St Matthew's. Staff, children and parents regularly support and organise fundraising events, with children even suggesting and organising events of their own. 

 

Courageous advocacy in our school should:

• encourage children to think widely and deeply about issues (asking ‘why?’);
• empower children to understand political processes and their own rights and responsibilities in society;
• encourage children to think of creative solutions to problems (asking ‘what can be done about it?’);
• equip children to identify where power is located and how decisions are made;
• enable children to express themselves confidently and articulately to decision-makers and others.

Black History Celebration

 

For our Black History Celebration this year, each class learnt about courageous advocates from across the globe, both past and present, that have faced injustice and have had to overcome barriers in order to help others for the greater good.

 

"Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

 

Belong Warrington

 

Class 6 wrote letters to Belong Warrington, a local community care village. The children introduced themselves and asked the residents about their hobbies and interests! 

 

Belong Warrington shared the following message: "We have received some wonderful letters from St Matthew's Primary School in Stretton and the children have written them beautifully and there are some lovely illustrations. Each apartment tenant has had a letter delivered and some of our customers on the households have been busy writing replies to the children! Thank you all it means so much." 

 

Children in Need

 

The School Council did a wonderful job organising our Children in Need fundraiser this year. A fantastic amount of £1,328 was raised which will make a huge difference to disadvantaged children and their families. Thank you so much to our school community for their generous donations to such a worthy cause. The children had great fun taking part in their sponsored events!

 

Harvest

 

As a whole school community, we have come together and collected harvest donations to help support vulnerable people in our local area. Our donations have been sent to Warrington Foodbank. 

 

"The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest" Psalms 85:12