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The Good Shepherd
Catholic Primary School
“I am the Good Shepherd; I know my own and my own know me”. John 10:14"
Subsidiarity
“Jethro said to Moses: Let them bring every important case to you, but decide every minor case themselves.”
Exodus 18:22
Subsidiarity is about ensuring decisions are made at the most suitable level, allowing everyone impacted to have a voice and contribute. Each person holds valuable insights and understands what is best for their families and communities. They deserve the opportunity to be heard and influence the decisions that affect them.
GS Mardi Gras Hosted by Year 5: A Celebration of Faith, Learning, and Fun
Stations of Faith and Learning
Today, Year 5 proudly hosted the Good Shepherd Mardi Gras celebration, filled with creativity, faith, and excitement. The event was split into two parts: first, a vibrant morning parade, followed by engaging stations and booths where all the children in the school were invited to learn and have fun.
Year 5 completely transformed our classroom into a Mardi Gras exhibition! We rearranged the tables and chairs and set up six engaging stations:
- Station 1: Mardi Gras Colours
- Station 2: The History of Mardi Gras
- Station 3: Symbols of Mardi Gras
- Station 4: Lent and Sacrifice
- Station 5: Ash Wednesday and Repentance
- Station 6: Pancake Station
Each station featured fun activities such as games, quizzes, photo booths, drawing booths, fact files, and more. It was a perfect mix of fun and learning! Before we officially opened the exhibition, we took a moment to pray as a class, asking God to guide us and give us strength and wisdom as we organized and shared our exhibition with others.
The excitement didn’t stop there! Children from Reception to Year 6, along with teachers and adults, came to visit our exhibition. We explained what we had learned, and everyone left with new knowledge and, of course, a piece of pancake!
A Parade of Christian Themes and Creativity
Year 5 children created cam parade floats based on Christian themes, a unique twist on the traditional Mardi Gras floats. Using Spheros, which we programmed ourselves, the floats were pulled through the parade as we danced and sang to a special Mardi Gras song we created. As the floats paraded, we introduced each one and explained the themes behind them, connecting everything to our faith and values.
Alongside the parade, we had a Mardi Gras booth where we showcased our work: writings, metacognition frames, posters, and pictures related to our Mardi Gras projects. While we celebrated this fun tradition, we made sure to remember the true significance of Shrove Tuesday—thinking about Jesus’ sacrifice and preparing for Lent. We kept in mind that our celebration was not just about the festivities, but about reflecting on our faith.
Sharing with Sister Judith and Teachers from Other Schools
A few weeks after the GS Mardi Gras, we welcomed head teachers, teachers from other schools, and Sister Judith to explore our whole-school presentation. Each class, from Nursery to Year 6, set up their own booth to showcase their amazing work and share their learning experiences. The visitors were impressed, and our students felt proud to present all they had accomplished!
Teamwork and Subsidiarity in PE: Solving Challenges Together
In PE, we were put into teams to complete an OAA task and encouraged to solve problems on our own. We made decisions together, without the teacher stepping in to guide us. This approach relates to subsidiarity, which means handling issues at the most immediate level possible. By working independently, we took responsibility, strengthened our teamwork, and gained confidence.
Subsidiarity in Action
School Parliament Elections
We represent the views of our class. We present our manifesto to our friends and we are voted in as the class member of parliament.
Classroom Roles and Responsibilities
At the Good Shepherd, our pupils actively participate in various roles and responsibilities within their classes, embracing the principle of subsidiarity. Whether serving as office monitors, compost monitors, or door monitors, each pupil takes their duties seriously, contributing to the classroom community and fostering a strong sense of responsibility. This approach empowers pupils to play an active role in their daily environment.
Home Learning Projects
Each half term, pupils are assigned 'Home Learning Projects' that explore various areas of the curriculum. They can choose from a range of project options, allowing them to make decisions based on their own interests and learning styles. This approach empowers pupils to take ownership of their learning, selecting methods that best suit how they understand and complete tasks. Here are some examples of their inspiring work!