Virtues to live by

VIRTUES TO LIVE BY

Our mission statement at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School is embedded by the statement of ethos:

‘With Jesus at the centre of all we do and say’

We do this by living out our school virtues of honesty, respect, love, trust and friendship.

The Virtues in Action 

The children are encouraged to reflect on their own behaviours and to talk about what the virtues mean for them personally and how they can develop these virtues.

“Virtues to Live By” enables us all to explore each virtue over a three-week period (two per half term) to improve the school community’s virtue literacy and to deepen understanding and appreciation of the essential role the virtues play in the education of the whole person towards human flourishing. The virtues chosen are common across cultures and faiths, but are sourced from the Christian tradition. They are linked directly to work in the Diocese of Leeds on the virtues and character education (see companion documents here dioceseofleeds.org.uk/education/re-catholic-life/character-education).

“Virtues to Live By” is a resource created by the Diocese of Leeds with the creative and financial support of the Leeds Diocesan Association of Primary Headteachers.

The school focuses on a virtue every three weeks. The children think about what the virtue means, how we can see it in others and how we can manifest it in ourselves.

 Each week, we look at a particular aspect of the virtue and an award is given to a member of each class in Friday's Good News Assembly to a child who has 'lived' the virtue across the week. Acts of worship and circle times also link to the virtue and we have 'Signs of living the virtue' - things to 'notice' or look for that demonstrate the virtue. 

Our virtues have been chosen to reflect the time of year for our children. So, for example, we have 'respect and courtesy' at the beginning of the year when we are setting out our expectations, charity and forgiveness during the season of Lent, resilience and perseverance during SATs preparation!

Collective worship: The children regularly plan their own collective worship around the virtues.  

Charity work: A brilliant example of how the children put kindness and service into action is through their charitable work. The Mini Vinnies come up with lots of wonderful ideas for helping the local community as well as communities around the globe.