At St Mary’s, our collective worship is enriched by the “Virtues to Live By” approach, which complements our Mission Statement: “We love God… so we follow the examples of Jesus. We love learning… so we always do our very best. We love each other… so we treat each other as we want to be treated.” This framework supports the spiritual and moral development of our children, helping them to live out their faith through everyday actions inspired by the example of Christ.

Each week, our collective worship focuses on a specific virtue, giving children time to reflect on its meaning, learn from scripture, and explore how they can practise that virtue in their relationships, learning, and play. The virtues we explore include:

• Respect

• Kindness

• Honesty

• Patience

• Compassion

• Forgiveness

• Generosity

• Justice

• Courage

• Hope

• Gratitude

• Love

• Integrity

• Humility

• Service

Rooted in scripture and the teachings of Jesus, these virtues are brought to life through stories, prayer, discussion, and practical activities. They help foster a strong sense of community and shared values across our school, guiding our children to grow into thoughtful, faith-filled individuals.

We also encourage families to reflect on these virtues at home, strengthening the partnership between school, home, and parish. As we are reminded in Hebrews 10:24-25: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds… encouraging one another.”

At St Mary’s, Virtues to Live By is more than a theme for worship—it is a way of life, helping each child to grow in character, confidence, and faith.