This regular pattern helps prayer to become a natural and meaningful part of children's daily lives. It also provides opportunities for children to become increasingly confident in different forms of prayer and to recognise prayer as a way of developing their relationship with God. Our weekly provision forms part of a wider pattern of prayer and liturgy across the school year. Following the Prayer and Liturgy Directory, children encounter different models of prayer and liturgy with appropriate frequency. 

This rhythm enables children to experience both the familiarity of regular prayer and the richness of the Church's liturgical life through Masses, sacramental opportunities, celebrations, devotions and special liturgies.

Celebration of the Word

Our Celebrations of the Word provide a special opportunity for children to gather around Scripture. Through listening to the Word of God, prayer, music, song, silence and reflection, children are encouraged to make connections between the Gospel and their own lives.

Each Celebration of the Word invites children to consider what God may be saying to them and how they might respond. Children are encouraged to reflect on practical ways in which they can live out the Gospel through their choices, relationships and actions.

Our Celebrations of the Word are prepared and led in a way that enables children to become active participants rather than simply observers. Through this, children develop a deeper appreciation of Scripture and an understanding that God's Word has relevance to their lives today.

Children as active participants

Children play an important role in the prayer life of our school. They have regular opportunities to lead prayers, proclaim Scripture, share reflections, prepare liturgies, contribute music and song, and create prayerful spaces.

Our GIFT Team plays an important role in supporting the spiritual life of the school and parish. GIFT Team members help to lead and support Masses, liturgies and special celebrations throughout the year, including Christmas celebrations, Challenge Masses and Soup and Stations of the Cross.

Our Caritas Ambassadors also encourage children to put their faith into action through service, kindness and care for others. These opportunities enable children to recognise and use their God-given gifts in the service of others, while developing confidence, responsibility and a growing sense of vocation.

Living out our Catholic mission

Collective worship supports children to grow in virtue and to live out our school values of Excellence, Inclusion, Kindness, Respect and Resilience. Children are encouraged to reflect on their choices and consider practical ways to put our mission and Gospel values into action. Through worship and reflection, they are challenged to consider how they can show kindness, compassion, forgiveness and respect, and how they can serve others in their school, families, parish and wider community.

Our worship also provides regular opportunities to explore Catholic Social Teaching. Children develop their understanding of the dignity of every person, care for creation, the common good and our responsibility to serve others, particularly those who are vulnerable or in need. In this way, children learn that faith is not simply something we learn about or celebrate, but something we live.

Prayer throughout the school day

Prayer is an integral part of daily life at OLOR. Children experience prayer at different points throughout the school day, including morning and end-of-day prayer, prayer before and after meals, class prayer, whole-school prayer and opportunities for quiet personal reflection. Please find our prayers below. We value both joyful communal prayer and moments of stillness. Children are given time to be quiet, listen, reflect and pray, developing an awareness of God's presence in their lives.

The Rosary holds a special place within our school, reflecting our dedication to Our Lady. Through praying the Rosary, children are encouraged to reflect on the life of Jesus through Mary and to deepen their relationship with both Jesus and His Mother.

Throughout the liturgical year, our prayer life is enriched through Masses, prayer services, feast days, devotions and special celebrations. These occasions allow the whole school community to celebrate together and to mark important moments in the life of the Church.

Our Class Saints

Each class at OLOR has a class saint, providing children with a special role model of faith and discipleship. Throughout the year, children learn about the life, faith and example of their class saint and reflect on how their virtues and actions can inspire the way we live today.

Our class saints help children to recognise that holiness can be lived out in many different ways. Through prayer, reflection and learning about their lives, children are encouraged to identify qualities they can develop in themselves and consider how they can follow their saint's example by loving God, putting others first, showing respect and persevering through challenges.

Class saints also become part of the prayer life and identity of each class. Their feast days provide opportunities for children to celebrate, pray and learn together, while displays, artwork and class activities help to keep their example visible throughout the year.

Our Parish Community

Our relationship with our parish is an important part of our Catholic identity. We want our children to recognise that they belong not only to our school community, but to the wider Catholic family.

Whole-school Masses are celebrated in school each half-term, with families and members of our parish community invited to join us in worship. Classes also attend parish Mass every second Thursday, providing children with regular opportunities to participate in the Eucharistic celebration and develop their sense of belonging to the wider parish community.

Our school choir and children contribute to parish celebrations throughout the year, including Christmas and Easter. The GIFT Team supports parish Masses and special liturgies, while the GIFT Team and Caritas Ambassadors also contribute to parish events and activities.

Children demonstrate their care and respect for parishioners through acts of kindness, including creating cards and messages at Christmas and Easter.

For more information about our parish, its celebrations and opportunities for the wider community, please visit our Parish Website.

Worship that makes a difference

We want every child to leave worship with something to think about, something to pray about or something to act upon.

Our aim is that children develop a faith that is not simply learned about, but experienced, celebrated and lived. Through prayer, Scripture, worship, service and reflection, children are encouraged to recognise God's presence in their lives and to understand their responsibility to love God and others.

Collective worship also provides children with opportunities to develop their spiritual, moral and personal growth, helping them to reflect on who they are, how they relate to others and how they can contribute positively to the world around them.

At Our Lady of the Rosary, we strive to ensure that Jesus remains at the heart of all we do. Through prayer, worship, service and reflection, we accompany every child on their journey of faith, enabling them to flourish spiritually, morally and personally as the people God calls them to be.