Spirituality
“Spirituality is like a bird: If you hold it too closely, it chokes, And if you hold it too loosely, it escapes.”
At Highfield St Matthew’s, spirituality guides us to ask questions such as ‘Who am I?’ and what are my connections with my faith and the world around me? Spirituality encourages children, staff, parents and the wider community to live out our Christian values and see life through a lens and it inspires us to always live out the common good and live life in all its fullness.
Spirituality prompts us to be self-reflective and to connect to our inner -self and guides us to be mindful. At Highfield St Matthew’s, we believe that our spirituality connects us to the awe and wonder of the world around us and the seasons and appreciation of nature helps to live out our Christian Values.
Our spirituality and Christian Vision, ‘Let your light shine before others’ drives us to be better versions of ourselves and underpins our inner strength to continually live out the values we have chosen as a school.
At Highfield St Matthew’s, we use the Candle, Windows, Mirrors and Doors approach to support children in their spiritual and moral development.
“Spirituality is not something we can see; it is something we feel inside ourselves. It is about awe and wonder, asking questions, inspiration and being aware of something ‘bigger’ outside of ourselves.”
Spiritual Development – Candle, Windows, Mirrors and Doors | |
|
Candle – Reflection The candle is the starting point The candle represents how we come together to ‘be still’ as a school, class, group or community to have a moment of calm and stillness to help us and reflect and be present. The candle helps us to feel God’s presence in these moments. |
|
The Window – Looking Out Learning about encounters The image of the window symbolises ‘looking out’ at the awe and wonder of the world. The window also helps us to question things which may worry us or take us by surprise. The window prompts children to reflect upon what they see around them as they look out upon the world we live in. |
|
The Mirror – Looking In Learning from reflections The mirror symbolises reflecting upon your own actions, thoughts and beliefs to ‘look inside’ and to ask important questions, learning from our own and other’s responses. |
|
The Door – Actions for Change Putting thoughts and ideas into action. The symbol of the door allows children to have opportunities to respond, to do something, to go through the door and take action. The door aims to develop and nurture children to have the confidence to truly believe that they can make a difference in the world.
|
Our Language of Spirituality
