This week across the school, we have introduced this half term’s Catholic Social Teaching theme Dignity.
Treating someone with dignity means treating them with love, kindness and respect. Everyone should be treated with dignity because we are all made in the image and likeness of God.
‘Every person is immensely holy and deserves our love.’
Pope Francis
Joy of the Gospel
In Key Stage 1 the children discussed the meaning of the word ‘dignity’. The children came up with some very insightful answers about being kind, respectful and showing love towards our neighbours, but also to ourselves.
Luna in year 2 St Dymphna said “Not loving yourself is like not loving part of God’s creation.”
After well articulated discussions the children were tasked with writing about their own gifts, talents and characteristics that make them so special before writing about how we can show others that they are special. Riley from year 1 St Catherine said “We can show someone they are special by giving them thumbs up or smiling at them to show them they are doing great.”
Elena in year 1 St Caterine said “I can show my friend they are special by sharing with them and helping them.”
In year 2, the children were given the opportunity to tell the class what they thought about their classmates and what makes them special.
James in St Christopher said “Praise has dignity and that makes her kind to everyone”
Ejana from St Christopher spoke about Seth “When I didn’t have a pen, he shared with me.
“Amber is loving and caring for the whole class” Said Frankie from St Christopher.
In Lower Key Stage 2, we discussed the importance of treating everyone with dignity and being polite, respectful and kind to all. The children were able to openly discuss the benefits of treating everyone fairly and equally. “If everyone is kind all the time then there would be no wars” said Irene from Year 3 St Bernadette. The group then discussed that the whole world would be a better place if there was no fighting or conflict.
Who is important? This question provoked a range of answers from “family”, “friends”, “the community”, “everyone” and “the whole world”. We discussed that family and friends are incredibly important to us as they are the people we love and care about the most and although there are many people we do not know and they will be important to their friends and families, making everyone important.
The children also discussed gifts and talents that make us unique and special. During this discussion, we looked at a poem ‘ I am better than OK’ by Madeline Duran and spoke about how we can celebrate our talents and skills but also appreciate and celebrate others also. The children wrote some of their own poems. It was lovely to read about such a vast range of talents that the children are proud of.
In Upper Key Stage 2, we discussed which people we consider to be important. The children came up with various answers about their family, their friends and people close to them. Children also debated the point that everyone is important. The discussion covered perspectives about people’s importance. Who is important to who? Even people we don’t know, people we don’t speak to, even those we may never meet, all of these people are still important to their loved ones, their friends, their families and are still worthy of respect and dignity from everyone.
The children were tasked with writing their own acrostic poems around the topic of showing dignity, kindness and respect to everyone. I am very impressed with some of the poems produced by our students.
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