Children at Sapperton Church of England Primary School recently spent an entire day immersed in spirituality.
They iced biscuits, turned lollipops into crosses, and made stained-glass windows from tissue paper – all in celebration of its much-loved annual Spirituality Day.
This year’s theme was ‘Ows, Wows and Nows’, a different way of approaching the Easter story. ‘Ows’ reflect the sad and difficult parts, for example when Jesus had to trudge all the way to Calvary for his death; ‘Wows’ reflect the great surprises of the story, for example the resurrection, when the women met Jesus after they had visited the tomb expecting him to be dead.
‘Nows’ considers how the lessons from the Easter story can apply to us today; how we can carry Jesus’ message to love and care for others into our own lives. After the arts and crafts in the morning, the whole school gathered at St Kenelm’s Church for a moving service, featuring readings and prayers penned by the Year 6 students. Everyone then returned the school for tea and cake, where parents were also invited to view the morning’s artwork and immerse themselves in the day.
Now in its third year, Spirituality Day began after a visit from Bishop Robert, who came to the school accompanied by a group of curates as part of a wider visit to different benefices, experiencing a range of worship. As a result, the school decided to dedicate a day every school year to faith, reflection and creativity.
The Revd Pepita Walker, who is a foundation governor at the school said: “The whole day is devoted to it, meaning no ordinary lessons. As a sub-section of the governing body, we have a Christian Ethos Committee which organises and runs the day. We also involve our Sportily friends and our church community.
“Because the day is so different from a normal school day, the children become absorbed in it. We often find everyone talking about it for days afterwards.
“We hope to plant a ‘seed’ of faith – it may lie dormant for years, but one day we pray it will germinate and bring comfort.
“We are so grateful to all from the community who gave of their time and expertise to make this such a special day.”
Headteacher Gary Price, who also sits on the Christian Ethos Committee, said: “It was a wonderful experience for both the children and staff. Events like these have become something of a tradition at Sapperton Church of England Primary. They offer a valuable opportunity for rich and deep engagement with the concept of spirituality, while also providing the time and space to develop the tools and confidence needed to speak thoughtfully using the language of spirituality.”
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