Virtues to live by
“I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10
“Virtues to Live By” is a resource created by the Diocese of Leeds with the creative and financial support of the Leeds Diocesan Association of Primary Headteachers.
“Virtues to Live By” enables our pupils to explore a virtue over a three week period (two per half term) to improve the school community’s virtue literacy and to deepen understanding and appreciation of the essential role the virtues play in the education of the whole person towards human flourishing. These are shown in the table below:
|
Autumn 1
|
Autumn 2
|
Spring 1
|
Spring 2
|
Summer 1
|
Summer 2
|
|
Respect & Courtesy
|
Hope
|
Faith
|
Charity
|
Perseverance & Resilience |
Honesty
|
|
Thankfulness
|
Patience
|
Simplicity
|
Forgiveness
|
Kindness
|
Service
|
The virtues chosen are common across cultures and faiths, but are sourced from the Christian tradition. They are linked directly to work in the Diocese of Leeds on the virtues and character education.
A full report entitled Catholic Character Education: Growing in the virtues and celebrating human flourishing in Catholic schools can be read here.
Classifications of the different virtues can be read here.
We incorporate the virtues into our school life by:
- displaying the monthly 'Virtue to live by' in the Hall, staff room and all classrooms
- awarding certificates each week in Praise Assembly celebrating those who have shown the monthly 'Virtue to live by'
- displaying the Signs of living the virtue for each monthly 'Virtue to live by'
- enjoying Circle Times linked to the monthly 'Virtue to live by'
- taking part in a weekly class worship based on the monthly 'Virtue to live by'
- integrating the virtues into weekly RE planning where possible
St Francis Catholic Primary School Virtues
As a school, we have chosen 8 specific virtues to focus on. Each class has been designated one of these virtues:
| Nursery | Friendship |
| Reception | Kindness |
| Year 1 | Honesty |
| Year 2 | Respect |
| Year 3 | Resilience |
| Year 4 | Thankfulness |
| Year 5 | Faithfulness |
| Year 6 | Service |
Each class develops a deeper understanding of their virtue as well as appreciating how it links to all the others.
We learn what the virtue means, why it is important and how we can demonstrate it in our daily lives.
These virtues are proudly displayed in our school hall and outside the main school building.
We held a competition across school where every child designed a logo to represent their class virtue. The winning designs were used to create the virtue logos that are displayed both inside and outside school.
