At The Catholic School of St Gregory the Great, providing for those in need in our community and giving to good causes is a large part of our Catholic identity. We try to follow Jesus’ example in all that we do. Jesus came not to be served but to serve and we try to live out this message in a variety of ways. We believe in not just giving money but giving our time and service to help others. Our charity work enables our children to grow as caring citizens who are sensitive and conscientious to the needs of others, whilst recognising the responsibility we have to make a positive difference to our community.

Flowers to Care Home	Seeing Jesus in Everyone	Visiting Care Homes

We are called to be active in the world, seeing Jesus in the people we meet. We are called to serve the poor, to share what we have and to demonstrate by our actions that we are followers of Jesus. At our school, we work really hard to follow the Catholic Social Teaching Principles. These are the principles that underpin what it means to be Catholic. How we live our lives and how we treat each other and the world that God created. 

Care of the Poor and Helpful links beautifully to the action we have all been part of in donating Christmas Shoeboxes to The Nelson Trust and for local nursing homes for the last four years. By our actions, we are living out the Catholic Mission.

Donating Christmas Shoeboxes

Pope Francis has spoken out about social justice, as have his predecessors. Pope Leo in an encyclical called: “Of New Things”, wrote about fair wages and a voice for workers. 130 years after this was written, we are still striving to achieve those things. 

Jesus was on the side of the poor and the Church as a whole, continues with this as part of its Mission. We have our part to play as individuals, whether by donating food or volunteering at a food bank, visiting the sick, welcoming those in need, supporting the work of Cafod and giving where we can for school fundraising. I’m sure that each and every one of you has something to add here… these actions don’t need to cost money, your time is just as important. 

Throughout the year, each class plans and takes part in a ‘Go Giving’ initiative. This encourages children to think about the small ways in which they can make a difference to the lives of others. Projects have included whole school initiatives such as; developing businesses to raise funds at a ‘Harvest Market’ and carol singing at local nursing homes. Class and year group projects have included car washing, card making, art work sharing, litter picking and writing prayer cards.
 

Our most recent fundraising events include:

• A staff ‘Spinathon’ that raised £815. This was for funds and produce for our school foodbank, as we regularly supply members of our school community with food parcels
• An after-school bake sale to raise funds for our KS2 library. £146.46 was raised and will go to the purchase of new books and a playground reading hut for use at playtimes
• A Chaplaincy Team Cookie and Cake Sale to raise money for the Turkey-Syria Earthquake appeal. £235.83 was raised and this was added to the Cheltenham Schools Earthquake Appeal which has so far raised £7559
• A whole-school Danceathon to raise money for our school prayer garden and grotto for Our Lady. £376 was raised by our families and school community. This has been agreed to be added to by the parish of St Gregory the Great

Staff ‘Spinathon’	Bake Sale	Danceathon
Ukraine Donations	Wear A Hat Day for Brain Tumour Charity	Go Givers - Thanking Kitchen staff