At St Gregory’s 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.

Climate Strike 2019

When: On Friday 20th September, there was a Climate Strike in many towns and cities across the world.

Why: The aim of the strike is to show solidarity in a plea for governments to take action. Children and students have been striking on Fridays for over a year and this strike aims to involve all generations. It has been over 5 months since a climate emergency was declared in UK and also in Cheltenham and yet we have seen little change. As stewards of God’s creation, we are supportive of this action at St Gregory’s and welcome you and your children to take part if you wish to do so.

How we took part: The Strike fell across lunchtime children and their parents took

More Information: Details of the Cheltenham Strike can be found HERE:

If you wish to know more about the climate emergency we are facing, please talk to Mrs Oliver or Mrs McKenzie-Ford.

“Like Saint Francis of Assisi, all of us, as Christians, are called to watch over and protect the fragile world in which we live, and all its peoples.” Evangelii Gaudium (Joy of the Gospel), Pope Francis

“This is not a single-generation job. It’s humanity’s job…Let’s all join together; neighbours, co-workers, friends, family and go out on to the streets to make our voices heard and make this a turning point in our history.” Greta Thunberg

Making a Difference

In December 2015, Pope Francis launched the ‘Year of Mercy’. This year offered us the opportunity to reflect on how we might better radiate and reflect the tender love of God in our world and to seek to draw others into experiencing that love and mercy. Following the ‘Year of Mercy’, Bishop Declan asked us to continue this focus by ‘making a difference’ in the lives of others. Over the past year our whole school community have been working hard to ‘make a difference’ by carrying out a good deeds relay. For every day of the year somebody within our school community, be that child, parents, governor or staff member, carried out a good deed and these have been recorded and celebrated in our ‘making a difference’ diary which can be viewed in the school foyer. As a school, we are so proud of our ‘making a difference’ campaign. It has been incredibly humbling and inspiring to see just how much impact all of our small deeds can make and we have been blown away by the generosity and thoughtfulness of all within our school community. Take a look at the photographs below to see just some of the 365 ways we have ‘made a difference’!

Chaplaincy Team and School Council

Our Chaplaincy Team and School Council work closely to discuss and plan various charity initiatives throughout the year. This helps us to ensure that we support a wide range of charities and provides children with the opportunity to plan and lead their own fundraising events to support causes which are important to them. Charities and initiatives we have supported include CAFOD, Saint Vincent De Paul, Cancer Research, The Blue Cross and Children in Need. The children enjoy planning a range of fundraising ideas and these have included non-school uniform days, pyjama days, sponsored events, cake sales and even a market! Our Chaplaincy Team also support the charity work of our parish church in any way they can. For example, we recently served teas and coffees to members of the parish ’55 Club’! Take a look at the photographs below of some of our recent fundraising events!

Go Giving

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.

Traidcraft Group
 

Members of our Chaplaincy Team also work hard to run a Traidcraft group. Traidcraft is founded on Christian principles. As a charity, they seek to live out the Christian faith through their mission to fight poverty through trade. Since 1979 they’ve been working for trade justice for growers and producers in the poorest countries around the world. Traidcraft is a pioneer of the fair trade movement in the UK where they jointly founded the Fairtrade Foundation. Their activities also include overseas development programmes, trade policy, campaigns and trade justice. Members of our Chaplaincy Team regularly hold Traidcraft sales in both our school and parish. See the group at work in the photographs below!