Our Virtues 2025-2026

At Holy Family, the children strive to live by the virtues that help them live a holy life. Each week they are encouraged to explore a new virtue and show that they have lived by it through their actions.

During our celebration assembly, every Friday, a child from each class who has displayed the virtue receives a certificate of recognition for their special work.

Encounter

Our second Virtue for the new year is Encounter- Our faith is full of encounters with God – in prayer, in the sacraments, and in the people we meet. These encounters can change us, challenge us, and bring us closer to God. When we open ourselves to encountering Christ in our daily lives, we allow his love to transform us and make us more like him. We can encounter Christ in the Scriptures, in the Mass, and in the faces of those in need. Make time this week to look at where you might encounter Jesus in those around you.

¹⁷ Who has learned your counsel, unless you have given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high?
¹⁸ And thus the paths of those on earth were set right, and people were taught what pleases you, and were saved by wisdom.

Wisdom 9:13-18

Our Mission: Make time to look at where you encounter Jesus in those around you.

Welcome

Our first Virtue for the new year is Welcome- We are all called to welcome others into our communities, to open our doors and bring people in - particularly those on the margins and those who feel left out. Being welcoming helps those new to our community to feel loved, supported and included. We are all one body in Christ, everyone is welcome, and everyone has a part to play. Find someone new in your community and make them feel welcome

17 My son, perform your tasks in meekness, then you will be loved by those whom God accepts.
18 The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself; so you will find favour in the sight of the Lord.

Sirach 3:17-29

Our Mission: Find someone new in your community and make them feel welcome.

We can be welcoming by:

Sharing our toys and equipment

Including people in our games

Doing nice things for other people

Respecting other people

Being kind

Showing and teaching the prayers to new people

Playing with new children at playtime so they have a friend

Showing them around the classroom

Pupil Voice from Year 1

Guiding Principles

At Holy Family, we provide the children the opportunities to explore the virtues to ensure they:

Experience a positive and purposeful ethos providing a sense of belonging to their school community.

Grow in their knowledge and understanding of the virtues.

Practise the virtues to further the call to live life to the full.

Appreciate the connection between biblical and practical wisdom and living.

Hear the Christian story and encounter it in practice.

Understand their uniqueness and dignity as made in the image and likeness of God.

Know that our limitations are also opportunities for growth.

To notice, to reflect, to pray and to play

To exercise the cognitive, affective and behavioural components of character: know it in your head, feel it in your heart and show it with your hands.