Week No

School Theme

Assembly lead

(with additional possible assembly content ideas)

1

22^nd  week of year  (cycle B)

Feast Day 8th Sept

Living by the rules

We get instructions on how to use new equipment.  God gives instructions on how to live.  Jesus’ challenge is to make the ‘love one another’ rule come to life in our hearts (Mark 7:1-8)

We have a belief in ourselves as successful learners

23^rd week of year

Feast of Exultation of the cross 14th

Open our ears & eyes

The gospel story is about healing a deaf & blind person.  The message is for us to reflect on whether we have our ears & eyes open to others and the wonder of creation (Mark 7:31-37)

PSH

We are reflective

24^th week of year

Fri 21^st Feast of St Matthew

International Day of Peace 21/9

Who is Christ?

The disciples wanted to model their life on Christ.  The gospel this week sees them discovering that to be like Christ requires self-sacrificing love.  As a community how can we show that same love for one another? (Mark 8:27-35)

AFL

We are able to appreciate other students and staff

25^th week of year

Mon 24^th Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham

European Day of Languages

No to violence

The focus this week is the 2^nd reading (from letter of St James). There is no place in the Christian community for violence, including violent language or attitudes.

DBU

We are able to balance feelings and wisdom

Mon 1st 

OCT

26^th week of year

Fri 5^th  Family Fast Day

October is Month of the Rosary and Black History Month

Justice for the poor

Again the key idea comes from the letter of St James (James 5:1-6). There are so many people experiencing the unfairness on inequality.  Fair Trade Fortnight is coming soon.

DDE

We have courage and take risks

Mon 8th 

OCT

27^th week of year

World Mental Health Day 10/10

Be like little children

Young children are open & trusting.  That is the model of faith presented in the Gospel reading.  Can we find such faith in each other, in God? (Mark 10:13-16)

HOY

We are loyal friends

28^th week of year

Thurs 18^th Feast of St Luke

The Word of God

The word of God is alive & active (Hebrews 4:12-13).  Translated into over 1500 languages, are we able to listen to God’s word in the modern world?

VAR

We are able to ask questions

30^th  week of year

Thurs 1^st is Feast of All Saints, Friday 2nd All Souls

Redemptive suffering 

Pain is difficult to endure, yet somehow people are able to endure suffering for the sake of others.  Jesus is the prime example, however others make sacrifices for the benefit of others. (Isaiah 53:10-11)

MIR

We can persevere to overcome obstacles

31^st  week of year

November is month of prayer for those who have died. Remembrance Sunday

Love with all your heart

The whole of the teaching of Jesus can be summed up as ‘LOVE’(Mark12:28-34).  Simple, yet hard.  It means going out of our way to be loving at home, kind & caring towards people we don’t always get on with.

KGO

We foster strength of character

(JMA travelled to Haiti in the half term break – she could maybe be a useful person to include in this assembly to talk about/show pictures of what she achieved)

32^nd  week of year 

Sunday was Remembrance Sunday

16^th Nov – feast of St Margaret of Scotland

Generosity

The Gospel story tells of the poor person showing great generosity.  It is a challenge for all of us to review our attitudes to possessions & sharing (Mark 12:41-44)

PHA

We have goals and are able to move toward them

33^rd Week of year

Feast of Christ the King is 25th

Hope

We all have hopes for the future.  They could be for a target fairly soon or something to long into the future. To achieve those hopes we need to act now (Mark 13:24-32).

GTA

We are optimistic

Feast of Christ the King

Weds 30^th is Feast of St Andrew

Christ the King

This great feast reminds us of the Christian belief that the victory of the Cross & the resurrection of Jesus is the great hope for all people (John 18:33-37)

EEN

We can be patient when needed

Mon 3rd

DEC

1^st week of Advent

Note:  We start readings cycle C

(8^th Dec is the Solemnity of Immaculate Conception)

Free from fear

To be free.  To be loved.  These are what people want. Advent is a time for us to examine how ‘free’ and how ‘loving’ we are (Luke 21:25-28).

AFL

We accept that along with rights come responsibilities

2^nd week of Advent

Prepare the way

It is easier to prepare for things than to prepare ‘ourselves’ as people.  The true meaning of this Advent time is to reflect in our own lives and what needs changing (Luke 3:1-6).

HOY

We are able to apologise when necessary

Sharing what we have

People are generous Christmas.  We should give simple because it is good to do so (Luke 3:10-18).  The hampers collection is an expression of that giving;

DBU

Service to the community

Holy Family

31st December

1^st Jan is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Mon 7^th Jan

JAN

A gift to the world

Happy Christmas!  This great feast is about the gift of Jesus being ‘shown’ to the whole world.  In some parts of the world this is when people give presents to each other. (Matthew 2:1-12)

MIR

We are each a unique gift to the world

My favour rests on you

The gospel reading tells of the baptism of Jesus and the start of his public ministry.  All the baptised share in carrying on that work.

AFL

We are valuable

(Possibly introduce Kintbury to Year 10s?)

2^nd week of year

(week of prayer for Christian unity)

Unity

As a community we are all individuals who share a fundamental equality.  (ICor 12:4-11) We need each other and we become better people by recognising that truth.

HOY Tender

We have community spirit

3^rd week of year

27^th January is Education Sunday

Presentation of the Lord Feb 2nd

Light of the world

(Holocaust Memorial Day-27^th)

The Holocaust is a stark reminder of what humans can do to harm.  We can be comforted & inspired by the words of Psalm 24.

PHA

We have empathy for others

Christ is fully human

The early Christians had long discussions about how Jesus could be BOTH God & Human.  The key point is that Jesus, as a human can fully understand our feelings. (Luke 4:21-30)

PSH

We are compassionate and caring

5^th week of year

International Day of Women and Girls in Science 11/2

Take up the challenge!

Jesus was tempted and resisted for 40 days. Can we take up that challenge and resist something we really like?  The prophet Joel says why!

DDE

We have integrity

7th week of the year

St David’s Day 1st

Find out Gods’ will

In the reading from Genesis we hear of the extraordinary faith of Abram. How can I find out what God’s will may be for me?  By prayer, listening to wise advice & by being open and honest with ourselves.

KGO

We can manage our feelings

8th week of the year

Ash Wednesday 6th March

World Book Day

International women’s day 9th

Repent

One of the most difficult words to say is ‘sorry’.  It requires a sense of humility & honesty.  Lent is about finding that humility & honesty within ourselves. (Luke 13:1-9)

HOY

We are able to learn from and move on from our mistakes

Reconciliation

The ‘joy’ of lent is found in the story of the ‘forgiving father’. (Luke 15:1-3; 11-32) Don’t focus so much on the son who went away, but the father who welcomed him home in love.

AFL

We are able to apologise and receive apologies with grace

2nd week of Lent

19^th March feast of St Joseph

St Patrick’s Day 17^th

International Day of Happiness 20/3

Try, try, try again

Jesus tells the woman to ‘Go and don’t sin any more’. (John 8:1-11) This is the message of lent; if we are truly sorry, God will forgive & we can start again.

VAR

We are aware of our own strengths and weaknesses

26

Annunciation March 25th

3rd week of Lent

27

Term ends on 5th April

(4th week of Lent) School’s HOLY WEEK

21st April is Easter Sunday

HOLY WEEK

This is a very special week.  There will be prayers and services to mark this time of reflection & prayer to get ready for the Triduum &  Easter Celebrations.

EEN

We know the importance of taking time out to reflect

5th week of Lent

SCHOOL HOLIDAY

Holy Week

SCHOOL HOLIDAY

Easter Octave

23^rd April = St George’s Day

Shakespeare Day 24th

The Good Shepherd

The image of the caring, guiding shepherd presents the belief that Jesus gives care and guidance to people. (Jn 10:27-30)

MIR

We are friendly and welcoming

Service to the community

2nd week of Easter

Love one another

That simple instruction does not get any easier! Or is it the real challenge? (Jn 13:31-35)

DDE

We are reflective learners

3rd week of Easter

The peace of Christ

Peace comes from inside us, from feeling good about ourselves.  That peace helps us develop good friendships.  In this way we can bring peace to others. (Jn 14:23-29)

PHA

We are respectful and respect other’s differences

4th week of Easter

Ascension

A great feast of the Church.  Jesus is taken up in glory. (Lk 24:46-53) The disciples are left to carry on the message, presumably because they (we) are considered ready for the task!

AFL

We have confidence

5th week of Easter

Come, Holy Spirit

This feast is the ‘birthday of the Church’ because it celebrates the gift & inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  (Acts 2:1-11)

DBU

We have self-worth

6th week of Easter

HALF TERM

7th week of Easter

Ascension June 2nd

Feeding Faith

The key part of story of the feeding of the great crowd is that they ‘all ate as much as they wanted’. (Lk 9:11-17) For the Catholic community the Eucharist (or Mass) is a celebration of the gift of Christ that feeds faith

HOY

We are learning to be good communicators

Pentecost

Compassion

The word ‘compassion’ comes from two Latin words cum passio, which means ‘suffering with’.  That is why we say ‘let me know if there is anything that I can do’. (Lk 7:11-17)

KGO

We have a belief in ourselves as successful learners

Trinity Sunday

World Refugee Day 20^th

Forgiveness

Saying ‘sorry’ is difficult, however it is the starting point for forgiveness.  The Gospel story demonstrates the power and risk of forgiveness (Lk 7:36-50)

GTA

We understand and manage our feelings and know how to seek help

Corpus Christi

Birth of John the Baptist 24th

Equality

St Paul’s letter to Galatians makes the point - the rich are not better than the poor, men are not better than women. (Gal 3:26-29)

DBU

We are proud of our successes without being arrogant.

13^th week of year

29^th June is Sts Peter & Paul

Commitment

The feast of Ss Peter & Paul is an example of two people who showed extraordinary faith and commitment.  That is why they are considered to be such great leaders.

AFL

We have courage and take risks

14^th week of year

Peace to this house

We are whole persons; if we are upset or anxious it affects our whole life.  That is not having peace.  True peace is achieved by being trusting, forgiving, generous, caring. Let that be our gift! (Lk 10:1-12)

MIR

We are generous and welcoming

15^th week of year

Love your neighbour

This theme is central to the vision of the Gospel and the school.  If we centre our lives on these words we can’t go far wrong.

HOY

We believe we can make a difference