The GIFT (Growing in Faith Together) Team at Sacred Heart have a major role within the school. They are leaders in our faith and work to help all live out the school Mission. The GIFT Team provide opportunities for the school to celebrate their faith together through prayer and reflection.

The aims of the Sacred Heart’s GIFT Team are:

• To help the school to grow as a community of faith
• To encourage the pupils to live their faith in daily living
• To support Liturgy, prayer and the spiritual life of the school
• To involve pupils in fundraising for charities
• To continue to develop strong links with the Parish
• To support the school in its Mission Statement

As members of the GIFT Team, pupils are called to lead our school by following in the footsteps of Jesus. Every day we live by the gospel values and show others how they can do the same. Being a member of the GIFT Team is a challenging but very rewarding task.

 

The duties of the GIFT Team include:

• Helping to plan and lead Celebrations of the Word and Collective Worship
• Organising and leading class prayer times with other pupils
• Lead before school and lunchtime prayer opportunities throughout the year e.g. Rosary, Prayer Garden, Stations of the Cross
• Ensuring that class and communal prayer areas are tidy and reflect the season
• Organising fund raising for charity
• Supporting classes in their weekly Celebrations of the Word
• Help to monitor and improve the Catholic life of our school
• Be visible members of our school community, showing others how to live like Jesus would want them to
• Attending weekly after school meetings

The GIFT team is made up of pupils from Year 4 to year 6 and are led by Mrs Copple. Children apply in writing to be a member of the GIFT team during the Summer term. Once selected, the GIFT team will start to attend meetings and learn from the outgoing team.

At Sacred Heart, our Laudato Si’ Ambassadors play a vital role in promoting environmental stewardship and caring for our common home, inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’. These dedicated students lead the way in ensuring that our school community remains committed to sustainability, respect for creation, and the responsible use of resources.

Our Mission

Guided by our school’s mission statement—“Acting Justly, Loving Kindly, and Walking Humbly with God”—our Laudato Si’ Ambassadors work to embed environmental awareness into daily school life. They encourage their peers to adopt eco-friendly habits, reminding us that caring for the world is an essential part of our faith and responsibility as stewards of God’s creation.

What Do the Laudato Si’ Ambassadors Do?

Our Ambassadors take on a range of initiatives to protect and cherish the environment, including:

• Raising Awareness – Organising assemblies, workshops, and campaigns to educate pupils about climate change, pollution, and sustainable living.

• Eco-friendly Initiatives – Leading recycling programmes, reducing plastic waste, and encouraging energy-saving practices throughout the school.

• Caring for Creation – Supporting biodiversity by maintaining school gardens, planting trees, and creating spaces where nature can thrive.

• Community Engagement – Partnering with local organisations and charities to take part in wider environmental projects, such as litter-picking events or conservation efforts.

• Faith in Action – Connecting their work to Catholic Social Teaching, demonstrating that care for the planet is part of living out Gospel values.

Why is Their Work Important?

Pope Francis calls on us all to care for our common home, recognising that protecting the environment is closely linked to caring for one another, especially the most vulnerable. By leading these initiatives, our Laudato Si’ Ambassadors inspire the entire school community to act justly, love kindly, and walk humbly with God in their approach to the world around them.

Get Involved

Our Laudato Si’ Ambassadors welcome input and ideas from the whole school community. If you would like to support their initiatives, share ideas, or learn more about how you can help, please reach out to the team. Together, we can make a lasting difference in caring for God’s creation.

As part of their Sacramental Year, our Year 3 children are taking on a special role as Guardian Angels for our Reception class. This wonderful initiative helps to build friendships across year groups, as the older children support and guide their younger peers on their journey of faith.

Through shared activities, prayer, and time spent together, our Year 3 pupils develop a sense of responsibility and leadership, while our Reception children benefit from having a kind and caring role model. This partnership strengthens our school community and deepens the children’s understanding of faith in action.

We look forward to seeing these beautiful friendships grow throughout the year!