“Faith”- Celebrating Thomas Becket! Whole School Prayer Resources
The Becket Way Focus
Notices
Fundraising!
See
Hear
Think
Do
Habemus Papam – We have a Pope!
The Becket Way Focus
The Becket way word of the week – Conformity!
Conformity means copying other people. Conformity can be positive, it helps people to fit into society and the community, for example when queuing, sharing good manners, being on time, working hard. However conformity can also have negative effects. Sometimes people do the wrong thing to fit in. Sometimes people may publicly say or behave in a certain way when you know that is wrong. We may do this to simply be liked or it might avoid name calling or criticism from a group. You need to choose your group carefully, think about whether conforming to that group makes you a better person? Remember that even if you are in a group, you are fully responsible for your behaviour.
Share with your tutor group – Why is this important in developing strong character?
Notices
The Word of the week is “Faith” and we are in the third week of Eastertide – Alleluia!
This week we are praying for…
- The whole of the Becket School community, past and present, as we celebrate the anniversary of the blessing of the new school building.
- The continue to pray for the happy repose of the soul of Pope Francis who died on Easter Monday.
- We pray for the Cardinals of the Catholic Church who are taking part in “conclave” as they pray, discern and vote for a new pope in Rome.
Please keep them in your prayers this week and don’t forget to add any suggestions for prayer intentions to the comments box below!
Collective Worship and Catholic Life Rota:
This week (5th May) we are celebrating the Anniversary of the Blessing of the Foundation stone of the new Becket School building and our school patron Saint Thomas Becket! Our prayer resources have been put together to help us to celebrate the theme of “Faith” our word of the week, our faith community at The Becket School and the faith of our patron saint – Thomas Becket!
On Wednesday, there will be a Be Creative Chaplaincy Team meeting in the Chapel at 12:30pm, students can have their lunch after the meeting.
The chapel will be open during Wednesday and Friday lunchtime for prayer stations, arts and crafts and chaplaincy team projects.
Please see the “fundraising” tab to see what form fundraisers are coming up and how you can get involved!!
We continue our journey in the season of Eastertide – Alleluia! Please make sure to change your Liturgical colour flipcharts in your form rooms, take down any Lenten posters (calendars) and put your Easter bunting up (from Alleluia week) when it is finished!
Year 10 Briars Retreat – 14th – 16th May
Please make sure to return your parental consent health forms and behaviour contracts to the office or the chapel as soon as possible. You will not be allowed to attend the retreat unless these forms are returned correctly.
Year 9 Briars Retreat – 2nd – 6th June
Please make sure to return your parental consent health forms and behaviour contracts to the office or the chapel as soon as possible. You will not be allowed to attend the retreat unless these forms are returned correctly.
Fundraising!
Our brilliant fundraising projects continue for the Our Lady of Hope school in Benin. Alleluia! We have had some incredible fundraisers already take place and there are some more exciting projects coming up!
Please complete the following quick google form to share what you are fundraising for and how you are planning to do it. If you need help advertising an upcoming fundraiser, please email Ruth, Joe and Mrs Conlon with the details!
Upcoming Fundraisers!
7E are hosting another tasty treat sale on Tuesday (first day back) and Wednesday (if there are any goods leftover!) They will be in the atrium, please bring money for pic n mix, popcorn, donuts and much more! Treats will range from 50p – £2.
10B are hosting another cake and treat sale on Wednesday! Make sure to bring some money in to treat yourself and support a brilliant cause! Treats will range from 50p – £2.
10P are hosting a sponge the teacher on Friday the 9th May for Benin! This will be held on the plaza near the field at 12:40 on Friday. A single sponge will be 50p and 3 spongers for £1 which can be thrown at one of our wonderful staff volunteers below! Make sure to bring your money in!!
Mr Mosley
Mr Butler
Mr Tuff
Miss Pyne
Ben Jackson in Year 11 and Mr Mosley are helping to coordinate a Chess tournament. It is £1 to enter and we need your names and money ASAP if you would like to compete please! Ben will then put together a rota for the tournament. Please give your name and money to Mr Mosley, Ruth or Mrs Conlon if you would like to take part!
9B will be organising a year 7 disco to fundraise for Benin. It will take place after school on Wednesday 21st May! More information and the ticket release date will be available soon. Year 7 tutors will be emailed details once confirmed.
THANK YOU! Keep up the amazing work!
10T did a bake sale at lunch on Friday and raised a brilliant £56.29 as their fundraiser for the school in Benin. We have a couple IOUs from staff which will take the total to £60.79. Please could any IOUs be passed to Ms Soderberg Wed – Friday this week or left in the language office. Well done 10T!!
See
Let us begin this time of prayer with the sign of our faith, the sign of the cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
This week, our Word of the Week is faith. Faith is the trust we place in God, even when we cannot see the full picture. It’s the foundation of our relationship with God—a deep belief in His love, His promises, and His presence in our lives. In our Catholic school, we are called to live by faith every day: in our prayers, our choices, and the way we treat one another.
Faith also means trusting in the Holy Spirit to guide the Church through times of change. Tomorrow, on the 7th May, 135 cardinals of the Catholic Church will meet inside the Sistine Chapel in Rome. This closed-door meeting in called “Conclave” and here, cardinals will pray, discern and vote for a new pope. Let’s watch this video from Fr Lim from the Nottingham Diocese who explains what conclave is…
The Nottingham Roman Catholic Diocesan Education Service (NRCDES) have created a PowerPoint to help answer any questions you might have about conclave, download and have a look through the powerpoint if you want to find out more!
Talk to the people in your form – What skills do you think the Pope should have?
Some of you might have been learning about the conclave in RE or you might have done some research yourself, do you have a favourite cardinal who you would like to see as the next pope?
Last week we were beautifully led by the Chaplaincy Team in our Celebrations of the Word, reflecting on the theme of mercy and how Pope Francis followed Jesus’ example of mercy throughout his papal leadership. Pope Francis consistently shared acts of mercy with the world, especially with those on the margins of society.
Schools across the Nottingham Diocese also gathered last week virtually to celebrate the life and witness of Pope Francis. In the stream below, you can watch a message from Bishop Patrick to our schools and young people in this Jubilee Year as we share hope and remember the wonderful life and legacy of Pope Francis. Bishop Patrick’s message begins at 10:00 on the timeline.
Let us pray this prayer for the successor of Pope Francis…
O God, who chose your servant,
in succession to the Apostle Peter
as shepherd of the whole flock,
look favourably on the supplications of your people
and grant that, as Vicar of Christ on earth,
he may confirm his brethren
and that the whole Church may be in communion with him
in the bond of unity, love and peace,
so that in you, the shepherd of souls,
all may know the truth and attain life eternal.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Hear
Let us begin this time of prayer with the sign of our faith, the sign of the cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
This week (5th May) we are celebrating the anniversary of the blessing of the foundation stone of the new Becket School building and our school patron Saint Thomas Becket! Our prayer resources have been put together to help us to celebrate the theme of “Faith” our word of the week, our faith community at The Becket School and the faith of our patron saint – Thomas Becket!
But who was St Thomas Becket?? Watch one of the videos below to find out more!
KS3:
KS4:
The life of St Thomas Becket reminds us that having faith isn’t always easy. Along the way, we will meet people who have different beliefs or challenge what we stand for. Yet, Thomas Becket inspires us to stay true to our faith, even when it’s difficult or unpopular. He stood firm in his beliefs, showing courage and conviction in the face of great pressure.
In our prayer journals let us reflect on the life of St Thomas Becket and how he inspires us to live out our school mission, the Becket Way.
🙌 Work Hard – Like St Thomas Becket
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” – Colossians 3:23
Reflection:
Before he was Archbishop, Thomas Becket was known for his intelligence, discipline, and hard work. As Chancellor of England, he served the king with loyalty and energy. Later, when he became Archbishop of Canterbury, he worked just as hard — but this time for God and the Church. Even when it became difficult and dangerous, he stayed committed to what he believed was right.
Journal reflection:
✏️ Write or draw something that you’ve worked hard at recently. How can you offer that effort as a gift to God?
Let us pray…
Lord, help me to work hard in all I do, like Thomas Becket did — not to impress others, but to serve you with all my heart.
❤️ Be Loving – Like St Thomas Becket
“Love one another as I have loved you.” – John 13:34
Reflection:
Thomas Becket’s love for God and the Church meant he was willing to give up comfort, power, and even friendship with the king. His love was not just about words — it was shown in the risks he took to protect what was right. He also cared for the poor and stood up for those who had no voice.
Journal reflection:
✏️ Write or draw a time in the last week when you showed love to someone — this might be someone you are close to and see everyday like a family member or friend, or perhaps it was an act of love for someone you have never met before, like for our friends in Benin.
How can you show love in your choices, especially when it’s inconvenient or costly?
Let us pray…
Jesus, teach me to love with courage, not just when it’s easy — help me to be loving in all my words and actions, like Thomas Becket.
⚖️ Do the Right Thing – Like St Thomas Becket
“Stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” – 1 Corinthians 16:13
Reflection:
Thomas Becket faced a huge choice: stay safe by doing what the king wanted, or stand up for what he believed was right in God’s eyes. He chose faith over fear and friendship. Even when he knew it might cost him his life, he did not back down. His courage inspires us to speak the truth, stand for justice, and trust in God.
Journal reflection: ✏️ Write or draw a situation where you had to make a tough choice. What helped you to do the right thing?
Where in your life is God asking you to do the right thing — even if it’s hard?
Let us pray…
God of truth, give me the strength to stand up for what’s right, like Thomas Becket. Help me to live with courage, faith, and love.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Think
Let us begin this time of prayer with the sign of our faith, the sign of the cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
We’ve learnt about who St Thomas Becket was this week, and now it’s time to learn more about the history of our school and where we see the life and values of Thomas Becket at work in our own Becket community.
St Thomas Becket stood up for what he believed in, worked hard, loved deeply, and stayed true to his faith, even when it was hard. At The Becket School, we try to live out these same values every day through our mission: Work Hard, Be Loving, Do the Right Thing.
Now it’s time to take part in a quiz to see how well you know you know the Becket School and our history!
📝 Get a piece of scrap paper ready to write down your answers — and get ready to discover more about the amazing community you’re a part of!
Download the quiz to take part in the quiz!
Let us pray…
Loving God,
Thank you for the example of St Thomas Becket.
Help us to live with courage, faith, and love.
Bless our school community — past, present, and future —
and help us to be a blessing to one another each day. Amen.
St Thomas Becket — pray for us.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Do
Good morning, let us begin with the sign of our faith, the sign of the cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Being a student at The Becket School is much more than just turning up to school in a uniform and preparing for GCSE’s or A Levels — it’s about being part of a faith-filled, hardworking, and loving community that stays with you even after you leave.
Today we’re going to reflect on what it means to be a Becket student and celebrate the special identity we share through faith and community.
🎥 We’ll begin by watching a video from some of our Becket alumni – past students who are now in the wider world. Let’s listen to what they have to say about how The Becket School shaped them and what the Becket community still means to them today. You might see some familiar faces!
At the heart of our mission statement at The Becket School is a call to be loving — to celebrate one another, and to show dignity and respect to everyone.
Each of us contributes something special to our school community. Whether you’re a student, teacher, support staff member, parish priest, or governor – you bring something to our community which makes it even more beautiful and unique!
Living The Becket Way means being loving: noticing others, encouraging them, and showing kindness — even in small ways. Today’s “do” activity is all about celebrating those around us and reminding one another of the unique and important role we each play in our community.
Becket Blessing Cards
Each one of us has the power to bless someone with our words — to encourage them, thank them, or remind them they are seen and loved.
Today, each of you will receive a Becket Blessing Postcard. Your task is simple:
✍️ Write a short, affirming blessing message to someone in our Becket community.
This could be to a friend, a fellow student we encounter but might be in a different friendship group, or a a member of staff – a teacher, PL or APL, someone in Damascus, a librarian, our site team, one of our administration team, our chaplains, our parish priests, the kitchen staff, our cleaners or our governors
📮 If it’s someone in school that you encounter, make sure to deliver the postcard to them in person.
📬 If it’s someone you don’t always see (like our site team, priests, governor, or staff member in another part of school), give your card to your form staff member, and Joe or Ruth will deliver it for you.
Let’s celebrate one another and how blessed we are to be a part of the Becket School community!
Let us pray our school prayer together…
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit Amen
Habemus Papam – We have a Pope!
The College of Cardinals has elected Cardinal Robert Prevost as the 267th Pope!
He has taken the name Pope Leo XIV (14th) in succession to Pope Leo XIII who was known for his social teaching and keen interest in social issues.
Pope Leo XIV greeted Rome and the world from Saint Peter’s balcony yesterday evening, on 8th May 2025, in both Italian and Spanish. Smiling warmly at the huge crowds in St Peter’s Square he wished everyone the peace of Christ and encouraged the Church to build bridges between people and to work for dialogue and peace. This reminded the crowd of themes that Pope Francis often spoke of, and his words were greeted with warm applause!
Following the election of Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Patrick McKinney, Bishop of Nottingham, shared the following statement:
“I am overjoyed to hear of the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope but a missionary religious, an Augustinian, who has spent many years ministering in Peru. I wish to assure the new Pope of my prayers and good wishes, and that of Catholics throughout the Diocese of Nottingham, as he begins his ministry as the successor of Saint Peter. His wide experience will be a huge blessing to the Catholic Church and to the wider world. May God bless and guide him”
From white smoke to balcony speech, watch how Pope Leo XIV was unveiled as new pontiff in this short video…
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c4g7x744zl4o
We’re excited to learn more about Pope Leo next week, which is especially fitting with our word of the week Vocations!
You can start reading Mr Kemple’s help sheet to our new pope now if you can’t wait until next week!
Let us continue to keep Pope Leo and the global church in our prayers…
We pray for the ministry of our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV: may the Lord bless him and fill him with the grace and power of the Holy Spirit.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.