“Acceptance” – Whole School Resources

We are in the 12th week of Ordinary Time and the word of the week is “Acceptance”

June is The Month of the Sacred Heart – “Jesus has a heart full of love for you”


This week’s Prayer Intentions are…

• For our global community: As nations come together through the World Cup, may we learn to accept and celebrate our differences, recognising the dignity and worth of every person.

• For our school community: May we be inspired by the spirit of teamwork and respect in sport, as we grow in acceptance of one another and build a community where everyone feels welcomed and valued.

Please keep these intentions in your prayers this week, and don’t forget to add any suggestions for prayer intentions in the comments box below.

Notices

Monday COTW – Year 7 – Chapel and Year 8 – Hall

Monday lunchtime – the chapel will be open. Anyone is welcome to come down to help with newsletter writing and filming.

Tuesday COTW – Year 9 – Chapel and Year 10 – Hall

The chapel will be closed on Tuesday as Ruth and Joe are out all day.

Friday – The chapel will be open at break and lunchtime.

Enrichment Week Masses

Next week is enrichment week! As part of this – year 8, 9 and 7 will be going on a walking adventure to Holy Spirit Church for a celebration of Mass.

Monday (Year 8)
Thursday (Year 9)
Friday (Year 7)

During this week, forms will be asked to choose some readers and complete a Mass prep part for our celebrations.

Please refresh the enrichment tab and complete the Mass prep task on Wed/Thurs/Fri during form time if needed.

Diocesan Youth Forum

Bishop Patrick is setting up a Youth Forum; a group of people aged 15-25 from across the Diocese who will work with him directly to shape how we will live out the Mission Plan for the parishes and schools in Nottingham Diocese.

Bishop Patrick is looking for young people who care about their community and their faith, and who are willing to show up, listen and speak honestly. If this sounds like un listen and speak honestly.

If this sounds like you and something you’d like to get involved with please talk to your parish priest or Ruth or Joe.

Good morning, we invite you begin our time of prayer today by making the sign of the cross…

In the name of the Father and of Son and of the Holy Spirit Amen

Our Word of the Week is Acceptance.

Acceptance is the ability to see and appreciate people for who they are, without judgment.
It helps us to build relationships and live in peace with one another.

Acceptance comes from knowing that every person is loved and valued by God without exception. Because of this, we are called to accept others with love, kindness, and mercy.

This week’s resources have been prepared by 9R.

Let’s listen now to a reading from St Paul’s letter to the Romans (15:4–7)…

This scripture reminds us that just as Christ accepts each of us with love, we are called to accept one another, building unity and reflecting God’s love in our community.

Now, let’s hear from 9R to learn more about what acceptance means to our school community and how we can put acceptance into action in our school and beyond…

Turn to the people around you and discuss the following questions:

Discussion Time

• What does acceptance mean to you in everyday life? Where do you practise acceptance day to day?
  
• What can we learn about acceptance from the way different teams and cultures come together during the World Cup?
  
• What small actions can we take to make others feel welcomed and valued in our school community?
  

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Closing Prayer

Let’s take a moment of stillness together…

Loving God,
You created each of us in your image and call us to love one another.
Help us to accept others as they are,
to show kindness without judgment,
and to build a community of peace and understanding.

Give us open hearts to welcome everyone,
and the courage to stand up against unkindness.

May all that we do reflect your love for every person.
Amen.

Let us finish this time of prayer together, by making the Sign of the Cross.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Good morning everyone, let us begin our time of prayer today by making the sign of the cross…

In the name of the Father and of Son and of the Holy Spirit Amen

Today is our Think Day, a dedicated time for us to step away from the busyness of school life and quiet our minds.

Often, we can feel completely overwhelmed by everything going on around us. Whether it’s the pressure of exams, changing friendship groups, planning for future careers, or just the unpredictable nature of daily life. When the world feels too loud or out of our control, we can always turn to the Lord in prayer to find a sense of calm.

Today, we are reflecting on a beautiful, historic prayer that has helped millions of people find peace in stressful times: The Serenity Prayer. Take a moment to read through this prayer now…perhaps read it a second time too to allow the words to sink into your hearts.

The Serenity Prayer

God, grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;

enjoying one moment at a time;

accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

taking, as He did, this sinful world

as it is, not as I would have it;

trusting that He will make all things right

if I surrender to His Will;

that I may be reasonably happy in this life

and supremely happy with Him

forever in the next.

Amen.

Take a few moments now to really think about the words in that prayer.

Notice how it doesn’t ask God to magically delete all our problems. Instead, it asks for three specific gifts: serenity to let go of the things we have no control over, courage to take action on the things we can change (like our own choices and attitudes), and wisdom to know which is which.

In a moment, you are invited to open your prayer journals. Use this quiet time to write your own personal version of this prayer. You might want to list a few things you need to hand over to God today, and ask Him for the strength to handle the things you can control.

Closing Prayer

Let us bring all our thoughts together as we pray:

Loving God,

Thank you for this time to think and the chance to pause. When we feel overwhelmed, remind us that we do not have to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. Grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change today, the courage to be a force for good in the things we can, and the wisdom to trust that you are holding our future safely in your hands.

Amen.

Let us finish this time of prayer together, by making the Sign of the Cross.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Good morning everyone, let us begin our time of prayer today by making the sign of the cross…

In the name of the Father and of Son and of the Holy Spirit Amen

Today is all about listening to each other. We all have different perspectives, tastes, and opinions and that’s exactly how God made us! We’re going to play a game to see where we agree and where we differ. The rule for today is simple: there are no wrong answers, no judging, and we listen to each other with respect and acceptance.

Instructions: Designate one side of the room as Side A and the other as Side B. For each question, students must walk to the side that matches their opinion. Once they are there, ask one or two students from each side to briefly explain why they chose it.

Round 1:

• Side A: Sweet foods (chocolates, sweets) OR Side B: Savoury foods (crisps, chips).
• Side A: Staying up late OR Side B: Waking up early.
• Side A: Stream movies/shows at home OR Side B: Go to the cinema.

Round 2:

• Side A: I prefer working on my own OR Side B: I prefer working in a team.
• Side A: I like to plan everything out in advance OR Side B: I like to see what happens and just go with the flow.
• Side A: When I’m stressed, I like to talk about it OR Side B: When I’m stressed, I need quiet time to myself.

Round 3:

• Side A: “It’s easy to be friends with someone who has completely different opinions than me.”OR Side B: “I find it easier to be friends with people who think exactly like I do.”
• Side A: “If someone disagrees with me about something important, I feel like I need to argue and win.”OR Side B: “If someone disagrees with me, I’m okay with just letting it go and agreeing to disagree.”

Once the game is finished and everyone is back in their seats, spend 2 minutes asking them to reflect on what they just saw:

1. Did anyone notice a friends end up on the complete opposite side of the room from you? Did that change how you feel about them, or is it okay that they see things differently?
2. When someone was explaining an opinion you didn’t agree with, what did it feel like to just sit and hear them without interrupting?
3. How does this game show us what true acceptance looks like in our classrooms and corridors every day?

Acceptance doesn’t mean we have to change our own minds to match everyone else. It just means making space for other people to be exactly who they are, just as God accepts each of us.

Loving God,

Thank you for making each of us unique, with our own thoughts, gifts, and opinions. Help us to listen to one another with open hearts, accepting our differences without judgment. Teach us to respect those we disagree with, so that our school can be a place of true community and peace.

Amen.

Let us finish by making the sign of our faith

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Good morning everyone, let us begin our time of prayer today by making the sign of the cross…

In the name of the Father and of Son and of the Holy Spirit Amen

Over the last few days, we have used our Think Day to reflect on the Serenity Prayer and hand our worries over to God. We used our Hear Day to listen to each other’s unique opinions and see how beautifully diverse our community is.

Today is all about action. Acceptance isn’t just a nice feeling or something we talk about, it is a choice we make and something we do.

What Does Acceptance Truly Mean to You?

Before we launch into today’s challenge, let’s take two minutes to focus our minds.

Discuss in pairs or with the people sitting around you: What does acceptance truly mean to you? Think about a time when you felt completely accepted by someone else what did they say or do that made you feel that way?

Mission

Now, it’s time for our mission. Today, we are challenging every single member of our school community to step out of their comfort zone and expand their Circle of Acceptance.

Your Action for Today: During break, lunchtime, and in the corridors, actively look out for someone who might be sitting alone, standing on the edge of a group, or someone you just don’t normally cross paths with.

Your Task: Step up and make a true difference by:

• Actively inviting them to sit with your group or join your game.
• Sitting down next to them and simply asking how their day is going.
• Making space in your circle so nobody is left standing on the outside.

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus,

You broke down walls and welcomed everyone into your circle, especially those who felt forgotten or left out. Give us the courage today to step past our comfort zones. Help us to see the people around us through your eyes, to notice those who need a friend, and to stretch out our own circles to include them. Make our school a place where everyone is accepted, valued, and loved.

Amen.

Let us finish this time of prayer together, by making the Sign of the Cross.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.