Catholic Social Teaching (CST)

Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is rooted in Scripture, formed by the wisdom of Church leaders, and influenced by grassroots movements. It is our moral compass, guiding us on how to live out our faith in the world. 

The Catholic Church has seven principles of social teaching that we will explore in school, just like our virtues. Throughout your child’s spiritual journey at St Mark’s, we explore these principles through our curriculum and through our everyday actions. 

– Dignity of the human person 

– Family and Community 

– Solidarity and The Common Good 

– Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers 

– Rights and Responsibilities 

– Option for the Poor and Vulnerable 

-Stewardship of God’s Creation

 

Catholic Social Teaching – Subject Intent Statement

 

At St Mark’s, we live out Catholic Social Teaching (CST) through the framework of Head, Heart, and Hands: learning, feeling, and acting in ways that reflect Jesus’ love. CST invites us to think, feel, and do: to understand the world, respond with compassion, and take meaningful action. 

 

HEAD – Think 

Learning about Jesus and making good choices 

Through our weekly lessons on CST, we equip children to: 

  • Understand the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. 
  • Learn what fairness, kindness, and justice mean in our daily lives. 
  • Explore how to care for God’s creation and our global community. 
  • Explore scripture to make links to CST. 

Evaluation: Children’s reflections and learning journeys are captured in floor books, showcasing their growing understanding and critical thinking about social justice 

 

HEART – Feel 

Letting Jesus’ love guide our feelings and how we treat others. 

We nurture empathy and moral awareness by encouraging children to: 

  • Live out our school values with sincerity. 
  • Recognise and respond to the feelings and needs of others. 
  • Engage physically, emotionally and spiritually in preparing meaningful projects. 

Evaluation: Floor books and Dojo awards highlight moments of compassion, reflection, and moral growth. 

 

HANDS – Act 

Showing God’s love through our actions at St Mark’s School 

Learning and empathy are brought to life through purposeful action. Students: 

  • Contribute to Chaplaincy activities and spiritual life in school. 
  • Support school and parish charity initiatives, putting faith into practice. 
  • Participate in projects like International Evening and other community events, making a real difference in the wider world. 
  • Reach out to and engage with our local community (care homes, SEN schools, Curious Cubs) 

Evaluation: Engagement and impact are seen through active participation in school and community projects, demonstrating the living out of CST principles. 

 

Catholic Social Teaching in Action

Charity 

 At St. Mark’s we have a strong dedication towards Catholic Life and Mission. We have excellent links with local charities and care homes where we have visited with children, sent letters and Christmas cards, created food hampers, sung at different times of the year and shown support during times of need. Our floor book provides evidence, and celebrates, what we do as a school to show commitment to our Faith and living out the Mission of Jesus. Please watch the slideshow to see how we live out Catholic Life and Mission in our school. 

  This slideshow includes evidence of: 

  • Our most recent Big Lent Walk where we raised £880 for CAFOD 
  • Our link with local care homes 
  • Our day of peace for Ukraine 
  • Our Faith In Action award 
  • Making food hampers 
 Visit from Park View 

Our local care home – Park View – also were given the opportunity to attend our most recent production: “Joseph and his amazing Technicoloured Dreamcoat” and they sent us the following e-mail after their visit: 

  

“Lovely to see you today, and what an amazing performance the Children put on! You have some amazing talent in the School! 

 Your Class and all the Children in the Hall were so well behaved. 

Thank you so much for inviting us in today, I know one of our residents was crying happy tears at the end as it was so wonderful, please pass on our gratitude and thanks to everyone involved.” 

Suffolk Wildlife Trust Project 
Children had a fantastic start to their project with Suffolk Wildlife Trust! They enjoyed mapping out our school grounds. In small groups the children did lots of measuring to find the area of their playground, playing fields, forest area, the length of the hedgerows and counting the number of trees we have. They also looked at some of the wildlife habitats on our school grounds. In the afternoon, the children helped to measure and mark out an area in the school’s bottom playing fields. This will become our wildflower meadow. The children worked hard using rakes and working collaboratively to prepare the ground for future sowing of wildflower seeds.