Courageous Advocacy at St. Sebastian’s

 “Love your neighbour as yourself” Mark 12: 29-31

We are courageous advocates for the common good, locally, nationally and globally. We recognise that life is full of ups and downs and that at times all people will face challenges that they need help and support in overcoming. We believe that people are worth spending time with, that people need time to grow and need loving attention. The Christian Gospel says that every person has a unique task to do, with God, and for God, whether they know it or not. We hold and courageously advocate the conviction that there is something mysterious, and potentially wonderful, in everybody.

We support a range of charities in our local area, nationally and globally. The faith school council work with staff, governors, parents, pupils and St. Sebastian’s Church to identify worthy causes to support.

Our school stands up for what we believe. We have met with Local Councillors and local Police to raise issues of significance to the school community, including road safety around our school.  We are also part of the Stay Safe Project. The mini police have fed back to children in collective worship.  Every class has a community project each term.  We look to actively make an impact in the community in which we live. For example, we attended the opening of the local clock pelter statue at the weekend with the local Parish Council.

Our Christian values ensure that opportunities to discuss the big issues, to challenge injustice and to engage in activities that can bring about change are always present.  We aim to widen children’s horizons and help them to see the positive impact they themselves can have on others worldwide.

In recent years we have carried out a range of different fund raising to support many good causes, some of which include:

• Grantham Food Bank (for local, young homeless people);
• Samaritan’s Purse;
• Tearfund;
• Sports Relief;
• NSPCC;
• Comic Relief;
• Children in Need;
• Macmillan;
• Alzheimer’s Charity;
• World Vision Aid;
• The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

Our children have an excellent grasp on the meaning of belonging to a local and global community and the sense of responsibility that comes with belonging. Thereby developing their ability to empathise and make a small sacrifice to benefit others. Together we consider the beauty and fragility of our environment, the actions we take, and the impact these actions may have on the well-being of everyone. Our school community and curriculum actively embraces a responsibility for the world in which we live. We are diligent to show our connection with, and care for, the world in which we all live and care for the people who live in it:

• Links with Local Care Home and local residents (reading; Christmas carols; learning about life in the past…);
• Funding from Rotary Club for well-being Garden;
• Pupil Parliament involvement with visit to Houses of Parliament and elections within school;
• Developing links with schools locally, nationally and internationally (to learn about the similarities, differences & how we can help support/develop each other through these);
• Working with the Lincolnshire Rivers Trust to support local river regeneration;
• ‘Donuts with Dads’ and ‘Muffins with Mums’(all relations were invited and celebrated);
• Gravity Fields Event – supporting Science in Grantham;
• Strong PTFA with community events such as Christmas and Summer Fayres, discos and film nights;
• Support for a range of groups such as Scouts and Guides; St John’s Cadets;
• School advertises and supports local events such as defibrillator training;
• Strong links with local pre-school;
• Head Teacher and teachers write in the local Paper to reach out to the community.

MacMillan Coffee and Cake

Wednesday 27^th September 2023

Penguin class organised a fundraising event for the Macmillan charity by selling cakes and hot drinks. 

As a school a total of £172.67 was raised.

All of Penguins would like to thank everyone who attended for the support at their MacMillan coffee afternoon.

St Sebastian's Primary School Pupil raises £800 for Local Foodbank

The school is so proud of David, who on his own initiative since Summer 2022 has raised nearly £800 for Grantham's foodbank by selling raffle tickets for his monthly cheese raffle outside Great Gonerby's Post Office, whatever the weather!

David said: “I started to do all of this because a lot of people out there don’t have a home and I thought it would be good to raise money and help them get food.”

His sterling effort has been highlighted in the Grantham Journal, see the article here.

Well Done David, you really are an inspiration and Aspiring to Achieve Excellence.

The children had lots of fun on our red nose non-uniform day.
Thank you to everyone who donated.

We raised a total of £100!

Our Choir at Gregory House Care Home

to sing Christmas Carols on Thursday 15^th December 2022

Wear Green Day for NSPCC and Light Space on

Friday 21st October 2022

Thank you for your donations to-wards NSPCC and LightSpace.
We managed to raise over £130!

Harvest Festival Food Bank Donations

Thank you to everyone in our school community who donated

an incredible 102kgs of food for the Grantham Food Bank.

The kind donations will help many families within the local community.

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Marie Curie Daffodil Appeal

The school supported the Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal during March 2022 by selling the charity's daffodil badges around school.

An incredible amount of £108 was raised.  

This incredible amount really does mean the world to people living with a terminal illness and their families, and every pound raised means more people will get the care and support they need.

Thank You for supporting this charity.

Name the Easter Bunnies

The School's Faith Council ran a  'Name the Bunny' event to raise funds for the school's charity focus 'Mind' and the Ukraine appeal - a fantastic amount was raised - over £170.  Thank you to everyone for your support.

All entries were put into a hat and the winners were picked out during Shine Assembly at St Sebastian's Church on Friday 25th March 2022.  Here are the lucky winners, who will take home their bunnies in time for Easter:

Red Nose Day Friday 18th March 2022

We have all enjoyed Red Nose Day and it was lovely to see the children in non-uniform. We have raised over £80 which will be going to very good causes in addition to selling out of red noses.

Thank you for your support.

Rudy's Run in aid of St Barnabas Hospice

Thursday 16th December 2021

All of the children ran, walked, danced, skipped and pranced their way around the  school grounds to raise funds for the local St Barnabas Hospice. A fantastic amount of £547 was raised (and is rising all the time on the Justgiving page), thank you to everyone that kindly made a donation.

Here are pictures of the children and staff that took part:

Children in Need - Friday 19th November 2021

Thank you to everyone for supporting Children in Need with non-uniform and also the fabulous bake sale.
We raised an awesome £263.30 for the Charity!

Operation Christmas Child 2021

WOW! Take a look at all of the shoeboxes we have amassed for Operation Christmas Child as the local collection point.

Huge thank you to all of your our families and members of the local community who have put together a bundle of happiness for a child this Christmas.

It is so heartwarming to be part of our generous, caring community.

Remembrance Day - 11th November 2021

Take a look at just some of the beautiful poppies the children have produced.  Each child made their own poppy as a symbol of Remembrance and hope for a peaceful future.

On Thursday, 11th November 2021 at the 11th hour,  we all joined together to hold our Remembrance Service, to remember the service and sacrifice of all those that have defended our freedom so that we may live in peace.

Celebrating #HelloYellow - World Mental Health Day

on Friday, 8th October 2021

Thank you to everyone for supporting #HelloYellow Day.  We raised a fantastic £74.60 for the charity.

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