School Prayers and Class Saints
Prayer at St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School
At St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School, prayer is central to our Catholic identity and underpins all aspects of school life. Through daily prayer, we help our children grow in faith, develop spiritually and emotionally, and live out Gospel values in their everyday actions.
Prayer provides regular opportunities for pupils to encounter God, reflect on their experiences and develop a sense of calm, purpose and belonging. These shared moments of prayer help children to understand that faith is not separate from daily life but woven into everything we do.
Through structured prayer at the start of the day, at lunchtime, after lunch and at the end of the school day, pupils develop a rhythm of prayer that supports both personal reflection and communal worship. This consistent approach helps pupils to develop lifelong habits of prayer and a deeper relationship with God.
Daily prayer also supports children in living out values of love, respect, courage and responsibility, strengthening relationships and contributing to a positive, nurturing learning environment rooted in Christ.
Prayer takes place throughout the school day and plays an important role in shaping the culture and ethos of our school.
Our daily prayer includes:
- Morning prayer to begin the day together in faith
- Lunchtime prayer, giving thanks for God’s gifts
- Prayer after lunch, helping pupils refocus and reflect
- End of day prayer, offering gratitude and guidance
These moments help pupils pause, reflect and recognise God’s presence in their daily lives.
St John the Baptist School Prayer
Holy Saint John, our patron of our school and Parish, hear our prayers.
You preached Jesus in word and example and showed us faithfulness.
You pointed Him out to others, so that they could love and serve Him.
You were full of courage, always working for truth and justice.
Help us by your prayers to grow in God’s love. Let us follow Jesus, to be courageous and respectful to others.
St John the Baptist, pray for us.
Amen.
Our Candle Prayer
In faithfulness we journey together with courage to grow, showing love and respect for one another, just as God loves us.
Class Saints
At St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School, we support our children in responding to Pope Francis’ call to holiness. The saints play an important and influential role in the spiritual life of our school, helping pupils to grow closer to God and understand how faith can be lived out in everyday life.
The saints remind us that holiness is not about being perfect, but about being true to who God created us to be. Through their example, pupils are encouraged to live joyful, faithful lives rooted in love, courage and service to others. We also recognise the saints as intercessors who pray for us and guide us on our journey of faith.
On entry to St John’s, each class is named after a carefully chosen saint. Each year, pupils learn about the life of their class saint and are introduced to new saints as they progress through the school, building knowledge, understanding and spiritual depth over time.
Through learning about the lives, actions and devotion of the saints, pupils:
- Explore what it means to follow Jesus in their own lives
- Reflect on the mission of the saints in relation to Catholic Social Teaching
- Draw inspiration to help others and serve their community
Each class celebrates their saint’s feast day and shares their learning with the wider school community, strengthening our shared Catholic identity and sense of belonging.
“The Saints were not superhuman. They were people who loved God in their hearts and who shared this joy with others.”
Pope Francis
