Christian Vision:

“Let Your Light Shine – Matthew 5:16”

Here at Derry Hill School, we are fortunate to be located near to and affiliated with Christ Church, Derry Hill, where together we encourage our whole school and community to Let their light shine.  The very fabric of our school is interwoven with our ethos, our vision and our Christian Values, underpinned by the Biblical narrative of ‘Let Your Light Shine.’ Matthew 5:16

During the Sermon on the Mount, found in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus addresses a crowd and reveals eight blessings (known as The Beatitudes).   He then goes on to talk to the crowd about salt and light.

Jesus explains: “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.   No one, after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.   In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16

As a Christian school family, we seek to follow the example of Jesus in all that we do.   We believe that the Sermon on the Mount is a vital chapter in scripture, teaching us to let the light of Jesus shine through us.  We take great encouragement from the words “you are the light of the world”; this reveals to us that Jesus, who himself tells us “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12), is within all of us.   We are all God’s children and are called to “give glory” to our Father in heaven through our “good works”.   This reminds us of the importance of our actions. Our actions allow us to let our light shine.   Our actions allow us to share the light of Jesus with those around us.  

We want our school and church to be beacons that shine far and wide, lighting up our community with the light of Jesus through our work, rest and play.   By learning about Christian values, by listening to the teachings of Jesus, and by following the example of Jesus, we say to every member of our community: let your light shine.

At Derry Hill C of E (VA) Primary School, we believe that every child and adult can shine and that this can be for the benefit of all.   We recognise that we are all special in God’s eyes and each of us have unique talents, which we nurture so that each of us has the opportunity to become the very best person that God intended us to be.    We want to see children flourishing and excelling in everything that they do through providing rich experiences which give everyone the opportunity to achieve more than they ever thought possible.  We want to encourage our children to aspire to great things and for the light of their lives to shine and make a difference in their classrooms, throughout the school and when they return home and into their community. Our hope is that light will shine from Derry Hill in many ways, every day - for the benefit of all and for the glory of God.

Our Vision Vessel

Christian Values

At Derry Hill C of E (VA) Primary School it is very important that we strive to provide our children with an outstanding education, and as a church school we believe our children receive this education in a school environment that is distinctively Christian in character; which reflects God’s love for humanity through the Christian message. We also ensure that even though the Christian faith is at the heart of our school we recognise, acknowledge and value other faiths and beliefs. Our Christian Values are at the centre of everything we do at Derry Hill C of E (VA) Primary School. Throughout the year we focus on different Christian Values, explicitly through our collective worship time, but also through our curriculum. Children have regular opportunities to reflect on each value and to develop an understanding of the Value in action. We believe these values are empowering our pupils to develop their spirituality and guiding them in personal development as effective learners and good citizens. All children take part in daily Collective Worship which is planned around the school’s chosen values as well as the main celebrations in the Christian calendar. However, there is always flexibility to consider and reflect on current issues.

Our school's Christian Values are Peace, Love, Friendship, Courage, Hope and Trust.  Our Values were chosen by our school community so they are very special to us.  Each half term we focus on one key value.

This term our Christian Value is PEACE  

Peace

“Peace is not absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means”.                                                                                                       - Ronald Reagan

Our theme for this half term is Peace. During this half term, we hope to move pupils' understanding beyond the idea that peace is simply the absence of war or violence. 

Ideas for Discussion

• As we move towards Christmas and the giving of gifts, think about the gift of peace that Jesus has given us. Angels also brought the message of “peace on earth.”
• Armistice Day (11^th November) & Remembrance Sunday (10^th November) – a reminder of the consequences of not living in a peaceful world.
• The Story of the Paralysed Man reminds of the importance of forgiveness. We cannot have inner peace if we hold grudges and don’t forgive others. 
• How does the idea of peace link with British values, in particular “mutual respect for and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs and for those without faith.”
• Symbols of peace: the olive branch. During the great flood, the dove sent in search of land by Noah, returned with an olive.

Click below to view our Home Values Newsletter to support your child in learning about the Christian Understanding of Peace at home.