‘Our key aim at Henley in Arden Church of England Primary School is “to bless every child spiritually, emotionally and academically during their time with us, following Jesus’ example so they leave our school knowing they are loved, cared for and able to achieve success in their careers, relationships and citizenship.” Through clear direction and collaboration, the staff and governors believe we can achieve this by providing…

• A strong basis of Christian values
• An innovative learning environment which promotes independent learning and self assessment
• A supportive learning community where high quality teaching shapes learning, ensuring high attainment
• A meaningful, purposeful and relevant curriculum to meet the children’s individual needs
• A partnership with families and the wider community including St John’s Church, Henley
• A safe caring environment where high standards of behaviour are expected and valued
• Opportunities for social responsibility and a sense of awe for the world in which they live …enabling everyone at Henley to develop a sense of self worth and a love for life long learning.

Values

2023-2024

Autumn Term –  Trust           

We will be using many biblical teachings to help explore the value. Truth is the very essence of faith, trust in the God who is trustworthy. Trust is essential to human life and lies at the heart of all relationships. Trust is central to civilised society, to living together in harmony and so it is to be valued and honoured.

Our main bible story is Storm on the Lake, you can use the version below or read together the story on the take home sheet.

Jesus Calms the Storm

After Jesus had spent a full day teaching on the shores of the Sea of Galilee he said to his disciples, “Let us go to the other side.” So they left the crowd and got into a boat to cross over.

After awhile there arose a great and mighty storm on the sea. The storm was so great that the boat was being covered with the waves washing over it and began filling up with water.

While the storm was rocking the boat Jesus was fast asleep on a cushion in the stern. The disciples came and woke him up and said, “Save us Lord; we are going to die! Do you not care that we are perishing”

He said to them, “Why are you afraid, Do you still have no faith?” Then Jesus got up and rebuked the winds and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. The men were amazed and said, “What kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”

Matthew 8:23-27

Mark 4:35-41

Luke 8:22-25

Autumn Term –  Service   

Christians often talk about serving others. The Bible is rich with examples of servanthood, but none greater than Jesus in himself. This half term we introduce the meaning of service, specifically in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

Jesus was the ultimate servant during his life on earth because he willingly gave up his life for us. We honor his example of servanthood by humbly serving others in our daily lives.

See James 2:26, Mark 10:45, Philippians 2:8, John 3:16, 2 Timothy 2:24, Ephesians 6:7-8, 1 Peter 4:10

Spring Term –  Thankfulness   

Christians believe that God loves and cares for them in many different ways in all aspects of their life. They know their response to this provision should be one of thankfulness and praise. We will be using songs, hymn, bible stories etc to help the children realise the importance of saying and most importantly feeling thankful. Our main bible story is ‘Jesus heals the 10 men‘ where only one of them returns to say thank you. (Luke 17: 11-19).

Please take time to look at our Take Home Sheet as this helps you to explore values and have fun together.

Spring Term –  Forgiveness   

Things to discuss at home:

Summer Term –  Compassion 

In worship we will be thinking how we can show compassion and kindness to one another. We will be trying to spot when friends at school need us to listen and act with compassion. We will also be remembering how nations show compassion to other nations at times of disaster or need by sending money and volunteers to help. If you have an opportunity to explore this value together as a family there are some ideas, facts and challenges in the attached sheets.

The Story of Moses

Summer Term – Courage 

The value we are focussing on this term is ‘Courage’, we are using the story of St George and The Dragon and the bible story of David and Goliath amongst many others in order to help children to put their trust in God to be there for them in all situations. It aims to help them have the courage to overcome fear, make a stand for what is right and to encourage others to persevere.

God’s Story: David and Goliath

Once a young boy named David defeated a giant who was over nine feet tall. He fought Goliath when everybody else was too scared. This is the story of what happened when David agreed to take on Goliath (1 Samuel 17).

Values

2024-2025

Autumn Term – Respect

Things you can discuss at home:

Moses and the Burning Bush

God speaking to Moses from the Burning Bush

Autumn Term – Generosity

Feeding of the Five Thousand

Matthew 14: V14-21

4 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Spring Term – Perseverance

Things to discuss at home:

Timothy 2:3-7

3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

Spring Term – Justice

Justice could mean giving wrong doers the punishment they deserve i.e. the punishment fitting the crime- just desserts, an eye for an eye etc. However, it could also mean giving all people- particularly the poor and oppressed – what is right and fair for them to have ie. life, health, freedom, and dignity- this is social justice.

We have used many different bible stories to emphasize this, our main one being Jonah and the Whale which you can read below with your children in our take home sheets or watch the Youtube video.

Jonah and the Whale: Jonah learned that men, and women, and little children, are all precious in the sight of the Lord, even though they know not God.

Summer Term – Truthfulness

Things to discuss at home

Zacchaeus the Tax Collector

19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd.4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything,I will pay back four times the amount.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Summer Term – Friendship

Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man (Luke 5:17-26)

In this story, Jesus heals a paralysed man who is lowered through the roof by his friends so he can see Jesus. This Bible story is based on text from Luke 5:17-26.

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralysed Man

2 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.  They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralysed man,carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Things to discuss at home: