This time of year has traditionally included Harvest activities that give thanks for the fruit of the Earth. For some time now the Church has broadened this to be a Season of Creation, stretching from 1st September to around the beginning of October, with a wider eye to the whole goodness of, and care for, God’s creation.
Schools
This could include ways in which we mark the return to school and celebration of the exploration of creation that is present in all learning.
Schools can also celebrate the season of creation, including harvest celebrations. Other activities could include renewing our commitment to carbon reduction and courageous advocacy in the face of the climate crisis, including involvement in campaigns such as “Let’s Go Zero.”
School Vision
This is a time when staff and children are reminded of the school’s distinctive Christian vision – particularly and straplines, mottoes or specific verses and phrases that we want to know and develop in our day-to-day school life.
Families and Homes
The question for home would be “What will we say ‘Thank-you’ for?”
Engaging the Church
Where harvest celebrations take place schools and families could visit the parish church.
Education Sunday also falls during this time, for those churches who mark it.
Diocesan
Senior staff could take part in Harvest celebrations.
Visits by senior staff could focus on the start of the new school year and the ways the school is engaging in climate awareness.
A video could be from our Diocesan Environmental Officer.
Dates to note
September 14th – Holy Cross Day: where schools have crosses in the classroom, these can be brought into collective worship and the Collect for Holy Cross (see appendix) can be read. These can then be returned to classrooms. A further possibility is that this could tie in with an invite to parents to come and visit new classrooms.
Black History Month in October is a time when the UK celebrates black heritage and culture. The focus is on history – particularly those people, events and aspects that have been neglected in the study of history in previous times
Understanding Christianity
This season lends itself to some of the material resourcing learning about the concept of Creation.