Exploring school values through Prayer Spaces
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Primary students at St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School recently took part in a Prayer Space themed around the school’s core values of spirit, inclusivity, integrity, courage, respect and passion, all of which are borne from the school’s Anglican tradition
Primary students at St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School recently took part in a Prayer Space themed around the school’s core values of spirit, inclusivity, integrity, courage, respect and passion, all of which are borne from the school’s Anglican tradition.
Prayer Spaces are held each term for both the primary and secondary students to explore spirituality and faith in a safe, creative and interactive way.
St Margaret’s chaplain The Rev’d Jazz Dow said the Term 4 Prayer Spaces presented the perfect opportunity to explore the school’s core values, which were recently revisited with some minor changes and additions.
The Rev’d Susan and I thought it was important to allow the students to immerse themselves in the school values through the Prayer Space experience – giving them the chance to reflect on how the values make a real-life difference to their own lives and those around them,” Rev’d Jazz said.
The Rev’d Jazz said that one of the Prayer Space aspects most enjoyed by students is the interactive nature of each station or activity.
“The invitational nature of Prayer Space means students have autonomy and are the decision makers during the session,” she said.
“Students can explore the theme in ways to which they best relate and can also reflect on how the theme impacts their daily life.
“The themes we choose become tangible and accessible rather than being global or abstract ideas…through the Prayer Space experience.”
Inclusivity is a new core value for St Margaret’s, adopted this year after a collaborative review of the school’s values involving the whole school community.
Year 6 student Chelsea Brown reflecting at a St Margaret’s Prayer Space in Term 4 2022
At this station, a mandala decorated in rainbow-coloured rice symbolised each individual’s differences and uniqueness which, when everyone is included, creates beauty in the world.
As the students placed rice in the mandala, they were invited to consider their community and how they can ensure each person feels cared for and included.
Before the students explored this Prayer Space, The Rev’d Jazz and The Rev’d Susan facilitated a group discussion about “inclusivity”.
‘”The students were eager to share their understandings of what this new value meant in the playground and the classroom,” The Rev’d Jazz said.
“Some interpreted it to mean ‘making sure everyone is included in games’ and ‘celebrating everyone’, so there was a collective joy and obvious relatability toward this value.”
Other interactive spaces included the Peace Garden, which was filled with multi-coloured paper flowers adorned with peace messages written by students.
Some students wrote:
“I feel at peace when I am meditating on my own”
“I feel peace when I’m having a hug.”
“I feel at peace when I’m listening to the rain.”
This station was linked to the core value of respect and connected the notion that peace begins with respect for our world, community, family, friends and ourselves.
The courage station invited students to write a prayer or wish for courage on a card and peg their messages alongside those of their peers.
The Rev’d Jazz said students really valued the spaciousness of Prayer Spaces and the opportunity to explore big concepts in real and tangible ways.
“Students, and families, lead very busy and scheduled lives, and Prayer Space is a scaffolded space that allows students to explore with purpose and meaning, but freely and without required outcomes,” she said.
“The feedback from students always includes the valuing of silence and space, and that after a visit, they feel much calmer.
“Teachers also report this same feeling of calm and groundedness, and often say it continues into the classroom in the following session.”
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