Catholic Social Teaching has continued to play an important role in the life of St Helen’s Catholic Infant and Nursery School in Brentwood.

Through projects led by the School Council, children learn about supporting others in their community and caring for the environment.

As part of the school’s commitment to helping those in need, the School Council organises a food bank collection to support Brentwood Foodbank. The school community donates food and toiletries, with hundreds of pounds’ worth of items collected for local families. Brentwood Foodbank are delighted with the children’s efforts and how passionate the school is about supporting their community.

The School Council also leads initiatives linked to Pope Francis’ call to care for our common home. Each term, the school holds a ‘No Paper Day’, encouraging staff and children to use alternative learning strategies while reducing paper use. Children also learn about the importance of recycling and making sustainable choices.

On National Walking Day, the whole school takes part in a walk around Brentwood to appreciate the local environment. Children enjoy looking and listening for birds and other wildlife as they explore the area around them.

Environmental themes have also featured in classroom learning. For World Book Day, children read The Lorax by Dr Seuss and reflected on how everyone can play a part in protecting the environment. Following the book, pupils wrote speeches about environmental responsibility, while the Gardening Club planted a selection of plants.

The school also marked David Attenborough’s 100th birthday, with children learning about different animals and the role they play in the natural world.

Through supporting Brentwood Foodbank and taking part in environmental projects, pupils at St Helen’s Catholic Infant and Nursery School are putting the principles of Catholic Social Teaching into action both within their local community and through their care for the environment.

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