Our grade four Prayer Table with a tree stump, the symbol for our grade level, a Children's Bible, a quote reading and reminding us to " find Faith" in everything we do and our Prayer Tree. Each liturgical season we would change or add a few items to our prayer table along with the cloth. Students really enjoyed helping create an interactive prayer table for our classroom. Along with our morning prayers and intentions, students wrote their prayers, for family, friends, pets,etc. on leaf cutouts. During prayer time or at the end of the day we would pull off a couple of leaves and pray for those intentions together. That way the students who felt a bit more shy were still able to have their private intentions shared with the rest of the class.
This year I had the unique opportunity of working in our school library. With very limited space I decided to put up a bulletin board as my prayer table. The bulletin board featured an image of the cross and a scripture quote which permeated our division theme of Horizon of Hope.
This year I had the unique opportunity of working in our school library. With very limited space I decided to put up a bulletin board as my prayer table. The bulletin board featured an image of the cross and a scripture quote which permeated our division theme of Horizon of Hope.
A Prayer for the New School Year
Classroom Door
Our classroom door was a great visual reminder of the different religious themes throughout the year. We also read and wrote out the poem Footprints in the Sand to symbolize our journey of Walking Together throughout the year. It was something we created together, talked about, and was a constant reminder of our faith journey which includes learning and helping each other in a Catholic community.
Morning Staff Meeting Prayers
Every Monday we meet as a staff for our morning meeting. It is chance to come together in prayer before we start our week. It is a nice way to celebrate our faith as a community. Here are a couple of prayers that I read as prayer leader for the meetings.
Lunch Time Prayers
Thank you Lord for giving us lunch,
Thank you Lord for giving us lunch,
Thank you Lord for giving us lunch right where you are!
Hallelujah praise the Lord!
Hallelujah praise the Lord!
Hallelujah praise the Lord, right where you are!
(done while clapping in the sign of the cross)
Johnny Appleseed
Oh, the Lord is good to me,
And so I thank the Lord
For giving me the things I need
Like the sun, and the rain, and the apple seed.
Oh, the Lord is good to me.
Johnny Appleseed.
Amen
Thank you Lord for giving us lunch,
Thank you Lord for giving us lunch right where you are!
Hallelujah praise the Lord!
Hallelujah praise the Lord!
Hallelujah praise the Lord, right where you are!
(done while clapping in the sign of the cross)
Johnny Appleseed
Oh, the Lord is good to me,
And so I thank the Lord
For giving me the things I need
Like the sun, and the rain, and the apple seed.
Oh, the Lord is good to me.
Johnny Appleseed.
Amen
Prayer Created by Grade 5 Students
A Prayer written and illustrated by grade 5 students during my final Practicum for the Board of Trustees.
What does Prayer Mean to Me?
This past year I became quite sick and turned to prayer to help me in my time of need. I am a very visual person and found a lot of Bible passages online that I was able to put up in my hospital room and in my home as I recovered. It was also a time when a lot of friends, family, and staff members sent prayers and love to help me during such a difficult time. It was these prayers, especially the ones from my students that helped me recover and eventually be able to return to teaching at a wonderful school. They were a great source of positivity and this helped me when I was struggling with my faith and questioning why I was being put through so much difficulty. During this part of my faith journey, even though I may not have known it at the time, it was a chance to grow more deeply with my spirituality. I found a great deal of comfort in prayer and meditation while I kept an art journal to help during the different ups and downs as I was unable to attend mass at this time. These are a few of the quotes and prayers I received from people during one of the more difficult times in my life. They inspired me to see the light and remain hopeful.