Catholic Social Teaching (CST)
At the heart of our school’s mission is Catholic Social Teaching (CST), which shapes both our curriculum and the Catholic life and ethos of our community. Rooted in Gospel values and the example of Christ, CST helps our children understand how to live with love, respect, and responsibility in today’s world.
Our curriculum is built around the seven principles of Catholic Social Teaching, which guide learning and daily life:
- Human Dignity – Every person is special and loved by God.
- Community and Participation – We work together to build strong, caring communities.
- Stewardship – We care for God’s creation and protect our world.
- Preferential Option for the Poor – We help those most in need, showing kindness and generosity.
- Solidarity and Peace – We stand together as brothers and sisters, promoting peace and justice.
- Dignity of Workers – We value everyone’s gifts and respect the work they do.
- Rights and Responsibilities – We act fairly and take responsibility for others
Through scripture, prayer, and practical action, these principles are woven into every year group’s learning. From caring for the environment to supporting charities, our children grow as compassionate, active citizens who live out their faith in everyday life.
Curriculum Overview (CST)
At St Teresa’s, Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is embedded within our Religious Education curriculum and the wider life of the school. Each half-term, every year group focuses on one of the seven principles of CST. As part of this learning, children take part in a dedicated CST lesson that links directly to their current topic. Scripture is central to these lessons, helping pupils to deepen their understanding of each principle and its relevance to their lives.
Alongside classroom learning, each year group undertakes a practical task during the half-term to put their faith into action. These activities enable children to live out the principles in meaningful ways, fostering a sense of responsibility, compassion, and service.
We have developed a clear progression for CST across all year groups to ensure that pupils grow in understanding of how these principles shape their choices and actions at every stage of their primary education. Through this, we aim to nurture thoughtful, caring individuals who contribute positively to their communities and live out Gospel values in everyday life.
St Teresa's we support a number of local and national charities by fundraising and collections:
Borehamwood Foodbank Macmillan Cancer Support
Caritas Food Collective - Westminster Sports Relief
Catholic Children's Society Watford Peace Hospice
Children In Need Young Minds Mental Health Charity for young people
Care for Creation
Community and Participation
Preferential Option for the Poor
Dignity of Workers
Solidarity and Peace
Community Participation
Mayor's Visit
We were delighted to welcome the Mayor of Hertsmere, Mayor Collins, to St Teresa’s this week! His visit was in celebration of a wonderful achievement by Minuthi in Year 3, who entered the Mayor’s Seasonal Card Competition—and won! Her beautiful design, full of vibrant colours and festive joy, was chosen as the official card for the Mayor this year. This means Minuthi’s artwork will be sent to thousands of people across Hertsmere this Christmas—a fantastic honour.
During his visit, Mayor Collins personally congratulated Minuthi and presented her with a special prize. Our children had the opportunity to ask him thoughtful questions about his role and the challenges he faces. They also created a thank-you card for him and sang a heartfelt rendition of Shine Jesus Shine, which truly impressed our guest.
We are incredibly proud of Minuthi and of all our pupils for making the Mayor feel so welcome. As we journey through Advent, it is inspiring to know that Minuthi’s card will help spread joy and hope throughout our community this season as we prepare for Jesus’ birth.
Harvest Giving
Julian from our local Borehamwood Food Bank came to visit us. Julian told us about the vital work that the Food Bank does in our local community. One in six families in our local area do not have enough food to eat. Our pupils decided to raise their Harvest for the food bank to help people in our local area. Thank you to Julian for visiting and explaining the positive impact of charitable work. Fr Jude blessed our Harvest at mass and we delivered it to the foodbank. Thank you Fr Jude.
Turkey Syria Earthquake Appeal
In response to the awful events taking place in Turkey and Syria we decide to hold an impromptu wear your own clothes to school day. We raised money for the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC).
We raised a massive £400.38
Raising money for Red Nose Day
Children In Need Choir
The BBC Children in Need choirs perform ‘True Colours’ - BBC Children in Need 2019
Helping our at the foodbank.
As part of our Catholic community participation dignity of the Human Person. They also shared their experience in an assembly
Staff advent acts
St Teresa's staff have opted to help with the food bank or another charitable cause instead of sending each other Christmas Cards. We are also supporting each other through the financial crisis by setting up an internal food bank which staff can access for extra help.
International day and Evening
Celebrating our rich and diverse backgrounds of our whole school community. .The school thought about Pope Francis’ special letter, Fratelli Tutti, where he asks us to remember that we are one global family. We know we are a family at St Teresa’s and the children thought about the other neighbours we have and how we can be a good neighbour.
Our international day ended with a wonderful evening of food from around the global. It was fantastic celebration of St Teresa’s.
Advent and Lenten charitable work
Pupil Parliament - Pupil Parliament met to research charities to raise money for this advent. They have decided that each class will hold their own sponsored event during the last week of term to raise money. The four charities that the pupils have researched are: Herts and Essex Air Ambulance, Herts Young Homeless in Borehamwood, Gratitude local food charity, and Caritas Food Bank. Pupil Parliament members are presenting their research on each charity to their classes and each class will vote on which charity or choice of charities to raise money for. Watch this space to find out who the children chose and what sponsored events they are running this advent.
Operation Christmas Child – A Gift of Love and Hope
Our school is proud to support Operation Christmas Child, a global project run by Samaritan’s Purse. At school, children filled shoeboxes with small gifts, toys, school supplies, and hygiene items, which were then sent to children in need around the world. It’s a special way for our pupils to show kindness and generosity—sharing joy with others and making a real difference in someone’s life this Christmas. Thank you for helping us spread love and hope across the globe!
Y4 Lenten Cake Sale
Well done to our to Y4 pupils who raised an impressive £200 for the Catholic Children's Society Building Bridges Lenten fundraiser.
Thank you to the parents for all helping with this fundraiser
Y6 Advent fundraiser for Borehamwood Foodbank
On 1st December, Y6 pupils joined volunteers from the Borehamwood Foodbank at our local Tesco store for the foodbank advent drive. Our pupils worked hard to speak to customers as they arrived at the store to raise awareness of the food drive and to ask for donations. Customers donated generously and also brought food to donate. Afterwards, we went shopping in Tesco and each child chose an item from the foodbank list, we the school brought the children donated them to the drive.
The children told said they really enjoyed the experience. They said that had to use their confidence to speak out to people but they got the hang of it! They were so pleased and proud of the money and food donations they raised. Y6 said it was a great feeling to do good for our community and that this was Catholic solidarity, caring for those with the least and human dignity. Well done Y6!
CCS Lenten Sponsored Pancake Run
On Shrove Tuesday the whole school had a sponsored Pancake Run to raise money for the Catholic Children's Society.
Congratulations we raise £145 ! Had fun and exercise running around the playground flipping pancakes and even got to eat some in class.
Pupil Parliament Sponsored 'Santa Run'
Christmas cards for the elderly and vulnerable
This year, we are inviting all pupils to make their own Christmas card for an elderly or vulnerable person who lives in our local area. This helps our children to spread Christmas cheer and importantly to act on Jesus' call for us to be there for those who have the least.
Baubles - raising money for Addo
This year instead of sending class Christmas cards the whole school have been asked to design their own bauble and make a £1 donation to Father Dominic's Addo charity,
The Addo charity supplies school uniforms for children in an area of South Africa. Without these uniforms, these children are unable to attend school and receive a free school meal. This money will be donated to Fr Dominic at our end or year Mass.
The baubles will be displayed in classrooms alongside learning about Catholic Social Teaching. They will help to emphasise our responsibility to protect the poor and vulnerable and also to conserve the world's resources as requested by Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si (please click here for a child friendly explanation of this).
Elf Run
In aid of the Watford Peace Hospice