In accordance with the Charter for Our Lady of Sion schools, it is the school’s purpose to lead students safely towards deeper knowledge of themselves, of “the other” and of the world around them, enabling them to move towards a bright future as dependable, just and accomplished young adults.
There is a strong sense of community. Mindful of the school’s Catholic foundation and the Charism of the Sisters of Sion, every member of the community – whether student, parent, staff or governer – lives out and respects the motto, “Consideration Always”, which is central to school life and leads to an attitude of welcome towards families and students of all faiths and none.
The school community takes pride in working together to ignite the highest aspiration, celebrating the unique spirit and achievement of every boy and girl, to help the next generation of Sionians discover possibilities in the world around them, develop a life-long passion for learning and respond willingly and with compassion to the needs of others. The motto is not just wallpaper, something that is there just in the background and easy to ignore after a while. It is a closely held value and a core part of a Sion education.
In Sion Worthing, the motto “Consideration Always” spins with great energy… it is alive and well… it lives and breathes and resonates and vibrates along the corridors and within the classrooms and outside spaces. The students are regularly reminded of the ethos and the motto through assemblies and through the Founders’ Day celebrations.
The book Spaces of Dialogue by Sr Patricia Watson inspired the creation of a subject called Space for Dialogue where, once a week, students come together to learn about important life issues, discuss big questions and, most importantly, listen to one another.
The school fosters a culture based on consideration and respect for others, where cultural diversity is recognised and valued within the universality of humankind. The students are equipped to possess the integrity, intellectual curiosity, ability to question, reason, think critically, and the resourcefulness to pursue their goals throughout their lives, making a positive contribution to our society.
Each tutor group adopts a local charity and raises money for it through the year. The students choose the charity and can deliver assemblies to raise awareness to the other students about the issues the charity supports. There are a number of local residential care homes and the students visit these. “During these visits,” says one student, “we sing to the residents and then get the chance to chat with them and learn from their fascinating lives and experiences, while we hopefully bring a fresh viewpoint on things to theirs.”
view website“An atmosphere dedicated to and characterised by an overwhelming sense of love.”
Flora, 15 years old