Pupil Leadership

“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:16

Head Boy and Head Girl

At Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Head Girl and Head Boy are chosen as role models who embody the values of our Catholic school community. They demonstrate excellence in behaviour, attitude, and faith, and are expected to lead by example in all areas of school life. As ambassadors for the school, they represent Our Lady’s during important events, welcome visitors, and speak on behalf of the pupil body when appropriate. They also support younger pupils, assist in assemblies and liturgical celebrations, and work closely with staff and student leadership teams, including the GIFT Team and Caritas Ambassadors. Their role is one of service, leadership, and responsibility, reflecting the Gospel values in both word and action.

GIFT (Growing in Faith Together) Team

At Our Lady of Mount Carmel, we are proud to have a dedicated GIFT Team (Growing in Faith Together) made up of pupil chaplains from Year 3 to Year 6. These pupils take on a special leadership role in the faith life of our school, helping to share the Word of God and promote a deeper understanding of our Catholic identity throughout the school community.

Our GIFT Team members volunteer for their roles and begin each academic year by creating an action plan, outlining how they will help nurture and strengthen the spiritual life of the school. They meet weekly to reflect on their progress, prepare prayer groups, lead Celebrations of the Word, and help organise key liturgical events throughout the year.

The responsibilities of the GIFT Team include:

· Supporting all pupils in knowing, loving, and following Christ.

· Being joyful witnesses to the Gospel, living as missionary disciples in our school.

· Planning and leading prayer opportunities in line with the Liturgical Year.

· Organising and delivering Celebrations of the Word.

· Assisting in school assemblies and liturgical celebrations.

· Promoting and developing our prayer spaces, including the school chapel and the prayer garden.

Through their service, the GIFT Team play a vital role in fostering a sense of community, faith and mission at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, inspiring others to grow in their relationship with God.

CARITAS Ambassadors

At Our Lady of Mount Carmel, we are proud to have a committed team of Caritas Ambassadors who help bring the message of the Gospel to life by putting faith into action. Our Caritas Ambassadors are volunteers from Key Stage 2 who take an active role in promoting Catholic Social Teaching throughout the school community.

The ambassadors use their knowledge and understanding of the challenges facing both local and global communities to lead social action projects that reflect our mission to follow Christ. Each year, the team creates an action plan to promote justice, compassion, and service, becoming a voice for change and living witnesses to the Gospel.

The Caritas Ambassadors ensure that the seven principles of Catholic Social Teaching are embedded in school life:

· Dignity of the Human Person

· Family and Community

· Solidarity and the Common Good

· Rights and Responsibilities

· Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

· The Dignity of Work

· Stewardship of God’s Creation

Through assemblies, campaigns, fundraising, and practical service, our Caritas Ambassadors inspire the whole school to live out these values and truly put ‘love into action.’

Laudato Si Champions

‘Care for Our Common Home’

At Our Lady of Mount Carmel, our Laudato Si’ Champions are a dedicated group of pupils who lead our school’s commitment to caring for creation, inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’. These pupils are passionate about protecting the environment and promoting sustainability, both within school and in the wider community.

Our Laudato Si’ Champions meet regularly to plan and lead a range of eco-friendly initiatives, raising awareness about environmental issues and encouraging everyone in our school family to take active responsibility for our common home.

Their work includes:

· Promoting recycling and reducing waste.

· Encouraging energy-saving measures around the school.