Faith

The cross is a symbol of hope over death, and of victory in returning to life. Every class in school makes a cross and learns about its heritage and where in the world it originated.

Nursery - Bangladeshi Crosses

The Bangladeshi Crosses are a simple design and easier for the Nursery children to create. They also incorporate cutting and counting skills.

They were chosen due to their Christian link of God’s love in Christ based on the symbolic nature of the cross and links to the verse James 2:1-5. Their origin is Bangladeshi, created from bamboo leaves which are readily available in Bangladesh. They were designed by a lady named Mrs Bitihika Baroi, a member of the local church. She created them to sell for a small fee, creating a church fund for the local people to loan money from. They use the money to start a small business or grow crops. The aim is to enable them to be self-sufficient and debt free.

Reception - Asian Crosses

	The Christian faith has ancient roots in many parts of Asia. This ancient cross combines symbols from Asian culture with roots of the gospel and hopes for the future.
At each of the points of this cross is a set 'pearl'. The four 'pearls' represent the pearls of the Gospel story as told by the four Gospel writers. The teachings of Jesus are that pearl of great price for which it is worth sacrificing all else.
	Off the coasts of Asia, pearl-divers plunge into the depths of the sea to search for the most costly and beautiful pearls, which they extract from oyster shells. This practice itself provides an analogy for the continuous search for the truth about life and its value.

Year 1 - Latin American God's Eye Crosses

The eye is meant to symbolise the loving action of God who watches over Christians, protecting his people and guiding them into a Christ-like life.

Year 2 - Crosses from El Salvador

For Christians, the cross is a sign of hope because it symbolises Jesus' resurrection after his death. In El Salvador, images of the sun, flowers, animals, people, doves, angels and homes represent reminders of the good things in life. Their crosses represent hope for a brighter and peaceful future in their country.

Our crosses show the things that are important in children's lives.

Year 4 - Maltese Cross

The Maltese Cross is a symbol of protection. It means that the firefighter that wears this cross is willing to lay down his life, just as the Crusaders sacrificed their lives for their fellow men so many years ago. The Maltese Cross is a Firefighter's Badge of Courage. The Maltese Cross was awarded to Malta on the 16th May 1942 by King George VI following bombing by Nazi-occupied Germany. We talked about how people offer their services to others and the Maltese Cross is considered a badge of honour. The Year 4 children designed and coloured their crosses and wrote down the characteristics and qualities of a good friend.

Year 5 - Celtic Crosses

Year 5 children have discovered that the Celtic Cross is a symbol with complex symbolism that reflects both Christian and Celtic traditions. It originated in the early medieval period and spread through Celtic regions of northern Europe. The cross itself represents the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, while the circle in the cross symbolises continuity, eternity, and the spiritual realm. It is commonly found in graveyards, public monuments, artwork, and fashion, and remains a symbol of Christianity with pagan associations.

Year 6 Aboriginal Crosshatch Art

Cross-hatching is an ancient Aboriginal style of art. It is made by crossing lots of parallel lines over each other. We used this technique to develop a design for our crosses.