Religious Education
A Song For Our School
I was very fortunate this week to sit in on 2 workshops with the year 6 students led by a well-known musician and music producer, Drew Lane. A man of many talents, he has written original musicals for primary schools and adults and has published several albums through “Butterfly Music” – a resource we utilise here at school. His songs are appropriate for a broad range of occasions throughout the school and church year and his song “God Is Everywhere” is a particular favourite within the junior school.
The purpose of his visit was to assist the year 6 students with writing our own St Patrick’s school song based on our school prayer and the motto taken from the school crest “Christ In the Heart of All”.
With expertise – (did I mention Drew is currently the performing arts teacher at St Peter’s school in East Bentleigh?) he led the students in a brainstorming session about their beliefs and values and those qualities that make our school unique. The students took inspiration from the crest, their knowledge of St Patrick himself and most impressively from words they have heard during Mass.
Students made connections with the colours on the crest to our sports colours. They recognised the important symbols of water and fire and wanted these included in the lyrics. Water, a source of life and renewal and our beautiful, gently flowing and unique creek. Water that cleanses and is used to wash away original sin in Baptism. Fire, the symbol of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the strength and power given to students who later this year will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of Confirmation. Fire, a reference to the fire St Patrick lit on the hills of Tara in Ireland.
On 2 occasions the students really impressed me with some of the words they insisted on using as lyrics. With the line “Our home under one roof and Christ at the heart of all” the students made a reference to a response from the liturgy of the Eucharist which is said right before Holy Communion “Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof but only say the word and my soul shall be healed”. The students recognised the significance of these words in relation to the very important sacrament they celebrate when they come together for Mass.
Similarly, the students reflected on St Patrick’s mission to convert the people of Ireland as inspiration for the lyrics. The beautiful statue of St Patrick in the church depicts him holding in his hand a shamrock, the plant he used to explain the Holy Trinity. The students came up with these words to finish their song,
“On a mission of faith, we look up to the One
God the Father, Holy Spirit and Son”.
There will no doubt still be some tweaking but all in all they have produced some wonderul lyrics for Drew to take away and set to music. He himself will make a demo and then later this term there are plans to have our choir record our very first school song. Drew even hinted at it being released on his 7th studio album! This will be a wonderful legacy for these students, and we look forward to singing their song with pride at future school celebrations.
Kathryn Ady
Religious Education Leader