Why we have Christian values?

Our Christian vision is:

“Be the best you can be… because God is with you in all that you do.”

Genesis 21:22

This vision is deeply rooted in the belief that God is always with us, guiding, strengthening, and encouraging us. The Bible reminds us that we are created in God’s image and are called to grow into the people He has made us to be. Jesus himself showed us how to live  and we follow His example in our daily lives.

Because of this, we seek to love and serve our school community by living out our Christian values. These values help each of us to flourish as human beings, developing our character and enabling us to make a positive difference in the world.

Developing a value means being able to act in a particular way, in a specific situation, to bring about a good outcome. In this way, our values become practical expressions of our vision in action.

At  Eaglesfield Paddle, pupils are introduced to (and revisit on a 2-year cycle) 12 Christian values. They experience biblical examples of the values, are encouraged to consider what each value means to them, their families and friends, and how they see the values being demonstrated in the world around them.

Below is a list of our Christian values for 24/25 and 25/26:

Our Christian perspective on each of our chosen values:

Compassion

Jesus showed compassion when He cared for the sick, the poor, and the lonely (Matthew 14:14). Compassion means noticing when someone is hurting and choosing to help them with kindness.

Hope

Hope is trusting that God has good plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11). Even when things are tough, hope reminds us that we are never alone and that brighter days will come.

Forgiveness

Jesus taught us to forgive others, just as God forgives us (Matthew 6:14). Forgiveness doesn’t mean pretending something didn’t hurt, but it means choosing to let go of anger and give people a new start.

Respect

Jesus taught us to “love your neighbour as yourself” (Mark 12:31). Respect means seeing the value in every person, treating others kindly, and caring for God’s creation.

Peace

Jesus is called the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Peace means living in harmony with others, solving problems calmly, and trusting God to give us calm hearts.

Friendship (Koinonia)

In the Bible, “koinonia” means fellowship — sharing life together. Jesus calls us friends (John 15:15), and friends support, encourage, and care for each other. True friendship means being there in good times and hard times.

Thankfulness

The Bible tells us to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Thankfulness means seeing all the good gifts God gives us — family, friends, food, creation — and remembering to say “thank you.”

Truthfulness

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Truthfulness means being honest in what we say and do, because God loves truth and wants us to live with integrity.

Responsibility

God asks us to care for the world He made (Genesis 2:15) and to look after each other. Responsibility means doing what is right, keeping promises, and making good choices, even when it’s hard.

Wisdom

The Bible says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). Wisdom means making good choices by listening to God, learning from others, and thinking carefully before acting.

Creativity

God is the Creator of the world (Genesis 1:1), and we are made in His image. Creativity means using our imagination, talents, and ideas to make the world more beautiful and to bring joy to others.