Term 1 at John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School (JSRACS) began with a new initiative: Prayer Spaces for every student from Year 2 through Year 12. Over three weeks, students visited the Chapel to engage with a series of carefully crafted prayer stations designed to invite personal reflection through touch, sight, and sound.
The spaces offered a gentle, inclusive, and age-appropriate environment for students to explore prayer and faith on their own terms. The stations tackled themes such as forgiveness, injustice, thankfulness, identity, and stillness—allowing students to wander, reflect, and listen to their own thoughts and feelings. This journey, described as a ‘mini pilgrimage,’ enabled each student to have a unique encounter—whether finding calm, raising questions, or simply taking time for stillness.
How Prayer Stations Came to Life at JSRACS
The launch of Prayer Spaces was a key project of JSRACS’s newly established Faith Formation team in 2025, bringing together Religious Studies, Service Learning, and Chaplaincy. Building on previous reflective practices—such as Year 8 mindfulness sessions at Wollaston Theological College and Year 12 modules on stillness and silence—the team designed a whole-school experience that combined expertise from curriculum and chaplaincy.
The project required significant planning and resources, from sourcing natural materials like pine cones and river stones to managing the logistics of scheduling hundreds of students through the Chapel without disrupting regular worship. Over three weeks, eight stations were offered to Year 5–12 students, with four activities adapted for Years 2–4.
Student Response and Future Plans
Feedback from students was overwhelmingly positive. A survey of 173 participants showed most found meaningful connection with one or more prayer stations, with the initiative earning a four-star rating overall. Staff noted the value of providing students with intentional spaces for rest and reflection amid a busy school day.
Looking ahead, JSRACS plans to integrate prayer stations into Chapel services, repeat the program for Years 5 and 7 in 2026, and introduce pop-up and outdoor prayer spaces, including themed reflections at Christmas and Easter.
This initiative reflects JSRACS’s commitment to nurturing the spiritual journeys of its students, offering space for individual growth and faith exploration. Prayer Spaces have quickly become a valued and lasting part of school life.
