Catholic school etiquette

Talk to your line manager.

Does your school have a Faith/RE Lead teacher, OP? Ours is very approachable and would gladly help non-Catholic staff with situations like this.
When we have a whole school Mass there is a general blessing because Yrs R/1/2/3 and Yr 4 until the Summer term haven’t had their FHC, so anyone who doesn’t want to receive the Host takes that as their blessing too.
Smaller Mass for older years, non Catholic staff tend to go up for the blessing. I think it shows respect for the faith, which is part of upholding the Catholic ethos of the school, but no one thinks badly of staff who stay seated - it’s their choice.

No, I’m not Catholic but my DH is and my DC attend a Catholic school.

I would never take communion and would see it as more disrespectful to take it when you are not Catholic. You can go up with everyone and get a blessing (I don’t on the rare occasion that I go but lots of people there who aren’t Catholic do this).

I teach in a Catholic school and I am not Catholic, nor am I religious. I have the necessary qualification to teach in an RC school (CCRS) and I am able to teach the RE curriculum well. When I talk to the children I speak as if I am Catholic in terms of delivering lessons (when we; us etc). I don’t take communion in mass. Some of our staff do and some don’t. I’m respectful in terms of what’s expected of me

You are being completely respectful.

You actually shouldn't take Communion if you're not a Catholic (or Orthodox Christian).

I'm surprised the school didn't give you guidelines, given that the teachers and students attend Mass.

Surely the kids understand that there are different religions? You aren't the relevant religion so you don't do it.

What exactly do they mean by ‘upholding the values’ of the school? As someone who grew up in a devoutly Catholic household in a devoutly Catholic society, my mediate response to this would be somewhere between an eye roll and outrage.

No, don’t take Communion, which isn’t permitted, anyway, and in your shoes, I wouldn’t go up for a blessing either. I would charitably assume that upholding school values means justice, equality, forbearance and refraining from ripping up photos of the Pope at assembly.

I'm an ex-Catholic. I think it'd be more disrespectful to go up and take it than not!

Yes.
On a couple of occasions I have seen priests really upset because they have accidentally given HC to someone who wasn't Catholic but came up to receive.
It's a big no no.

At my school, all the none Catholic staff, myself included, just go up for a blessing. You signify it by having a hand across your body, resting on your shoulder if that makes sense, instead of holding out your hand for communion.

It's about a 50/50 split at ours so it's quite easy to find someone to copy if you're not sure of the etiquette. I used to be quite nervous of getting something wrong but am more relaxed now I've been there a while. People are really understanding I find as long as you're being respectful and trying to do the right thing, which you are.

Just cross your arms and have a blessing. You can't take HC.

I'm an ex-Catholic. I think it'd be more disrespectful to go up and take it than not!

I stopped believing while I was still at Catholic school and no longer felt comfortable taking communion. I didn't feel able to tell my teachers the truth, so the couple of times I was asked about it I said that I wasn't going because I hadn't been to confession, which you're supposed to do before taking communion. (Not at all suggesting you do this! Just showing that there are multiple reasons a person might decline to take part.) I didn't know about the 'arms crossed for a blessing' thing back then, but I've done it several times in different churches as an adult and have never come across a priest who didn't know what it signified.

You are doing the right thing. Technically you have to be a practising Catholic, in a state of Grace to receive Communion.

What @Singersong said. I am Catholic and worked in a Catholic school for years. School was the only time I went to Mass so I wouldn't take the host or wine - just a blessing. Tell the children you are not Catholic but support their values etc - is all the class Catholic?

OP of you walk up with your arms crossed over your chest you will receive a blessing instead of a communion wafer.

Just tell the kids you’re not Catholic.

If you want to take part, go up for blessing as pp said but I was raised catholic, had my first holy communion etc, am now not practicing anymore and when I go to mass the odd time, I just don’t go up and nobody cares. It’s not a big deal.

I know you said the school only requires you to uphold the values etc but if you’re going to mass and involved in this kind of thing, it might be a good idea to learn some of the basic ins and outs. I’m surprised that you would think it would be ok to just go up and get communion like that tbh.

Different for Catholics. Catholic children have a First Communion which precedes Confirmation. So you can take Communion without being Confirmed.

Just go up for a blessing, cross your arms across your chest so the priest knows just a blessing

It would be massively disrespectful to have body and blood of christ when not actually done the sacraments

I also like the idea of the blessing but it is fine if you do not, OP.

You’ve assured the school you share Catholic values to a reasonable degree. Could you just tell the children the same thing?

No I think you wouldn't have been employed if they were concerned about you not being catholic. I work in a catholic school and I would say about 50% off staff are also not catholic. In HC we still participate but don't take the bread and wine. We still say the prayers too but don't necessarily believe

The sacraments in order are baptism (christening), reconciliation, Communion and Confirmation.

Therefore, if you haven’t had the required sacrament, you can’t take Communion. Just tell the children this.

If you care to take advantage of the opportunity, going up with your arms crossed to receive a blessing is perfectly acceptable.

Refer to it as ‘bread and wine’ 🙂

As a non catholic or not take your Holy Communion you can go up for a blessing. Which is respectful if you feel inclined to do so, that is what non catholics at my school do. Depending on the school the tradition way is to cross your arms across your chest and bow your head. They will place their hand above your head, sometimes touch your head and say a blessing.

At my school we ask the teens/adults to put their hands behind their backs for a blessing.

It means you go up with everyone and would be taking part. My colleague feels less awkward going up with everyone rather than sitting alone.

You are right not to take Holy Communion OP.
Taking it would show extreme disrespect, not the other way round.

Catholics start taking it after their First Holy Comnunion, not Confirmation.

If you wish you can receive a blessing when others receive communion. You cross your arms with hands on shoulders to signal this to the priest. (Maybe let them know of your intention first if that's not commonplace where you are.)