ST ALBERT S CATHOLIC SCHOOL RELIGIOUS EDUCATION POLICY

Transcription

1 ST ALBERT S CATHOLIC SCHOOL RELIGIOUS EDUCATION POLICY Introduction The fundamental task of the Catholic School is to form a synthesis between culture and faith and between faith and life. The first is reached by integrating all the different aspects of human knowledge through the subjects taught, in the light of the Gospel; the second in the growth of the virtues characteristic of the Christian. Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education, Catholic Schools, nn. 37ff. The mission of the Church, its entire work, is evangelisation that is, to proclaim and live the Reign of God. This is shaped through Word, sacrament, witness and service. Evangelisation happens in the context of the interpersonal relationship between the universal Church, Australian church, the local Church and other agencies including Catholic schools. Partnerships between families, parishes and Catholic schools need to be understood in light of this communio. CROSSWAYS Document RE Framework for SA Catholic Schools SACCS Vision Statement The curriculum policy for St Albert s Catholic School is framed within the South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools. Catholic schools, in partnership with parents, in union with Christ s saving mission and communities, educate young people for participation in the Church and world communities today. The Religious Education Policy is framed within the vision statement for South Australian Catholic Schools. This policy recognises that Catholic school communities develop the whole person, encourage the pursuit of excellence, celebrate the human and divine gifts of each student and encourages care for all of creation. SACSA Statement Religious Education is a vital, central, learning area in the curriculum of the Catholic school and there are many ways in which the Religious Dimension of the Catholic school is focused and nurtured. Religious Education provides students with the opportunity to encounter the Catholic tradition as a living and meaningful constellation of beliefs, values, symbols, ritual and community. Religious Education is complemented in a variety of ways by the other learning areas in the curriculum and by other elements of school life, such as prayer, liturgy, sacramental programs, pastoral care, outreach programs and celebrations.

2 Rationale At St Albert s Catholic School we believe that learning in Religious Education best occurs in an environment in which students are invited into a living encounter with the beliefs, values, symbols, rituals, faith and community of the Catholic Church. In particular the Religious Education curriculum and the spiritual dimension of St Albert s Catholic School is grounded within the vision, spirituality and the charism of the Dominicans. Religious Education complements the work of parents as the first educators of their children and recognises the primary role of parents and parishes in faith development. The Religious Education curriculum forms part of the whole religious dimension of St Albert s Catholic School and is complemented by and integrated into all areas of learning and by other elements of school life including class and community prayer, liturgy and ritual, celebration of feasts and seasons, preparation for and celebration of sacraments, pastoral care, social justice and outreach, and participation in the life of the parish. Through their experiences in Religious Education and the life of the Catholic School, students are invited to deepen their understanding of how Catholics believe, live and celebrate. The Catholic tradition is presented as being close and relevant to the students lives and culture, rather than being remote and apart from it. The Religious Education curriculum has its foundation and takes its structure from Crossways, the Religious Education Framework for SA Catholic Schools. This founding and structure are clearly articulated in the Crossways document. Aims At St Albert s Catholic School, in the context of the Catholic tradition, Religious Education aims to develop in all students: Knowledge, understanding and appreciation of: o Christian beliefs about God; o the person, message, life, death and resurrection of Jesus; o beliefs about the dignity and destiny of the human person; o the themes, structure, prayers and messages of significant Christian texts and rituals; o the rich heritage of our Catholic Church tradition and scriptures; o the nature of freedom and responsibility; o ecumenism as a quest for Christian unity; o the experience and function of prayer and liturgy in the life of a Christian; o the life, purpose and structure of Christian community; o the Christian challenge to embrace justice; o the beliefs, rituals and values of other religious traditions. A capacity to examine issues relating to values and attitudes, locally and globally, in order that learners might: o develop knowledge and skills to interpret the message and meaning of the Gospels, and to relate these to the concrete circumstances of their lives; o engage with their own worlds of meaning and make links with Catholicism as a living, believing and celebrating religious tradition ; o appreciate the sacredness and dignity of all human life and understand the Christian affirmation of this sacredness and dignity; 2

3 o draw on Christian beliefs and values to understand and evaluate the implications of significant decisions, actions and relationships in their lives; o value the universe as created and graced by God; o engage with the Christian call to discipleship; o understand the morals underpinning the Christian message. An experience of the traditions and practices of the Catholic Church as community o through their experience of Prayer and liturgy; o through learning about and celebrating the Sacraments; o through their participation in celebrating Eucharist. Religious Education invites students to discover the faith, hope and love that are at the heart of being Christian. Pedagogy Underpinning the Religious Education curriculum at St Albert s Catholic School is an ongoing commitment to the promotion of learning principles and pedagogy that effectively engage the students and teachers in learning processes that promote meaning and relevance. Scope The learning area of the Religious Education curriculum is organized around three strands as articulated in the Crossways Religious Education document: o Believing: God and Revelation; Created in the Image of God; Textual Interpretation; Church and Community; o Living: Discipleship and the Reign of God; Moral Decision Making; Religious Authority for Ethics: Social Justice and Ethical Issues; o Celebrating: Sacraments and Sacramentality; Prayer and Liturgy; The Liturgical Year of the Church; Religious Traditions. Each strand is organized around four Key Ideas; these convey the skills, attitudes, dispositions and knowledge addressed in Religious Education. The themes of Catholic Tradition interact with the strands to provide a dynamic and broad framework for the development of the curriculum. The five essential learnings are integrated and incorporated into our RE Framework. Assessment The assessment of a child s faith development cannot be undertaken. We can only assess the knowledge of the content taught. We will use the following strategies for assessment in the Religious Education learning area. This list is not exhaustive. Assessing Knowledge and Skills A number of activities are available to teachers in assessing the growth of knowledge and skill in Religious Education. These can take the form of teacher assessment, peer assessment or self assessment. 3

4 Some options include: o written and spoken reports and presentations; o research and assignment work; o multimedia presentations and web quests; o diagrams and graphic presentations; o demonstrations and/or performances; o observation assisted by annotated class lists, checklists and/or anecdotal records; o interviews; o work samples; o written/oral, multiple choice, short answer questions; o essays; o labelling, categorising, concept mapping. A variety of techniques and strategies are available to accommodate the different capacities of students and to give a broad view of a student s progress and development. Assessing Attitudes and Values The development of attitudes and values is an important area of Religious Education; schools need to consider both what is to be assessed and how it is to be assessed. There is a variety of options available to use in assessing students attitudinal and value development. These include: o oral and written presentations in which personal values are expressed and explored; o completing sentences before and after a unit to note refinement of values; o student and teacher consultations and interviews; o journal writing; o creative writing: letters to editor, poetry, diary entries; o art, drama and role plays; o self-assessment activities by students. Please refer to the Assessment and Reporting policy document. Religious Education Content Scope: The Religious Education Curriculum Scope and Sequence is set out as a two-ly program, and caters for the composite class structures that are needed within our school organization. 6-7 Key Ideas are taught each. Social Justice and Outreach is explicitly experienced every through the active support of the Catholic Charities of Project Compassion, St Vinnies and Catholic Missions as well as other school designated community charities. Key Idea 10 - Prayer and Liturgy is expected to be integrated across all key Ideas because Prayer is foundational to the personal and communal expression and understanding of the Catholic faith. The Key Ideas - 9, Sacraments and Sacramentality, and 11 Liturgical Year of the Church are taught and integrated every. The Human Sexuality Curriculum (MITIOG), taught over the course of the on an annual basis, is integrated with Religious Education within planned units focused on relevant Key Ideas. A combined unit planner is used to aid in the implementation of the mandated integration. 4

5 Time Allocation 3x 45 minutes a week is dedicated to Religious Education. Signed: Chairperson School Board: Principal: Justine Fogden Jason Mittiga. Date: September 2011 Review Date: September

6 Strand Key Ideas Believing Living Celebrating God and Revelation Created in the image of God Textual Interpretation Church and community Discipleship Moral Decision Making Ethical codes and laws Contemporary moral issues Sacraments and Sacramentality Prayer and Liturgy The Liturgical Year of the Church Religious Traditions Students explore cultural expressions of the sacred and research Catholic beliefs about God. Students respond to the belief that humanity is created in the image and likeness of God and is grounded in God s love. Students interpret and explore revelation given in Scripture, the Creeds and other foundational texts. Students critically reflect on change and continuity in the believing, living and celebrating Church, as it continues to evolve in social, cultural and political contexts. Students explore how Christian discipleship is an invitation to live authentically. Students appreciate how the process of informing one s conscience enables individuals to exercise freedom when making decisions. Students appraise how a critical understanding of the origins, sources and principles of ethical codes contributes to responsible Christian living. Students evaluate and apply a Christian ethic of life to a range of contemporary moral issues. Students research and explain why Christians celebrate Sacraments and Sacramentality as God s transformative presence. Students explore prayer and liturgy as a celebration of God s presence in people s lives and in human history. Students research and communicate how the narrative of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus is celebrated in the seasons and feasts of the Church s Liturgical Year. Students investigate celebrations, rituals and festivals in diverse religious traditions and demonstrate an appreciation of their own tradition and respect for other religious traditions. 6

7 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CROSSWAYS Scope & Sequence Early Years and Primary Years Band: Even Years St Albert s Catholic School Key Idea Standard 1 Focus R-2 Standard 2 Focus Year 3-4 Standard 3 Focus Year Being Human *We are all precious to *Created for relationship and God just as we are community *Being Myself *Called to live life fully MITIOG: Being Human Being Connected Being Sexual *We are created to live in relationship with others Growing in my family and friendship group *Our feelings Standard 4 Focus Year 6-7 *Facing life s challenges with hope *Building hopes and dreams 4 Church and Community 6 Moral Decision Making MITIOG: Being Connected Being Moral 8 Social Justice & Ethical Issues MITIOG: Being Connected Being Moral *St Albert s Church and our school are special places for the Church community *The people and work of the Church *We can choose to be kind and loving like Jesus *The choices we make affect ourselves and others *God has created a beautiful world for us to live in, and we should take good care of it. *God created the good things of our world for all people we share through Project Compassion, St Vinnies and Catholic Missions 12 Religious Traditions God s love includes all people *The people of the Church *The Holy Spirit and the Church we celebrate Pentecost *Free will, choices and consequences *Making good and lifegiving decisions in different situations *Respecting the value, wellbeing and dignity of all people a just classroom a just school *Project Compassion, St Vinnies and Catholic Missions *People respond in faith to God s love in different ways *The story of the Church the mission of the Church *Acts of the Apostles *Strategies for decisions for good relationships and wellbeing *Agents of peace and hope Easter and ANZAC / Flanders fields *Accepting responsibility for building a better world *Justice for refugees (or any other marginalized group) *Project Compassion, St Vinnies and Catholic Missions *Members of different faith communities are people just *The structure of the Church *A Christian conscience *Choosing right from wrong (including concept of sin) *Respecting the worth and dignity of each person *Social Justice in the classroom and the school yard *Project Compassion, St Vinnies and Catholic Missions *Understanding and respecting differences in 7

8 9 Sacraments and Sacramentality MITIOG: Being Moral Baptism / Reconciliation Religious traditions in our community *Reconciliation, Eucharist Sacraments: Signs of God s loving presence in our lives *Seven sacraments like us faith communities in our area *The Sacraments take their meaning from Jesus life Jesus the sacrament of God s love *Symbols and sacraments *Confirmation religious belief *The seven sacraments of the Church *Confirmation *Reconciliation the sacrament of healing 10 Prayer and Liturgy Integrated over whole *We can pray in many different ways *Prayer is connecting with God in many different ways including verbal *The Mass *Prayer: Connecting with God different forms of prayer *Deepening our personal and communal spiritual connections through class prayer and School Liturgical Rituals *Deepening our personal and communal spiritual connections through class prayer and School Liturgical Rituals 11 Liturgical Year of the Church Integrated over whole *Seasons of the Church and Feast Days - St Albert and St Mary MacKillop *Seasons of the Church and Feast Days - St Albert and St Mary MacKillop *Seasons of the Church and Feast Days - St Albert St Mary MacKillop *The shape and meaning of the Liturgical Year *Comparing 2 nd Testament accounts of Last Supper/Resurrection *Seasons of the Church and Feast Days - St Albert and St Mary MacKillop 8

9 Odd Years Key Idea 1 God and Revelation Being Human 3 Textual Interpretation 5 Discipleship and the Reign of God Being Connected Standard 1 Focus R-2 *We can t see God but we can see the signs of God s love in all that is created in our world *God s love is revealed in the wonder of creation *A Christian understanding of God What God is like *We learn about God s love from Jesus *The Gospels tell us about Jesus life *Jesus told special stories parables *The Gospels tell us how Jesus helped people *Stories from the Bible *We find the stories of God s people from ancient times in the Bible *Mary the Mother of Jesus is a very special person to God and to us *Saints show us how to follow Jesus *St Albert St Mary MacKillop Standard 2 Focus Year 3-4 *God is always with me *God is revealed in human experience * God is revealed in the life and work of Jesus a first century person *The Gospels tell us about Jesus life * The elements of a parable *Sacred stories from Genesis 1-11 *Mary, woman of faith (Images of Mary) *Saints *St Albert St Mary MacKillop 9 Standard 3 Focus Year * God is revealed in the life and work of Jesus a first century person *Our God of unlimited love (Awesome God) *Holy Week and Easter *The structure of the Bible / Bible reference skills The Bible - First Testament *The story of Abraham or Moses and the people of Israel The Bible second testament * Jesus taught in parables *Healing activities of Jesus *The Holy Spirit past and present *Prophet past and present *Jesus the model for Christian leadership *St Albert St Mary MacKillop Standard 4 Focus Year 6-7 *Holy Week and Easter *The structure of the Bible / Bible reference skills The Bible - First Testament *Comparing 2 Creation accounts in the Book of Genesis (Ch 1&2) The Bible second testament * Jesus taught in parables *Miracle events of Jesus *Celebrities, champions, heroes and saints: Identifying Christian role models *Jesus the model for Christian leadership *Saints (Confirmation) *St Albert 7 Religious Authority *Jesus taught us how to *The Ten Commandments *The Sermon on the Mount *Respecting the worth

10 for Ethics Being Connected Being Moral 9 Sacraments and Sacramentality 10 Prayer and Liturgy Integrated over whole 11 Liturgical Year of the Church Integrated over whole love and care for each other *The Golden Rule (Matt 7:12) Baptism / Reconciliation *We can pray in many different ways *Prayer is connecting with God in many different ways including verbal *The Mass introduction and experience *All Seasons of the Church Feast Days - St Albert and St Mary MacKillop *The Sermon on the Mount: Do to others (Matt 5-7) *Reconciliation a sacrament of God s healing love *Eucharist a sacrament of nourishment and action Sacraments are sacred actions of the Church community *The Mass *Prayer: Connecting with God different forms of prayer *All Seasons of the Church Feast Days - St Albert and St Mary MacKillop - Live simply, trust God - Love others, whoever they are (Matt 5:43-48 Love your enemies too) *Symbols and sacraments the seven sacraments *Understanding and preparing for Mass (Structure of the Mass) *All Seasons of the Church Feast Days - St Albert and St Mary MacKillop and dignity of each person *Social Justice in the classroom and the school yard *Project Compassion, St Vinnies and Catholic Missions *The seven sacraments of the Church *Confirmation *Reconciliation the sacrament of healing *Deepening our personal and communal spiritual connections through class prayer and School Liturgical Rituals *The shape and meaning of the Liturgical Year *Comparing 2 nd Testament accounts of Last Supper/Resurrection *All Seasons of the Church Feast Days - St Albert and St Mary MacKillop 10