Learning ~ Religious Edcuation and Faith Development
"For we walk by faith, not by sight" 2 Corinthians 5:7
Time allocations for the Religious Education programme are as set down by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference:
Years 1 & 2 1 hour 40 minutes per week 5 x20 minutes
Years 3 & 4 1 hour 40 minutes 5 x 20 or 4x25 minutes
Years 5 & 6 2 hours 4 x 30
In addition to teaching the content of the RE programme, teachers at Sancta Maria Catholic Primary School develop in their classrooms a sense of God and the sacred, through daily classroom prayer, participation on Masses, assemblies and liturgical celebrations.
Classroom prayer is an intrinsic part of the daily programme and a well maintained and relevant prayer focus area is evident in each classroom. A variety of approaches to classroom prayer are used.
Whole school Masses occur at the beginning and end of each Term, on major feast days of the Church's Liturgical Year and weekly on Friday mornings at 9.00am. Our children's experience of Liturgy is a very important part of their Faith development and every effort will be made to ensure that all Liturgies / Masses are of the highest standard and meaningful and memorable for the children. Children are actively involved in these to develop a sense of participation and ownership.
Family Whanau Book All Families are expected to purchase a Family Whanau book which provides information to support the Religious Education programme in the home. The Principal and Director of Religious Studies send home reminders via the school newsletter when new strands are being started and the accompanying references in the Family Whanau book.
Student Religious Education Book These books will provide an important link between the home and the school. They are sent home regularly and parents are to be encouraged to discuss the learning activities with the children and to write a comment at the end of each strand. The books are given high priority in terms of presentation, quality of work, quality of teacher monitoring and home/school links.
Curriculum Content
The expected learning in Religious Education is spread through six Learning Strands and four Learning Modules. These contain the basic content areas to be covered in Religious Education.
The Learning Strands
All the Learning Strands are connected and they are designed to increase systematically the students' knowledge and skills in Religious Education and to help them develop Christian attitudes and values.
There are six Learning Strands:
GOD – TE ATUA – I0 MATUA KORE
Focus:
Year 1 God is Creator
Year 2 Our Gracious God
Year 3 God is Present in the World
Year 4 God is Love
Year 5 God is Faithful
Year 6 Who is God?
JESUS CHRIST – HEHU KARAITI
Focus:
Year 1 Jesus – My Friend
Year 2 Jesus Showed his Love in Different Ways
Year 3 Jesus Gives himself in the Eucharist
Year 4 Jesus Came to Show People How to Live and Lead them to God
Year 5 The Life of Jesus
Year 6 Jesus – the Fullness of God's Revelation
THE HOLY SPIRIT – TE WAIRUA TAPU
Focus:
Year 1 God the Holy Spirit
Year 2 The Holy Spirit in people's lives
Year 3 The Fruits of the Holy Spirit
Year 4 Pentecost
Year 5 Titles and Symbols of the Holy Spirit
Year 6 Baptism and the Holy Spirit
CHURCH – Community of Disciples -TE WHANAU A TE KARAITI
Focus:
Year 1 Belonging
Year 2 Gathering, Celebrating, Living, God's Presence
Year 3 Called to be Like Jesus
Year 4 Called to Service
Year 5 The Church Celebrates
Year 6 The Church as a Pilgrim People
SACRAMENT – HAKARAMETA
Focus:
Year 1 Holiness
Year 2 Welcome
Year 3 Forgiveness
Year 4 Food for Life
Year 5 Healing
Year 6 Confirmed in the Spirit
COMMUNION OF SAINTS - TE KOTAHITANGA O TE HUNGA TAPU
Focus:
Year 1 Mary
Year 2 Saints and Inspiring People
Year 3 Life, Death and Christian Hope
Year 4 Choices
Year 5 Saints and Inspiring People
Year 6 Mary
The Learning Modules
These Modules are used at the appropriate times of the year and are essential learning material.
The Learning Modules are:
THE LITURGICAL YEAR– TE TAU ME ONA RITENGA TAPU
Focus:
The Liturgical Seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, Easter and important feast days of the Liturgical Calendar.
PRAYER – TE KARAKIA
Focus:
§ Introducing Children to Prayer
§ Traditional and Devotional Prayer
§ Imaginative Prayer and Meditation
SACRAMENTAL CELEBRATIONS – NGA RITENGA HAKARAMETA
This Module is a resource used to support the Sacramental Preparation in the Parish.
MYSELF AND OTHERS – KO AU KO, RATOU
This Module is a resource used in conjunction with the Health Curriculum when teaching Strands A, B and D. This Module helps to teach the Health Curriculum from a Catholic perspective.