Religious Dimensions

Term 3 - ‘Our Stories’

This term, students are exploring RE/Inquiry topics around the theme ‘Our Stories’. This theme incorporates parables and other Scripture, with opportunities to explore stories in our Religion whilst learning about context and meaning for today’s world. In addition, students will learn about History, specifically community and personal histories, early Australian history, and further developing our respect for Indigenous culture. 

Staff Faith Formation and Professional Learning

On Monday 11 July, the focus for our School Closure Day was staff faith formation and professional learning. 

Fr Elio Capra led our day. Fr Elio is a member of the Department of Systematic Theology and Department of Pastoral and General Studies at Catholic Theological College.  He lectures in Liturgy and Sacramental Theology.  He is a priest of the Salesians of Don Bosco (sdb).

The focus of our sessions was stories and how we can recontextualise these for today’s world. A direct link with our Term 3 units! 

Staff explored different stories from the New Testament and came away with some great insights into our own faith beliefs, as well as ideas we can incorporate into the classroom. 

Mini Vinnies

Thank you to our families who supported our ‘Mini Vinnies’ St Vincent De Paul Winter Appeal. Your donations of food and other non-perishable items are greatly appreciated and will be given to local families who need a little extra support. 

I also thank our Grade 6 Mini Vinnie Leaders who coordinated this Winter Appeal. The Grade 6 Leaders worked with Tony and Mary from our local St Vincent de Paul Conference today to help deliver the items to the storage cupboard. We finished our Winter Appeal with a prayer service at today’s assembly. 

Our very proud Prep Olympia B holding the blanket her grandma crocheted especially for the Winter Appeal! A lot of care and love has gone into this donation - thank you. 

First Eucharist Parent/Child Workshop

Last night we had our Grade 3 families onsite for our First Eucharist Parent/Child Workshop. These workshops are a wonderful opportunity for children and parents/carers to reflect and learn more about their upcoming Sacrament, and engage in some tasks together. Last night we compared the Last Supper with the First Euchaeist to learn more about the importance and significance of coming to the Lord’s table for the first time. 

The Middle Level teachers will continue to prepare the children within the classroom and we look forward to our First Eucharist Reflection Day on Monday 1 August. 

A new resource for families

The home remains the prime location within which faith can be formed and nurtured. The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne (CAM) has released a new resource for families just this week called ‘Journeying Together’. 

Journeying Together has been created specifically to serve our domestic Church by offering parents an accessible way of participating in their children’s spiritual formation and faith journey. The easy-to-use resource facilitates an at-home experience of God-talk and is designed not to replace, but to complement children’s sacramental preparation in a Catholic primary school or parish catechetical setting.

Journeying Together covers the sacraments most commonly celebrated with primary-school-aged children (Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation). 

This resource will complement your child’s sacrament preparation at their Catholic primary school or in a parish catechetical setting.

Each sacrament module includes four sessions. Each session includes an invitation to explore and integrate the family’s lived experience with concepts from Scripture, the Church and the sacraments, along with opportunities to pray together.

For parents wanting to explore this resource at home, please head to https://sacraments.melbournecatholic.org/ 

Caitlan Taig

Religious Education Leader