RE News
Pentecost - Celebrating the Coming of the Holy Spirit
Pentecost is one of the most important feasts in the Church year. It marks the moment when the Holy Spirit came to the disciples, filling them with courage, hope, and the ability to share Jesus’ message with the world. Many people call Pentecost the birthday of the Church, because it is the beginning of the disciples’ mission to spread the Good News.
The Church celebrates Pentecost to remind us that the Holy Spirit is still with us today, guiding us to make loving choices, strengthening us when things are difficult, and helping us use our gifts to care for others.
This Friday, our whole school will gather for a special Pentecost Assembly to celebrate this feast as a community. Students will reflect on the symbols of Pentecost and how these signs show God’s presence in our lives.
We look forward to celebrating this joyful feast together as a school community.
Religious Education Semester 1 Reports
Sydney Catholic Schools is also currently implementing a revised draft Religious Education Curriculum. This year, changes have been made to the reporting in Kindergarten, Years 1 and 2 to align with reporting in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6. Religious Education is taught as an outcomes based curriculum, and is therefore intentionally aligned to other Key Learning Area reporting approaches, including the use of the Common Grade Scale and on-balanced professional judgments. The faith of a student is not assessed.
The Religious Education K-10 syllabus is organised into five strands, which remain central to how student learning is reported. Each strand covers syllabus outcomes specific to the student’s year of learning. Students are reported on the strands that have been explicitly taught during the reporting period. At each reporting period teachers consider the learning covered to date and assign the grade that best reflects the standards students have demonstrated so far.
The Reporting Strands Explained
Below, you’ll see the Religious Education syllabus strands which make up the reporting areas for the year kindergarten to year 6 student reports.
Strand | Description |
Scripture and Jesus | God shows his love through the world around us, the stories and traditions of the people of Israel, the early Christian Church, and most of all, through Jesus Christ. The Bible helps people connect with God, guiding their lives, prayer and worship. In this strand, children will explore the Scriptures to learn how we come to know God and what God asks of us in everyday life. |
Church and Community | The Church is a community of people who follow Jesus and are united by God’s message found in the Bible and Church traditions. It helps people live out their faith through worship, community life, and working together for the good of others. In this strand, children will explore where they belong in the Church community and how they can make a positive difference in the world. |
God, Religion and Life | People search for meaning, happiness, and purpose in life, both on their own and with others. Many religions teach that this search connects us with something greater than ourselves. Christians believe this is the loving God who guides and fulfils that search. In this strand, children will explore how faith helps people find purpose, truth, beauty and goodness. |
Prayer, Sacraments and Liturgy | Prayer and special religious celebrations help people feel close to God. In the Catholic tradition, the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, help people experience God’s love and feel part of the Church community. In this strand, children will learn how prayer and the sacraments help us grow spiritually, trust in God and live with purpose. |
Morality and Justice | Christians believe that every person is made in the image and likeness of God, and are called to live a life of love and purpose through Jesus. This means we all have a special dignity, freedom and responsibility to make good choices in how we live, treat others and care for the world. In this strand, children will explore what it means to be a good person and how to make respectful decisions in everyday life. |
Term Two Liturgical Calendar
Please take a moment to check the Term 2 dates for our Liturgical events. These celebrations are an important part of our faith life, and we look forward to gathering as a community to pray and give thanks during this Easter season.
Yours in Faith,
Kirsten Kirkwood-Yule