Key Learning Area in Focus - Religious Studies

I would like to thank the Religious Education team for their enthusiasm and professionalism in what has been a great first half of 2023. Students have engaged in a wide variety of topics in a contemporary context. Our overarching focus is teaching students to apply the MSC values in their daily lives.  This is demonstrated through the wide variety of experiential projects we have embarked on, many of which are described below, where we engage meaningfully with the wider community. 

Mrs Jane Lowe

Leader of Learning - Religious Studies

Year 7

Shortly after they commenced at Chev at the start of Term 1, each Year 7 class had their own special mass with Fr John Mulrooney in Riversdale Chapel.  Fr John explained the different parts of the mass and their meaning and significance, and students could ask questions as they participated.

Year 8

Year 8 students have been learning about various topics including Suffering and Hope, with a focus on the crucifixion, Easter and Lent, and Salvation, focussing on the Resurrection and the works of St Vincent de Paul.  Now in this third term, we are investigating the history of the MSC and the life of Jules Chevalier. We have had the privilege of Fr John Mulroney coming to visit our classes to share stories of some MSC people who have dedicated their lives to living the MSC values in the spirit of Jules Chevalier.

Mrs Alison Samuels

Teacher - Religious Studies

Year 9

During Term 2, Year 9 religion classes looked at creation stories from many diverse beliefs and religions. We looked at the Big Bang theory, Mayan creation stories, the Indigenous Australian creation stories, as well as creation stories from the Catholic faith. Whilst studying these stories, we were able to find common ground between each faith/belief and gather inspiration for creating our own stories of creation.

As we move into Term 3, Year 9 classes are looking at stewardship, specifically in the context of climate change. We have learnt about the impact climate change has had on developing island countries like Kiribati (Ki-ri-bas), and we have gathered knowledge about how we can take responsibility for our actions and care for the Earth. 

Charli Lind

Student - Year 9

Year 10

As part of our study and understanding of good and evil, Year 10 visited the Holocaust exhibit at the Jewish Museum. We learned about the Holocaust in depth, and were lucky enough to listen to an incredibly impactful talk from a Polish Holocaust survivor.

Year 11

On 14 June, the Year 11 Studies of Religion classes embarked on an excursion to Auburn to visit the Gallipoli Mosque. The day was an immersive experience designed to further our understanding, in a practical manner, of the Islam Religious unit we were investigating in our RE classes. As a group, we had a tour of the mosque with a Muslim Imam who imparted his extensive knowledge about his religion, and was extremely happy to answer any questions we had.  He gave an engaging explanation of Islamic religious traditions and the significance of the mosque. The day also included lectures at ISRA where we had the opportunity to speak to members of the Islamic community and learn further about the principal Islamic beliefs and traditions. We then split up into lunch groups and explored Auburn's culinary delights. Many students bought traditional baklava and took the opportunity to enjoy international cuisine ranging from Lebanese to Ethiopian. Overall, the excursion was a great success, and much was learnt as a result of this engaging and unique opportunity.

Olivia Hassall and Tanishq Singal

Students - Year 11

Sunnataram Monastery - Bundanoon

Year 11 enjoyed a wonderful visit to the Sunnataram Monastery in Bundanoon, where we listened to a dhamma talk by Phra Mana. We took the opportunity to ask many questions about Buddhism, and then participated in dana (which can be translated as 'generosity') by helping to re-vegetate parts of the monastery that are still recovering from the 2020 bushfires.

Studies in Catholic Thought Excursion

The 2023 Year 11 Studies in Catholic Thought excursion to Berrima provided us with the opportunity to learn about WWII through an informative bush walk along the river.  We also learned about the role of art in Catholicism at the St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, while also learning about the Saint himself. The thought that our local area played such an unusual part in the war was very interesting. We were also able to enjoy lunch from a cafe of our choice, and we even got to visit the famous Berrima lolly shop! We arrived back at school and watched a film in the Sacre Coeur Centre, which challenged our idea of how to live a good life and encouraged us to consider what is most important to us. This excursion played a vital role in our learning and helped us to better understand the content we were learning about in class. Everyone gained a lot from the day, and we all had a really good time. 

Emily Douglass

Student - Year 11

On the final Wednesday of our Japanese exchange students' visit, our Year 11 Studies of Religion class spent time hearing from the Japanese students about their religions, and how art and architecture are very influential within these. We in turn spoke to them about First Nations peoples and the many other religions in modern-day Australia.  It was a great experience to share our knowledge and understanding and gave us all an appreciation of the religious beliefs and practices of different cultures.

Sarah Ruse

Student - Year 11