Religious Education
Mrs Laura Gilbert, Pathways Middle Leader
The year has begun with rich, hands-on and dialogical learning across RE classrooms, with students engaging deeply with concepts of faith, spirituality, and ethical action.
Year 8 – Exploring the Trinity Through Creative Design
Our Year 8 students have been learning about one of the central mysteries of Christianity— the Trinity. To deepen their understanding, students constructed images and models that expressed the Christian understanding of the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Year 10 Religion & Ethics – Mandalas and Hindu Spirituality
As part of the World Religions and Spiritualities unit, Year 10 students explored Hindu beliefs by creating their own mandalas. This meditative art practice encouraged students to reflect on interconnectedness, balance, and the concept of the divine within Hindu tradition. Their mandalas were vibrant, symbolic, and an excellent demonstration of learning through creativity.
Year 11 Religion & Ethics – Serving the Community with Rosies Mareeba
Service learning continues to be a key component of Religion & Ethics. Our Year 11 students recently embraced the call to compassion by preparing food for Rosies Mareeba. Their contribution supports vulnerable members of the local community and offers students an opportunity to put Gospel values into action.
Year 12 Study of Religion – Dialogues with Faith Leaders
In preparation for their upcoming examination on Christian and Buddhist responses to climate change, our Year 12 Study of Religion students engaged in two powerful dialogue sessions via Zoom.
They met with:
- Thea Ormerod, President of the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change and passionate lay Catholic, who shared insights into Christian-based environmental advocacy.
- Venerable Rinchen, a Cairns-based Buddhist nun, who spoke about Buddhist teachings that guide ecological awareness and compassionate action.
These conversations provided students with authentic perspectives on how religious traditions respond to one of the most pressing ethical issues of our time.
Setting the Tone – Study of Religion Icebreaker Activity
At the start of the year, our Study of Religion classes also participated in a collaborative icebreaker, The Marshmellow/Spaghetti Tower Challenge, designed to model the kind of learning community we aim to build in this subject—dialogical, respectful, and engaged. This activity set a strong foundation for open inquiry and meaningful discussion throughout the year. Check out the photos of some of the constructions.
Laura Gilbert | Middle Leader Religious Education