Modeligo National School Religious Education Policy

Scope of the Policy

As a Catholic school this Religious Education Policy will impact on the whole school community. Support for the implementation of the policy will come from a number of groups.

Board of Management: Approves the policy and ensures its implementation and monitors its review.

Principal and Deputy Principal: Supports the procedures of the policy and ensures its effective implementation.

School Staff: Embraces and safeguards the Ethos of the school and supports the cross culture of religious education.

Classroom Teachers: Implements and reviews the policy. To ensure a high standard and effective delivery of religious education.

Sacramental Chaplain: Assists with the implementation and review of the policy and supports the staff.

Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Supports the ethos of the school and the religious education programme and facilitates the faith formation of their children.

Children: Participate in the religious education programme and related activities.

Vision Statement

Modeligo National School is a Catholic school under the patronage of the local Catholic bishop.

A Catholic school is a living expression of a long and varied tradition of education inspired by the life of Christ as lived in the Church. Such a school emphasises the dignity of the human person as a child of God called to work with other persons in creating an inclusive community in service of the common good; where knowledge is sought and respected while faith is nurtured and challenged.

Modeligo National School is situated in a rural setting serving a diverse population. One of the great strengths of the school is its social inclusion. The presence of children from diverse backgrounds enriches the life of the school community.

Mission Statement

Scoil Mhuire Má Dheilge is a mixed Catholic Primary School in the parish of Modeligo, Co. Waterford. The patron of the school is the Bishop of Waterford and Lismore. The school has a long tradition of educational excellence and is committed to providing a curriculum which best meets the needs of all the pupils.

The school wishes to nurture responsible, capable and caring individuals in a Christian environment who respect themselves and each other. We will enable each child to develop his/her self-esteem and achieve his/her potential within a positive, happy, secure and healthy school environment.

The school and its staff value its partnership with parents in meeting the personal and educational requirements of pupils and staff alike.

Nature of Religious Education

As a Catholic school religious education is a core subject on the school curriculum and an integral part of the ethos of the school. Religious education is provided for children in accordance with the doctrines, practices and traditions of the Catholic Church that derives its trust and ultimate foundation from the person of Christ. Such education has nothing in common with indoctrination that amounts to teaching a child a religious way of behaving and believing. This type of teaching deliberately harms children by undermining their natural ability to reason. In contrast, Modeligo National school is committed to the deepest respect for both faith and reason as they contribute significantly to the formation of rational and mature citizens of democratic society.

Three types of learning in religious education are evident in Modeligo National School:

1. 'Learning into religion': Children are provided with religious instruction and experience, such as prayer and sacramental participation that will help them to grow into their faith and in their understanding of the Catholic tradition.

2. 'Learning about religion': While particular focus is given to Christianity, children are exposed to a broad range of religious traditions and to the non-religious interpretation of life. Such a broad exposure seeks to develop in pupils powers of tolerance and mutual understanding and the skills needed to engage in meaningful dialogue with those of other, or of no religious traditions.

3. 'Learning from religion': Children evaluate both what has been learned and how it impacts on their daily lives. Children are invited to learn from what they are discovering.

Religious education that the school provides is open to, and inclusive of, all children, regardless of their faith background, and these children are invited to participate in and engage with the religious education programme in various ways.

Aims of Religious Education

In Modeligo National School religious education endeavours to:

Develop in children a knowledge and understanding of their own religious tradition and beliefs, with respect for religious traditions and beliefs of others.
Help children grow in their identity as persons created in the image and likeness of God.
Help children respond to God's love through love: by showing love for themselves, for each other, for God and all of Creation.
Deepen in children an understanding of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus and how to participate in the mission of the Church.
Foster awareness in children of shared values such as justice, peace, the dignity of the human person.
Heighten children's awareness, empathy and compassion for local needs/issues and global problems.
Prepare children for the sacraments of First Penance, First Communion and Confirmation.
Give children accurate, clear, age and ability appropriate information.
Prepare children for living in community with people of their own and other faith traditions and none.

Rationale

The religious education policy allows each member of the staff to reflect on what it means to be a Catholic school and to articulate a commitment to it.

Curriculum

The Catholic characteristic ethos permeates the whole school day. Thirty minutes in each school day is devoted to religious education as well as time for prayer — morning and night prayers, grace before and after meals and other related religious activities.

Religious Education Programme — Grow in Love

Junior and Senior Infants

The aim of the Grow in Love programme is to help children mature in relation to their spiritual, moral and religious lives, through their encounter with, exploration and celebration of the Catholic faith.

Content of the programme:

My family
The Holy Family
Our world
Advent and Christmas
Stories about Jesus
Holy Week and Easter
The Church
Water/Food
Baptism
We Give Thanks — The Mass

Text Book: Grow in Love Teacher's Manual and Children's Book.

First and Second Class

The aim of the Grow in Love programme is to help children to prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Holy Communion.

Content of the programme:

Called and chosen
Jesus
Sacraments: Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist
Advent and Christmas
Lent and Easter
Pentecost

Third and Fourth Class

The aim of the Grow in Love programme is to continue to explore the richness of the sacrament and how people of faith down through the ages responded to God's call in their lives.

Content of the programme:

God's plan
The Bible
Responding to God's call — Abraham and Moses
Ten Commandments
Jesus — Parables
Jesus the Healer and Teacher
Anointing of the Sick
Advent and Christmas
Lent and Easter
Taking Care of the Earth
Building God's Kingdom

Fifth Class

The aim of the Grow in Love programme is to remind the children that God knows and loves them unconditionally; the prophets are introduced; the diocesan and parish structures are examined. Conscience and confirmation are studied in depth.

Content of the programme:

The Bible
The Prophets
Parables
Beatitudes
Jesus
Advent and Christmas
Lent and Easter
Pentecost
Conscience
Confirmation
Care of the Earth

Sixth Class

The aim of the Grow in Love programme is to help children grow and develop into healthy mature adults, capable of realising their full potential as human beings, created in the image and likeness of God.

Content of the programme:

Christian Faith, Community, Morality and Love
Commandments and Beatitudes
Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, Easter
Pentecost
The Holy Spirit
Confirmation: History and Ceremony
Sacraments of the Church
Rituals and Symbols

Text Book: Grow in Love 7 and Grow in Love 8 Teachers Book and Pupil's Book/Workshop.

Homework Policy

The school staff holds a clear belief that families should be given the opportunity to be involved in their children's religious education; therefore, home work is generally sent home one night per week.

Facilities and Resources

Classroom teachers
Parents
Local Community Groups
Local clergy
Sacred Space
Text Books
Interactive White Boards
Audio Visual Equipment

Withdrawal from Religious Education Classes

Modeligo National School respects and acknowledges the rights of parents/guardians who require their son/daughter to be excluded from religious education. The manner in which such an 'opt out' is facilitated is related to available resources within the school and complies with the school's policies on curriculum, supervision and child safeguarding.

The school provides for students when a request for 'opt out' from religious education is made. In this instance, the pupil may stay within the classroom following an educationally appropriate activity, for example, reading a novel. Or, if the class are attending the local church, then said pupil may join the principal's class, bringing their own curricular work to do.

The procedure in place to facilitate a request for withdrawal from religious education is as follows:

A written notification from the parents/guardians to the principal.
Parents/guardians meet with the principal, who answers specific questions they may have on the content of the programme and explains the two options the school can provide for children when a request for 'opt out' from religious education is made. This meeting enables parents/guardians to make an informed decision in regard to withdrawal from religious education.

Staff Support and Development

Effective religious education does not just happen spontaneously or accidentally. The very nature of the religious education class requires teachers to keep upgrading and enhancing their teaching skills and resources.

Support and development for the staff are as follows:

Management is supportive of all religious education in and out of the classroom.
All religious education teachers are encouraged to attend an in-service of the new Grow in Love programme.
Throughout the school year guest speakers talk to the staff on such topics as Wellness, Mental Health, Bullying etc.

Outside support is received from the:

Diocesan Advisor
Trustees of the school
Boards of Management
Diocesan Clergy

Liturgy

All staff are encouraged to participate in the Liturgical Life of the School.

To ensure that significant liturgical events are celebrated and recognised throughout the school year the following take place:

Opening of the school year — Mass/Special Assembly
Advent and Lenten Services of Reconciliation
Ash Wednesday Service
Carol Service
Catholic School's Week
Morning Prayer reflective of the significance of the time of year, feast days, holy days
Sixth Class Graduation Ceremony
Particular celebration associated with the school
Staff Prayer and reflection
Whole school remembrance prayer for the dead in November

Sacred Space

A distinctive feature of the school is a sacred space in the front foyer of the school.

Religious Imagery

Religious images and symbols are an integral part of the school:

A Crucifix in each classroom
Holy Water
A Bible
Statue of Our Lady
Advent wreath
A Crib
Posters

Outreach Programmes

Peace and Justice is an integral part of the religious education programme. Children are encouraged to empathise and show compassion for local and global justice issues.

Trócaire information and boxes during the season of Lent
Class projects that link to local and global issues

Chaplaincy Services

The role of the sacramental chaplain, the Parish Priest, is to:

Encourage School-Parish links
Be a support for the principal and staff
Encourage the implementation of the Liturgical Calendar
Get to know staff by visiting staffroom at morning tea or lunch time
Visit each classroom to meet the children and to chat with them about their religious education programme
Provide sacramental celebrations

Parental Involvement

There is an opportunity for parents to be informed about the content of the religious education programme through:

Enrolment meeting for Junior Infants
Parent–Teacher Meetings
Sacramental Meetings
Weekly homework

Parents are involved in the religious education programme through:

Sacramental Enrolment Evenings and Preparation Masses
Sixth Class Graduation Ceremony

Diocesan Support

The Diocesan Advisor visits the school each year either on a formal or informal basis.

The Diocesan Advisor provides:

Encouragement through her opening school year letter to the staff and 'thank you' card at the end of the school year
Update on Diocesan and National events
Advice on policy and other related activities
Support by visiting the classroom and meeting the teachers and children and attending school celebrations
In-service on the new Religious Education programme Grow in Love
Support for the school when there is a critical event in the school

Policy Monitoring and Timeframe

The policy is reviewed regularly.

Board of Management: Sr Veronica Casey Principal: Mrs Emer Pedley

Religious Co-Ordinator: Mrs Emer Pedley Diocesan Representative: ____________________

Date: 28 May 2019