St.Marys

Religious Education Policy May 08
St. Mary’s Boys’ School

Introduction

This document is a statement of the aims and objectives, principles and strategies for Religious Education in St. Mary’s BNS Grange Road Rathfarnham. It was developed in Spring 2008 through a process of consultation with the teaching staff. The Board of Management approved the policy in June 2008. This policy is distributed to all teachers and is fully implemented as of September 2008.

Relationship to school ethos

St.Mary’s BNS is a Catholic school under the patronage of the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin. The school models and promotes a philosophy inspired by belief in God and the traditional Catholic values. We promote religious education for the pupils in accordance with the doctrines, practices and ethos of the Catholic Church. We see our school as the extension of the home; a place where children are not just taught, but where the teachers and children learn, work play, and pray together. The ethos of the school is Catholic, and in this atmosphere the spiritual, intellectual, social and physical growth of the children is fostered in the spirit of respect, openness and inclusiveness.

Note: The Schedule for a Catholic School is displayed in the front hall.

Rationale

As a school, we are committed to the importance of both formal and informal religious and moral education. Religious Education is central to the life of the school.

Aims
General Aims
To foster and deepen the children’s faith.
To share our faith more actively with the children.
To show how they can create a better world by their faith in the risen Jesus.
To live every day as people who love God and love those around us.
To foster a personal relationship with God.

Our Specific Aims at St.Mary’s:

The aim of Religious Education which plays an integral part in the curriculum and philosophy of St.Mary’s is to promote in each pupil a knowledge of his faith and its practice in everyday life, while adhering to the school ethos.

Purpose
To help the children to become more aware of and reflect on their experiences of living in a world with others.
To reveal to the children some aspects of God’s plan for salvation.
To help the children to respond to God’s love in their lives.
To help them see God’s offer of salvation in the sacraments and to respond to it.
To help them to respond to God in prayer.

The presence of God in our lives is revealed in a unique way in this school through Mary the Mother of God and patroness of the school.

General Information
Diocesan Information
Diocese: Archdiocese of Dublin
Patron: Archbishop Diarmuid Martin
Trustees: St. Laurence O Toole Trust
Director of Education: Mrs. Anne McDonagh
Diocesan Advisers: Mr. Michéal Kilcrane, Sr. Ann Neylon, Ms Tonya Hanley,
Ms. Cathy Burke, Ms. Orla O’Shea
Parish Information
Parish Church of the Annunciation Rathfarnham
Parish Priest Rev.Father Joseph Hanlon PP

Basic school information
Name: St.Mary’s Boys’ School
Chaplain Fr.Joseph Hanlon PP
Board of Management Mr. Edward Fitzgerld – Chairperson
Fr. Joseph Hanlon PP
Mr.Enda McCabe
Mrs.Noeleen Cadell ( treasurer )
Mrs.Nickey O Riordan
Mr.Alan Balfe
Ms.Aoifín Shorten
Mr.Tom Mullins
Number on Roll 421
Gender of Pupils Boys
Type of School Vertical
Status Parish School
Other Religions: There is a small number of non -Catholic families attached to St. Mary's. All are made feel most welcome.

Religious Education Representative Ms. Niamh Gallagher (Acting for Ms. Mary Murphy )

School Procedures

Every child is welcomed into the school having satisfied enrolment procedures, but the school cannot undertake to educate children of other faiths in their own faith. This is made clear to all before enrolment. The Board of Management and teachers have adopted the Alive-O programme approved and recommended by the Irish Hierarchy for use in Catholic schools. This programme is delivered each day, traditionally at 12 noon, for the recommended 30 minutes (Rule 69 Rules for National Schools). Parents of non-Catholics are informed that it would not be possible to supervise their children outside of the classroom at this time. The programme is taught to each class. All Catholic feasts are celebrated. There is a spirit of prayer in the school and in each classroom there is an atmosphere of inclusiveness, tolerance, openness, forgiveness, and understanding and above all love. Children of other religions are welcome to participate where appropriate and also to share aspects of their religions.

Programme

Alive - O 1 Junior Infants, Alive - O 2 Senior Infants, Alive - O 3 First Class
Alive - O 4 Second Class, Alive - O 5 Third Class, Alive - O 6 Fourth Class
Alive - O 7 Fifth Class, Alive - O 8 Sixth Class

Implementation

To fulfil our aims and objectives the Alive - O programme is the core resource for the teaching of Religion in the school. The Alive - O programme seeks to involve the home, the school and the parish in the task of handing on of the faith to the children in the school. Each pupil from Junior Infants to 6 has an Alive - O textbook. Parents are encouraged to communicate with their child asking him to tell them the story of the week and discuss with them the issues that may have been discussed in class. Pupils in 2 class and 6 class have the sacramental workbooks. Prayer, which is central to the Alive - O programme is often contained in the children’s book and workbook and therefore gives an added opportunity for the family to pray the prayers that the child is learning in school and to keep in touch with the topics being covered. The Alive – O books provide the parents with some of the materials that are available to teachers. Sometimes teachers photocopy other revenant sheets and send them home.

Process
The process for delivering the RE programme is clearly expressed in the yearly and fortnightly schemes of the teachers.The teaching of religion takes places in the classroom by the class teacher.

Teaching methodologies used to achieve aims
Study of the Alive – O Teacher’s Guide
Interactive learning
Giving children prayer experiences that are meaningful
Sacramental and non-sacramental liturgies
Use of imagination in prayer
Drama and role play on the theme of Christian Values
Questions and answers helping children to use their own words
Vocal prayer
Weekly prayer service at Tionól
Meditation as per Alive- O

Doctrine
Memorisation of the doctrine starts in Alive - O 3. The following number of ‘to be learned’ articles are in the Alive - O 3 to Alive O - 8.
10 questions and answers in Alive -O 3

47 questions and answers in Alive - O 4
27 questions and answers in Alive - O 5
37 questions and answers in Alive - O 6
22 questions and answers/scripture quotes /commandments etc in Alive - O 7
37 questions and answers/scripture quotes /commandments etc in Alive - O 8

Assessment/Record Keeping/Evaluation
Recording of children’s work takes many forms – pictorial, written, wall displays, etc. Wall displays can be seen in each classroom around the focus of the lessons and centered on the prayer area. In the middle and senior classesit is recommended that each boy has his own religion copy.
Reports to parents are clear and informative, giving details of the child’s progress in religious education. Progress Reports are issued in end of year report to all pupils.
Teachers endeavor to ensure that all children have equal access to the Religious Education curriculum and plan so that the activities are differentiated to meet the needs of the class.



Resources
Each teacher has an Alive - O Kit appropriate to their class, which includes the following-
Teachers Alive - O Manual
Copy of the child’s textbook
Copy of the Sacramental Workbook
Parents’ sheets
Set of Posters
CD’s/Video

A set of Bibles is available in the school.
The above kits are replenished on a regular basis
Approaching Christmas each classroom is encouraged to have a crib and a large crib is erected in the front hall.
Advent literature from the Diocesan Advisers Office is distributed to each teacher.
Teachers have access to a wider selection of resources, which are centrally stored and are available to enrich the teaching of religion.
Our resources are continually reviewed and updated.
We recognize that people are our greatest resources and that the teachers “take the place of Christ” in relation to the children’s education in the Catholic Faith.

Spiritual formation of teachers
The spiritual nourishment of teachers is understood by the Board of Management to be an integral part of the religious education programme undertaken by the school. To this end the following are organized:
Prayer and reflection before staff meetings and Board of Management meetings.
In-service on handing on the faith / Alive - O Programme.
Opportunities for staff to attend summer courses related to the teaching of religion in primary school is supported by the board.
A member of the Diocesan Advisers’ team is invited to address the staff on a yearly basis.
Notice of diocesan reflection days for teachers are posted on the staff notice board.

Symbols
Meaningful pictures, statues, symbols and artwork are on display throughout the school building. There is a crucifix, Statue of Our Lady, and a Holy Water Font in each classroom. The Holy Water Fonts are kept filled. Pupils in 1. Communion class are responsible for keeping the fonts filled on a weekly basis.
Advent – Advent Wreath is presented and explained at weekly Tionól
Christmas – trees and cribs, Christmas stories, nativity plays, prayer service, carol services.
Feast of St. Brigid – making traditional crosses, prayer service for whole school community.
Feast of St. Patrick – story of St. Patrick, prayer services.
Lent – Symbols of Repentance, distribution of ashes on Ash Wednesday, Mass in school hall.
Easter – story of the death of Jesus and resurrection, dramatization of the passion by senior pupils. Prayer service also artwork and workbooks.

Sacred Space

There is provision in each classroom for a religious corner or sacred space which changes in accordance with the liturgical cycle. The front hall also has a sacred space. Each class is provided with a candle, which is lit for meditative prayer during religion time.

Prayer and Liturgy
Prayer

Prayer is an integral part of every lesson in the Alive – O series. Every lesson has a time for prayer. Different forms of prayer are encouraged, silent prayer, meditation, reflections, bidding prayers, prayer services, use of the psalms etc.Teachers regard it as a great privilege to pray with the children.
.Each day begins and ends with a meaningful and appropriate time of prayer. Each classroom has a focal point for prayer decorated with children’s work e.g. prayers, drawings etc. The following prayers are recommended each day.
Morning Prayers; Morning Prayer, Our Father , Hail Mary, Glory be
It is recommended that some of the more commom prayers are said as Gaeilge as the pupils get older.
Evening Prayers: Evening Prayer “God Our Father I come to say thank you for your love to day…………
cf. Appendix 1 for full list of school prayers

The traditional religion period each day commences at 12 noon with the ringing of the school bell. Teachers are recommended to mark the beginning of religion time by saying the Angelus or some other suitable prayer.

Displays in the hall will be based on work connected with the main Church Seasons – Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, etc – and will also represent the Sacramental Life of the school. They will be eye catching and well mounted to provide a stimulating environment so as to develop topics of conversation and discussion.

Each September teachers introduce the Mission Statement and spend time during the first few weeks of the term encouraging children to express in words and art form the ‘Mission Statement in Practice’
At the beginning of the school year a Mass is celebrated in the hall to mark the opening of the school year and ask for God's blessings on the work of the school.
Traditionally a Mass is also celebrated in the school following the death of a parent of a member of staff.

Collective Worship
Children are able to experience praise and worship of God in a wide variety of ways and situations. Collective Worship takes place in the hall at Tionól every Friday morning. Tionól begins with a prayer service. Classes take turns at preparing and leading prayer services. This assembly is a celebration of the week’s achievement; positive values are affirmed and rewards distributed.

Title of Prayer

Sign of the Cross
Glory be to the Father
Morning Prayer
Night Prayer
Grace Before Meals
Grace After Meals
Prayer to Guardian Angel



St. Patrick’s Breastplate
Hail Holy Queen
Prayer to Mary
Our Father
Hail Mary
Prayer to Jesus
Confiteor

Title of Prayer

Act of Sorrow
Prayer for Forgiveness
Prayer after Forgiveness
Mass Responses
Gloria
Prayers before Communion
Prayers after Communion
Comhartha na Croise
An Paidir
‘Sé do Bheatha a Mhuire
Glóir don Athair
The Angelus (old version)
The Apostles Creed
The Memorare
The Magnificat
Mysteries of the Rosary
Nicene Creed

Bible Studies; In recent years Mr. Colin Sheldon of Walk thru the Bible introduces the Old and New Testament to the boys in the senior classes over a ten week period each year.

Sacramental Preparation

The Sacraments are a celebration of the presence of Christ permeating every moment of our lives. Growing in understanding of the Sacraments is a complex interaction of a variety of experiences and celebrations in which the children take part during the years they spend in St. Mary’s.

In the preparation programmes for the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation parents play a very vital and important role in supporting their children. We aim to enable parents, priests and teachers to work closely in unison. Parents are invited to attend a series of meetings during the preparation period. These meetings start in October in preparation for the Enrolment service (First Communion) and Commitment service (Confirmation) which take place in Advent in the Church of The Annunciation Rathfarnham at Sunday Mass. Three meetings are held in preparation for First Communion and one for Confirmation. They are held to ensure that that all are fully informed and to enable the priest, teachers and parents to share knowledge, experience and faith together appropriate to the Sacramental experience of their children and their own lives. The meetings begin well in advance of the reception of the Sacraments indicting the importance of the preparation period.

Parishioners support the preparation through prayer. Parishioners are involved as the preparation liturgies take place in the parish church at Sunday Masses.
At sacramental preparation meetings parents are invited to take part and express their views .Openness about the difficulties parents experience in passing on the faith is welcomed. Parents are encouraged to take their children to Mass on Sundays and those who find this difficult are continually encouraged to begin again.

Children are prepared well in all aspects of these sacraments by the individual class teachers in keeping with the Catholic ethos of the school.

Enrolment Ceremony / Commitment Ceremony
The Enrolment Ceremony (First Communion ) and the Commitment service (Confirmation )take place in the parish church during Advent. Parents, teachers, and members of the whole community attend the ceremony. The ceremony is linked with the Alive - O programme.


First Penance and First Holy Communion
First class is the first year when children follow a more specific course of instruction in preparation for the Sacraments of Penance and Eucharist. Parents are asked to take part in the preparation alongside their children. Children receive the Sacrament of Penance in the parish church during Lent of 2 class and the Sacrament of the Eucharist on a Saturday in May.

Visits to the Church ‘The First Communicants are brought to the church for a number of visits in the weeks leading up to the First Communion .The are shown the Vessels that are used on the Altar ,the vestments etc.They also attend the daily ten o’clock Mass once or twice before their own big day.

First Communion Day

Our First Communion service is very beautiful. A lot of work goes into preparing the boys for their very special day. A lot of thought and practice goes into the preparation of the liturgy for the day. Each boy participates actively in the ceremony- reading, bidding prayers, dramatizing the Gospel, Offerty procession, sign of peace etc.
The boys receive First Holy Communion in their school uniform.
The First Communicants sit together in the body of the church in after processing to the church from the school. To receive the sacrament they proceed to the altar in order of their seats .A teacher indicates to the boys when to move towards the altar. Parents and the rest of the congregation receive after the first communicants.
Seating is allocated to parents.
No videos or photographs are to be taken during the ceremony as it takes away from the reverence of the occasion. We provide plenty of opportunities after the ceremony to have photographs taken.
A member of staff videos the ceremony and copies are made available to families.
The school photographer is in attendance at the school following First Holy Communion.
Our Parents’ Association hosts a party in the school hall after the ceremony for the First Communicants. Family members, relatives and friends .

Confirmation
Sixth class is prepared for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Parents are again involved. One meeting is held in October in the school to inform the parents of the process of preparation and to enable them to give more help and support to their children. This meeting is followed by the commitment service which takes place in Advent at Sunday Mass in the parish church. Confirmation is celebrated in the Church of the Announciation Rathfarnham on a week day at the end of February or early in March.
The Service of Light usually takes place about 10 days in advance of Confirmation.Pupils of St. Mary’s and girls from Loreto Grange attend The Service of Light with their parents

Procedures during the Sacrament of Confirmation

Sponsors sit in the reserved seats with the Confirmation candidate in the main body of the church. The confirmation candidate sits on the outside with the sponsor sitting next. All other relatives sit in the unreserved seats in the side aisles.
The boys proceed to the altar to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in order of their seats. A teacher indicates to the candidates and sponsor when to move out of the seat. The sponsor accompanies the candidate to the altar and hands the confirmation card to the attending priest. The sponsor puts his/her right hand on the right shoulder of the candidate while he/she is being confirmed.
The boys wear their full school uniform . Confirmation candidates may wear their confirmation medal on a rosette or on a chain.
No videos or photographs are to be taken during the ceremony as it takes away from the reverence of the occasion. There are plenty opportunities after the ceremony for photographs.
The school photographer visits the school shortly after confirmation to take individual and group photo graphs.

Graduation Mass
Graduation Mass for the 6 class pupils is celebrated in the school hall during the last week of June. Parents and family members attend this celebration of their child’s last day in St. Mary’s.

Spiritual and Moral Development

Spirituality is an integral part of the life of the school, not only during religious education class but extended throughout the day into other lessons. Our Christian values permeate all our daily work and our relationships with others.
A calm purposeful atmosphere rooted in the Gospel values prevails throughout the whole school.
Our boys are encouraged to explore the feelings of others to develop in them a deeper understanding and appreciation of others.
Children are encouraged to appreciate and respect the beauty and wonder of God’s creation, and to recognise their own part as custodians of this creation.
Displays throughout the school help to promote the spiritual development of the pupils.
There is a caring inclusive atmosphere in the school – children feel secure and cared for and they in turn care for one another
The school has a very good behaviour policy -The Molano Code - based our Mission Statement which seeks to encourage the pupils to have respect for themselves and for others; for their school and the environment; to teach them to work and play together in a sharing and caring atmosphere so that each pupil reaches his/her full potential and grows into a mature and responsible person.
Our boys are encouraged to be inclusive and to have good manners, consideration, courtesy and kindness towards others.

Roles and Responsibilities


Board of Management
The Board of Management maintains a keen interest in the life of the school and those members of the Board who are available attend the liturgical celebrations, nativity plays etc.
The Board of Management in consultation with the Principal is responsible for facilitating the smooth implementation of the policy.

Teachers and Staff
Inform themselves through studying the Alive – O teacher’s manual.
Deliver and teach the Alive – O programme appropriate to their class on a daily basis.
Co-operate with the Chaplain/ Parish and the Diocesan Advisers.
Avail of in-service support provided.
Actively support the spirit and ethos of the school.
Prepare the boys for the reception of the sacraments of First Penance, Eucharist and Confirmation.

Parents
Co-operate and support the school in its effort, especially at times of sacramental preparation and at other school events to which they are invited. They are also asked to help with religious education homework and to read the parts of the Alive-O programme that are intended for them.
The school has a very active Parents’ Association which helps and supports in the celebration associated with First Holy Communion and Confirmation.

Principal and Re. Co –Ordinator.

The principal encourages the staff in developing their teaching of Religious Education by his support and encouragement and advice offered at staff meetings and in informal conversations; by ensuring that the resources needed are available to teachers and children; suggesting cross curricular links; ensuring teachers have access to in-service and visiting classrooms and supporting pupils and teachers by affirming the work taking place on the Alive-O programme.
The RE co-ordinator and the Principal with the support of the the school chaplin and the staff develops and extends the ethos of the school in relation to worship, prayer, scripture, assemblies, the Mission Statement and the general life of the school.
In strengthening the links between home, school and parish and endeavoring to build a truly Christian Community united in the love of God and the teachings of Christ, the Principal,Re.Co-ordinator and staff play a significant role.
Together with other members of the staff the co-ordinator organises displays and opportunities to celebrate children’s achievements in Religious Education.
The RE Co-Ordinator ensures that staff are kept updated on information from the diocesan advisors and Diocesan Director.



School and Community

There is a strong link between the school and the community. The school is used by a number of local community groups
We try to develop in the children a sense of care and concern towards other people in the community and in the third world. During Lent the children collect money for Trocaire. Before Christmas most pupils participate in the shoe -box appeal which is organized by the school .Each child is encouraged to fill a shoe box with gifts for third world children.The school also makes a food appeal for St.Vincent de Paul . During the year a number of uniform days are organized for other charitable causes.
The confirmation and First Communion candidates are encouraged to donate some of the money, which they receive as gifts to a charity nominated by their class. On First Communion day the first communicants bring a small gif to the altar during the Offertory procession. These gifts are given to those in need. Through these and other activities the children become aware of the needs of other people both near and far and develop sensitivity, generosity and sense of responsibility towards their neighbours.

Success Criteria
An acknowledged sense of God, faith, prayer and worship within the school community.
Respect for all within the school community.
Parental interest.
Recognisable links between home, school and parish.
An outward-looking care for the less fortunate in our society.


Policy Monitoring
Effective policy requires constant monitoring and evaluation to ensure successful implementation and to review what adjustments may be necessary from time to time. At the end of each year the success of the policy implementation will be studied and adjustments made where necessary.


Timeframe
Formal monitoring will occur once a year and informal monitoring will take place on an ongoing basis.