Religious Education Policy

Introductory Statement:
This policy was formulated with the involvement of the Board of Management, Teachers, Chaplain, Parents, Special Needs Assistants, Ancillary Staff

Relationship between Religious Education and School Ethos:
The Schedule for the Catholic School is displayed in the welcome area alongside the Mission Statement of the school.

Aims of this Religious Education Policy;
It is hoped that through the process of developing this policy with representatives from all the stakeholders, we, as a school community can

• Foster and deepen the children's faith.
• Help them to come to know the person of Christ and to experience His love through our relationship with them
• Teach them God's Word and show them how best they can respond to it in their own lives
• Be witnesses to the spirit of the Gospel in which Jesus showed the special love He had for children:

An argument arose among them as to which one of them was the greatest. But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by His side and said to them, 'Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest' (Luke 9:46-48)

General Information:

• Diocesan Information
• Name of Diocese: Dublin
• Name of Patron/Archbishop: Archbishop Diarmuid Martin
• Name of Director of Education: Ms Anne McDonagh
• Name of Diocesan Advisors:

Ms Fiona Crotty
Ms Cathy Burke
Ms Elaine Mahon
Ms Sonya Murray

Parish Information
Name of Parish: St Agatha's, North William Street, Dublin 1
Name of Parish Priest: Fr Brian Lawless
Name of Chairperson of Pastoral Council: Mr Dan Moore

School Information
Name of School: St Vincent's GNS, North William St, Dublin 1
Name of Chaplain: Fr Brian Lawless
Names of Board of Management members:
Trustees' Representatives: Sr Anne Neylon DC, Chairperson, Sr Bridget O'Connor
Teachers' Representatives: Mrs Rita Tighe, Principal, Ms Margaret O'Connor, Treasurer
Parents' Representatives: Ms Danielle Coakley, Secretary, Mr Rafael Ojukwu,
Patron's Representatives: Mr Jim Martin, Ms Louise Gillick,
MATERIALS
" ALIVE-O PROGRAMME FROM INFANTS TO 6TH CLASS

CONTENTS OF KIT:

• Teachers Manual
• Alive-O Resource Book
• Alive-O pupils book (class set)
• Childrens work book
• CDs of songs/hymns
• Posters - set for each class

Due to the literacy challenges experienced by a significant proportion of the children in the school, teachers adapt the Alive-O lessons to suit the particular needs of the children in their class. This means that the workbook is often more appropriate to use and to bring home than the pupil's book.
In order to address these literacy challenges, teachers in every class teach 90 minutes of Literacy every day. In order to facilitate this, three sessions of formal Religious instruction of the Alive-O Programme take place. Another half-hour is integrated in the areas of Music/Art/SPHE/Assembly during the week and children in classes preparing for the Sacraments receive much more than the specified two and a half hours of instruction during those years.

• Each class has a bible and 6th class pupils in addition have individual copies of St Mark's Gospel given to them during the Enrolment Ceremony for Confirmation
• The responsibility for the distribution and usage of Religious Education Resources is vested in the teacher with the post of responsibility for this area.

SYMBOLS
In order to identify that the school is a Catholic School the following symbols are on display:

• Crucifix in the welcoming area of the school
• Statues of Our Lady and St Vincent De Paul and a crucifix in the Principal's office
• Statue of Our Lady in each classroom
• Statue of St Patrick
• Statue of St Louise De Marillac

SACRED SPACE

• A Sacred Space with candle lighting each day in the welcoming area
• The Sacred Space changes to reflect changes in the Liturgical Calendar and to celebrate significant events in relation to the school's or Trustees' Catholic Ethos.
• Each classroom has a Sacred Space which reflects the creativity of the individual teacher

DOCTRINE
Teachers select from The Questions and Answers to be learned Section of the Alive-O programme depending on the level of ability of the children in their class. The fundamental questions of faith will be addressed in each year.
In the Senior Classes, both versions of the Ten Commandments will be taught over two years as follows:

• In 5th Class - the Modern Format
• In 6th Class - the Old Format

Sacramental Preparation:

• Pupils are prepared for the Sacraments of First Penance and First Holy Communion over a two-year period, in 1st and 2nd Class
• Pupils are prepared for the Sacrament of Confirmation over a two-year period, in 5th and 6th Class
• Sacramental preparation in the school is an ongoing process from Junior Infants to 6th Class, as part of the children's faith journey and is undertaken in partnership with the Home and the Parish
• Parents are helped towards an understanding of the Sacraments by being encouraged to actively participate in the Sacramental preparations with their child eg helping to compile scrapbooks, locating photographs, providing information the children about their Baptism etc
• Meetings with parents are held early in the school year to encourage their partnership with the school and parish and to invite their participation in the ceremonies as follows:

Parents of 2nd class pupils:

• Ceremony of Enrolment, First Penance and First Holy Communion
• Rehearsal prior to the First Holy Communion Ceremony

Parents of 6th Class pupils:

• Ceremony of Enrolment and Service of Light if their child is in 6th Class
• At the end of the Service of Light, parents will receive instruction regarding the Confirmation Ceremony the following week. Parents are kept in touch with their child's preparation by messages, prayers and Mass responses sent home
• Pupils from other schools wishing to receive the Sacraments will be facilitated in St Vincent's GNS. Preparation will be the responsibility of the Parish.

Sacraments of First Penance and First Holy Communion:
Given the low level of active participation of parents and pupils in the practice of their faith, the preparation that takes place in the school is crucial. The Principal plays a key role in guiding both teachers and pupils in their preparation throughout the year and in encouraging parents to take a more active role. To this end-

The Principal:

• Helps the teachers with programme planning
• Instructs the pupils regarding appropriate behaviour in advance of visiting the church
• Gives initial instruction regarding key areas in the church, the language associated with them and their function/meaning:

- Aisle; Altar; Tabernacle; Chalice; Ciborium; Altar Cloths; Cruets; Crucifix; Sanctuary Lamp
- Genuflect, Sign of the Cross
- 'Holy Communion' ( not 'Holy Bread' )
- Body and Blood of Jesus

• Accompanies the Holy Communion classes and their teachers to Mass each Wednesday when available, as part of the pupils' preparation for the Sacraments
• Gives instruction to the pupils regarding significant miracles in the Gospels eg The Wedding Feast (Wine); the Loaves and Fishes (Bread) in order to prepare the children for the concept of the Real Presence in the Mass
• Gives instruction regarding the Last Supper and its connection with the First Mass and their Holy Communion Mass
• Helps the teachers with instruction regarding the Mass responses
• Enlists the help of parents in practising these responses and prayers at home
• Practises distribution and receiving of Communion in the hand or on the tongue if necessary, with the pupils in advance of their Holy Communion Day

Parish:

• Parish links are made through the Parish Team which includes the Parish Priest, the Parish Sister who is a Daughter of Charity of St Vincent de Paul and a Pastoral Worker assigned on a termly basis to the parish. The Parish Team is facilitated in the school to work in preparation for the Sacraments under the guidance of the Parish Priest
• The Parish Priest celebrates Mass and specifically welcomes the children, each Wednesday from October. He introduces them to the congregation and instructs the children as appropriate after Mass
• The Parish community supports them by their presence and by joining them in their responses and singing
• A Family Mass is celebrated at 12noon every Sunday to encourage participation in the practice of the faith
• A version of the Do This in Memory Programme is adapted in the Parish to encourage parents to become involved in their child's sacramental preparation

Parents:

• Parents support their child's preparation by organising a small Sacred Space for their child in her home and by lighting a candle each evening at bed-time and saying a prayer/singing a song from the Alive-O Programme with her
• Parents accompany their child to the ceremonies of Enrolment, First Penance and First Holy Communion and actively participate in them

Emphasis during Preparation:

• The values of truth, justice and honesty are emphasised during the preparation of the pupils for these Sacraments.
• Most importantly, the notion of individual Conscience - God helping us to know the difference between right and wrong will be emphasised to the children

Sacrament of Confirmation:

• The values of truth, justice and honesty, emphasised in preparation for their Holy Communion will have a special emphasis in 6th class as the pupils prepare to take responsibility for their own faith and look outside of themselves and their parish community to the wider world and how they can make a personal contribution to it.
• The idea of Mission will be explored through the Alive-O Programme
• Modern-day examples of people who make a positive difference in the world will be explored

Pupils:

• The pupils will be trusted with appropriate levels of responsibility in their own school and will be asked to make sacrifices to fulfil those responsibilities eg caring for pupils in junior classes at lunchtime under the supervision of the teachers/sacrificing their own playtime to do this
• Fundraising for their school and for a charity of their choice will be part of their preparation for Confirmation
• Pupils will learn about the Gifts/Fruits of the Spirit: recognising them in others and developing them in themselves
• Links will be made with the Sacraments of Baptism/Confirmation
• Pupils will make their own Confirmation Scrapbook to record their journey of faith up to this point
• Choosing their Confirmation name and being aware of the significance of this will be a key stage in their preparation. They will be encouraged to study the lives of the saints as a starting point for this
• Exploring the Gospels as a way of coming to know Jesus will be important
• The Principal will help with instruction in this key area
• Parents will be asked to become involved with their child in the decision-making process regarding the 'Pledge'

Implementation of Religious Education throughout the School Year:

• Religion is usually taught from 12noon - 12 30pm during the day, although this will depend on timetabling in individual classes which may facilitate areas such as Learning Support/Resource Teaching.
• Religious Education and Ethos are integrated in other areas of the Curriculum such as Art, Music, SPHE, History (Ethos of the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul). It is also integrated into monthly prize-giving Assembly which celebrates the achievements of the pupils and staff
• The Catholic/Trustee Ethos is also evident in the welcome extended to visitors to the school, in how everyone is included and in the respect shown for one another and in how the needs of those who are marginalised and those who have Special Educational Needs are met in the school
• Formal prayers are recited at the start and end of the school day, before and after lunch and when the children are assembled in the playground
• Trócaire boxes are distributed during Lent and children are made aware of the needs of children in the Third World
• The annual School Mass is held on 8th December if this is on a school day, for 1st - 6th class pupils. If not, the Mass may be celebrated to coincide with a celebratory occasion for the school - eg Feast of St Vincent de Paul or St Louise de Marillac. Parents are invited to attend.
• The parish chaplain organises Confessions for the pupils once during the school year
• Communiques from the Diocesan Advisors offering retreats to teachers etc are distributed to staff by the Religious Rep on the staff
• Partners in Religious Education: The areas of Home, School, Community and the relationship with the Catholic/Trustees Ethos are outlined in the various activities that seek to involve the partners throughout the year, as follows:

Involvement of the School Community in the Religious Education of the pupils

Home

• Parents invited to monthly Assembly
• Meetings to prepare for the Sacraments
• Prayer Services for Catholic Week
• Input for parents re preparation re Sacraments
• Prayers/Mass responses/words of songs sent home
• Alive O resources sent home
• Parents actively participate in Enrolment Ceremonies - Holy Communion and Confirmation
• Participation in ceremonies related to Sacraments - First Penance, Service of Light

School

• Religious Rep - Special Duties post holder
• Daily Prayers - start/in playground/at lunch/home time
• School Prayer - O Great St Louise
• School Choir - alternate year accompanying Holy Communion/Confirmation Ceremonies
• May Hymns to be sung in the playground
• Teaching of the Alive O Programme in each class
• Songs/prayers/prayer services from the programme
• Sacred Space in classrooms
• Sacred Space in school foyer
• Religious icons in evidence in the school - Mary, St Vincent de Paul, St Patrick, Rosary Beads, crucifix
• School Candle made by the L'arch community each year
• Miraculous medal given to every pupil every year
• Monthly Assembly
• Annual Mass for school year/celebration of feast of Immaculate Conception - 8th Dec
• Liturgical Year followed
• Souvenirs of Holy Communion given to classes - rosary beads/holy picture
• Souvenir of Confirmation - Rosary beads/dove/picture/bible

Community

Catholic /Trustees Ethos

• Support of elderly members of St Agatha's Parish for Holy Communion classes - including participating in singing the hymns
• Children give written invitation to these parishioners to attend their Holy Communion Ceremony and tea afterwards
• Weekly Mass for Holy Communion classes
• Parish Team involvement in Sacramental preparations - Sr Briget and Fr Brian Lawless
• School Prayer - 'O great St Louise' taught to all classes
• Feast Days celebrated with particular relevance to the Daughters of Charity - St Louise de Marillac, St Catherine Labouré, St Vincent de Paul
• Anniversaries of the DCs celebrated - 150th anniversary of the order in Ireland, renewal of vows of DCs
• History of the Daughters of Charity included in the School History Plan
• Welcome extended to all visitors to the school
• Particular attention paid to those who are marginalised or who have special needs

Roles and Responsibilities:
All of the stakeholders in the education of the pupils will take responsibility for implementing the policy and upholding the Catholic Ethos and the Ethos of the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul

Review:
The Policy will be evaluated on an ongoing basis by the Teachers, Principal, Parents and Board of Management and will be reviewed every three years

Ratification and Communication:

A Copy of the Religious Education Policy will be included in the School Plan and a copy sent home to each family in the school.