Religious education is compulsory at each year level at St Dominic's College.
Year 9 Religious Education
The secondary programme begins in Year 9 and covers the following topics around the theme 'Beginnings.'
9A My Story-Your Story
9B The Life and Times of Jesus.
9C The Eucharist and the Church's Year
9D The Church's Story- the beginnings
9E Creation and Co-Creation
9F The Beginnings of the Church in New Zealand 9G Recognising Signs of God
Each of these topics provides opportunities to use the five key competencies of thinking, relating to others, using language, symbols and text, managing self and participating and contributing.
In Year 10 Religious Education
Year 10 Religious education covers the following topics:
1) Discovering Our Identity
- This topic highlights how belonging to family, school, country and Church gives us a unique identity. It looks at the concept of life as a journey with others and the responsibility we have for one another.
2) Journey Stories
- This topic explores our personal and group stories. It explores stories of characters in the Bible, Sarah and Abraham and Moses. It also examines New Testament journey stories eg Paul and Jesus.
3) The Meaning and Significance of the Eucharist
- This topic explores the central importance of the Eucharist in the life of the committed Catholic Christian. Different aspects of the meaning and significance of the Eucharist are considered.
5) The Church’s Story: The Middle Ages
- This topic looks at the development of the Church in the Middle Ages (700-1500 AD). It includes the establishment and significance of monasteries, missionary activity, development of the Papacy, emergence of the split between the East and West, The Crusades and Pilgrimages.
6) Inspiring Men and women
- This topic considers the contribution of some leaders and ‘role models’ in the Jewish Christian tradition. It concentrates on those, past or present, from whom the love of God shines forth in a notable way.
7) Sinfulness and Reconciliation
- This topic involves pupils in an investigation into and reflection upon the importance given to healing and reconciliation in Scripture, in the life of the Church, and in our lives.
8) The Teachings of Jesus
- This topic explores the manner and content of Jesus’ teachings and the implications of his message today.
Year 11 Religious Education
In Year 11 Religious Education the following topics are covered.
1) Understanding the Gospel Story – provides an introduction to how various books of the New Testament came to be written and the main features that they contain.
2) The Spirit at Work in the World – helps you come to an understanding of the nature and wonder of the Holy Spirit.
3) Reverence for Life – studies the value of all life and the importance of human dignity.
4) Conscience, Morality and Values – looks at the importance of having a soundly based system of values as a basis for living and the development of conscience and decision making.
5) The Church’s Story: Reformation and Beyond (1500-1750 AD) - An historical topic looking closely at the development of the Anglican Church. It explores the similarities and differences among Christian Churches today.
Skills:
§ Research§ Creative writing§ Debating§ Informed decision making§ Interpretation of material§ Critical Thinking
As part of Yr 11 R.E and of the Special Character of St Dominic’s College, students will also go to the St Columba Centre for a retreat at the beginning of Term 3.
Year 12 Religious Education
In Year 12 Religious Education the following topics are covered.
1) Commitment and Ministry – students undertake a year long community service placement
2) Loss, Death, Grief and Dying – the study of universal human experiences of loss and death from a Christian perspective.
3) Christian Morality and Moral Development – A study of morality and moral issues in the light of Church teaching.
4) Biblical Studies – A comprehensive study of the bible focussing on the Gospel of Luke.
5) World Religions - An in depth study of the main religions of the world: Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism.
Skills:
§ Research
§ Debating
§ Informed decision making
§ Essay writing
§ Visual and oral learning
§ Critical Thinking
Year 13 Religious Education
In Year 13 Religious Education the following topics are covered.
1) Making Meaning in Today’s World.
2) Sects, Cults and New Religious Movements.
3) Bio-ethics.
4) Jesus the Christ.
5) Worship & Ritual. The study of worship and ritual. Students plan, prepare and lead a liturgy.
Skills:
§ Informed decision-making
§ Research
§ Debating
§ Essay writing
§ Interpretation of material
§ Leading a Liturgy/prayer service
§ Critical Thinking