Religious Education Curriculum

Godly Play

To help children understand Scripture better we often use a variation of ‘Godly Play’

to tell Scripture stories. This involves using figures and basic props to retell Scripture. We pause at key points through the Scripture to consider who is speaking, how they might be feeling, who isn’t heard and where we would see ourselves if we could be present in the story. Children are then encouraged to use the figures at a later time to retell the story for themselves. This method of bringing Scripture to life could be done in the home very simply as well. Peg or plain wooden figures can be used to represent key characters in each piece of Scripture.

Some more elaborate retellings have been recorded and may be helpful if you are looking for a way to help your children understand the Bible stories better.

https://www.pinterest.com.au/ccombsbaker/godly-play-videos/

School Theme

The students at St Michael’s are continuing to unpack our theme this term ‘Be still and Live in Harmony’. The students have been reflecting on what Harmony means. These were some of their answers.

• Harmony means people are living peacefully together.
• It means they are not arguing or fighting.
• Harmony means if you see a lonely person on the playground you ask them to join in your games.
• Harmony is like a rainbow where each colour adds to the overall effect just like all the people at St Michael’s add to our community, contributing to make our school a happy and calm place of learning.

Religious Life of the School

Shrove Tuesday

As a school we celebrate the Feast of Shrove Tuesday with feasting on pancakes before the ritual fasting and penance associated with Lent. Thank you to Judy Egan for preparing the delicious warm pancakes for staff to share. We really enjoyed these tempting treats!

Ash Wednesday & Lent

Today is Ash Wednesday the first day of Lent. As a

school community we celebrated Mass and we received a sprinkling of Ash to the head to mark the remembrance of the dust in which God made us. ‘Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return’. The season of Lent is one of reflection, of fasting, of prayer. The ashes symbolise that we have sinned and must ask for forgiveness ‘Repent and believe in the Gospels’. We thank Miss Frogley and 5/6F for preparing this Mass for us.

Retreat Day

The Eucharist retreat day will be held on Friday 19^th February. Lunch will be provided and students are to wear a free choice of clothes. During the retreat the students will have the opportunity to participate in prayer, reflect on scripture and listen to Fr Loi and ask questions about the sacrament of Eucharist. They will creatively respond to what they have learnt through art and by making bread. The students will practise in the Church the rituals carried out when receiving Eucharist. We are really looking forward to this special preparation day.

Bridgette McCann Acting REC