Religious Education School Policy & Framework for ERST Schools

Oatlands College

Mount Merrion

Co. Dublin

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION School Policy & Framework For ERST Schools

All rights reserved. No part of this policy document may be copied or reproduced or used in any context without the express written consent of the author Noel Collins. To contact the author email noel.collins@oatlands.net or contact the College at 01 2888533.

This document was written for and on behalf of Oatlands College with the specific resources and needs of Oatlands College in mind. A digital copy of this document will feature on the College’s website www.oatlands.net. Hard copies of this document can be requested from the Principal.

SECTION

SUPPORTS FOR RELIGIOUS

SECTION THREE: INCLUDING STUDENTS OF DIFFERENT BELIEFS

Nourishing Students of Different Faiths : Promoting Partnership p. 22

SECTION FOUR: BOARD OF MANAGEMENT RATIFICATION CERT. p. 25

Supports for Religious Education & Policy Development p. 26

PHOTO CREDITS p. 28

Section One: Creating a Living Document

The Religious Education Policy Framework for Oatlands College is a wonderful tribute to the commitment of the broader school community to offer students an education that aims at their integral formation. It is clear that the School, in accordance with the vision of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust, sees religious education as an essential element of that formation. The vision of religious education, articulated by the Framework, is a generous one which, while fully respecting the diversity of religious views to be found within the school community, offers a comprehensive and accurate description of the beliefs and value systems of different religious and philosophical traditions. In that context, it provides a clear presentation of the Catholic faith, which is at the heart of the school’s identity, and offers students the opportunity to see how that faith is realised in liturgy, spirituality and service of the community.

Pope Francis has spoken of the need to realise an educational process aimed at developing a new universal solidarity and a more welcoming society. His aim is that Catholic schools will be places where young men and women will grow in knowledge and wisdom and he is convinced that this will only happen if our schools are places of encounter where dialogue between the different people who constitute a school community helps them to learn from each other and where diversity and difference are seen as enrichening the learning experience. We have to be able to dialogue with the men and women of today …. We are challenged to be people of depth, attentive to what is happening around us and spiritually alert. To dialogue means to believe that the ‘other’ has something worthwhile to say, and to entertain his or her point of view and perspective.

I would like to congratulate the School, in general, for developing a coherent policy for religious education and my former student Noel Collins, in particular, for producing this document. It remains, by its own admission, a living document and I wish every blessing on the staff, students, management and parents as you work together to grow in wisdom and understanding.

Mgr. Paul Tighe Vatican Secretary, Dicastery for Culture and Education

Noel J. Collins

About the Teacher & Author

Noel has been teaching Religious Education and Music in Oatlands since 2005. He holds a Bachelor of Religious Education Degree (hons) in addition to a Masters Degree in Religious Education (hons) with separate qualifications in Music. Throughout his tenure in Oatlands, he has overseen the successful introduction of RE as an exam subject at Leaving Cert. level in addition to the introduction of Music at Junior & Senior Cycle.

Noel also holds the position of Assistant Principal in Oatlands College with responsibilities for Public Relations and Photography.

Noel has written extensively in the area of Religious Education and Religious Ethos with publications in many journals and books. His article featured in the book, “Catholic Schools: Faith in Our Future” on behalf of the Association of Management of Catholic Schools edited by Maedhbh Uí Chiagáin.

Moreover, outside of his teaching duties in Oatlands, Noel remains deeply rooted and committed to helping in his local community. Every week, he leads a sixty strong Community Choir as the Musical Director in North Clondalkin for children and adults in addition to regularly playing liturgical music in his local Parish.

Noel plays piano and is currently completing his Grade 8 violin grade under the tutelage of violist Eileen Prendeville.

Religious Education is a core compulsory subject in Oatlands College. Moreover, the subject holds a central place, both within and outside the classroom. As an ERST School, we acknowledge that we have been handed down the flame of faith and that it is our duty as custodians of this faith, to kindle this flame in the lives of our students.1 While being a distinctively Catholic school as reflected in the school’s ethos, we aim to ensure that all faiths are respected in addition to respecting students who identify as agnostic or atheist in their worldview. This RE policy is not confined to the RE classroom, but rather, is intended to permeate the whole school community.

As teachers working in Oatlands College, we have a shared responsibility to support and safeguard the ethos of the school especially in relation to the cross-curricular nature of Religious Education.

The task of the RE department is to fully implement the aims and objectives of the RE policy and to review the policy on an annual basis so as to ensure a high standard and effective delivery of Religious Education in Oatlands College. It is the role of the Class Teacher, Tutors, Guidance Counsellor, Year Heads and Senior Management to facilitate the implementation of the RE policy in conjunction with the entire school community. Parents/Guardians can also support the RE programme in the school by facilitating the faith formation of their children and supporting the liturgical services and events held by the School throughout the academic year.

Students are also encouraged to support the RE policy by being inclusive, tolerant and respectful of other faiths in addition to promoting a spirit of openness, in that, one of the best learning encounters can arise from meeting students from other faith traditions. Students will also be given ample opportunity to discover the riches inherent in the Catholic faith through the delivery of the curriculum in addition to the extra curriculum activities in the form of retreats and liturgical services that reflect the distinctive Catholic character and identity of the school.

1 ERST Edmund Rice Schools Trust was launched in 2008 and inherited 206 years of Edmund Rice education. The Trust was established to take responsibility for schools which were under the umbrella of the Christian Brothers trusteeship. Further information can be found at: https:// www.erst.ie/who-we-are/our-history/

School Mission Statement

Oatlands College is an ERST school community composed of students, teachers, parents and management.2 This means that Oatlands is part of a larger family of schools that are deeply rooted in the teachings of Jesus and Blessed Edmund Rice. The central purpose of our school community is the religious, moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic and social education of the students. Inspired by the vision of Edmund Rice, the school seeks to create an atmosphere of Christian care and concern in which students can grow to maturity. At Oatlands, we tirelessly strive to nurture the spirituality of both staff and students by promoting Gospel values.

ERST Charter: A Spiritual GPS for all ERST Schools

All schools need support and advice in terms of what direction to take along their educational journey. The ERST Charter provides five key compass points that function as a spiritual GPS. This prevents the ERST school from becoming adrift from its founding Christian principles and keeps the school anchored to the ERST supportive network.

All ERST schools are governed by five key principles that help shape and support the ethos of Catholic schools under its guidance. Each school has autonomy as to how these guiding principles are applied in the day-to-day running of the school. The five key principles are as follows:

The five key elements of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust Charter are:

• Nurturing faith, Christian spirituality and Gospel-based values

• Promoting partnership

• Excelling in teaching and learning

• Creating a caring school community

• Inspiring transformational leadership.

The purpose of this policy document is to demonstrate how the above five principles are realised and integrated in Oatlands College.

2. Read about the story of Edmund Rice by clicking on the following link: https://www.erst.ie/ethos/the-story-ofedmund-rice/

The School Crest: An Emblem of Faith, Growth & Sacrifice

All students are required to wear the school crest in keeping with our uniform policy. The crest is found in three distinct places in the uniform: school jumper, school tie and on the school jacket. The crest also features prominently throughout the school building, on examinations, official school photos and on the school website. The school crest is a religious Christian symbol and encapsulates important values that are unique to Oatlands College.

There are three key values the crest exemplifies: faith, growth and sacrifice. A close examination of the crest reveals two important Greek letters (Alpha and Omega) written in large print inside an open book. This symbolises Christ at the beginning and end of all learning in Oatlands. Moreover, the book is deliberately depicted in Gold which represents heaven and holiness. Gold was and continues to be used prolifically in religiously iconography and emblems to highlight an object that is precious; our school crest is no exception. It’s no accident that the founding fathers of Oatlands (the Christian Brother at the time) depicted an open book in Gold. Learning is the most precious activity. The golden open book represents both our faith in God and our faith in the pursuit of learning.

The colour green surrounds the open book. Green is associated with nature and growth and is symbolic of the physical, academic, emotional, moral and spiritual growth of students during their time in Oatlands College. As a Christian Community, growth can be witnessed in many different areas of College life, from the lifelong friendships that can emerge between students to the professional working relationships between members of staff and management.

Finally, the cardinal red on the top part of the crest symbolises sacrifice. Teachers, parents and students sacrifice their time and energy in the pursuit of learning. Whether it’s the sacrifice students make on the football field or within the classroom, it is this sense of sacrifice that can be described as the crowning glory of what it means to be part of the Oatlands College Community. It is only in giving that we receive and this is an important Christian principle that was espoused by St. Francis of Assisi in his famous prayer, “Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace”.3

Overall, the school crest is a visual representation of our mission statement. A mission that can be best summarised as a school of Faith, Growth and Sacrifice.

3. To access St. Francis’ Payer click on the following link: https://www.archspm.org/faith-and-discipleship/prayer/catholic-prayers/ st-francis-of-assisi-make-me-an-instrument-of-your-peace/… For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

Rationale

As an Edmund Rice school we are committed to the importance of formal religious and moral education. Conscious of the fact that there is a growing moral vacuum in our society with an increase in secularisation, we fervently commit ourselves to responding to this challenge through moral education. Inspired by the motto adopted by Edmund, “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away” (Job 1:21) we continue to follow in the footsteps of our founder by caring for the poor and underprivileged.

It is our hope and privilege to harness the religious development of our students and to provide opportunities for students to encounter God. We strive to be faithful to the founding intention of Edmund Rice and the implications of what it means to be a Catholic school in this Edmund Rice tradition in third millennium Ireland.

Aims of Religious Education

The aims of Religious Education are multifaceted. At Oatlands College we endeavour to develop the spiritual, moral and religious lives of all students, through an authentic encounter with their Catholic faith and exposure to other faith traditions, belief systems and worldviews some of which exclude any belief in God. We aim to achieve this through a systematic exploration and study of such faiths and worldviews. It is for this reason, that all students study Religious Education regardless of their beliefs or particular worldview.

At Oatlands, we aim to develop an awareness of the poor and marginalised in our society with the view to promoting justice especially climate justice. Religious Education can also be an important opportunity for students to cultivate and deepen their respect and appreciation for the environment. Pope Francis has been instrumental in raising our awareness of the damage being caused to our environment. In this second encyclical, entitled “Laudato Si” Pope Francis draws attention to the environmental degradation and calls all people of the world to take “swift and unified global action.” Religious Education has the capacity to heighten awareness, empathy and compassion for local and global issues.

Section Two: Supports for Religious Education

Staffing and Subject Allocation: Excelling in Teaching & Learning

There is a dedicated team of fully qualified RE teachers within Oatlands College. The RE Coordinator rotates annually. The responsibilities of the RE Co-ordinator pertains to leading the Dept. by ensuring Subject Dept. Meetings are held regularly and minutes of these meetings are recorded and stored appropriately. Moreover, a further responsibility of the Co-ordinator is to ensure all relevant mail and inservice notices and materials are communicated to other members of the faculty. The RE Co-ordinator is an important point of contact between staff members.

All Junior Students receive three 40 minute periods of Religious Education per week in line with Dept. Of Education recommendations. These three classes are dispersed over the week to optimise teaching and learning.

TY students receive two 40 minute periods per week of class contact time in addition to participating in an holistic TY programme that complements and supports the Religious Ethos of the School. For example, TY students regularly visit different places of worship associated with major faiths such as the Sikh Temple. Furthermore, TY students are involved in the liturgical life of the College by participating in school Masses, Catholic Schools Week, Edmund Rice Feast Day to name but a few. TY students are afforded a taste of what exam RE is like, in that, teachers will devote a number of weeks towards covering a selection of topics from the Exam Syllabus which assists students in making an informed decision prior to completing their subject option form for next year.

All Senior Fifth and Sixth year students receive three 40mins periods of RE per week and students who take the option to study RE as a Leaving Cert. Exam subject receive four periods of RE per week.

Subject Time Allocation for Religious Education in Oatlands College

Subject Time Allocation for Religious Education

Faith formation cannot be examined but simply encouraged. Knowledge, Understanding, Skills and Attitudes (KUSA Model) are the main areas that are examined in Religious Education. This means that students may explain a religious point of view without being required to identify their own personal faith position or worldview. Faith is not tested in Oatlands College under any circumstances.

There are a number of different approaches to assessment and examinations depending on the year group. Assessments occur on a regular basis and can take the form of a verbal assessment at the end of class or a more formal written assessment after a body of work has been completed. All Junior Cert. students complete a common level paper in line with the new JCRE specifications. There is regular assessment of students throughout the year in terms of midterm, Christmas, Easter and Summer Exams. This is in addition to regular homework tasks. The are two CBA projects that all Junior Cycle students are required to complete which forms part of their ongoing assessment.

For Third and Sixth Years, there are Mock Exams, which usually take place in early February. Mock exams provide students with a practice run of the official State Exams. Furthermore these exams are corrected by independent examiners affording students an objective assessment of their progress to date. Conversely, it is not within the scope of this policy to advocate formal term exams for non-exam students, however, studenst in this instance will be afforded assignment or project work to complete and receive a final grade based on this assessment and overall participation. This grade will appear in the student’s official school report which provides teachers with an opportunity opportunity to communicate with parents in relation to any other academic or behavioural issues that may arise.

There are a number of different procedures to support record keeping and to enhance regular communication between teachers, students and parents. As a first point of contact, the School Journal is utilised for any important notes such as recording homework or minor breaches of the discipline code. In Oatlands, we also assign Class Tutors to each Class group which

provides an additional layer of communication between Teachers, Students and Parents. The Class

Tutor has an important pastoral role in terms of helping to identify any issues that may be impeding the progress of the student. The Guidance Counsellor (Ms. Clodagh McDonagh) regularly works with students who may be identified as vulnerable in addition to providing Career Guidance advice and expertise. Ms. McDonagh offers one-to-one Counselling services to students, some of whom may be referred to outside agencies for additional support. However, one of the most important roles of the Guidance Counsellor is to provide an important point of contact between the school and the parents.

Record Keeping: Vsware

All teachers record class test results and assessments in their teacher’s planners and on Vsware which is the software that is used to monitor attendance and academic progress. Oatlands introduced the Vsware system in 2010 which has proved instrumental in terms of student registration, tracking attendance, school grade/comment reporting and providing a referral system. The Vsware system provides important information for students with special educational needs. This enables teachers to respond to these needs accordingly.

Student ipads: Apple Classroom and Microsoft Teams

As an iPad school, all our junior students use their iPads as an important tool to help aid their learning. In Oatlands, teachers regularly use Microsoft Teams with students which can greatly enhance the learning experience of students. Microsoft Teams can also be used as a remote teaching and learning platform in the event of any unforeseen school closures with the capacity to hold virtual lessons. This proved instrumental during the pandemic in terms of maintaining teacher/student contact time. Students have the option to upload their homework and project work to Microsoft Teams for correction. The iPads have reduced the amount of books students need to carry and store in their lockers. For example, traditionally students were required to purchase The New Jerusalem Bible (pocket edition). However, with the arrival of the iPads, students are now able to use BibleGateway, a free and digital edition to Bible which supports their learning.

An important skill for Junior students is to be able to look up Bible references accurately. The iPads provide unique interactive learning experiences especially in relation to topics such as sacred places, in that, students can view interactive 3D models of many sacred places. This provides students with an immersive interactive experience.

The Apple Classroom provides a regulatory framework whereby teachers can monitor the activity

Retreats/Pilgrimages:

Nurturing Faith, Christian Spirituality and Gospel based Values

Retreats and Pilgrimages hold a central place in Oatlands as they provide students with the opportunity to develop their faith in a supportive environment. In the past, students have participated in day retreats in the Emmaus Centre in Swords in addition to Benildus Pastoral Centre. More recently, however, senior students were offered the opportunity to visit Glendalough for a day retreat. Last April (2022), over sixty senior students from different class groups participated in the Glendalough retreat which contained a mixture of various activities from a guided tour around the historical ruins of Glendalough to watching an informative short documentary in the auditorium. More importantly, students were afforded free time for reflection while being immersed in nature.

In May 2023, with the support of the Principal & Deputy Principal and the Board of Management, students will be afforded the opportunity to visit Taizé as part of a pilgrimage specifically for senior students. This pilgrimage to Taizé reinforces the mission statement of Oatlands in terms of nurturing the spirituality of students by providing opportunities for students to deepen their faith. This pilgrimage will support the promotion of Gospel values as stipulated in the ERST Charter.4

4 There are five key elements of the ERST Charter. The first element is Nurturing faith, Christian spirituality and Gospel-based values. For further information click on the following link: https://www.erst.ie/ethos/erst-charter-elements/

Chaplain Provision: Mount Merrion Parish

Oatlands College is fortunate to have access to a Chaplain provision directly beside the school in Mount Merrion Parish. Fr. Joe Mullan from the local Church of St. Thérèse, Mount Merrion regularly provides liturgical services and the Celebration of the Eucharist at key times moments throughout the liturgical and School year. The Sacrament of the Eucharist is attended by all students and is the norm within Oatlands especially at the beginning of the Year (Sept), at Christmas (Dec) and for the End of Year Mass in May in addition to the 6th Year Graduation Service. Fr. Joe is also available to visit classes, for confession and the celebration of the Sacraments. However, a request needs to be made to Mount Merrion Parish should any student or parent require the individual services of our local School Chaplain, Fr. Joe. Oatlands is grateful to Fr. Joe for his commitment to Oatlands College over the years, especially to providing energetic and engaging services for our students and staff alike.

All students are afforded advance notice of any Celebration of the Eucharist involving all students. Every student is encouraged to attend a School Mass or Liturgical Service involving the whole school for several reasons. Firstly, participating in liturgies are an important opportunity for learning. Secondly, liturgies provide an important moment for all students to come together as a community. Thirdly, the school liturgies provide an opportunity for our Principal to speak with all students as a school community. However, if a parent/guardian wants their son to be withdrawn from any specific school liturgical event, then this request should be made in writing to the Principal in advance for the purposes of reaching an alternative arrangement. Click on the following link to access more information about Mount Merrion Parish: https:// www.mountmerrionparish.ie/

There is a Christmas Crib on display in the main reception area every year in keeping with our Celebration of the Christmas Season. Furthermore, students annually create and sell their own Christmas cards for charity which supports our ethos as a Catholic School.

Prayer Room

At Oatlands there is a beautiful contemporary Prayer Room which was designed by Fergus Costello following the successful application of Funding by Mr. Collins in 2007. It is a warm inviting space with a deep pile carpet and features Religious Symbols representative of all major faiths in addition to a tabernacle for the Blessed Sacrament. Moreover, the Religious Symbols that feature in the prayer room were painted by former members of the student Council. The prayer room is used for meditation and liturgies for all students.

A Sacred Space for All Students

Section Three: Including Students of Different Beliefs

Nourishing Students of Different Faiths: Promoting Partnership

All students in Oatlands, regardless of their religious background or absence of such, are treated equally and are encouraged to treat each other equally and with the utmost respect. To be a Catholic school is to be a welcoming school to all faiths in addition to students of no faith. Catholic Schools have become increasingly diverse in terms of the student population. In the past, Ireland was viewed a homogenous society with the vast majority of the population identifying as Catholic. However, the past two decades have seen a seismic shift in terms of a movement towards a more pluralistic and diverse Ireland. When it comes to teaching Religious Education, students of different beliefs and worldviews are a great asset in the RE classroom, as they can provide a level of experience and insight that can often be lacking from the textbook. Furthermore, this supports peer learning, whereby students are afforded the opportunity to learn from each other. It is for this reason, that a more diverse school has the capacity to provide students with a richer educational experience.

The changing face of Catholic Schools has reflected this rapid change. No longer are Catholic Schools exclusively for Catholics, but rather, they are schools for all students. While being welcoming and inclusive of other faiths and none, as a school we continue to provide opportunities for faith development especially for students raised in the Catholic Faith.

At Oatlands, we are proud to be a Catholic School, not merely in name, but rather in practice. The liturgical year is punctuated throughout the year which affords students the opportunity to celebrate key feast days. Students are regularly involved in creating and displaying iconography related to feast days important to the Catholic Church and other faith traditions.

All students in Oatlands participate in Religious Education as stipulated in our Admission’s policy at this supports the Religious Ethos of the school. Furthermore, it should be noted from the outset that every school has limited resources in terms of supervision and it may not be possible to supervise a student outside of the RE classroom should this request be made. Moreover, at Oatlands we encourage all students to study Religious Education and remain in the RE classroom so that resources can be streamlined to best support the educational needs of our students.

Ecumenism and Interfaith Dialogue

For many years, Oatlands has invited leaders from all the major faiths to speak to our students and staff as part of promoting ecumenism and interfaith dialogue. To date, we have held a number of important interfaith forums for our students which took place over an entire day. After each faith leader delivered a short presentation, students participated in group work whereby they were afforded the opportunity to focus on key questions they identified from the earlier presentation. Dialogue was encouraged between students in reference to topics related to each faith. Moreover, students were also afforded the opportunity to touch upon some controversial topics such as the Israeli and Palestinians conflict as some were eager to compare and contrast the Jewish view versus the Muslim view on the issue.

Fortunately, one of our past pupils is heavily involved in the Dublin City Interfaith Forum which was vital in helping to facilitate these interfaith workshops. The feedback from the workshops from students and staff alike was very positive. See https://www.dcif.ie/ for further information.

Conclusion

To be Catholic is to be ecumenical and inclusive. Religion can be used as a tool to build and bring people together or as a weapon to harm and destroy. This was true at the time of Jesus and it remains true to this day. Jesus commanded his followers to “Love one another as I have loved you” (Jn 13:34-35). Moreover, Jesus’ ministry was heavily focused on reaching out to the poor and those on the margins in society. One of the reasons Jesus was crucified is because He was mixing with sinners and outcasts such as Tax Collectors and Prostitutes, urging His followers not to limit their compassion in favour of tribal interests.

As a Catholic school, we continue to be challenged to be faithful to the teachings of Jesus by following in His footsteps by reaching out to those on the margins of our society whether it is those living in Direct Provision, the homeless or immigrants “Whatever you do, to the least of my people, that you do unto me” (Mt 25:40). Ultimately, a school that attempts to reach out beyond the physical boundary of its gates for the benefit of others, is one that can stay faithful to Gospel values. The Catholic School can be a place of encounter, inclusion and a centre for the promotion of justice within society and the wider world. In a world of growing misinformation and fake news, the Catholic School can be a place of truth and a builder of truth. “I am the way, the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6).

Section Four: Board of Management Ratification Certificate

RATIFICATION CERTIFICATE

Oatlands College

R eligious E ducation P olicy

Ratified by the Board of Management on:

Date:

Signature:

(Chairperson of the Board of Management)

Policy Commencement Date

February 2023

Date of last Review

January 2020

Next Review Date

January 2024

Oatlands College

Mount Merrion Co. Dublin

A94 HX38

Supports for Religious Education and Policy Development

https://www.erst.ie/ An invaluable website to support all schools in the ERST network.

To access JCT Supports, click on the following link: https://www.jct.ie/religious_education/religious_education

Guidelines on the Inclusion of Students of Different Beliefs in Catholic Secondary Schools (Second Edition)

https://www.jmb.ie/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=bvfg2Cvau3s=&portalid=0&resourceView=1

Dublin Diocesan Advisor Resources. http://education.dublindiocese.ie/post-primary/

Junior Cycle Religious Education in the Catholic School: Council for Catechetics of the Episcopal Conference

https://www.religiouseducation.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/JC-Religious-Ed-CatSchool_WEB.pdf

An invaluable resource for Faith Formation in Catholic Schools. https://www.catholicbishops.ie/tag/catechetics/

The Identity of the Catholic School for a Culture of Dialogue

https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccatheduc/documents/ rc_con_ccatheduc_doc_20220125_istruzione-identita-scuola-cattolica_en.html

To access the Leaving Certificate Religious Education Syllabus, click on the following link: https://www.curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/55900bde-5836-4eef-b94c-d569b31d5b70/ SCSEC29_Religious_Ed_syllabus_eng.pdf

Guidelines for Leaving Certificate Religious Education:

https://www.curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/b6ac1c7b-1b7c-418a-abe2-438741449401/ SCSEC29_Religious_Ed_guidelines_Eng.pdf

Contains lesson resources on each section of the LCRE course: https://pdst.ie/sc/religiouseducation

Guidance on retreats and supports on choosing a textbook for Junior Cert. RE can be found at: https://religiouseducation.ie/category/post-primary-school/

Teaching resources to support the Junior & Senior Cycle Religious Education class Teacher: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z7hs34j

Taizé is an ecumenical community and an important place of pilgrimage for young people. The attached Taizé website contains Bible reflections and music that can be used in the RE classroom. There are also useful templates for Taizé style prayer services that can be used in school.

https://www.taize.fr/en

To access resources for senior non-exam RE class. There are seven modules for teachers available. https://www.catholicschools.ie/crediblecatholic/

Photo Credits

Front of School Cover photo by Noel Collins

Stain Glass Window Design Robert Atkinson

Section One: Creating a Living Document photo by Joshua Earle

Violin Profile photo by Noel Collins

Section Two Senses photo by Wes Hicks

Crest page number concept design by Robert Atkinson

iPad photo by Roberto Nickson

Forest photo by Susan Schuster

Glendalough photo by Noel Collins

Mount Merrion Church photo by Robert Atkinson

Prayer Room - three individual photos by Noel Collins

Prayer Room background photo by Brennan Martinez

Section Three photo by Dev Benjamin

Section Four photo by Theodor Vasile

BOM Ratification Cert by Noel Collins