Love, Listen and Learn

R.E. TEACHING AT ST. MARY’S (until September 2012)

Mission Statement

St. Mary’s school community follows the teachings of Jesus Christ, working together to develop the whole child, in a spiritual, moral, academic, physical, social and emotional way, within a caring and supportive environment.

At St. Mary’s we use the ‘Here I Am’ programme to deliver the learning opportunities to be offered to pupils as set out in the Curriculum Directory for Catholic Schools.

We use a whole school approach to the topics, the same topic being taught across the whole school, including in the Foundation Stage at the same time, although at different levels. In this way children experience teaching through each topic twice as they progress from Nursery to Year 6. The cycle of topics repeats itself every four years although each basic question <-> belief and theme is visited annually.

Basic Questions <-> Beliefs

Autumn Where did I come Life <-> Creation from? Spring Who am I? Dignity <-> Incarnation Summer Why am I here? Purpose <-> Redemption

Themes

The basic question <-> belief for each term is explored through three kinds of themes. Each theme relates to one of the key dimensions of religious and Christian faith:

 Community of Faith <-> Church  Celebration in Ritual <-> Sacraments  Way of Life <-> Christian Living Love, Listen and Learn

The Community of Faith <-> Church themes are:

Autumn Family <-> Domestic Church Spring Community <-> Local Church Summer World <-> Universal Church

The Celebration in Ritual <-> Sacraments themes are:

Autumn Belonging <-> Baptism / Confirmation Spring Relating <-> Eucharist Summer Inter-Relating <-> Reconciliation

The Way of Life <-> Christian Living themes are:

Autumn Loving <-> Advent / Christmas Spring Giving <-> Lent / Easter Summer Serving <-> Pentecost

The autumn themes consider: I am called into being, given life within a family, where I belong and am loved and learn to love.

The spring themes consider: I discover my dignity in a community by relating through receiving and giving, through mutual self-giving.

The summer themes consider: Through being served and serving I inter- relate with others in the world around me.

Topics

Each theme is explored through four topics. Each topic is developed through five levels:

 Nursery / Reception  Year 1  Year 2  Year 3 / Year 4 Love, Listen and Learn

 Year 5 / Year 6

YEAR A YEAR B YEAR C YEAR D THEME

AUTUMN AUTUMN AUTUMN AUTUMN AUTUMN Myself Beginnings Babies Homes and Family <-> Families Domestic Church Invitations Friends Initiation Signs and Belonging Symbols <-> Baptism / Confirmation Birthdays Preparations Gifts Visitors Loving <-> Advent / Christmas SPRING SPRING SPRING SPRING SPRING Journeys Special Books Celebrations Community People <-> Local Church Communion Meals Memories Thanksgivin Relating <-> g Eucharist

Growing Good and Death / New Self-Giving Giving <-> Evil Life Lent / Easter

SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER Good News Messengers Energy Holidays / Serving <-> / Witnesses Holydays Pentecost

Choices Change Freedom and Building Inter-relating Responsibilit Bridges <-> y Reconciliation Neighbours Treasures Special Places Difference World <-> Universal Church

We are at present following Year D (from September 2011).