Queen of Peace is a large school where the staff endeavour to generate a strong sense of community and provide a high quality, catholic education for the students.
Religious Education Overview
At Queen of Peace we value and provide many opportunities to come together and celebrate our faith through liturgy and prayer. Celebrations such as Sacraments, Grandparents Day, feast days, month of Mary, Holy Week and school Masses are regular occurrences. We acknowledge the strong presence of prayer in our community, both in the school and Parish. This is experienced by the staff, children and parents through Meditation, Classroom Prayer, Whole School Morning Prayer, Storytelling, Song, Prayer Nights and Traditional Prayers.
Mass is celebrated regularly which students attend on a rotational basis.
The Sacramental Program is both school and Parish based, with the R.E.C’s from each school, the Pastoral Associate, a Representative from the Christian Brothers Society, and the Parish Sacrament Program Coordinator working together to continually develop a program that addresses the needs of our student and parent community.
The school conducts Parent Faith Development Seminars to complement Sacrament Information Evenings.
Faith Life Inquiry
As a Catholic school, our focus is on the faith development of our children and ensuring religion and the Gospel values are integrated into the curriculum and teaching of all learning areas. At Queen of Peace eight Faith Life Inquiry units of work are delivered across the school over a two year cycle. These units of work bring together the learning we do of our religion and faith, with the learning we do of the world. Scripture and the stories of the faith tradition are key elements of these Faith Life units. The Religious Education Curriculum Framework is used to support the teachers when planning the Faith Life units of work. Each unit has a scripture focus that all children in the school engage with, explore and relate to their own lives and the world. To support the children to make meaning of the scripture focus each unit has a related image. The children are invited to reflect on the image and make connections with the scripture and the world we live in. In dialogue with each other the children share their ideas and thoughts, listen to others and learn from others’ ideas and contributions.
Overview of 2 Year Curriculum Cycle
Year A
Responsibility and Service
The children build their knowledge and understanding of the ways in which they can actively participate in Australia’s diverse and inclusive society. They investigate Australia’s democratic heritage, its political and legal institutions and the shared values of freedom, tolerance, respect, responsibility and inclusion. The children explore ways in which they can participate in Australia’s civic life and make a positive contribution as local and global citizens.
Belonging
The children explore how being part of a group can provide a sense of belonging and help shape their identity. The children explore how their Identity is unique, flexible and ever changing, and influenced by culture, community and the world we live in. The children explore their own story and the stories of other people, past and present, leading to an appreciation of Australia’s unique identity.
Change
The children explore natural systems and phenomena using scientific language and processes to investigate the world in which they live. They develop an understanding of how things in the environment interact, adapt and change. The children are engaged in understanding that all life is connected through systems, and changes to its balance can have an affect on the interrelationships that exist.
Innovation
The children explore past and present innovations to identify needs and purposes for change. They develop understandings of how to be autonomous and creative problem finders and problem solvers. The children develop knowledge and confidence to critically analyse and respond creatively to design challenges; they investigate, manage and manipulate a range of materials and tools when producing innovative products.
Year B
Wellbeing
The children explore the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of health. They develop an understanding of the importance of living a safe, healthy and active life and how a healthy lifestyle is developed and maintained. The children consider and reflect upon how health and wellbeing are related to an individual’s relationships, choices, values, beliefs and behaviours.
Discovery
The children develop their understanding that through scientific discoveries people solve problems and meet challenges. These discoveries impact on the way people live. The children develop an understanding of the nature of scientific inquiry and the ability to use a range of scientific inquiry methods including; questioning, planning and conducting experiments, collecting and analysing data, evaluating results and drawing evidence-based conclusions.
Places
The children develop their understanding of the places that make up our world and the relationships between people and their environments. They develop an understanding of how places can have an impact on people. The children investigate the local area, region, country and the wider world, and explore how these places interact with each other. The children explore the concepts of; place, space, interconnection, scale and change.
Decision Making
The children explore the ways people and groups make economic decisions. They build their understanding of the process of economic decision making at the personal, local, national, regional and global levels, exploring the effects of these decisions on themselves and others, now and in the future. The children develop the knowledge and skills that inform and encourage them to participate in, and contribute to, the economy.
Sustainability
Throughout all units the children develop an awareness of environmental issues at the local, national and global levels and the importance of becoming proactive citizens. The children are given opportunities to investigate and reflect upon the state of local and global environments and to identify environmental issues. They explore solutions and actions in response to these issues. The children are encouraged to care and accept individual and collective responsibility for the sustainability of environments.
Prayer
At Queen of Peace, prayer is an important part of school life. Opportunities are provided for our school community; students, parents and teachers, to come together to pray and celebrate our faith. Children engage in daily prayers and each Friday a year level attends the parish masses at the church. This strengthens the relationship between the parish and school. We celebrate special feast days and important events by attending whole school masses. Prayer tables and school candles are in every classroom which gives children a focus point when participating in prayer time.
Sacraments
Sacraments are an important milestone for the children at Queen of Peace.
The Sacramental Program is both school and Parish based, with the Religious Leaders from each parish school, the Pastoral Associate, a Representative from the Christian Brothers Society, and the Parish Sacrament Program Coordinator working together to continually develop a program that addresses the needs of our student and parent community.
All families participate in a Family Night as part of the child’s preparation.
Teachers and parents collaboratively prepare the children for the Sacraments.
- The Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation) is celebrated in Year 3
- The Sacrament of Eucharist (First Holy Communion) is celebrated in Year 4
- The Sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated in Year 6