RELIGION

This is a major influence on school life. A crucial factor about values and religious education is that it goes on all the time and cannot easily be confined to specific time-tabled periods. It is a significant part of the "hidden curriculum." The whole style and atmosphere of the school, the attitudes of the teachers, in and out of the classroom, the nature and understanding of personal relationships, not least the quality of pastoral care, are all influenced by Christian values.

Aims:

To offer the students an understanding of the nature of Religion, a realisation of the importance and influence of religious experiences, beliefs and practices in the lives of believers.

An awareness of the spiritual dimension of life and some understanding of different belief systems.

Religious studies contribute to many areas of human experience, ethical, social, political, spiritual, æsthetic, and are a valid contribution to the student's development and education.

 Two periods a week are devoted to Religious Studies these comprise a classroom lesson and an assembly.

Catholic Religion Teaching Programme

General Information

Rygaards is a Catholic and International school following the principles of The Sisters of the Assumption who founded it. Rygaards welcomes children from all over the world, bringing together their different nationalities, cultures, languages and religious and non-religious preferences or creeds.

At Rygaards religion is a major influence on school life. Religious values are imparted all the time, whether explicitly in the classroom or implicitly by example. These values cannot be confined to specific time-table periods, they are a significant part of the “hidden curriculum”. The whole style and atmosphere of the school, the attitudes of the teachers both in and out of the classrooms, the nature and understanding of personal relationships, and, not least, the quality of pastoral care, are all influenced by Christian values.

The children of non-Catholic Christian traditions and the children of other religious traditions, such as Hindu, Buddhist, Moslem, Jewish, are offered a general ecumenical, moral and ethical instruction.

Catholic children are offered a separate instruction in Catholic doctrine and practice. In doing so the teachers keep in mind the diversity in background, training and cultural differences of the religious instruction in Catholic faith, which the children have received or experienced.

Teaching Program

Year 7: DEEPENING THE FAITH
To lead the students to a deeper realisation that they are part of a Church of Faith-Community, in and through which their relationship with God.
Teaching material:
Text: -The Bible
-Icons I: A Religious Education Program, Collins Educational
-The Catechism of the Catholic Church
Audio-visual.: - Peter & Paul - “Ben Hur”

Year 8: GROWING IN THE FAITH OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
To lead the students to a deeper knowledge of Jesus Christ; and to awaken in them a sense of belonging to and responsibility in the Church.
Teaching material:
Text: -The Bible
-Icons 2: A Religious Education Program, Collins Educational
-The Catechism of the Catholic Church
Audio-visual:

Year 9: TO BELIEVE IS TO LIVE THE GOSPEL
To lead the students to a search of meaning, through faith challenges, and encourage them to respond as disciples of Jesus, who is the way, the truth and Life. Jesus, through his Church, gives them a vision for living and invites them to commit themselves for the coming of the kingdom of God.

Teaching material:
Text: - The Bible
- Icons 3, a Religious Education Programme for 11-14, Collins, June 2000

Audio-visual: Thomas More, Mother Teresa.

Year 10 :HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
To give the students a general picture of the History of the Church. For example, the Church’s development and organisation; the development of doctrine; the important periods of change in the Church (especially Vatican Council II); the Church’s relationship to the other Christian churches and the challenge of ecumenism. Some examples of great people who have live the faith-life of the Church can serve as model and inspiration for the student’s faith-life in today’s modern world.

Teaching material:
Text: - “How to read Church History”, Volume 1 & 2.Jean Comby with Diarmaid Mac Cullouch, SCM Press LTD – 1989 (to order)
- A document of Council Vatican II on the Church: “Lumen Gentium”
Audio-visual: - The Robe (the 1.Christians), Frans of Assisi(13th century), Thomas More (16th century),
Mission (17th century), ” The good pope John XXIII,”” John Paul II” (Vatican Council ).

Year 11: CALLED TO A CATHOLIC COMMITMENT IN THE WORLD TODAY
To lead the students to explore Catholic beliefs and think through some of the big moral issues of the society they live in, and help them to make decisions in accordance with their faith: matters of life and death (contraception, abortion, euthanasia), marriage and family life, roles of men and women, social harmony, commitment through the Christian Vocation.

Teaching material:
Text: - Catholic Christianity, Victor W.Watton, Michael Elson. Hodder & Stoughton,2003.
-The “Catechism of the Catholic Church” (1994)
- Encyclical Letter of John Paul II: Evangelium Vitae” (1995)
Audio-visual: -“Oscar Romero”, “John Paul II”, ”Mother Teresa”.

Non-Catholics:

Students, Christian and those of other faiths, follow a course with the class teacher. There is an assembly every Wednesday either in the chapel or in the assembly hall to which parents are welcome.