During the year the students will engage in several units of work. Class teachers advise parents on which units are being covered at the start of each term. Each class begins the year with a focus on the school's history and our Marian charism. This is used as a basis for developing a class covenant.
A Catholic covenant is a solemn or written promise that is a shared vision and collective understanding of an expectation of appropriate behaviours. It is negotiated and written by the class to ensure all students have a common understanding and ownership. They develop an individual vision of how they will Know, Love and Serve together.
Each unit involves an inquiry approach and draws on the student’s understanding of their own life context, and that of believers through time. The deep learning and ‘big ideas’ are supported by scripture and draw on content from the sub-strands of Beliefs, Sacred Texts, Church and Christian Life.
Focus Areas
The significance of Celebrations in the lives of Jewish believers.
Students consider the ways that faith is celebrated in the lives of believers past and present including the significance of the celebration of Holy days celebrated by Jewish believers which provide opportunities for reflection and celebration of faith.
The Our Father
The Our Father is central to the liturgical and prayer life of the Christian Community. Students explore what this text may have meant for people of first century Palestine. They study the They consider the importance of personal and communal prayer in the spiritual life of believers.
The significance of Eucharist
Students consider how the letters of St Paul to believers in Corinth and the four gospels are the foundations for how believers live today. They also show the importance of the Eucharist for Early Christian communities. They look at the presence and action of God in the central sacrament of the Mass, and in particular, the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Students look at the significance of Eucharist as memorial and sacrifice, and the connection of Eucharist to the Resurrection.
Communion of Saints
Students gain an understanding of communion, and the ways believers are in communion with others. Communion is often used to describe groups of people committed to living a life of faith which unites them to God and that all people can live as saints. They gain an understanding of the meaning of ‘communion of saints’, and how we are all united through all time and place with God, through Jesus.
Life and messages of the prophets
Students explore key messages and understanding of the social, cultural and historical contexts of the Old Testament prophets with the support of biblical tools such as timelines, atlases and commentaries. They gain an understanding of what it means to lead an authentic life of faith and to speak out about injustice and indifference.
Jesus’ new law and the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.
Students make the connections between the messages of the prophets and the way that Jesus chose to live. They make links to the Jewish and Christian understanding of covenant that is central to the role of Jesus and the way in which believers live the law. They examine ways to respond through the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.
Living faith
As the students prepare to leave Our Lady of the Rosary School, they consider how they will continue to nurture their faith. They analyse information from a variety of New Testament texts and investigate how prayer, worship and the action of the Holy spirit supports believers.
Images and titles for Jesus
Students explore what the images and titles of Jesus might mean for believers. Different portraits of Jesus provided by the different gospel and New Testament authors bring rich insights about Jesus for individuals and faith communities.