Religious Education

All students are required to undertake either the NESA, Studies of Religion I (1 unit) or Studies of Religion II (2 unit) course in Years 11 and 12. There is also incorporated into this study an Ignatian course in spiritual formation. This is an application of the skills of Ignatian reflection, discernment and action in the areas of Social Justice and Leadership. The aim of this component is to enable students to respond to the realities of our contemporary world and to the Loreto Normanhurst community as young women formed in the Loreto Tradition and as members of the wider Catholic Church. The Ignatian component is not part of the formal assessment program. In Year 11 students are also given the opportunity to undertake a course in Ministry to prepare them as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.

Aboriginal Studies

HOD Ms Jacinta Wells (Acting) Course No 11000

2 units for each of Year 11 and HSC NESA Developed Course

Exclusions: Nil

Course Description

The Year 11 course aims to establish an historical body of knowledge from precontact times to the 1960s as a background for the HSC course. While references will need to be made to contemporary issues (post- 1960s), any in-depth study of these issues must only be undertaken in the HSC course.

The HSC course aims to provide an in-depth knowledge of legislation, policy, judicial processes and current events from the 1960s. In the HSC course a variety of national Australian Indigenous communities and international Indigenous communities may be studied. In both the Year 11 and HSC course, students and teachers will undertake consultation with the local Aboriginal community/ies. To identify the local Aboriginal community/ies, consideration should be given to:

• the original people who occupy/occupied the area

• the Aboriginal people who are members of the local community/ies

• Aboriginal students at the school and their families

• the Aboriginal organisations which are present in your local area.

Year 11 Course

The course has four parts:

• Part I: Aboriginality and the Land (20% of Indicative Course Time)

• Part II: Heritage and Identity (30% of Indicative Course Time)

• Part III: International Indigenous Community (Comparative Study 25%)

• Part IV: Research and Inquiry Methods: Local Community Case Study – 25% - It is intended that the teaching of the skills in Part IV is integrated throughout Parts I–III in the Year 11 course, possibly through a class mini-project.

HSC Course

The course has three parts:

• Part I: Social Justice and Human Rights Issues (50% of Indicative Course Time). The focus of Part I is the examination of the social justice and human rights issues from a global perspective, including a comparative investigation of TWO of the following topics: Employment, health, criminal/justice education, housing, economic independence.

• Part II: Aboriginality and the Land OR Heritage and Identity (20% of Indicative Course Time)

• Part III: Research and Inquiry Methods – Major Project (30% of Indicative Course Time). The Major Project is to be a topic of the student’s own choice, negotiated with their teacher and Aboriginal community members, and should be related to the course.

Studies Of Religion I

HOD Ms Jacinta Wells (Acting) Course No 15370

1 unit for each of Year 11 and HSC NESA Developed Course

Exclusions: SOR II (Studies of Religion II)

Course Description

Studies of Religion I promotes an understanding and critical awareness of the nature and significance of religion and the influence of belief systems and religious traditions on individuals and within society.

Year 11 Course

Nature of Religion and Beliefs

The nature of religion and beliefs. This includes the Study of Australian Aboriginal beliefs and spiritualities as a distinctive response to the human search for meaning in life.

Two Religious Traditions Studies from: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism

• Origins

• Principal beliefs

• Sacred texts and writings

• Core ethical teachings

• Personal devotion/expression of faith/ observance.

HSC Course

Religion and Belief Systems in Australia post-1945

Religious expression in Australia’s multi-cultural and multi-faith society since 1945, including an appreciation of Aboriginal spiritualities and their contribution to an understanding of religious beliefs and religious expression in Australia today.

Two Religious Tradition Depth Studies from: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism

• Significant people and ideas

• Ethical teachings in the religious tradition about bioethics or environmental ethics or sexual ethics

• Significant practices in the life of adherents.

Studies Of Religion Ii

HOD Ms Jacinta Wells (Acting) Course No 15380

2 units for each of Year 11 and HSC NESA Developed Course

Exclusions: SOR I (Studies of Religion I)

Course Description

Studies of Religion II promotes an understanding and critical awareness of the nature and significance of religion and the influence of belief systems and religious traditions on individuals and within society.

Year 11 Course

Nature of Religion and Beliefs

The nature of religion and beliefs. This includes a study of Australian Aboriginal beliefs and spiritualities as a distinctive response to the human search for meaning in life.

Three Religious Traditions Studies from: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism

• Origins

• Principal beliefs

• Sacred texts and writings

• Core ethical teachings

• Personal devotion/expression of faith/ observance. Religions of Ancient Origin

The response to the human search for ultimate meaning in two religions of ancient origin from:

• Aztec or Inca or Mayan

• Celtic

• Nordic

• Shinto

• Taoism

• An Indigenous religion from outside Australia Religion in Australia pre-1945

• The arrival, establishment and development of religious traditions in Australia prior to 1945.

HSC Course

Religion and Belief Systems in Australia post-1945

Religious expression in Australia’s multi-cultural and multi-faith society since 1945, including an appreciation of Aboriginal spiritualities and their contribution to an understanding of religious beliefs and religious expression in Australia today.

Three Religious Tradition Depth Studies from: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism

• Significant people and ideas.

• Ethical teachings in the religious tradition about bioethics or environmental ethics or sexual ethics

• Significant practices in the life of adherents.

• Religion and Peace

• The distinctive response of religious traditions to the issue of peace.

• Religion and Non-Religion

• The human search for meaning through new religious expression, non-religious worldviews and the difference between religious and nonreligious worldviews