Religious Education (RE) What is the nature of RE in Grades 7 and 8?
Religious Education (RE) introduces students to a broader and more in-depth exploration of religion and its significance to holistic human development. Religious Education (RE) aims to help students develop and deepen their awareness of the connection between their interior life (psychological, emotional and spiritual) and the world around them. RE encourages them to reflect on and critically evaluate their experiences and responses to the different events of their life and happenings of the world. Through the study of different religions, morality and what it means to be Lasallian, RE aims to help the students to begin to build for themselves a framework of values and guiding principles which will help them to grow and serve as part of our Lasallian community. The aim of RE is to: · Devote mental and emotional energy to appreciating their own and others’ religion, beliefs and culture · Effectively observe, reflect and commit to serving their community · Embrace human dignity · Have developed and be able to express their Lasallian and personal value systems and use them as a foundational core for their life · Feel a sense of wonder, valuing all forms of life as a gift to be shared with others What is the approach to learning? The whole curriculum is designed to accompany the students as they make sense of their own development at this critical stage of their lives. The aim is to offer religion as one of the fundamental options that help to search for TRUTH in their own belief system and the belief system of others and bring about individual and communal improvement and harmony. A variety of activities has been compiled to cater to a wide range of individuals but there is an emphasis on individual reflection, group discussion and sharing. Popular culture, current events and technology are important components that are constantly referred to in the curriculum. What is the subject content? The RE programme of study at SJII is broadly structured into 3 main units of study: 1. What does it mean to be Lasallian – in Grade’s 9 & 10 this develops from the foundation IGCSE stage where students were discovering and developing their Lasallian identities to now finding greater clarity and action in their personal understanding of the five core principles of being a Lasallian: Faith, Community, Values, Service and Education. Grade 7 Focus: Looks at the history of our founder, St. John Baptist de la Salle and Lasallian history in Singapore. We then look at our own school, and our own lives within it, and what it means to be Lasallian in the context of the core principles of values, faith, community and service. 33
