NSW public schools offer special religious education and special education in ethics, delivered by approved providers wherever available.
During enrolment, you can choose a special religious education option for your child from the school’s available approved providers. You can withdraw your child from special religious education by selecting alternative meaningful activities, or special education in ethics if it’s available.
You can update your preference by writing to the school or through the online form available at participating schools.
Visit the department’s website for more information about religion and ethics.
The following SRE classes are offered at Waratah Public School:
- Combined Scripture
- Catholic Scripture
- Islamic Scripture
During the time that SRE classes are being held, students not attending will be located in a separate space and will participate in meaningful activities.
Special Religious Education (SRE): Combined Christian SRE
Students today live in a fast-changing, uncertain world, filled with confusing messages about who to trust and what to believe. SRE gives them a safe place to explore and discover the Bible’s answers to their big questions, and SRE teachers support and guide them on their path of faith. There are beneificial reasons to enrol your child in Christian Special Religious Education ('SRE'), even if you are not a Christian:
1. Christian SRE provides a wonderful opportunity for your child to explore spiritual and life issues.
2. Christian SRE enables your child to find answers to spiritual and life questions as well as help to develop their ethical and moral framework.
3. Christian SRE provides a way for your child to be supported pastorally.
At Waratah Public School students are fortunate to be taught Combined Christian Scripture lessons by a team of Chaplains and High School students from St Philip’s Christian College (SPCC). This partnership has helped build greater connections between these 2 neighbouring schools in our community.
Link to official site: https://whysre.com.au/sre-curriculum/cep-curriculum-overview/
Special Religious Education (SRE): Catholic SRE
Catholic Special Religious Education (SRE) is when Catechists (also known as Scripture Teachers) teach children about Jesus and his message in the Gospel. Children are taught a positive message that we are all created by a loving God who sees us full of potential and capable of being a force for good in our world. Children are encouraged to develop a relationship with Jesus to help them make moral choices and develop values.
The Catholic SRE program is called "Christ our Light and Life" and is approved by the Archdiocese of Sydney in liaison with educational experts. Our Catechists are approved, authorised and trained to teach this program.
Link to official site: https://www.mn.catholic.org.au/church-mission/childrens-ministries/sre-scripture/
Special Religious Education(SRE) : Islamic SRE
We cater for children of all Islamic backgrounds, teaching them the basic foundations common to all Muslims. We are also trained in cultural and religious sensitivity, which helps us understand what topics to discuss within the diverse environment of the classroom. One of our techniques in teaching Islam is to read stories to the class, from which children can learn a moral. Stories about the past can offer your children the chance to become well-behaved citizens of society.
The Islamic scripture curriculum is based around four main aspects:
- Islamic events
- Good manners
- Islamic practices common to all Muslims, and Living harmoniously within society while practising Islam in Australia.
Link to official site: https://www.isre.org.au/