Religious Education at St Mark's School comprises two distinct but complementary dimensions - teaching people religion and teaching people to be religious. Teaching people religion is an educational activity focused on the teaching and learning of religion and utilising a range of learning processes and resources (for more information see: http://schoolauthoring16.bne.catholic.edu.au/schools/stmarksinala/curriculum/Pages/Religious-Education.aspx). St Mark’s acknowledges that the educational dimension and the faith formation dimension are inextricably linked.
Teaching people to be religious is identified with the Religious Life of the School and is a faith development activity focused on nurturing the religious, spiritual and faith growth of students. Four components make up the religious life of the school (Religious Identity and Culture; Evangelisation and Faith Formation; Prayer and Worship; and Social Action and Justice). Each component is interrelated and mutually reinforcing, focusing on a specific aspect of the school's practises. At St Mark’s children are involved in many varied opportunities to form and practise their faith in these areas.
Religious Identity and Culture:
Each school day begins with the ‘Welcome’ song followed by the ‘Welcome Circle.’ This routine helps to create a sense of safety and belonging that can support student engagement, build well-being and create positive classroom communities.
Each year, the school focuses on a theme to help build identity and purpose.
2023 “Let’s Tell Our Story”
2022 “Live Like Saint Mark”
2021 “We are Awesome, Live it Clearly and Boldly”
2020 “Clearly and Boldly”
Each Friday morning is a school assembly. During this assembly, a class will lead the school in prayer.
There are sacred spaces in every classroom and around the school grounds.
Prayer and Worship:
Whole school masses/liturgies are held for special days in the Church calendar. The Feast of St Mark, Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, Easter, Christmas, and Catholic Education Week are just some of these celebrations.
Each Thursday, classes participate in a class mass presided over by the Parish Priest. Often class teachers structure their Mass around the virtue of the week or other significant events happening in the Church or community calendar.
A Parish-based Sacramental Programme for students is supported by the school.
The school uses a mixture of contemporary Christian music, multimedia and hands-on ritual actions together with the beautiful traditions of the Catholic faith.
Evangelisation and Faith Formation:
The use, the promotion and the living out of the Virtues program and 5Rs ( Respect, Responsibility, Relationships, Resilience and Reverence)
Prayer is the first priority of our school day.
Classes rostered on for weekly Masses and leading assembly prayer.
Annual visits by Real Talk to Year 6 students.
Social Action and Justice:
Support for charities including Project Compassion, St Vincent de Paul Winter and Christmas Appeal, and Catholic Mission.
Assistance to refugee families and those who are struggling with financial, practical and emotional support.
Implementation of an excursion levy to ease the financial burden of excursions
Breakfast Club in the mornings.
The provision of lunches for students who require assistance.
Our commitment to responding to the Christian call defines our school – the framework for our responses to what happens in the wider community and the way we go about being members of St Mark’s Catholic Primary School.
© Brisbane Catholic Education, (2023)