Societal Context
“In this way the Catholic school’s public role is clearly perceived. It has not come into being as a private initiative, but as an expression of the reality of the Church, having by its nature a public character. It fulfils a service of public usefulness...decidedly configured in the perspective of the Catholic faith.”
(The Catholic School on the Threshold of the Third Millennium, 1997, n.16).
Christ the King Primary School celebrates the diverse social and cultural backgrounds our families bring to our community. We also are aware that parents enrol their children in Catholic Schools for a variety of reasons; while many parents want their children to experience Catholic Christian values and traditions, others have other reasons for choosing our school. As a consequence, our school is challenged to engage families in Religious Education in ways that respond to the changing and diverse society we live in.
We respond to this in the following ways;
We respond to this in the following ways;
- Celebrate important cultural, Church and community events as a whole school in ways that reflect a Catholic Christian worldview that integrates faith, life and culture.
- ANZAC day with Catholic prayers and biblical readings as well as secular rituals such as wreath laying
- Marking important indigenous events such as Sorry Day, Naidoc Week and the anniversary of the National Apology in culturally appropriate ways including exploring Christian Indigenous ways of praying and acknowledging spirituality.
- Acknowledging the multicultural aspects of our community by encouraging the sharing of multicultural foods, stories and cultural traditions to mark special occasions (Harmony Day, Migrant and Refugee weeks) and incorporating Christian prayer.
- Prayers at staff meetings, assemblies and board/P&F meetings that embrace and celebrate the fusion of our local culture with the Catholic Christian faith.
- Discussions with students regarding different family traditions and cultural celebrations at home
- Inviting families to share prayer experiences with the class (See year 2 prayer book and Prep meditation experiences)
- Outreach to all aspects of our local and global community regardless of religious and societal backgrounds to breakdown stereo-types and widen the Catholic Christian viewpoint of our school community.
- Meeting with, talking about, fundraising for and awareness raising of refugee and migrant issues.
- Working with our local St Vincent De Paul Chapter to provide assistance for any who seek it in the local community
- Enrolment policy that while highlighting the provision for Catholics and members of our local parish also welcomes all others who wish to experience Catholic Christian values. (see Enrolment policy)
- Inclusive, non-presumptive language used in the learning and teaching as well as correspondence with parents and care-givers. (See newsletter articles, unit plans, invitations to school liturgical celebrations)
- Discussion of children’s personal family and cultural heritage and family customs to build understanding of Catholic Christian traditions and practices.