Dear Parent/Carer,
We would like to inform you about the religious instruction (RI) arrangements in 2019. If you wish to make any changes to your current preferences regarding your child’s participation in RI or other instruction, please complete this form. If there are no changes to be made, there is no need to complete this form. Queensland state schools embrace a multitude of cultural, religious and non-religious beliefs. Under the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006, schools are to provide RI each week if approached by a faith group seeking to provide RI and students of that faith attend the school.
RI informs students about the beliefs and values of a particular religion. It is delivered by volunteers of a faith group using instructional materials approved by that faith group. These materials are not part of the formal school curriculum and are not endorsed by the Department of Education.
All RI instructors must hold a blue card and participate in compulsory Student Protection and Code of Conduct training. RI instructors are only entitled to deliver the RI program outlined below. A school staff member will be present during the delivery of RI.
Participation in RI is not compulsory. Any student (except Prep students) may participate in RI if a parent has given consent and indicated a religion on the Application for Student Enrolment Form or in other written advice to the principal. A parent, regardless of their own faith (if any), may choose to give consent for their child to participate in one of the RI programs listed below.
Any child not participating in RI, or whose nominated religion is not represented within the RI program at the school, will receive other instruction by a qualified member of school staff in a separate location during the time RI is held. Other instruction will relate to subject areas that have already been covered in class.
At any time, parents may provide written instruction to the principal to change their preference for their child to participate in or be withdrawn from RI. If a parent does not update their consent by completing and returning this form, their previous written instructions to the school will continue to apply.
The faith groups that provide religious instructors to deliver the program at our school are listed below, including links to the website for materials to be used in RI at our school. Please note that at this stage, Christian RI is the only RI program on offer at Windsor SS.
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Arrangements for programs
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Name of RI program
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Delivery details
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Cooperative program :
· Christian RI
Faith groups involved: Anglican, Australian Christian Churches (ACC), Baptist, Catholic, Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC), Presbyterian, Uniting Church, Acts Two Alliance
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LESSON AIMS FOR ALL OF THE PROGRAMS BELOW ARE AVAILABLE HERE ON OUR SCHOOL WEBSITE
Year 1: Beginning with God
Further information about this program can be found here
Years 2, 4 and 5: Godspace
Further information about this program can be found here
Year 3: Access Ministries (Search)
Further information about this program can be found here
Year 6: Big Questions
Further information about this program can be found here
*Please note that RI class configurations are dependent on student participation numbers. If a multi-age combination is required, the Year 5 students will access the Big Questions program with the Year 6 students.
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Religious Instruction occurs on Tuesday afternoons: 1.50-2.20pm or 2.20-2.50pm, commencing Week 2 of Term 2
Year 1 – offered all year from Term 2
Year 2 – offered in Semester 2
Year 3 – offered all year from Term 2
Year 4 – not offered at this stage due to timetabling requirements
Year 5 – offered all year from Term 2
Year 6 - offered all year from Term 2
*Please note that the above is subject to change due to student participation numbers, supervision requirements and volunteer availability. Any changes to the above will be communicated to families.
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The aims and objectives of the co-operative Christian RI program is to inform students about the basic beliefs of the Christian faith. Lesson aims and overviews for each of the RI programs to be used in this agreement are available via the links in the table above.
Further details about our school’s RI program and other instruction are available on the school’s website and in the school’s parent handbook. You may also wish to access the Department’s RI policy statement available at http://education.qld.gov.au/schools/school-operations/ri-policy-statement.html for further information.
In 2019, there is no cost for the activity book that participating students will use in RI. Each year, parents/carers will be notified if there is a cost for the purchasing of student workbooks and the associated payment options.
You will also be notified of any changes to RI or other instruction.
Our school’s Christian RI Coordinator Mrs Karen Grenning is available to answer any questions you may have about the program. You can contact Mrs Grenning at grenning@bigpond.net.au or you may make an appointment to meet with her in the school office. Copies of the RI Teacher’s Manuals and Student Workbooks are also available now in the school office for parents to peruse.
If you would like further information about RI or other instruction at our school, or require assistance with completing the form below, please contact us at admin@windsorss.eq.edu.au .
Yours sincerely,
Grant Baker
Windsor State School
