Religious Instruction
Queensland state schools embrace a multitude of cultural, religious and non-religious beliefs. Under the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006, schools are to provide Religious Instruction (RI) 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. RI is required to be consistent with legislation and Department of Education policies and procedures.
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 Sherwood staff member is always present during RI lessons (in addition to the RI instructor).
Participation in RI is not compulsory. Any student (except Prep students) may participate in RI if a parent has provided written instructions to the school.
Students are allocated to RI based on information provided by parents on the completed Application for student enrolment unless other written instructions have been provided to the school.
Note: This consent remains in effect unless the parent informs the school otherwise in writing. Parents can opt their children into or out of RI at any time by emailing the school.
Click
here for further information about RI
A description of the options for RI available at Sherwood SS is provided below.
Christian Religious Instruction
Aims and goals: The aim of Christian RI is to inform students about the basic beliefs of the Christian faith from a non-denominational perspective.
Click here for the Christian RI brochure
Authorised programs:
GodSpace
For further detail please click here.
Beginning with God
For further detail please click here.
Connect
For further detail please click here.
Big Questions
For further detail please click here.
Love out Loud Lower Primary Series 1
For further detail please click here.
Lesson Structure: Christian RI may involve a variety of up-to-date teaching methods including storytelling, prayer, music, drama, craft, activity books, games, quizzes, video clips and puppet shows. Program resources are written by professional educators and are age-appropriate.
Lessons will typically run for 30 minutes per week.
There is no cost to participate in Christian RI.
Participating faith groups: Local Christian Churches come together to offer Christian RI on a cooperative and non-denominational basis. These local churches may, amongst others, include Anglican, Australian Christian Churches, Baptist, Catholic, Churches of Christ, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Salvation Army and Uniting Churches.
Baha'i Religious Instruction
Aims and goals: The aims of Baha'i RI children's classes are to nutrient the hearts and minds of children. The emphasis of these classes is on helping children to learn to reflect on and apply spiritual principles such as love, unity, kindness, peace, and justice to their own lives and those around them, based on the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh. The classes seek to inspire in children a love of God, His Messengers and of humanity in all its diversity. The classes include short lessons, prayers, activities to build friendship, games, stories, art and music.
We hope and pray that these Baha'i RI spiritual classes which focus on Nobility of human beings will nurture, train, develop the Potential and refine positive character traits such as justice, love, compassion and other virtues in children.
Click here for the Baha'i RI Information for Families brochure
Lesson structure: Prayers, colouring in virtues lessons, meditation, stories, and music
Lessons will typically run for 30 minutes per week.
There is no cost to participate in Baha'i RI
Other Instruction
Students who are not consented into in RI will be provided with other instruction in a separate supervised location. Other instruction must relate to part of a subject area already covered in class and may include:
- personal research and/or assignments
- revision of class work such as creative writing or literacy and/or numeracy activities which could include online programs currently accessed by the students of that school (i.e. Mathletics, Reading Eggs)
- wider reading such as independent reading appropriate to the student
Parents will be advised of any changes to the RI and other instruction programs to ensure they are able to make an informed decision on their child's participation.