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What is happening?
The Catholic values and faith are proudly endorsed, fostered and demonstrated within the School’s teaching and learning.
Why is this happening?
St Patrick's School provides all students every opportunity to take part in all liturgical celebrations and deepen their knowledge through Religious Education.
What does this mean?
Students experience and discover spiritual ideals and dimensions during their learning. The ‘new’ Religious Education curriculum is implemented to nurture and encourage students in their personal spirituality. The School collaborates with the wider Catholic community when reviewing the Religious Education curriculum e.g. other schools.
Next steps
St Patrick's School will endeavour to provide all students every opportunity to take part in all liturgical celebrations and deepen their knowledge through Religious Education.
Junior Syndicate
Eden and Bethlehem
In Eden and Bethlehem we have been learning about what life was like for Jesus when he was a young boy on Earth 2,000 years ago. We have also looked into who was apart of his family and found similarities to our own families. Students have been on their first school trip to St Patricks Church which they throughally enjoyed!
We continue to navigate the RE curriculum finding some great new resources but also struggling to follow the layout of website and getting all the areas taught for one topic within a term.
Eden and Bethlehem children dressing up in the clothes Jesus might have worn.
Samaria
We have been learning that Jesus lived 2000 years ago and that he was a real person. These students are well on their journey with the new RE curriculum and from the pre test they were able to start learning part B. The students this term have brought RE alive through, role plays, art, dance, songs, dress ups and many discussions.
Holy Week
Nazareth
Nazareth is learning currently just started using the new R.E curriculum and we have been busy learning about parables this term. The children are really enjoying the new format!
The lost sheep
Parables
The Prodigal son
The lost sheep
Zion
Zion students are thriving with their new R.E. curriculum! They've been learning about the parables of the Bible and how they apply to everyday life. Their recent Holy Week project focused on the story of Judas' betrayal, which included enjoyable craft activities. The students are showing great enthusiasm for understanding the parables and engaging with these important biblical narratives.
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
The Parable of the Lost Sheep!
Morning prayers in Zion class!
Senior Syndicate
Example of a student's learning within the Jesus Strand
Example of a student's learning within the Jesus Strand
In Term One students focused on learning that through his life, death and resurrection, Jesus saves people from sin and death. As risen Lord he is with his people, freeing them from all that prevents them from responding as disciples in faith and love. They referred to Scripture to learn about personal, social and original sin and researched role models of social justice and planned ways in which they too can demonstrated Jesus' teachings.
Capernaum and Jerusalem - Joint prayers every morning using a new prayer resource
Capernaum and Jerusalem - Joint prayers every morning using a new prayer resource
Jerusalem and Capernaum join each morning to pray together. Prayers and reflections are lead by students, supported by the above interactive resource.
Cana
Cana
In Term 1 we have mostly been covering the "Jesus Christ/Hehu Karaiti" strand which focuses on understanding Jesus' life, teachings, and significance within the context of Christian faith. It explores the themes of Lent, Holy Week, Easter, and the meaning of these events. This strand also encourages students to evaluate the relevance of Jesus' message in their own lives.
We have also visited the Church for Mass as a class and we eagerly participate in Prayers each morning supported by the new resource “Praying Together with Children."
Examples of Dioramas Cana made for Holy Week to demonstrate Saturday in the Tomb.
Examples of Dioramas Cana made for Holy Week to demonstrate Saturday in the Tomb.
Galilee expressed what Caritas mean to their small world.
Galilee expressed what Caritas mean to their small world.
Galilee attending mass in church.
Galilee attending mass in church.
Galilee exploring Catholic social ethics by watching videos.
Galilee exploring Catholic social ethics by watching videos.
Galilee presenting Holy Week art to other classes.
Galilee presenting Holy Week art to other classes.
Team Galilee working hard on whole class palm print painting.
Team Galilee working hard on whole class palm print painting.
Holy Week art.
Holy Week art.
Whole School
This years focus to strengthen our Christian Witness
This years focus to strengthen our Christian Witness
The Dimension of Faith we are focusing on is Te Whakaatu Karaitiana | Christian Witness.
The Dimension of Faith we are focusing on is Te Whakaatu Karaitiana | Christian Witness.
This dimension is broken down into key four areas:
This dimension is broken down into key four areas:
Focus Area 1: Catholic School Community
Focus Area 1: Catholic School Community
Focus Area 2: Partnership and Collaboration
Focus Area 2: Partnership and Collaboration
Focus Area 3: Pastoral Care
Focus Area 3: Pastoral Care
Focus Area 4: Service and Outreach
Focus Area 4: Service and Outreach
St Patrick's decided to our focus for 2025 within the Te Wahakaatu dimension will be:
St Patrick's decided to our focus for 2025 within the Te Wahakaatu dimension will be:
- An increasing emphasis on te reo Māori in our RE curriculum, prayer, traditions and schoolwide events to reinforce the mana of both te reo and tangata whenua.
- Continue to grow our connection to the Parish community with regular Mass at school, attendance to Mass in the Parish and involvement in our parish community.
- To explore and embed our charism/founding Brothers/Sisters through within the our school environment and increase the understanding of what our charism means to us today and how we can demonstate it.
RE Overview and Term Plan 2025
RE Overview and Term Plan 2025
Our yearly theme/strand coverage as we continue to implement Tō Tātou Whakapono Our Faith.
Our yearly theme/strand coverage as we continue to implement Tō Tātou Whakapono Our Faith.
Year 3 and 4 students are now learning within the new curriculum, with Year 5 and 6 due to start in 2026.
Year 3 and 4 students are now learning within the new curriculum, with Year 5 and 6 due to start in 2026.
An overview of the content, touchstones, aims and achievement objectives of
Tō Tātou Whakapono Our Faith
St Patrick's Day Liturgy and Celebrations
St Patrick's Day Liturgy and Celebrations
St Patrick's School Choir
St Patrick's School Choir
Our St Patrick's School Choir has participated in several community events and visited i our community through-out the year. They sang in the Jubilate and shared Christmas Carols at the Christmas Carnival in the Town Square. Ivory tirelessly leads our singers and runs practice for them weekly at school. Thank you Ivory for your incredible effort and energy!
Our St Patrick's School Choir has participated in several community events and visited i our community through-out the year. They sang in the Jubilate and shared Christmas Carols at the Christmas Carnival in the Town Square. Ivory tirelessly leads our singers and runs practice for them weekly at school. Thank you Ivory for your incredible effort and energy!
Father Frankie's Visit
Father Frankie's Visit
Father Frankie Mulgrew’s visit was a great opportunity for our school whanau, with all of our students and staff interacting with Father Frankie’s teachings. We also enjoyed Father Frankie leading our School Mass and sharing his faith and stories.
Father Frankie Mulgrew’s visit was a great opportunity for our school whanau, with all of our students and staff interacting with Father Frankie’s teachings. We also enjoyed Father Frankie leading our School Mass and sharing his faith and stories.
St Vincent De Paul Special Assembly on Saint Vincent's Feast Day
St Vincent De Paul Special Assembly on Saint Vincent's Feast Day
We celebrated St Vicent De Paul's Feast Day with the volunteers from St Vincent De Paul, and presented them with donations from St Patrick's School. We also treated them to morning tea to show our thanks for all that they do.
Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross
Tuakana Teina classes visited the Stations of the Cross displayed in the hall. They lit a candle, moving between the stations, reciting explanatory passages, poems and prayers, learning of Jesus' journey bearing the cross.
IMG_6351.MOVHoly Week Art 2025
Holy Week Art 2025
In 2025 we undertook a Holy Week Art Tour.
Each class randomly selected a day in the Holy Week to represent. In Week 10 classes completed their own Holy Week journey through classrooms, with our students presenting, viewing and learning about Jesus' experiences each day of Holy Week.
IMG_6247.MOV
Class and Whole School Mass at the Parish
Class and Whole School Mass at the Parish
Our school community is invited to a Whole School Mass once a term. All classes attend Wednesday Mass at the Parish at least once a term with their tukana teina class.
Our school community is invited to a Whole School Mass once a term. All classes attend Wednesday Mass at the Parish at least once a term with their tukana teina class.
School Liturgies, Mass and Adoration
School Liturgies, Mass and Adoration
We continue to celebrate weekly school liturgies on a Monday morning. These are lead by our Service and Technology Leaders. We are blessed to have Father Mathew perform a School Mass once a month in the hall, and lead us in Adoration the third Friday each month.
We continue to celebrate weekly school liturgies on a Monday morning. These are lead by our Service and Technology Leaders. We are blessed to have Father Mathew perform a School Mass once a month in the hall, and lead us in Adoration the third Friday each month.
Bags of Hope
Bags of Hope
In conjunction with the Cancer Society, senior students decorated paper bags with inspirational artwork and verses/scripture to be given to cancer patients to store their belongings during scans and procedures. Pavel from the Cancer Society came to visit our students to explain what the Cancer Society does and thank us for our creations.
In conjunction with the Cancer Society, senior students decorated paper bags with inspirational artwork and verses/scripture to be given to cancer patients to store their belongings during scans and procedures. Pavel from the Cancer Society came to visit our students to explain what the Cancer Society does and thank us for our creations.
2023 - 2024
2023 - 2024
RE Overview and Term Plan
RE Overview and Term Plan
Junior Syndicate
Jesus Strand- Differences between Jesus and Us
Jesus Strand- Differences between Jesus and Us
In Eden and Bethlehem we have been learning about food, home items, clothes, and games that Jesus did when he was a young boy. In the images, students tried on an outfit similar to what Jesus wore including a tunic and mantle.
In Nazareth we have been learning about Jesus. The children re-enacted the different stories about when bread was used in the bible the videos can be viewed under the Arts. We also created our representation of the Last Supper for Holy Week. We added the display outside our classroom but also had enough to include it on our wall too. The children were very proud.
Senior Syndicate
RE Assesment 2023 for Y4 Students (Galilee)
Each year, Y4 students from schools across the whole Diocese of Christchurch are assessed against all the strands taught for their particular year level. In 2022 and 2023, our Y4's has achieved tremendously well in all strands in comparison to the average of other schools in the diocese. This year, since the new RE Curriculum is kicking in, this assessment will no longer be implemented.
MultiYearVariance_Christchurch_Year-4_St-Patricks-School-Greymouth.pdfIMG_2013 2.MOVIMG_2014 2.MOV
Galilee in Action
Prayer using movements is one of the core components of the RE Curriculum. This part of the RE Curriculum looks at enabling children to describe what prayer- karakia is. Also, they will learn to develop skills and attitudes related to different forms of prayer.
Integrated Art and RE
RE is integrated throughout the entire curriculum- literacy, arts, drama, and social sciences. Teachers endeavour to incorporate concepts taught in religious education to foster the special character of the school.
RE in Capernaum and Jerusalem
RE in Capernaum and Jerusalem
Senior School - Teaching to our students stage of Faith
Senior School - Teaching to our students stage of Faith
Senior school students demonstrate an increasingly critical approach to their growing faith, with a tendency to question what was previously accepted and can be influenced more by the beliefs, attitudes and values of peers. Learning experiences in this stage of their development reflect that they are greatly influenced by what others say and do in matters of faith and religion as they are in other areas of their lives, and include experiences that encourage deep and reflective discussion and critical thinking.
Learning areas covered in Religious Education:
Learning areas covered in Religious Education:
Liturgical Year
Liturgical Year
Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Ascension, Pentecost, All Souls and All Saints Day, Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Assumption
Prayer
Prayer
Devotional and Traditional,
Caritas
Caritas
Church/Te Whānau a Te Karaiti Strand
Church/Te Whānau a Te Karaiti Strand
Learning Focus: The Teaching Church
The Church is a teacher of God’s truth. Jesus was a teacher, and his teaching role was continued by the Apostles. Through the Bishops united with the Pope, the Church carries on this teaching role today. Priests and lay people help the Bishops with this teaching ministry.
Sacrament/ Hakarameta Strand
Sacrament/ Hakarameta Strand
Learning Focus: Called for Others
Through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, Bishops, Priests and Deacons are ordained for the service of the Church. The Sacraments, especially the Sacrament of the Eucharist, strengthen all God’s people for the service of others, and provide meaning and healing in the blessed and broken experiences of life.
God/Te Atua Strand
God/Te Atua Strand
Learning Focus: God’s Desire for Humanity
God has created people to grow and change and to live life to the full. Through God’s gift of freedom people can do awful things, but through the gift of grace people are able to grow in virtue and turn from sin and in this way to become more like Jesus.
Communion of Saints /Te Kotahitanga O Te Hunga Tapu Strand
Communion of Saints /Te Kotahitanga O Te Hunga Tapu Strand
Learning Focus: Choices
With God’s gift of free will comes the responsibility to develop an informed conscience so that we may make life-giving choices for ourselves and others. This is particularly important in areas covered by the Church’s teaching on the sanctity of life.
Jesus/Hehu Karaiti Strand
Jesus/Hehu Karaiti Strand
Learning Focus: Jesus – Saviour and Liberator
Through his life, death and resurrection, Jesus saves people from sin and death. As risen Lord he is with his people, freeing them from all that prevents them from responding as disciples in faith and love.
Holy Spirit/Te Wairua Tapu Strand
Holy Spirit/Te Wairua Tapu Strand
Learning Focus: The Holy Spirit in Scripture
From the Scriptures we learn of the role of the Holy Spirit. Present at the Creation and speaking through the Prophets, God’s Spirit of love/aroha and truth/pono was with Jesus and with the early Christians as they walked in Jesus’ way, and still remains the life principle of the Church.
CULTURAL ASPECTS IN OUR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAMME
CULTURAL ASPECTS IN OUR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAMME
Our learning programne includes:
The use of traditional Māori ideas, beliefs and values (for example whānau, tapu and mana), and opportunities to understand key aspects of Te Ao Māori (for example Tuakana Teina, Manakitanga).
The incorporation of Te Reo Māori and the understanding of Māori kaupapa.
The inclusion of akonga experiences of their culture in faith learning experiences, linking their way of life, traditions and culture with our shared faith.
Assessment
Assessment
We assess our student's knowledge and understanding of the important concepts covered to improve our religious teaching and learning. This is achieved through observation, through writing, drawing, talking, acting and answering questions, self-assessment, personal reflection and discussion.
Whole School
New RE Curriculum- Tō Tātou Whakapono Our Faith
Tō Tātou Whakapono Our Faith was approved by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference in December 2021. Since then the National Centre for Religious Studies has been working closely with diocesan religious education advisors, managers of Catholic education, principals, teachers, and many other members of the Catholic community to provide resources to support teaching and learning.
Our Year 0-2 teachers has implemented "Good News" in Term 1 of this year with the support of CEO and DRS. The roll-out will continue this year covering 3 other themes. The rest of the school continues to use the old curriculum via Faith Alive.
ToTātouWhakaponoOurFaith (1).pdf
Ash Wednesday in the Parish
To mark the beginning of Lent, St Patrick's School celebrated with parishioners in the parish in their Ash Wednesday morning Mass. Students experience first hand our study around the liturgical celebration of the Church. More importantly, they are partaking in the celebration that the universal Church celebrates to mark the beginning of our Lenten journey.
Celebrating St Patrick's Day
As a school we celebrated St Patrick's Day early this year. We encouraged the children to wear green and we had a parade in our costumes around the hall. A best dressed junior and best dressed senior was awared to Landon and Tyler. The senior students organised St Patrick's Day games but unfortunately it was too wet to play them. The school had a lovely vide to it all day and a special thanks to the PTA for providing the green jellies as a treat at the end of the day. We continued our celebration by attending the 9.30 am Sunday Mass in the parish as a whole school and the staff looking after the morning tea that followed.
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IMG_2213.MOVSt Patrick's Holy Week Art Display 2024
Integrating RE to other curriculum areas such as the ARTS is essentially part of growing the special character of the school. In a two-year cycle, St. Patrick’s School alternates Visual Arts and Drama in presenting Holy Week. Students are able to present in a visual way what they learnt about their study of Liturgical Year- Holy Week/Easter module. Students and teachers are afforded the opportunity to collaboratively plan their displays.
Stations of the Cross
Past Year 8 students prepared the 14 stations of the cross by creating posters representing each station. This year we held the stations in the hall given the unpredictability of the weather. Throughout the day, each class was rostered to do their stations of the cross and students took leadership roles in leading prayers, practising and organising themselves during the actual stations of the cross.
Andrew Chinn Workshop/Concert
"He who sings well prays twice." Andrew Chinn took the whole school for a singing workshop and concert.
IMG_7947.MOVWednesday Class Mass in the Parish and Whole School Mass
Fostering school and parish linkage is a goal that St. Patrick’s School as a catholic school is continually developing. This linkage strengthens the school’s commitment to the Catholic faith and having students and their families attend mass brings joy to parishioners. Scheduled throught the year, we will attend a vigil mass or Sunday mass as a whole school in the parish. We will send out invitations to our school families to celebrate mass once a term at St. Patrick’s Church.
May, Month of Mary
To celebrate May, the month of Mary, it has become a tradition of St Patrick's school to set up a grotto in Room 0 where teachers can take their students to pray the Holy Rosary. This is to remember the important role that Mary, the mother of Jesus played in his life. She also serves as our model being faithful followers of Christ. This year, our service leaders and Y8's helped put up the grotto of our lady.
Baptismal Program and Visit of Bishop Michael
St Patrick's School offers sacramental program every year as a means of evangelization. We were very fortunate to have Bishop Michael officiating the Baptism that we had last year in the parish. He also took this oppotunity to visit St Patrick's School and enjoyed the company of students and staff.
Sexuality Education - Wonderfully Made in God’s Image.
In consultation with stakeholders, we successfully launched our sexuality education program last year. Students were taught lessons around sexuality education in light of the Catholic lens.
Special Character: School Liturgies and Celebrations
Friday School Mass - We continued this year having regular mass every first Friday of the month as a whole school. Of particular emphasis for us this year is: Multicultural Prayers of the Faithful . We started doing prayers of the faithful in Indian and Filipino this year alongside other Te Reo Maori prayers.
Friday School Adoration- We continue to do adoration at school this year at least once a month in the hall. Adoration is another form of prayer that suits a school setting. This is important in building a strong prayer life for students and teachers.
Monday Whole School Prayers
Friday Staff Prayers - Every Friday, we gather at 8:00 for a staff prayer/reflection. Teachers are given a particular Friday to lead this. Having this opportunity to gather and reflect as a group every week strengthens our prayer life and engages us into a spiritual journey with one another.
Special Liturgies/Assemblies
Liturgy of the Word - Due to restrictions in Fr. Mathew's schedules, liturgy of the word is at times scheduled instead of the Eucharist.
Commisioning Mass - The commissioning mass this year was at St Patrick's Church . This was well attended by St. Patrick’s School staff and teachers.
Galilee expressing what Caritas means to them.
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