TO:Principals/APREs/ RECs

FROM:Katrina van de Water

Religious Education Consultant

SUBJECT:Religious Education

DATE:17thApril 2004

Hello All

I hope you all have had a wonderful holiday and are well rested and eager for a new term. It has been quiet in the office and I have had time to catch up on reading and do some planning for Term 2. There a number of things happening this term that you need to be aware of and possibly attend. Unfortunately, Accreditation B primary had to be postponed because of cyclone Fay, but we will be offering it again. We just need to find a date that will suit most schools.

REC Meeting

The REC meeting will be held on the 14th and 15th of June. Sr Veronica Ryan will present the progress on the Kimberley Companion and together we will interact and discuss resources. I will contact you closer to the time for you to bring some resources with you. On the Monday Fr. Daniel Chama will speak to us about Catholic Missions. It is also in the planning for Shirley and Erica to speak on Aboriginal Spirituality. Br Shane will workshop with us on Social Justice. I would also like to use some time with you talking about integrating RE themes into other learning areas. I’m looking forward to an energising and informative time with you all.

Accreditation C

Accreditation C this year will be held on the 16th,17th and18th of June, immediately following the REC meeting. The registration Form is attached. Damian Doyle, Coordinator of the Primary Religious Education Team, with some help, will be presenting the in-service.

School Visits

I will be out of the Office, visiting the following schools on the dates listed.

Djarinjin – Lombadina 28th April

Sacred Heart, BeagleBay29th April

Luurnpa, Balgo30th April

Saint Joseph’s, Kununurra 12th May

Saint Joseph’s, Wyndham13th May

Holy Rosary, Derby17th and 18th May

John Pujajangka-Piyirn21st June

Kururrungku, Billiluna23rd June

Accreditation Status

I now have up to date data on the accreditation status of all staff members in the Kimberley. The principals were given copies of that data, for their own staff, at the principals’ meeting. Some errors were found and have been corrected. If you find any errors or have updates please inform me. If you are sending transcripts directly to the Perth office please inform me if any of your staff have a change of status. If you have a staff member whom you believe may have studied, RE, Scripture or Theology please send me a copy of their transcript so we can apply for the study component of accreditation. It is important for me to keep this data as accurate as possible so I can plan the in-service needs for our teachers in the Kimberley.

Accreditation A

Just a little update as to how progress is being made for the ATAs in Accreditation A.Day 1 of Accreditation A Module 3, Jesus’ Life and Ministry, was begun at the Aboriginal Teaching Assistants Seminar on Thursday 1st April. 52 ATAs participated in the day plus three CEO staff members. The second day of the module will be conducted in the ATAs own school or a cluster group that will include their school. 51 ATAs completed their first module in 2003 of those 32 have begun their second module. Three modules are required to gain the Accreditation A qualification. Altogether to date 70 ATAs have been involved in this faith formation and accreditation programme.

Resources

I still have the bar Codes and PIN numbers for each school for the Catholic Education Library for ordering books on line. Please contact me for these codes.

Recently St Mary’s primary had a Scholastic book sale to raise some funds for the school. I picked up two very nice children’s books that may be goods resources. The first: Hunter J. A. and Porter S. I have Feeling!Frances Lincoln Ltd, London, 2001, is a lovely little book that would sit very nicely with the RE and FLE units. The second: Haseley D. and LaMarche J., A Story for Bear, Koala Books NSW 2003 ISBN 0-86461-462-4, is a beautiful story really about the pleasure of reading. It’s themes of mystery, love, listening and patience could fit with RE and it would also be a nice story to encourage reading in a junior class. If you have found any gems you would like to share let me know and I can pass them on in my next letter.

This is a great Website for reflection and prayer

Staff Prayer

PRAYER AT RISING

Bless to me, O God,

Each thing my eyes see;

Bless to me, O God,

Each sound my ear hears;

Bless to me, O God,

Each odour that goes to my nostrils;

Bless to me, O God,

Each taste that goes to my lips;

Each note that goes to my song,

Each ray that guides my way,

Each thing that I pursue,

Each lure that tempts my will,

The zeal that seeks my living soul,

The Three that seek my heart,

The zeal that seeks my living soul,

The Three that seek my heart.

(Carmichael, 1976, pg 33)

Adam D., A Celtic Psaltery, Desbooks, Thornbury Aus., 2001 ISBN 0-281-05218-2

ANZAC Prayers

God of love and liberty, we bring our thanks this day for the peace and security we enjoy, which was won for us through the courage and devotion of those who gave their lives in time of war. We pray that their labour and sacrifice may not be in vain, but that their spirit may live on in us and in generations to come. That the liberty, truth and justice which they sought to preserve may be seen and known in all the nations upon earth. This we pray in the name of the One who gave his life for the sake of the world, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Eternal Lord God we pray for the peace of the world. Especially we commend to your mercy the homeless and refugees; those who have been dispossessed and have lost their employment; those whose families have been disrupted and who mourn the loss of loved ones. We pray for the situation in [...... ]. Grant that the sane and selfless councils may prevail in these places, and wherever there is warfare. For Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen

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