NSW public schools offer special religious education and special education in ethics, delivered by approved providers wherever available.
During enrolment, you can choose a special religious education option for your child from the school’s available approved providers. You can withdraw your child from special religious education by selecting alternative meaningful activities, or special education in ethics if it’s available.
You can update your preference by writing to the school or through the online form available at participating schools.
Visit the department’s website for more information about religion and ethics.
Special Religious Education and Special Education in Ethics
At Avalon Public School, SRE and SEE is delivered each week.
The following SRE/SEE classes are offered at Avalon Public School:
Catholic SRE
Anglican SRE
Ethics SEE
When completing the online enrolment application through the school's website, you will choose from one of the above classes, which are held each week during school term.
Catholic SRE (Scripture) lessons include activities that are fun, engaging and inclusive for students, whilst also providing students with the opportunity to critically explore their faith and beliefs, and to pray and reflect. Students look at real life scenarios and explore how Jesus would deal with life situations. Lessons are age-appropriate and taught with sensitivity. Lessons consider morals and ethics and are brought to life through age-appropriate bible stories, digital resources, song, dance, craft, drama, puzzles, mime, drawing, and many other teaching strategies. Children are provided with a colourful student activity book containing learning resources which complements the teaching material. Catholic SRE teachers (also known as Catechists) are authorised by the local parish and trained by the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay. The Catholic SRE curriculum has been designed by religious education experts and authorised by the Bishop of the Diocese. For more information about the Catholic SRE curriculum Walking with Jesus Pathways of Discipleship visit: https://www.bbcatholic.org.au/parish-community/ministries/ccd/curriculum
Combined Christian SRE (Anglican)
Combined Christian SRE is provided by teachers who are authorised and trained by the following approved providers: Anglican Diocese of Sydney - The curriculum can be viewed at https://whysre.com.au/sre-curriculum/cep-curriculum-overview/
Anglican Diocese of Sydney
https://sydneyanglicans.net/about
Special Education in Ethics SEE classes support children to develop a life-long capacity for making well-reasoned decisions about ethical issues. Through the give-and-take of reasoned argument students learn to disagree respectfully, to challenge ideas and to support their arguments with considered evidence rather than according to habit or peer pressure. Our volunteer ethics teachers, which are trained members of the Primary Ethics and broader community, use detailed lesson materials which present a range of stories, scenarios and questions to generate discussion. Ethics teachers are trained to impartially facilitate student discussions, helping students develop their critical thinking and collaborative inquiry skills. Ethics teachers support student learning by:
· modelling the inquiry process – by asking questions and encouraging discussion
· showing genuine curiosity and interest in the questions being discussed
· staying neutral – ethics teachers are trained to keep their own views out of the discussion
· creating a positive learning environment – by allowing students time to think, and encouraging students to share ideas and give reasons
The Special Education in Ethics program is provided by Primary Ethics. You can find out more information about the program or how to become an Ethics Teacher by visiting. Primary Ethics Website.
Non Scripture
Students not attending SRE or SEE are given supervised alternative meaningful activities by Avalon Public School Teachers.