Religious Education

Te Wanaga Whakapono

Sacred Heart College is a Catholic Marist and Champagnat boys’ school. Our vision is to prepare each student to leave the College well grounded in their faith, and ready and able to participate in a complex and changing world.

Religious Education is core to the Special Character of Sacred Heart College. Centred in Christ following the way of Mary, we bring each student to a greater understanding of their faith. Depth of understanding, through sound education practice, gives freedom to the individual to commit themselves in a fuller and more responsible way to a life in Christ.

The Religious Education curriculum was commissioned and authorised by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference in 1991. The Curriculum statement 2010 was revised to reflect changes in the presentation of material and align it to The New Zealand Curriculum. All students in Catholic schools are obliged to undertake a course in Religious Education. In recent years Religious Education has been accepted as an NCEA-approved subject gaining credits and endorsements through Levels 1 to 3.

Years 7 and 8

Students in Years 7 and 8 follow a programme of study set out in the New Zealand Religious Education statement for Primary Schools in Aotearoa New Zealand (1996). Each class covers a serious of topics associated with several learning strands and is guided by one teacher throughout the year.

Years 9 and 10

Classes are taught on a cyclical basis where students are in contact with a variety of teachers specialising in one unit of work.

Years 11 to 13

The Religious Education course follows the New Zealand National Religious Education Curriculum statement as determined by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (2010) and is a full academic course. The course is assessed through Achievement Standards. Students have the opportunity to gain 18 credits at each NCEA Level.

Religious Education Department Staff

Fr Stephen Berecz	Head of Department Years 12 and 13
Miss Gemma Solomons	Assistant HOD Religious Education
Br Dunstan Henry	Years 9 and 10
Br Murray Kelly	Year 13
Br Gerard Mahony	Years 9 and 10
Mr Michael O'Donnell	Year 12
Mr Mark Davies	Years 9, 12 and 13
Mr Jaaz Samuela	Year 10