APRE's Reflection

Religious Education: An Important Academic Subject

As the school year draws to a close and report time approaches, I’d like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that Religious Education is an important academic subject, taught and assessed with the same rigour as all other areas of learning.

At St Mary’s, the aim of Religious Education is to help students grow in their understanding of the Catholic faith, while also encouraging respect for and appreciation of other religious and spiritual traditions.

Just like in other subjects, students receive grades in Religious Education based on their knowledge, understanding, and ability to apply what they’ve learned. This year, our school has placed a strong focus on developing engaging and meaningful Religious Education assessments for all grade levels. To support different learning styles, students have been given choice in how they share their understanding — whether through written tasks, presentations, research projects, or personal reflections.

These Religious Education results form part of each student’s overall academic report and reflect the effort, thought, and care they have demonstrated in their learning throughout the year. I encourage you to take some time to discuss with your child what they have been learning about in Religion this semester.

Sharing Christ’s Love This Christmas: Supporting the St Vincent de Paul Appeal

Christmas is a special time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus — a time filled with joy, love, and giving. It’s also a time to remember those in our community who are struggling. Many families find Christmas difficult because they don’t have enough for food, gifts, or even a safe place to stay.

The St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies) works hard to help people in need, especially at Christmas. Through the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal, our donations help provide food hampers, toys for children, and support for families who are doing it tough. When we give, we bring hope and kindness into someone’s life — and that is what Christmas is truly about. 

Thank you to those families who have already contributed to The Vinnies Christmas Appeal. Each classroom has  a basket where any donated items can be left. 

The list below contains many items you may wish to include however, any other optional items will be appreciated as well. To uphold the dignity of those receiving the hampers, please ensure that all food items are in date and good condition. 

Jesus taught us to love our neighbours and to care for “the least of these.” When we support the St Vincent de Paul Appeal, we are living out this message. Every act of giving, no matter how small, is a way of sharing Christ’s love with others.

Together, we can make sure that everyone experiences the joy, peace, and love that Jesus brings at Christmas.

Belinda van Lint
Assistant Principal - Religious Education

PLEASE NOTE:  Vinnies are looking for volunteers to come and sort and/or pack hampers. The dates and times are as follows:

Saturday 6th December             Sorting of the donations                            8.30am – 12.30pm

Volunteers will need to contact the office and leave their name and contact details by email: office.mackay@svdpqld.org.au or phone on 4840 0800 (Mon, Wed & Friday 8.30am – 1.30pm). Someone from the Mackay office will then contact you to confirm the dates and times. Even if volunteers cannot spend the whole time, they are more than welcome to come for an hour or two. Every little bit helps.