Jesus, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and St Joseph are the foundations of the whole educational experience at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School across both campuses. As a community, we believe our school is truly Catholic and that Christ is the centre of daily life. This is evident in our learning environments, our relationships and friendships, and the way we represent ourselves on our campuses and in the wider community.
The religious life of our school is evident in our Religious Identity and Culture, the way we live the gospel values and share in our spiritual growth, the celebration of prayer, liturgy, and the sacraments, and our sense of social action and justice.
As a Catholic community, we are called to serve and to be stewards of Christ.
‘Environmentally, it is important for us to read the signs of the times, the signs of the Spirit. We have been gifted with the care of this beautiful land and must hand it on to the next generation in a healthy and pristine condition. To carry out this sacred duty expresses our love for the Creator, each other and the rest of creation’.
(Introduction: On Holy Ground)
The Religious and Spiritual Development of a student is a partnership between child, parents and staff. Parents are encouraged to be active members of our Parish and to participate in the weekly celebration of the Eucharist. A parent’s role model can never be underestimated. The school is a part of the parish, as a limb is part of a tree. A healthy school can only grow out of a healthy parish. The Catholic school exists to assist the Church in its Mission to bring forth the Kingdom.
Children have the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation or participate in a reconciliation prayer service during school hours, periodically throughout the Term. Children prepare for Eucharist and Confirmation in Years 4-7 every year. The sacrament of Baptism is also offered to non–Catholic children at any year level or preschool age. The Parish and school work cooperatively to help prepare the children for these Sacraments.
The Religious Education Programme taught at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart school is based on the Brisbane Guidelines. Our school adheres to the Brisbane Catholic Education Religious Education Curriculum, in line with the Cairns Diocese. The content of the new curriculum is organised into four interrelated strands: Sacred Texts, Beliefs, Church and Christian Life. Each strand has its own distinctive body of knowledge. Classroom learning and teaching of religion balances and integrates all four strands. The religious life of the school is integral to our identity, with students participating in daily group and personal prayer, regular classroom liturgies, and whole-school Masses.
