Catholic Special Character

Catholic Special Character

Religious Education Programme

We teach through the Faith Alive programme. This includes teaching the Strands about God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Church, Sacraments and the Communion of Saints, as well as recognising and celebrating the Liturgical Year.

The school day begins and ends with class prayer.  Class prayer may be led by the class teacher or by a group of students.  We also take time to pray and give thanks before we eat.  
Religious Education is timetabled to be explicitly taught at the most suitable time to complement the classroom programme and to ensure coverage of the required hours:
 
  • Years 1 and 2: 100 minutes – 5 x 20
  • Years 3 and 4: 100 minutes – 5 x 20 or 4 x 25
  • Years 5 and 6: 120 minutes – 4 x 30
 It is often integrated into other areas of the school curriculum for an authentic connection.
Our Director of Religious Studies (Anne Dent) is always available to discuss questions about our Special Character: alternatively, information about the Catholic Church, Catholic Education and our Special Character can be found on the following webpage www.nzceo.org.nz.
 
 
 
 
 

Masses and Liturgies

We celebrate Sunday masses as a school community at St Joseph’s Church on Powderham St, at 9 am on the third Sunday of the month during the school term.  
Two classes attend mass every Friday morning at 9 am in Philomena Hall, at our school.  School liturgies are an important part of our school life. Parents and families are welcome to join us on any of these occasions.
 

Prayer

Prayer is an important part of daily school life. Each classroom has a prayer table.  Classes begin each day in prayer, as well as grace before meals and an end of the day prayer. Children are able to experience a variety of styles of prayer.
 

Meditation

Every afternoon all students take time out to meditate in their classrooms to centre themselves for their afternoon learning.
 

Sacramental Programme

The Sacraments mark important milestones in the children’s faith journey which are celebrated by the whole school and parish community. At St Pius X Catholic School, we encourage our students to celebrate the sacraments and we support them, in partnership with the Catholic Parish of New Plymouth to undertake the sacramental programmes.
Parents are the first educators in the faith. A child’s faith comes from the family who nurtures it. The parish and school accompany and support families in this. Most children are baptised as infants and then when old enough prepared for the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist which complete the initiation process.
Participation in the Church’s sacramental life is the means through which people enter more fully the faith life of the community.
 

Young Vinnies

The Young Vinnies group gives our Year 5 and 6 students an authentic way to live our school charism.  As a group, they look for opportunities locally, nationally and internationally to make a difference in the lives of others.  Being a Young Vinnie is about giving of one’s self and one’s time.