Religious Education
Religious Education Policy
Introductory Statement:
St. Columba’s National School’s Religious Education Policy was formulated by the R.E. post holder and the Principal in consultation with school staff, the Parents’ Association and the Board of Management.
This policy is an updated version of the previous school policy for Religious Education and
integrates the revised R.E. programme ‘Grow in Love’.
General Information about the school:
St. Columba’s National School is a co-educational primary school with 15 classes from Junior Infants to Sixth Class. There are approximately 370 children enrolled in the school. The school was opened in October 1925 and is located in the parish of St. Columba in the Dublin Diocese.
The school Patron is the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Dermot Farrell. St. Columba’s Parish Church is beside our school.
The parish of St. Columba, Iona Road is part of the Glasnevin Partnership of Parishes within the parishes of: Our Lady of Dolours,Glasnevin, Corpus Christi, Drumcondra, Our Mother of Divine Grace, Ballygall Road East and Our Lady Of Victories , Ballymun Road in the Archdiocese of Dublin.
Two patron nominees sit on the Board of Management.
St. Columba’s NS follows the curriculum prescribed by the Department of Education and Skills. The school provides Religious Education for Catholic pupils in accordance with the doctrines, practices and tradition of the Roman Catholic Church.
Non-Catholic pupils may be exempt from the religious education programme at the request of their parents.
Aim of Religious Education in St. Columba’s NS:
The aim of Religious Education is to foster and deepen the children’s faith through teaching the Catholic Religious Education programme and through the cultivation of the Catholic Ethos of the school.
Throughout the RE curriculum and the ‘Grow in Love’ programme pupils are given an opportunity to notice, accept and celebrate the loving presence of God in their lives. The pedagogical style that is followed in the ‘Grow in Love ‘ programme is characterised by three qualities: respect, invitation and conversation.
Religious Education Resources used in St Columba’s National School:
The Catholic Preschool and Primary Religious Education Curriculum for Ireland is the foundation document for all Religious Education at St. Columba’s NS.
The Grow in Love Programme scaffolds Religious Education at all levels from Junior Infants to 6th class, following its phased implementation between 2015 and 2019.
Each teacher has access to the Grow in Love Teacher Resource Kit and the Grow in Love website with online resources linked to each theme and seasonal lessons. The teacher also has access to the flipchart of posters for the classroom sacred space.
Classes bring home the pupil’s book weekly and complete the ‘At Home’ page with parents. There is a school set of Bibles which are available to any class to use.
The Grow in Love programme allows for the differentiation of the material given in each theme for SEN pupils or children who are gifted and talented. Resources for Catholic Schools Week (CWS) from the Diocesan Education Office are available to the school each January and are accessible for teachers to support RE and CSW events.
Religious Symbols in St. Columba’s National School:
A ‘Schedule for Catholic Schools’ is displayed in the Entrance Hall area and also outside the Principal’s Office. There is an icon of St. Columba, a framed picture of St. Joseph, a wooden icon of Mary and Baby Jesus and a cross displayed in the Entrance Hallway of the school.
A Sacred Space has been developed just outside the office. There are Rosary Beads, a Catholic Bible, Holy Water and a Statue of Our Lady in this area.
Other symbols pertaining to the Liturgical year are also displayed, for example an Advent wreath, a Crib and a St. Brigid’s Cross.
Classroom Prayer Space:
Each class has its own designated Sacred Space arranged by the class teacher with symbols and pictures to reflect the Liturgical year and the themes of the R.E. programme being taught. Pupils are encouraged to pray during the school day and to add relevant symbols and prayers etc. to the class Sacred Space.
The pupils' faith in St. Columba’s N.S. is supported by prayers as follows:
As pupils progress through the class levels teachers encourage prayer. Each class level has a list of formal prayers to be learnt in each class
Please see Appendix 1: Formal Prayers. This shows the prayers each class level is expected to know.
The school holds Prayer Services in the School Hall at various times throughout the school year to observe the Liturgical Calendar.
Sacramental Preparation:
Sacramental preparation is a collaborative process with home, school and parish working together to prepare pupils for the sacraments.
First Penance and First Holy Communion preparation is undertaken in Second Class with
Confirmation Preparation undertaken in Sixth Class.
A general guide of the schedule for the celebration of the sacraments is as follows:
Second Class: First Penance in March /April & First Communion in May
Sixth Class: Enrolment Ceremony in November, Service of Light in March & Confirmation in April/May.
School Based Preparation:
In St. Columba’s N.S. pupils are prepared thoroughly for the Sacraments of Penance and First Holy Communion (Second Class) and Confirmation (Sixth Class) by their teachers in association with the school chaplain and the parish faith development officer.
Teachers and pupils follow the preparation lessons as presented in the Grow in Love. programme which is supplemented with Sacrament Scrapbooks where the children reflect on and log their journey through the sacraments to this point.
Parents are notified of the dates of the sacraments early in the school year, once the dates have been agreed between the school and the parish.
Parish Based Preparation:
The sacrament classes attend mass with their teachers in St. Columba’s Church regularly as part of their preparation for the sacraments. The parish community are also present at the masses that the pupils attend as the preparation for the sacraments are an important part of parish life. The classes are supported by the parish faith development officer and parent volunteers throughout the year.
Implementation of Religious Education during the School Year:
Normal Religious Education classes take place daily.
Each school day commences with a morning prayer and also a prayer before home time.
St. Columba’s N.S. supports the annual Catholic Bishops’ Trocáire campaign and teachers have
access to the cross curricular links on the education section of its website.
In early September a meeting is held between the Principal, Deputy Principal and R.E. Coordinator to schedule all religious celebrations in the coming year including setting a date for the start of the school year mass in the church for 1st to 6th class and planning the school prayer services that will happen throughout the year.
Other RE related activities include:
The whole school from 1st to 6th attend mass for the main liturgical celebrations eg. Ash Wednesday, the Immaculate Conception etc.
Social justice awareness is highlighted through participation in carol singing for charity, the annual Shoe Box appeal and our 6th class hold a Sale of Work to raise money for charity.
School Staff & BOM are notified of the date of the annual Diocesan School Mass organised by the Archdiocese.
Our senior class usually attend a retreat prior to finishing in 6th class.
The 3rd and 4th class provide the music for the First Holy Communion and the 5th class provide the singing for Confirmation ceremony.
An annual Christmas Carol Service and Nativity is held in the church prior to the Christmas holidays with the school choir and 5th and 6th classes participating.
A monthly liturgical planning guide from the Diocesan Office is made available via email to all teachers.
Partners in Religious Education Home/School:
The pivotal role of parents as primary educators of their children is recognised.
The ‘Grow in Love’ Programme provides weekly At Home pages to be completed which link directly with the themes taught to the pupils.
The school communicates updates on aspects of Religious Education and sacramental preparation in the school through the school newsletters.
The school liaises with parent volunteers who help with various aspects of sacramental preparation.
Parents are invited to attend the school masses, nativity plays and Christmas Carol Service.
School/Parish: The school has access to the Parish Faith Development Officer who facilitates and supports Sacramental preparation in the school.
Parents’ Association: The Parents’ Association of St. Columba’s N.S. kindly organise a reception in the School Hall after the First Holy Communion ceremony for the families and pupils involved.
Accommodation of Pupils of Other Faiths and None:
St. Columba’s National School welcomes pupils of other faiths and none.
Pupils whose parents do not wish them to participate in the Religion Education classes must remain in the classroom and work quietly and independently during religious instruction time.
We do not have sufficient staff to provide separate supervision for children not partaking in religion class or religious services.
The children of other faiths and none are not ‘excluded’ from lessons and may participate in lessons if they choose to.
Pupils of other faiths and none who are in the sacramental classes are invited to attend the
sacrament if they would like and also to come to the First Communion celebration in the school hall.
These children are also welcome to be photographed with the other pupils in the class who have celebrated the sacraments.
Inter–Religious links are a welcome part of the ‘Grow in Love’ programme. Such links provide
information for teachers and pupils on festivals and celebrations from other religions.
This policy was ratified by the Board at its meeting on 31st March 2025.