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Caritas Award 2014: Preparing for Assessment

admin — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 19:35:26 +0000

or those S6 students enrolled for the Caritas Award this session, attention is beginning to turn towards gathering all the evidence which they need to demonstrate that they have met the success criteria which will enable them to be presented with the Caritas Award in 2014. This should be a fairly straightforward task for those who have participated in the award appropriately. All Assessment documentation has now been sent to schools prior to assessment evidence being submitted by 31st March 2014.

Success Criteria

To gain the Caritas Award, candidates must satisfy the assessors that they have met these eight success criteria:

I have provided evidence of extensive personal reflection on my Caritas journey.
I have demonstrated how my knowledge and understanding of “Caritas” has developed during the Caritas Award, with particular reference to Scripture and the teaching of Pope Benedict XVI.
I have shown my response to my learning about “Caritas” by sharing key experiences and moments of insight from the award year.
I have evaluated and explained the impact of my Caritas journey on my faith and values.
I have completed 20 hours of faith witness activities in my school community.
I have completed 20 hours of faith witness activities in my parish or faith community.
I have provided evidence of the impact of my faith witness activities on my school and on my parish or faith community.
I have provided evidence that I have reflected on how the Caritas Award might influence my future actions.

Evidence to be provided

Each candidate should gather the following pieces of evidence:

A.    Parish activities logsheet
B.    School activities logsheet
C.    4 Caritas Journal assessments (pp 9/10, 19/20, 29/30, 39/40)
D.    Final submission

Assessment of evidence

Each candidate’s evidence will be assessed and verified by assessors on the Caritas Award Board which comprises people of significant experience in Catholic education who have been briefed on the assessment criteria which will be applied consistently.

Results

School will be notified of the results of assessments by early May. Invitations will then be sent to those who are eligible to be presented with the award at the Caritas Award Ceremony in the Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow on Saturday 31st May 2014 .

Resources for Lent 2014

admin — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 19:30:51 +0000

Details of a range of resources available to focus on the season of Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday (13th February), can be found here: Lent Resources 2014

Religious Education evaluated by Education Scotland

admin — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 13:35:05 +0000

Education Scotland has published the latest in a series of Curriculum Impact reports, which are designed to present a subject-by-subject picture of how children and young people are experiencing learning in different areas of the 3-18 curriculum across the country.

This report focuses on religious and moral education (RME) and has been developed in partnership with schools and local authorities. A project reference group – including representation from local authorities, the Scottish Catholic Education Service, universities, the Church of Scotland and Interfaith Scotland – provided advice and feedback on the review process and early drafts of the report. The report was compiled with the input of young people, parents and local authorities, and following independent inspection activities in schools and other learning environments.

Curriculum for Excellence supports two frameworks for learning, teaching and assessment within the Religious and Moral Education curriculum area. This acknowledges, within the Scottish context, the different aims and purposes of Religious and Moral Education (RME) in non-denominational schools and Religious Education in Roman Catholic (RERC) schools. This report sets out to encourage professional learning across the two approaches.

The report identifies strengths in a number of areas of Religious and Moral Education, including in children and young people’s learning experiences. Some aspects for improvement are also identified for example, in relation to the senior phase of RME in non-denominational schools. The report also identifies a need for more subject specific career long professional learning opportunities to be provided for practitioners. The report reinforces the aims and purposes of Religious and Moral Education in Scotland and highlights the value of the subject for our children and young people.

It is intended that this report acts as a stimulus for ongoing professional dialogue and development. Practitioners are encouraged to engage with each other and with Education Scotland staff to discuss and share practice and address areas requiring development via Glow and other professional networks locally and nationally.

N.B. An Executive Summary of the report can be downloaded here and a link to the report is provided below.

Resources for Pope Francis FAITH AWARD

admin — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 13:30:14 +0000

Over fifty primary schools and almost 60 parishes from across Scotland are taking part in a pilot scheme for the Pope Francis FAITH Award which will help young people at the Primary 6 & 7 stages to use the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in their homes, schools and parishes. More than 1,000 young people and their parents have enrolled in the scheme in which they are asked to show that:

they have used all the gifts of the Holy Spirit when showing love of God and love of others in their daily lives.
with the support of others, they have reflected on how their actions have made an impact on their journey of faith
they are playing their part in the life of the parish.

In the light of the pilot scheme, the award will be openend up to enrolments from all Catholic schools and parishes in Scotland.