September 4th, 2012

Dear R.E. Teacher / Chaplain,

I am back in the office since yesterday and I will get back to those of you who have been in contact soon. Last year I had the privilege of visiting 175 schools of the diocese and meeting such dedicated and hardworking teachers and chaplains. This year I look forward to assisting you and your R.E. department in both delivering an excellent R.E. programme and also further developing the faith of your students. There are currently 600 teachers and chaplains on my mailing list and please let me know if there any new teachers in your school who would like to be added. I would also greatly appreciate it if at your R.E. subject department meetings you could look at agreeing a time which may suit for me to visit your R.E. department and also any areas where you would like support this year.

Website Resources: As I mentioned in previous emails our website www.education.dublindiocese.ie has been revamped and I’ve been busy uploading lots of new resources etc. which you can download and view.

Starting this week you can follow my CALENDAR approach to teaching R.E. Each month between September & May a selection of resources linked to events and important dates from international justice, peace and environmental calendars as well as important dates from religious calendars will be posted in the Religious & Justice Calendar Resources section of our new website. The full calendar which is published by the Irish Missionary Union (www.IMU.ie) can be viewed or downloaded by clicking here.

The resources for the next week are connected to September 8th which is International Literacy Day and the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary and September 11th which is the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack.
This approach to teaching R.E. requires the use of a data projector and internet access and is mainly geared towards senior cycle non-exam R.E. classes. You can follow the materials and resources fully or dip in at various times during the year. The majority of the resources emailed last year were linked to this approach and with our new website I hope it will be easier for you to gather and access these resources this year. Any feedback will be much appreciated.

Pilot Meithéal Youth Leadership Programme – The Kildare and Leighlin Diocese has been offering to schools in their diocese a Meithéal Programme since 1989 and a number of schools in the Dublin Archdiocese have expressed an interest in a similar programme starting in the Dublin area. A Meithéal Programme is designed to educate and empower young people in schools. The students, leaders and others educate each other through leadership, taking action, liturgy, reflection and evaluation. I am looking to establish a pilot group of schools interested in participating in a Meithéal Programme in the Dublin Archdiocese this year and please get in touch if you or your school might be interested or if you would like further information.

 

With every blessing for the year ahead,

 
Gary