NSW public schools offer special religious education and special education in ethics, delivered by approved providers wherever available.
During enrolment, you can choose a special religious education option for your child from the school’s available approved providers. You can withdraw your child from special religious education by selecting alternative meaningful activities, or special education in ethics if it’s available.
You can update your preference by writing to the school or through the online form available at participating schools.
Visit the department’s website for more information about religion and ethics.
Toongabbie Public School offers special religious education (SRE). Approved providers deliver these as weekly 30 minute lessons, where available. SRE is delivered on Wednesdays from 1:40-2:15pm for K-2 students and from 2:20-2:50pm for K-2 students.
On enrolment parents/carers will be given the SRE participation letter to complete and return. After the initial enrolment, notification of changes to a child's enrolment in SRE should be given to the office in writing. Students who elect not to participate in SRE will be supervised by a classroom teacher during this time.
The following SRE classes are offered at Toongabbie Public School:
Combined Christian
Name of approved provider – Anglican Diocese of Sydney
Christian SRE is education in Christian beliefs and practices for children of families from various Christian denominations and churches. Christian SRE teachers at this school are authorised and trained by the following approved SRE providers ( https://sydneyanglicans.net/about ). The SRE curriculum used in this school is produced by Christian Education Publications and is approved by each SRE provider. The curriculum explores the good news about Jesus Christ found in the Bible and the depth of God’s love for people. Each lesson has been developed to be taught in an age-appropriate manner. Lessons include activities which make the lessons fun and inclusive for children and young people, and also give them the opportunity to critically explore and deepen their faith, pray, and reflect.
Research has shown that SRE contributes to students’ wholistic education as it nurtures their spiritual wellbeing. For more information about the SRE curriculum used in this school visit whysre.com.au.
Catholic
Name of approved provider – Catholic Diocese of Parramatta
For information on the scope and sequence of the content taught, please go to:
https://ccd.sydneycatholic.org/publications/curriculum-resources/
Hindu Dharma
Name of approved provider - VISHVA HINDU PARISHAD OF AUSTRALIA INC
For information on the scope and sequence of the content taught, please go to:
https://www.vhp.org.au/sre-hindu-dharma-scripture-classes
Islamic
Name of approved provider – The Islamic Charity Projects Association
For information on the scope and sequence of the content taught, please go to:
https://www.icpa.org.au/islamic-scripture-2/
Non-Scripture
For students whose parents have indicated they do not wish them to attend a Special Religious Education class, alternative meaningful activities are provided. While lessons based on the NSW syllabuses cannot be taught at these times - students are supervised by school staff and may participate in reading, private study, completing homework or other activities as considered to be appropriate by the school community.