Year 7 RE Term 1: Homework/Extension Tasks

TASK 1: Simon Remembers

When I started at my new secondary school, I didn’t know what to expect. Everything was
completely different for me from primary school. I was lucky to have some friends who
came with me from St. Monica’s to the new co-ed school. My friend John and I had
played cricket together in Grades 5 and 6. Sharon also started at the same time – we had
played mixed doubles tennis a couple of times. What struck me immediately about
secondary school was its size. It was much bigger than St. Monica’s with more teachers,
more classrooms, and a wider range of subjects and cultural backgrounds. Luckily, the
staff there had been in contact with the local primary schools that fed into the high
school. They worked out a few strategies to help us settle in. There was a school tour as
well as an open market day where the new students and parents could meet staff,
including the principal, subject co-ordinators and pastoral care teachers. Also, right at the
beginning of Year 7 the teachers and the parish priest Father Quinn had planned a unit of
work that involved every student’s subjects. It focused on learning as much as possible
about the local area, its population, services and history – including the history of the
local church, its building style and so on. There is so much to do and learn – I’m looking
forward to being at this school hopefully for the next 6 years.

- Simon, 12 years old

1. List the people who have been important to you in the final weeks of Year 7 and in
the first few weeks of Year 8.
2. Describe what it was like when you began secondary school. Was your experience
similar to Simon’s? What was different?
3. Reflect. Knowing what you do now about secondary school, what would you advise
your old primary school or current secondary school to do differently or in addition
to their current transition program? Was there anything that you wish you knew
earlier or wish you practiced before starting?
4. Create 5 rules for a new student starting at your school. What would help them
settle in quickly without getting into trouble?
5. Design an A5 size (half an A4) flyer that advertises the benefits our attending your
new school. What activities, services and resources does it have to offer? What
makes it a standout school in the local area?
TASK 2: Like stones in the wall …

It was usual for a particular secondary school principal to give new students a special talk
to welcome them to the school. He would always invite students to the college chapel.
This chapel was made from sandstone rocks gathered from the local area. In the course of
his talk he noted how there were many different colours, shapes, and sizes among the
rocks that had been chosen. There were red, orange and yellow rocks, triangular,
rectangular and octagonal rocks, and big, medium and small rocks.

Yet, he would say, no matter how small, each rock needs every other rock. The rocks
supported each other. Cement joined them together - he would call this the school spirit
or vision. Some groups of rocks made the floor, others a door or window, or maybe
supported a heavy wooden beam. He would then conclude with the thought that even
though a single stone might think it was all by itself with a huge weight on its shoulders, it
was never alone. It was always joined to three or four other stones and was therefore
always supported and always strong.

- Year 8 student, Edmund Rice College, Woollongong

1. In what other ways can a student be compared to a part of a building or other

structure?
2. Who are the ‘stones’ of your school community?
3. Other images are used to symbolise the meaning ‘belonging’ and ‘community’ –
including the human body. Can you think of 2 others?

It is part of our role to discover and remember all of these different people. Everyone is a
vital part of the structure, no matter their size, shape or colour. Without one, although
the structure may not collapse, the hole would prove detrimental to those around it. For
apart from our fathers and mothers in faith we have no past, we have a present without
direction and an even more uncertain future. Catholics are challenged to ‘look to the rock
from which they were hewn and the quarry from which they were dug.’ (Isaiah 51:1)

1. Describe the image of Isaiah in your own words.

TASK 3: Lateral Thinking

In a phone book, there are hundreds of thousands of listings. Most listings in the Yellow
Pages are grouped according to a category – Electricians, Employment agencies, Real Estate
etc. Consider the following statement:

Catholics should be defined in the phone book.

Do you think that everyone who is Catholic should be listed in a specific section of the
Yellow Pages?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this idea? List them below:

Have a read of the ‘Interesting’ column. Discuss with a peer what you think about these
points.

Advantages Disadvantages Interesting

What are the good points
about the proposal?
What are the problems with
the proposal?
- Could other missing
groups be added to
the phone book? For
example, Muslims or
Hispanic?

- Would a Catholic
edition of the phone
book be popular?

TASK 4: What EMMAUS’s on about

Your teacher will give you a copy of the school’s Mission Statement. This is like the ‘law’ of
the school – what we all aim to do, as staff and students. It is very official as it is available on
the school’s website for the public to view. Create a new version that can be presented to
the Year 8 students this year and those Year 6 and 7 students who may be considering
coming to EMMAUS in the coming years. Explain what it means in everyday words and give
at least 3 examples of how this can be easily achieved by a student of any age at EMMAUS.

Mission Statement

Find the Emmaus College Mission Statement on our College website.

Now you’re familiar with the Mission Statement. Think about what benefit it has for the
students and staff. If, everyone at EMMAUS lived life to all its fullness, then what would
happen? If those consequences occurred, what would be the outcome then?

Place the Mission Statement in the middle of the Consequences Web below. Think about
the consequences and then the broader outcome of the consequences.

Then . .
Then . .

Then . .
Then . .
Then . .

Then . .
If Then . .

Then . . Then . .
Then . .

Then . . Then . .

TASK 5: Poetry in Motion

Create an acrostic poem using the word ‘CHURCH’ or ‘COMMUNITY’

Here’s an example:

E mmaus is the best school in Rockhampton

M arvellously cares for its students’ academic, sporting, cultural and spiritual development

M akes sure to include everyone in the community

A lways employs only only the best teachers

U ltimately is the best at sport

S tudents here are the superlative

TASK 6: Fun with Crosswords

Develop the following topics to create a crossword for.

- EMMAUS
- Holy Family Parish
- Sacraments of initiation (baptism, Eucharist and confirmation)

Use this website:

http://www.puzzle-maker.com/CW/

TASK 6: A Church of many images

Many images or symbols are used to describe the Church. Each image develops one key
aspect and has strengths and weaknesses. Taken together, the full range shows the
richness, depth and differences within the whole Church community.

Look up five of the following scripture references and explain its meaning in one sentence.
Your teacher will provide you with a hard copy of the Bible or you can use the website
www.biblegateway.com

Ephesians 2:19 (example) 1 Corinthians 12:12-13

Matthew 21:33-43 John 15:4-9

1 Corinthians 3:12-13 Matthew 14:22-33

John 10:11-15 Ephesians 5:22-29

1 Corinthians 3:9-11

Example: Ephesians 2:19

19
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also
members of the household of God,

Meaning in one sentence: There are no longer any outcasts – everyone is equal in God’s house.

1. Choose 3 of the images and highlight a strength and weakness of these images.

For example: Ephesians 2:19

Strength: We all belong as long as we believe in God – our wealth or race doesn’t matter.

Weakness: If one person decides to leave the group then we won’t be as strong and others
may be tempted to follow.

2. Why is the Church like a series of computers hooked up to the Internet?

TASK 7: Signs of Change – Indigenous in the multicultural Catholic Church

At the time when the First Fleet arrived in what we now call Sydney Harbour, there were
probably 750 000 Indigenous Australians living on the mainland and in Tasmania. The
Indigenous people had been there for at least 60 000 years. However, the early relations
between the European settlers, including the Christian churches, were not positive. For
example, by 1868, eighty years after the landing of the First Fleet, many thousands of
Indigenous Australians were dead. Many died from European diseases such as smallpox or
measles because they had no immunity to them. Others were killed by settlers who moved
onto land that belonged to no one (or so they thought). Some accounts detail the brutality
carried out by the hands of the Europeans on the Indigenous population. It was a dark
period in Australian history.

Most Australians and many Catholics went along with this treatment, either out of
ignorance or by direct action. Others objected but the results were not fruitful.

Today, although many problems still exist such as poor living conditions and prejudice of all
kinds, there is a much greater recognition of the gifts of Indigenous Australians for the
Australian Catholic Church. In 1986, Pope John Paul II said in Alice Springs, that before and
since 1788, Indigenous Australians had developed a deeply spiritual way of life that could be
seen in their closeness to the land and their strong system of laws and relationships.

…In Australia, the indigenous people have displayed good care of creation for more than
forty thousand years. Catholic school teachers … can contribute to students’
understanding of ways of caring for the earth by introducing them to many customs and
practices of tribal people associated with care and love of the land…

- Research the role of Indigenous Australians in the Catholic Church since 1788 – how
have they been left out? How have they been involved? Write a paragraph to detail
both questions.
- The Cathedral Restorations are now complete, which means there will be
celebrations. How would you have involved local Indigenous groups in the
celebration?

Relationships within the Catholic Church and between other Christian denominations
haven’t always been friendly. There have been dramatic changes over the past 50 years.
While the original Catholic immigrants to Australia in 1788 were either Irish or British, World
War II saw Catholic immigrants from Italy, Spain, Germany and Asian and South American
countries. The face of the Catholic Church is certainly a multicultural one.

There are now times during the year that Christian churches band together to celebrate
days of significance by holding ecumenical services. This means whatever Christian faith you
may belong to, you can attend this mass. Examples of significant days include Australia Day
and World Peace Day. There is also a World Council of Churches that holds meetings
represented by leaders from all Christian denominations and other faith traditions.

Activity 8 Church Design

Choose one of the churches to focus on. Use the Internet to research the following information about
your chosen church:

 For whom was the church designed?

 Who worships there now?
 When was it built (approximately)?

Using the same church, reflect using the Six Thinking Hats Strategy.

Red: How would you feel if you worshipped in this church?

Yellow: What appeals to you about the building?

Black: What does not appeal to you about this building?

Green: How would you make this church a more appealing place?

White: List the items that make this building a church.

Record in the table on the next page.

St Finbarr’s Church,
Ashgrove
St Stephen’s
Cathedral,
Brisbane

Our Lady of Graces,

Carina

St Patrick’s,
Gympie

St Peter Claver,
Cherbourg

St Ambrose,
Newmarket
 Sacred Heart,
Durong

The (church) was designed for …

… worships at (church).

(church) was built in …

How would you feel if you worshipped in this

church?
What appeals to you about the building?

What does not appeal to you about this

building?

How would you make this church a more

appealing place?

List the items that make this building a church

If you have time …

Churches have been around for a long time and some could be considered very old fashioned in
comparison to surrounding buildings. What do you find appealing about your local church? Do you think
any improvements need to be made in order to ‘bring it up to date’? Explain your opinions.

Did you know?

The word Church often refers to the physical building in which Christians meet for worship.
The word originally comes from the Greek adjective kuriakos meaning ‘belonging to the Lord.’
Activity 9 A World Tour

Plan a world tour of four countries in which the Catholic Church worships. During your visit to each
country you will attend a Mass. So, investigate the type of clothing you will need to wear, the type of
music you may hear and how they celebrate Mass so you can show cultural sensitivity. You must visit
at least 3 different continents. Record at least one fact in each of the three boxes.

Start with this site to choose the countries:

Use a Google search term like: “Catholicism in (your country)”

Destination Worshiping at a Catholic Church

Clothing Music Other