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.
At Dee Why Public School, SRE and SEE is delivered on Thursday:
K-2: 1.55 - 2.25pm
Yrs 3-6: 2.30 - 3pm
On enrolment parents/carers will be given the SRE and SEE participation letter to complete and return. After the initial enrolment, notification of changes to a child's enrolment in SRE/SEE should be given to where, in writing.
The following approved providor SRE classes are offered at Dee Why Public School:
- Catholic
- Combined Christian
- Islamic
- Primary Ethics
- Non-SRE
Specific links:
- Catholic SRE Classes
Lessons include activities that are fun and inclusive for students, whilst also providing them the opportunity to critically explore in depth their faith and to pray and reflect.
https://www.bbcatholic.org.au/our-faith/evangelisation/ccd/curriculum
- Combined Christian SRE Classes
Combined Christian SRE is provided by C3 Church Sydney in conjunction with SRE teachers from Anglican and Baptist churches. Christian SRE engages students in conversations as they question life, explore values and discover faith. For more information about Christian SRE at our school, please visit the following websites:
https://www.c3australia.com/sre
https://cepconnect.com.au/samples
- Islamic Council of NSW SRE Classes
Students gain knowledge of Islamic principles, values and life skills. Students are supported and nurtured to develop a positive sense of their identity as Muslims, and are guided towards becoming model members of their communities.
https://www.isre.org.au/scope-k-6/
SEE can provided by Primary Ethics. For more information about SEE, including the authorised curriculum scope and sequence, please visit the Primary Ethics website.
During the time that SRE/SEE classes are being held, students not attending will be located in a separate space and will participate in meaningful activities, such as reading, private study or completing homework.
- Primary Ethics
Our lessons provide a unique opportunity for students to think about and articulate their own views while considering their classmates’ diverse range of viewpoints on a set of ethical issues. No particular stance on any topic is promoted. Students are not told what to think or what the right thing to do is in any situation; they are not expected to converge on a single view.
Our lesson materials provide...
• stories and scenarios with ethical issues in a range of topics
• questions with no easy/straightforward answer
• a balance of philosophical perspectives
in combination with our ethics teachers who...
• bring the stories and scenarios to life and create a sense of curiosity about the questions they pose
• remain neutral about the ethical dilemmas, which encourages diversity of thinking
• facilitate respectful discussion and model the inquiry process