Religious Studies Department
St. Augustine Catholic Secondary School
Course Code: HRE 4O1Course Name: Church and Culture
Level: Open
Instructor:
Period:
Room Number:
Course Overview:
This course assists students in their development of the skills and knowledge necessary to live lives of
full maturity. Within the Catholic faith tradition, it is believed that this growth towards human maturity
is best served when students are able to define themselves authentically in relation to God, to other
people and their world. The Christian moral life is a call to follow Jesus Christ, to believe in the
redemptive love of God for humankind and to proclaim and incarnate the reign of God as inaugurated
by Jesus Christ. This course is intended to provide students with the needed knowledge, skills, values,
and attitudes that assist them in making life-giving, Christ-centred, moral decisions in their ongoing
faith.
Specific Strands of Study and Expectations include:
I. Scripture:
 Reflect on the message and importance of Scriptures in making moral and ethical decisions
 Explain how Scriptures can be used to analyse and critique personal and social situations
II. Profession of Faith:
 Understand the role of the Church in moral and ethical formation
 Examine the contributions of the Catholic Church to the dialogue around various social justice
issues
III. Christian Moral Development:
 Evaluate contemporary ethical and moral issues in light of the Church’s moral teaching
 Define the Catholic understanding of sin and reconciliation, both social and individual, and
explore the impact of sin on the human condition
IV. Prayer and Sacramental Life:
 Understand the broad meaning of the term vocation as an adoption of stance before all forms
of work as service to God and for others
 Use various forms of prayer and ritual to express the spiritual implications of adopting a moral
and ethical stance
Efforts will be made to meet the individual lea
V. ensure
Family Life
to
these expectations are being met.
 Apply related Church teaching to values and practices that undermine the sacredness of life
V. Family Life Education:
 recognize and explore the meaning of integrity and belonging in human life
Course Breakdown
Resources:
Unit 1:
The Christian Person
Unit 2:
Christian Mission
Unit 3:
Christian Morality
The textbook, Creating a Christian Lifestyle,
will be distributed to students during the first
week of the course. The text and all other
resources assigned to students are the
responsibility of the student. Replacement cost
for the text is $21.00.
Evaluation Structure::
Unit 4:
Christian Community
Unit 5:
Christian Relationships
Knowledge/Understanding
Thinking/Inquiry
Communication
Application
25%
25%
25%
25%
These are assessed in both term work and summative
work as follows:
TERM WORK - 70%
SUMMATIVE WORK – 30%
Culminating Task – 15%
+ Final Exam – 15%
Evaluation Policy
Students will be assessed & evaluated according to the work produced & skills displayed. Methods of providing
feedback will include assessing work in process & evaluating completed assignments, tests, co-operative learning
activities, simulations and presentations. Peer & self-evaluations will also be utilized. Student marks will be
determined by evaluating process & product according to 4 categories & 4 levels.
Level
Category
Knowledge/Understanding


Knowledge of facts & terms
Understanding of concepts & relationships
Thinking/Inquiry



Critical thinking skills
Creative thinking skills
Inquiry Skills
Communication



Communication of ideas and information
Use of symbols & visuals
Oral & written communication
Level 1:
50-59%
Level 2:
60-69%
Level 3:
70-79%
Level 4:
80-100%
-Limited
display of
knowledge,
skills and
ability to
apply
concepts
-Some
success in
displaying
knowledge,
skills and
application
of concepts
-Considerable
display of
knowledge
skills and
ability to apply
concepts
-Thorough
understanding
of concepts and
ability to
communicate,
think creatively
and apply
concepts
Application




Applications in familiar contexts
Transfer of concepts to new contexts
Making logical conclusions and predictions
Use of technology / Making connections
Feedback will also be provided for student learning skills. Skills like working independently, team work, organization,
work habits and homework, and initiative are assessed independently student achievement and will be conducted
through the use of a rubric indicating specific criteria to be achieved to receive each of the following letter grades:
E –Excellent
G – Good
Other Evaluation Issues:
S – Satisfactory
N - Needs Improvement


LATE ASSIGNMENTS: Late Work will be accepted for up to five school days (with a penalty of
Up to 10%). However, late work will not be accepted if the teacher has already returned the corrected
assignment to the class.

STUDENT ABSENCES: Students are responsible for the completion of assignments, notes, reading and tests that
were missed during any absence. Students with verified absences (proof of reason) must write missed tests or
hand in assignments on the first day back following the absence. Unaccountable absences (ie. skips, truancy) will
result in a mark of zero for missed evaluations. In the case of a prolonged excusable absence, the assessment
date will be established at a mutually satisfactory time. The appropriate vice principal should be notified
regarding extended absences.

PLAGIARISM The submission of any ‘copied’ material, either in whole or in part, will result in the student receiving
a grade of 0% on the affected assignment. This position applies to text, electronic information and peer created
materials.