Religious Studies Department
St. Augustine Catholic Secondary School
Course Code: HRE 4M1Course Name: Church and Culture
Level: Mixed
Instructor:
Period:
Room Number:
Course Overview:
This course is directed toward the clear identification of Catholic Moral principles and the concrete
application of these principles in the lives of students. The course proceeds from foundational beliefs
rooted in Sacred Scriptures concerning justice and peace to an exploration of the principles that shape
Christian life. Other areas of study also include social justice and philosophy. 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:
 Explain the Catholic understanding of the Bible as God’s self-revelation
 Use exegesis to apply Scripture in ethical and moral decision making
II. Profession of Faith:
 Integrate the religious quest in their search for meaning on the contemporary world
 Appreciate persons as rational, emotional, physical, social, aesthetic, moral and spiritual in
nature
III. Christian Moral Development:
 Appreciate how persons are created with free will and with the ability to discern right from
wrong
IV. Prayer and Sacramental Life:
 Seek the transforming wisdom of the Holy Spirit in their search for authenticity and peace of
heart
V. Family Life
 Understand the concept of dignity of the human person and its impact on our inherent sense of
Efforts will be made to meet the individual lea
responsibility towards self and others
to ensure these expectations are being met.
V. Family Life Education:
 recognize and explore the meaning of integrity and belonging in human life
Course Breakdown
Resources:
Unit 1:
Christian Philosophy: Freedom and
Conscience
Unit 2:
Christian Revelation: Old and New
Testament. The Church
Unit 3:
Christian Morality
Unit 4:
Social Teaching of the Church
Unit 5:
Christian Relationship
The textbook, In Search of the Good, 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
$39.95.
Evaluation Structure::
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 – 10%
+ Final Exam – 20%
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.