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Glenwood High School

Glenwood High School

Opportunity Through Learning

Telephone02 9629 9577

Emailglenwood-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Religion and Ethics

Special Religious Education (SRE) 

Parents/caregivers in public schools have the right to have their children receive instruction in their preferred religious persuasion, where authorised teachers of that persuasion are available.

A special religious education program is available at the school and is co-ordinated by Rev Dr Ken Lesta under the authority of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Glenwood, a government approved provider of SRE. The Department of Education’s approved providers of SRE, whose representatives present scripture at Glenwood High School, are: Australian Sikh Association, Catholic Diocese of Parramattta and Emmanuel Baptist Church.

There are presently three RE streams available at Glenwood High School: (1) General RE (Protestant Scripture), (2) Catholic RE and (3) Sikh RE. Each teacher and lesson given are approved under their individual organisation’s structures. Contact details of each coordinator can be provided by the school if required.

Students who ask to be withdrawn from special religious education are supervised by Glenwood High teachers for quiet study, reading or homework completion.

Special religious education at Glenwood High School takes place during timetabled lessons for one class period each Monday for approximately six weeks during any one term. During each term a different class year is taught RE, normally Year 7 (Term 1), Year 8 (Term 2), Year 9 (Term 3).

Students continue in the same arrangement each year, unless a parent/caregiver has requested a change in writing. At any time, parents/caregivers have the right to change their child’s participation status in the SRE program. A note to the Deputy Principal will affect this change.


Voluntary Religious Activities (VSA)

A number of students at Glenwood High School voluntarily participate in religious groups, which meet weekly during lunchtimes. In accordance with the Department of Education’s policy, visiting group leaders undergo all appropriate child protection checks and practices and the content of the activities is regularly monitored.

Following are details of the voluntary groups of a religious nature, which operate at Glenwood High School:

Participation in VSA

The NSW Department of Education’s Religious Education Implementation Procedures requires parental permission for students who participate in voluntary student activities of a religious nature in schools.

Before participating in any of the activities listed below, a student must present the permission slip, signed by a parent or carer, to Mrs O’Connor in the front office. Group leaders will maintain a list of all students from whom a permission note has been received. Permission will remain effective unless a letter of withdrawal is received from the student’s parent or carer.

VSA groups

    JAM (Christian Fellowship)

    Time: Friday lunchtime

    Venue: B-Block

    Participating Year groups: Years 7-12

Download SRE Participation and Prayer Group Permission note


  Islamic Prayer

    Time: Friday lunchtime

    Venue: A Block

    Participating Year groups: Years 7-12

Download SRE Participation and Prayer Group Permission note


For further information, see the NSW Department of Education’s Religion and ethics pages.