Scripture seminars are organised for students in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10. Students are offered at least one Scripture seminar each term, generally on a Thursday during Sessions 3-4 in the auditorium (hall). Actual dates are indicated on the school planner each year. Each year group experiences a session in consecutive weeks, often weeks 7-10 of the term. In Term 3, Scripture is delivered through a combined seminar for students in Yrs 7-10 on a single day.
In 2025, we are offering Combined Christian scripture, Catholic scripture, Islamic Scripture and Buddhist scripture. Students who wish to participate in this go to the hall to have their name marked off.
Combined Christian scripture is co-ordinated by a person employed by the local churches. The Combined Christian Scripture Co-ordinator for Castle Hill High in 2025 is Trent Raymond. In 2025, Trent and several of his scripture staff cook free pancakes for students in the quadrangle each Thursday morning during Session 1 (there are no timetabled classes at this time).
Scripture is overseen by a Deputy Principal, who allocates rooms, monitors content and attendance and deals with behaviour issues which arise. In 2025, that is Mr Wright.
As parents, you have the right to provide permission to participate in Scripture or revoke it at any time by informing us in writing, preferably via the school email address. We do not allow students to participate in scripture unless they have parental permission in writing and we maintain an active scripture list. A link to the Participation Letter is included below.
Special Religious Education and Special Education in Ethics Participation Letter
If you have any concerns or queries about scripture, please do not hesitate to contact us via the school email address. Mr Wright will attend to your inquiry.
The following SRE classes are offered at Castle Hill High School:
Combined Christian SRE
Christian SRE is provided by SRE teachers from different Christian denominations and churches. The approved providers in this combined arrangement are: Australian Christian Churches, Anglican Diocese of Sydney, Seventh Day Adventist Church North NSW Conference, Baptist Union of NSW, Uniting Church in Australia, Hillsong Church Australia. All Christian SRE teachers are authorised and trained by an approved provider.
The Christian SRE curriculum is authorised by Hillsong Australia and written by The Anglican Diocese of Sydney.
The curriculum is based on Good News about Jesus Christ and learning the key elements of our Christian life and culture and can be found at https://www.iccoreis.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ThinkFaith.pdf. Christian SRE engages students in conversations as they question life, explore values and discover faith.
Catholic SRE
Catholic SRE teachers (also known as Catechists) are authorised by the local parish and trained by the Diocese of the Catholic Church.
The Catholic SRE curriculum is approved by the Bishop of the Diocese in liaison with religious education experts. 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. For more information about the Catholic SRE curriculum go to: https://ccd.sydneycatholic.org/publications/curriculum-resources/
Catholic SRE teachers engage young people in hearing the Good News about Jesus Christ and learning the key elements of our Christian life and culture
Islamic SRE
Islamic SRE is offered to students whose parents have requested their participation. The classes are conducted by authorised representatives of the local Islamic community and are designed to provide students with an understanding of Islamic beliefs, practices, and values.
Key topics covered in Islamic SRE include:
· The Five Pillars of Islam
· Stories from the Quran
· The life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
· Islamic values and ethics
· The importance of community and family in Islam
The Authorised Provider of Islamic SRE is Australian Islamic Education Services. Their website is: Islamic Education – Religious resources and programs. The curriculum is approved by the NSW Department of Education and aims to foster a positive and respectful understanding of Islam: Special Religious Education – Islamic Education
Buddhist SRE
Buddhist Scripture classes are offered to students whose parents have requested their participation. These classes are conducted by authorised representatives of the local Buddhist community and provide students with an understanding of Buddhist teachings, values, and practices. The curriculum is approved by the NSW Department of Education and aims to foster respect, mindfulness, and compassion in line with Buddhist principles.
Key topics covered in Buddhist Scripture may include:
· The life and teachings of the Buddha
· The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path
· Mindfulness and meditation practices
· Buddhist values such as kindness, generosity, and respect for all living beings
· Stories from the Buddhist tradition that illustrate moral and ethical lessons
The Authorise Provider is the Buddhist Council of NSW. Their website is: https://buddhistcouncil.org. The curriculum is approved by the NSW Department of Education and the link to it is here: https://buddhistcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/SRE-curriculum.pdf
Hindu Dharma SRE
Hindu Dharma scripture classes are offered to students whose parents have requested their participation. The Vishva Hindu Parishad of Australia (VHP Australia) provides Special Religious Education classes in Hindu Dharma in more than 80 public and high schools across Sydney.
The key elements of the high school curriculum include:
• Hindu Philosophy: An exploration of fundamental concepts such as Dharma, Artha, Karma, and Moksha.
• Scriptures: A study of key texts, including the Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, Ramayana, and Mahabharata, with a focus on fostering ideal qualities as a person, son, daughter, sibling, friend, and parent.
• Meditation and Yoga: An introduction to these practices and their physical, mental, and spiritual significance.
• Ethics and Values: Discussions on moral principles based on Hindu teachings, such as non-violence (Ahimsa), truth (Satya), care for nature, and being a responsible and contributing citizen.
• Festivals and Rituals: Gaining an understanding of the significance of Hindu festivals, rituals, and cultural practices to appreciate their deeper philosophical meaning and relevance to human life in a practical way.
These topics aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of Hindu Dharma, its philosophy, and its practical applications in both social and individual aspects of daily life.
The authorised provider is the Vishva Hindu Parishad of Australia, based in Kellyville, NSW. Their website is: https://www.vhp.org.au. The curriculum is approved by the NSW Department of Education and the link to it is here: https://www.vhpnsw.org.au/hdenps.