Laying foundations

In Middle School, we try to lay a foundation of mutual respect, self-knowledge and understanding. We look at how to ask questions about the world, and what questions we could be asking; we look at the life of Jesus; and we consider the real-life experiences of people who have found that their faith in God has helped them to make sense of their lives.

We all have different ways of learning; for many students, understanding comes through aesthetic and emotional response rather than through analysis. Here are just a few student responses from reflecting on artworks of events in the life of Jesus.

Looking at a Philippine nativity scene: Q. What does the Philippine celebration scene show about Jesus' Birth? A. The baby looks dazed as his Father is pouring power into him. (Zachary)

After studying Da Vinci's "Last Supper": Q: What would it have felt like being in the Upper Room for the Last Supper? A: On that night the wine tasted bitter and the bread tasted stale. (Daniel)

Looking at Carel Weight's "Crucifixion 11": Q. What colours has the artist used to paint this scene? A: He has made the river reflecting the cross dark blue as it seems to have collected the people's tears. (Inwook)

Dot Wildman, HS Religious Education teacher