School Chaplains' Support Group
SECONDARY SCHOOL CHAPLAINS IN ARUNDEL AND BRIGHTON
For some years now the secondary school chaplains in the diocese, from schools both in the state and the private sector, have been meeting to share experience and concerns, and for mutual support. This also includes a certain amount of in service training.
All secondary school chaplains are invited to attend these termly meetings, and attendance varies between about 12-20. The meetings are normally attended by someone from the Religious Education Department (such as Sr. Brendan, Peter Humfrey or Mike Castelli) The support of the Department is very welcome. The meeting appoints an executive - at present Paul Turner and Elsie Sebastian - to plan and keep a record of the meetings, and to communicate the concerns of the chaplains to the appropriate people.
Summary of activities and meetings
National Conference of the ACCE
A number of chaplains normally go to the National Conference of the Association of Catholic Chaplains in Education, and a report is brought back to the diocesan meeting of the proceedings of the conference.
In Service Training
The chaplains have organised for themselves a number of INSET sessions as part of their termly meetings. These have included a session on stress in 1991, an input on the Children's Act in 1994 and a look at empowering teachers in their own spirituality in 1995
Sharing Experience
The meetings have also been used for a sharing of experience in schools. This includes discussing problems, and also 'hints and tips' on good practice and activities that 'work' with students. At a recent meeting the chaplaincy activities in three different school situations was presented.
