St Edmund’s Day Mass

6th December 2018Mrs D Ferris

Saturday 1st December was the Feast Day of our founder St Edmund. We marked the day with a celebration Mass for the whole community on Friday 3th November.
Monsignor Mark Crisp, our Chaplain was the celebrant at the Mass. He gave a great homily, helping us to recognise how lucky and privileged we are to be able to celebrate Mass together as a community without being persecuted for our faith, like people did in Queen Elizabeth 1 reign.
In 1580 Campion joined the first mission that was sent by the Jesuits, to minister to the Catholics of England, who were strictly forbidden to practice their religion. He preached at secret Catholic meetings in Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Lancashire.
He was arrested by a spy at Lyford, Berkshire, on July 17, 1581, and taken to the Tower of London. When he refused, under severe torture, to recant his religious convictions, his captors invented charges that he had conspired to overthrow the queen. He was convicted of treason and executed. Throughout his ordeal, Campion exhibited religious zeal and great courage. Campion Hall at Oxford was named for him. He was canonized in 1970 by Pope Paul VI as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.
Many of our pupils took part in the Mass, Alter Servers, and the choir, people taking the Offertory and readers from our 6th form. We especially give thanks to John Smith who stood in at the last minute, and expressed the Reading of from St Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, so eloquently. Which ended in:
‘ So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.’

Future Chef National Competition Heats Up

5th December 2018Mrs D Curtis
On Tuesday 4 December, St Edmund’s Catholic Academy hosted the Regional Final, Heat 2, for the Future Chef National Competition.
We welcomed 2 students from 3 other schools, plus 3 chefs and the competition organiser. Sharefa and Dinu had been selected from Year 9 and 10 students who had entered the competition in the first heat, held in our school.
The atmosphere in the food room was very professional, just like Masterchef! Food served to the judges looked amazing. The judges used scoring cards to decide on the winner, who was from Ellowes Hall School. There was only a few marks separating all of the chefs.
It was a pleasure  to welcome our guests and see the talents of the students.

Year 7’s Prepare for Senior Citizens’ Party

5th December 2018Mrs D Curtis
Year 7 students have been working hard producing decorations and posters for our Senior Citizens’ Christmas Party.   Along with producing the decorations they will assist on the day of the event by reading festive poems and leading some of the activities.
The following students have shown our CARE values by giving up their own time to attend sessions after school,

C – Calm

A – Aspirational

R – Respectful

E – Engaged

 

Well done Year 7 students.

Leah
Aswin
Laiba
Pavi
Lauren
Ellie
Vani
John
Sabah
Elie
Jake
Cameron
Prusha

St Mary’s and St John’s Christmas Fayre

5th December 2018Mrs D Ferris

On Saturday 1st December, three of our 6 formers gave up their Saturday to hold a stall at St Mary’s and St John’s Christmas Fayre.
Over the week, they made different Christmas decorations such as sleighs, stars, candleholders and wreaths. On the day, they met the Mayor of Wolverhampton and his wife, who thanked them for supporting the community and said they were a credit to the school. Their stall made £40 for the church. Well Done to all who supported this event.

Building An Alumni Community To Inspire Our Students

4th December 2018Mrs D Curtis

We are delighted to inform you that St Edmund’s Catholic Academy is working with the education charity Future First to build a thriving alumni community. Amongst our former students is a whole host of talented role models who we want to connect with in order to celebrate their success and inspire our current students. Alumni can be brought back to offer careers and education advice, mentor students, provide work experience placements and much more besides.

We need you

Please help us reach out to our former students using your own networks. From doctors to dancers, pilots to plumbers, we need alumni from a range of careers to open our students’ eyes to what’s possible.

If you are a former student or know of any who’d like to stay in touch and give back to their old school, ask them to sign up at:

https://networks.futurefirst.org.uk/signup/stedmundscatholic

Thank you.

 

Thank You Miss Rous

3rd December 2018Mrs D Curtis

A big thank you was given to Miss Rous on Thursday.  During her established career at St Edmund’s she has not only taught Science but also:-

  • Taught embroidery/sewing for a year back in 2005
  • Introduced students to her successful Gardening Club, both at the old site and the new, raising students’ awareness of flowers, vegetables and herbs. The academy has entered the Tettenhall Horticultural Society/s School Garden competition for many years and been successful.
  • Looked after the Peace Garden ensuring tubs fully stocked with flowers throughout the year and also provided flower arrangements for academy events.

Miss Rous has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to help make St Edmund’s the best it can be.  A big thank you from all students and staff is certainly in order!

 

 

Miss Rouse with Principal Maggie Hazeldine.

Economics in Action

22nd November 2018Mrs D Curtis

St Edmund’s Economists had the opportunity to attend an Economics in Action study day at the University of Warwick.  Students heard from key guest speakers from the Economic industry.

A range of topical issues were discussed including the impact of the unanchored decision making process we all adopt, how we can achieve economic justice in a world of rapidly changing technology, the impact of Open Banking and the economics of Uber.

Students had the opportunity to discuss and pose question to industry experts including Jack Stringfellow from the Bank of England, Sam Dimitrui from the Adam Smith Institute and Nicholas Chater, an awarding winner researcher from the University of Warwick to name a few.

Science Workshop at RAF Cosford

21st November 2018Mrs D Curtis

On the 6th and 7th of November students’ in year 7, 8 and 9 Science Club had the opportunity to visit RAF Cosford Museum to discover all about science.

During the visit students’ attended a workshop where they made paper rockets and competed to see who’s rocket would go the furthest. They also participated in the fun and flight gallery where they discovered the science behind flight.

Students also looked around the hangers at the historic planes that the RAF flew, including Spitfires, Hurricanes, Jets and many more; all used during periods of conflict.

The visit was very fitting due to Remembrance on the 11th of November.

 

Footballing Brothers Give Life Lesson

21st November 2018Mrs D Curtis

Three brothers from St Edmund’s recently had the opportunity to share their knowledge about an inspirational First World War hero Walter Tull, one of the country’s first black footballers and the first infantry officer of black heritage in the British Army.

Twins Usman and Mehran, along with their younger brother Suleman, were chosen by Wolves Head of Education to share their life experience of struggle, since moving from Pakistan to Holland in 2010, and rejection they faced with Premier League players Conor Coady and Adama Traore

Usman explained that since moving from Holland to London in 2014, he and his brothers played for a Sunday league team called Alpha Omega.  During this time the brothers were spotted by Norwich Football Academy who invited the brothers to train with them.

In February 2018, Usman, Mehran and Suleman were rewarded for their dedication, skill and footballing commitment and signed for the Wolves Academy on full time contracts.  A move from London to Birmingham took place in order for their dreams to be given a chance of reality.

The brothers feel blessed and thankful for the wonderful support they have received from the Wolves Academy and St Edmund’s since arriving in Birmingham.  They are now considering fundraising so they can give something back to the community to say thank you.

Anti Bullying Week from 12-16th November

21st November 2018Mrs D Curtis

St Edmund’s Catholic Academy took part in Anti Bullying Week from 12-16th November. The week puts a spotlight on bullying and encourages all students, teachers and parents to take action against bullying throughout the year.

The theme this year was ‘Choose Respect’ and throughout the course of the week, all tutor groups took part in activities about respect, being the upstander and body bullying.

On Thursday 15th November, we joined the national campaign Stop – Speak – Support to help put a stop to Cyberbullying. Students made a pledge during the week to be an upstander to bullying, these pledges will be displayed within our academy.