Drowning Prevention Week

12th June 2023Mrs D Curtis
Drowning Prevention Week is an important initiative to raise awareness about water safety and prevent drowning incidents. It serves as a reminder of the values and sanctity of life, aligning with the belief that each person has dignity. Protecting human life is paramount and efforts to prevent accidents and promote safety should be encouraged. By promoting drowning prevention week, we can fulfill our duty of caring for others and showing love and compassion. We can play a vital role in supporting Drowning Prevention Week by educating our community, offering prayers for safety, and providing resources for water safety measures. This collaboration between water safety initiatives and our school principles contributes to a safer environment and reflects the commitment to well-being and preservation of life.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. – Isaiah 43:2

Under 13 Unified Cricket Tournament Champions

9th June 2023Mrs D Curtis

We are thrilled to share the outstanding achievements of our Year 8 students at the Under 13 Unified Cricket Tournament held at Wolverhampton Cricket Club yesterday. The team from St Edmund’s Catholic Academy participated with great enthusiasm and demonstrated remarkable skill and sportsmanship throughout the competition.

After engaging in intense matches against formidable opponents such as St Chads, St Helens, Aldersley High, and the Royal School, our St Edmund’s team emerged as the well-deserved champions. Their dedication, teamwork, and perseverance were truly commendable, and they displayed exceptional talent in all aspects of the game.

One of the remarkable aspects of the tournament was the opportunity provided to all team members to showcase their skills in bowling, batting, wicket-keeping, and fielding. Each student contributed to the team’s success and played a crucial role in securing the championship. The way they supported and encouraged one another, along with their clear and effective communication, was instrumental in achieving the overall victory.

To recognise their remarkable accomplishment, all team members, namely Isaac Chilton, Elijah Dankwa, Daniyar Sheriff, Rishi Chumber, Owen Davies, Mangirdas Vaitkus, and a fellow student in Year 8 were presented with well-deserved medals. Additionally, they were awarded a plaque that will be proudly displayed in the St Edmund’s Catholic Academy PE Department, serving as a testament to their exceptional performance.

Congratulations to the entire team for their outstanding achievement and for representing our academy with such distinction. Their hard work, dedication, and excellent sportsmanship are truly praiseworthy, and they serve as role models for their peers.

 

Memorial of Saint Columba

9th June 2023Mrs D Curtis

Saint Columba (521CE – 597CE) was an Irish abbot and missionary credited with spreading Christianity in present-day Scotland. He founded the important abbey on Lona off the coast of Scotland, which became a dominant religious and political institution in the region for centuries.

He is the Patron Saint of Derry in Ireland and he is remembered today as one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland.

Saint Columba – Pray for us
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.  -John 10:27-28

Feast Day of Corpus Chrisit

8th June 2023Mrs D Curtis
Today is a celebration of the Real Presence of the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus. It is a proclamation of the truth of the transubstantiation of bread and wine into the actual body of Christ during Mass. This celebration is associated with the commemoration of Jesus’s Last Supper with his Apostles before His crucifixion, two months prior to today.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. – John 6:54-56

What is the Sacred Heart?

6th June 2023Mrs D Curtis

June is the month of the Sacred Heart.  In Catholic churches and homes, one of the most popular images of Jesus is the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The image of God’s love is revealed in the pierced heart of His Son. It is the symbol of a love that conquers sin and transcends death, the symbol of the One who loved us to the end.

 

Love has always been associated with the heart, so it was only natural that the love of God became represented by a heart, the heart of his Son Jesus. In him, God the Father revealed his infinite love for us. On the Friday after the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

 

Open yourselves to this love and take it ‘to the ends of the earth,’ witnessing to the goodness and mercy that flow from the Heart of Jesus. – Pope Francis

 

What can we learn from reflecting on the Sacred Heart?

 

Jesus wants us to know that we can come to Him and our true rest is when we rest in Him. How do we do this? Prayer is our daily fuel and Jesus never wants us to feel burdened. Embrace the virtues of Jesus. Choosing to embrace the virtue of humility, to put aside arrogance, and to be kind and open to others. 

 

Welcome the presence of the Heart of Christ, entrusting your home to Him. Before the open heart of Jesus, we seek to draw from Him the true Love that our families need. We turn to the Heart of Jesus for healing and know that His MOST wounded heart is the source of healing and hope for all. Every person matters; there is hope for every soul to be transformed by Love.

 

Strive for virtue, not fame or wealth. Virtue is the backbone of our holiness, and often progress in this area is very slow. The goal is that we don’t backslide. So what virtues are like the Heart of Jesus? All the Christian Virtues flow from His Heart, in particular Faith, Hope, and Love.

 

St Edmund’s Attendance in Top 10% of Secondary Schools

6th June 2023Mrs D Curtis

St Edmund’s received the FFT National Attendance Award for the Spring Term. High attendance is indeed crucial for a student’s overall achievement, well-being, and development.

The Department for Education recognises the significance of regular school attendance in helping students succeed academically. Consistently attending school allows students to actively participate in classroom learning, engage with teachers and peers, and access important educational resources and support. It also provides a structured environment that fosters social and emotional growth, helping students develop important life skills.

Moreover, research has shown a positive correlation between high attendance rates and improved academic outcomes. Students who consistently attend school tend to perform better in their GCSE and A Level examinations.

By consistently achieving high attendance rates, St Edmund’s is providing its students with an invaluable opportunity to maximise their potential. It reflects the dedication of the school, students, parents, and staff in prioritising education and creating an environment conducive to learning.

We would like to thank all our parents and carers for their support and commitment as we continue to support our students towards further success.

 

#FFTNationalAttendanceAwards

Ethnic Student Alliance Trip to the Mayor’s Parlour

6th June 2023Mrs D Curtis

On the 20th March 2023, St Edmund’s ESA group (Ethnic Student Alliance) went on a trip to visit the Mayor’s parlour in Wolverhampton. We were able to meet Cllr Sandra Samuels OBE, the former Mayor of Wolverhampton. Not only is she the 163rd Mayor of Wolverhampton, but she was the first African-Caribbean female to have ever been elected to run our city. ESA felt proud and honoured to have her as Mayor and wanted to express our gratitude in person.

 

When we arrived we were led to a big room, where we were going to be spending our time with Councillor Samuels. The moment that we met Councillor Samuels for the first time was overwhelming, yet we couldn’t have been more excited to meet such a remarkable woman. She spoke to us about her life and her job as a nurse before she became Mayor. She told us about her motto “Dare to Dream” and how “no dream is too big or too small, as long as we do it with confidence”. She told us to do everything with confidence as “with confidence, you have won before you have even begun”.

 

When she finished her speech, we were shown her conference room, which is where she holds big meetings with members of the council. We were able to take it in turns to ask her questions and discuss the struggles she went through being a black woman running for Mayor. She told us about how we should never let racism take over our lives, that “racism is their problem, not yours”. We talked about what work she has done for the community and what it takes to be truly successful in life.

 

Once everyone had asked their questions, we had some refreshments and told Councillor Samuels a bit about our school diversity group, the ESA. When we were leaving, she gave us hugs and a small gift to remember our time at the Mayor’s parlour. It was an eye-opening experience, we have learned so much from Mayor Samuels and can’t wait to share it with others.

 

“People won’t always remember your face, what you’ve done or what you’ve said. But they will never forget how you made them feel.” – Cllr Sandra Samuels OBE

Written by Pooja Sonsana

 

 

ESA Group Photographs

Shnai Johnson, Peggy Mafiamba, Christina Agbasoga, Christina Cudjoe, Adrianna Brown, Leoni Francis, Temitope Omololu, Reyhan Birdi, Dumebi Umensofor, Khadija Henry, Dylan Coe, Pooja Sonsana and Jovita Edobor

Staff:  Mr Taylor (Head of Year 8) and Mrs Grant (Assistant Head of Year 8)

 

 

Happy Pride Month! Let us celebrate diversity and acceptance!

5th June 2023Mrs D Curtis

We must respect other people, regardless of their sexuality or gender. This month is a great time to learn about identities other than our own. It is a month of celebration and acceptance of all people. We are part of one family and it is our duty to support all people to achieve all they can. Therefore it is right that we support and celebrate people of the LGBTQ+ community so that they may be their true selves.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. – 1 John 4:7-8

Today we celebrate the Feast Day of St Bede the Venerable

25th May 2023Mrs D Curtis
On this day we celebrate the feast day of St Bede the Venerable. He was a theologian, historian, and chronologist who was best known for his Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum, a source for the history of the conversion to Christianity of the Anglo-Saxon tribes. His work introduced the method of dating events from the time of the incarnation (AD, anno Domini, “in the year of our Lord”) into general use.
Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. – Isaiah 46:9

Today We Celebrate African Day

25th May 2023Mrs D Curtis

Africa Day is celebrated annually on May 25th. It commemorates the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) on May 25, 1963. The OAU, which later became the African Union (AU), was established to promote unity and cooperation among African countries and to support the decolonization of African nations.

Africa Day serves as an occasion to recognise and celebrate the rich cultural heritage, diversity, and achievements of the African continent. It is an opportunity to showcase the various traditions, languages, music, art, cuisine, and attire that represent the vibrant African cultures.

Overall, Africa Day is a significant occasion to appreciate and honor the diverse cultures, achievements, and potential of the African continent, while also recognizing the collective efforts to address the continent’s challenges and promote its prosperity.