St Edmund's Catholic Academy

On Wednesday, 19^th and Thursday, 20^th November, Year 7 visited Alton Castle in Staffordshire to participate in a day of team-building.

When the groups got to Alton Castle they were split into 5 groups of 15. They followed a carousel of activities with the intention of developing co-operation, organisation and teamwork skills. The carousel also included a Meditation that focused on the importance of our hands and what they can do for good.

The improvement seen from the first exercise to the last was noticeable and we hope that all of Year 7 can bring the techniques learned into their lessons to help each other make progress in school.

Thanks to the leaders at Alton Castle and all the staff who accompanied the groups.

Sisters, Maresha Grewal 6HM and Kaitriona Grewal 9DS, both participated in promotional gradings during last month.

Kaitriona Grewal graded for her 3rd star, on Saturday 11th October in Dudley along with other Juniors across the West Midlands. This promotion represents her three years as a black belt Junior.

Maresha Grewal graded for her 2nd Dan, on Friday 17th October in Bristol, in the Taekwondo Head Quarters along with 600 others across the UK.

This is a fantastic achievement and congratulations to both students.

Year 9 students were delighted to donate 15 sleeping bags to ‘The Little Brothers of The Good Shepherd” who run a food service and support for the homeless in the city centre.

Mrs Maggie Hazeldine, Vice Principal set a challenge to each of the 6 tutor groups in year 9 to raise enough money to buy one sleeping bag. She commented: “I think it is important that our young people can show their support for the homeless in our community, especially as the weather’s getting colder. I’ve known the Brothers for many years and they really do a superb job working with very vulnerable people.”

A group of the Year 9 pupils took a trip down to the shelter last week and delivered 17 sleeping bags, far exceeding the challenge!  They had the opportunity to hear all about the work that they do there. Helen Holloway, Fundraiser said: “It’s great that you have managed to donate these sleeping bags. Here in Wolverhampton we have around 15-20 people who sleep outdoors each night and this will make a difference.”

Year 7 pupils have had the privilege of being taught by Mr Numbervator this term, as he visited us to share his passion of Maths.

Mr Numbervator is a remarkable character utterly dedicated to getting the essential skills and concepts of Maths across to the younger generation in an imaginative, action packed, challenging fun way which extends children’s thinking.

He also writes and presents maths programmes on BBC 1 and Teachers TV. All of the pupils thoroughly enjoyed it and it was refreshing to explore new ways of teaching maths.

For Children In Need St Edmund’s held a ‘Mufti’ Day to help raise money for Children In Need. Staff and pupils all wore their own clothes and donated £1.

Mrs Hogg, Sixth Form Mentor, and the Sixth Form students also arranged a wonderful cake sale; all proceeds raised will go to Children In Need.

So far we have raised £740.34.

Sixth Formers organised the Year 7 and 8 Disco last week, and they had a fabulous night. They danced the night away and even had the teachers on the dance floor.

Mrs Truelove commented: ” A good time was had by all, students were well behaved and it was nice to see them having a great time.”

Adria Dongo, Alex Dongo, Judin Jude-Gubral and Chloe Diamond pupils of St Edmund’s, all performed beautifully at the opening of the new Wolves Academy on 7^th November.

The Wolverhampton Mayor, Councillor Michael Heap, gave a passionate speech on the link between the city and the team at the opening of the £7m facility.

He added: “I was a governor of St Edmund’s school which stood on this site for 25 years and I was chairman of those for five, during which time in the late 1990s when moves to get Wolves into this area with playing fields between St Peter’s and St Edmund’s began…

“I must take my hat off to the architects here because there’s not a flat roof in sight!”