Requiem Aeternam (“Eternal Rest”)

Eternal rest grant unto Francis, O Lord.
And let the perpetual light shine upon him.

And may his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Amen.

We’re thrilled to share some fantastic news from our brilliant Sixth Form Chemistry students here at St Edmund’s Catholic Academy!

They recently took on the formidable challenge of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Olympiad, a nationwide competition known for really putting Year 13 chemists through their paces.

Now, what makes this even more exciting is that we had some of our talented Year 12 students stepping up to the plate early! And guess what? They smashed it! We’re incredibly proud to announce that Melisa and Gloria, both in Year 12, achieved well-deserved Bronze awards! How amazing is that?!

Adding to the success, our very own Daniel in Year 13 secured a fantastic Silver award! A huge congratulations to Daniel on this brilliant achievement.

We also want to give a massive shout-out to all our other Year 12 students who bravely took part this year. Taking on a competition designed for the year above is no small feat, and we’re so impressed by your willingness to stretch yourselves and embrace the challenge. That’s the St Edmund’s spirit right there!

The Chemistry Olympiad is a brilliant way to ignite a real passion for chemistry that goes beyond the A-level syllabus. It’s all about diving deeper, thinking critically, and honing those problem-solving skills – skills that will stand our students in excellent stead for their future studies and careers.

Well done again to Melisa, Gloria, and Daniel, and to every single student who participated. You’ve done yourselves and St Edmund’s proud! Keep that scientific curiosity burning bright!

As we begin the fifth week of Lent, also known as Passiontide, and the last week of this spring term in school, we would like to let you know about the details and times of Masses and liturgies in seven of our Catholic parishes during Holy Week – the period from  Palm Sunday (13th April) to Easter (20th). You can find these by following the link below. Have a happy and holy rest of Lent and, when it arrives, a very Happy Easter!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1liZ_E6Itib363kUWF_E_q10R-9zyOr_qzeFv1dhY8K4/edit?tab=t.0

At St Edmund’s, we cherish the strong sense of community that brings together students, parents, and staff.

This week, Mrs. Letheren hosted a delightful Parents’ Lunch, offering a wonderful opportunity for families to connect and discuss their children’s progress in a relaxed setting.

Parents gathered to share their experiences, exchanging thoughts on their children’s academic journeys, achievements, and overall well-being. The event provided a platform for meaningful conversations, allowing parents to gain different perspectives on school life at St Edmund’s.

Adding to the occasion, several of our sixth formers joined the discussion, including prefects Phallan Wakeley and Aswin Valentine Pushpakaran. Their insights offered parents a firsthand account of student life and the supportive environment our school fosters.

The lunch was a fantastic opportunity for parents to engage with one another, reflecting on their children’s progress while also building connections within the school community. We are grateful to Mrs. Letheren for organising such a valuable event and look forward to more gatherings that strengthen the bond between families and St Edmund’s.

We are delighted to share that our school has been selected—out of hundreds of secondary schools—to receive the Brilliant Box of Books, a generous gift from Read for Good, a branch of Scholastic dedicated to inspiring young readers.

This special box is filled with a diverse range of books across different genres and age groups, ensuring that every student can find something they love. The books were gifted to encourage the joy of reading and the excitement of receiving books as presents.

One of our enthusiastic Year 9 students, Beatrice Buzzing, has been volunteering with our librarian, Mrs. Smith, as part of her Duke of Edinburgh award. She has been running her own book group, and they were thrilled to open the prize! Since then, the group has been busy selecting books and distributing them to students from Year 7 to Sixth Form.

Additionally, our top ten most dedicated library users have each received a specially chosen book from the collection as a reward for their love of reading.

We are incredibly grateful for this wonderful opportunity to enhance our school’s reading community and can’t wait to see our students dive into these fantastic books! ✨

Restoring Nature at Smestow Valley!

Here are some highlights from the second and final day of our incredible pond restoration project with Eco Club, Severn Trent, and Friends of Smestow Valley!

Today, our hardworking team tackled overgrown brambles and vegetation that were blocking the bridge, clearing the way for much-needed repairs. We also collected a significant amount of litter, making the area safer and more welcoming for wildlife.

As a special science bonus, our pupils had the chance to test water quality using Severn Trent’s equipment—great news: no pollution was detected! With the area now cleared, we’re hopeful that wildlife will flourish. Later this year, we plan to involve pupils in further water quality testing and wildlife surveys with guidance from expert ecologists.

A huge thank you to Severn Trent, the James Beattie Charitable Trust, and Councillor Nasim for their generous support, which will allow us to repair the bridge and continue improving this fantastic habitat.

Stay tuned for more updates on our conservation efforts!

To celebrate British Science Week, St Edmund’s hosted a thrilling science quiz for Year 7 students! Teams from secondary schools across Wolverhampton came together to compete in this fun and educational event, which included a lively picture round.

Now in its second year, the quiz was filled with enthusiasm, curiosity, and friendly competition as students showcased their scientific knowledge. ✨

A big thank you to all the participants for making the event so enjoyable. The afternoon was not only a challenge but also a chance to make new friends and appreciate the wonders of science!