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Before half term the Year 8 Netball Squad took part in a 3 week tournament playing against 6 other schools in Wolverhampton.
The students did fantastically well and came an extremely close 2nd place behind Our Lady & St. Chad Catholic Academy, by only 2 points, earning them silver medals!
What a wonderful team success.
On Thursday 14 March St Edmund’s Catholic Academy held the first ever Year 8 Careers Day. The Kristian Thomas Sports Arena was host to more than 25 professionals who kindly agreed to hold a stall, displaying tools for their profession, and engage in conversation with students sharing their career experiences.
Students had the opportunity to ask the stall holders many questions and seek advice on subjects they may need to choose for their options in year 9. Students then recorded the information in their books to note their aspirations for their future.
Special thanks to everyone who gave their time so generously to make the event a huge success.
On Saturday 16 March four St Edmund’s U16 gymnasts travelled to Stoke-on-Trent to represent the West Midlands in the British Schools National Milano Gymnastics Championships.
It was a very busy day from the minute they arrived; warm up, competition on floor then vault and then a quick 15-minute break before the trio group warm up and straight into the competition. The standard was very high and they were competing against lots of club gymnasts. However, this did not phase the St. Edmund’s Team who went on to perform remarkably.
They performed on vault first, the flight that the team achieved was exceptional which secured two 14.75’s out of a possible 16.0 points. The floor routines were next and the gymnasts performed with accuracy, flair and precision. Finally came the trio group routine which was the best that had ever been performed by St Edmund’s students. Fantastic synchronisation and excellent control was displayed throughout and Pe staff, Mrs Swindells and Mrs Cartlidge, could not have asked for any more.
The competition finished with the presentations and as a region, St Edmund’s became BRITISH SCHOOLS NATIONAL CHAMPIONS! This was a very proud moment in the history of St Edmund’s gymnastics and it does show that all the hard work training for hours each week certainly pays off.
Congratulations and a big well done to the U16 team:-
Josh, Lysia, Amelia and Brientony
St Edmund’s now look forward to the U19 Floor & Vault team in their National Final on 4 May.
Lent
We are now in the season of Lent. Lent is an opportunity for us to examine our conscious, pray more, acknowledge what we have, be thankful and be generous. In order for us to grow closer to the Lord, build up our relationship and discover anew the joy of a deeper conversion of the heart.
Our PRAYER is a sign of our hunger and thirst for God
Our FASTING is a sign of sorrow for our sin and an openness to conversion and turning back to God
Our ALMSGIVING is a sign of our gratitude, for we have received mercy, and through generous giving show mercy.
Here at St Edmund’s the students have an opportunity to enter into this Holy Season in many ways. Here are few examples;-
1. through prayer-
• all this week the 6 formers have been creating a prayer chain all Year 7 Tutor Groups
• some classes will have an opportunity to follow the ‘stations of the cross’ or spend time in the Chapel to share prayers
• every Thursday the school can attend Lightfever, for prayers in the Chapel
• every t.v. screen showing a daily extract from the Walk with me booklet
2. through Fasting
• on Friday’s there will be no meat served in the canteen
• the students will listen to an assembly on Lent and be encouraged either to give something up for lent or give something back
• the staff will become Guardian Angels and participate in acts of random kindness
3. through Almsgiving
• During the weeks leading up to Easter, each year group has been given their own week, to have the opportunity to raise funds for our 3 nominated charities: a local, national and an International one
We wish you all blessed journey through Lent as we hunger to become closer to our Lord
Prayer
‘Lord, teach me to resist the temptation to doubt your love. Renew within me a sure and solid grasp of your loving plan for my life. May I grasp, in deeper measure, the depth of your love so I can walk with you day-by-day, knowing your peace in my heart. Amen.’
On Wednesday the whole school came together to prepare for the start of Lent by attending our Ash Wednesday Liturgy lead by Fr Mark our Chaplain. The choir, led by Mr Bard, was in fine voice leading us in hymns such as ‘Be still for the presence of the Lord’, ‘Father I have sinned’ and the Song of the Prodigal. On guitar was Mr Garrity and Saoirsa Kerrin, on Bass guitar was Jacob Cuthbert, on Drums was Jacob Creswell and our visiting pianist Martin.
There were readings of day and bidding prayers read by students from the different year groups. Fr Mark blessed the ashes, and together with the Eucharistic Ministers distributed the ashes while saying:
‘Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return’
The ashes are used as a sign of our repentance and are traditionally made from the Palm Crosses from the previous year’s Palm Sunday
Special Prayer
Lord, bless the sinner who asks for forgiveness and all those who receive these ashes.
May they keep this Lenten season in preparation for Easter
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen
Confirmandi
On Monday 4th March, five of our students, along with students from SS.Mary’s and John’s Catholic Primary took their Sacrament of Confirmation. The Mass was celebrated by the Rt Rev Bishop David McGough. Bishop David had spent the afternoon with the students talking to them about the strength of Holy Spirit.
The students renewed the promises, which were made on their behalf, by their godparents during baptism; and then Bishop David prayed for the candidates, while stretching his hands over them
Each candidate knelt before the Bishop with his or her sponsor. The sponsor placed their right hand on their shoulder while the Bishop anointed them with the oil of Chrism. During the anoint, the Bishop addressed each by his or her confirmation name saying, ‘Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit’
After the Mass they continued their celebrations in the church hall.
On Thursday 14th March 4 more of our students will be receiving their Confirmation at St Michaels Catholic Church in Penn, along with the students from St Michael’s Catholic Primary at 7 o’clock. The RT Rev Bishop MC Gough will be the celebrant once again.
The students have been working hard with Mrs Ferris after school and during their lunch to complete their spiritual preparation confirmation.
We ask that you keep these students in your prayers that they may be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Alan Gibbons
Last half term, twelve of our Debate Mate students competed in the first round of Debate Mate’s Urban Debate League. Students worked in teams of four to debate topical issues with teams from other schools.
Our students raised many interesting points and one team even got into an inspiring debate about how Stormzy’s ‘Blinded by Your Grace’ is used by our school community as a part of meaningful worship. All three teams performed extremely well and our school won five out of six debates.
We have recently been informed that St. Edmund’s Catholic Academy are currently placed third in the Urban Debate League for the West Midlands. This is an excellent achievement and all credit goes to our Debate Mate students. We wish them every success as they enter the second round of the competition on 11th March.
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