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.

Poppy Sale Raised ÂŁ219 for The Royal British Legion

13th November 2018Mrs D Curtis
To mark the centenary anniversary of the end of the First World War, students’ at St Edmund’s made over 500 ceramic poppies which are on display in the Peace Garden. These poppies will now go on sale and a total of ÂŁ219 has already been raised for the The Royal British Legion Charity.

Poppies to Remember 100 Years

9th November 2018Mrs D Curtis

Art students have worked hard to create over 500 ceramic poppies to mark the 100th Anniversary of  World War 1.  These can be seen on display in the Peace Garden.

Students of all ages across the academy have made the striking bright red poppies that were inspired by the poppies displayed at the Tower of London a few years ago.  The poppies are placed on a tree and fall down like a waterfall spreading out across the grass. Students have been excited and engaged by the project and have enjoyed trying to identify their individual poppies out of the hundreds on display.

We will remember them.

 

Maryam’s Winning CARE Values

31st October 2018Mrs D Curtis

In September Year 7 were challenged to get creative and produce a poster about our St Edmund’s CARE values: Calm, Aspirational, Respectful and Engaged. We had lots of fantastic, colourful entries that explained the CARE values.

The winner was Maryam for her beautiful words:

CALM – “It means you have to be calm in line and when waiting to go into class“

ASPIRATIONAL – “You have to be committed to learning and be well behaved“

RESPECTFUL – “Always be respectful to your peers and teachers and be well mannered“

ENGAGED – “Give 100% in everything you do and join after school clubs“

 

Maryam received a medal and vouchers for her winning entry.

Congratulations Maryam.

Sixth Form Employability & Enterprise Workshops

24th October 2018Mr M Jones

Daniel Collett from GE Aviation came in to deliver some workshops with year 12.  Former Head Boy at St. Edmunds who secured a very successful apprenticeship, Daniel is now in his fourth year at GE Aviation. He gave the students an insight in the world of work and the role of an apprentice.  Daniel was accompanied by a team of new apprentices who supported him with the employability workshops.

Sophie said “I found that it was very beneficial as they spoke to us and advised us on how to write a CV and the type of things to say within an interview. They also gave us tips on how to turn small things on your CV (such as communication skills) into things you can use in a bigger way. They also showed us how apprenticeships are not just about having a job but how they also continue teach you new things, such as how to work as a team, even when you’re out of the education system”.

Abigail said, “Although not being interested in the course itself (Engineering), I found it very helpful when advising us about how to prepare for interviews and questions that we may be expecting and how to answer them correctly to impress the interviewer, and to be able to flip weaknesses I may have, into positives”.

Taran said , “The course itself was very good at showing us how to prepare ourselves for interviews, along with telling us how to impress the interviewer”.