Year 8 Careers Day Success

19th March 2019Mrs D Curtis

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.

 

 

 

 

 

St Edmund’s Students’ Crowned British Schools’ National Milano Gymnastics Champions

18th March 2019Mrs D Curtis

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

13th March 2019Mrs D Ferris


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.’

Ash Wednesday

12th March 2019Mrs D Ferris


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

11th March 2019Mrs D Ferris


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.

Author Celebrates World Book Day at St Edmund’s

6th March 2019Mrs D Curtis
On March 5th 2019 author of Shadow of the Minotaur, Alan Gibbons, spent the day with pupils and students’ to celebrate World Book Day.
Alan is a full-time writer and independent educational consultant.  He has been writing children’s books for over 23 years and has won many book awards.  He has appeared on BBC educational programmes and radio broadcasts during his well established career.
Year 8 students had the opportunity to listen to Alan’s inspirational talk. He shared his story of how he became an author and how all the travels and experiences have supported his work.  A number of selected students  took part in workshops during which Alan shared lots of useful tips and advice on how to write stories.
During the afternoon year 5 pupils’ from SS Peter and Paul and St Bernadette’s also had the privilege of meeting and listening to Alan’s story.  Each pupil was then presented with a signed copy of one of Alan’s books.
A thoroughly enjoyable day was had by all.

Alan Gibbons

Debate Mate – UDL Round One

5th March 2019Mrs D Curtis

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.

Macbeth Production Wednesday 10 April 2019

5th March 2019Mrs D Curtis
St Edmund’s Catholic Academy are proud to present this year’s whole school production of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
A dramatic story following Macbeth and his wife as they thirst for more power after being told that Macbeth will become King. Our modern day adaptation keeps to all of the original Shakespearean dialogue but takes place within a busy bustling office with Macbeth fighting to gain promotion.
We have a fantastic cast involving students from Year 7 all the way up to Year 13 and the show is co-directed by Jessica. This is a one night only performance and St Edmund’s first full Shakespeare play, we even have the added extra of performing in the Arena with the brand new lighting system in place.
If you are interested in coming to watch the performance, it will be performed on Wednesday 10th April, doors open at 6:15pm and the show will start at 6:30pm. The performance should finish around 7:45pm. There will be refreshments and cake on offer at the interval and tickets are £4 which can be purchased from the Performing Arts Office
To sum up the excitement of this production I will use a line from Macbeth ……”Something wicked this way comes”.

Spanish Success

5th March 2019Mrs D Curtis

So far this year Year 10 have done a lot of work with Mr Selvey and their form tutors about various ways to revise practically and finding strategies to help their learning ‘stick’ (making it memorable enough to remember, especially when it comes to exam season!).   Miss Rainey has also been challenging Year 10 Spanish GCSE students to take a more independent, creative approach to their learning through homework tasks and many students have produced some wonderful pieces of work since the challenge started back in October.

 

Contributions have varied massively – from students who have demonstrated their cooking skills by making a delicious range of hispanic treats such as paella or churros to others who have investigated their Spanish horoscopes and analysed the truth behind the predictions. There have also been students who watched and translated popular Disney songs like Bajo del Mar (Under the Sea) and Suéltalo (Let it Go) or even translated their favourite songs into Spanish. Other contributions have seen some brave students take on the teaching role at home and teach their family members some of the Spanish basics and Henok Haile even translated Martin Luther King’s inspirational speech: “Tengo un sueño” (I have a dream).

 

Whilst these students have all shown a fantastic standard of independent study, there have been two students who have contributed in a particularly outstanding way and the MFL department feel very excited and proud to share these with our community.

 

Bethany has amazed us with her blend of artistic talents and witty storyboard by creating her very own Spanish comic. She drafted the ideas for the story and has brought to life a world of characters who use the very Spanish she has learnt in the classroom!

 

Eesha found a way to improve her listening skills whilst also channeling her creativity by watching a Mexican crafting blogger’s video, finding out any unknown vocabulary and then creating the masterpiece seen in the photograph above! Given the nature of challenge in the Spanish instructions and complex crafting, this piece of work took Eesha no less than two days. She demonstrated such commitment to learning that Mrs Hazeldine, Principal, and one of our very own governors both expressed their pride and congratulations to Eesha’s inspirational attitude to learning in person on Friday 1 March. Eesha has kindly given this piece of work to MFL department, so please feel free to come and check out Eesha’s hard work on the top floor in languages!

 

Well done to all the language students who are consistently demonstrating such high aspirations in Spanish!

 

St Edmund’s Prepares To Expand

5th March 2019Mrs D Curtis

We are thrilled to announce that St Edmund’s Catholic Academy are set to expand under the £4.2 million plan to create more places for students in the City.  

The number of parents placing St Edmund’s as their first choice for secondary education in Wolverhampton now exceeds the number of places available.  Therefore we are delighted to offer 50 extra places to meet this need.

Principal Maggie Hazeldine said, “This is a very exciting time for St Edmund’s and our community is delighted to be able to welcome more students in September”.