Yesterday morning, St Edmund’s Catholic Academy came together as a school to hold a Holocaust Memorial assembly, in remembrance of the millions of people who were murdered under Nazi Persecution and in the subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

A number of students read a short piece about how people suffered during this most horrendous of times, but also how they came together, provoking deep thought about the part that can be played in challenging hatred and creating a safer, better future.

A candle was lit and the photographs of survivors were displayed as a mark of respect to them and also, to those who had died.

St Edmund’s has introduced ParentPay to give flexibility to our parents to pay online via debit/credit card.

All pupils and students should now have received a letter to take home containing logon details to allow parents to access ParentPay. This system can be used to make payments for dinner money and most trips.

Once your account is activated parents can make online payments for school meals straight away.

If you would like more details or you would like another copy of your activation letter call the Finance Office on 01902 558888, extension 145.

Please make sure to activate your account as soon as possible to give you this option for future payments.

Earlier this week, each year 9 form had the opportunity to go to the new school Chapel and take part in a Vocation Liturgy. They looked at what ‘Vocation means to them’ and ‘Does my Career Matter to God?’

We hope that this will help them to pray, listen, think and choose their options wisely, but also have the courage and generosity to follow the call of our Loving God. Helping them to understand the vocation and desire the Lord has for them.

The session was concluded with the following Vocation prayer:

Lord,

I know you love me and have great plans for me.

But sometimes I am overwhelmed

By the thought of my future.

Show me how to walk forward one day at a time.

May I take heart while I search openly,

Learn about all the choices,

Listen to others for advice,

And pay attention to my own feelings.

By doing these things,

May I hear your call to a lifestyle

And a career that will let me love as only I can,

And let me serve others

With the special gifts that you have given me.

Amen

At the start of term, St Edmund’s Year 7 Netball team played a league match against Wolverhampton Grammar School.

The team knew it would be a tough game after narrowly losing to WGS ‘B’ team before Christmas. The first half was dominated by WGS and St Edmund’s found it difficult to move the ball into their attacking area. The score at half time was 0-6. A much improved performance in the second half saw St Edmund’s score two goals and limit WGS to three late goals, resulting in a 2-9 win for WGS.

Well done to all the pupils who played, you battled back in the second half and showed a great spirit throughout the game. A special mention to Chaya Coleman and Tamar Harris, who came along to support.

The Senior Citizens’ Party, organised by the Sixth Formers on Wednesday, was a great success.

Around 130 guests, invited from care homes and the local community, arrived for a great afternoon of Christmas entertainment – the dining room was transformed into a fabulous party venue in record time!

Mrs Roberts and the brilliant choir sang a selection of carols and folk songs.Daniel Collett found his natural vocation in running the Bingo session, and Mrs Dhaliwal and her hard-working kitchen team, provided lots of food for our guests to enjoy.

All the guests said how pleasant and polite our Sixth Formers were, and really enjoyed chatting to them during the afternoon. We have already had emails and letters of thanks and requests to return next year!

Thank you to all of the Sixth Form students for planning and participating in the day with enthusiasm, and to the staff (especially Mrs Hogg,Mrs Downing and Ms Richards) for giving their time to help organise another great event. .

On Friday, Sixth Form students and staff took part in Christmas Jumper Day for ‘Save the Children’.

We would like to thank all of our students and staff who took part in this event and contributed their kind donations to a great cause.

They all looked fabulously festive!

A huge thank you to everyone who took part in the Christmas Concert, that took place on Wednesday 10^th December. It was a lovely evening filled with music and festivities, with performances from the orchestra, choir and folk band as well as performances from year 10 bands and drama groups.

The orchestra opened the concert with a performance of ‘The Great Gates of Kiev’ which set the evening off to a great start; this was followed with performances by the folk band and drama groups. The choir did their rendition of ‘Wherever you are’ originally sang by the military wives, and also joined in with the festivities with Christmas staples such as ‘Gaudete’ and ‘Ring Christmas Bells’. The string group added to the atmosphere by playing ‘Walking in the Air’.  The concert was also finished by the orchestra by playing ‘The Gloucestershire Wassail’.

The concert was a success and a celebration of the musicians that dedicate themselves to making these concerts happen.

On the 3rd December, exam students from St Edmund’s Catholic Academy performed three songs at Newhampton Arts Centre in a multi-school pop event.

Pieces included ‘I need a dollar’ – Aloe Black, ‘We found love’ – Rhianna/Calvin Harris & ‘Das Model’ – Kraftwork. The show was a complete success and all of our student performances were excellent.

The students conducted themselves admirably, supporting each other and students from other schools. They were a credit to the school.