Empowering Change: Period Positivity Ambassadors at St Edmund’s

11th February 2025Rowan Ridley

Empowering Change: Period Positivity Ambassadors at St Edmund’s

At St Edmund’s, we are committed to ensuring that no student faces barriers to their education due to period poverty. That’s why Miss Ridley and Mrs Bahra have launched the Embrace and Empower initiative—providing free sanitary products, raising awareness, and tackling the stigma surrounding periods.

Leading the way in this movement are our incredible Period Poverty Ambassadors:

Azuka
Mandi
Kyela-Shae
Michelle
Another Year 9 Student

These passionate students are making a real difference in our school community, working together to raise awareness and ensure that no one is left behind.

What Do Our Ambassadors Do?

Azuka, Mandi, Kyela-Shae, Michelle, and Year 9 Student are dedicated to breaking the stigma surrounding periods. They are actively involved in:

✔ Ensuring access to free period products in school.
✔ Providing support to students who may feel uncomfortable discussing their menstrual needs.
✔ Raising awareness about period poverty and menstrual health through campaigns and events.
✔ Organiasing fundraising and donation drives to maintain a steady supply of sanitary products.

Why This Matters

Period poverty is a real issue that affects millions of people worldwide. No one should have to miss school or feel ashamed because they don’t have access to essential products. Thanks to Embrace and Empower and our fantastic ambassadors, St Edmund’s is creating a safe, supportive, and stigma-free environment for everyone.

How You Can Help

Speak to Azuka, Mandi, Kyela-Shae or Michelle if you need free period products or support.
Join the movement by helping with fundraising or awareness events.
Start conversations to break the stigma and encourage open discussions about periods.

We are incredibly proud of Miss Ridley, Mrs Bahra, and our wonderful ambassadors for leading the charge in making period dignity a reality at St Edmund’s. Let’s continue to embrace, empower, and support each other! ✨

For more information, reach out to the Embrace and Empower team at St Edmund’s.

Celebrate Apprenticeship Week at St Edmund’s Catholic Academy!

11th February 2025Rowan Ridley

Date: February 10th to 16th, 2025

This week, we’re celebrating Apprenticeship Week here at St Edmund’s Catholic Academy! Apprenticeships offer an exciting alternative to traditional education, combining hands-on work experience with valuable training. Whether you’re still deciding on your career path or are curious about apprenticeships, this week is packed with fantastic opportunities for you to explore.

What’s in store for you this week?
We’ve created a special PowerPoint to help you understand the world of apprenticeships and the many opportunities they can offer. Inside, you’ll find:

  • What an apprenticeship is and how it could be the perfect step for your future.
  • Where to look for apprenticeships and how to get started on your journey.
  • Real stories from current apprentices who will share their experiences and insights.
  • A detailed comparison between Apprenticeships vs. University, helping you make the right decision for your career.
  • Exciting events and activities throughout the week, brought to you by the St Edmund’s Careers Team!

Why should you check out the PowerPoint?
By clicking through, you’ll get access to essential information, practical tips, and opportunities to engage with apprenticeship providers and industry experts. Don’t miss out on the chance to explore this valuable career path!

Let’s make this Apprenticeship Week an unforgettable one!
We encourage all students to dive into the resources available and take part in the exciting events lined up. Your future career could be just a click away!

 

https://naw.appawards.co.uk/

Year 9 (and Two Year 8 Players) Reach Cup Final!

7th February 2025Rowan Ridley

Congratulations to the Year 9 Football Team on their impressive 2-1 victory against Heath Park last night, securing their place in the Final of the Year 9 Wolverhampton Cup! This was a remarkable achievement and we are so proud to have you representing the school through your strong aspirations.

If you see any of the players, be sure to congratulate them on their success:

  • Adam White
  • Ebby Matudidi
  • Kacper Zagrzebski
  • Ralph O’Connor
  • Reuben Warlow
  • Gabe Mullan
  • Monty Buckmaster
  • Esandju Almeida
  • Boyd Field
  • Finley Foster
  • Godbles Freeman-Taylor
  • Jake Evans
  • Dadwar Hamed
  • Solomon Evans

 

Celebrations as city’s newest youth councillors elected

4th February 2025Rowan Ridley

We are delighted to announce that two of our students, Akshay Kumar and Harriet Deadman, have been appointed as Youth Councillors for the City of Wolverhampton 2025.

Both students are looking forward to working with the City of Wolverhampton Council’s directors and councillors to promote the voice of young people and encourage them to get involved in their community.

 

Youth Declaration Event

Find out more:

https://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/news/celebrations-citys-newest-youth-councillors-elected

Reaching out to Primary Schools in the Jubilee Year

27th January 2025Michael Mckearney

 

Wednesday 22nd January 2025

Today we were thrilled to welcome the year 5 class, along with their teacher, Mrs Wilcox, to St Edmund’s chapel to celebrate their own Liturgy of the Word.

Last week Rev had gone to St Teresa’s and spent a lovely morning singing, praying and explaining the liturgy to the year 5 class. They spent a week working hard on their liturgy and today we saw the wonderful fruits of that hard work. Their liturgy was beautifully prayerful, and joyful and provided an opportunity to reflect on the Jubilee Year and what it means to be a “Pilgrim of Hope” in our schools and communities.

Thank you to Mrs Wilcox, the staff and especially year 5 for bringing their gifts and talents to the Lord in and through this liturgy.

Parent Partnership Conversation

24th January 2025Mrs D Curtis

St Edmund’s was awarded the Leading Parent Partnership Award (LPPA) recently.  This is a nationally recognised award achievable by schools that work closely with families within their school community.

 

Yesterday some of our parents and staff had the opportunity to share coffee, cake and conversation. It was a great opportunity for parents to meet key staff in school and get to know other parents. 

 

Children can achieve more when their parents/caregivers are involved in their learning. Any concerns a child has can be discussed quickly and effectively if parents have a positive relationship with school staff.  The Academy continues to develop a better understanding of what is needed to support the school community.

 

The next parent partnership event will be advertised in the next newsletter and through the Arbor app. We would love for you to join us.

 

 

 TechJam Fun at St Edmund’s! 

21st January 2025Mrs D Curtis
 TechJam Fun at St Edmund’s! 

St Edmund’s students had an unforgettable day of tech-fuelled teamwork

 From solving creative challenges with 3D pens to build towers to the adrenaline rush of blindfolded Gran Turismo racing and the thrill of explosive detonation challenges, the day was packed with excitement and innovation!

✨ All activities were designed to inspire collaboration, creativity, and teamwork skills—and our students certainly rose to the occasion!

A huge thank you to LearnPlay for such a fantastic event. Our students are already looking forward to the next one! 

 

 

Top of the Bench: Our Young Chemists Dazzle at Regional Finals!

17th January 2025Rowan Ridley
Students from Years 9 to 11 participated in the regional final of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Top of the Bench competition after successfully advancing through the preliminary round.

The event took place at the University of Birmingham, bringing together schools from across the West Midlands. It featured a written quiz and a hands-on team challenge in the laboratory, where students used state-of-the-art equipment to push their chemistry skills beyond the classroom curriculum.

In addition to the competition, the students attended an engaging lecture by Professor Tomislav Friščic, Leverhulme International Professor in Green and Sustainable Chemistry, on the wonders of mechanochemistry.

While we await the final scores, we are incredibly proud of our students’ hard work and enthusiasm. They have been awarded well-deserved certificates in recognition of their participation.

 

St Edmund’s Careers Fair 2025

10th January 2025Mrs D Curtis

From film-makers to pharmacists,  from paramedics to primary teachers, St Edmund’s hosted over 30 career professionals who gave their time and expertise to support our young people in finding out about the world of work.

 

Students were excited to meet various local and national employers from the private sector such as  Zoom,  Aldi, COOP & Merridale as well as public sector roles in medicine, nursing, politics, probation services and social work. They were also introduced to the potential advantages of setting up your own business with nail technicians and dog grooming being very popular. Students were keen to ask questions and explore the pathways and choices available to them and the exhibitors were impressed with how knowledgeable the students were.

Mrs Hazeldine said, “Thank you so much to the range of professionals that joined us today. It was truly a wonderful experience for the students and an insight to their future careers and aspirations.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibitors

Clinical Scientist (Genetics) – Irene Griffiths

Deacon – Reverend Mick McKearney

Director – Matt Jones

Doctor-Pediatrician – Dr Zoe Johnson

Dog Grooming – Louis

Film Programmer/Archivist – Damilola Lemomu

Football & Education Coach – Lee Mills

Funeral Director – Sarah Watson 

Global Architect – Craig Letheren

Insurance Underwriter – Tom Corbett

Intensive Care Nurse – Julia Ashley

Lawyer – Tom Corrigan

Learner Recruitment Consultant – Matt Lawson

Nail Technician & Educator – Holly Harvey

Operations Health & Safety Manager – VictoVictor Hamrahi

Outreach Manager – James Collishi

Paramedics – Kyle Price, Bailey Stevens and Ben Durnall

Pharmacist – Rahul Gill

Political Organiser/MP Staff – Rosie Hazeldine

Primary Teacher – Jenny Byrne

Probation Service – Samantha Gee

Secondary Teacher – Emma Hill

Scientist & Manager – Dr Nikki Atwal

Store Manager – Gianluca Bellavia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Celebrating Our Achievement: The Leading Parent Partnership Award!

8th January 2025Rowan Ridley

We are thrilled to announce that our school has been awarded the Leading Parent Partnership Award (LPPA)! This prestigious recognition highlights our dedication to fostering strong relationships between the school and our wonderful community of parents and carers.

The LPPA framework promotes active parental participation in school life, leading to positive outcomes for our students. By working together, we’ve seen improvements in pupil progress, punctuality, attendance, and behaviour. We are committed to continuing this collaborative journey, ensuring every child thrives both academically and socially.

A special thank you goes to Mrs. Lethern, who has been instrumental in making this achievement possible. Her initiatives, such as hosting parent breakfasts and regular meetings, have created opportunities for open communication and stronger bonds within our school community.

This award is a reflection of our shared efforts and commitment to nurturing a supportive and inclusive learning environment. We look forward to building on this success and continuing to strengthen the partnership between home and school for being part of this journey with us! Together, we are making a difference.