The Baptism of the Lord

8th January 2024Rhiannon Watts-Robinson

The baptism of Jesus holds profound significance as a pivotal moment in salvation history.

At the Jordan River, Jesus, sinless and divine, willingly entered the waters to be baptised by John the Baptist. This act, seemingly paradoxical for the sinless Son of God, serves as a powerful example of humility and solidarity with humanity. As Jesus emerged from the water, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove, while the voice of the Father declared, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

This manifestation of the Holy Trinity marked the initiation of Jesus’ public ministry, reinforcing the importance of baptism as a sacrament that cleanses and sanctifies, inviting believers into the divine family and embodying the transformative power of God’s grace. The baptism of Jesus symbolises the beginning of the New Covenant, demonstrating God’s boundless love and His eternal plan for the redemption of mankind.

As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” – Matthew 3:16-17

Epiphany of the Lord

6th January 2024Rhiannon Watts-Robinson

The Epiphany of the Lord commemorates the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, symbolised by the visit of the Magi or Wise Men.

According to Catholic tradition, the Magi, guided by the Star of Bethlehem, traveled from the East to pay homage to the newborn King. This event is seen as a profound revelation of Jesus’ universal significance, emphasizing that salvation is not exclusive to a particular group or nationality.

The Epiphany signifies the revelation of God’s plan for all of humanity, and the homage offered by the Magi symbolises the acknowledgment of Christ’s divinity by people from different cultures.

It is a moment of realization and understanding that Jesus is the Savior for all, breaking down the barriers that may separate people and inviting them to share in the light of God’s love.

The Epiphany of the Lord underscores the inclusivity of God’s redemptive plan, inviting believers to recognize the presence of Christ in their lives and to radiate His light to the world.

See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. – Isaiah 60:2-3

Merry Christmas!

25th December 2023Rhiannon Watts-Robinson

Christmas holds profound significance as the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Savior of humanity.

Rooted in the biblical narrative of the nativity, Christmas commemorates the divine mystery of the Incarnation, wherein God took on human flesh to dwell among His people. The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem fulfills the Messianic prophecies, signifying God’s immense love and His desire to reconcile humanity with Himself.

We view Christmas as a time of joy, hope, and salvation, marking the beginning of a new era with the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah. Central to the celebration is the acknowledgment of the Holy Family—Jesus, Mary, and Joseph—as a model of obedience, humility, and familial love.

The liturgical season of Advent preceding Christmas invites us to reflect on the themes of anticipation and preparation, emphasizing the spiritual aspects of waiting for the coming of Christ.

Ultimately, Christmas serves as a profound reminder of the divine gift of salvation and the light that Christ brings into the world, inspiring us to embrace the values of peace, goodwill, and the transformative power of God’s love.

Merry Christmas from all at St Edmund’s Catholic Academy, may you have a blessed day.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16

Chocolate Hamper Winner!

22nd December 2023Rhiannon Watts-Robinson

Today we drew the winner for the Chocolate Hamper Christmas Raffle. Mrs Letheren picked the winner at random and drew Anna L, Y8.

Congratulations Anna! Enjoy your prize!

Advent Liturgy 2023

22nd December 2023Rhiannon Watts-Robinson

Today we ended our Autumn Term with our Advent Liturgy.

Students from Year 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 lit a candle on the advent wreath, representing hope, peace, joy, love and the nativity.

Mrs Whitmarsh read the annunciation and Reverend McKearney gave reflections on the gospel.

St Edmund’s Gospel Choir sang O Come O Come Emmanuel which gave everyone a chance to reflect on the nativity and the coming of Christ.

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Stars of St Edmund’s 2023

22nd December 2023Rhiannon Watts-Robinson

Yesterday we held our annual Stars of St Edmund’s event.

The Stars of St Edmund’s event is the highlight of our academic year when students receive certificates and awards for their hard work during the previous year.

Photo: WOLVERHAMPTON COPYRIGHT NATIONAL WORLD PLC TIM THURSFIELD 21/12/23

Photo: WOLVERHAMPTON COPYRIGHT NATIONAL WORLD PLC TIM THURSFIELD 21/12/23

Our Principal Speaker was the Honourable Doctor Stuart Lawrence, youth engagement specialist, coach, public speaker and consultant. His previous roles include 20 years of teaching in a secondary school and, more notably, working for the Home Office and HMP Belmarsh.

In his talk to the students, he spoke of his past, his life and his family. He told the students his favourite saying was “hard work beats talent when talent does not work hard”. This inspired the students to continue working hard on their goals. His words about health and sleep showed the students that they must prioritise their health to achieve their goals. Following this he spoke about his books and the impact one individual can have on the world. He asked the students to raise their hands if they would say “I am a revolutionary”. To this St Edmund’s would say #IAmARevolutionary.

Thank you Honourable Doctor Stuart Lawrence for your inspirational talk.

Photo: WOLVERHAMPTON COPYRIGHT NATIONAL WORLD PLC TIM THURSFIELD 21/12/23

Photo: WOLVERHAMPTON COPYRIGHT NATIONAL WORLD PLC TIM THURSFIELD 21/12/23

Our musical item was ‘What a Beautiful Name It Is’ performed by Dumebi Umensofor and Stella Ojo.

The award presentations were started with the celebration of our previous Year 11 and 13 students on the completion of their GCSE, BTEC and A Level results. This was followed by the recognition of the students who have achieved a CARE award, with 9 students achieving Platinum Level. The students who achieved their Duke of Edinburgh were then congratulated on their success.

Curriculum Area Awards were given to those students who had made an outstanding achievement or contribution in specific subject areas. Congratulations to all who achieved a Curriculum Area Award!

the Principal Awards were given to students who excelled in different areas of academy life. The seven awards include those who have achieved outstanding results in English, Mathematics, GCSE/BTEC and A Levels, contribution to environmental welfare, contribution to academy life, and overcoming adversity. The winners of these awards were well deserved and it was great to see their achievements recognised by the whole school.

Photo: WOLVERHAMPTON COPYRIGHT NATIONAL WORLD PLC TIM THURSFIELD 21/12/23

Photo: WOLVERHAMPTON COPYRIGHT NATIONAL WORLD PLC TIM THURSFIELD 21/12/23

The Staff of St Edmund’s Star Achievement Awards went to Miss Mann, Miss Dell, Miss Blanchette and Ms Alsop.

Congratulations to all the award winners.

Thank you to all our guests, staff and students who attended this great event, you made it truly special. We look forward to next year when we can celebrate again.

Year 7 and 8 Rewards Assembly

21st December 2023Rhiannon Watts-Robinson

Today Mr Perkins, Mrs Jeer and Mr Selvey celebrated the fantastic achievements of Year 7 and 8 pupils this half term.

It was great to see so many pupils doing well, with their efforts getting recognised and prizes handed out.

We are wishing everyone an excellent Christmas holiday! We hope that everyone continues their efforts into the new term where new challenges await with numerous opportunities to shine,

Well done all!

– Mr Selvey

MFL Bake Off 2023

21st December 2023Rhiannon Watts-Robinson

Yesterday our MFL department held another successful St Edmund’s Languages Bake Off.

The theme of this years bake off was “languages” or “Christmas around the world”.

The rules were: no nuts allowed, there must be a list of allergens and only one entry per student. The prize for first place was a £30 Uber Eats voucher.

The baked goods were sold to staff and students at breaktime. The judging was also held at this time.

All the money raised from the sale is going to  support families in our school community over Christmas.

Thank you to everyone who took part and made it a great event!

Year 7/8 Football Success!

21st December 2023Rhiannon Watts-Robinson

On Tuesday, there was success for the year 7/8 girls in their cup match away at Moseley Park.

We were 1-0 down in the first half but made a quick recovery with a goal by Daisy and two own goals with assists from Leja making it 3-1!

Everyone played amazingly, considering it was our first game as a team and the muddy conditions, a special well done to all the year 7’s who played incredibly well in the older league.

Besides the fox who came to steal the ball away, the game ran smoothly and everyone showed respect to the other team – following our CARE values.

A report by Daisy Winwood

Well done girls and good luck in the semi-finals!