Our Sixth Form is thriving. Many students have secured some amazing opportunites and achieved wonderful grades. Check out the presentation to find out more:
We were delighted to welcome former student, Basit Kakroo, back to St Edmundâs this week. He shared his pathway to becoming a doctor at New Cross Hospital with aspiring medics in years 10, 11 & 12.Â
Basit explained his role, describing his daily routine and the demands of the job. He also went on to give advice on how to prepare for the UCAT medical exams. Basit even found time to catch up with his teachers, including Miss Moore who was his form tutor.
Ashpriya (Year 12): âI found it really insightful to hear the perspectives of a former student. In particular, it was useful making a connection with someone local who can aid me with work experience and the interview process.â
Photo: Dr Kakroo and aspiring medics in Year 10, Year 11 and Year 12
This Easter holiday I went back to my ethnic country Albania and decided it was the perfect time to give back to the community. I spoke to my local bishop to offer my time with the church. I was baptised at âKatedralja NĂ«nĂ« Terezjaâ and worked at the charity home where I was able to work with two Italian nuns who guided me in helping two boys with cerebral palsy.
Throughout the four days I volunteered there, the two nuns, who didnât know much Albanian themselves, taught me how to support and care for Nikola (left) and Fabian (right), which did take me far out of my comfort zone as I have never experienced caring for people with different-abilities before. I was able to grasp a different outlook on life through the two boys and how they live their day to day lives, by helping them with tasks such as building a picture board for their room and playing with bubbles to help their hand to eye coordination. One aspect that stood out to me was how neither of them was able to communicate through speech, however, we were able to communicate through non-verbal communications such as certain movements and oculesics, which did make me think of how humans can present what they feel in so many different ways that arenât just speech.
I also helped out with an older group of people with down syndrome and autism by completing a colouring book with them. It was inspiring to talk to them and how they have been able to overcome their challenges even without access to advanced technology. I was very proud of the work the church has done as I could see how grateful the group of people were to have been given the resources and life skills to take them into the world and that the church has been able to build a strong inclusive community life in the county.
I believe that we should, as students aspiring to follow the CARE values of the school, reach out and contribute our time to help our local community (charities, homes for the elderly and others), as the knowledge and experience gained are unique compared to any other work experience and, in a world where everyone wants to be heard, all they want to do is listen.
Gjovani Cinari
Year 12
On the 7th of April, a group of Year 12 students were given the incredible opportunity to gain insight into what pharmacy is all about at the University of Wolverhampton. It was a day packed with an array of different experiences: from gaining a taste of the universityâs unique approach to teaching, to conducting chemical experiments using their excellent laboratory facilities. It was a day of valuable insight and excitement.
We were introduced to pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences as well as pharmacy and learned to differentiate between each type of course and the vital roles they play within the pharmaceutical industry. Using our newly acquired knowledge, we used their learning system- which focuses primarily on independence and team work- to test our retainment and recall abilities. This allowed us to develop our communication, teamwork and decision making skills and also obtain a flavour for the working environment at university.
In the afternoon, we had the opportunity to visit the laboratories to use their specialised equipment to carry out a range of experiments. The objective was to uncover which mystery drug we were given a sample of. This allowed us to gain first hand insight into working within this atmosphere. The activity helped to improve our organisational skills and abilities to work with complex machinery, but also our ability to come to sensible conclusions.
This was a truly fantastic experience! We would collectively like to give a warm thank you to Dr Mark Hewitt, Dr Stephen Anderson, Dr Waseem Kaialy and Dr Matthew Palframan for leading this fantastic discovery day!Â
Ashpriya Basi and Merciya Selvamahan (Year 12)
Photo left to right: Arabella Caligdong, Wadha Shahid, Sophia Roldan, Martina Szpojankowska, Brientony Jeyarajan, Shadi Hamadamin, Ashpriya Basi, Merciya Selvamahan
Twelve Year 9 girls had the chance of taking part in a Girls Active event at Aldersley Stadium during the last week of term.
The Girls Active programme helps schools understand what motivates girls to take part, enabling teachers to work with girls through consultation and leadership to make the necessary changes to their PE, sport and physical activity provision to engage all girls in ways that appeal to them.
The girls embraced all of the activities that ranged from Dunk it to Hip Hop!
Well done girls and thank you to Mrs Ridley for taking them, it is much appreciated.
We are seeking to appoint to St Edmundâs Catholic Academy a number of Exam Invigilators to work under the supervision of the Examinations Officer to ensure the smooth running of both external and internal examinations.
Good numeracy and literacy skills required together with the ability to be flexible and to be able to relate to children and adults.
Find out more:Â https://bit.ly/3JC34Mr
What a novel effort the Sixth Formers made this Lenten period! We are pleased with the 200 Egg-cellent contributions donated.Â
The Haven Wolverhampton supports women and children who have been subjected to Domestic Abuse and women who are at risk of homelessness. This charity has been selected by the students.
Special thanks to each and every Sixth Former who purchased an Easter egg, Mrs Hogg who collated this huge selection of eggs and to Mrs walker who made the special egg delivery to The Haven.Â
Happy Easter
Photo: Mrs Walker (Teacher of Religious Education) & Haven Fundraising staff member
Over the past 1/2 term staff and pupils at St Edmund’s have been donating toiletries, food and medical supplies to be sent to help those suffering from the fallout of the Ukraine Invasion.
In coordination with one of our parents, Mrs Willets who has been assisting at the Ukrainian Centre in Wolverhampton, 2 carloads of donations have been sent.
These items have been sorted, packed and are on the way to the people that need them. A special mention to Mrs Grant, Assistant Head of Year who along with fellow members of the Women’s Ministry of Bethel All Saints Apostolic Church, Wolverhampton have generously added to our collection.
Special thanks also to another of our parents, Mr Nicholls who has very generously donated a lorry load of medical PPE which has also made its way to Ukraine.
The Haven Wolverhampton does an incredible role supporting women and children who have been subjected to domestic abuse and women who are at risk of homelessness.
This year the Administration Team decided to deliver a box of spring joy and Easter Blessings to the lives of these women by donating hand made daffodil bouquets.Â
Staff at the Haven were incredibly moved by St Edmund’s generosity and were eager to deliver the bouquets to brighten the lives of the women in need.
Photo: The Haven fundraising staff
We ended another busy term with our Easter liturgies in the sports hall. It has been over two years since we have been able to join together in prayer and Principal Mrs Hazeldine couldnât have been more delighted with how the services were received. âI am so filled with pride and gratitude for the respect and engagement shown by our wonderful students todayâ.Â
Two services, one for upper school and one for lower school, led by our Chaplain, Fr Sean Gough, and students from all year groups, guided the community through the Stations of the Cross following the sorrow of Jesusâ death and the glory of His resurrection. Â
The cross (pictured) was created by many of our students who attend at SS Peter and Paulâs parish and was the central focus of our contemplation.
