I think I have had contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, but I have not been notified and advised to self-isolate. What should I do?
Contacts who need to self-isolate will be notified and advised accordingly by the NHS Test and Trace service. If you have not been notified, this means you do not need to self-isolate.
If you are concerned that you may have symptoms of coronavirus, or you live with someone who has symptoms of coronavirus, follow the Stay at Home: guidance for households with possible or confirmed COVID-19.
St Edmundâs Catholic Academy is delighted to invite prospective parents, carers and students to join us for our virtual open evening on Thursday 8 October 2020.
More information will follow.
Find out more:Â https://bit.ly/3jSZEJ3
When school reopens students will only be in for one day during the first week as we bring back the community gradually and ensure that they have plenty of space to become comfortable with our new ways of working.
Wednesday 2 September: Year 7 and Year 11
Thursday 3 September: Year 8 and Year 10
Friday 4 September: Year 9 and Sixth Form
Year 12 to attend school at 9:30am on Friday 4th September.
Year 13 to come in for exams only commencing 2nd September (timetables have been emailed to year 13).
From Monday 7 September all students will be required to attend school all week.
A message from the Principal, staff and governors to Year 11 “Class of 2020”
Dear Year 11
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The “Class of 2020” will go down in history. We have been honoured to watch you grow over the last five years – physically, spiritually and academically. Be as proud of yourselves as we are of you. The next stage awaits you. Whether your journey is sixth form, college, or apprenticeship, you will SUCCEED and you will CARE about the world around: – for that is what it means to be a St Edmund’s student.Â
There are new routines that will be in place for when the autumn term starts. Due to the serious nature of the current situation, there is a lot of information and several documents on our website – please take some time to discuss the points with your child, as this will make their return in September smoother.
Important information – read now: https://bit.ly/3is3VSK
Thank you for your continued support.
Great news! We are extending the âChromebooks for Learningâ scheme to all students. This is an important opportunity as remote learning will continue to be a feature of education as we face the ongoing challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic.
We will be continuing to maximise our use of google classroom and online resources to ensure that should any students be learning at home they have the same excellent quality. If your child has not yet signed up to the chrome book for learning scheme can I please urge you to do so. Having your own chromebook means reducing sharing and sanitising of devices and ensures you can work seamlessly between home and school.
All packages include an Asus C202 Chromebook, charger, laptop carry case, all software licences and 3 years of accidental damage and theft insurance cover.
Find out more:Â https://bit.ly/3jGfkzU
I Desire Mercy
âIf you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men.â Matthew 12:7
The Apostles of Jesus were hungry and they picked heads of grain as they walk along to satisfy their hunger. As a result, the Pharisees condemned the Apostles for doing what they claimed was âunlawfulâ on the Sabbath. They claimed that picking heads of grain as they walked along was considered âworkâ and, thus, they violated the law requiring rest on the Sabbath.
Really? Did the Pharisees seriously think that the Apostles sinned by picking grain as they walked along to satisfy their hunger? Hopefully itâs not hard for us to see the absurdity and irrationality of this condemnation. The Apostles did nothing wrong but were condemned nonetheless. They were âinnocent menâ as Jesus points out.
Jesus responds to the irrationality of the Pharisees by reminding them of the Scripture, âI desire mercy, not sacrifice.â And He points out that the Apostles were wrongly condemned because the Pharisees do not understand this passage and this command from God for mercy.
The Sabbath commandment to rest was from God. But the commandment to rest was not a requirement for its own sake. This was not some legal requirement that somehow honored God just by strictly keeping it. The Sabbath rest was primarily a gift from God to humanity in that God knew we needed rest and rejuvenation. He knew we needed time each week to slow down, offer special worship to God and enjoy the company of others. But the Pharisees turned the Sabbath rest into a burden. They made it out to be a strict legalistic observance that did nothing to glorify God or refresh the human spirit.
One key truth we can learn from this passage is that God calls us to interpret His law through the eyes of mercy. Mercy always refreshes us, lifts us up and fills us with new energy. It motivates us to worship and fills us with hope. Mercy does not impose a heavy legalistic burden upon us; rather, Godâs mercy and law together rejuvenates us and refreshes us.
Reflect, today, upon how you look at Godâs commands and His law. Do you see it as a legalistic and burdensome requirement? Or do you see it as a blessing of Godâs mercy meant to lighten your load?
Lord, help me to love Your law. Help me to truly see it in the light of Your mercy and grace. May I be refreshed by all You command and be lifted up by Your will.  Jesus, I trust in You.
Laying Down Your Burdens
Jesus said: âCome to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.â Matthew 11:28
This invitation from Jesus is one that we may need to hear far more often than we realize. Itâs a gentle invitation to let our Lord lighten our daily burden, relieve our worries, our stress, our concerns and all that weighs us down. Itâs an invitation of love and mercy and is one we should always accept.
What is it that burdens you? What is it that weighs you down and tempts you to fall into depression, sorrow or even despair? Is there something that you tend to think about obsessively? Is there some concern that you canât seem to shake? Whatever it is that troubles your heart, Jesus wants to lift it.
Sometimes we can go through life with heavy burdens that we are afraid to let go of. We can be fearful of coming to Jesus and fearful of letting Him in. Coming to Jesus means we must face whatever it is that burdens us with honesty and openness and we must face these burdens in the presence of Jesus.
But the key thing we need to know is that Jesus is gentle, merciful and generous in forgiveness and grace. He longs to lift our burdens far more than we long to have them lifted. He sees the oppression many face and so deeply desires to have that oppression eliminated.
Reflect, today, upon that gentle invitation from Jesus: âCome to me.â Come to Him without fear and without hesitation. Turn everything over to Him and let Him sort things out. He loves you more than you know and will set your feet on the right path.
Lord, I do come to You and I do lay down my life and every burden before You. I give You my life, my hopes, my fears, my past, my future and everything that worries me. Jesus, I give You everything. Jesus, I trust in You.
Charity Walk and Sports Week
One of St Edmundâs Catholic Academy traditions is the end of year charity walk. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, it is unable to take place, but as a school we still wanted to raise money for our three charities, voted for by the students.
The three charities this year are. Compton Hospice, Cancer Research UK and Plastic Oceans.
Students and staff are making their donations through Parent Pay. We thank everyone who has donated.
We have challenged the students and staff to do at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, from walking up and down the stairs, to dancing, gymnastics, walking etc.
âDo you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodiesâ â 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
