Black Lives Matter: We are all made in God’s image

4th June 2020Mrs D Curtis

St Edmund’s staff and students proudly support  the Bishops of England & Wales in their message of solidarity to the US. 

 

We stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in the USA as they challenge the evil of racism and the brutal killing of George Floyd. As the US Bishops made clear: “we cannot turn a blind eye to these atrocities and yet still try to profess to respect every human life. We serve a God of love, mercy, and justice.”

 

Systemic racism is embedded in our own society. The disproportionate harm suffered by BAME people throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted profound inequalities, marginalisation and injustice here in the UK. The peaceful Black Lives Matter protests taking place in our towns and cities this week reflect the understandable anger that so many people feel about this.

 

​As Catholics we recognise that racism is an evil which must be opposed; we all have a responsibility for actively promoting racial justice. Whenever we ignore racism or dismiss BAME people’s experience of it, we are complicit in violations of human dignity. We pray for God’s help to overcome racism in all its forms and that we might protect everyone who suffers its consequences. We are all made in God’s image.”

 

Bishop Declan Lang

Lead Bishop for International Affairs

 

Bishop Paul McAleenan

Lead Bishop for Racial Justice

Lourdes Pilgrimage 2020

24th May 2020Mrs D Ferris

Lourdes to Brum Pilgrimage 2020

Tomorrow would have been the day students from St Edmund’s, St Chad’s and others schools would have been travelling to Lourdes for the Birmingham Diocese Pilgrimage.

You are ALL invited to a Virtual Pilgrimage starting with the opening Mass on Sunday 24th May at 3pm- from St Chad’s Cathedral.

To all 6 formers please take a look, and if you are interested in going next year let me know.

You can take part in a daily programme of Masses, Liturgy and Prayer for the week that we would have spent in Lourdes so, like Bernadette; we can make a spiritual pilgrimage:

‘Every day I go in Spirit to the Grotto. I make a pilgrimage there’.

The link to the programme and live streams are on

www.birmingham.or.uk/lourdes-pilgramage

also you can follow Facebook for special extra content on

# Lourdes2Brum

A hope you can join us

Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for us

Saint Bernadette, Pray for us

St Edmund pray for us

St Chad pray for us

 

Daily Gospel Reflection

6th May 2020Mrs D Ferris

SEND-OFF

“Then, after they had fasted and prayed, they imposed hands on them and sent them off.” —Acts 13:3

When the early Church gathered for prayer, they did something before and something after. They fasted before praying. This freed them, “releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke” (Is 58:6). They were free to hear the voice of God, pray the prayer of faith, go up prayer-mountain, and move the mountains of the evil one (Mt 17:20-21). After they prayed, it was not that the people just went off; rather, they were sent off (Acts 13:3).

 

The assembly at prayer should be a launching pad, shooting Spirit-filled, empowered, commissioned believers into the world. Propelled by the community’s prayer and fasting, we rescue people from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light (Col 1:13) and attack the gates of hell that cannot prevail against us (Mt 16:18).

 

The Catholic Church has traditionally emphasized fasting, praying, and sending. Before receiving Holy Communion, we are to fast for at least an hour. I recommend we fast for a significantly longer period of time. After Holy Communion, we are sent out with the final blessing. This is what the word “Mass” means: “sent.” Fasting, praying, and sending launched the first missionary journey, and will certainly begin the final one.

 

PRAYER:               Father, during this Easter time, launch me into full-time missionary work.

PROMISE:            “The Father Who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to speak.” –Jn 12:49

PRAISE:                 Praise those who ‘Lay their hands’ on other to give love, care and hope.

Daily Gospel Reflection

4th May 2020Mrs D Ferris

CLUED IN TO THE SPIRIT
“As I began to address them the Holy Spirit came upon them.” —Acts 11:15
Peter, a Christian and a Jew, took the unprecedented step of entering the house of a Gentile, Cornelius (Acts 10:25). Gentiles, that is, non-Jews, were excluded from the company of Jews. However, the Holy Spirit made it crystal-clear to Peter that he was to enter Cornelius’ house (Acts 11:5ff; 11:12).

The Spirit hadn’t yet instructed Peter what to say to the assembled Gentiles. So Peter “proceeded to address them” with a standard witness to the risen Lord (Acts 10:34ff). Then Peter brought up the subject of sin (Acts 10:43). Based on his previous preaching in Acts, it’s quite possible that Peter’s next words would have involved accountability for sin and the need for deep repentance. Theologically this makes good sense, but the Holy Spirit had a different subject in mind, for the Spirit took over from Peter. “Peter had not finished these words” about forgiveness of sins “when the Holy Spirit descended upon all who were listening to Peter’s message” (Acts 10:44). Although Peter’s Jewish Christian companions were surprised at this turn of events (Acts 10:45), Peter followed “the Spirit’s lead” perfectly (Gal 5:25). Rather than trying to take the floor back from the Holy Spirit and finish his sermon, Peter “gave orders that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 10:48).

Let us hear the voice of Jesus (Jn 10:16) and thereby learn the voice of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit knows exactly what is the right word at the right time (see e.g. 1 Cor 2:10ff). Like Peter, let us “live by the Spirit” and “follow the Spirit’s lead” (Gal 5:25).

PRAYER: Father, I will serve You not by my own intelligence or wisdom, but by Your Spirit (Zec 4:6).
PROMISE: “I am the Good Shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me.” –Jn 10:14
PRAISE: Give thanks to those who lead you and think of how you can lead others along the right path

First Aid Skills

11th March 2020Mrs D Curtis

Jessica, Bhavesh, Elizabeth, Hajrah and Owen learnt some basic first aid skills today. They learnt about DR ABC, the Primary Survey, which is used by St. John Ambulance. 

 

Mrs Beech, who used to be a paramedic in the Navy and currently volunteers with St John Ambulance, shared her real life experience with the group. 

 

The session began with looking at hazard and risk in real life scenarios, everyone critiqued the situation well and recognised the potential hazards. The students justified the correct contents for a first aid kit and when they should be used.

 

We then discussed how to assess a casualty, looking for evidence and clues. This included inhalers, Epipens, Insulin pens, medic-alert tags, prior knowledge etc. 

 

We complicated the situation to include an unconscious casualty, everyone tested their new skills to assess the situation and their casualty using D (danger), R (response), A (airway), B (breathing) and C (circulation) using the Resusci Annie. They then went on to roll each other into the recovery position and learn the importance of maintaining a casualty’s airway.

Vacancies – Exam Invigilators

6th March 2020Mrs D Curtis

We are seeking to appoint 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.

Permanent Casual Contract – £9.55 ph

Hours: To meet the needs of the Academy during Examination Periods (no guaranteed hours) 

Closing Date
16 March, 2020 09.00

Interview Date
W/C 23/03/20

For more information please click on the link below.

http://www.sfscmac.co.uk/vacancies/exam-invigilators/

Maths In Action A Level Trip

25th February 2020Mrs D Curtis

As part of the school-wide Loyola programme 10 select year 12 students recently travelled to Butterworth Hall, at the University of Warwick, for five wide-ranging and interactive university style maths lectures.

These introduced students to mathematical concepts including mathematics in music, living is a risky business, fighting disease with maths, the quest to find prime numbers and patterns and predictions. The day was highly interactive and engaging, illustrating the wonder and applications of maths to the next generation of budding mathematicians. The students had a great day and got to see what university life is like.

Sixth Form Ernst & Young Workshop

18th February 2020Mrs D Curtis

Some of our sixth formers took up a fantastic opportunity to visit the prestigious Ernst & Young (E&Y) offices in Birmingham.

The students had the opportunity to take part in workshop and  networking with E&Y personnel and a tour of the offices. 

They took part in a very focused 4 hour workshop event within the Tech / Accountancy sector. During the event they took part in workshops led by leading professionals within the firm, students networked with E&Y staff and heard all about the work experience and degree apprenticeship opportunities with some possible fast tracks on offer! 

Brandy Sasa felt the workshops were fantastic. Brandy has already started the application process for the summer internships. The students were informed about the apprenticeship process and how EY supports university placements. Brandy had the opportunity to identify her own key strengths. “ It was a great day, I am so glad I went”. 

Harjan Sangha thought the trip to the E&Y offices was very scrupulous and interactive. He is in the process of applying for a one week work experience at the E&Y offices in Birmingham, and has also persuaded other scholars to also look at the opportunities presented to them. The students took the opportunity to gain presentation skills, and evaluate their strengths and get an idea of what kind of field of accountancy would best suited for them.The students were notified of all the amazing and punctilious opportunities that Ernst And Young offer to young people, to give them a jumpstart in the working world.

Poems, Triangles & Snowflakes At Symphony Hall

21st January 2020Mrs D Curtis

Year 11 students visited Birmingham Symphony Hall to enjoy the GCSE Poetry Live event on Monday 20th January.

This informative and enjoyable event was well received by a packed Symphony Hall, who were treated to both chief examiner sessions along with a range of live performances from the cream of  modern British poets who feature on the GCSE syllabus.

As ever the highlight being John Agard’s much-anticipated electrifying performance that drew together, science, mathematics, history and identity.

“Who knew there could be a poem about equilateral triangles wanting to be a snowflake”, said Rajbir, a member of our group.