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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Year 11 work experience window has now sadly come to a close. This week Year 11 has been fortunate enough to have experienced working life either through a work placement outside of school or with staff members within school.
Why do we do work experience?
Under the statutory guidance for schools, the government requires schools to offer unbiased careers advice and guidance, meaning schools must allow students to explore different avenues whether it be college, sixth form or apprenticeship. Our school will always support students and encourage them to use skills to reach out to places because they “want young people to be informed and to make good choices for their future career paths.”
What is the purpose of work experience?
Work experience help’s students gain an insight into the world of work and develop as young people. Most students who have been out of school have either realised that they want a career in that profession or want to do something completely different – which is the point of work experience. It allows teenagers to step out into the adult world and sort out their own life, they are given the chance to be independent by having to worry about timings, transportation, food etc. Mrs Gibbons, Assistant Principal, hopes that the students feel inspired, and that parents recognise the benefits of this week and possibly feel inspired to pursue their interest too because “there’s never an age when you should stop learning”.
When Mrs Gibbons was in Year 11 she did work experience in a primary school, where she realised she loved the environment of a school. However later on she realised that she didn’t want to work with young children because she couldn’t apply her law degree, so she decided that secondary school was the way to go. She found it interesting going back to her old primary school, because for her it was “interesting to see teachers in a new light and to see how hard they work”. At the age of 17, she did two weeks work experience, one week in a solicitors’ office where she got to go to a magistrate court and do solicitor duties in the office. The other week was spent at the custody office at a prison where she got to read interesting files, however, she couldn’t meet young offenders due to confidentiality but she did get to calculate sentences for the new arrivals. There were a few memorable moments including when the prison went on lockdown, and visitors were being restrained, one that she remembers vividly was when her food was served by adult long term offenders (who were serving time for murders and other crimes). She learnt about how prisons allow prisoners to show responsibility and self-reform by working so that if they do get released they have experience that could allow them to ease back into society.
Work experience was arranged by Miss Dell and Mrs Gibbons, who aided and supported students in finding a work placement, and worked tirelessly to create a collapsed timetable that enabled students who hadn’t found a placement to: hear about a broad range of careers; learn/develop skills that would benefit them in the working environment; participate in business related challenges; find a focus for their summer exams. Students found this week “helpful” as it gave them “better understanding of future career paths”. They also appreciated a change of focus after doing mocks because it provided them with “a sense of accomplishment” and gave them “motivation for GCSE” because they now know what is needed for their careers paths.
It’s fair to say that it was an enjoyably memorable experience that has helped shaped the lives of many students, especially having spoken to guest speakers which included: a hairdresser, a paralegal, a nurse, a police officer, a strengthening families worker, a West Midlands fire service firefighter, a pilot, and teachers (who were Mrs Gibbons and Mrs Hazeldine – interesting enough they both had very different journeys and showed how there are so many paths to becoming a teacher, every teacher’s journey is different. I challenge you to ask different teachers how they got into teaching and what their journey was like – their answers might just surprise you). All the talks were amazing and helped cement career decisions for some students and others gained more of an idea about what they want to do with their lives. Students found it inspirational to see people from the same communities as them go on to lead fulfilling lives. The speakers demonstrated that no matter your background as long as you have a passion you will succeed. Every speaker expressed how there are many different routes you can take to get to where you want to in life!
By Janis Liora Tchiesso Nantchouang
Year 11- Work Experience
Rajbir Singh attends the Wolverhampton BJJ Club and regularly takes part in mixed martial arts (MMA) events under the supervision of instructor William Haycox who is currently ranked 3rd in the UK.
Rajbir recently competed in 4 fights winning the 65kg category with a choke and the second fight with an arm bar. Both wins secured Rajbir with a gold and a bronze medal.
Congratulations Rajbir.
