On Thursday 19 April, fourteen Debate Mate students were lucky enough to travel to the University of Birmingham to compete in the Debate Mate Cup.  The university buildings shone in glorious sunshine and our debaters were a little awestruck at the size of the campus.  Wonder aside, their concentration was not lost and they set their sights on preparing their speeches.

A challenging prepared motion on the United Nations Council showed an outstanding understanding of the world they live in.  Our teams then got to work on two unprepared motions and impressed the judges so much they attained some of the highest scores ever awarded.  The competition also included a show debate, led by Debate Mate staff, which gave our students many ideas.  An intense and public final debate gave our students further insight into effective debating skills that they are keen to try out in the future.

The competition was a thoroughly enjoyable experience for students and staff alike and our Debate Mate students are looking forward to participating in some of their own show debates very soon.

St Edmund’s Catholic Academy mission is to nurture the gifts and talents of every student and every member of staff and, as such, is a very supportive, special place to work.

We are seeking a well-qualified, enthusiastic and inspirational teacher of Health and Social Care. The successful candidate will be creative, innovative, and committed to raising standards. They will have excellent subject knowledge and join our dynamic and successful department.

This post is suitable for newly qualified or experienced teachers.

Being an excellent team player with strong interpersonal skills, the successful candidate will receive a comprehensive induction and professional development package.

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Application packs can be accessed via our Academy website www.stedmunds.org or please call the Academy on (01902) 558888 x 153. Completed applications can be returned by post or via email to recruitment@stedmunds.org. Prospective candidates are welcome to talk to Mrs Hazeldine, Vice Principal about this post and are most welcome to visit the academy in advance.

Closing Date: Noon, 11th May 2018

Interviews: 16th May 2018

St Edmund’s is part of the Bishop Cleary Catholic Multi Academy Company with 870 on roll including 130 in the Sixth Form. Situated in Compton Park, a quiet and leafy suburb of Wolverhampton, adjoining St Peter’s Collegiate School and Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Academy.

You can find out more about the Bishop Cleary Catholic Multi Academy Company at: bccmac.co.uk

http://www.stedmundscloud.co.uk/jobs/teacher-of-health-social-care/

Teacher of Health & Social Care

ET013

0.8 FTE

Teachers’ Pay Spine

Required September 2018

In the middle of Holy Week St Edmund’s Catholic Academy has been blessed with the presence of Margaret and Barry Mizen to share their testimony of how their son Jimmy was killed on the 10 May 2008,  the day after his 16^th Birthday, and the journey they have been on since,  which tells of love, hope, peace and forgiveness.

Their story was an emotional journey for students and staff. Margaret and Barry shared their experience of how anger, resentment and hurt, that takes over after death, can cause destruction to so many people if allowed.

Jimmy Mizen went into a bakery in London with his brother when a fight broke out.  The fight was instigated by someone known to the brothers, who they had had disagreements with previously.  Jimmy and his brother did not want to fight. However, a glass dish was thrown at Jimmy during the fight which  smashed and shards of glass severed Jimmy’s carotid artery and jugular vein.  He died in the arms of one of his brothers.

Barry Mizen tells of how they have forgiven Jimmy’s killer because being resentful and angry doesn’t help anyone and doesn’t do anyone any good personally.  They know the killer had difficulties and events in his life that resulted in his anger. They asked why interventions hadn’t been put into place earlier in his life to help him.

Barry and Margaret have set up the Jimmy Foundation, which is now called ‘Just Jimmy’.   They travel around the country, visiting schools/prisons etc. to spread the message of love, of being valued and of forgiveness.  They hope that, by their actions, this will prevent other families becoming involved in similar circumstances.

Jimmy belonged to a normal family. He was one of nine children, who lived in London, was an Alter Server and a kind, generous and happy boy.  He went out one Saturday to buy his first Lottery Ticket and never returned home.

Margaret told us how Mary, Mother of Jesus,  is a great comfort to her and asked us to think of Mary on Good Friday.  Mary watched her son die on the cross and still cared and helped others.

Here is a prayer one of our students wrote after the Mizens visit:

Dear God,

Thank you for blessing us with the opportunity of hearing Jimmy’s story and enlightening us with forgiveness, peace and hope.  I haven’t been touched like this in a long time.  Mr and Mrs Mizen are incredibly strong and it was an honour to listen to their story.

I am very sorry for their loss and their willpower to continue is desirable. Their encounter is so incredible and for them to share their story is heart-warming. Their power to continue and to forgive is something I’d never have and could never do.

Every day I ask you to give them strength and to make sure they keep spreading their story.

Give everyone the strength to make the world a better place.

Thank You

Amen.

Remembering Jimmy Mizen 1992 – 2008

Grace Leo  8KJ, Faith Katanga 8HN and Brientony Jeyarajan 8HN pictured with Mr and Mrs Mizen

John Roberts was taken by surprise on Friday evening!!!  John’s partner, Apple and staff at St Edmund’s Catholic Academy decided to organise a Birthday Party for him, without his knowledge, to celebrate his 60^th Birthday, and also to mark the fact that he has given almost 21 years of service to the former school, which converted to academy status four years ago.    Preparations had been underway well in advance, with gifts, music, food and a cake organised for him.  On arrival John was met with the sound of huge party poppers, music and a welcome from some 50 former employees, all anxious to congratulate and make a fuss of him!!!!

John commenced his employment  in June 1997, and became the Caretaker/Site Manager at the former school in 2004.  He worked for many years doing a ‘split shift’, supervising evening events at the school and ensuring that all was safe and secure at all times.    John is in his 21^st year of employment with what is now St Edmund’s Catholic Academy – part of Bishop Clearly Multi Academy Company.  Celebrations were to continue with a family party on Saturday.

Principal Maggie Hughes commented ‘ John has given 21 years service to St Edmund’s and it was a great pleasure to assist in the subterfuge to keep his birthday celebration a secret’.

John Roberts (centre) with his partner Apple (left of John) and work colleagues.

Congratulations to Barbara Poczatek, our year 11 student, for winning the June feature in the Sandwell College Calendar Competition.

Barbara’s design is featured on the desktop calendar that has been distributed far and wide throughout the West Midlands.

Jas Uppal, School Liaison and Events Officer, presented Barbara with copies of the calendar and £50 worth of Amazon vouchers.

Barbara’s winning entry:

Barbara receiving her prize from Jas Uppal, Schools Liaison and Events Officer, Sandwell College.

At The Smallpeice Trust, they believe anything is possible when you know how. That’s why they’re here to give young people everything they need to fuel their passion for engineering, helping to make their big ideas a reality.

The Smallpeice Trust is running a series of Family Engineering Days at five locations across the West Midlands, during Spring half term as part of a Royal Academy of Engineering Ingenious project.

To allow students from as many schools as possible to participate, The Smallpeice Trust is offering FREE places to Year 7, 8 & 9 students from our school to attend these Family Engineering Days with a parent/guardian.

Family Engineering Days are a free half-day event aimed at students and a parent/guardian to show how studying STEM subjects could potentially enhance their career prospects.

Held at locations around the West Midlands, graduate engineers and apprentices from automotive companies such as Aston Martin and Jaguar Land Rover will hold a Family Engineering Day for up to 60 Year 9 students and a parent/guardian. Each Family Engineering Day will last approximately two and a half hours and be run during either the morning or afternoon.

With the aim of bringing the STEM experience to families, parents/guardians are invited to take part and help their children with an automotive based challenge that is designed to be fun and educational for all involved. These activities are designed to complement the National Curriculum in science, technology, engineering and maths by demonstrating the link between what’s taught in the classroom with the wider world. They are especially beneficial for students in the process of choosing their CGSE options.

Family Engineering Days are supported by the Royal Academy of Engineering under the Ingenious Award scheme, an awards scheme that supports and funds the most creative and impactful projects that engage the public with engineers and engineering.

Further details for these Family Engineering Days and how to apply can be found at: https://www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk/free-family-engineering-days-book-now/