The Solemnity of All Saints was celebrated by the Whole school, in a Full Mass, on Wednesday 1st November 2017.
This Mass was dedicated to John Sheppee, former Headteacher of St Edmunds, who sadly passed away at the end of October. Many of his old colleagues were present to pay their respects to a great ambassador for education, our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. May he rest in peace.
On the feast of All Saints we take time to remember all those who have entered heaven, including saints who are recognized by the Church and those who are not. We are all created to be saints and Fr Mark in his Homily spoke about the need for Courage, Steadfastness and perseverance.
Here is an extract from Fr Mark’s homily:
Life does have many challenging experiences at school and home. The temptation at times to give up on the struggle can be immense.
Today we remember Saints 100, thousands impossible to count. A Saint isn’t a person who’s good and perfect all the time. A Saint, who despite all their challenges and their failures, never gives up and perseveres.
Today we remember all those who didn’t and made the world a better place! Saint Maximilian Kolbe (1894-1941)
Even in the darkest of times, God’s light keeps breaking forth. In the darkness of the Second World War, a time of incredible suffering and human anguish, a light broke forth through a Franciscan priest named Maximilian Kolbe. He gave his life so that another man might be spared and eventually return to his wife and children.
Ten prisoners in the concentration camp in Auschwitz were chosen at random to die because a fellow prisoner had escaped. One of the 10, Francis Gajowniczek, was a husband and parent. When Father Kolbe heard of the man’s plight, he volunteered to take Gajowniczek’s place. Eventually, all 10 individuals died, including Father Kolbe. This bare outline says something of the heroic charity, graced and courage of Maximilian Kolbe.
Like all the saints – Kolbe’s love is similar to that of Jesus. Both gave their very lives for another; both made manifest the fortitude that says that faith is stronger than death.
Saints are individuals who are willing to sacrifice all; saints are individuals who do not allow fear to govern their destiny.
Today we give thanks for them, ask to have just a bit of their faith, courage and hope.

Countdown timer to Make Your Mark

On Monday 16 October and Tuesday 17 October our year 10 students, who are studying GCSE Art, visited the Unit 12 Gallery, on the outskirts of Stafford, to meet and work with local artist, Jennifer Collier.  Jennifer has led the way in the upcycling revolution in art and craft, working with re-used and recycled materials to create wonderful pieces of work.  Students were lucky enough to work with Jennifer and learnt many new art techniques.  They had a lot of fun.  Miss Mifflin, their Art teacher congratulated them on their hard work.

Twenty two of our year 11 students successfully completed their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze award expedition on the weekend of Saturday 23rd September and Sunday 24th September.   They had previously spent one weekend learning the skills necessary for their expedition and had completed a practice expedition when they walked from Wombourne to Kingswood – their first camping experience.

Students walked from Milford Common to Beaudesert Camp Site in Cannock Chase and back again, working in different groups to navigate through the wilderness. They had a different route back on the Sunday after they had survived a night camping and cooking their dinner and breakfast at camp before sitting around the campfire. Over the two days students walked slightly under 20 miles and had to carry everything they needed to survive on in their rucksack. The temperature dropped on the Saturday night but on the whole the weather was a good walking temperature –  a complete contrast to the sweltering sun they had experienced during their practice expedition.  All groups worked brilliantly and showed great team spirit and determination taking a few wrong turns in very hilly terrain on board. They made excellent time on their walk on the Sunday, spurred on, no doubt, by the thought of home comforts at the end of the expedition.

They now need to complete a physical activity and learn more about volunteering skills, after which they will have completed their Bronze Award.

Well done to Bilal Aslam, Alyssa Capuno, Abigail Caron, Samuel Coleman, Larisa Corr, Amy Cox, Daniel Elrington, Rhian Cullen, Caitlin Grady, Bethany Henshall, Kaviraj Kumar, Daneille Lim, Julliana Mejia, Roisin Murphy, Ciara Nicholls, Marianne Peralta, Barbara Poczatek, Sandeep Sehera, Lorna Shorthouse, Corrin Smith, Sophie Tudor and Seren Young.

We are thrilled to announce that Khadija Henry (7WS) has been successful in achieving her black belt in karate (Shokotan KUBG – Karate Union of Great Britain), graded by Sensei Andy Sherry – 9th Dan and chief instructor of the KUGB, this week.

A fantastic achievement.  Well done Khadija.

On Tuesday 10^th October 2017, 44 students and five staff, including Fr Mark our school Chaplain, started their pilgrimage to Rome and the Vatican.

Our days were action packed from day 1. We were blessed with Fr Mark’s presence, as he could lead us round the beautiful city and had a wealth of knowledge because he had trained for 5 years at the English College in Rome. He and Mr Katumba could speak Italian, which proved very useful.

We visited world famous sites such as the amazing Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Roman Forum, the Catacombs, the Piazza Navona, the Spanish steps and the stunning Trevi Fountain. We visited many churches such as Santa Maria Maggiore, St John Lateran and the chapel of the Venerable English College.  This gave us time for reflection and prayer.

On Wednesday we got up very early, and, along with many people from all over the world, travelled to Vatican City as we were privileged to receive tickets to see Pope Francis at his audience in St Peter’s Square. The crowd was immense but we could get close enough to see the Pope in his ‘Pope Mobile’.  Just being in his presence gave some of us goose bumps. The master of ceremonies welcomed St Edmund’s Catholic Academy and as we waved our flags and cheered. You could not help but feel a sense of pride that we had created history and been in the presence of someone very special.

We then went on to visit the Vatican Museum, which show the vast history and wonders of the Catholic Church, the students were in awe of the paintings by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel.

We were blessed with beautiful weather and our days were full and long but we came back feeling blessed that we had the opportunity to experience such an amazing city.