Please see the poster for information about the next craft’n’chat event:
This morning the Sustrans bike team attended the Academy to security mark and MOT the pupils bikes.
The team did a fantastic job and completed over 30 bikes, marking them and making them safer for pupils to ride. This work was very much appreciated and meant safer riding for our pupils to and from the Academy, and around the community.
Keep an eye out for future cycling events and prize draws based on the bikes completed today! We have some bike locks that will be handed out to ten lucky winners in the foreseeable future.
Thank you for all the support from parents and pupils, and a huge thank you to the Sustrans bike team!
Vaccination UK have extended their flu clinics into January 2024. Please see the flyer for more information:
On Thursday 11th January, Mrs Letheren and Mr Luis took students from St Edmund’s Chaplaincy Team and the St Edmund’s Eco Club to Alton Castle for a Laudato Si Chaplaincy Day. The day provided a fantastic opportunity for students to learn more about Laudato Si, Pope Francis’ encyclical; Laudate Deum, his follow-up Apostolic Exhortation; and our own call to stewardship. In addition, students were able to explore their school’s ‘Live Simply’ award, set up by CAFOD, and discuss ideas and plans with students from other schools on how to improve sustainability in their school communities and their own homes.
The team at Alton Castle were well-versed and well-prepared to test our students to think about the role of science and geography in sustainability and how technology will play a huge part in moving forward in sustainable development. They engage the students with scavenger hunts, quizzes and calculating our carbon footprints, giving students perspective on sustainability whilst also learning new facts and figures.
The day ended with the team informing the students about the Earthshot Prize, challenging them all to design their own entry for the competition and think about how it could improve the sustainability of our planet. The team supported the groups in articulating their ideas and asked difficult questions about their inventions, making them think of fuel sources, possible greenhouse gas emissions and the disruption of nature. Our students laid forward several innovative ideas, including new biofuels and machines that purified air and removed greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. They interacted and engaged with each other, the team and other students and had a great time.
We asked some students on the trip what they thought of the Chaplaincy day.
Kash K, Y9, said “It was really fun, I got to meet lots of new people. One fact I learned is that by 2050, there will be as much rubbish by weight in the ocean as fish.”
Another student said “I learned that our generation could create solutions and find more creative ways to solve global warming.”
Martin Luther King Jr. Day hols profound significance for us, as it aligns with the Church’s commitment to social justice and the inherent dignity of every human being.
Dr King’s tireless advocacy for civil rights resonates deeply with the Gospel message of love, equality, and the pursuit of justice. The Catholic Church recognises the importance of standing against discrimination and promoting the common good.
On this day, we can reflect on Dr King’s legacy, drawing inspiration from his nonviolent approach to social change and his dedication to the principles of equality and unity.
In honouring Martin Luther King Jr., we are reminded of our call to actively contribute to the ongoing work of building a more just and compassionate society, echoing the teachings of Jesus to love one another as brothers and sisters.
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. – Galatians 3:28
Well done to our fantastic Top of the Bench team for representing St Edmund’s in the regional final of the Royal Society of Chemistry competition.
The event took place at University of Birmingham and involved challenging written quizzes and a practical investigation in the laboratory.
The standard was exceptionally high and we are so proud of our team – Gethsa Y11, Ajitha Y10, Oliver Y9 and Raymond Y9.
Only one team could make it through to the National Final. Although that wasn’t our team, they did really well and it was an amazing experience for the pupils.
We are looking for exam invigilators.
If you are interested in the role, please follow the link or scan the QR code for more information.
https://mynewterm.com/jobs/139891/EDV-2023-SECA-15965
Makar Sankranti holds cultural and spiritual significance for many. For us, this festival, marking the transition of the sun into the zodiac sign of Capricorn, symbolises the triumph of light over darkness. It serves as a reminder of the divine order and the cyclical nature of life, aligning with our belief in the providence of God.
Makar Sankranti encourages reflection on the interconnectedness of creation and the gratitude for the sun’s life-giving energy.
As we join in the festivities, we may find parallels between the festival’s themes of renewal and the Christian message of hope and rebirth. In this shared celebration of nature’s rhythms, there is an opportunity for mutual understanding and appreciation across diverse spiritual traditions.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
World Religion Day is a momentous occasion that encourages interfaith dialogue and understanding among people of various religious traditions. This day resonate with the Church’s commitment to fostering unity and respect among diverse communities.
The Catholic faith emphasises the importance of recognising the inherent dignity of every person, regardless of their religious background. World Religion Day provides an opportunity for us to engage in meaningful conversation with individuals of other faiths, promoting a spirit of tolerance, cooperation, and mutual respect.
In embracing the shared values that underpin different religious beliefs, we can contribute to building a more harmonious world that reflects the fundamental principles of love, compassion and justice as taught by Jesus Christ.
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. – 1 Peter 3:8
Maghi or Lohri is a joyous harvest festival celebrated by various communities in India, and from a Catholic perspective, it can be viewed as a time to reflect on the blessings of abundance and express gratitude for God’s providence.
As the community gathers around the bonfire to mark the end of winter and the onset of longer days, there’s an opportunity to appreciate the symbolism of light overcoming darkness.
In the spirit of unity and shared festivities, we may see Maghi Lohri as an occasion to promote harmony, communal solidarity, and a sense of the universal family under the divine light that guides and nurture’s all. It’s a moment to recognise God’s presence in the changing seasons and to share the warmth of His love with one another, fostering connections that transcend religious and cultural boundaries.
For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. – Romans 8:20-21
