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Friday 1 July 2022 Feast of Saint Peter and Paul
Thursday 23 June 2022 Big Bang Fair at the NEC Thursday 23rd March was an exciting day for year 9 students, as along with the science department they joined in the multitude of Science, Engineering, Maths and Computing organisations in two halls of the NEC. By working with Aimhigher West Midlands we were able to take the whole year group to this amazing event where our students were exposed to a range of exciting and challenging STEM activities and stage shows. The students’ imaginations were captured as they explored the latest in computer technology, and tried out their skills with problem based activities from various STEM industry giants. Some students even found time to virtually fly planes, make slime and hold hissing cockroaches. Students chatted confidently with the scientists and engineers about what they do, and asked searching questions relating to future career aspirations.
Thursday 23 June 2022 Chaplaincy Change Makers trip to the City Centre On Thursday we got chosen to go to Birmingham city centre because of the work on refugees we have been doing with Mrs O’Driscoll.
Tuesday 21 June 2022 DofE Silver Expedition to the Shropshire Hills The weekend of 18th to 20th June saw the culmination of 6 months of practice and preparation for the Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award Expedition.
Monday 20 June 2022 STEM Flight Workshops This week we hosted Smallpeice Trust for two 2-hour interactive workshops as part of our innovative and extensive STEM programme. 138 of our Year 8 students designed and built their own wooden gliders on Monday 20th and Wednesday 22nd June. Over 100cm long, with wingspans of upto 95cm, the furthest of these scale models flew over 42metres. Fantastic team building across each laboratory as we put the 'E' for engineering in STEM. Thank you to LBEEP and the Royal Acdemy of Engineering for their generous support.
Friday 17 June 2022 Year 9 Forward Focus trip to Newman University Students in Year 9 experienced a day focusing on their future on Wednesday when they visited Newman University,and had lessons on future employment in school. They had sessions on careers, money, apprenticeships and the jobmarket; and a site visit to Newman, where they found out about life at university, different courses and funding forHigher Education. The afternoon groups also managed to sample some of the delights from the canteen! On our tourof the university campus we saw the library, sports centre, halls of residence, lecture theatres and even the bar/socialarea (which was closed!)
Friday 17 June 2022 Year 10 Geography Fieldwork - Carding Mill Valley In preparation for their Paper 3 exam accounting for 30% of the Geography GCSE, students are required to undertake a physical fieldwork study. Over the course of three days, 120 Year 10 students travelled up the M6 to undertake their investigation in Carding Mill Valley, Shropshire. The area is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a Site of Special Scientific Interest as it contains a number of habitats supporting wildlife and plants. The aim of the day was to investigate Bradshaw’s model and to prove or disprove the hypothesis that the velocity of a river increases as you go downstream. Armed with clipboards and enthusiasm, our geographers measured the width, depth, velocity and the bed load of the river at different. As part of the fieldwork, students also made the gentle ascent along the river to the four metre cascade at the picturesque Light Spout Waterfall. On all three days, the students were exceptional and coped with the heat and inquisitive sheep very we
Tuesday 14 June 2022 Year 8 Forward Thinking Programme at Birmingham University On Tuesday 14 June eight Year 8's and Mr Gay went to the University of Birmingham to start their raising aspirationsjourney. The programme aims to encourage students who come from families with little or no experience of universityto aim high and explore the possibility of going to university after school. Following an introduction to the four yearprogramme, the students made Play Doh models of their dream job and built spaghetti towers using just the pastaand marshmallows.
Thursday 9 June 2022 Year 10 Aim Higher trip to Newman University We took a group of 82 students to Newman University where they were given a tour of the campus and given key information about how University could be option for them. The students found the morning to be informative and they represented our school impeccable. Some of the students have already started thinking about going to University off the back of this visit which is brilliant!!
Tuesday 7 June 2022 St Joseph's Prayer Partners Today we travelled to one of our Lumen Christi Primary schools.We prayed with the year 6 children as they prepare for Confirmation.We did a Confirmation activity based on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.The pupils were keen to ask us questions about what it is like being at St Thomas Aquinas. Anais and Noah (7BO & 7NE)
Friday 27 May 2022 Thank You Christina Christina has worked in our school kitchen for 33 years. She has seen lots of changes over the years. Everybody thanks you for all your wonderful work in our kitchen in support of so many of our students. All your colleagues all wish you a long and very happy retirement.
Wednesday 25 May 2022 Aston Villa Foundation Trip to Villa Park Fourteen very lucky students (and two even luckier staff!) were out at Villa Park on Wednesday this week for a once in a lifetime experience. The Foundation has been coming in working and mentoring students and as a reward towards the end of their programme invited 6 schools to take part in a session on the hallowed turf. Walking through the player's entrance, passing the many trophies on display that in year's gone by the Villa have won. Then on through the tunnel onto the field of play to the sound of the trumpets that the professionals have was the start of a special few hours for our STACS Year 8s. As the students warmed up and were split up between the different schools, the Tommy's students did themselves proud throughout the mini football matches, they took part in.
Saturday 21 May 2022 Silver Duke of Edinburgh Expedition - Clun 21-23 May 2022 On Saturday at 06:45, sixteen students and four staff gathered at school to head off on their Practice Expedition for the Silver DofE Award.
Thursday 19 May 2022 Year 10 Geologists visit the Lapworth Museum Fifteen of our wonderful Year 10 students represented the school fantastically today! They spent their morninglearning about the geological history of Birmingham, and our climate and wildlife, having a backstage tour of themuseum's archives and taking a guided tour of the University. After a sunny lunch break on the field they had afantastic talk from Dr Tom Dunkley Jones on the science behind climate change.
Saturday 14 May 2022 DofE Bronze Practice Expedition to Bell Heath Well done to the 28 Year 9 and 10 students who took part in the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh practice expedition last weekend. We camped at, and walked the area around Bell Heath Boundless Outdoors centre and students got a chance to put their navigation, stamina and survival skills to the test! This expedition has put students in a fantastic position for their qualifying expedition when we go to the Lickey Hills in June, fingers crossed that the weather is just as good!
Friday 13 May 2022 Science Ecological Practical 8DI took part in a Science ecological practical today, a first for their teacher, Mrs Lavelle. They used quadrats to estimate the quantities of plant and animal species (as well as other things like litter) in a small area. They found daisies, dandelions, litter, woodlouse and even a Mr. Stephenson!
Thursday 12 May 2022 An evening of music, prayer and worship at St Chad's Cathedral Last Thursday 10 students attended a religious concert at St Chad’s Cathedral.
Tuesday 10 May 2022 Year 11 Celebration Mass Tuesday, 10th May, saw Year 11 join together before starting their exams to celebrate Mass as a group.
Friday 6 May 2022 KS4 Debate - May 2022 A massive well done to the Year 10 Key Stage 4 Debate team for their joint victory last Friday!
Wednesday 4 May 2022 Visit to St Paul's Primary in our Lumen Christi MAC Last week, 10 year 7 students went to St Paul’s Primary school to spend time with the year 5 class.
Wednesday 4 May 2022 Lumen Christi PE Tournament On Wednesday, we welcomed children in year 5 at our partner primary schools in the Lumen Christi family to Aquinas to take part in an indoor athletics competition. After a short warm up dance in the Sports Hall demonstrated by Head of PE, Mrs Tierney and with assistance from our students, the young students were split into two groups; one half headed off to the gym to complete their field events with the other half staying in the Sports Hall to complete their running events. At the halfway stage with the two groups swapping over, St Brigid's took a narrow overall points lead from St James. In the end, it was a jubilant St James who took home the victory with a whopping 200 points. As Mr Martin announced the winners, the pure joy on the faces of those young children was a sight to behold. Every single child who attended the event deserves tremendous praise; we look forward to seeing them in our school in the future.
Friday 29 April 2022 Soli House - April 2022 Soli was an amazing experience as it helps produce more affectionate feelings towards God and eachother. Also it helps us to become a better community/family of stacs.
Friday 8 April 2022 Easter Mass It was a joy to prepare for a whole-school Mass for the first time in 2 years. The year 7 and 8 choir have been learningworship songs over the last few weeks. We have many talented singers and musicians who prepared themusic. Readers from various year groups lead the readings and prayers of the faithful. 6th form students carried thecross at the opening procession and lay down the crown of thorns, and hammer and nails.
Thursday 7 April 2022 6th Form Students Achieve 100% Attendance This morning we recognised the sixth form students that have 100% attendance this academic year. We celebrated in the SBC with doughnuts. A special mention to Mia V (12 ABI) who has never missed a day off school in her entire school career!
Tuesday 5 April 2022 Year 9 looking forward to the future at the University of Birmingham On a sunny but windy day this week four Year 9 students - Aiden, Eliza, Kayla and Varsha - enjoyed a campus day experience at the University of Birmingham with Mr Gay the school’s Careers Lead. As part of the university’s Forward Thinking programme the students took part in a team building making paper aeroplanes competition (STACS came second!), watched a play all about the benefits of going to university, listened to a talk about student life, finished a scavenger hunt around the whole campus, learnt some circus skills and ended the day with a yoga session! The Forward Thinking programme aims to encourage students to raise their aspirations and widen their horizons. Hopefully everyone on the programme will one day end up studying at university and living their best lives!
Saturday 2 April 2022 Gold DofE Expedition - Offa's Dyke (2nd - 5th April) Early on Saturday morning, our first Gold expedition in three years headed off to the Shropshire Welsh border to undertake their pre-Practice Expedition.
Friday 1 April 2022 A great experience at Alton Castle On Wednesday 30th March 80 year 8 went to Alton Castle for 3 days on a religious retreat. Students came into school in their own clothes with their luggage, prepared for a retreat of a lifetime. The students left at 9:30 for the coach; it was a 2-hour journey. Once the students got to Alton Castle, they went to a discovery centre and were welcomed warmly by the team. The students were spilt into two groups to do some team building activities to get accustomed to their new home for the next few days and each other. We were split up into our respective venues: boys into their dorms, girls into the Pugin room. In the Pugin room the girls had their welcome assembly where they were introduced into the religious aspect of this retreat and what they would be doing there; then the children switched places, enthusiastic to begin activities. After lunch, we were introduced to our groups: Pugin, Talbot, Kenelm, Scahill, De Verden, and Carmel. Each group was set onto their main activities: Surviva
Monday 21 March 2022 ARETE OUTDOOR EDUCATION TRIP - SNOWDONIA, WALES On Monday 21st March, we took 38 adventurous year 9 students to the depths of Wales for the week. The Welsh coach company delivered us to Llanrug in good time (even though the M5 was closed from Frankley, so we had a slight de-tour around Birmingham!). On the beautifully sunny journey, we got to experience the stunning scenery as we approached the mountains, and arrived safe and sound to be whisked straight out for some rock climbing in the beautiful sunshine.
Monday 21 March 2022 St James' visit STACS for STEM Event Stimulating design and engineering creativity in Year 5 pupils from St. James Catholic Primary School this morning before testing their flight paths. Well done everyone!
Friday 18 March 2022 6th Form BIG Sleep On Friday evening last week students and staff started to gather at 6pm to take part in our annual BIG sleep for thehomeless. On a day which seen nearly £3000 raised in one day for our school fantastic Lenten charities (Mary’s Meals& NICE) 40 students and staff took part in an overnight camp to raise money for Tabor House in Digbeth, the only 24hour shelter for the homeless in Birmingham.
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