We began our academic year in the fantastic company of the staff at St Joseph’s Prep school, Stoke-on-Trent. To begin the year with them, re-examining how the Eight Essentials of an Edmund Rice education are lived in their school and how the ethos and charism can be further developed and embedded was, for us, the perfect start to our year’s work.
We were met with the warmth and enthusiasm so typical from Edmund Rice people; a group of staff who are truly committed to delivering the excellent, compassionate, and liberating education that our schools deliver day in day out right across this network and in the international family of schools.
It has been great to see ideas that we suggested on the day come to fruition this term: links with the wider network are being developed through an EREBB Global Classroom partnership which sees Year 5s working with Blarney Street students in Ireland on the topic ‘Faith is a Force for Good.’ Also, it was fabulous to hear how infant classes celebrated an Edmund Rice themed week in October.
Thank you for inviting us to begin the term with you and well done for implementing so many of the developments we explored together.
O God, we thank you for the life of Edmund Rice.
He opened his heart to Christ present in those oppressed by poverty and injustice.
May we follow his example of faith and generosity.
Grant us the courage and compassion of Edmund as we seek to live lives of love and service.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.