ST. JOSEPH’S ACADEMYWeekly Newsletter

Ben Davis, Acting Headteacher

Grassyards RdKilmarnock KA3 7SL

01563 526144

www.saintjosephsacademy.co.ukTwitter: @StJoAcad

ISSUE 6.3

OCTOBER 31ST 2014

FOR PARENTS, CARERS, FAMILIES & PARISHES

INSPIRE AND TRANSFORM:

NURTURING FAITH-FILLED WORLD CLASS LEARNING

John Durkan Lecture at Glasgow University

It’s not often you get the chance to me an academic celebrity, but three of our 5th year pupils have just been lucky enough to meet and chat with Scotland’s foremost historian, Professor Sir Tom Devine.

The occasion was a presentation at the University of Glasgow to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth and achievements of another great historian, Dr. John Durkan, who taught one of our own staff, Mr. Sikora.

In his presentation Professor Devine demonstrated how Dr. Durkan’s phenomenal work as a historian (in addition to his day job as a teacher) helped shape and enhance our understanding of history around the time of the reformation; in particular with regard to impact of education in the Catholic community.

By amazing coincidence the vote of thanks at Monday’s presentation was given by Dr. Raymond McCluskey, a former pupil and school captain of St. Joseph’s Academy. And it was with some pride that Dr. McCluskey introduced Matthew, Jennifer and Ariadna to Professor Devine after the presentation.

What was very apparent in their meeting was the genuine warmth; enthusiasm and pleasure shown by Professor Devine that the pupils had made the journey from Kilmarnock to hear him speak. Afterwards the Professor and Dr. McCluskey were happy to pose for a photograph with the pupils. One more for the archives!

Pictured above are (from left to right): Dr. McCluskey, Jennfier Gallacher, Matthew Pieroni, Ariadna Sanchis and Professor Devine.

News of former pupils: Katie and Caitlin

We are delighted to report on the success and achievements of our former pupils. If you are a reader of this newsletter please let us know of any former pupils whose achievements you feel should be reported here.

This week we are thrilled that Katie Murray (left 2013) has secured a four month art exhibition at the Dick Institute, Katie, who is studying Art at the University of Cumbria, investigates stereotypes and images of Kilmarnock. Meanwhile, Caitlin Marshall (2011) has released an EP of self-penned music on i-Tunes under the name of Caits Marshall. See over for more details.

Caits Marshall

The image above is the cover of Caitlin’s EP, available now from

iTunes.

Caitlin is described as ‘a Glasgow based singer/songwriter with a rock

acoustic sound featuring harshly honest lyrics and melancholy guitar.’

You can find out more about Caitlin

by visiting her Facebook page and via the following link: https://caits-

marshall.bandpage.com/Above: Head Boy and S6 pupil Daniel Johnston who piped guests into the dinner given at Grange Academy by the Provost to honour the Commonwealth Batonbearers.

Pupil Council

We are glad to announce that both senior and junior pupil council meetings are up and running, writes Deputy Head Girl Tatenda Tapatapa.

So far there has been a great collaboration and we have had a massive response on questions pupils would like the council to pass on to the SMT. The contributions from pupils have helped us figure out more fundraisers, which will benefit and improve interactions within and outside of the school community. Some of these have been pupil-lead music concerts, fun-runs, coffee mornings, busking in the street area and large sporting tournaments. All of them are great ideas!

One suggestion that kept recurring was the involvement of our local community in our fundraisers, which will significantly improve our interactions with residents in our local area. As well as fundraisers, there was a strong sense of agreement when it came to the lack of interest in after school clubs. Most suggested that there should be a bigger variety of activities such as arts and crafts or music as not everyone is interested in sports. However, the views expressed at the council meeting shows that there is a big demand for lunch time activities such as ‘Blitz it’ and girls only clubs.

With this in mind, we would like to thank you all for your observations and inputs, hopefully by encouraging you all to continue expressing your views; we can develop things in your favour.

Strictly Come Dancing

Rehearsals and lessons for the school event of the year are already well underway. We were delighted to welcome nearly 5p enthusiastic pupils and staff to the Gym Hall on Tuesday evening for an hour of the ‘Cha cha cha.’

We are very keen for more boys to attend to compete with Mr. Howson, who is apparently the frontrunner. Time will tell.The next rehearsal is Thursday, November 6th from 3.30 - 4.30 pm.

Future Chef School Finals

This Thursday saw eight pupils compete to represent the school in the Future Chef competition. They had to cook spiced turkey with home-made flatbreads. The overall standard was excellent and you can see their handiwork on the following pages. We will announce the winner next week.

Pupils cater for Headteachers and guests

On Friday we hosted thirty headteachers and guests from East Ayrshire Council and Glasgow University for a conference on Raising Attainment. As ever the excellent school canteen provided the catering, but our S4 Cake Decorating class contributed with some excellent biscuits and scones, all made from scratch including their very impressive bourbon biscuits, picture below.

POSITIVE ASPECTS SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT HT’s RESPONSE

• Found the information from departments very informative, especially English and Maths

• Science experiments were fun and interesting

• Pupil participation was a positive aspect

• Good to see examples of pupil work and meet some of the teachers

• Really impressed, very inspiring• Lovely welcoming atmosphere,

great to visualise the surroundings which my child experiences every day

• Good opportunity to see work displayed in all departments, don’t always get the opportunity

• Thoroughly enjoyed this evening, great to meet the teachers and see the classrooms - thanks

i. Would have liked a general welcome to explain the format of the evening

ii. Teachers should maybe have name badges on as new parents don’t know who teachers are at this stage

iii. Map layouts would be usefuliv. Didn’t really see the positive gain,

TBHv. More information about progress

would be usefulvi. More info on pupils for parents info to

enable us to help areas that they may be struggling in

vii. Unable to ask about child’s work in certain classes because only a limited number of teachers are present

i.We always review this evening and you are one of a number of people who have suggested this improvement. We will consider it for next year.ii.Name badges are an excellent idea, although all teachers wear EAC passes that identify them.iii.We will provide a map for next year and do so at all other parents’ evenings.iv.We are sorry that all the work on display and the positive representation of pupils did not inform you.v.The evening is not intended as a forum for discussing progress. If this is a particular concern please contact your child’s Pupil Support teacher.vi.We accept that we could have offered a presentation on how to support your child - this is a good idea.vii.The evening is not a contractual obligation for teachers, unlike Parents’ Evenings.

S1 Settling-In NightThis annual event took place last week and was reasonably well attended. Thank you to all who made the effort to come out

and view the excellent work on offer and speak with the staff who were able to attend. The event was enhanced as ever by the presence of the Parent Council who organised refreshments and gathered the feedback from parents and carers

published below. It was also great to see a large number of S1 pupils working as guides and leading the event. We were pleased to welcome a number of P7 parents and carers who attended as part of the transition process.

Around the School this Week

Above: the S1 pupils who attended the

Police Scotland No Knives Better Lives

event at Loudoun and won 6 out of 8

matches. Left and below: flatbreads

cooking in the Future Chef competition;

Chloe Dickie’s excellent dessert; the

completed dishes ready for judging.

ST. JOSEPH’S ACADEMY BAKE-OFFPICTURED HERE: a var iety of the cakes submitted for the compet it ion and

Home Economics teacher Mrs . McErLean with the winner , Amel ie Davidson

Boxing Success

We are delighted that two of our pupils have been successful in boxing competitions. They are Declan Smith who won the Gold in the Scottish Novice Boxing Championships and Robert Murray who came second in his category.

Baking up a StormPrior to the October Week holiday pupils in S1 and S2 took part in the famous St. Joseph’s Academy Bake-Off.

The winner was Amelie Davidson (S2). The outstanding work of the pupils can be seen on the previous pages of the newsletter.

Remembrance Week

The week beginning November 10th sees the school undertake a week-long Act of Remembrance. At the moment some of the S3 IDL classes are working on the design and build on a life-size replica trench that will be created at the rear of the school. The no-man’s land of this installation will be filled with metal poppies made by the S3 pupils in the IDL period, each one bearing the story of a combatant from the conflict.

As part of the week we would be keen to hear from you if you would be prepared to come into school and share your family’s experience of the First World War, of any other conflict, with pupils. We are aiming to set-up a Book of Remembrance as well for pupils to write any memories of the older generation who fought or to share pictures or other memorabilia.

Parent Council

The next meeting of the Parent Council takes place on November 3rd at 7 pm. All are welcome. Contact details, minutes and other associated Parent Council information is displayed in the school foyer.

WEEKLY HOME ROOM REFLECTION: LOVE WITH ALL YOUR HEARTThis Sunday’s Gospel shows Jesus at his political best. He is approached by Rabbis who are trying to catch him out, but he ends up rising above their games and making a point that is simple, clear and very powerful. In the dust and heat of what we now call the Middle East (and a place we now view as wracked by conflict and destruction) Jesus is asked, ‘What is the most important commandment?’ Seeing this for the trap that it is – for it is an attempt to trick him into saying something that will attract some people and alienate others – Jesus doesn’t pick any of the commandments. He simply replies, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind.’ This silences his interrogators; but think more about what it means for you. Even if you have no faith, no religion, do you do anything with all your heart, all your soul or all your mind? Or do you hold yourself back? If we look at what Jesus says next it holds an even more powerful lesson for us. He tells us that the best way to live out this commandment is to love others first. For us this means that to live a full life, alive to the world around, open to possibility and full of goodness we need to put others first, serve them and have an open heart when dealing with others, seeing the best in them. This is a simple expression of what Jesus is saying in the answer to the question that he is posed. It is also an easy thing to do, but something many of us run away from. Think of the things that stop us: suspicion, betrayal, greed, selfishness, jealousy, ignorance. All of these are at the heart of the problems in our lives and our world. We are frightened of being ourselves, of sharing what is best about us and showing our true feelings: in others words of loving ourselves and others in way that Jesus describes. Let us pray: Lord, grant us the courage to be open to others, to love and be loved and to give fully of ourselves in all that we do. We are too often held back by our fears and our anxieties. Let us be accepting of love and keen to give love and service to others for their sake and for the sake of a better world. We ask this prayer through Christ our Lord, Amen.

PARISH MASS TIMES St. Matthewʼs: 9.30 am, Fr. Chambers ! ! ! St. Josephʼs: 6.00 pm (vigil), 11.00 am Fr. LathamSt. Michaelʼs: 4.30 pm (vigil) ! ! ! ! Our Lady of Mount Carmel: 9.30 am, Fr. McGheeSt. Paulʼs: 11.30 am, Fr. Chambers! ! ! Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Patrick: 6.00 pm (vigil), Fr. McGrattanSt. Sophiaʼs: 6.00 pm (vigil) Fr. Chambers !! ! St. Thomas the Apostle: 9.00 am, Fr. McGrattanSt. Francis Xavier, Patna: 5.00 pm (vigil)! ! ! St. John the Evangelist: 10.45 am, Fr. McGrattan

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

w/b November 3rd

Year Group Assemblies for all pupils

November 6th

Enspire Events for S3 and S4 pupils - work and

careers themed

November 10th

St. Columba House Assembly

November 11th

Service of Remembrance (activities throughout the

w/b 10.11.14)

November 12th

East Ayrshire Gala Concert 7 pm

November 20th

Reports to S4 pupils

November 25th 4.00 - 6.30 pm

S3 Parents’ Evening