Ben Davis, Acting Headteacher Grassyards Rd Kilmarnock KA3 7SL
ST. JOSEPH’S ACADEMY Weekly Newsletter
01563 526144
ISSUE 22.3
www.saintjosephsacademy.co.uk Twitter: @StJoAcad
MAY 22ND 2015
INSPIRE AND TRANSFORM: NURTURING FAITH-FILLED WORLD CLASS LEARNING
FOR PARENTS, CARERS, FAMILIES & PARISHES
Works in Progress Two fascinating pieces of work from S3. Pupils have been working in a variety of media on images on inspirational people. The image on the left really is composed from pencil sharpenings!
Visit by Mrs. Passi from Delhi, India
S2 Rugby Workshop with Mark Bennett
Throughout this week we have hosted Mrs. Sarika Passi, a
It was great to welcome back to the school Scottish rugby
teacher from Bal Bharati Public School in Noida, near Delhi.
international and former pupil Mark Bennett for an afternoon of rugby
This has been undertaken as part of an exchange programme,
skills workshops with S2. Mark’s career has been watched with great
Connecting Classrooms, run by the British Council.
interest by pupils and staff alike and he was last in the school to give
Mrs. Passi
has attended classes throughout the school, working with young people and getting to know staff. She has also visited St. Andrew’s Primary School and Early Childhood Centre, St. Patrick’s Primary School, the Dean Castle as a guest of Provost Todd and travelled to Loch Lomond, Arran and
an address at the Senior School Awards ceremony last September. This time he was not short of a word or two of advice for pupils as they worked on tackling skills, running and passing. S1 Investigate the Great War As part of our programme of activities to mark the 100th anniversary of World War 1, pupils from across S1 came together to
Edinburgh. Whilst here she has been keen to impart her
investigate the conflict through art, history and modern languages. In
thoughts on mental health and wellbeing, faith and the
a series of challenges posed by three different teachers, and initiated
differences and similarities between our educational systems.
through Home Room, the pupils explored some unusual perspectives
In addition, she has provided a number of contributions for the
on the conflict and found out a wide range of facts that they then
seventh edition of redblack which will be published at the end
applied to the creation of various pieces. Another great example of
of June. Mrs. Passi left us on Wednesday after having
interdisciplinary learning in action.
described her time at St. Joseph’s as ‘wonderful’ and ‘lifechanging’. She even threatened to stay and work for free. Her final assembly, in the Oratory, saw her teaching basic Hindi and offering pupils advice on starting the day with positivity.
Study Leave Activities
Boswell Book Festival Mrs. Kirkwood led a group of keen bibliophiles to the world;s only dedicated festival of biography last week. They experienced a wide range of activities exploring the written work and meeting authors all in the splendid setting of Dumfries House.
Artist begins anniversary commission
Pupils in S4 and S5 have been following a special programme
Just before Easter we commissioned local artist Gemma Coyle
of study leave activities over the past few weeks. This has
to develop a series of public artworks to be displayed around
involved a range of work experience opportunities, work on
the schools. These works will commemorate the school’s 60th
CVs and employability skills with Yipworld and a trip to the
anniversary which begins this August. Prior to its move to
Outward Bound centre in Loch Eil. This exciting opportunity Miss Woodward and S6 pupils
Grassyards Rd the school was known as St. Joseph’s High
raising money with that a bake sale saw the pupils undertaking an overnight expedition tested
School and was located on Elmbank Drive in buildings that
this week. skills as well as the pupils’ team working and communication
become St. Columba’s Primary School. Our founding
boosting their resilience and commitment. Pupils have also
headteacher was James Breen, OBE (1907 - 1999). Gemma’s
enjoyed inputs from various guest speakers including from the
work will incorporate old photos, images and stories of the
Army and RAF.
school and will be co-created with pupils. We are keen to hear
New Appointments
from any former pupils of the school and those who have
We are delighted to report that three new appointments have
been associated with the school so that we can make our
been made to the staff. The first is Mrs. Donna Shearer who
Diamond Jubilee a truly special time.
after a period as Acting Depute Headteacher has been
S1 Visit Belfast
appointed as permanent DHT. Also securing a permanent
Led by three S6 Higher Personal Development pupils and
position as Principal Teacher of Pupil Support is Mrs. Maria
accompanied by a number of staff, over 50 pupils from S1
Denheen. In addition, we have appointed a further Principal
visited the Titanic museum in Belfast last Friday. They
Teacher of Pupil Support, Mrs. Jacqueline Glencorse who will
travelled over by ferry and enjoyed a fun-packed day, including
join us in August from Boclair Academy in Bearsden. We are
a thought-provoking workshop that examined the reasons
thrilled with the new appointments and congratulate all.
behind the sinking of the famous ship.
Pictures from around the school this week Above: Mrs. Sarika Passi visits Loch Lomond on a typically changeable Scottish day. Below: S1 pupils enjoy the interactive exhibits at the Titanic Museum in Belfast. Below left: our keen golfers on week five of their programme at Loudoun Golf Club practice their putting technique. Left: pupils from S1 and S2 with Mark Bennett after their afternoon workshop. Above left: S1 pupils at the Titanic museum work on one of the collaborative challenges.
SQA Exam Timetable 2015 Friday May 22nd
French National 5 French Higher
Monday May 25th
Product Design H & AH Design & Manufacture N5
Wednesday May 27th
Modern Studies N5 Modern Studies H
Thursday May 28th
Chemistry N5 Chemistry Higher
Friday May 29th
Spanish N5/ H Art & Design N5/H
Monday June 1st
Physical Education H
Tuesday June 2nd
Psychology N5/H
SQA Results 2015 Pupils will receive their results from the SQA on August 4th by first class mail. MySQA is a web service that offers you secure and unique access to your results. You can choose to have your results sent by e-mail or text on Tuesday 4 August. You’ll need to sign up to MySQA by 5pm on Monday 13 July, and then activate your account by 5pm on Wednesday 15 July. s for you. Activate your account at www.mysqa.info
IMPORTANT DATES…………………………………………………
June 4th P7 Parents’ Mass and Induction
May 26th Planned change of timetable
Evening
June 3rd & 4th P7 Induction
June 5th Senior School Induction
June 3rd Caritas Awards Ceremony
June 8th S6 Leavers’ Day event & Mass
WEEKLY HOME ROOM REFLECTION: Giving not receiving In Saint Paul’s Cathedral in London, visitors can climb stairs so as to walk around the inside of the great dome, which is 60 metres (200 feet) across. This ledge (or balcony) is called the Whispering Gallery because the sound from someone’s whisper bounces back from the smooth walls of the dome. Even someone whispering on the other side of the dome can be heard if people listen close to the wall. It was whilst on this Whispering Gallery just over a hundred years ago that a poor shoemaker whispered to his girlfriend that he didn’t have enough money to buy leather to make shoes, and so didn’t have enough money for them to get married. On the other side of the dome someone heard the whispering of the couple and decided he would help them. He followed the shoemaker from a distance to find out where he lived, and then he paid for some leather and arranged for it to be sent anonymously to the shoemaker’s shop. Everything went well because the shoemaker was then able to make enough money from his shop, and so the couple were able to marry. It was a few years later that they found out who it was who had helped them. It was the Prime Minister, William Gladstone, and today was the day of his death in 1898. Let us pray: Lord, most of us will not become well-known or be written about because of great achievements, but we will be known and loved for our character and the smaller ordinary things that we do that make our part of the world a better place. Inspire us, Lord, each day, to find joy in giving as well as in receiving, and lead us to act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.
PARISH MASS TIMES St. Matthew’s: 9.30 am, Fr. Chambers St. Joseph’s: 6.00 pm (vigil), 11.00 am Fr. Latham St. Francis Xavier, Patna: 5.00 pm (vigil) St. John the Evangelist: 10.45 am, Fr. McGrattan Our Lady of Mount Carmel: 9.30 am, Fr. McGhee St. Michael’s: 4.30 pm (vigil) St. Paul’s: 11.30 am, Fr. Chambers Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Patrick: 6.00 pm (vigil), Fr. McGrattan St. Sophia’s: 6.00 pm (vigil) Fr. Chambers St. Thomas the Apostle: 9.00 am, Fr. McGrattan