September 30 Parent Newsletter 2013

ST. JOSEPH’S ACADEMY Weekly Newsletter

ISSUE 5.2 SEPTEMBER 30TH

2013 FOR PARENTS, CARERS, FAMILIES & PARISHES

Ben Davis, Acting Headteacher Grassyards Rd Kilmarnock KA3 7SL 01563 526144 www.saintjosephsacademy.co.uk Twitter: @StJoAcad

INSPIRE AND TRANSFORM: the OYT sailors proving that working together makes great

European Day of Languages: Thursday, September 26th, 2013 At St. Joseph’s we have many wonderful teachers and departments. This week we all benefited hugely from the initiative led by the Modern Languages department: the European Day of Languages. We are greatly indebted to all the staff of the department for planning and delivering such an excellent day that had an impact on P7 pupils as well as many S1 - S6 classes.

The European Day of Languages, which takes place on 26th September, jointly organised by the Council of Europe and the European Union, is successful in involving millions of people from all over the world aiming to celebrate linguistic diversity in Europe and promote language learning, writes Miss Blacklock.

St Joseph’s Academy were very much part of that celebration. S1 classes took part in a number of different tasks, focusing on countries, their language spoken and their national flags. Many also showed off their excellent dance moves to some European Chart music! S3 tucked into a French breakfast and our Primary 7 visitors also took part, even learning to sing a famous French song! We are particularly proud of our pupils who offered prayers at the P7/S1 Mass in a language they speak in addition to English. We are a multi-lingual school and always keen for additional languages to be heard.

The celebrations were evident throughout the school, with several teachers having a go at using French or Spanish and even Irish Gaelic in their classes. The canteen offered a wide array of traditional dishes from across Europe and this week has seen pupils in Home Room study a map of Europe, sign language and other language trivia.

Merci/gracias/danke/grazie to all who contributed and participated in the European Day of Languages, we are now looking forward to even more celebrations next year.

AYRSHIRE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE EVENT: European Day of Languages As part of the European Day of Languages celebrations, a group of S4 linguists attended a language event organised by the Ayrshire Chambers of Commerce and held in the Aviator Suite at Prestwick Airport. Pupils had the opportunity to hear about the benefits of language learning in a whole range of work and life experiences from employers such as IBM in Greenock and Turnberry Hotel to a French rugby player with Ayr Rugby Club. In addition pupils spoke to recent graduates who had much enriched lives stemming from the study of a language as part of their degree.

Overall it was a very informative and thought provoking event for our pupils who are now starting to think about their future careers.

PHOTOS BELOW: various shots of S1 and S3 pupils enjoying activities on European Day of Languages; second picture below is the U-18 team prior to their 2-1 victory over Annan.

YOUNG AMBASSADORS Michaela McCluskey and Kuda Tapatapa(S5), attended the Young Ambassadors Conference on Tuesday 17th September at Tollcross in Glasgow. The Young Ambassador programme began in 2006 following London’s successful Olympic bid. The programme has grown from strength to strength and has been awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark for Education. In Scotland the YA programme is delivered by the Youth Sport Trust in partnership with SportScotland through the Active Schools Network. The YA programme makes a significant contribution to volunteering and leadership in Scotland by giving pupils the chance to inspire, mentor, and support other young people. Along with our “Platinum” Ambassadors in S6, Abbie Robb and Shannon Martin, we hope to make St Joseph’s learning community even more active.

Kilmarnock Leisure Education Association (KLEA) is an independent, charitable organisation providing leisure classes in Kilmarnock and the surrounding areas. Open to all ages, classes are delivered in ten week blocks at very competitive prices. So, if you want to try something new, develop a new skill, or simply want to have a fun experience, come along and join in one of the classes. For further information please contact: Lynette Russell – 01563528485 Round Table Ecuador Presentation On Monday 23rd September some of the pupils who are heading to Ecuador in October gave a presentation to Kilmarnock Round Table at the Park Hotel.

her help with this so far. We will keep you posted with a report after the event.

First U-18 victory this year

On Tuesday, September 25th the Under-18 Football team won their match first match of the season away Pupils talked of their hopes and plans against Annan Academy, 2-1. It was a for their visit to our partner school in hard fought victory that the Sagrada Familia and of all the boys thoroughly deserved. fundraising activities they have Furthermore, every player’s behaviour arranged over the last year. was exemplary. Let’s hope this is the first of many wins this year.

The Round Table then made a very generous donation of £500 towards Valencia Coaching Day the Ecuador Fund to which the James Johnston 2A1 and Dylan Smith school are extremely grateful.

2C1 attended a Valencia CF Roadshow in Glasgow last week. Both boys were STV Debate fantastic representatives for the school and enjoyed working with pupils from Ramsay Heron-Cunningham and Sarah Kelly (S5) have been selected other schools across Scotland. The as the local authority representatives boys were fortunate enough that Sky Sports came to film part of the session for the STV programme ‘Debate and Dylan Smith was interviewed.

Matters’.

Footage of his moment in the spotlight can be found on the Sky website.

The first round will take place on the 12th November at the Robert Burns S2 Writing Competition Success Museum in Alloway. We will be competing against Eastwood High School, Newton Mearns, Greenwood Morven Campbell (S2) won the International Dy of Peace writing Academy & Queen Margaret competition. We found out on Friday so Academy. Thanks to Mrs. Hill for all more to come next issue. Well done!

S1/2 Awards Ceremonies Wednesday, September 25th saw pupils, parents and carers from S2 and S3 gather in the Assembly Hall for two separate ceremonies recognising achievement from last session.

The ceremonies, postponed from the end of June, were very well attended and celebrated the talents and skills of the pupils in many forms. They were greatly enhanced by some wonderful performances from our young musicians and by a number of presentations given by pupils reflecting on their time at school so far and on the meaning of our values.

Well done to all winners - and there were many. Pictures will be published in next week’s edition.

IMPORTANT DATES S1 Settling-In Night, October 1st, 5 7 pm. This is an informal evening and chance for parents to meet staff, see work and experience what the school has to offer our newest pupils.

Parent Forum/ Council AGM 07.10.13

Home Room Weekly Reflection: SPUTNIK 1 (Fellow Traveller) Thursday, 4th October, marks the anniversary in 1957 of the launching into earth’s orbit of the first satellite. The Soviet Union’s “Sputnik 1" transmitted radio waves that could be picked up on earth as a beeping sound. The satellite was only 58 cm (23 inches) in diameter. It orbited the Earth every 96 minutes. Its four antennae sent information back to Earth about the temperature and density of the outer atmosphere. After 3 months in orbit, “Sputnik” fell back into the atmosphere, burning up on re-entry. The satellite’s name, “Sputnik”, is Russian for “fellow-traveller”. Its launch in 1957 was a great achievement, having a huge impact throughout the world. Rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States started the “Space Race”, culminating in the landing on the Moon by the United States in July 1969.

Let us pray: Creator God, we thank you for the creative skills of all human beings, made as we are in your image and likeness.

Inspire us to use our skills for the benefit of all our brothers and sisters - working not in competition with others but as “fellowtravellers” who share the same journey. Amen.

PARISH MASS TIMES St. Matthewʼs: 10.00 am, Fr. Chambers ! !

St. Michaelʼs: 12.00 noon, Fr. McGhee ! !

St. Paulʼs: 9.30 am, Fr. Lawson ! ! !

St. Sophiaʼs: 11.30 am Fr. Lawson ! !

Our Lady & St. John: 6.00 pm (vigil), Fr. Chambers

St. Josephʼs: 6.00 pm (vigil), 11.00 am Fr. Latham Our Lady of Mount Carmel: 9.00 am, Fr. McGhee Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Patrick: 6.00 pm (vigil), Fr. McGrattan St. Thomas the Apostle: 9.00 am, Fr. McGrattan !St. John the Evangelist: 10.45 am, Fr. McGrattan