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MAY 26TH2014

FOR PARENTS, CARERS, FAMILIES & PARISHES

Success for the U-16 teamThe U-16 football team, after losing the league to Kilwinning Academy, found the fire needed to seek redress. Last week they won the Ayrshire Cup 6-4 against Kilwinning after an amazing match.

The team were, at one stage, four goals down and again staring defeat in the face when a goal from Conner McMillan opened the game up. Then Jordan Doolan scored a second goal, followed by Aidan Shearer and Kieran Kelly to level the score at 4-4.

With the result still hanging in the balance victory was secured through a second shot on target from Connor McMillan and a penalty taken by Connor Shearer.

Coaches Mr. Howson and Marc Wilson were delighted with the result, as was Aidan Shearer who was declared Man of the Match and interviewed at the end of the game by Youth Football Scotland.

End of Term Calendar

Want to know about all the events planned until the end of June? Look no further than the next four pages which display a cornucopia of happenings alongside some outstanding artwork from S3 pupils.

As you can see it is a very busy few weeks right through June with celebrations of success, sports events, induction programmes and all manner of other events.

P7 Commonwealth Games Event

It’s not long until the Games come to Glasgow, but we brought them to St. Joseph’s for a day when pupils from our Learning Community primary schools took part in a wide range of sporting activities and competitions.

The day had been arranged by the PE department and Active Schools Co-ordinator Marc Wilson and involved pupils in everything from javelin to running to shot-put.

The youngsters were excellent and took part very well. We were especially delighted to welcome back to the school a cohort of students from Ayrshire College who helped out with the event by leading and arranging activities. They were led by former pupil Alan Johnston (who left the St. Joseph’s in 2000) and now works as a lecturer at the College.

You can see pictures from the event and the results inside this issue.

Online Survey

We are currently undertaking our broadest ever survey of opinions to contribute towards our vision for the next five years. If you receive this newsletter you should also have received an email with a link to an anonymous online survey through which you can provide you thoughts and opinions about the school. All feedback is welcome! The survey closes on May 30th at 11.59 pm. Don’t miss out on your chance to have your say.

INSPIRE AND TRANSFORM:U-16s take the Cup 6-4

against Kilwinning Academy

Ben Davis,Acting Headteacher

Grassyards RdKilmarnockKA3 7SL

01563 526144

www.saintjosephsacademy.co.ukTwitter: @StJoAcad

DIARYWeek 37

Thursday, May 29th: Ascension Thursday (Masses for all pupils)

Saturday, May 31st: Caritas Awards, 2 pm

 

Week 38

Monday, June 2nd: P7 Induction Day 1

Tuesday, June 3rd: P7 Induction Day 2

Tuesday, June 3rd: P7 Parents’ Information Evening, 7 pm

Wednesday, June 4th: P7 Induction Day 3 & Sports Day

Thursday, June 5th: S6 Leavers’ Event and Mass, 2.15 pm

Friday, June 6th: Alton Towers trip

DIARYWeek 39

Monday, June 9th: Feast of St. Columba, House Mass and Assembly

Monday, June 9th: S5/6 Induction Day 1

Tuesday, June 10th: S5/6 Induction Day 2

Wednesday, June 11th: Concert (pupil-led event)

Thursday, June 12th: Whole School Athletics Championships

Friday, June 14th: Senior Prom, Trade Halls, Glasgow, 7 pm

DIARYWeek 40

Monday, June 16th: St. Andrew House Assembly

Monday, June 16th: S3 Health and Wellbeing Roadshow

Tuesday, June 17th: S3 Diploma of Achievement Ceremony, 7 pm

Wednesday, June 18th: St. Margaret House Assembly

Wednesday, June 18th: VOID Music Festival (pupil-led event)

Thursday, June 19th: Charity Fun Run, periods 5 and 6

DIARYWeek 41

Monday, June 23rd: Sir Tom Hunter Enterprise Challenge, Loudoun Academy, 7 pm

Tuesday, June 24th: S1/2 Celebration event day

Wednesday, June 25th: Enspire 2 Festival (pupil-led event)

Friday, June 27th: End of Year Service and school closure for summer holiday at 1 pm

THE BOSWELL BOOK FESTIVAL

“Don’t get into writing for the money, there isn’t any, do it because you love it”

Eleanor Updale

The Boswell Book Festival is “The Worlds only festival of biography and Memoir” dedicated to, and held on the grounds of the house of the great 18th century biographer, James Boswell, writes Mrs. Kirkwood, our Librarian. This lovely little festival has been running at Auchinleck House for the past 5 years, and this year a group of S1 pupils had the opportunity to take advantage of the festival’s school events.

The weather has never been kind to the Boswell Book Festival, and this year was to be no exception. After a somewhat sticky trudge through the mud, and a quick break for lunch, they had the opportunity to listen to author Eleanor Updale talk about her new book “Last Minute”. An epic story that looks at the last minute of time in the lead up to a horrific disaster. Pupils relished the chance to pick Eleanor’s brains about how she came up with back stories for the 100 characters in her latest novel.

They also had a travel writing workshop with Charlie James, author of ‘Dino Egg and Fish’, and the afternoon was rounded off with a brief tour around Auchinleck House. Small squeals of surprise and delight could be heard when students realised that the costumed folk wandering around the building were actually performers, acting out the life of the festival’s namesake, Boswell. Most of the group seemed quite determined to try and find the ghosts that supposedly haunt the grounds; tragically I had left my EMF detector in my other bag, so alas it was not to be.

If success can be measured in book requests then the Boswell Book Festival would appear to be a unanimous win. It was wonderful to hear pupils enthusiastic about stories, though they were, for the most part, less enthused about the mud.

“It was great to meet an author. I don’t read books a lot but I like it when you get a hint of the story”

“My favourite part was definitely getting to ask Eleanor Updale questions, because I feel as if I learned a lot form someone that writes stories professionally”

“The actors took us by surprise, because we didn’t see them at first. I loved it, even if the acting was a bit cheesy!”

Braehead Foods chef Joe Queen works with senior pupils

PRIMARY 7 COMMONWEALTH MEDAL WINNERS

100 M

BOYS: Jamie McKay, Thomas Withers, Pavol Sedliak

GIRLS: Jenna Heaney, Eilidh New, Fiona Livingston

200 M

BOYS: Craig Ronald, Jamie McKay, Sean Orbin

GIRLS: Ekatarina Tommie, Sophie Carter, Jenna Heaney

LONG JUMP

BOYS: Pavol Sedliak, Angus Mullen, Thomas Withers

GIRLS: Skye McGill, Isla McBlain, Stephanie Gorman

VERTICAL JUMP

BOYS: Craig Ronald, Shahmirr Mirza, Pavol Sedliak

GIRLS: Fiona Livingston, Rachel Martin, Sinead McCourt

SIT & THROW

BOYS: Kyan Smith, John Grant, Joshua Rankin

GIRLS: Eilidh New, Skye McGill, Sinead McCourt

SHOT PUT

BOYS: Oscar Jessop, Declan Dickson, Robbie Gallacher

GIRLS: Georgia Bryden, Kelsie Nibloe, Kealin Herran

JAVELIN

BOYS: Declan Dickson, Connor Adam, Connor Flannigan

GIRLS: Bryony Bole, Ekatarina Tommie, Kelsie Nibloe

Design for Nature This year Aberdeen University’s Biodiversity Centre is running a poster competition for secondary schools.

Pupils in S1-3 have been asked to create an A3 poster design of a hypothetical garden they could build in their own school grounds to encourage biodiversity. As an incentive to flex their creative muscles, the University is offering a bumper pack of supplies for schools to help make their visions of a more wildlife friendly school grounds come true. With this in mind groups of S1 pupils spent their library periods, and a fair bit of time at home, designing wildlife gardens which could feasibly be created in St Joseph's backyard. It was heartening to see the enthusiasm pupils had for this project, and the grand scale of their ideas.

Unlikely as it is that we'd be able to make deserts and mountains spring forth, encouraging hedgehogs, birds, and insects to find our grounds an inviting place to visit seemed to be the main focus with many groups looking to develop our already existing pond area.

Now all we can do is keep our fingers crossed that one of our designs is picked, with any winnings going to the school Eco Group.

S1 Parents’ Evening

Many thanks to all of parents and carers who participated in the

parents’ evening for pupils in S1 on May 20th. Of the 132 pupils in S1 90 pupils had a parent or carer present last night making the attendance a record-breaking 71%. The breakdown of attendance per class was as follows:

1A1                    17/26 pupils        65%1A2                    14/20 pupils        70%1C1                    21/29 pupils        72%1M1                    22/29 pupils        76%1M2                    20/28 pupils        71%

Thanks again to the Parent Council for co-ordinating and providing refreshments and for collecting the opinions of parents and carers on the night.

Comments from the parents and carers who attended included:

•Tonight was perfect.•Teachers names need to be more

visible.•Thought the parents night was well

run and good information provided.

Global Market

The Global Market returns to Kilmarnock from Thursday May 29th to Sunday June 1st.

As well as all the usual stalls and experiences we are delighted to announce that St. Joseph’s will be the only school taking part, selling a variety of wares including photographs and our famous stags heads.

WEEKLY HOME ROOM REFLECTIONMount Everest is part of the Himalayas mountain range in south-east Asia, on the frontier of Nepal and Tibet. It is the highest peak in the world - over 8,800 metres (over 29,000 feet) above sea level. After many unsuccessful and sometimes fatal attempts to reach the top, Mount Everest was finally “conquered” on this day in 1953 by two members of a British expedition - Edmund Hillary from New Zealand, and Tenzing Norkay, a local guide from Nepal. They stayed at the summit for only 15 minutes, and there planted the flags of Britain, Nepal, India, and the United Nations. This was a very great achievement. No-one we know is likely to achieve so much, but each of us has “Mount Everests” in our own lives – various difficulties that need effort and maybe team work to conquer.  We can think, too, that a walk of 20 metres for a person with a physical disability or serious illness may be one of the greatest achievements of that individual’s life. Such a short walk would be taken for granted by most people. What one person may achieve with very little effort may be a great achievement for someone with different abilities. What really counts is the effort we put into something to make it our own best.  My “success” and “achievement” can only be measured against my own potential.  Let us pray: Lord, I ask that you inspire me always to do my best - not comparing myself with others, but only with myself.  Lead me, Lord, to discover and use my own talents to the full.  May I live in such a way that I help others to experience success.  Inspire me to be generous in praising others for the good use of their abilities - looking not so much at the degree of achievement but at the effort put in. 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

SQA Exams

May 28thTravel and Tourism (all levels)

May 29thGeography (all levels)

May 30thSpanish (all levels)Art and Design (all levels)

June 2ndPE (Higher, Int 1 and Int 2)

June 3rdPsychology

Pupils receive their results on August 5th. Staff will be available in school after that date for any pupils wishing to discuss their options.

Please remember that this year, for the first time, the SQA is not operating an appeals procedure. Details of the new service have already been issued in a previous letter.Pupils wishing to receive their results by text or email can do so by using the mysqa service.

Find out how to do this at www.mysqa.info

You can find out more about results and recognising positive achievement at www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/69126.html