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June 12th 2015. All the news from the greatest school in the world, located in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland.
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ST. JOSEPH’S ACADEMY Weekly Newsletter
Ben Davis, Acting Headteacher
Grassyards RdKilmarnock KA3 7SL
01563 526144
www.saintjosephsacademy.co.ukTwitter: @StJoAcad
ISSUE 24.3
JUNE 12TH2015
FOR PARENTS, CARERS, FAMILIES & PARISHES
INSPIRE AND TRANSFORM:
NURTURING FAITH-FILLED WORLD CLASS LEARNING
Art & Music Arran Residential
Miss Woodward and S6 pupils
raising money with a bake sale
this week.
WHOLE SCHOOL UNIFORM EXPECTATIONS
School uniform applies to everyone. It is there to provide equality, a sense of identity and foster good habits and character traits.
School uniform is: • A blazer • A tie • A white shirt • A plain black jumper or cardigan • Trousers or a skirt
Pupils should wear their house badge and any other badges with pride on their blazers.
Branded tops are not part of school uniform and must be removed.
Anything that is not school uniform such as outdoor clothing, hooded tops must be removed on entering the building.
Blazers must be worn around the school, but may be removed in class.
Pupils whose uniform does not meet the school standard will have a meeting with their Year Head to support the better wearing of uniform. If wearing a blazer presents a problem then we will always do our best to provide one for you.
Pupils who are not prepared to meet our standards of uniform and presentation should not expect to be considered for pupil leadership roles.
LAYING DOWN THE LAW
We were delighted to welcome to the school three inspirational former
school Captains this week: Sheriff Brian Murphy, Paul Gallagher and
Vhairi Wilson. All are working in the legal professions and talked to
an audience of 60 pupils about their professional and personal
journey and their experiences in the world of law. The event was
organised by Mrs. Wilson.
STEM FAYRE
S2 pupils benefited from an afternoon of activities and talks from
local business people engaged in STEM (Science, Technologies,
Engineering and Maths). The talks offered insights into the
possibilities of a career in STEM and presented an impressive array of
different aspects of work.
ST. COLUMBA HOUSE MASS & ASSEMBLY
Pupils from St. Columba House attended 10 am Mass at St. Matthew’s
Church and then had a special assembly to celebrate the feast day of
their patron saint. They were treated to performances from the young
musicians from last week’s Caritas Awards.
MENTAL HEALTH WEEK: POSITIVE THINKING
This week pupils have been writing positive messages, enjoying a Home
Room stroll and dancing to Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off as we have a
light-hearted look at enjoying happiness and appreciating others.
ARRAN RESIDENTIAL
Last weekend 20 pupils and four staff headed over the Clyde
to Arran for a weekend of artistic activity and outdoor
learning at Arran Outdoors centre. The trip had been
organised by staff from our faculty of Art & Music as way of
kickstarting the new S4 Higher classes and to offer senior
pupils a chance to explore their skills in a more challenging, less
formal environment. As well as drawing on the beach in gale-
force winds, the pupils experienced abseiling, hiking and enjoyed
a musical evening of entertainment that included Mr. Bates
performing bluegrass numbers to great acclaim.
S6 LEAVERS’ MASS & DAY
It has to come to everyone - eventually you leave school. This
Monday, we gathered together all of the pupils from the
outgoing S6 for a Mass of celebration for their time in St.
Joseph’s and a day of activities where they could let their hair
down for a bit. Mass was said at St. Matthew’s Church by Fr.
Chambers who led the congregation in a meditation on a
variety of different themes that focused on the God-given
potential of the young people present. Readings and bidding
prayers were offered by the S6 pupils and the Mass was
S6 LEAVERS continued/…
opened with a short speak from Head Girl Sarah Kelly who
offered some thoughts on how the school’s values could
provide a guide for life. At the end of the Mass Head Boy
Daniel Johnston spoke about his personal growth and offered
some wise words for all those leaving. The pupils then made
the now traditional candle heart (below) before heading off to
ten pin bowling and Laserquest with Mr. McGinn.
Around the school this week
Above left: S6 Leavers put Mr.
McGinn through his paces at the ten
pin bowling; above right: Mrs. Cassidy
and senior pupils encourage St.
Andrew’s House to ‘Shake It Off’;
Middle: The two year Higher class in
art begin the second year of their
study this week; Below left: the PE
department make the most of the
sunshine and got outside for some
volleyball; Below right: our tree for
better mental health in bloom.
WEEKLY HOME ROOM REFLECTION: Positive Thinking for Mental Health Week
We have, over the past two years, undertaken a lot of work across the school community on mental health and wellbeing. It is easy for this to become a negative experience. We must not shy away from the realities of mental illness, nor should we ever avoid talking about depression and anxiety, but we also need to view mental health from a different perspective at times. This week we are exploring the idea of promoting positive thinking to better our mental health and wellbeing. Many of our greatest challenges in life are born out of our own anxiety and fear and a reluctance to accept ourselves as we really are. We also spend time striving, pointlessly, to be like others or, worse still, to have what others have. All of these emotions are natural, but they are a distraction from a much higher purpose that can help us to find peace. The following 5 short paragraphs might help you to remain focussed on a more fulfilling way of living. Read each one in turn and think about them. You may want to discuss them as a Home Room.
You are unique and special. There’s no-one else like you and no-one else can do what you can do. You’re here for a reason, even though it might not feel like it sometimes. If you haven’t found a sense of purpose yet, one day you will.
The most important things in life are not things. You are more valuable than any material thing.
No matter what happened yesterday, no matter the mistakes you made in the past, today is a fresh start, a chance to begin again and learn from the past. No matter what they’ve done, everyone is worthy of love, respect and forgiveness.
Not everything will be perfect all the time. You will fail and that is good. It makes you fully human and it gives you something to aim for next time.
You are loved and you are capable of love – this is God’s greatest gift.
IMPORTANT DATES…………………………………………………
June 15th Sir Tom Hunter Enterprise competition
June 16th S3 Diploma of Achievement Evening
June 18th S1 & S2 Awards Ceremonies
Jun 18th Senior Prom, Marr Hall
June 21st - 24th London Trip
June 25th Edinburgh Dungeons trip
June 26th School closes for summer 1 pm.
St. Joseph’s wows the Caritas Awards
The vocal group from the school provided a musical
interlude during the prestigious event last week.