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.