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redblack//THE QUARTERLY REVIEW OF ST. JOSEPH’S ACADEMY, KILMARNOCK

ISSUE 7// Summer 2015

in this issue// Leavers look back Islam’s principles and their relevance A warm welcome for Mr. Cardle Mr. Davis says goodbye Enterprise success Moving from primary to secondary

and much more/

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contents//

Introductions 4

Introducing…Mr. Dan Cardle 7

The Five Pillars of Islam 9

Daniel’s Leavers' Mass Speech 14

Fr. Martin Chambers’ Leavers’ Mass Reflection 15

S2 Poetry 17

Sir Tom Hunter Enterprise Competition 22

St. Joseph’s iPad Project 25

S1 Science 26

My Transition Experience (Carla Duffy, P7, St. Patrick’s) 27

Camp Frederic, SSVP retreat 28

S4 London Trip 32

News Round-up 34

STEM news 37

Caritas Awards 40

The magazine contains dozens of separate contributions from pupils, whether through their opinions, their writing or their artwork.

The next issue will be published in October. If you would like to contribute please contact the School Office.

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introductions//Three ‘welcomes’ for price of one: from parents, teachers and pupils.

As we approach the end of another successful term and indeed year at St. Joseph’s, the Parent Council would like to say thank you once again for the tremendous support we have received. From pupils to parents/carers, members of staff to the local community, the Parent Council has really enjoyed chatting to you all at the numerous school events this past year. In addition, your goodwill and generosity in support of our fundraising activities are, as always, very much appreciated.

As one of our main roles is to represent the views of you, our Parent Forum, this has been made easy for us through your interest and feedback, especially at parents’ evenings. We are extremely fortunate at St. Joseph’s to have such a dedicated HT and SMT who, without too much arm twisting, listen to and genuinely care about what we have to say. Next year will be no exception, even though we bid farewell to our current HT, Mr Ben Davis and at the same time, welcome into St. Joseph’s our new HT, Mr Dan Cardle. The Parent Council would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Mr Davis for his guidance, support and encouragement as well as his good humour these past few years as we wish him well in his new school.

On a personal note, as my two girls move on from St. Joseph’s, then l also must say farewell as my time on the Parent Council comes to an end. It has been such a privilege to be PC Chair and l can honestly say that l have thoroughly enjoyed working with everybody over the years. The enthusiasm and positivity within St. Joseph’s are infectious and to quote a few of our school’s values, being able to take part and make a difference is so rewarding. So, for anybody considering joining the Parent Council, l can only say don’t just be curious, come along and make your mark, you won’t be disappointed! As l pass the baton to our new Chair, Dougie Thomson and wish him well, l must also say a huge thank you to you all. I know you will continue to support the PC, so they in turn can continue to support the young people of St. Joseph’s. In the meantime l wish you all a safe and relaxing summer holiday.

Noreen Dunnachie, Chair, Parent Council

As we approach the end of another successful term and indeed year at St. Joseph’s, the Parent Council would like to say thank you once again for the tremendous support we have received. From pupils to parents/carers, members of staff to the local community, the Parent Council has really enjoyed chatting to you all at the numerous school events this past year. In addition, your goodwill and generosity in support of our fundraising activities are, as always, very much appreciated.

As one of our main roles is to represent the views of you, our Parent Forum, this has been made easy for us through your interest and feedback, especially at parents’ evenings. We are extremely fortunate at St. Joseph’s to have such a dedicated HT and SMT who, without too much arm twisting, listen to and genuinely care about what we have to say. Next year will be no exception, even though we bid farewell to our current HT, Mr Ben Davis and at the same time, welcome into St. Joseph’s our new HT, Mr Dan Cardle. The Parent Council would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Mr Davis for his guidance, support and encouragement as well as his good humour these past few years as we wish him well in his new school.

On a personal note, as my two girls move on from St. Joseph’s, then l also must say farewell as my time on the Parent Council comes to an end. It has been such a privilege to be PC Chair and l can honestly say that l have thoroughly enjoyed working with everybody over the years. The enthusiasm and positivity within St. Joseph’s are infectious and to quote a few of our school’s values, being able to take part and make a difference is so rewarding. So, for anybody considering joining the Parent Council, l can only say don’t just be curious, come along and make your mark, you won’t be disappointed! As l pass the baton to our new Chair, Dougie Thomson and wish him well, l must also say a huge thank you to you all. I know you will continue to support the PC, so they in turn can continue to support the young people of St. Joseph’s. In the meantime l wish you all a safe and relaxing summer holiday.

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introductions//Introducing our new School Captains, Rachel Gibb and Rebekah Meiklem, appointed in the last week of term to lead the school’s pupils next session.

I’m Rachel Gibb, more commonly known as Gibby amongst my year

group, and I’m Rebekah Meiklem or whatever fits e.g. Becky, Bex, or Rebka. We have a high attendance record and will be here all year long, near enough every day to hear what you have to say to us no matter how trivial you may think it is; we will always do our best to help you in any way we can. Please do not hesitate to approach us; we’re here to benefit the school, and strengthen the relationship between staff and the pupils, anything you feel that needs to be discussed with the SMT come and find us or if you need any help come and hunt us down.

We are thrilled to have been selected as St. Joseph’s Academy’s newest School Captains for the 2015-2016 session; we hope to fulfil all our promises and attempt to make the school an even better place than it already is. We are both more than ready to face the challenges that will come our way this year and hope to create a positive impact on the school atmosphere. And although Mr. Davis may be leaving this year, we hope to create a strong Pupil Leadership Team with our Vice School Captains (Liam McGuire and Olivia Gater) and House Captains (Matthew Pieroni, Toni Barr, Chloe Hart, Connor Buchanan, Marc Ferguson and Courtney Murdoch) that he would be proud of, and we hope to make Mr. Cardle’s transition as easy as possible by giving him weekly updates on the Pupil Leadership’s progress.

Both of us will be more than willing to listen to any queries, complaints and suggestions that will come our way throughout the year and will deal with them; ensuring we can communicate effectively as a school community strengthening bonds across all year groups.

We are both two confident approachable people, who strive for success in everything we do and will continue to do the same with our duties and responsibilities as your new School Captains. We look forward to leading the school in August, until then enjoy your summer!

Rachel and Rebekah, School Captains

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introductions//Recently I attended the P7 Leavers’ Service at

St. Patrick’s Primary School. One of my favourite parts of this job is visiting primary schools in the St. Joseph’s Academy Learning Community, but this visit was extra-special. I was part of the audience for a very moving service that celebrated the P7 pupils who were leaving and they took centre-stage to thank their teachers and reflect on their seven years at the school. There was not a single person in the audience who was not moved: perhaps encouraged by the young people’s effervescence they paused to reflect on changes and transitions in their own lives. I certainly did, particularly when the P7s stepped forward to describe the impression that St. Patrick’s had made on their lives in a section of the service entitled ‘From here I take.’

I am writing this in the last week of term, very aware of moving on to a new job and new life; very aware of the maelstrom of feelings that go with this (excitement, anxiety, hope, fear etc.); and very aware of the huge impact that St. Joseph’s has made on my life. It is true to say that, for better or worse, I would not be the person I am were it not for the people and communities of St. Joseph’s Academy.

Arriving here in 1995 Ayrshire was, to me, a foreign country. Now it is a second home, a place I have grown to respect, defend and cherish. I have encountered many inspirational people (most of whom would not be so brash as to describe themselves as such) and witnessed our communities display great resilience and courage in the face of significant challenges. I have been humbled at the way in which young people with whom I have worked have overcome huge obstacles in order to carve out a life over which they have control and within which they can succeed. I have worked with many talented teachers who have made the crucial difference in the lives of thousands of children.

I have always tried to do my best for individual children, for the school and for anyone with whom I have worked. It is inevitable that, looking back, I can think of many times when my best fell short, when my efforts were in vain or when I made a mistake. But I also have happy memories, made

deep and lasting friendships and been blessed to be part of teams that have made a difference to others.

St. Joseph’s quickly became like a family for me, a place to cleave to in all circumstances, a place of love. It is this last quality that, if I had to pick just one, would be my choice to ‘take from here’, like the young people at St. Patrick’s. An early and formative influence in my life was my paternal grandfather, Sir Allan Davis, whose chosen motto on being knighted was that of his secondary school: ‘Amare et Servire' (To love and to serve). However imperfectly, I have tried to act as a servant of the school and its community and to act out of love towards others. Above all I believe that any school, but especially a Catholic school, should be a community of love where young people can fulfil their potential. St.Joseph’s, I have always felt, strives to do just that.

The generosity and love shown to me and my family has been overwhelming, so finally I must say a very big thank you. I am grateful for the many good wishes and gifts from pupils and parents past and present, but more than that I am grateful for the people and opportunities that have come my way at St. Joseph’s and within East Ayrshire. I go with great sadness at leaving, but also with great hope for the future of the school. It has been a pleasure to get to know Dan Cardle and I can see that a person of his energy and commitment will be an excellent headteacher for St. Joseph’s. It has been an honour to work here and the school will always be a very special place for me. I have loved working here - the young people of St. Joseph’s Academy (and of East Ayrshire in general) are a talented bunch with huge, life-affirming potential for the future. They are the greatest inspiration and deserve the very best.

With my love, prayers and best wishes for the future and my thanks for your support and friendship over the years,

God Bless,

Ben Davis, Acting Headteacher

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introducing dan cardle//

It is a great honour for me to be taking over as

Head Teacher in St. Joseph's. Since before being offered the job in March, I had heard very positive reports about the school. The reports continue to be positive from staff, pupils, parents and even from other Head Teachers from across Scotland.

First of all, a bit of background about myself. I started my teaching career in 1990 as a Maths teacher in St. Columba's in Clydebank and Greenwood Academy in Dreghorn before getting a permanent contract in Holyrood Secondary in Glasgow. I was interested in Guidance and was appointed Assistant Principal Teacher of Guidance in St. Maurice's in Cumbernauld where I was for two and a half years before moving to St. Andrew's in Carntyne for six and a half years. I have spent the last 10 years in St. Ninian's in Kirkintilloch as Depute Head Teacher.

Working in a number of different schools in different demographic areas, under different leaders has given me the experience to now take on the role of Head Teacher.

Whilst speaking to all staff recently I quoted Pope Francis;

“Jesus would say: If you love only those who study or who are well-educated, what merit does that have? There are those who try your patience, but we have to love them even more,”

We have to ensure that we are meeting the needs of all of our pupils, no matter their background or academic ability. I am aware that I cannot do this on my own - I need the support of staff and other partners to ensure we are meeting those needs. From 25 years experience in teaching I do not underestimate the massive difference that parents can make in helping our young people achieve.

Therefore, one of my first priorities will be to try and get to know the parents, to build up a trust where we are working together at all times with our young people at the centre of what we do.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Ben Davis, not only for all the work that he has done for St Joseph's over the years in getting the school to the great place it is just now, but also for the time and support he has given me personally over the last few months. I wish him all the best in his new post as Head Teacher in St Ambrose in Salford and have no doubt he will do a fantastic job there.

Finally, I am looking forward to working in St. Joseph's and getting to know the school community. If you have any concerns or ideas on what we could do to help improve the school, please get in touch with me.

I hope you all have a fantastic summer.

New Headteacher, Dan Cardle, takes up his post officially in August but has been working the in the school over the past few weeks to get to know us better. We are very excited about his appointment and wish him well for the future.

Dan Cardle, Headteacher

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five pillars of Islam //

The five pillars of Islam are an important set of

beliefs within Muslim culture. This essay will discuss these sets of beliefs in a religious sense, and examine how these beliefs can work in a modern day world for believers and non-believers.

The first pillar is named Shahadah. This means: sincerely reciting the Muslim profession of faith. I agree that this rule can be used by anyone since anyone can have a faith or something that they live by. It’s like making promises and proving dedication to something. Even though not everyone has a faith, professing a belief in nothing is still believing in something.

The second pillar is named Salat. This means: performing ritual prayers in the proper way five times each day. I also agree with this rule because, yet again, it shows dedication. “This prayer timetable gives Muslims the pattern for their day,” which shows that it’s just like organising or planning something. The line “not just phrases to be spoken” shows us that we should think of deeper meaning in life. It’s better to have a good attitude towards things but you don’t always have to stick to a routine or plan.

The third pillar is named Zakat. This means: paying an alms (or charity) tax to benefit the poor and the needy. I agree with this rule because we should give to charity and help the poor. We should always share and help others. The line that discusses “behaving honestly” is very relevant

since everyone should be honest. On the other hand, it talks about “obeying God”, and not everyone believes in God or has a religion. Therefore, I believe in giving to charity but it doesn’t always have to be for religious reasons.

The fourth pillar is named Sawm. This means: fasting during the month of Ramadan. I agree with this rule since it’s good to be dedicated to something and give up stuff for the better. It shows selflessness too. Although, I understand both sides since it says to believe in God. “Following the example of prophet Muhammed,” is a good quote as we should set and follow good examples.

The fifth pillar is named Hajj. This means: pilgrimage to Mecca. I agree since it shows equality in all ethnic groups, colour, social status and culture. It makes everyone feel important. It’s a holy place for Muslims and everyone should have somewhere that they feel safe and peaceful. It is “designed to promote bonds of Islamic brotherhood and sisterhood,” which is relevant since it’s good to make strong bonds and become close with others through common interests.

To conclude, I feel that the five pillars are relevant in modern society because everyone should be kind, respectful and sharing to others, of all races and cultures. These pillars promote these things to a certain degree so we should listen to the message that they send.

[cont//]

Under the guidance of RE teacher Miss Curran pupils in S3 have been investigating Islam and its key principles as a way of exploring faith and engaging with contemporary issues. The four essays, from Nathan, Aimee, Sarah and Carrie, that follow demonstrate the range of responses.

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“Are the five pillars of Islam relevant to

everyone in a modern society?”

In this essay I will be looking at the five pillars of Islam in greater depth. I will study why they are a vital set of beliefs within Muslim culture. As well as looking at the many religious aspects of these beliefs I will also look at how they can work in today’s society for not only believers but non-believers too. My main line of argument will be that they don’t fit with the modern day world because they are too time consuming.

The first pillar is named Shahadah this means sincerely reciting the Muslim profession of faith. I agree with this pillar because anyone can have a strong belief in a religion or make a promise to their god despite their religious beliefs. One aspect that may mean this pillar does not fit in with the modern day is the fact that many people are afraid to swallow their pride and confess their beliefs. They feel they may not be accepted by their peers for having a passion in their faith, because in most

cases it isn’t as common to swear by a religion. Despite this many people still do find a sense of comfort and acceptance in their religion in today’s society whether they pray in their own personal sanctuary alone or they do it with members of their community.

The second pillar is named Salat this means the obligatory Muslim prayers, performed five times each day by Muslims. I personally don’t agree with this pillar because even I wouldn’t have enough time to perform this ritual five times daily so the average working adult certainly wouldn’t. (I also don’t believe it’s necessary as long as you find the time to pray once daily I think that is enough.) For this pillar to be relevant in the world we live in, people would have to be dedicated to their beliefs to be able to put it before their scheduled daily routine.

The third pillar is named Zakat which means paying an alms (or charity) tax to benefit the poor and the needy. I think that if you are financially well off and are in the position to donate to charity you can but I don’t agree with this pillar being compulsory as people have worked to earn their

money and could perhaps be saving it to invest in something in the near future. Despite this I do think this pillar fits in with modern day as helping the less fortunate will not only be an act of kindness from someone else’s perspective it also will make you feel good about yourself especially since today’s society has many negative connotations such as: greed, envy and the desire to live up to the expectations of their community.

The fourth pillar is Sawm which means fasting. I don’t believe in this pillar as it isn’t healthy to fast even if you break your fast at night. Performing the act of fasting could also impact your mental wellbeing or your ability to work as you will feel weak and tired because of the lack of nutrition which could be displayed throughout your daily activities. This pillar doesn’t fit in with modern day as it would be a rare occurrence to witness someone stop eating for their religion to become spiritually stronger.

The fifth and final pillar is Haji which means pilgrimage to Mecca. I do believe this pillar is specific to the Muslim faith as they connect with god and proceed to travel a physical journey. Despite this I don’t think it fits in with modern day as people wouldn’t give up things such as shaving and cutting their nails as it is unhygienic. Also it is farfetched thinking that going on this journey and stopping doing certain vital activities, for example going to work, is going to make you a greater person in gods perspective.

To conclude I feel that the five pillars are to a certain extent, relevant in modern society because many people still rely on their personal religion for a sense of comfort or wellbeing. Despite this several pillars don’t as they are perceived as quite competitive in a way, to see who can give up the most time and who is more devoted to their religion, which minimises the spiritual aspect and adds negative connotations to a tranquil life-style.

Aimee Hodgson

[cont//]

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In this essay I will be looking at the 5 pillars of

Islam. I will be studying why they are an important set of beliefs within Muslim culture. Not only will I be looking at these sets of beliefs in a religious sense I will also look at how these beliefs can work in a modern day world for believers and non-believers. My line of argument will be that they both do and don’t fit with modern day society because some of the pillars are unreasonable.

The first pillar is named Shahadah, this means sincerely reciting the Muslim profession of faith. I agree with this pillar because it is a small thing that may support people through hard times. If a family member is ill, saying a prayer may help people through hard times. If a family member is ill, saying a prayer may help you feel a lot better and give you hope. I think this is a realistic thing to follow in modern day because it doesn’t take much time and could bring solitude to people who profess this faith.

The second pillar is named Salat, this means performing ritual prayers in the proper way five times a day. I do not agree with this pillar because most people have school and jobs which means they would have no time to do this five times a day. Some people have to work a certain amount of hours a day and so acting out the second pillar would maybe take an hour or two altogether which would lower their working time and then their salary. I don’t think this is a realistic thing to follow in a modern day society because it takes up too much time.

The third pillar is named Zakat, this means paying an alms (or charity) tax to benefit the poor and the needy. I agree with this pillar because I think everyone should be this generous to try and get the poor back onto their feet. If everybody paid this tax there would be less poverty in the world. I think this is a realistic thing to follow in modern day society because I think everybody should be charitable towards the poor in one way or another as not everyone is in a financial position.

The fourth pillar is named Sawm, this means fasting during the month of Ramadan. I don’t agree with this pillar because fasting is a big thing to ask of some people so some may refuse to do so. A person who loves their food but is asked to fast for

a month, they would probably refuse. I don’t think this is a reasonable thing to follow in modern day society because with the amount of fast food restaurants nowadays, people don’t want to give up their food.

The fifth pillar is named Hajj, this means pilgrimage to Mecca. I agree with this pillar because it gives a sense of community in the religion. A family works hard and looks forward to going to Mecca every year and meeting other people worshipping the same religion. I do think this is a realistic thing to follow in modern day society because it creates connections and community in the religion. It brings people together to worship in peace and harmony.

To conclude, I feel that the five pillars aren’t relevant in modern day society because most of the pillars are unreasonable for some people and aren’t very modern to fit todays lifestyle which has so many different beliefs and cultures which makes it almost impossible to apply these pillars to society as a whole.

Sarah Stewart

The Five Pillars of Islam are an important set of

beliefs within Muslim culture which can work in a modern day world for believers and non-believers.

Pillar 1 is called Shahadah: Reciting the Muslim profession of faith. I’m neutral where this pillar is concerned. I think that it has the ability to fit into a modern day society but it may not be taken lightly due to many people’s views on religion and faiths other than their own. It may cause rifts in the society that the religion is being professed in. By “Rifts” I mean things such as arguments and debates etc. Even going as far as saying that it could cause riots/fights between people or groups as many of us have seen before that fights and riots are easily started by many different things including religion. But putting the negatives aside, it opens up the opportunity for people who are interested in different religions and want to explore the history behind different religions. However, the question still remains: Is there room in today’s world for everybody to profess any faith?

[cont//]

In my opinion, it’s all down to the religion. Some people

have fallen into the trap of media influence, causing them to stereotype certain religions. For example, if people hear that Muslims or Catholics are freely professing their faiths, they may be clouded with the stereotypes that go hand in hand with these religions such as terrorism or abuse.These judgements can, once again, cause rifts in society and could possible cause physical or mental damage to the people professing their religions.

The 2nd pillar is called Salat: Performing ritual prayers in the proper way, five times a day. I personally disagree with this pillar, not because I don’t think people should express their dedication to their religion by performing these prayers but simply because I don’t think there is enough time. I fully respect that some people who have a faith are very loyal to that faith and would be willing to/already are praying multiple times a day, However, I think that in today’s modern society, most people don’t have time to follow their religion (if they have one) to the letter or they would like to but don’t have the time to fit it into their busty lifestyle. Society is much more advanced and busy than it was many years ago when people would more than likely have the time to fit praying into their lives but I think that today, society is much too busy for absolutely everyone to fit praying into their lives, regardless of beliefs. Today’s society can be distracted by multiple things including social media, the internet, TV etc. and these tend to be the things which pull people away from the simpler things in life such as religion, family and friends.

The 3rd pillar is called Zakat: Paying an alms/charity tax to benefit the poor and needy. I agree with this pillar. Personally, I believe that anyone who has the ability to afford to help someone less fortunate than themselves should definitely make an attempt to help. It tends to make us feel happy and better about ourselves, knowing that we’ve helped someone less privileged than ourselves. Knowing that the few pounds we gave to the homeless man on the corner could have possibly saved his life by paying for the food he needed to eat. For example: Me and my sister offered a homeless man some crisps and chocolate one day and the man was near tears, saying that he hadn’t had crisps in months and that he couldn’t remember the last time he had chocolate. It brought me and my sister great happiness knowing how well this man would eat but also brought us to realise the true facts on today’s world: Not everyone is as lucky.

However, I do not think that it should be a requirement as there are some people who aren’t in the same position as the homeless man, me and my sister met or indeed other homeless people, but are still struggling to look after themselves/ their family and are unable to help as much as they would like to. Nonetheless, in a modern-day world that still has so many issues, charity is still a good foundation to believe in.

The 4th pillar is called Sawm: fasting during the month of Ramadan. I am neutral when it comes to this pillar. Ramadan is essentially the Islamic version of the 40 days of Lent. In Lent, we choose to give up one thing, usually something like fatty foods or bad habits such as biting nails, these things are usually easy to give up for the small period that Lent lasts for. Fasting during Ramadan requires the person to fast during the daytime. I think that this is another example of people trying to express their faith and loyalty to their religion. The act of fasting –to me- seems to be an act of devotion but it seems like something very few people would do. I think that this pillar links back to the 2nd pillar: it requires time and a lot of dedication, most people wouldn’t have the time for fasting in today’s society and also because of the poverty and struggle that is in the world, people struggle to get a good enough pay so they can find themselves and any family they may have so if they were approached and told about the idea of fasting, they would more than likely brush it off by explaining that they had to work hard to earn the money to feed themselves so they’re not going to give it up and throw their effort down the drain for something like religion. I may be thinking outside the box and it could simply be the case of some people not wanting to do it. This pillar is all down to the loyalty of the person and how far they would be willing to go for their religion.

The 5th and final pillar is called Hajj: making the pilgrimage to Mecca. I disagree with this pillar. The idea behind it is very nice and has the continuing theme of loyalty but I think it is something that is not required. It definitely has the ability to be embedded in today’s civilization but it’s more a matter of: Are people really going to do it? Will people be willing to make a journey to a religious place? The pilgrimage to Mecca is done so Muslims can come together and strengthen their faith by seeing how many fellow Muslims have made the same journey they have from many different places so they can come together in this place of great importance. The idea behind it is very pleasant and it’s a nice thought but once again, we have to take into account the fact that we are living in a technological and high-end world where most people have other things to do that they feel may be more important by taking the time to visit a holy place that is important to whatever faith they have or whatever god they believe in.

The Five Pillars of Islam are all very important parts of Muslim religion and if we go in depth and look further into the meanings behind them, we can see that all of them can possible fit into today’s world. They all have similar themes of loyalty and love for the people of the religion and these are things that nowadays, the world could use a little bit of.

Carrie Melaugh

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Daniels’ speech//

I’ll be honest – this is my fourth attempt at writing something for this. Each time that I came to write, I got something typed up, but it didn’t feel right. In each of them, I talked about doing the right thing and all that jazz – so it wasn’t that that was the issue. It was the way in which it was written.

I’ll admit that I have a tendency to want to dislocate myself from everyone else. That’s born out of something like fear. Through the last six years I have always resisted leaving myself vulnerable and open to hurt. But the only way in which we can form rich friendships is by being willing to be hurt. We have to drop our guards and allow other people to share in our lives. That’s brave.

There’s a lyric in a song “I Know It’s Over” by The Smiths: “It’s so easy to laugh, it’s so easy to hate; it takes strength to be gentle and kind.” Obviously that kind of strength doesn’t need to be involved between acquaintances or light-weight friends that we call “friends” but who really aren’t any more than people we’d have a laugh with and go out with as part of a group. But we can’t forge any real friendships without it.

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The bigger the leap, the bigger the risk. But we’re never going to amount to much if we don’t risk our pride and feelings. We will fail every time, if we don’t jump ..................................................................................

I’m not going to wish you luck – because there’s no such thing. Have strength, not luck – because that strength is the stuff that allows you to form meaningful connections with people. As cheesy and uncharacteristic of me as this sounds: however much you enjoy something, you will always enjoy it

more when you can share in it with someone else. When I was in Strasbourg in March, I felt more at home there than I have ever felt at home here – not because of the people, but because of how I allowed myself to behave. We were all like-minded in many ways, so my guard was down, and I’ve ended up with great friends… all because I showed a shred of strength.

That kind of strength is also what leads to being able to do amazing things in other aspects of life. If you set out with an end goal – you will only achieve that by throwing yourself in the direction of success. Think of it like crossing a gap: sometimes we will face challenges that require huge leaps of faith into the unknown to achieve; but other times we will only have cracks in the pavement to deal with. We might reach the other side; but we might fall, we might stumble before the leap and not reach the other side. The bigger the leap, the bigger the risk. But we’re never going to amount to much if we don’t risk our pride and feelings. We will fail every time, if we don’t jump.

Some of us find it easier to show strength when making connections with people; some of us find it easier to succeed by grit and determination in our work. Both are equally important if we want to be happy. “”

At the S6 Leavers’ Mass outgoing Head Boy Daniel Johnston reflected on his experiences and shared some insights with the congregation.

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You are invited for the next few moments to be still and calm in the presence of God … let worries and concerns float away … and be aware that God is present … that, as we gather, we feel God’s presence in this Church, in our hearts and in every breath … and I invite you to surrender to the love of God.

You hold a candle in your hands … you are asked to look towards Christ … Christ, the Light of the World … Christ who lit up the world by wanting to be part of it … Christ who walked our earth … who spoke our words … who ate and drank like we do … the Christ who is one of us … the Christ who is forever young and youthful … and the Christ who is present to us now … this is the Jesus Christ we receive each time in our hearts at Mass … truly present to us now and always … the Christ who transforms us … who inspires us … and who leads us … this is the Light of Christ

Today’s image in the Gospel takes us further … “You are the Light of the World … Let your light shine in the presence of all” … That means that all that about Christ’s Light shining, can also be said about you … Your words can shine …. Your actions can shine …. Your example can shine …

Today you stand at the end of a school journey … you are thankful for all the lights that have shone upon you …. The light given by friends …. The light and inspiration you received in these years through the staff and through fellow pupils …. The light you have received through your family …. And so you are thankful for the light you have received …. Yet you also look forward … to a new beginning … to a fresh start … you know that in the future there will be new people to meet … new experiences to share … new influences in your heart … and so, the light you have received, you now take with you …. Into a future full of hope

Now that light is firmly placed into your hands … you become the Light of Christ shining in the world … and you ARE the Light of Christ … you are hope for a needy world… you are the peace in troubled places … you are the power that can turn hatred into love

So let the Light of Christ inspire you … let the Light of Christ speak to you … let the Light of Christ live through you and in you … commit yourself now to this Light of Christ …. Be part of this Community of Christ … marching forward in hope … rejoicing in the present moment … living love and sharing peace …. and spend a few moments being close to Christ … speak to him about your commitment for this discipleship.

MEDITATION – You are the Light of Christ// Here we reprint Fr. Chambers Meditation from the recent S6 Leavers’ Mass.

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poetry// “The Tom Cat” Poems

The witching hour begins,

It starts at his dark hidden alley.

Here he can do whatever he wants

As he comes prepared to rally.

As he flicks his bony tail,

Nothing but skin and bones.

His eyes lacked emotion,

To him he was top of the throne.

He wails at the top of his lungs.

He moves everything in his way,

This was his so-called palace,

He was certainly here to stay.

He hates humans with a passion,

How they rule the world and him,

If only it was primeval,

That’s a benefit to him.

By day he is a tame cat,

Lying on his rug by the fire,

With those big eyes, cute appearance,

For a cat he’s a good liar.

The witching hour begins again,

He’s back at his remote alley,

Everyone does what he says,

No one takes it, this is his alley.

Stephanie Gorman, S2

“”

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In the supernatural alley

The tomcat hunts his prey,

His twisting body shivers as he crouches to the ground

Hoping he’ll catch something today.

His bony back and his swishing tail,

Sweeps past the big lamppost,

As he chants his hate for men

And gathers all the ghosts.

The cat lay in the alley

For hours on end,

Hoping something will come by so he can feed,

While talking to his friends.

Humans were despicable,

That’s what the cat thought.

They are stupid, annoying and pointless,

That’s what he was taught.

He will lay in his bed tomorrow,

And caper about in the sun,

The tomcat will play innocent

And act like he’s having fun.

But at witching hour,

He will wail the demon’s song,

Loud and clear for all to hear

So the dark side will play along.

Breagh MacKellar, S2

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“”

In the deadly alley

The demon wails and cries

Conjuring the souls of one thousand men.

And slithers into the sky.

Furry, black and evil,

Bony, bent and broken.

His yellow eyes shone like the stars above,

A creature never to be spoken.

He stalks his innocent prey,

His demon body twisting

As he walks down the supernatural alleyway

The stars and moon are hissing.

To get away from humans

He must let them stroke his fur,

But at the witching hour the dark side comes out

And he no longer purrs.

He will stay in the fire’s warmth,

And cuddle with man

And veil all the evil with a great disguise

And forget all about his clan.

But in the deadly alley,

He will wail and cry again,

Loud and clear for demons to hear.

To end the work of men.

Aimee Wilson

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UV armour wins Dragons' Den event

After an evening of inspirational and surprisingly brilliant ideas, St Joseph’s Academy emerged as overall winners of the 2015 Sir Tom Hunter Challenge, where budding young entrepreneurs pitched their businesses ideas in a bid to win the top prize of £3,000. As part of his commitment to mentor local pupils, entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter has, over the last 3 years, challenged youngsters to come up with ideas for products, innovations or businesses of the future. This year’s winning team scooped the prize for their ‘brilliant, stunning and really ambitious’ idea for a high tech UV early warning device. The team, namely Kuda Tapatapa, Tatenda Tapatapa, Kieran Fenton, Becca Bunten and Chloe Beveridge, designed a lifestyle product which includes an app, a wristband and a travel plug which provides an early warning system for over exposure to UV. They were tasked by their teachers to develop an idea to raise awareness of cancer and they went beyond the brief developing an idea to help combat cancer. The device has a warning light which flashes when sun exposure has reached a certain point and advises the user to seek shade. It can also link to a mobile phone through a specially designed app. Sir Tom Hunter was very impressed by the team’s idea and their product development. He also praised them for seeking ways to market their product, including securing endorsements from extreme sportspeople, like local kite surfers, who could potentially make great use of their product.

Sir Tom Hunter said: “I was fascinated by both this product and by the team themselves. They carefully researched ideas for a product and found that 13,000 people die from skin cancer each year in the UK. The team was diverse, comprising festival goers and sports enthusiasts who all sought a solution to the same problem - how to keep safe in the sun. They developed an impressive product and pitched their ideas in a very professional style that would have put seasoned presenters to shame. “The team advised that they are flexible to negotiate with Apple to develop their product further – Apple will be quaking in their boots.”

Ten teams representing the nine academies and Park School, presented their business plans to Sir Tom and his panel of judges – Heather Dunk (Ayrshire College), Marie Macklin (Klin Group), Willie Mackie (Willie Mackie Consulting) and David Ross (Keppie Design Ltd) – in the Dragons’ Den style contest hosted by last year’s winners, Doon Academy. The judges, unable to choose between the next two teams, awarded two second place prizes of £1500 each to Doon Academy, who created pre-printed revision flashcards for National 5 Business Management revision and Kilmarnock Academy, who created Doggy Doo – an innovative electronic dog bag dispenser which is powered by solar energy. The other seven schools’ presentations were considered to be so good that Sir Tom awarded them £500 each.

At the fourth annual Sir Tom Hunter Enterprise Challenge the team from St. Joseph’s, called UV Armour, were victorious. This is the full story of the evening.

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Ideas from the other teams included Stewarton Academy’s Flashfire, an innovative charging device for use when camping; Park School’s Badg3r , an ID badge with a pen holder incorporated in the design; Cumnock Academy’s Cumnock Plastics Products who produce promotional goods for local companies; Loudoun Academy’s ATTYRE who have created bespoke designs for car bumpers and wing mirrors; Grange Academy who have created a sport based social enterprise providing opportunity and equality for all and Auchinleck Academy’s G4meZilla, who have developed a multi gaming app available for all smart phones. Sir Tom was so impressed by the Auchinleck team that he is going to organise an introduction to the Minecraft producer for the boys – a prize that money certainly can’t buy.

Sir Tom Hunter said: “This Challenge isn’t about creating a conveyer belt of entrepreneurs; it is about working with sector leading local authorities like East Ayrshire Council who share a vision for the future of education and preparing our young people for the ever changing workplace through innovation; accepting that the status quo just isn’t good enough. “The workplace is changing all the time and a job for life isn’t what our young people can expect when they enter the world of work. Realistically, in the future our young people are going to work for small businesses within smaller teams. That is the ethos of this Challenge – small teams working together to maximise efficiency, develop a winning idea by being able to problem solve effectively and importantly, being able to present their ideas, in front of the judges and a packed audience with confidence and professionalism. “The teams showed all of this in abundance, I was incredibly proud of their efforts and their tenacity. As a young man growing up in New Cumnock, my careers advice consisted of – work in a factory or work down the pits. These industries don’t exist anymore and the future of towns and villages in the Doon Valley lies in the hands of our young people. Based on what we’ve seen at this year’s Challenge, the future of East Ayrshire, and Scotland, is in very good hands.”

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council, who was joined at the event by Alex Neil, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners' Rights and local MSPs Willie Coffey and Adam Ingram, said: “This was a keenly fought competition, where our young entrepreneurs had the opportunity to demonstrate not only their business skills, but also their fantastic creativity. “Engagement with business is now securely embedded in the school curriculum and our vision is to ensure that every pupil will develop the skills and abilities for a successful career. “Above all, we want to foster in our young people that vital ‘can-do’ attitude and positive mindset. Events like this clearly show what a talented pool of young entrepreneurs we have here”. The Sir Tom Hunter Challenge formed part of the Council’s sector leading business enterprise programme, designed to develop entrepreneurial skills and help make young people ‘business ready’. All school teams were invited to Sir Tom Hunter’s E-spark Hatchery in Dundonald for further mentoring.

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Sir Tom Hunter was very impressed by the team’s idea and their product development. He also praised them for seeking ways to market their product ..................................................................................

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iPads//

“It’s a touch-tastic way to learn!” that’s the enthusiastic endorsement of a new iPad for Learning initiative at St Joseph’s Academy in Kilmarnock, launched today, Friday 5 June 2015.

Attending the launch were the Right Reverend Willie Nolan, Bishop of Galloway, Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader East Ayrshire Council, East Ayrshire Council Chief Executive Fiona Lees and many others.

In 2011, St. Joseph’s Academy bid for 170 iPads as part of their Business Enterprise and Skills Centre in 2011 and these have been successfully used in the school.

The school is now piloting the full implementation of iPads across the whole school, with one per child and teacher.

Pupils and staff are allowed to take them home, meaning learning is now an ‘anytime, anywhere’ experience using thousands of apps and interactive tools to promote independence, personal responsibility and creativity.

The iPads also link to the school’s Virtual Learning Environment which contains a wide range of work from different departments, including video lessons and self-assessment tools.

Launching the full roll-out, East Ayrshire Council Leader Councillor Douglas Reid said: “We’re fully committed to providing a superb, fit for purpose education for all our pupils and, using technology such as iPads for every pupil today, is one way we can help students develop an advantage in tomorrow’s world.

“These days almost all young people use tablets and mobile devices from a very early age and by the time they are in school, using these is second nature and, in most cases, it is an integral part of their lives.

“This initiative is geared to capturing that enthusiasm and keeping pupils’ attention by

aligning our educational delivery with how the new mobile generation wants to learn and communicate.”

The iPads open up a host of new learning opportunities in the school, with lessons available to view online, after school hours, or assignments and projects being submitted from home.

In addition, video recording, picture taking and the ability to quickly and easily annotate work adds a different dimension to homework and teacher’s notes.

Head Teacher Ben Davis explained the benefits: “In art, for example, abstract or difficult concepts can be explained visually. Artist’s work, their inspiration, life and times they worked in can be viewed online, almost instantly.

“In French and German, word pronunciation can be heard, the use of verbs and grammar can be illustrated and the social networking aspect of all this brings pupils together to share ideas, solve problems and create a ‘can-do’ environment in the classroom – that’s invaluable for a teacher and helps accelerate learning.

“In addition, iPads turn on in seconds, which now means every single pupil can be online and researching in minutes, rather than rummaging in bags, looking for pens, pencils, or text books.

“The battery lasts all day, it has two cameras and the screen is the perfect size for viewing/ working, group collaboration, or even just holding the iPad up to show others your work. It’s incredibly versatile.”

Councillor Stephanie Primrose, East Ayrshire Council’s Spokesperson for Lifelong Learning added: “In addition to the wide range of uses and benefits on offer, the use of mobile technology is increasing in almost every public, private and charitable organisation in the country.

“Tomorrow’s world of work will need people who have those skills and are immersed in this technology and I’m delighted St Joseph’s pupils will have every advantage in exploiting those developing and exciting opportunities.”

Next session will see every pupil in St. Joseph’s Academy working with their own iPad provided free of charge by East Ayrshire Council.

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During science we have been learning about electricity. The topic consists of using the Van de Graaff. The class had lots of fun using the Van de Graaff and it was funny when our hair went static. We had lots of fun experimenting with the static electricity and shocking our class mates.

We have also been learning about positive and negative charges as well as building circuits with batteries, lightbulbs and wire. The whole class enjoyed building circuits.

Overall the class has enjoyed the electricity topic and taking part in exciting activities. Our class was happy to participate in making a poster on the Van de Graaff.

By Holly Druce and Rachel Cuthbertson

2P1 Science

S1 Science//

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my transition experience//

M y name is Carla Duffy and I am currently in Primary 7 at St Patrick’s Primary in Auchinleck. I have been asked to share my thoughts with you on my transition experiences.

Our first transition event was the P7 and S1 Mass in St Matthew’s Church, way back in September. I remember the anticipation of finding out who my future classmates were going to be.It was a really lovely morning but I was a little nervous, as I had to read the vote of thanks.

After Mass, we went along to St Joseph’s for the first time. I was wondering what the classrooms would look like and what the teachers would be like. We went to Modern Languages as it was European Day of Languages. We were mixed with the other primaries in random groupings and did carousel style activities around 4 different classrooms and teachers. I thought this was a good idea, as there was a range of different fun tasks and we got to work with all the Modern Languages teachers and meet new friends.

Our next visit was a whole day in November. It was Numeracy in the morning and a Ceilidh event in the afternoon. Even though Maths isn’t exactly my favourite thing I was willing to try my hardest when I realised it was team problem solving. It was lots of fun and I managed to learn the names of everyone in my group.

The boys were all dreading the ceilidh part and were groaning when our teacher, Mrs McCrorie, told us about it. However, when it actually came to it, most of the boys in my group seemed to be having a ball, although we were all making up the steps as we went along! I thought it was a really good way to break the ice and relieve a little of the awkwardness between the different schools.

For the third and fourth visits during February and May the primaries all went at separate times.

This was our chance to experience a variety of different subjects. I especially enjoyed Home Economics and Science because they are not subjects you normally get to do in Primary school. It was all done in a fun way. Miss Horrey, in Science, even managed to make the safety rules exciting! In Home Economics we made a big Crispie cake pie, which was delicious – even if I say so myself!

In addition to us visiting St Joseph’s, we have also had members of staff come out to work with us at St Patrick’s. We were lucky to have Miss Blacklock visit for 4 weeks of French. I would love to be as fluent as she is in another language, but I think Miss Blacklock was also impressed by how much we already knew and she said our accents were “Tres bien!” Last week we had a visit from Mr Whyte of the Music Department. He taught us the hymn for tonight’s Mass and some really unusual vocal warm–ups. Music is one of my favourite subjects and I wish we’d managed to fit in more sessions with him.

It’s always nice to see Mr Davis and Mrs Shearer attend our parents’ nights and other important events, such as our Burns Competition, Concerts and Leavers service. We appreciate that they have to travel a distance to get to us but I think it makes us feel included and my parents got the chance to chat with them.

The culmination of all these events is of course, our two induction days this week. It has been an exciting two days being with the class that I am going to be part of when I start in August. I have already met a few people who I have a feeling are going to become good friends.

Lots of fun, and challenges lie ahead. For me, getting to the bus stop for 10 to 8 will probably be my biggest challenge! Thank you to all of the primary and secondary staff for your time and help in ensuring I feel confident in moving up to S1.

I don’t want to wish my Summer holidays away, but, roll on August 18th!

Carla Duffy, one of our new S1 pupils making the move from P7 this summer looks back on the transition process.

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camp frederic 2015//

Camp Fredric is a 3 day trip in Auchengillen that welcomes any youth members of SSVP (the society of Saint Vincent de Paul.) The trip is put on every year as a token of gratitude for helping the SSVP charity all year round. Each year has a particular theme. This year’s theme was ‘Looking at Yourself’, during the trip we did many activities that focused on looking at your life and how you could improve its quality. Other activities we took part in were in teams that were made up of students from different schools and different year groups.

On day one we were put into teams; Team Smash (Green Team), The Blumin Women (Blue Team), The Bendy Bananas (Yellow Team), Vinipaws (Orange Team) and Red Hot Lightening (Red Team.) After creating team names, banners and t-shirts we played ‘Fred-o-poly’ which involved team building exercises and won your team points depending on how far you got around the board. After that activity we moved onto a quiz that after rounds of general knowledge, music and films we participated in games such as Fluffy Bunny (a rendition of Chubby Bunny) during which leaders had to hold as many marshmallows in their mouth at one time, while still being able to say ‘Fluffy Bunny’.

We then were involved in a night reflection; this was a very peaceful and relaxing part of the trip. The large hall, in which most of the activities were based, was lit up with loads of candles covering the entire floor. We came in quietly and lay down, music was played as Clare (a leader) calmly spoke about the day’s events, and reminding us of SSVP and how thankful people are for the work we do.

The second day was a more eventful and was significantly more active. After breakfast we took a walk through the forest that surrounded the lodge. We then took part in another quiz that was based on SSVP and the work that it does and has done over the past years.

After lunch we parted from our team-mates and took part in activities we had chosen prior to meeting the friends we had gained at the camp. The choices consisted of Rock Climbing, Archery, Kayaking and Canoeing which, I learned, are not the same thing. We took part in two of these activities, meeting more people and having an amazing time. When we returned to the lodge after taking part in these activities we were prepared for the high-light of the trip; “It’s A Knockout.” This activity consisted of running across a piece of tarpaulin that was covered in baby oil, shampoo and conditioner. The teams again competed during this exercise and a lot of points were up for grabs. A photograph had been planned for the end of ‘It’s A Knockout’ but as we were lining up all of the leaders soaked the group in freezing cold water making the photograph hilarious.

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Overall Camp Fred was a very uplifting experience that helped open my eyes and makes me very grateful for the SSVP community .................................................................................

We then freshened up and went for a Karaoke session, singing ‘Summer Nights’, ‘Sweet Caroline’ and plenty more. The evening ended yet again with an Evening Reflection but in this occasion team-mates spoke out instead of leaders. They reflected on new friends and memories we had made. It was very soothing and very satisfying to hear what people had to say.

On the last day we made movies in our teams, some of them were parodies but some were more serious; the Green Team made a version of ‘The Breakfast Club’, the Red Team produced a modern day version of ‘Grease’, the Yellow Team parodied ‘The Hunger Games’, the Orange Team presented

S3 pupil Keira Ovens on her recent experience at a Society of St. Vincent de Paul residential.

“”

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‘Mean Girls’ and the Blue Team made ‘Avengers Assemble’. We then prepared for Mass but unlike a traditional mass each team had a part to play in it.

Every team was assigned a specific part of the Mass to reconstruct and make it a bit different and a little more enjoyable. The Red Team did a Welcoming speech, The Green Team did the Offertory, presenting not only the bread and wine but a scroll for every member and a t-shirt constructed from every teams colour, The Orange Team did the Bidding prayers, creating bright que-cards and splitting it up between the team to make it more interesting, The Yellow Team did the Peace Offering, passing notes while shaking hands so that each member had a note with a nice message on it by the end, and the Blue Team did the Readings, creating a story board to go along with the readings. We then calculated scores and announced the winner: The Orange Team, winning by only a few points.

One of the most important things I learned from Camp Fred was how open you need to be to

people, I personally went into a group knowing no one and I have left that group with 7 new friends. I also learned how judgemental people can be without realising it as there were a range of people at the Camp and I admired how their friends accepted their differences.

One of my favourite things about Camp Fred was the Affirmations that people were writing about each other. Envelopes were left at the side of the large hall that held photo frames, each envelope belonged to a certain person and you had to find someone’s name and write something nice about them, although I haven’t read mind yet while writing on other peoples I noticed how nice people were being even though I knew that they had only met 2 days ago.

Overall Camp Fred was a very uplifting experience that helped open my eyes and makes me very grateful for the SSVP community, who don’t only help the poor but they also help each other within the group itself.

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london 2015//

The 2015 London trip has been greatly anticipated by S4 for well over a year, and on Sunday 21st June, we finally set off. After many hours of travelling, we arrived at the Warner Bros Harry Potter Studios where we enjoyed an interactive tour exploring the sets and the scenes of the Harry Potter films.

The next day we experienced the ‘horror’ of the London Dungeons, where poor Mr Brogan was victimised by various characters, and even gained his own chant (John! John! John, John, John!).

Next we saw London from above, as we circled the Coca-Cola London Eye, observing the breath-taking views over the city. We then journeyed down the river Thames gaining knowledge of the interesting buildings and structures we passed (such as the self-cleaning bridge built by women in World War Two), before heading to the jungle of the Rainforest Café. Continuing the animal theme, we set out to see Michael Morpurgo’s ‘War Horse’, a fascinating stage show about a farm-boy-turned-soldier during WW1 and his horse, Joey. Exhausted, we returned to the hotel for a good night’s sleep.

The next day we visited Shakespeare’s Globe theatre for a guided tour and an unofficial performance of the actors warming up on stage (mostly yoga and pretending to be snakes). We had some free time to explore the shops on Oxford Street before stopping at Pizza Hut, and heading on to an incredible and tear-jerking performance of Billy Elliot.

After, we arrived at the hotel for our final night, full of packing, laughter and happy memories, we in the morning, commenced our final day in London

by wandering round the amazing Emirates Football Stadium for a self-guided tour. After this we sadly had to depart from London, to head home.

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laughter and happy memories, an incredible experience, thoroughly enjoyed by us all …………………………………………………………

Despite the incredible experience, we were all happily exhausted, and ready for a good night’s sleep in our own beds. Once again, the school has run an incredible London trip, thoroughly enjoyed by all, leaving all of us wishing we were back in the city.

Towards the end of June 60 pupils from S4 headed to the capital for a few days of sightseeing and culture, led and organised by the English department. Hannah Iles and Lucy Williamson spill the beans.

“”

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news round-up//Highlights of news and information from the last few weeks across the school.

SENIOR PROM 2015

This year’s prom took place at Marr Hall and was themed around James Bond. The organising committee did an excellent job of provided great entertainment and of dressing the marquee and all those attending looked superb. A very fitting end to the year.

S3 DIPLOMA OF ACHIEVEMENT & AWARDS CEREMONIES FOR S1 AND S2

The penultimate week of term saw the annual S3 Diploma of Achievement ceremony with pupils from across the year group receiving their unique diplomas that record their achievements, skills, character and values. Pupils in S1 and S2 also received their certificates on June 18th. At all the ceremonies the pupils gave speeches, provided entertainment and served refreshments. The ceremonies were co-ordinated by Mrs. Shearer and a team of staff.

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96.8%

news round-up//Highlights of news and information from the last few weeks across the school.

STITCH IN TIME AT DUMFRIES HOUSE

A group of staff and pupils attending a fascinating and stimulating day at Dumfries House that showcased the fashion industry in the UK and in Scotland especially. Prince Charles was in attendance and pupils were treated to displays from top designers, talks and the opportunity to try their hand at various activities as well as to consider a career in the industry,

LEAVER DESTINATIONS

It used to be that schools were judged solely by their exam results. Curriculum for Excellence, however, has demanded that we look at a number of measures that reveal the success of schools, one of which is the percentage of leavers who, after a year are in a positive destination: employment, further learning or training. We are pleased to report that St. Joseph’s Academy returned the highest figures for East Ayrshire and added a percentage point on last year with 96.8% sustained positive destinations for those who left in academic session 2013 - 14. This is a great success for the school and for the many staff, partners and parents who have worked tirelessly to secure destinations for pupils.

news round-up//

“”

Highlights of news and information from the last few weeks across the school.

BAKE SALE IN AID OF CHILD SOLDIERS

S1 pupils who have been studying child soldiers as part of the Power masterclass and Dare in LS360 took direct action to support those who are caught up in conflicts by raising funds for them through selling home-baking in school.

WORLD WAR 1 IDL PROJECT

S1 pupils from three register classes took part in a morning of interdisciplinary learning as part of our whole school commitment to remembering World War 1. The project brought together art, social subjects and modern languages.

SCARFED FOR LIFE

Since November pupils in a number of year groups have been working on an anti-sectarian project co-ordinated by New Farm Loch Community Council. This month they came together to discuss their experiences and draw some conclusions.

Pupils listen to presentations from EDF and GE Caledonian. Other organisations presenting included: Mint Accounting, Mitie, The Glasgow Science Centre, UTC (Goodrich) and Morrison Construction.

STEM news//

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A major part of the school's development work this session has been the creation of experiences that bring together science, technologies, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This culminated in a number of activities including a STEM Fayre, a Girls Only STEM day and a visit to Ayrshire College. Much of the work was co-ordinated by Mr. Szumlakowski.

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Top: getting to grips with what’s on offer at the College. Bottom: the girls only STEM challenge in action.

STEM news//

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caritas awards 2015//

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Before Caritas, I used to have quite have an immature understanding of God and felt that my faith was strongest when my life was going well ..................................................................................

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This year 29 pupils in S6 successfully completed the Caritas Awards.

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I now realise that to believe in God and live out a life of faith, does not involve simply praying at all times it is about showing that Christ is alive by responding to others through charity and love ..................................................................................

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Not only will I continue to do volunteer work, I now will share with other Christians my views on this Caritas journey and will attempt to open their eyes ..................................................................................

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Life is what you make it. All great achievements

take time. Celebrate success - yours and other

people’s BE OPEN TO INSPIRATION love the things you

learn. love others unconditionally. enjoy peace

and quiet, seek it out from time to time THINK OF

OTHERS Accept yourself as you are. Everything you

do is important. Presume the best in people MAKE A

DIFFERENCE If you want to feel good, do good. We

have diversity in common - embrace it. Everyone is

welcome here MAKE YOUR MARK Ability is nothing

without opportunity. Open your heart, mind and

arms to new things. Seize opportunities. You are

responsible for yourself BE CURIOUS Questions lead

learning so ask good ones. No bird can soar on its

wings alone. Remember that we can all change and

grow INSPIRE AND TRANSFORM A good head and a good

heart are always a formidable combination.

Education is a conversation - so talk AIM HIGH A

change in attitude can save your life. Enjoy what

you do and pass on your passion TAKE PART

Adventure is the very essence of life. Smile -

e v e r y o n e l o o k s b e t t e r w h e n t h e y d o .

THIS IS SAINT JOSEPH’S.

W O R K I N G T O G E T H E R M A K E S G R E A T L E A R N I N G

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Saint Joseph’s AcademyTHIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT

Y Z

was invested as

House Vice-Captain

and, inspired by the example of Christ, St. Andrew and St. Joseph,promised before pupils, teachers, clergy and parents

to live out our shared Gospel values,

lead and serve others, demonstrate in all things our high standards and expectations

and work for the greater good of the school and its community

on this day the TWENTY-SEVENTH of SEPTEMBER in the year 2012.

Ben DavisActing Headteacher

Claire McInallyDepute Headteacher

FIDELIS JUSTUS PRUDENS

UU UUINSPIRE AND TRANSFORM

Saint Joseph’s Academy Grassyards Rd

Kilmarnock KA3 7SL

01563 526144

www.saintjosephsacademy.co.uk @StJoAcad (Twitter)

Acting Headteacher: Ben Davis ben.davis@east-ayrshire.gov.uk