ST. JOSEPH’S ACADEMY Weekly Newsletter

Ben Davis, Acting Headteacher

Grassyards RdKilmarnock KA3 7SL

01563 526144

www.saintjosephsacademy.co.ukTwitter: @StJoAcad

ISSUE 20.3

MAY 8TH2015

FOR PARENTS, CARERS, FAMILIES & PARISHES

INSPIRE AND TRANSFORM:

NURTURING FAITH-FILLED WORLD CLASS LEARNING

VE Day Commemoration Concert

Daniel Johnston and Ramsay Heron Cunningham onstage at the Grand Hall last week participating in ‘The Armed Man’ by Karl Jenkins. The boys read poems by Wilfred Owen as part of the performance which commemorated the end of the Second World War and was conducted by Mr. Cowan.

Miss Woodward and S6 pupils

raising money with a bake sale

this week.

Diverse Unity

May 1st saw the opening night of the Advanced Higher Art exhibition

at Veneer Gallery, Glasgow. The exhibition was very attended by

friends, family and local residents. Several works by the pupils have

already been sold. The exhibition runs until May 10th at Veneer Gallery,

1184 Argyle St., Glasgow.

Golf lessons in full swing

A lucky group of S1 and S2 pupils have bgeun a series of golf lessons

with Ross Aitken (below) at Loudoun Golf Range. The project is

supported by Fields in Trust.

S4 Cake Craft

Excellent Cake Craft work from S4 pupil Blair Gallagher. Blair’s cake is

inspired by the logo and strip of the Chicago Bulls.

Carol Clark artwork (pictured above)

Pupils in S2 have been working on large format displays of fruit

composed from paper collages. These works are inspired by the art

of Carolee Clark, an American artist who has practiced her talent

since childhood and works in a variety of media.

Staffing changes

Last week we welcomed Mr. Patrick Barry to the school in the post of

Acting Principal Teacher of English and Literacy. We also welcomed

back Miss Meechan to the English department and Miss McGeer to

the Science faculty. After 22 years of service we said farewell to Mr.

Dorrian, who retired. The post of Principal Teacher of Social Subjects

is now filled by Mrs. Lindsey.

Caritas Awards success

WE are delighted to announce that 29 S6 pupils have achieved the

Caritas Award. This is a very high number, particularly for a school

of just over 700 pupils, and is a real testament to not only the hard

work of the pupils but the commitment and support of individuals and

groups in our parishes.. Pupils will receive their awards at the

national Caritas Awards ceremony on June 3rd in Glasgow.

S4 SQA Mass

Pupils from S4 attended Mass in the Assembly Hall, said by Father

Chambers last week, as part of their preparation for their SQa

exams. They left inspired and with the words of Fr. Chambers ringing

in their ears.

“Decide your future with

confidence… decide it with

the values of the Gospel.” Girls’ Engineering Event

We held an event for S2 girls only to test and develop their

engineering skills. This saw the pupils tasked with building structures

from a variety of materials including sweets and straws.. You can

view the outcome above.

WEEKLY HOME ROOM REFLECTION: 70th Anniversary of VE Day Friday 8 May 2015 is the anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe Day), marking 70 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe. The occasion will be commemorated with events across the UK. After the suicide of Hitler on 30 April 1945 Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Western and Russian powers on 7 May 1945. The war-weary British began to rejoice straight away rather than waiting for the official day of celebration on the 8th. There had been years of austerity and rationing: five inches of water for a bath, few eggs, no bananas and the motto 'make do and mend'. Half a million homes had been destroyed, thousands of civilians had been killed and many millions of lives disrupted. Huge crowds gathered in London on the following day. At 3pm Churchill made a radio broadcast. In Trafalgar Square, as his voice was relayed over loudspeakers, an eye-witness noted that 'there was an extraordinary hush over the assembled multitude'. King George VI and the Queen appeared eight times on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, while the two Princesses - Margaret and Elizabeth (now Her Majesty the Queen) - mingled with the crowds. Churchill later gave an impromptu speech on the balcony of the Ministry of Health, telling the crowds, 'This is your victory!' However, for the many people mourning a loved one killed in service or a German air raid, the moment of victory was bittersweet. For others, after the parties were over, there was a sense of anti-climax. Some found that they had lost a sense of purpose in their lives, a feeling exacerbated by the austerity to come. The war had been won, but the peace did not promise to be easy. The Second World War continued for another 3 months until Japan surrendered in August 1945. Looking back on the event 25 years later Pope Pius VI offered this prayer. Let us pray: Lord, God of peace, we thank you for the hopes, the efforts and the achievements which your Spirit of peace has inspired in our days - stirring up love where there was hate, sympathy where there was suspicion, care where there was indifference. Open our minds and our hearts even more to the specific demands which love for others makes upon us, so that we may be more truly makers of peace. Remember, God of mercies, those who are oppressed, those who are suffering and dying for the birth of a world in which all people will be more truly a single human family. May your kingdom come for all people of every race and language - your kingdom of justice, of peace, of love, and may all the earth be filled with your glory. We make our prayer through Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Amen.

PARISH MASS TIMES St. Matthew’s: 9.30 am, Fr. Chambers St. Joseph’s: 6.00 pm (vigil), 11.00 am Fr. Latham St. Francis Xavier, Patna: 5.00 pm (vigil)St. John the Evangelist: 10.45 am, Fr. McGrattan Our Lady of Mount Carmel: 9.30 am, Fr. McGhee St. Michael’s: 4.30 pm (vigil)St. Paul’s: 11.30 am, Fr. Chambers Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Patrick: 6.00 pm (vigil), Fr. McGrattanSt. Sophia’s: 6.00 pm (vigil) Fr. Chambers St. Thomas the Apostle: 9.00 am, Fr. McGrattan

IMPORTANT DATES…………………………………………………

May 12th S1 Parents’ Evening 4.00 - 6.30 pm

May 26th Planned change of timetable

June 3rd & 4th P7 Induction

June 3rd Caritas Awards Ceremony

June 4th P7 Parents’ Mass and Induction

Evening

June 5th Senior School Induction

SQA Exam Timetable 2015

Friday, May 8th Music National 5

Monday May 11th Music Higher

Wednesday May 13th Biology National 5

Biology Higher

Thursday May 14th English National 5

Friday May 15th English Higher & AH

Monday May 18th Travel & Tourism

Tuesday May 19th Maths National 5

Wednesday May 20th Maths Higher & AH

Thursday May 21st Geography National 5

Geography Higher

Friday May 22nd French National 5

French Higher

Monday May 25th Product Design H & AH

Design & Manufacture

N5

Wednesday May 27th Modern Studies N5

Modern Studies H

Thursday May 28th Chemistry N5

Chemistry Higher