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DECEMBER 2ND2013

FOR PARENTS, CARERS, FAMILIES & PARISHES

CHRISTMAS FAIRLast Thursday the school held its first Christmas Fair since we moved into the new building. Mrs McInally's S5 Literacy for Life class decided, way back in September, to host an event which would bring the school community together.

Fast forward almost three months and Thursday saw a hive of activity as the pupils decorated the Street area, arranged stalls for local businesses and even staged a welcoming Santa's Grotto! 13 very nervous pupils were working right up until doors opened at 7pm. Like waiting for the start of a birthday party, they were worried no-one would come. There was no need to worry! As doors opened a flood of enthusiastic pupils (old and new), parents and staff poured into the Street. Major successes on the night included the 3D Art Stall staffed by Mrs Gabriel (a full page of orders was taken and will keep the class very busy in the coming weeks) and the Tombola where Michael Kirk managed to keep the busy hoards happy - with the help of Mrs Green from the office.

Funds are still being totalled but early counts show that the evening made at least £600 for school funds. At the end of the night, Mrs McInally and her merry band of pupils were delighted that their first enterprise had been such a success. They would like to extend special thanks to classroom assistant, Mrs Wright, without whom the night would never have been so successful. Thanks too to the many pupils, members of staff and parents/carers

who kindly donated very generously to the Tombola and by coming along to support the class.

S3 PUPILS ‘ENSPIRED’!The third years were the second year group to benefit from our new programme of pupil-led and planned health and wellbeing days.

On Friday, November 22nd the whole year group assembled for a day focused on developing positive emotional and mental health and resilience.

The day began with a performance by Shania Wilson, reprising her performance at the S2 Awards, and then moved on to a series of inspiring workshops and talks from former pupils Kris Kimmett, Jodie McEwan, Alex McConnell and Niall O’Flaherty. They shared their stories of overcoming challenges and achieving extraordinary things and in doing so explored issues of confidence, self-harm, planning a flexible career path, dealing with conflict, taking control, leadership, body image, self-worth and self-esteem and much more besides.

Once this was complete the pupils then heard from senior pupils who had recently been in Ecuador and participated in the newly-formed Pupil Parliament where they began the process of drafting a Charter for Kindness and discussed their ideas for improving the school.

The day ended with a performance from Ross Szumlakowski and Natchaya Boonsong, before the physical activities began including bouldering and, the now infamous bouncy castle.

INSPIRE AND TRANSFORM:THE S3 ENSPIRE DAY

Ben Davis,Acting Headteacher

Grassyards RdKilmarnockKA3 7SL

01563 526144

www.saintjosephsacademy.co.ukTwitter: @StJoAcad

ECUADOR 2013 (part 5)During the October Week holiday nine pupils and two teachers accompanied Father Martin Chambers on a life-changing trip to the shanty town of Nueva Prosperina, in Guayaquil, Ecuador. In the first of several features over the coming weeks the pupils reflect on their experiences.

Here Modern Languages teacher Miss McDaid writes about the headteacher of the school we visited and of the honour of being invited to celebrate her wedding. Having spent lots of time in the Sagrada Familia school when we were in Ecuador, we came to realise the role the head teacher and her husband had in the community. Adela Villacrés is no ordinary head teacher. She has been the heart and soul of the school since it opened in 2004. She works tirelessly, along with her staff, to ensure the continued life of the school.

Adela knows every one of the 500 pupils in her school by name. For many of them she has personally had a role in getting them a place at the school. She is well-known in the community and every afternoon she would take us out to visit another family or parishioner. She seemed to know everyone around us, and she also knew exactly where many of her pupils lived, and what their backgrounds were. She is very much head teacher, social worker, mother and friend to so many of her pupils and their families.

Her husband Washington spent almost every day at the school. We believed that he was there because we were, but we soon found out that he spends lots of time at the school, doing what he can to help out. He is very much a father figure for a large number of pupils in the school.

While we were there, Adela and Washington were married in the church. It is customary for people to have a state wedding possibly even years before a church wedding in Ecuador. We were guests of honour at their wedding. It was in some ways very similar and in others totally different to a Scottish wedding. For example, the bride was found on the morning of the wedding making up the flower arrangements and helping set up the tables for the wedding – how many brides do you know who would be doing that on their wedding day?

For us, the preparations were rather different too – not least by the fact that that was the day the water and electricity were not working! Thankfully most of us had had a shower in the morning, though some of the girls found it unusual that they could not straighten or curl their hair as they pleased!

The bride entered a church lit by candlelight. It was very pretty, though not quite as planned. Yet, it was all taken in their stride! The lights seemingly magically turned on during the ceremony. Father Martin had the pleasure of marrying the happy couple.

The reception took place in the school playground, using the chair and table covers from prom. There was of course lots of dancing and food. It was a spectacular night! Pictured above: pupils and staff at Adela’s wedding.

INSPIRE AND TRANSFORM:ECUADOR 2013

St. Andrew’s Day 2013We have three houses at St. Joseph’s. One of them has St. Andrew as Patron Saint. We always look forward to celebrating his feast day and this year we did so a day early on Friday, November 29th.

The Head of House, Mrs. Cassidy, had galvanised pupils into designing saltires comprising the faces of all pupils who are members of St. Andrew House, rehearsing music for the Mass and preparing some celebratory food and drink.

All pupils in the house attended 10 am Mass at St. Matthew’s church with readings provided by pupils and a presentation made to S1 Kieran Preston of a cheque for £371 raised by the house for cancer charities. Afterwards it was back to the street for refreshments.

Our S5/6 childcare class is one of our partnerships with Ayrshire College and helps to ensure that there is a varied and challenging curriculum available for all pupils in Senior Phase. The class is taught in school by a lecturer from Ayrshire College.

A TALE OF TWO HALVES: the u-16 team (above) and (below) staff and pupils line up to play in a charity match to raise funds for the philippines. the match,

which saw the staff lose 1-0 was organised by S5 pupils in their english leadership and literacy class.

FEAST OF ST. ANDREW Pictured on this page: Mrs. Cassidy presents the cheque

to Kieran Preston; pupils celebrate; our saltires

S3 EnspireX DAY: november 22nd Pictured on this page (from top left clockwise): Shania Wilson performs at the

start of the day; Ross and Natchaya reprise their version of ‘Price Tag’ to their peers at the end of the day; the bouncy castle in action; Niall O’ Flaherty talks to

a group of S3 boys; Alex McConnell tackles some tricky issues in her workshop with girls; the Pupil Parliament in session discussing how we can make St.

Joseph’s a kinder place for all.

CHRISTMAS FAIR 2013 Pictured on this page (from top left clockwise): customers come in at the start

of the fair; stefan brady (one of the organisers) is santa’s helper; ryan and chloe serve seasonal treats to our customers; the amazing stags heads and other

ornaments sold by S3 pupil lucy and designed and made in the S3 idl period; a close-up of the stags heads (still available to order, from £12); ryan and connor,

two of the fair’s organisers man one of the many stalls.

U-16 Football Success

The under-16 football team continued their impressive start to the season with a 5-2 victory over local rivals, James Hamilton Academy, on Thursday 28th November. In a match dominated by the S4 team, Conner McMillan scored to allow St Joseph's Academy to take the lead. However following a lapse in concentration and some defensive mistakes, St Joseph's conceded two unexpected goals, before man of the match Sean Sweeney, dragged the team back into the match, with a goal just before half time.

The second half started much the same as the first, with St Joseph's dominating possession and their efforts appeared to have paid off with a late tackle on Conner McMillan, resulting in a St Joseph's penalty, however that chance was squandered by Ross Thompson, striking the bar. The team demonstrated excellent resiliance and continued to pile on the pressure, with Sean Sweeney again finding space outside the 18 yard box and rifling the ball in to the top corner, to make it 3-2 to St Joseph's Academy. The team kicked on from here, with Conner McMillan adding a second to his tally only to be followed by an unexpected, yet very impressive run from his own box by centre back Connor Shearer, that resulted in a penalty, taken and scored by Connor himself.

The team were fantastic throughout, with Captain Sean Sweeney and striker Conner McMillan being the star performers. The team made it two wins from two with a 6-0 win over Kilmarnock Academy the previous week.

S3 GE Caledonian trip

Our visit to GE Caledonian consisted of many different activities that were thought provoking, interesting and enjoyable, write Lucy Williamson, Victoria Partridge and Eve Kilkie. The main purposes of this trip were to educate us on jet engines and encourage our team building skills. We were informed of the tasks involved in being an engineer and the hard work that needs to be put into the job. It has opened our minds to the possibility of a career in this field of work. This time around we were in smaller groups allowing more interaction with the apprentices.

We would like to thank everyone at GE Caledonian for inviting us to participate. We have learned that, as they say at GE Caledonian, “Quality is everyone’s responsibility”.

RICH MAN, POOR MAN lunch

Home Room MH2 (Miss McDaid) are holding a Rich Man Poor Man lunch. The class were talking about the Christmas Parcel appeal and the inequality of wealth in the world. To highlight this and to raise some money for the Christmas Parcel Appeal, they decided to hold the lunch. 80% of the people who buy tickets will receive a 'poor man's lunch' of beans on toast; 20% of those who buy tickets will receive a 'rich man's lunch' of soup followed by steak pie. This is to show how 20% of the world has the majority of its wealth. This great example of pupil leadership through Home Room takes place on Thursday 12th December; tickets on sale this week.

WEEKLY HOME ROOM REFLECTION: Advent

Yesterday we began the season of Advent, a season that invites us to assess our relationship with God and especially the Lord Jesus as we prepare for Christmas. What is Advent all about? It is the beginning of the Church’s year, with a focus on the birth of Jesus at Christmas. It is also a call to patiently awaiting God’s coming into our human lives. Being human we don’t like to wait, but we do need patience and strength in facing the realities of our lives and our future. Often the reality of our lives presents us with difficulties and it is hard to be patient – we want to look beyond the challenge we face at that time. Looking forward to Christmas celebrations lets us do that, but it can also mean we overlook the true meaning of the season. Almost every Advent someone calls on us to refocus on this true meaning or ‘Put Christ back into Christmas.’ We can do this in our actions, in the way we treat others, in showing generosity and kindness and patience. Most powerfully of all we can do this not just in Advent, but every day of the year.

Let us pray: Lord, give us the patience and strength to focus on you and keep us faithful to the season of Advent. Help us to be aware of your goodness and the surprising ways that you come to us. Bless us during this time of Advent as we open ourselves to you anticipating your presence to us in Jesus our brother and Lord. Amen.

PARISH MASS TIMES St. Matthewʼs: 10.00 am, Fr. Chambers ! ! St. Josephʼs: 6.00 pm (vigil), 11.00 am Fr. LathamSt. Michaelʼs: 12.00 noon, Fr. McGhee ! ! Our Lady of Mount Carmel: 9.00 am, Fr. McGheeSt. Paulʼs: 9.30 am, Fr. Lawson ! ! ! Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Patrick: 6.00 pm (vigil), Fr. McGrattanSt. Sophiaʼs: 11.30 am Fr. Lawson ! ! St. Thomas the Apostle: 9.00 am, Fr. McGrattanOur Lady & St. John: 6.00 pm (vigil), Fr. Chambers !St. John the Evangelist: 10.45 am, Fr. McGrattan

LION KING TRIP

On Wednesday 27th November, a group of staff and pupils excitedly went to Edinburgh, straight to the "Playhouse Theatre" via a beautifully Christmassy Princes Street, to see The Lion King, writes Niamh Murray (1M2). It was really amazing to see all the costumes, props and the set. Even before it started the place felt magical. It was also incredible seeing how many people showed up to just one out of many performances played.

Once the show had started everyone went silent and lots of performers, dressed up and demonstrating puppets, came onto the stage. There were lions, birds, giraffes and even an elephant, which was amazing, and it had a cute little baby elephant by its side.

The story of the Lion King is when the mother and father lions celebrate as they have a little baby boy cub. He is called Simba. He grows up with his lion friend Nala. His father (Mufasa) tells him that one day when he is an older lion he will be the king, but his uncle Scar is jealous as he wants to be king.........

The experience was spectacular and I would sure like to go again. I would definitely recommend it to anyone, even those who don’t think they would enjoy a musical. The music, puppets, colours and set were truly spectacular. We had the best time and thought it was great for the school to go to.