ST. JOSEPH’S ACADEMY Weekly Newsletter

Ben Davis, Acting Headteacher

Grassyards RdKilmarnock KA3 7SL

01563 526144

www.saintjosephsacademy.co.ukTwitter: @StJoAcad

ISSUE 13.3

JANUARY 23RD2015

FOR PARENTS, CARERS, FAMILIES & PARISHES

INSPIRE AND TRANSFORM:

NURTURING FAITH-FILLED WORLD CLASS LEARNING

It’s been all go this week at St. Joseph’s as these pictures show. The S2 pupils in PE have been undertaking self-assessments and performances in gymnastics. The senior activity leaders enjoyed a challenging, stimulating coaching session with rugby Development Officer Ali McCall. As well as all that the senior boys U-15 Basketball team beat Ardrossan Academy 45-32, with John Tamayo scoring a number of baskets.

Inside: lots of pictures of school life and

activity that show St. Joseph’s creativity

in action

Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM)

In previous issues we have shown some of the work that is

going on in the school to bring together the so-called STEM

subjects (or STEAM if you include the Arts as we like to).

This page showcases a tiny fraction of this work. To the left

is the Maths department STEM noticeboard which all learners

see as they go into the department. Below you can view the

work of S3 pupils who are building their own modular

furniture in wood using a range of tools including the belt

sander and the router.

Book Sculptures in Art

As part of a local authority-wide project a group of pupils led

by Mrs. Pyott are creating these intricate and extraordinary

book sculptures. They are created simply by taking pages of

text from old books salvaged from charity shops. This

project has developed over several weeks and challenges the

creativity, patience and perseverance of the pupils. The

sculptures are inspired by the life and achievements of Clarice

Shaw, (1883 - 1946) the first woman Labour member of

parliament in Ayrshire .

A range of pupils projects in Art from S2 - S5

What you have here is work in progress. The Art and Music

department is buzzing with ideas and full of creativity. Below

(clockwise from right) is a steampunk style hat being created

out of found goods and materials; a piece of still life work

undertaken as part of the new national courses; a dress and

bodice slowly being put together out of various materials and

inspired by Licorice Allsorts; detail from a sketch by an S5

pupil that is influenced by Japanese art; and a gruesome and

graphic poster.

S1 Social Subjects

Pupils in Mrs. Lindsay’s History class have been learning about

the feudal system and in particular about the design and

building of medieval castles. The results of their research can

be seen here in the six outstanding examples of illstrations

produced by the pupils that show the level of detail they have

acquired and the way in which they are able to use this to

create their own designs. They are now studying Scotland’s

very own King Alexander and writing a newspaper article

about his death.

S5/6 Prelims

The main prelim diet for S5/6 begins on January 26th and runs for a week until Friday, February 12th. The details of the prelims have been communicated to all pupils and parents or carers. A copy of the timetable is printed here.

Study leave will not be granted during the prelim examinations. Pupils are expected to attend all classes when they are not attending an examination.

Almost all prelim exams will take place in the small gymnasium. Any exceptions to this are detailed on the exam timetable.

It is the responsibility of pupils to be aware of their SQA Candidate Number and their seat number for the exams, both of which will be displayed outside the exam hall prior to exams commencing.

During the exams, pupils should continue to wear full school uniform. Any pupil who attends school during the exam period out of uniform risks being sent home to change and missing the start of their exam.

Please support your child by ensuring that he/she is properly prepared for each exam: that they know the times of papers, where they should be, that they have the proper equipment etc.

It is important that your child remains in the exam hall for the duration of the exam. Pupils shall not be permitted to leave the exam hall before the scheduled end time of their exam.

If you feel that circumstances outside of school, such as a family bereavement, mean that your child may be disadvantaged in the exams, please contact Mr. McGinn or your child’s Pupil Support teacher to discuss possible assessment arrangements.

St Joseph's Academy S5/6 Prelim Timetable 2014-15

Day Date Time Column Subject Level Paper Duration VenueTuesday 13 January 2015 9.00am - 1.30pm E Practical Cookery National 5 Practical 2 hours 30 minutes HE Department

Tuesday 20 January 2015 9.00am - 1.30pm E Practical Cookery National 5 Practical 2 hours 30 minutes HE Department

Wednesday 21 January 2015 9.00am - 1.30pm E Practical Cookery National 5 Practical 2 hours 30 minutes HE Department

Monday 26 January 2015 12.00pm - 1.00pm A Mathematics National 5 Paper 1 - Non Calculator 1 hour Large Games HallMonday 26 January 2015 2.00pm - 3.30pm A Mathematics National 5 Paper 2 - Calculator 1 hour 30 minutes Large Games HallMonday 26 January 2015 11.50am - 1.00pm A Mathematics Higher Paper 1 - Non Calculator 1 hour 10 minutes Large Games HallMonday 26 January 2015 2.00pm - 3.30pm A Mathematics Higher Paper 2 - Calculator 1 hour 30 minutes Large Games HallMonday 26 January 2015 12.30pm - 3.30pm A Mathematics Adv. Higher 3 hours Large Games Hall

Tuesday 27 January 2015 9.30am - 11.00am B English Higher Reading for Understanding 1 hour 30 minutes Large Games HallTuesday 27 January 2015 11.30am - 1.00pm B English Higher Critical Reading 1 hour 30 minutes Large Games HallTuesday 27 January 2015 9.30am - 10.30am B English National 5 Reading for Understanding 1 hour Large Games HallTuesday 27 January 2015 11.30am - 1.00pm B English National 5 Critical Reading 1 hour 30 minutes Large Games Hall

Wednesday 28 January 2015 9.15am - 11.35am C & E Modern Studies Higher Paper 1 2 hours 20 minutes Small Games HallWednesday 28 January 2015 9.15am - 10.45am C & E Modern Studies National 5 Paper 1 1 hour 30 minutes Small Games Hall

Thursday 29 January 2015 9.15am - 10.15am C & E Music Adv. Higher Listening 1 hour Music DepartmentThursday 29 January 2015 9.15am - 10.45am C & E Physical Education Higher Paper 1 1 hour 30 minutes Small Games HallThursday 29 January 2015 1.30pm - 2.40pm C & E Art National 5 Written 1 hour 10 minutes Small Games HallThursday 29 January 2015 1.30pm - 3.30pm C & E Art Higher Written 2 hours Small Games Hall

Friday 30 January 2015 9.00am - 10.40am A & D Spanish Higher Reading and Directed Writing 1 hour 40 minutes Small Games HallFriday 30 January 2015 11.00am - 12.00pm A & D Spanish Higher Listening and Writing 1 hour Mod. Lan. DepartmentFriday 30 January 2015 1.10pm - 3.30pm C & E History Higher Paper 1 2 hours 20 minutes Small Games HallFriday 30 January 2015 1.10pm - 2.40pm C & E History National 5 Paper 1 1 hour 30 minutes Small Games Hall

Pupils who are studying Practical Cookery should speak with their teacher to confirm the date of their prelim as the class will be split into 3 groups.

St Joseph's Academy S5/6 Prelim Timetable 2014-15

Monday 02 February 2015 10.30am - 1.00pm D Biology Higher Paper 1 & 2 2 hours 30 minutes Small Games HallMonday 02 February 2015 11.00am - 1.00pm D Biology National 5 Paper 1 & 2 2 hours Small Games HallMonday 02 February 2015 11.00am - 12.30pm D Drama National 5 1 hour 30 minutes Small Games HallMonday 02 February 2015 11.00am - 1.00pm D Drama Higher 2 hours Small Games HallMonday 02 February 2015 11.00am - 1.00pm D Physics National 5 Paper 1 & 2 2 hours Small Games HallMonday 02 February 2015 10.30am - 12.00pm D Spanish National 5 Reading and Writing 1 hour 30 minutes Small Games HallMonday 02 February 2015 12.30pm - 12.55pm D Spanish National 5 Listening 25 minutes Mod. Lan. Department

Tuesday 03 February 2015 9.15am - 11.15am C Chemistry National 5 Paper 1 & 2 2 hours Small Games HallTuesday 03 February 2015 9.15am - 11.15am C Design & Manufacture Higher Paper 1 2 hours Small Games HallTuesday 03 February 2015 9.15am - 10.55am C French Higher Reading and Directed Writing 1 hour 40 minutes Small Games HallTuesday 03 February 2015 11.15am - 12.15pm C French Higher Listening and Writing 1 hour Mod. Lan. DepartmentTuesday 03 February 2015 11.15am - 12.15pm C Music National 5 Understanding Music 1 hour Music DeparmentTuesday 03 February 2015 11.15am - 12.15pm C Music Higher Understanding Music 1 hour Music Deparment

Wednesday 04 February 2015 9.15am - 11.45am D & E Physics Higher Paper 1 & 2 2 hours 30 minutes Small Games Hall

Thursday 05 February 2015 11.45am - 1.15pm E Geography Higher Paper 1 1 hour 30 minutes Small Games HallThursday 05 February 2015 2.15pm - 3.30pm E Geography Higher Paper 2 1 hour 15 minutes Small Games HallThursday 05 February 2015 2.15pm - 3.30pm E Geography National 5 Paper 1 1 hour 30 minutes Small Games HallThursday 05 February 2015 11.45am - 2.15pm E Physics Adv. Higher Paper 1 & 2 2 hours 30 minutes Small Games Hall

Thursday 12 February 2015 1.00pm - 3.30pm C & E Chemistry Higher Paper 1 & 2 2 hours 30 minutes Small Games Hall

USEFUL LINKS FOR PARENTS & CARERSYou can assist your child with their revision and their prelim experience by using the resources below and by contacting the school for assistance: http://www.npfs.org.uk/nationals-in-a-nutshell/ http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/69284.html http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/70267.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/education http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/63010.html

WEEKLY HOME ROOM REFLECTION: Holocaust Memorial Day (January 27th) Each year British society is invited to observe 27 January as Holocaust Memorial Day. This date is the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz camp by the Soviet Army on 27 January 1945. In Hebrew the word Holocaust means 'burnt offering', but many Jews prefer to use the word Sho'ah to describe the murder of the Jews and other groups during the Second World War. The word Sho'ah simply means desolation, destruction or catastrophe. During the war it is estimated that 2 million Jews were killed by Nazi troops in the Soviet Union, 3.5 million Jews were killed in the gas chambers of Auschwitz, Chelmno, Sobibor, Belzec and Treblinka, and half a million Jews died in the ghettos of Eastern Europe of reprisal attacks, hunger, disease, and exhaustion: 6 million in all. Millions more Gypsies, Slavs, Russian POW's, the physically and mentally disabled, homosexuals and others in minority groups perished. The Holocaust Memorial Day was proposed to commemorate not just the Holocaust or Sho'ah, but also to acknowledge the repeated occurrences of genocide, such as those in Cambodia, Rwanda and Bosnia, and to renew the commitment of the British people to combat racism, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia. On Holocaust Memorial Day we pray for those who died when madness ruled the world and evil prevailed on earth. If we forget, the way is prepared for yet more holocausts, yet more Sho'ah. Therefore we must never forget. As Pope Benedict XVI said: ‘The memory of this enormous tragedy that so severely struck mainly the Jewish people should represent for all a constant warning so that the horrors of the past are not repeated, so that every form of hatred and racism is overcome, and so that the respect and dignity of the human person is promoted.’

Let us pray: On this day when we remember life lost through hatred, lack of respect and indifference, let us pray for a better future. May we cherish in our hearts the truth that every person is made in the image of God so that we build bridges to those who are different and speak out against discrimination.’ Amen

PARISH MASS TIMES St. Matthew’s: 9.30 am, Fr. Chambers St. Joseph’s: 6.00 pm (vigil), 11.00 am Fr. LathamSt. Michael’s: 4.30 pm (vigil) Our Lady of Mount Carmel: 9.30 am, Fr. McGheeSt. 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. McGrattanSt. Francis Xavier, Patna: 5.00 pm (vigil) St. John the Evangelist: 10.45 am, Fr. McGrattan

IMPORTANT DATES...................................................................

January 26th Prelims begin

February 2nd Parent Council 7 pm

February 3rd Consultation Evening on the

proposed 33 period week

February 6th - 11th February Weekend

holiday (pupils return on 12th)

February 14th Ordination of Bishop Nolan

February 24th 4.00 pm - 6.30 pm

S5/6 Parents’ Evening

Celebrating diversity together at this all ages event.Make sure to bring your mosh!

-New Farm Loch community centre

January 31st - 6pmTickets £2

Tickets go on sale on January the 5th

To purchase tickets speak to David Mckay, Donald Jessop, Michael Merrick, Matthew Dougan

Rock and Alternative music