Music at St Columba's - St Columba's School

Rector’s Message
Music plays an important part in life at st Columba’s.
There are a number of bands, orchestras and choirs which
pupils can join and plenty of opportunities to perform
throughout the school year – choirs sing at charity
concerts and prizegiving, our senior school orchestra
plays at Assembly each week.
In addition to studying music as part of the curriculum,
many of our pupils pursue individual lessons with our
visiting specialists.
I was delighted at the number of our pupils who took part
in the Inverclyde Music Festival this year, and that so many
of them enjoyed success. Indeed, on the strength of her
performance during the festival, one of our pupils, Melissa
Meighan, has received a scholarship to attend a European
Youth Summer Music Course. We are also pleased to hear
that once again pupils from St Columba’s will have a strong
presence in the NYCoS Girls’ Choir, and I understand that
a number of them have been invited to sing at the Opening
Concert of the Edinburgh International Festival at the
Usher Hall.
Staff News
Mr Calum ure, Head of Ancient and Modern Languages, is
leaving to take up a new post at George Watsons. Ms Lisa
Rodgers will be replacing him. Ms Rodgers is an honours
graduate of the University of Edinburgh and has nine years
of experience teaching French, most recently at Auchinleck
Academy, East Ayrshire.
We also bid farewell to Ms eileen Carey. Ms Carey is joining
the Classics Department at Hutchesons’ Grammar School in
August.
Mrs Christine Gillies, who has worked in Support for
Learning at St Columba’s for ten years, mainly at Junior
School, is leaving at the end of the Summer Term to pursue
other commitments.
In June there will be a chance to enjoy some of the musical
talent from the School at events such as the Silver Tablet and
the Beating the Retreat. I do encourage you to come along to
both.
As usual at this time of year many of our pupils are emerging
from a demanding schedule of examinations. For some these
weeks have been the most challenging of their lives so far, as
they hope to secure places at their chosen universities. I wish
them every success for the future and hope that we will see
many of them again soon at former pupils’ events. I would also
like to take this opportunity to thank all those members of
staff who have supported them along the way.
Enjoy the summer break and I look forward to welcoming
pupils returning in August.
Our best wishes to Mrs Jane Wild who is also leaving to begin
a new position at the University of Glasgow. Mrs Wild worked
first at Junior School as a classroom assistant, before moving
to reception duties, most recently at the Senior School.
Welcome back to Mrs Nichola McKay and Mrs Nicky
Gardiner, who have both been on maternity leave.
Ms Marion Boquet, covering for Mrs Pamela Kennedy, who
is on maternity leave, is leaving to go to Bangladesh with her
partner.
Mrs Gillian Green (PE) and Ms Tracy Wright (Business
Studies) will both be taking maternity leave in the next
academic year.