COPTHILL SCHOOL - AUTUMN 2021 NEWSLETTER

Music, Drama + Arts

Back in front of a live audience, for festive concerts

It’s Christmas and ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ we are told! I certainly adore Christmas and all of the hullabaloo surrounding it. A lot of this is because it is usually such a busy time of year in schools and especially for musicians. Concerts and Nativities are in abundance and everybody is preparing for one performance or another. Last year, we really missed out due to COVID and, it has to be said, that this term has not been the easiest either. However, this week, we have seen the gorgeous Reception class don their little costumes and perform their Nativity and both our Lower and Upper Schools have performed two concerts to a live audience. This is something to really celebrate and particularly for me as, when the service ended this Friday, I retired after almost 30 years of teaching! There will be so many things that I will miss about teaching but, most of all, I will miss the concerts and the preparations entailed. I am especially sad to say goodbye to Copthill as it has been the happiest time for me here. I have been fortunate enough to work with a fantastic group of people and to enjoy the everyday highs and lows of working in such a unique and wonderful school. Although this term has not been the most representative in terms of the type of concerts that we have put on, in many ways it has been entirely representative of Copthill - people pulling together to achieve the best for the children and supporting each other along the way. After a nail biting build-up, we managed to put on an Autumn Concert and also be moved by the Year 6 Remembrance Service. The children have risen to every occasion and had to be true professionals, stepping into different roles at short notice and attempting to perfect performances in very limited rehearsal times. The spirit of Christmas is as strong as ever and we loved sharing the joy of music with our friends and family this week. I would like to say a special thank you to my team of peripatetic staff, who have not only supported me wholeheartedly in the Music Department, but have also become great friends. I am sure as the department moves into its next phase, they will make sure that the high quality of music continues to be a feature at Copthill. They are a dedicated and talented group of people with whom I have been fortunate to work. Finally, my last and most important thank you, goes to the children of Copthill! Such energy and joie de vivre. I look forward to returning and being a member of the audience in your future concerts and productions and feel sure that I won’t be disappointed! A very merry Christmas to you all!

Mrs McAlindon

HEAD OF MUSIC

The Christmas Concerts 2021