We continue our new tradition of interviewing a member of our staff with a special focus on the charism. Since ‘The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe’ show on this week, it is a good time to hear from our Head of Drama, Rachael Meadows, who shares her journey into education.
There are also several articles on brilliant Prep School charities, including the ‘Change for Creation’ project, the Advent charity and the Hygiene Bank charity Thank you to Adele Jeffery and Kevin Boland for their work on those projects.
In November, we took a moment to remember loved ones within our community. We have a reflection on the Requiem Mass by Catherine Batour and we conclude with Karl Guest’s obituary on Brother Clement. This is a fitting tribute to a man who dedicated his life to education and the Brothers of the Sacred Heart charism in St Albans. We will be holding a thanksgiving service for the life of Brother Clement later this year and will keep you fully informed
Requiem Mass display and drama production poster
Small Change, Big Impact!
The Prep School have had a busy term of charity work...
The Prep Dove Team proudly launched their very first campaign, Change for Creation, during a whole-school assembly. Each class was challenged to collect spare change and earn extra by performing helpful good deeds for family and friends
Thanks to everyone’s generosity and effort, an incredible total of over £700 was raised! This amazing achievement allowed every class to adopt an endangered animal through WWF, reinforcing our CST values of Caring for Creation and Helping Those in Need. What a fantastic example of teamwork and compassion in action!
Harvest of KindnessToiletries That Truly Make a Difference!
By Adele Jeffery and Kevin Boland
We are delighted to share how wonderfully our school community responded to this year’s Harvest Collection Appeal Thanks to your kindness and support, we gathered an impressive number of toiletries and hygiene essentials for The Hygiene Bank (Hertfordshire – The Hygiene Bank) These donations will make a real difference to local families who need a helping hand, ensuring that everyone can access the basic items many of us take for granted.
Your contributions reflect the spirit of compassion and care that lies at the heart of our school values Together, we have shown that small acts of generosity can have a big impact on the lives of others. Thank you to all parents and families for making this possible!
Counting Blessings, One Cane at a Time!
This Advent season, the Prep Dove Team sprinkled plenty of Christmas spirit into their work by preparing the 'Upper Prep Travelling Advent Prayer Bags.'
Each child in UP took home a bag filled with opportunities to celebrate Advent traditions, pause for reflection or prayer, and discover the sweet symbolism behind the candy cane. Did you know that when turned upside down, the cane forms the letter ‘J’ for Jesus, and its crook shape reminds us of the Good Shepherd?
To top it off, every child enjoyed a festive treat after lots of joyful counting by the busy Doves! It’s been a season of blessings and creativity… we can’t wait to see what surprises 2026 will bring! Page 4
Requiem Mass
Catherine Batour, our Alumni Relations Officer, reflects on the service.
On Saturday 15th November, we had our annual Requiem Mass to remember loved ones from our Columban family This is a solemn and beautiful occasion for our community where candles are lit in remembrance as well as names are noted in our remembrance book. Over fifty members of our alumni, staff, former parents and students attended the Mass celebrated by Fr John Byrne followed by afternoon tea. Many of the congregation have been coming for years including Jim Coughlan, Chris Jones, the Mootosamy family to name a few.
There was a special intention in the Mass for Br Clement who died earlier that month. Guests shared their memories of him and their loved ones with each other This event is always poignant and a great testament of the friendships made from attending St Columba’s College.
Meet Rachael Meadows
Rachael Meadows is the Head of Expressive Arts and leads the Drama department alongside her 3 skilled colleagues She has taught Drama for 12 years, starting her career at The Totteridge Academy in Barnet and remaining there for 9 years, then onto Sandringham School f arriving here in 2023.
I was attracted to the idea of working at St Columba's for a few reasons.
Drama was still very new as a taught subject here and I knew if I joined as Head of Drama, I would be able to really make an impact on the curriculum and culture of performing at the College. Being local, I knew of Columba’s strong pastoral reputation and this aspect of school life is really important to me I’ve taught in a few schools during my career and know how different their approaches to pastoral care can be Columba’s shares the same values as me and I find that incredibly fulfilling.
In my own time outside of the college… it might not be a surprise that I go to the theatre whenever I can – usually alone, but don’t feel sorry for me, I choose to! Recently, I’ve watched Figures in Extinction’ written by Complicite and performed by the Nederlands Dans Company at Sadler’s Wells It was so moving and thought-provoking! I’ve also seen ‘London Road’ at the National Theatre by Alecky Blythe (who is due to deliver a workshop to our Drama students in the new year!), a gorgeous verbatim theatre piece. I try and get to the OVO here in St Albans when I can. Their summer festival was great this year!
I wanted to work in education because… three experiences all came together: Whilst I was studying at university, I taught Shakespeare for a term to Year 7s at a school in East London and, despite feeling terrified before every lesson, I absolutely loved it. I parked that feeling for several years but knew I would come back to it at some point. Before I trained to be a teacher, I supported drug and alcohol users for many years at a local service It was a very different environment to working in television, which was the industry I had been in after leaving university and a welcome dose of purpose and reality for me I eventually ran the group therapy sessions at the service and, again, despite being so nervous, I loved the sessions. The third factor is my absolute love for Drama and performing. I eventually decided to train to teach when I was 28 and I’m so proud of making that move.
The teacher who stands out the most for me in my life is… my secondary school Drama teacher, Mr Kane was so instrumental in forming my love for Drama He was one of those teachers that you just never forget! We had such a strong Drama department at school, which developed us into great performers, and we put on epic shows Sometimes I’d walk into the Drama Studio and think “I haven’t got the energy today” but his lessons somehow gave me energy instead of taking it! The magic of it all, and the freedom gave me was something I didn’t get from anywhere else.
The best thing about my current role at SCC is... being in charge of the Drama curriculum, making decisions and collaborating with such a creative team – I love it! I’m also lucky that Art and Music are in the faculty too, meaning I get to work with two other artistic Heads of Department. As exhausting as it is, coming together for the whole school show is a really special time for our students and for us.
What shows the spirit of the College is the kindness students and staff show towards one another is very apparent day-to-day It was the first thing I felt when I came for my interview here, and it hasn’t gone away We are a genuinely caring community and look out for each other My colleagues help me out in so many ways, and I know they support our students in the most exemplary way.
A moment at SCC that really embodied our holistic education and values is... the Eisteddfod 2024 when the teachers performed their House Shout The students watching all spontaneously put on their torches and swayed to our singing it was a very Columban moment! Our extra-curricular programme is a real stand-out in terms of shaping the whole person Students are so lucky to be able to pick from such diverse range of enriching clubs. Even in Drama alone, we run a Theatre Tech Club, Columban Youth Theatre, Musical Theatre Club and a Senior Acting Ensemble, and I know larger departments offer even more Students are so lucky to benefit from their teachers’ passions, expertise and time at lunch times and after school
And finally… the advice I would you give to live out the College’s values is...
nice people always come out on top: kindness is a strength, not a weakness. Notice everyone around you, not only the ones that you think might benefit you in some way and aim to be someone that you think might benefit you in some way and aim to be someone that others want to be around because you offer sanctuary.
Shrek - Rachel’s 2024 production and students rehearsing for this year’s show.
This is the chaplaincy room and it is named after the date that Coindre founded the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. Formerly the small chapel, it has also been refurbished recently and becoming more widely used by student groups
Activities in 1821 room includes: STEP Leadership courses, CAFOD Young Leader meetings, Tough Stuff for those students in Years 7 and 8 who might benefit from learning to understand their feelings relating to loss and help them develop strategies to cope; Haven courses, providing a safe space for those pupils who are struggling with stress and anxiety
It is also a multi-faith prayer room and liturgy planning and a drop-in student space at lunchtimes and break times
Our intention is for the 1821 centre to become a welcoming and safe space for all the community. The two sofas and new pictures (examples featured above) ensure that it has a different atmosphere to classrooms So far, there has been a gradual increase in student use. We hope this becomes a vibrant space for chaplaincy in the coming years. Watch this space!
Brother Clement
It is with sadness and yet a huge sense of thanksgiving, that we announce the death of Br. Clement Pelletier, a much loved and immensely respected figure in the history of St Columba's College. Br Clement leaves behind a legacy of dedication and passion for education and as one of the founding Brothers in 1955 76 students in th
His commitment for language am
Throughout his career, Br. Clement held several key positions that showcased his leadership skills. As Head of Sixth Form and Deputy Head from 1971 to 1980, he helped guide the college through important periods of transition Later, as Headmaster from 1980 to 1988, he was instrumental in developing the culture of the College and growing its reputation and, thus, overall size.
After his tenure as Headmaster, Br. Clement's spent time back in the USA and taught in Australia before returning to SCC to become the College Archivist, a role he executed with meticulous detail His dedication to the College extended beyond the site itself as, until most recently, he served as President of the Old Columban's Association, maintaining his life-long ties with the College he loved so dearly.
In 2000, Br Clement's devotion to the life and liturgy of St Alban's Abbey was recognised as he was inducted as a Canon of the Cathedral and Abbey of St Alban's, reflecting his commitment to community and ecumenism in general.
Even after returning to the US in 2020, Br. Clement's connection to SCC remained unwavering as he continued to welcome guests from the UK and stayed informed about all things Columban from across the Atlantic
Br. Clement's legacy is a testament to a life dedicated to education, community, and faith His impact will be felt for generations to come We pray for his soul and for those who mourn his passing, and we thank God for his vocation and life of service to the education of the young.
