Rockheights Music News
Thank you, and have a wonderful summer!
Dear Rockheights Music Families:
Thank you so much for participating in band, strings and choir classes again this year! It was an unusual and challenging year, but everyone should feel so proud of the work they did. The trip to Vancouver was a big highlight and I'm so grateful we could all make it happen.
I am so grateful to Ms. Albers, Mr. Morton, Mr. Micu, Mr. Maxwell, Ms. Richardson, Ms. Coburn and Mr. Leeson, especially, for providing so much support this year. They all worked so hard, together, to keep the music program running in my absence and I'm so grateful.
Some concert and other event dates have been proposed for the 2026 2027 school year. Please scroll down to see those, and mark them in your calendars.
The 2026 2027 music program timetable has to be approved by staff in September, so we can't reveal that yet. However, we can report that all of the same ensembles will continue again next year; and that all of the classes will continue within the timetable except for Jazz Band. I have proposed to move Jazz Band from Thursdays after school to Wednesdays after school. There are two reasons for this: a Wednesday after school rehearsal has less conflicts with early-dismissals; and having Jazz Band on Wednesday after school will give the Jazz Band the opportunity to have a dress rehearsal on the same day as their concerts. What you see below is last school year's timetable (2025 2026), so you can see how often classes meet. The new schedule will be posted as soon as it's approved.
Thank you to everyone for the very sweet well-wishes, cards and messages. I'm doing ok! It was lovely to see grade 8's at Memorial Park on Monday. Thank you to everyone for the very sweet cards and messages. I had to leave work sooner than expected and was sorry to miss saying good-bye to so many. I really appreciate your messages! I miss you all. My treatment is going well, though, and if everything goes as planned, I should be back at work sometime during the fall. Have a wonderful, restful summer everyone and keep in touch!
- Ms. McDonell
Thank you so much for participating in band, strings and choir classes again this year! It was an unusual and challenging year, but everyone should feel so proud of the work they did. The trip to Vancouver was a big highlight and I'm so grateful we could all make it happen.
I am so grateful to Ms. Albers, Mr. Morton, Mr. Micu, Mr. Maxwell, Ms. Richardson, Ms. Coburn and Mr. Leeson, especially, for providing so much support this year. They all worked so hard, together, to keep the music program running in my absence and I'm so grateful.
Some concert and other event dates have been proposed for the 2026 2027 school year. Please scroll down to see those, and mark them in your calendars.
The 2026 2027 music program timetable has to be approved by staff in September, so we can't reveal that yet. However, we can report that all of the same ensembles will continue again next year; and that all of the classes will continue within the timetable except for Jazz Band. I have proposed to move Jazz Band from Thursdays after school to Wednesdays after school. There are two reasons for this: a Wednesday after school rehearsal has less conflicts with early-dismissals; and having Jazz Band on Wednesday after school will give the Jazz Band the opportunity to have a dress rehearsal on the same day as their concerts. What you see below is last school year's timetable (2025 2026), so you can see how often classes meet. The new schedule will be posted as soon as it's approved.
Thank you to everyone for the very sweet well-wishes, cards and messages. I'm doing ok! It was lovely to see grade 8's at Memorial Park on Monday. Thank you to everyone for the very sweet cards and messages. I had to leave work sooner than expected and was sorry to miss saying good-bye to so many. I really appreciate your messages! I miss you all. My treatment is going well, though, and if everything goes as planned, I should be back at work sometime during the fall. Have a wonderful, restful summer everyone and keep in touch!
- Ms. McDonell
The 2026 2027 School Year Timetable will be announced in September
Please note that this is last school year's timetable (2025 2026.) The new timetable (2026 2027) will be approved in the fall. A change has been proposed to move Jazz Band from Thursdays after school to Wednesdays after school.
When do classes meet?
For newcomers, please note that our program is on a "pull-out enrichment" model, which means that you leave your regular classroom to participate in band, strings or choir. Jazz Band is the only class which meets after school, on Thursdays, until 3:47pm.
It's very important that students bring their instrument and music to every class.
Grown-ups, please support your young musician by setting a reminder alarm to tell them to take it to school.
For newcomers, please note that our program is on a "pull-out enrichment" model, which means that you leave your regular classroom to participate in band, strings or choir. Jazz Band is the only class which meets after school, on Thursdays, until 3:47pm.
It's very important that students bring their instrument and music to every class.
Grown-ups, please support your young musician by setting a reminder alarm to tell them to take it to school.
2026 2027 School Year Proposed Major Events
SEPTEMBER and OCTOBER
Wednesday, September 9 - music teacher visits grade 6 & 7 classes.
Monday, September 14, block 5 - Assembly for ALL GRADE 6's to learn about music.
Tuesday, September 15 - all music classes begin. Everyone is welcome to come and try!
Thursday, September 24, 4:30pm - Meet the Teacher Night and BBQ. Parents, please drop by the Music Room and meet the music teacher!
Tuesday, September 22 to Friday, October 2, times TBA - First Lessons for Beginning Band 6 Students to happen after school.
NOVEMBER
Tuesday, November 10th, 10:30am Remembrance Day Assembly - ensembles TBA to perform.
DECEMBER
Sunday, December 6, call time 5:00pm - choir performance at the Esquimalt Celebration of Lights
Wednesday, December 9, 7pm - Winter Concert for All Ensembles. Uniform required.
JANUARY and FEBRUARY
Date TBA Parent Meeting regarding Spring Talent Show Fundraiser
Dates TBA Musical Discoveries middle school music day-camp at UVIC
MARCH and APRIL
Wednesday, March 1o, all day - Concert Tour of Vic West and Macaulay. Uniform required. Band 7 & 8, Choir 6, 7, and 8, Intermediate Strings 6, 7, & 8 and Jazz Band to perform.
MAY
Date TBA District Strings Finale Concert at UVIC in the CARSA Gym. Strings students optional to participate. Uniform required.
Wednesday, May 26, 7pm Spring Concert for All Ensembles. Uniform required.
JUNE
Wednesday, June 9th, 7pm Talent Show and Fundraiser Event (optional to participate).
Past Letters and Forms
Here you'll find a copy of any letter that has previously gone home to families. Students receive paper copies in class, as well. Email notices will not be repeated here. Please make sure your email addresses are up-to-date with the main office.
Risa McDonell, Music Teacher
I'm proud to be the Music Teacher at Rockheights Middle School, since 2019. For 15 years, I taught band, jazz band, and more in North Vancouver secondary schools and played flute for the West Coast Symphony Orchestra. During my time in North Vancouver, I was very lucky to conduct three major musical theatre productions, to be a part of the team who created a Canadian-Japanese sister school exchange program, and to take bands to perform in New York, Chicago, New Orleans, San Diego, Tokyo, The Vancouver International Jazz Festival, The Canadian Rocky Mountain Music Festival in Banff, and Musicfest Canada Nationals. A few years ago, I returned home to Victoria to raise my daughter near my family. I'm privileged to play flute and piccolo for the Meridiem Wind Orchestra here in Victoria. It's been a blast to make musical memories at Rockheights and I'm looking forward to more!
Contact
Risa McDonell, Music Teacher
Rockheights Middle School Music Program
1250 Highrock Avenue, Esquimalt, BC V9A 4V7
(250) 384-7125
[email protected]
Rockheights Middle School Music Program
1250 Highrock Avenue, Esquimalt, BC V9A 4V7
(250) 384-7125
[email protected]
