If you are in the music program at Woburn, there are four letters that can be heard in most conversations. These letters are OELC which stand for Ontario Educational Leadership Camp. OELC is a wonderful place where you meet new people and take new risks. It is a place of trust and challenges. Every year a couple members of the Music Council’s New Exec are chosen to go to OELC. There they learn and practice leadership skills that they can bring back to school and hopefully become an effective member of the music program. Last summer, right after school ended, I went to OELC with Michelle Looi and Luxana Ramesh. I learned a lot about being a leader and about myself. I had an awesome time at OELC. I met new people, tried new things and became a new person. Many people who have gone to OELC say that it is life changing. I would have to agree.
But now summer is over and another school year has started. There have been some small changes around the music hall. The grade twelve’s have graduated and it seems like a little piece of Woburn Music has left with them. But there is somebody even more important that has left the warm familiar halls of Woburn. Ms. Houghton has been teaching at Woburn for over 14 years. She received news of a job opening as Vice Principal at Monarch Park Collegiate Institute just two weeks before school started. Woburn Music will never be the same without the Mighty H staring down at us to make sure we are in tune. I wish to congratulate Ms. Houghton on this new step in her career. We will miss you greatly. Make sure you come and visit!
Even with all the changes I am looking forward to the new year at Woburn. The Wind Ensemble has an exciting repertoire. The Grade Nines look happy as ever and the Choirs will be very exciting with former student, now teacher, May Hao, who has come back to continue the tradition of wonderful music, echoing through the halls of Woburn.
Derek Ou
Vice President of Woburn Music 2011-2012
