Welcome to St. Columba Catholic Boarding School in Second Life!
Greetings and welcome to our humble little boarding school located on the Toyah Sim of the 1939 Irish village of O'Hare's Gap in the virtual world of Second Life. Established April 2015, our co-ed school provides a loving and caring home for children ages 7 to 14. Being the most prestigious Catholic school throughout the grid, we instill value and faith in a safe and friendly fantasy PG role playing environment where students learn to become closer with God as well as general education. With a dash of magic and wonder, our hidden humor creates a totally unique school environment unlike any other.
We are also a school based on rules and protocols. We expect the very best from all our students and know that each and every child who wears our uniform, does so with pride and honor. A uniform is earned, not given. With a remarkable traveling show choir and other fun things for students to partake in, there is no other school quite like SCCBS! Visit us for yourself and see if YOU have got what it takes!
Miss Sarah Anne Sandalwood Daniels - Age 8 - Excellence of SCCBS
School Misson
The school's coat of arms represents the four cornerstones of our mission.
1. Academics
2. Faith
3. Cats
4. Music
Our mission is to develop children and young teens with active and creative minds, a sense of understanding and compassion for others, and the courage to act on their beliefs. We stress the total development of each child: spiritually, morally, intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically.
As such we strive to:
• Be a small community, where everyone knows each other and are friends with each other. We pride that we are like a family where everyone is important. We experience good times together. There will never be more than 20 students enrolled at SCCBS.
• Children will be children and sometimes they get in trouble. Through a strict rule book, routine, and guidance, we will promote personal development, morality, and behavior.
• Provide a comprehensive curriculum to nurture the talents and abilities of our students, taking into account each individual’s varied needs.
• Understanding that we are all different and despite this, we can respect and understand these differences.
• Follow the traditions from the school's original charter.
• We understand that many are here because of the religious connection. We want to provide a place that works with Christian values to give students the chance to practice their faith and explore it.
◦ We also understand some here are not Christian or have no belief. We will not force them to have faith. All religious activities and classes are voluntary. Some students may just seek the structure that a Catholic Education provides.
• The school travels to other sims and this is a way we spread the pride and joy of life we have to others.
• We recognize that our puppeteers come from different parts of the world. We see this as a positive aspect and inspiring. (Though time zones do create a problem at times)
• We strive to keep the school "drama-free" but this is SL. Where there are people, drama surely ensues. Be kind to others.
School History
Our School is based in a rural area in the Republic of Ireland, O'Hare's Gap.
Recently, historic documents show that the land where the school is rumored to be situated is a mystical magical place, where fairies and leprechauns once lived. They no longer live here, but the magic aura can still be seen and experienced.
SCCBS was built in April 2015 and was run by Miss Lucie Rose. The school was very strict and humble. Social activities, prayers and inspections were common things at the school. There were not so many classes. The school was also very poor. This provided some hardships for staff and pupils. It was dark and cold and the pupils had to get used to sitting on hard floors, hard beds, no sanitation, with only soup to eat.
In 2017, Miss Sarah took over the school when Miss Lucie retired. She was being groomed to lead SCCBS even at the young age of 8. Miss Sarah immediately accepted her role as Excellence and proudly manages it to this very day.
Shortly after Miss Sarah signed all the forms to take ownership, the school was destroyed by a terrible explosion and fire. It is unknown who is responsible for this, although the German military is suspected. The town, staff, and families quickly came to the school's aid and a better and more modern building was built. Carpenters and other construction firms in town donated supplies, paints, floor tiles, furniture, and the best of what they could provide. Regardless of its updated warmth and charm, the school still only provides soup for dinner. Sadly, the locker rooms located by the school hall were unaffected by the fire and they still reflect the feeling of the original school.
Since the school was rebuilt, it continued to provide the best service that it could. It is connected to St. Columba Abbey which is where it got its name, yet it operates independently from the church. It is an active participant in the entire community of O'Hare's Gap.
School Facilities
Living Room: This is a meeting place and shows that the school is a home for many. The furniture is for the adults, pillows are for the cats and floor for the pupils. Students are permitted on the rocking chairs only.
Classroom: Our classroom is state-of-the-art for the 16th century, although we do boast that we have a nice HDTV.
Mushroom Closet: This is where the mushrooms grow. Their powers are special and magical.
Dining Room: There is always tea in the pot and soup. You can eat here anytime with friends or guests. Otherwise, we have soup after classes.
Locker Rooms: A changing area is available for both boys and girls for gym class, dancing, or any other event that requires a change of clothes.
Madam Pickery's office: This is next to the Girls' lockers. No one really dares to go in so we cannot describe it here.
School Hall: This is an addition to the school and is used for gym activities, choir practices, school courts, or when we have something that needs a large space.
Dorms: There are dorms for boys and girls. Each pupil gets a bed, side table and lamp.
Toilets: The school is proud to have running water and toilets.
School Office: This is where Miss Sarah works. It's also where they have serious talks with some pupils. You must knock before you enter.
Attic: This place is off limits.
Inspection area: This is just outside the school where we line up before classes.
Cloister: This is a small area in the Abbey area beside the soup kitchen. It is a lovely place to sit and let time pass and meditate.
SCCBS Chapel: A small chapel designed specifically for the school's use and prayer time. It is next to the cloister.
