9 February 2024 – Issue 5
HEAD’S REVIEW Head’s Introduction
Carrie's Remarkable Charcoal Drawing
It is hard to believe that the outstanding performances of Legally Blonde were just a week ago. Congratulations again to both casts, and to all the teams who worked so hard behind the scenes to pull off such a spectacle. The photographs capture the joyfulness and amazing characterisation perfectly – well done! And many of our performers will be back on stage in the Theatre in just a few short weeks, performing in the Music gala concert on 23 February. I am already looking forward to hearing the dance-themed performances. It was such a pleasure, at the start of the week, to present badges to the new Scholars of 2023-2024, and hear from some about their experiences of enrichment and challenge in their specific areas of talent so far this year. Thank you to Ms Ibanez-Barcelo for organising the event, and also to those who spoke, and to Kate, Alicia, and Merla who performed. Despite the wet and windy weather this week, our intrepid Netballers have been out on the courts, and they have enjoyed some excellent match results. Well done to all the teams, but, in particular, to the U16s, who came fourth in the South of England. I am also pleased to see that we have also had fixtures in Cricket and Swimming this week. I wish you all the best if you are celebrating Lunar New Year this weekend. I hope that all those already in Paris are having a wonderful time, and that those going to Iceland tomorrow have an amazing experience. Enjoy half-term!
U13A Netball vs Heathfield in the Sussex Cup
Belle – From Roedean Farm to Vet Med
Legally Blonde
HEAD’S REVIEW
Unsung heroes in the spotlight Each week, many wonderful things happen at Roedean, about which many in the school are perhaps unaware; this section of the weekly review is dedicated to ‘unsung heroes’, in order to draw our attention to these people and remind us that our community is special. Julia (Yr12) – for playing the Piano so effortlessly in Chapel on Friday this week [Dr Barrand]
Chloe, Meghan, Claire, and Lilia (Yr10) – for playing the first movement of Handel's Concerto in D Major for Four Flutes so beautifully in Chapel [Dr Barrand]
Bobbi, Kallia, Maya (Yr10), and Liv (Yr13) – for their contributions to this week's Chapel service [Mr Wriglesworth]
Unsung Staff hero in the spotlight Mr Evans – for a fascinating Academic Lecture on 'Expanding Moral Frameworks'. Thank you so much! [Ms Ibanez Barcelo]
9 February 2024 – Issue 5
Belle – From Roedean Farm to Vet Med Congratulations to Belle (Yr13), who has an offer to study Veterinary Medicine from the University of Surrey. She has also recently had an interview at the Royal Veterinary College, so all our fingers are crossed! She has been an almost constant presence on the Farm for years, and she attributes this experience to her determination to pursue working with animals as her career: 'My thought of studying veterinary medicine started when I first joined the Farm Club in year 11. From that day onwards, feeding the animals on the farm became a routine I have been dedicated to. I believe that the knowledge and skills I have gained from my time on the Farm helped my application to study vet med at university a lot. I'm really excited, as lambing is in process this year, so I can’t wait to see some newborn lambs in a few months' time!'
University Offers Are Pouring In!
Mechatronics at University for Lila
We have had more fantastic university offers via UCAS this week, many of which are highlighting the strength of the girls’ applications.
Lila (Yr13) has been interested in Engineeringrelated courses throughout the Sixth Form, and has been working towards pursuing further study in this field for years. This week, she has received an offer to study a four-year degree course in Mechatronics with a year in Industry at Manchester University. She is also awaiting correspondence from other institutions, but is very pleased with this offer.
Ruby has received four offers to study Geography, and some these offers are significantly below the universities' typical entry requirements. Her offers include Bristol UWE, which has offered her entry on CCC, when a typical offer is BBB, and Worcester who has offered her a place with BCC, when a typical offer is BBC. Similarly, Amelia has also got some good offers to study Psychology – Portsmouth University was so impressed with her application that they have given her an unconditional offer! We are delighted that so many of the students have received such a good range of strong university offers – well done! Mrs Newman Page 2
She said, 'For me, Engineering is the perfect combination of design and the application of Maths to real-world scenarios, in order to solve problems. I love it!' Well done, Lila – and good luck!
HEAD’S REVIEW
Pre-A Art This term, the Pre-A Level Art group have been looking at plant forms, and then developed their work into lovely lino-cuts. Ms Strachan
9 February 2024 – Issue 5
Carrie's Remarkable Charcoal Drawing Art student, Carrie (Yr13) first built a diorama to depict bustling streets using her own photography. She then drew from her diorama, using charcoal on paper. What amazing work! Miss Good
House Maths You could be forgiven for thinking that a bout of Maths Mania had found its way onto the Roedean campus as teams of mathematicians from all four Houses competed in the annual House Maths competition during Activity 1 last Friday. Team members from all year groups had puzzles to solve worth different amounts of points based upon the difficulty of the problem. Alongside that was a Maths relay, which saw girls haring up and down the Maths corridor with almost wanton abandon, desperate for the next question. House 4 ran (pun intended) out eventual winners, beating House 3 by just 2 points, with House 1 then House 2 coming a close 3rd and 4th respectively. The winners not only have mathematical bragging rights, but also a box of lollipops to satiate their sugar cravings! Mr Lutwyche Page 3
9 February 2024 – Issue 5
HEAD’S REVIEW
Lunar New Year Celebrations at the Somerset Centre
Roedean Winners … in the World Chinese Writing Competition
To celebrate Lunar New Year, our Year 12 Language Pathway CAP group took some wonderful workshops to the Somerset Day Centre. The service users had the opportunity to learn how to write their names in Chinese and Korean script, as well as discovering which animal in the Lunar Calendar represented their year of birth. The students enjoyed some wonderfully insightful and enriching cross-cultural and crossgenerational conversations.
Congratulations to 17 Roedean students who won awards in this worldwide competition! The 6th Chinese Creative Writing Competition is one of the most popular Chinese language competitions in the world, and students from around 500 schools entered it at the end of last year. We are delighted that they have done so well. Winners of the World 1st Prize are: ■ Anna (Yr10) ■ Candis (Yr11) ■ Ellery (Yr11) ■ Sonia (Yr10) Mrs Howson
The 2nd prize winners are: ■ Ashley (Yr11) ■ Elin (OR) ■ Sophia (Yr11) ■ Mancy (Yr12) ■ Elsa (Yr11)
Congratulations! Mrs Wu
Winners of the World Good Writing Prize are: ■ Jocelyn (Yr11) ■ Percy (OR) ■ Cartoon (Yr10) ■ Juliette (Yr9) ■ Yuki (Yr12) ■ Cartoon (Yr10) ■ Nathania (Yr10) ■ Camilla (Yr11)
English Department's Students of the Month Waltzing through Time
Year 7 Isabella
Year 8 Janice
Year 9 Polly
Year 10 Lennie
For the next Gala concert, we are waltzing through different dance music styles, from the Can Can and Bartok's Romanian dances to Dance of the swans, and from Dancing Queen through to Unfinished Symphony from Massive Attack – this concert has it all!
Year 11 Georgie
Well done to all the students who were both nominated and then selected to be Student of the Month in the English Department. Being able to go above and beyond the expectations set by their teachers, reviewing work following feedback, and scoring highly through insightful comments, are all qualities that these students so easily demonstrate. Congratulations to all of them! Ms Shahab
Please get your tickets here https://roedean.ticketsolve. com/
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Ms Bartlette
HEAD’S REVIEW
Lunar New Year
恭喜发财 to me ar is very special 'Chinese New Ye Family . ion un y for family re because it is a da how er tt ma elsewhere, no members who work e at br le ce to ll come back busy they are, wi y mil fa My . Year with us the Chinese New ar by e Chinese New Ye th and I celebrate ives, lat re orks, visiting setting off firew have ll wi e W gs together. and making dumplin of y da th 30 mily on the dinner with our fa d he tc wa we r month. Then the twelfth luna til un er th ge l Gala to the Spring Festiva inese the next day. Ch of the early morning th wi i, su ou process Sh people called this ally re I e. lif aying for long the purpose of pr g rin du y mil fa ent with my enjoy the time sp p ee sw me lps l, which he the Spring Festiva in ga re d an ar of the past ye away the fatigue .' ar ye w ne lcome the the energy to we Catherine (Yr10)
새해 복 많이 받으세요 is a very special 'Chi nese Ne w Year means the whole fest ival for me, it nd China came ou fami ly from all ar te it. We eat eve ra to gether and celeb e spri ng fest ival th di nner and watch often get red We . gala to gether ans you get lucky packets, which me mi ly and some fa mo ney from your ri ng rolls and rice sp special food like can get a lo ng cakes, and also we e year of the is th holiday. This year is the fift h of h ic drag on year, wh e zodiac signs.' es the twel ve Chin Ariel (Yr10)
Year is a Lunar New 'In Thailand, ect to and pay resp time to pray intimate s, sharing an our ancestor ually on ‘Wei Lu’. Us feast called of the the first day the night of and enjoy milies gather New Year fa each er, enjoying a meal togeth as that, pany. As well other's com colourful gether with fireworks, to Dance and Dragon flower floats in various are on show performers to enjoy. the country locations for ys with n lasts 15 da The celebratio ar’s first t being the ye the final nigh lendar.' the Lunar Ca full moon in
Alayna (Yr11)
สุขสันต์วัน ปีใหม่ทาง จันทรคติ 'In Korea, we visit our gra ndparent’s house for Lunar New Year, and we bow to them to show our respect. Then they give us pocket money to spoil us! We have th e same astrological creatures as the Chine se. We also remember our ancestors and then ha ve a huge feast, including rice cakes, Korean panc akes, and pears and persimmon.' Anna (Yr11)
'As a Chinese citizen, Chinese New Year is very important to me, It reminds me of eating traditional foods together with my family. We eat dumplings, fish, and other traditional dishes to celebrate. Eating fish at Chinese New Year means we will be progressing and be better in be better new year.' Anna (Yr11) Chinese 'The meaning of celebrating e, and peac ony, harm is New Year ing Spr the of day the On . reunion as much e hom rn retu le peop Festival, their as possible to reunite with time d spen to r orde in , loved ones the for well them wish , with them r joy thei ress exp and , year upcoming for the new year.
Lily (Yr11)
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9 February 2024 – Issue 5 'In Thailand, there is a large Chinese population of over 7 million in the countr y who celebrate Chinese New Year annually. Temples and shrines get crowded with pe ople coming to pray for a successful year ahea d – even the Thai prince sses are sighted at shrines every year. Du ring this time, familie s gather together to ha ve a new years meal, and offer pocket mo ney. In Yaowarat, the Chinatown of Bangkok , and Phuket, a popular tourist locati on, hundreds of peopl e flood the roads to cel ebrate the festival.' Hunny (Yr10)
ce lebrates the end of 'C hinese Sp ring Festival of sp ring. It be gin s on winte r and the wa rmth is a h lun ar ye ar, which is the last da y of the 15t ople pe , g the Sp ring Festival La nte rn Festival. Durin to s let up Sp ring Festival co use red lante rns and of ds kin ey als o put on all de co rate a house. Th ves ati rel n visit friends and coloured clothes, ofte r he ot d lings, fish, me at an or toget he r eat dump us r fo e Festival is a tim de licious food. Sp ring r wit h Ye ar and get toget he to ce lebrate the Ne w to ard rw en are looking fo our families. The childr ch ea y pla and toget he r the y n rec eiving luc ky mone y, go dra h wit wit h ha ppy. St reet ot he r the fireworks, es, iti tiv ac me ot he r ca rnival and lion da nc e and so ga la.' gra nd Sp ring Festival on CCTV, will he ld the Tianyu (Yr11)
'Chi nese New Year is the most important time for most of Chinese people. Most of people will go back to their hometow ns and have a dinner together with all of family mem bers. After that, many families will watching the special New Year’s Eve tv program and wait ing for the new year come.Usually at eve, the children are allowed to stay up unti l 12pm to celebrate the new year and have the privilege to eat a lot of sweets and snacks as they want. On the first day of new year, there will be a interest ing activity which is visiting their relatives. Each person will talk about the funny things happened in last year and havi ng a meal together agai n to celebrate the new year. Dorothy (Y11)
新年快乐
HEAD’S REVIEW
Legally Blonde Last week, Roedean Theatre was transformed into a perfect pink paradise, as months of hard work culminated in an absolutely dazzling production of Legally Blonde the Musical. Fifty students from Years 9-13 blew us away as they lit up the stage with this challenging, fast-paced musical, and to say they did it justice would be an understatement! Two casts of principal characters alternated their way through four performances littered with iconic, high-energy musical numbers, and genuinely heart-warming moments, alongside an incredibly hard-working and committed ensemble. The musical's emphasis on female empowerment, resilience, and breaking stereotypes, portrayed by a cast of hugely determined girls, reminded us all how important it is for girls and young women to be able to advocate for themselves and defy societal limitations. The story follows Elle Woods as she transforms from a pampered UCLA sorority girl to a passionate legal advocate, when she decides to try her hand at Harvard Law School with the sole goal of winning back her boyfriend Warner. Elle soon discovers her love of the law, and forges her own unique (and very pink) path into the legal profession, with a string of help from some unexpected places along the way. Elle Woods is a force to be reckoned with, and notoriously one of the most demanding characters in the Musical Theatre world. This was no barrier to Amelia and Galina, who threw everything they had into their energetic, bold portrayals of this kitsch and charismatic sorority girl from Malibu. They barely left the stage for the entirety of the production, singing and dancing with natural ease along the way. There to hold Elle’s hand on her journey, were her very own Greek Chorus (because “This is a tragedy, and every tragedy needs a Greek Chorus”) made up of her sassy sorority sisters, hilariously played by Allisandra, Bernice, and Lola. The trio combined beautiful harmonies with perfect comic timing, taking the rest of the ensemble with them every step of the way. Warner, the object of Elle’s affection and the only reason she sets her sights on Harvard Law School, is an arrogant and ambitious man, expertly played by both Trinity and Fleur. Somehow, they managed to embody his self-centred spirit with complete charm and wit, but we still can’t forgive him for leaving our heroine in favour of Vivienne, who’s spikiness was characterised wonderfully by Ella. There to talk Elle down off the ledge when she decides on a whim she should go brunette (so people take her more seriously) is the spirited and loyal Paulette, and Gracie and Kate evoked both laughs and tears, with their hilariously moving renditions of the character’s ode to Ireland (and Irish men). Helping Elle in her legal education is the fierce and fabulous Enid, with another comically perfect performance, this time from Anna, as well as the ultimate object of her affections, Page 6
9 February 2024 – Issue 5
HEAD’S REVIEW
9 February 2024 – Issue 5 the kind-hearted and genuinely all-round good guy, Emmet. Both Alfie and Olivia shone as they depicted this humble and supportive legal stalwart; their gentle and authentic characterisation left us rooting for him from the moment they stepped foot on stage. His boss Callaghan, however, is the complete opposite, and his calculating and scheming nature was wonderfully played by both Rosa and Maria, as they taught their young students to be “Sharks in the Water”. The show culminates in the court case of fitness queen Brooke Wyndham, and Charlie wowed us all with her incredible stamina and talent as she sang, danced, and skipped her way through Brooke’s iconic number Whipped into Shape, backed by a team of fabulous dancers. Ms Abaza’s incredible choreography in this piece was some of the most challenging we’ve seen on the Roedean stage in a long time, but this didn’t seem to faze this team of determined dancers! Accompanying this fantastic cast was Mr Rous’ musical direction, heading a superbly talented live band made up of students and staff. Their orchestration was timed to perfection, complementing the fabulous performances on stage. The student tech team made sure everything ran smoothly as Merla called over a thousand cues under the technical guidance of Mr Wailes. Of course, none of this would have been possible without the superb direction of Mrs Woodbridge and Ms Clarke, who had the mammoth task of expertly pulling everything together with such skill and attention to detail, enabling the entire cast to shine. What a fantastic production! Mrs Sellers
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HEAD’S REVIEW
This Week in Boarding... All the Houses put in a tremendous effort with the House Maths Competition – the heat was on! A big well done to House 4 who won, although it was tight! Girls from all Houses also enjoyed exploring Horsham, a new destination in Sussex for the weekend shopping trip. House 1, quite aptly, celebrated the year of the dragon with an evening snacking on tasty dumplings and gyozas! Girls enjoyed Pancake Day a little early, and tossed and flipped their yummy creations! House 2 organised a dumpling evening, which went down a treat! Following Chinese tradition, one dumpling was filled with sugar and the person to find it has good luck, happiness, and prosperity for the new year. The girls have also decorated the House in true Lunar New Year style, creating a "home from home". Heart-shaped cookies were quickly devoured, once decorated with pink icing and sprinkles, of course, to celebrate the month of love! House 3 have had fun creating friendship bracelets, including the names of friends and family, and Taylor Swift references too! House 4 made bouquets of origami flowers to take home to loved ones at half term – how sweet! In true Valentine's Day spirit, weekend baking included making and decorating a heartshaped red velvet cake! The girls got adventurous with their pancakes this week by including blueberries in them. A very special treat, kindly provided by a House 4 girl and her family, meant that girls celebrated Scottish Burns Night with an array of delicious shortbread and some tasty raspberry fizzy pop! Now all the boarders are off to enjoy a well-deserved break with friends and family all around the world. Wishing you all a very Happy Lunar New Year, Happy Pancake Day, and Happy Valentine's Day!
Miss Barnett Page 8
9 February 2024 – Issue 5
HEAD’S REVIEW
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9 February 2024 – Issue 5
9 February 2024 – Issue 5
HEAD’S REVIEW
LGBTQ+ History Month Reading Recommendations To mark LGBTQ+ History Month, below is a selection of LGBTQ+ themed fiction and non-fiction books that celebrate equality and diversity. All of the books below are available to borrow from the Old Ref.
In Memoriam
by Alice Winn Tracing the love story between two WWI soldiers, In Memoriam is a luminous, heartbreaking meditation on the tragedies of war and the precious sanctuary that can be found in deep human connection.
Coming Out Stories: Personal Experience of Coming Out from Across the LGBTQ+ Spectrum by Emma Goswell Filled with inspiring stories, helpful advice, and empowering quotes from leafing LGBTQ+ figures, this uplifting volume, based on the popular Coming out Stories podcast, is a perfect how-to guide for embracing life as your most authentic self.
The LGBTQ+ History Book
The Art of Being Normal
Heartstopper 5
Great LGBTQ+ Speeches
Discover the rich and complex history of LGBTQ+ people around the world – their struggles, triumphs, and cultural contributions. Exploring and explaining the most important ideas and events in LGBTQ+ history and culture, this book showcases the breadth of the LGBTQ+ experience.
by Alice Oseman The phenomenally popular graphic novel series returns with Nick and Charlie very much in love, but with Nick's planned move to university hanging over their lasting future.
LGBTQ+ Icons
by David Lee Csicsko From music to movies, literature to dance, the arts have always been influenced by the work of LGBTQ+ people. LGBTQ+ Icons spotlights the history and contributions of 50 pioneering artists who lived and worked around the world.
You Exist Too Much
by Zaina Arafat Navigating queerness, bisexuality, love, and addiction, this captivating story takes readers on a journey to find two of the things we all long for the most:, love, and a place we can call home. Told in vignettes that flash between the US and the Middle East, Zaina Arafat's debut novel traces her protagonist's progress from blushing teen to creative and confused adulthood.
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by Lisa Williamson David Piper has always been an outsider, labelled a freak by the school bully. Only his two best friends know the real truth – David wants to be a girl. Meanwhile, Leo Denton, the new boy in Year 11, is trying to keep a low profile. The two of them couldn't have less in common, but when Leo ends up standing up for David in a fight, an unlikely friendship begins to develop. by Tea Uglow From pioneering nineteenth-century voices to present day trans rights ally-ship, this essential volume of influential and inspiring LGBTQ+ speeches ranges across topics as diverse as the AIDS epidemic, equal marriage, and more.
I Kissed Shara Wheeler
by Casey McQuiston Chloe Green is so close to winning. After her moms moved her from SoCal to Alabama for high school, she’s spent the past four years dodging gossipy classmates and a puritanical administration at Willowgrove Christian Academy. The thing that’s kept her going: winning valedictorian. Her only rival is prom queen, Shara Wheeler, the principal’s perfect progeny.
Outrageous! The Story of Section 28 and Britain’s Battle for LGBT Education
by Paul Baker The full story of the infamous Section 28, the 1988 UK law banning the teaching 'of the acceptability of homosexuality' in schools, the shockwaves it sent through society, and the movements it galvanised, and that finally brought about its repeal in 2000s.
HEAD’S REVIEW
9 February 2024 – Issue 5
U16 Netballers – 4th in the South of England! The U16 National Schools Squad had the regional round of the England Netball competition last Saturday in Farnborough. This followed on from them qualifying through the county round back in October. We had tough competition in our group, but the team fought hard from the start. First, we faced King Edward VI School, who brought the intensity, and we started on the back foot. Despite this, we worked relentlessly in the second half to bring it back to a draw. We then faced Wellington, and this game went goal for goal right until the final whistle, also ending in a draw. We then smashed through the rest of our matches taking the following wins: 11-2 vs Stowe, 29-0 vs Cowes, 12-7 vs Wycombe Abbey (despite being 6-4 down at half time!), and 10-4 vs Headington. This meant that we got through the group stage unbeaten, which is a remarkable achievement. It was then a waiting game to see where we would finish up. The results went our way, and we topped our group, meaning we then had a semi-final against the second team in the other group, Hurst. We knew this would be a tightly-fought battle, and we put it all out there. The match was goal for goal and unfortunately, due to centre passes, we were 1 down at half time. We went out strong in the second half, with defence forcing the opposition to make multiple errors, but unfortunately, through our own errors, we couldn’t then transfer the ball through court – tiredness was starting to set in! The match finished 12-9 to Hurst, so we were then fighting for 3rd and 4th in the South versus St Helen’s and St Catherine’s. We had an excellent 1st half and were up 6-2 at half time, but they stepped up their play and clawed it back to level at the final whistle. We then had to play extra time, 2 minutes each way, to decide. Unfortunately, St Helen’s & St Catherine’s took the win by 1 goal! Looking at the positives, Roedean U16s came 4th in the South of England, which is a huge achievement, the best placing in some time! Congratulations to Minnie, who was named Coach's Player and Jasmine who was the Players' Player! We are so proud of the whole squad – we couldn’t have asked for anymore from you.
Miss Hammond
U13A Cricket – Lady Taverners Tournament The U13 cricketers hosted the Lady Taverners tournament and Roedean’s A team finished second, narrowly missing out on qualification to the County Finals.
Some of Brighton’s homeless eating a hot meal at Off The Fence – each week the School sends 20 hot meals and 50 packed teas to our partner charity to make a small difference to the lives of some in our local community.
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The first game resulted in a narrow loss by just 5 runs to the eventual winners, St Christopher’s, but the girls bounced back to beat Hurst and Brighton Girls. This was a brilliant event, with several matches going down to the final over, all watched by over 50 students and parents. Mr Smethurst
HEAD’S REVIEW
9 February 2024 – Issue 5
Netball vs Mayfield U14B Take it to Mayfield U14A
U15B's Valiant Effort
The U14B team, with 2 A team players were keen to get stuck into a Mayfield A team this weekend. After a slow start going 5-0 down in the first few minutes, the girls turned it up and got into the game. At the end of the 1st quarter Roedean were down by 4, the goal of the next quarter was to close the gap to 2 and progressively take hold of the game. The second quarter went a little better and we managed to get 1 behind before Mayfield surged 3 up at the end.
The U15Bs had an extremely tightly-contested Netball match against Mayfield's U15As on Saturday. After the first quarter, it was 2-1 to Roedean, having held out strongly in defence on both sides. The next two quarters remained very close, with a score of 7-6 to Roedean by the second quarter and 10-9 at the end of the third.
In the 3rd quarter, Mayfield pulled away again and the girls played some good netball, but just struggled to convert turned-over possession into points. The final quarter we managed to win but was in vain as the game ended 25-20 to Mayfield. It was a very good game considering we only had two A-Team players and we were playing against the Mayfield As.
Mr Campleman
U14E Goalfest The U14E team delivered a dominant performance against Mayfield, with a final score of 37-7. Throughout the match, the team demonstrated superb passes to work the ball up the court, great sharpshooting, and resilient defence. This effectively helped the team control the game from start to finish. A special mention goes to Abby for an excellent Player of the Match performance. Mr Perry
The team's communication and stage 1 defence continued to get stronger throughout the game, and there was some excellent movement to block off their shooters in the D. Unfortunately, in the last quarter, after a couple of minor mistakes, we just lost the lead and the game finished at 14-12 to Mayfield. Despite the loss, the team felt very positively about the game, as both teams were very well-matched. Layla, Megs, and Aimee worked very well together in defence, and the team as a whole did brilliantly at picking up balls, getting interceptions, and holding strong in their stage 2 defence. Tiah also made some excellent drives in centre court, and the team as a whole should be very proud of themselves. Well done all! Miss Donovan
U14Ds Win Well In an eagerly anticipated game versus Mayfield, the team was very much looking forward to the match since our previous fixture was over three weeks ago. Quarter 1 started very strongly with our shooters, Lola and Mia scoring ten unanswered goals, and the defence standing strong, creating lots of turnovers and countless transitions. In the second quarter, the starting seven was very different, with players playing in different positions than normal. However, the team still thrived in the fixture. Athena and Millie stood out, with Lily working well with Miranda in the shooting circle. At half-time, the score was 17-1. In the last two quarters, the rotation was similar and lots of students playing in very different positions than normal. The scoreline finished at 302, but all players played well, especially in differing positions than normal. ■ ■
Defensive Player of the Match: Athena Attacking Player of the Match: Lola
Mr Foggoa
U15B
Lucky 13 for the U15Es
U14D
On Saturday, Roedean’s U15E team breezed to a 13-5 victory at Mayfield. The opposition started strongly, going up 3-1 in the first quarter. Kaylee worked hard to prevent any further goals. From there, the Es rallied together – Athena battled hard with the Mayfield GA in a physical tussle and Abby barely paused for breath. Roedean scored four goals to Mayfield’s one, owing to some excellent shooting by Claire. It was the same story in the third, with Melissa working hard with Victoria to intercept the Mayfield advances and create attacking opportunities for Roedean. Aliyaah was a force in defence in the last quarter, not allowing any chance for Mayfield to score. Instead, Audrey helped Roedean to score five goals in the last 12 minutes of the game. It was an exciting match of four 12-minute quarters – Roedean emphatically triumphing on the final whistle. Page 12
Ms Marek
HEAD’S REVIEW
9 February 2024 – Issue 5
Netball vs Mayfield U16C
U14C's Narrow Loss
The U16C team put in their best performance of the term in a pulsating encounter against Mayfield. Two well-matched teams went toe to toe for the whole game, with both sides showing attacking flair and speed.
On Saturday, Roedean’s U14C team narrowly lost 17-15 to Mayfield’s U14B team. Mayfield led at the end of the first quarter, getting off to a flying start and scoring several goals. But Roedean fought back, with Flo and Polly forming a solid defence. They clawed back to within two goals of the leading side – Claudia and Molly worked well together to form a scoring alliance, which soon had Mayfield worried about retaining their lead. Sorrel, Lois, and Ines were relentless in the middle, and like a flip of a coin, it was Roedean’s turn to take the lead in the third quarter. They were on a winning frenzy, motivated for the lead and hungry for their first win of the season. However, after a few missed opportunities to score and two goals by Mayfield, the final whistle blew, and we narrowly lost by two goals. It was an exciting match and thrilling to umpire and watch as Roedean ebbed and flowed through the course of the four quarters.
Roedean’s attack was excellent; movement off the ball gave lots of passing options and enabled the ball to move quickly down the court. The difference came down to the number of interceptions Roedean made to break up play, with Freya outstanding in that regard, and the accuracy of the shooting from Dot and Grace.
Mr Smethurst
U15D Battle vs Mayfield U15C In a tight and cagey affair, the U15D team travelled to Mayfield. The game started with Roedean on top through the first quarter, going into quarter time 2-0 up. However Mayfield came out fighting after this, and took the half-time lead 5-2. The objectives were clear: increase the quality of possession and reduce the turnover rate. However, the on-ball possession was still struggling. In quarter 3 and 4, we only scored one goal and Mayfield extended their lead. At full time the result ended 10-3 to Mayfield.
Ms Marek
Mr Foggoa
Roedean vs Brighton College Swimming Gala On Monday, Roedean’s ‘A’ Swimming Team raced against Brighton College. The whole squad raced over seventeen events in our newly refurbished pool, and it was competitive across all three age categories. Our Junior Squad consisted of five swimmers from Year 7 and 8, including Maisa, Farah, Tilly, Matilda, and Gracie. Farah has been swimming incredibly well, and this gala saw her take 4 seconds off over 50m in freestyle from her time in September. This improvement is so rare in such a short time – well done, Farah. Special mention goes to the race reserves, Grace and Tilly, who facilitated a junior relay. Tilly even stepped up over two age groups, coming third in the senior 50m backstroke. This was also Matilda's comeback gala. She came straight from the netball courts, having competed in a cup game, to swim none other than the 50m fly – an excellent performance. In the inters category, we also saw the team of Alice, Evelyn, and Harriet bringing up the medal tally. Again, another special mention goes to inters category swimmer Megs, who came and swam the 4 x 50m Medley relay, 50m breaststroke, and 50m freestyle at the last minute. You saved the day Megs, and the whole team are incredibly grateful for your efforts and fantastic results. In the Senior Race, we had a good team of Clara, Finya, and Alice from the Sixth Form. The Inter Squad team member Alice swam up in several senior events and made Roedean proud to complete the four-person Senior Team – there was lots of excellent racing and an opportunity to get some great GCSE footage for the swimmers. The end result was incredibly tight, showing the competition level and how well both teams fought for the overall win. Brighton narrowly beat us 85 points to 74! Ms Marek
U12A Netball vs St Swithun's On Monday, the U12A team travelled all the way to Winchester for the semi-finals of the plate. After a good warm up, we were not performing to the highest level we usually do, which meant we left the court 7 goals down. The second and third quarters were very hard, playing catch up and trying to gain possession of the ball and score off it. At the beginning of the quarters, we were able to close the gap, but in the last 2 mins, they managed to creep back up. In the final quarter, we brought everything we had to the court. Within a few minutes, we managed to catch up so much that we were only down by 1. It felt so close and possible, but then we made some mistakes which left us a few goals behind again. The final score was 18-22 to St Swithun’s. Player of the Match was awarded to Maddie and Heidi. Well done everyone. It was a challenging and tiring game, but we will play better next year!
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Miss Walsh
HEAD’S REVIEW
9 February 2024 – Issue 5
Netball vs Lingfield U12E The U12E team produced a strong performance to win 15-6. Roedean began strongly and led in the first quarter, but were pegged back in the second by a combination of quick Lingfield passing and some sloppy marking. The second half saw some positional changes and more consistency in defence, which saw Roedean continue to extend the lead. Emma was outstanding throughout, both around the court and with the accuracy of her shooting. Mr Smethurst
Undefeated U12Ds Reign On Wednesday, the mighty U12D maintained their unbeaten streak of five consecutive wins. This time, it was Lingfield who fell victim to the team. The first quarter started with trepidation against the advancing opposition; however, by the 12-minute whistle, the shooting duo of Soraya and Mabel managed to get Roedean off to a 3-1 lead. From there, Roedean built on this success, scoring an incredible seven goals in the second quarter to Lingfield’s one. With a healthy lead, we could make some changes to our positions. Meredith moved from defence into goal shooter in the third, and the team scored five goals. Alexa made some excellent interceptions playing centre, and did not allow for any advancements by Lingfield. With Charlotte and Lucy in defence, it was no surprise that the opposition could not make more of a mark on the score sheet. In the final 12 minutes, Ottilie took on the position of GA and contributed to another six goals to secure a 21-7 victory. Congratulations team! With two more fixtures, let’s see if the U12Ds can continue on this winning streak. Ms Marek
U13B
U13B – A Well-Earned Win The U13B Netballers had a much-improved game this week, playing Lingfield. Before the game, we identified key areas to focus on, including looking after the turnover and driving ball side. With these points in mind, the girls were much more calm on the ball, looking for options which weren’t just the first ones they saw. Joy joined the team this week and, along with Georgie, had control of the opposition D, making countless turnovers and rebounds. Paloma, Bella, and Martha rotated through the three mid-court positions, helping to carry the ball and put pressure in defence. Ezzie rejoined the team to pair with Eva in the shooting D. It was great to see the improvement in all areas of the court. Well done to Ezzie and Joy for getting Most Valued Players and helping the team to a 15-9 win. Miss Kirby-Jones
U13C Netball vs Lingfield The U13Cs played against Lingfield this week to conclude their half term. It was my first game back with the girls, and I was really excited to see them in action for the first time. Captain Florence won the toss, and we took the first centre. Rosa and Zaina dominated in the shooting D, rotating well and fighting for rebounds, taking us 4-3 up after the first quarter. Bea and Aya turned over almost every ball as it went into our defensive third, with Ying transitioning the ball out of defence sublimely! It was 7-7 at half time. The teams fought for everything, with Florence, Beth, and Bella keeping control in the middle. It was 11-10 to us with 10 minutes to go… The whole team stepped up and worked the ball safely to goal. As the final whistle went, we just scraped the win 17-16! Huge congratulations to Aya and Rosa who were awarded Girl of the Game from both me and the opposition! Well done for a fantastic match!
Miss Bamford
U13C
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9 February 2024 – Issue 5
HEAD’S REVIEW
Netball vs Lingfield U13A Suffer a Narrow Loss
U13D Leave Lingfield Behind in the Last Quarter
In our Wednesday weekly block, we faced Lingfield this week. This was an excellent, closely contested match throughout for the U13As. We focused on our centre pass attack and settling after a turnover which was evident throughout. After the first quarter it was 4-4, and by half time we had edged up by one, so it was a big second half. We worked effectively as a team in drawing their defence out to create good passing options through court. We were up by 2 going into the final quarter. Unfortunately we couldn’t keep up and Lingfield finished extremely strongly, winning the last quarter by 5 to win 20-23. It was a great effort from both squads, and special mention goes to Yasmin and Andrea for being Opposition's Players. It was a good squad performance, well done all. Miss Hammond
The U13D played against Lingfield in a fantastic match at Roedean on Wednesday. The game started very well with Roedean going up 2 points early and holding the Lingfield attack. Roedean ended the 1st quarter 3-2 up, with a few things to work on. The second and third quarters were both drawn 6-6 and 7-7 respectively, meaning the final quarter would decide the match. Throughout, Roedean was struggling to maintain possession following a turnover, and, after a few chats on driving forward and giving teammates a target and not stopping until the ball was in their hands, they made good progress. The match ended 11-7, with a huge defensive display and the shooters working very well to finish the game strongly.
U15A Netball vs Bede's On Thursday, the U15A team played in a Cup match against Bede’s. we took 12 players with us today, which, usually would not happen but then it meant we could rest girls who are playing at the weekend. Thank you to the B team players who stepped up and did a fantastic job. We started the first quarter with a strong 7 taking a lead in goals. We then made five different rotations, giving new players the opportunity to play. After each quarter, there were many chops and changes to the seven bibs. All the girls stepped in very well, adapting to what they needed to do in order to work the ball smoothly to goal. The final score was 42-13 to Roedean. Player of the Match was awarded to Peony. Great job girls! Miss Walsh
Mr Campleman
U16s Finish 6th at SISNA! On Tuesday, the U16As went to SISNA at Hurst, playing from 12pm-6pm – an extremely long afternoon of Netball! They started the day off facing Hurst, this was a very tightly contested game, and we were trailing by 1 at half time. We kept ourselves in it and with a minute to play we were still one down but in possession. Unfortunately, we panicked with the ball and allowed Hurst to transfer the ball to goal, meaning we suffered a narrow loss. The next game was against Brighton Girls, who took the win 8-2. We then faced Christ's Hospital who were extremely fast and agile, we managed to keep it level securing a 3-3 draw. Next up was Brighton College, the eventual winners of the tournament, who also took a win from us. We had a longer break now to regroup and refocus, and this paid off. We then beat Lancing 8-3 and drew with Seaford 8-8. With two games remaining, we had Bede's and Ardingly. Ardingly came out strongly and took the win, but we had a great win versus Bede's to finish the day off. A huge squad effort secured us 6th place out of 11 schools. Well done to all involved – special mention to Tildy who was the Coach's Player.
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Miss Hammond
13 9 February October 2024 2023 – Issue 56
HEAD’S HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW REVIEW
U13A Netball vs Heathfield in the Sussex Cup
Sport Stars of the Week Congratulations to this week's Sport Stars, and to the Team of the Week, which is the U16A National Schools Netbal Team.:
Year 7
The U13As took on Heathfield in a tight Sussex Cup fixture. We started strongly, getting a 4-goal lead; however, Heathfield grew into the quarter and closed the gap, so we were only leading by 1 after the first quarter.
Matilda, for stepping up and swimming in an U18 event at a gala
We continued to keep the pressure on and with some excellent centre pass attacks, we were steady and efficient to goal. At half-time, the score was 14-12 to Roedean. We started to get into a strong rhythm and used a calm reset ball after a turnover, which allowed us to space out and then link through court well. As a result, we extended our lead to 21-15.
Year 8 Farah, for excellent progress in swimming, dropping time on her strokes in the pool
We knew Heathfield would come out strong in the final quarter, but we maintained our composure, taking the win 30-17. Huge well done to the whole squad, the passages of play have come on so well! Congratulations to Sophie who was named Players' Player, Naomi for being Coach's Player, and Yasmin and Andrea for being the Opposition's Players. It was a fantastic whole team performance – keep up the hard work! Miss Hammond
Year 9 Mia, for great progress and effort in Netball this term
Year 10 Minnie, for fantastic performance at National Schools Netball
Year 11 Tildy, for excellent performances and consistency at U16 SISNA
Year 12 & 13 Mbali, for fantastic effort, attitude and performances in Netball this term
We welcome contributions from all parts of the Roedean community. If you have something you would like featured in the Head’s Weekly Review, please email: aws@roedean.co.uk
Mr Campleman
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