3 December 2021 – Issue 11
HEAD’S
WEEKLY REVIEW
Print Exhibition
Head’s Introduction
This week has really encapsulated the Roedean experience and ethos for me – it has been wonderful in just one week to enjoy the incredible Gala Concert, the Art Department’s stunning exhibition of student prints, the dynamic Dance Showcase, tonight’s Sixth Form spectacular Snow Ball, and tomorrow’s amazing charity Christmas Fair, all while carrying on with exciting sports fixtures, inspiring lessons, and an expansive co-curricular programme. Well done to everyone – the holiday is nearly here! The brilliant Heroes and Villains Gala Concert was the first full musical concert since lockdown in March 2020, and it was a delight, with enough energy and variety, innovation and quality for a dozen concerts. It did seem as though we saw 18 months of eager performance all in one evening. I would like to congratulate our brilliant musicians and the entire Music Department – it was called an ‘extravaganza’, and the repertoire, the use of technology, and the range of styles meant that it was exactly that. Congratulations to everyone involved, but particularly to Mr Rous and Ms Bartlette, who masterminded the event. It was such a pleasure to walk around the Print Exhibition in the Old Ref on Monday, with the girls explaining their work and how they have achieved such lovely results. The quality and breadth of the work was really impressive. We are very fortunate to have the expertise and equipment in the Art Department so that the girls can explore this medium at such a high level. It will be wonderful to see this work displayed around the School over the coming terms. Following the Exhibition, a number of students and parents then enjoyed a live-streamed talk by the famous photographer, Annie Leibovitz, from the Barbican. Well done to everyone involved. Yesterday’s Dance Showcase was a brilliant opportunity for Roedean’s dancers to take to the stage and showcase their wonderful talents, and the girls did just that! The show featured ballet, contemporary, tap, and street dance, all at the highest level. I was really impressed with the performances, and it was obvious that the girls loved the chance to be on stage in front of a full Theatre of excited and appreciated supporters. I would like to congratulate all of our Dance teachers, and Miss Abaza in particular for such a brilliant event. I am looking forward to tomorrow’s Christmas Fair, which is always a fantastic event, raising lots of money for our School charities. I hope that you will be able to join us – please remember our enhanced Covid-19 measures, and wrap up warm because more of the fair is outside this year! A special thanks to all members of our hard-working, committed, and determined Parents’ Guild, who have done so much to make this event a reality. Well done for your superb support.
Dance Showcase
Heroes & Villains Gala Concert
Christmas Fair 2021 4 December 10:30-1:00 A wonderful festive event and a perfect opportunity to get some stocking fillers!
3 December 2021 – Issue 11
HEAD’S WEEKLY 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. Mrs Diplos – for being an absolute hero in helping boarding students sort out their confusing PCR test preparation to travel home for Christmas [CPA]
Wild Friday Our Wild Fridays camera traps have been out and about capturing some of the wilder members of the Roedean community! Rabbits, common white throats, foxes, and even a badger have all been spotted. RLP
Heroes and Villains Gala Concert of such a wonderful music experience at Roedean.
The Heroes and Villains concert was a musical extravaganza in the Chapel, which included 150 musicians in seven different ensembles. The repertoire included Handel, Grieg, and Prokofiev, alongside Queen, the Little Mermaid, and the Pink Panther. The quality of musicianship was impressive, and the music was complemented by students introducing the pieces, and film clips which gave context to the pieces. While the quality of performance and musicality were very high indeed, there were light-hearted moments, such as Mr Rous in a pink wig as Ariel to contrast Jemima's brilliant Ursula from the Little Mermaid, and Ms Bartlette's Cruella de Vil. Well done to everyone involved, and in particular to Mr Wilson, Ms Bartlette, and Mr Rous, who directed the different ensembles. The members of the audience were very generous in their applause, and here are a few of the messages which the Music Department has received following the concert: ■
I just wanted to say how much we enjoyed the concert last night. It was so uplifting and enjoyable, we've been talking about the show all day today. The quality of the orchestras, bands and singers were fantastic and we are so pleased that our daughter gets to be part Page 2
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It was an imaginative and varied evening and a lovely way to celebrate our slow move out of lockdown.
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It was such a privilege to be able to enjoy the variety of performances of our girls, so ably supported by the staff and technicians. It was an imaginative and varied evening and a lovely way to celebrate our slow move out of lockdown. Just loved the concert on Friday, funny and joyful, and so much talent and hard work.
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The concept was a brilliant idea, as were the musical choices, the visual background, and of course the performances. A very great deal of work had clearly gone into putting the extravaganza together. It was exemplary. Congratulations! Congratulations to all involved, but especially to Mr Rous and Ms Bartlette, who have clearly risen to the challenge of continuing to deliver such a high standard of musical performances. Such a brilliant concert! A massive well done, it was amazing.
RB
HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW
3 December 2021 – Issue 11
Exceptional History Homework Over the last two weeks, I have been very impressed with the variety of prep the girls have submitted across Years 9 and 10. Thank you for your engagement, girls!
An Evening with Annie Leibovitz
Elspeth's cake was delicious, and Maddie's Victorian Medical Manual was fascinating. KOR
On Monday evening, parents, students, and staff, both old and new, joined together in Keswick Hall to watch a livestream from The Barbican of Annie Leibovitz in conversation about her new book, Wonderland. This book is the first time she has bought together all her fashion photography. Her career has spanned decades, and covers a range of photographic styles, including reportage, studio, and music photography. She has a long-standing relationship with Vogue, Vanity Fair, and Rolling Stone magazines, and her images have graced their covers on numerous occasions. This is the first time she has really brought together all her work on fashion, and we are therefore really excited that we have a signed copy of her book is on its way to Roedean. We hope the students will be able to pop in and use it to support their studies in Fashion, Photography, and Art. A lovely evening was had by all. SAL
Pop-Up Christmas Bookshop After the success of the Roedean Pop-up Bookshop last term, we will be holding another one in the week before the Christmas Holidays. This time the Roedean Reading Reps have teamed up with the Feminist Bookshop in Brighton. The reps will once again be selecting stock for the sale, and this time there will be books for all ages – from 0-99 – perfect for getting some Christmas gifts!
Festival Fringe Concert – Auditions If you are an instrumentalist or singer of appoximately Grade 8 standard, and would like to perform a solo or duo with the orchestra, please sign up in the Music Department to audition in the first week of the spring term. Please check with your teachers for suitable repertoire. We look forward to your auditions! SOB
Musicians of the Term Thank you to the following students for their outstanding contribution to the Music Department this term:
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Niamh (Yr11) Eva (Yr13) Alissandra (Yr11) Alma (Yr12) Jemima (Yr12)
Congratulations!
A percentage of the proceeds from the sale will also be going toward the Survivors' Network Christmas appeal. The Survivors' Network is a Brighton-based charity, and their aim this Christmas is to provide a gift for everyone who is currently being supported by the services. Each child will receive an age-appropriate book picked by the Children & Young People’s Team, and every adult and young person will receive a voucher to spend at the Feminist Bookshop. If you want to know more about the Survivors' Network, follow this link to their website https://survivorsnetwork.org. uk/about-us/ GBA
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HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW
3 December 2021 – Issue 11
Print Exhibition On Monday, the Art department welcomed students, staff, parents, and trustees to a wonderful display of the girls' print work, including etchings, screen-prints, linocuts, and digital print. The exhibition featured work from students from Years 11, 12, and 13, who are studying a range of courses, including GCSE Art and A Levels in Art, Textiles, and Photography. Some of the work by our A Level Fast Track students was in response to The Royal Academy's attRAct challenge. The exhibition was an excellent celebration of all their hard work over the last term, and it showcased the exceptional standard of work that they produce. APH
Old Operating Theatre At the weekend, the History Department took a group of students from Key Stage 4 to London: 'After an early start on Sunday, and a train ride, we arrived at the Old Operating Theatre in London. It is on the site of the old St Thomas' Hospital, just next to the Shard. The trip started with a talk in the actual 19th century operating theatre, where we learned about different medical instruments used, and the operations that took place, most of which were carried out before anaesthetic! This was all based around the Medical Renaissance, and it was really interesting to learn both outside of the curriculum and more about the current topics we are doing. After this, we got to have a look around the museum, and there were different stations set up so we could learn more about particular areas, such as anaesthesia, anatomy, and herbal remedies. We then took the tube to Covent Garden, where we were able to do some Christmas shopping and have some lunch, before we headed back to Roedean. Overall, it was a really fun experience and we learned a lot about historical medicine.' Hannah (Yr10)
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3 December 2021 – Issue 11
HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW
Dance Showcase The 'Legends, Divas, and Superstars' Dance Showcase on Thursday evening was a wonderful event, enjoyed by an appreciative audience in a full Theatre. There were 37 dancers on stage, and it was so lovely to see pieces in which younger dancers, at the start of their performing journey, were joined by more experienced dancers – what an empowering experience that must be for everyone involved. The showcase featured eighteen pieces, encompassing several different dance styles, all of which celebrated great dancers and performers. It was really impressive that five of the eighteen pieces had been choreographed by the students, highlighting their creative input and development. The standard of all the pieces was very high indeed, but my personal favourites were the Greatest Showman, the finale with the entire Dance Company, and a piece danced by Yanka and Claire (Yr11) to Elton John's 'Candle in the Wind'. Miss Abaza and all the Dance teachers were incredibly proud of their students, and congratulations to everyone involved! RB
Year 10 treat Year 10 enjoyed a well-earned treat last week. They devoured huge chocolate muffins and delicious hot chocolate, whilst catching up with each other in the Cloisters. Well done for all your hard work this term! KOR
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HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW
3 December 2021 – Issue 11
New Books in the Library A History of the World in 25 Cities – by Tracey Turner Brimming with fascinating historical detail, magnificent maps, and vivid illustrations, this gorgeous compendium tells the story of our globe from ancient history to the present day, through twenty-five major cities from around the world, from Baghdad to Beijing, and from St Petersburg to Sydney.
The Girl from the Sea – by Molly Knox Ostertag Fifteen-year-old Morgan has a secret: she can't wait to escape the perfect little island where she lives. She's desperate to finish high school and escape her sad divorced mother, her volatile little brother, and, worst of all, her great group of friends... who don't understand Morgan at all.
Secret Santa Book Swap
Pop – by Mitch Johnson
Both funny and thought-provoking, this cracking adventure, from the author of Kick, pitches a girl on the run and her new best friend into a battle against the world’s biggest fizzy drinks firm and their cavalier disregard for the environmental damage their products cause.
This year, the Library is holding a Secret Santa Book Swap. We would like you to ‘gift’ a book that you would like to share with others. You will need to choose a book from your shelves, gift wrap it, and write on it the genre and age range (labels are available from the Library if needed). Mrs Bailey will then sort the books according to genre and age range, ready for collection the following week. The deadline for gifting a book is now Wednesday 8 December. You can come and choose a gift for yourself during the last week of term.
Never Saw you Coming – by Hayley Doyle
Any remaining books will be donated to charity.
Zara Khoury believes in love – so much so that she flies from Dubai to Liverpool to be with a man she barely knows. It's a risk, but she's certain that uprooting her life for Nick is the new start she needs. Jim Glover is stuck. Since his Dad died, he's put his dreams aside and stayed at home in Liverpool to care for his Mum. Trapped in a dead-end job, he's going nowhere – that is, until he gets a phone call that just might change his life.
Greek Myths – by Charlotte Higgins
In this spellbinding new collection, Charlotte Higgins reinterprets some of the most enduring stories of all time.
Library Christmas Quiz
The Appeal – by Janice Hallett A drama production and a fundraiser lead to murder in this fiendishly clever whodunit, presented as a series of documents – emails, messages and transcripts – that hold the keys to the mystery.
How well do you know your Christmas reads? Have a go at our Christmasthemed literary quiz! Collect a quiz sheet from the Library. The first correct three entries drawn on the last day of term will win a prize. Don’t forget to pick up some Christmas chocolate when you return your completed quiz! Good luck! GBA
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3 December 2021 – Issue 11
HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW
SPORT
Hockey vs Worth
Hockey vs Lingfield
1st XI
U12A
On Friday night, the 1st team headed off for their last away fixture of the season. We headed into the game with an unknown expectation of what Worth would be like, whilst we had an exciting mix of players with Olivia, Elodie, and Ellie stepping up from Year 10. We started off the game strongly, taking our chances, and attacking fast down the right, with Elodie making some great runs up front. Worth stepped up and started attacking more directly towards goal, however we stepped in front and pressured them, with Olivia and Millie making some brilliant tackles in defence.
The U12As played their final fixture of the hockey term. Roedean went out fast, with Sorrel scoring within the first minute of the game. Lingfield then came back, despite the best efforts from Lily. Ines and Isabella then proceeded to dominate the right hand side of the pitch, crashing the ball in with Poppy, Sophie, & Amelie lining up at the back post for a numnber of tap ins. Evelyn played her normal solid game, protecting the Roedean D and distributing out wide. The final result was an 8-1 win for Roedean. The Girl of the Game was Sorrel. CBO
However Worth took their chance and scored just before half time. In the second half, we continued to attack strongly and matched their aggression. Sophia and Ellie used their slick skills to get past their defenders, and then moved the ball on to Serena and Elodie up front, giving us more chances at goal. We won a short corner and narrowly missed, but we continued to distribute the ball and used the channels well. Another short corner was awarded, and Mr Borsoi signalled to Lucy what to do. With a straight strike on her reverse, Lucy made the score 1-1. It was a team effort, with everyone working really hard in a fast-paced game – well done!! CBO
1st XI
U12A
U12B
The U12B team had a wonderful final game against Lingfield. They played some superb hockey, passing the ball well to each other, connecting to go forward, leading into the space out wide and ahead of the ball, and shooting earlier when in the D. They have taken on board all the teaching points and tactics given over the term, and attempted to apply them in their games. Roedean scored continuously throughout the game, with some impressive hard slaps at goal that were too powerful to keep out. The highlight of the game was (Girl of the Game) Leggy deflecting the ball, hit at pace, into the far corner from a really powerful slap. The game ended 7-0, rounding off a hugely successful term in style! Well done girls! SMC
U12D
U12D
The U12D team had their last ever hockey match game as Year 7s this week, playing at home versus Lingfield. With some newbies making their U12D debut, it was great to see the team gel together and make some new connections. With Khadija playing in goal and making some crucial and excellent saves, Sabrina, Lola, and Ava playing some solid defence at the back, Tali, Sohana, and Claudia had lots of skillful moments in the middle, and it was Kat, Claudia, and Coco who controlled from the top. Claudia managed to smash in two goals in her team debut, as well as Tali banking another goal, but it was Coco who was named Girl of the Game, after another fantastic goal to add to her rap sheet! Well done to the U12Ds for a fantastic season of hockey, and their final win/draw staistic is 83% – brilliant! LBA
U12D
U15A
The U15As had a great performance against Worth School. A couple of players from the B team had an opportunity to play higher up, and they fitted into the team very well. The first half was all Roedean, keeping possession and finishing attacking moves off with precision. It wasn't long before we were up 3-0, and after half time we looked to maintain the momentum. Worth came out after half time with more passion and courage, and struggled back a goal to take it to 3-1. Roedean controlled the game though and this was the final score. SMC
Team and Stars of the Week Teams of the week
U13A & B Football Teams
Stars of the Week:
Yr7 – Izzy, for dedication and commitment in both netball and hockey – she is consistently hard-working in every session that she attends
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Yr8 – Tessa, for scoring 2 goals in the first football match of the season and for her continued effort in sport Yr9 – Grace, for her continued commitment to sports and for always working extremely hard every single lesson, training session, and matches.
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3 December 2021 – Issue 11
HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW
2nd XI, U14Bs, and PE rainbow
Festive Fun in House 4
Roedean Merchandise – Ideal Christmas Gifts!
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!! We have loved getting into the festive spirit, decorating the tree and the house! Lots of girls have also enjoyed starting their advent calendars this week, and doing Christmas arts and crafts alongside playing and singing various Christmas songs! SEW
Do you need some Chrsitmas presents? This is a reminder that we have a fantastic range of Roedean merchandise for sale, either via our online shop – www.roedean.co.uk/shop, direct from the Roedeanian Office, or at the Christmas Fair.
Roedean by artist Kate Cardew, and the 100 Roedeanians Book (profits from which support the Library at St Mark's)
The range includes "Penelope" Bear, the Roedean Hessian Tote Bag, Pens, Key Rings, a range of products featuring our bespoke illustration of
UK and International shipping, and Click and Collect options are all available. GLC
We welcome contributions from all parts of the Roedean community. If you have something you would like featured in the Headmaster’s Weekly Review, please email: marketing@roedean.co.uk Page 8
We also have a special festive version of the illustration available on a Christmas card.
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