9 October 2020 - Issue 5
HEAD’S
WEEKLY REVIEW
Yr12 enjoying the October Sunshine
Head’s Introduction
We are very proud that Roedean is celebrating Black History Month this October. As a community, this is an opportunity to celebrate contributions and achievements in all areas of life and to ensure that our shared understanding and knowledge of the past is genuinely inclusive.
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The girls and staff are being encouraged to consider Black History and its impact more deeply. In this process, we have been keen to champion the girls’ voices and views, and consult with them about how to celebrate and inform. Next week’s Chapel services will be led by the girls, focusing on their experiences and their understanding of Black History. There will be ‘exhibitions’ on display around School, celebrations of black culture, and the week will end with Roedean’s conference in celebration of Black History. This event for the whole school will bring ten excellent speakers to School, all speaking remotely, to discuss this subject from a range of perspectives.
ROEDEAN CELEBRATES
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
p2 BHM2020
Geography Fieldwork
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I am pleased to report that the two adapted Open Day events for Year 7 entry last Saturday went very well indeed. The families who came enjoyed our presentations, and they were very impressed with what they heard and by the girls who spoke and performed – the feedback has been wholly positive. I am grateful to everyone who was involved. At a time when the UK is again relying heavily on the NHS and our front line medical workers, I was proud this week to receive a letter from Jess, the Fundraising Manager at the Royal Sussex Hospital. During lockdown, our staff were invited to join a salary sacrifice scheme to support the local NHS, and Jess reported that, so far, they had raised, in her words, ‘a whopping £7851’ – well done to everyone who has contributed, and thank you. I wish you all well for a lovely weekend, and for the exciting week ahead.
Roedean’s ‘Live-Streamed’ Mus
ic Scholars’ Concert
Yr7 Farm Club
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9 October 2020 - Issue 5
HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
At the end of the week, you will have a chance to hear from a variety of inspiring speakers, speaking on the topic of Black History through the lens of their own experiences in locations from London to Jamaica. We hope you enjoy the chance to meet some new historical figures, and to recognise them as part of the collective story of humanity. HBO
A message from Baroness Amos:
Rosemary CampbellStephens
Ballerina
Bishop
Phyll OpokuGyimah
Noo Saro-Wiwa
Composer
Professor Shirley Thompson
Personal Trainer
Novelist
LGBTQ Rights Activist
Find out more about our speakers here: Page 2
Kelechi Okafor
Dorothy Koomson
Author
A message from Lady Scotland:
Attorney and Solicitor
The Very Revd Rose HudsonWilkin
Dr Shola MosShogbamimu
Former Headteacher
AI Ehics and Policy Advisor
Just as there is no such thing as ‘White History’, we look forward to a time when ‘Black History’ becomes simply ‘History’, and it is justly considered a part of our shared understanding of the past. This is a perspective that Roedean’s History Department is taking steps towards, and you can read more about the work they, and other departments, are doing to review and renew their curriculum.
Precious Adams
Natalie Nzeyimana
As many of you will be aware, October is Black History Month in the UK. Roedean is celebrating next week with a programme of interactive events and exhibitions that will enable you all to learn more about the rich histories and cultures that constitute Black History.
9 October 2020 - Issue 5
HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW
BLACK HISTORY MONTH The History Curriculum Re-evaluated Last January the History department began to review the curriculum for Years 7 to 9, looking to introduce a broader geographical focus and more enquiry-led teaching, to engender greater independent thinking and depth of knowledge. Subsequently, in light of the tragic death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement, we wanted especially to question whether everyone in the Roedean community saw themselves in the history they study at school. Just how relevant and representative is the history we teach, which over the decades has become overwhelmingly dominated by a white, western-world narrative? As we all know, History is so much more than just one ‘island story’, and we felt passionately that this should be reflected back in the history education that we provide. To this end, as a department we have spent months revising our schemes of work and re-discovering hidden histories, both nationally and internationally. We are very excited to have started rolling out some of the new content: ■■ In Year 7, after looking at Norman England, the pupils will turn their attention to the contemporary world of the Song dynasty, followed by an essential study of power systems during the Middle Ages, and then the Islamic Empire. ■■ In Year 8, girls will still follow a chronological framework, but will look at the lives of ordinary people as affected by deep religious and political change during the 15th and 16th centuries. As part of this, they will consider diverse groups that existed during this period, including Black Tudors, using the recent work of historian Miranda Kaufmann. Whilst they will learn about the trans-Atlantic slave trade,
this will now include a far greater emphasis on the origins of the slave trade, looking at West African kingdoms, and examining the important role that Africans themselves played in resisting and bringing the trade to an end. Linked to this, they will study the origins and legacy of colonialisation, to examine the real-life lived experience of so many people in many different countries, and will be encouraged to question the legacy of empire. ■■ Finally, as part of their twentieth century studies in Year 9, pupils will learn about ‘soldiers of Empire’ using David Olusoga’s recent research, which encompasses both Indian and Caribbean experiences during both World Wars and can even be linked to Brighton. They will also examine how World War 2 was experienced around the world, not just in Britain, following up with a review of global societal changes in a post-war era. Whilst we have been keen to add new units of study, we have also been mindful not to take a tokenistic approach, and therefore have wanted rather to integrate new perspectives from a more diverse range of groups within the bigger narrative, so as to challenge preconceptions and stimulate debate. In reaching this point, we have been very grateful to our Sixth Formers, who have shared their ideas and thoughts with us so generously. Now that we are starting to deliver this revised curriculum, making revisions as we go, we hope some of our own excitement and passion to re-discover the past will rub off on each and every pupil. As ever, we would love to hear any feedback from girls as we go along – the History door is always open! SBB & KNE
History Department Competition October is Black History Month in the UK. To mark the occasion the History department are holding a competition to find the best essays about Black British History. The competition requires you to research a great black Briton and then write an essay explaining why this person deserves to be remembered in History. You could choose to research: • John Blanke • Cattelena of Almondsbury • Paul Stephenson • Diane Abbott The closing date for the essays is 20th October • Asquith Xavier 2020. A book prize will be awarded to the best • Mary Seacole essay in key stage 3 and the best essay in key • Linda Dobbs stage 4/5- as decided by the History Or anyone else you find interesting. department. Essays should be approximately one typed side long. Please email your essay to KNE@roedean.co.uk
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Reading Recommendations for Black History Month In recognition of Black History Month, we have been looking at essential reads by BAME authors, historians, and academics. We are celebrating classic texts, awards winners, YA fiction, poetry, and important, essential essays discussing what it means to be BAME in Britain today. The following are just a handful of wonderful texts for you to explore and enjoy:
CONTEMPORARY FICTION Girl, Woman, Other – Bernardine Evaristo Winner of the Booker Prize 2019, the book follows the lives of 12 characters over several decades. It explores race, sexuality and gender though interwoven stories.
Queenie – Candice Cart-Williams Queenie Jenkins is a twentyfive-year-old Jamaican British woman living in London, straddling two cultures and slotting neatly into neither. She works at a national newspaper, where she’s constantly forced to compare herself to her white middle-class peers.
We Need New Names – NoViolet Bulawayo A coming-of-age story, We Need New Names tells of the life of a young girl named Darling, first as a 10-year-old in Zimbabwe, navigating a world of chaos and degradation with her friends, and later as a teenager in the Midwest United States, where a better future seems about to unfold.
The Girl with the Louding Voice – Abi Dare The novel tells the story of Adunni; a Nigerian girl regarded as property at the age of fourteen, yet determined to find her ‘louding voice’ and live a life that she controls. Adunni is a commodity, a wife, a servant. She is also smart, funny, and curious, with a spirit and joy infectious to those around her. Despite her situation going from bad to worse, she has a plan to escape and get her education, so that she can speak up for herself.
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HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW
BLACK HISTORY MONTH YOUNG ADULT FICTION
CLASSIC FICTION
NON-FICTION
The Black Flamingo – Dean Atta
Beloved – Toni Morrison
The novel is about a boy called Michael who is struggling to find his identity while growing up in London. He struggles with his sexuality, racial/ethnic identity and his social life. He then discovers the power of drag and how that can help him discover himself and how to express his feelings to others.
Set after the American Civil War, it is inspired by the life of Margaret Garner, an African American who escaped slavery in Kentucky in late January 1856 by crossing the Ohio River to Ohio, a free state.
Why I’m no longer talking to White People about Race – Reni Eddo-Lodge
Ghost – Jason Reynolds Ghost (real name Castle Cranshaw) has been running from things all his life, but Ghost has been running for the wrong reasons. One day he meets Coach, an ex-Olympic Medallist who sees something in Ghost: crazy natural talent. If Ghost can stay on track, literally and figuratively, he could be the best sprinter in the city. Can Ghost harness his raw talent for speed, or will his past finally catch up to him?
Noughts and Crosses – Malorie Blackman A coming-of-age story, We Need New Names tells of the life of a young girl named Darling, first as a 10-year-old in Zimbabwe, navigating a world of chaos and degradation with her friends, and later as a teenager in the Midwest United States, where a better future seems about to unfold.
Punching the Air – Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam One fateful night, an altercation in a gentrifying neighbourhood escalates into tragedy. ‘Boys just being boys’ turns out to be true only when those boys are white. Suddenly, at just sixteen years old, Amal Shahid's bright future is upended: he is convicted of a crime he didn't commit and sent to prison. Despair and rage almost sink him until he turns to the refuge of his words, his art. This never should have been his story. But can he change it?
The Hate U Give – Angie Thomas The book is inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement novel tells the story of a girl, Starr who is the only witness to the fatal shooting of her unarmed best friend by a police officer. It deals with prejudice, inequality, police violence and justice.
The Colour Purple – Alice Walker This classic novel tells the story of Celie. Abused by the man she calls father, her two children taken from her and forced into an ugly marriage. She has no one to talk to but God, until she meets a woman who offers love and support.
Kindred – Octavia Butler Dana and her husband are moving into their apartment when she starts to feel dizzy. She falls to her knees, nauseous. Then the world falls away. She finds herself at the edge of a green wood by a vast river. A child is screaming. Kindred examines history, slavery and racism through time travel.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry – Mildred D. Taylor The Novel follows nine-year-old Cassie and her family as they experience discrimination, segregation and violence in Southern Mississippi. The takes place in the 1930s and explores the importance of land ownership and the issues of race that deeply affect the Jim Crow south.
POETRY And Still I Rise – Maya Angelou A collection of poems from Dr Maya Angelou.
The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah Benjamin Zepahniah’s poetry originated through demonstration during the 1980s. Protesting against unemployment, homelessness and the National Front, his poetry reminds us how the arts are an important tool for pushing boundaries. Page 4
In February, 2014, Reni EddoLodge wrote about her frustration with the way discussions of race and racism in Britain were constantly being led by those who weren't affected by it. The post went viral and Eddo-Lodge was flooded with responses of people wanting to share their experiences. From that conversation this book was born.
Black and British: A Forgotten History – David Olusoga Starting in the Roman era and continuing through until present day this book explores the long and detailed history of the British Isles and the people of Africa. It challenges a longestablished understanding of British History tells the story of an area of history largely overlooked, forgotten or simply erased.
Brit(ish): On race, Belonging and Identity – Afua Hirsch In this book Afua Hirsch argues that we are a nation in denial about our imperial past and the racism that plagues the present. She explores her own feelings about identity and belonging, as well as looking at Britain’s awkward and troubled relationship with history
Don’t Touch My Hair – Emma Dabiri An intellectual and honest look at Black women and their hair. In this book the author explores race, identity, tradition, culture and the ways in which black hair has been appropriated and stigmatized throughout history, with reflections on body politics, race, and pop culture.
The Good Immigrant Edited – Nikesh Shulka A collection of essays by BAME voices from across Britain. The essays explore racial inequalities in Briain and look at the immigrant experience across generations. Inspired by discussion around why society appears to deem people of colour as bad immigrants – job stealers, benefit scroungers, undeserving refugees – until, by winning Olympic races or baking good cakes, or being conscientious doctors, they cross over and become good immigrants.
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HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW
English Department has re-assessed the Curriculum In the interests of making the curriculum and student reading more diverse and representative of minority voices, the English Department has reviewed the books available for teachers to choose in Years 7-9. This year, students are reading, for example, A Raisin in the Sun and Refugee Boy and the poems of the Harlem Renaissance. We teach texts and content which promote our liberal ethos of inclusivity, including the raising of issues pertinent to minority groups at the present time and through history.
In Years 10-11, the curriculum is similarly set by the examination board to include texts that address these issues, and at A Level we promote the reading of texts by diverse authors for coursework, including Chinua Achebe, Imitiaz Dharker, Grace Nichols, Arundhati Roy, and others, which expose and question the legacy of colonialism. We also explicitly re-evaluate canonical texts through a post-colonial critical approach, for
example by comparing Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea. While all of the texts we teach are staunchly anti-racist, we are aware that students can feel that discussion of these issues is exposing in the context of a classroom and therefore stressful, and we constantly review how we can mitigate the impact of this with groups and individuals. DWO
‘Open Book’ in the Co-Curricular Programme The 'Open Book’ group aims to foster an open discussion with a focus on a more diverse range of literature than is typically offered by the traditional curriculum. It is an environment in which students can read a variety of extracts from different texts by BIPOC writers, and explore its deeper themes and meaning. So far, we have looked at Becoming by Michelle Obama, Why I’m No Longer Talking to White
People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge, and an extract from an online publication by Alice Hsu about micro-aggressions and the concept of ‘having two names’. The students are able to explore and consider the perspectives of BIPOC writers, and voice their responses and interpretations. As their perspectives will largely depend on their individual backgrounds and experiences, this
House 2 Focus on Mental Health House 2 Boarders have spent this week leading up to World Mental Health Day, by taking part in different activities in House. On Monday, House 2's activity was writing kind notes to put in our kindness jar which is in the lobby. In times of sadness, girls can find a nice note to lift their spirits. On Tuesday the girls were discovering it’s ‘good to chat over a cup of tea’ and the topic was ‘happiness’. On Wednesday, Mrs Allen, provided the green ribbons for the girls to make and wear their own green ribbon in support of World Mental Health day 2020. Last night's activity was ‘Write back at you’, part of House 2’s week long focus on mental health ahead of World Mental Health Day today. This activity was an opportunity for the girls to explore the importance of not being so harsh on yourself and to realise the good things their peers think of them.
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also functions as a gentle introduction to critical perspectives, such as post-colonialism and intersectional feminism. Ultimately, this group functions as a safe-space for discussion, and a chance for all students to expand their wider reading and develop the way in which they experience literature and, indeed, the world. RH
9 October 2020 - Issue 5
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. Maddison (Yr8) for brilliant umpiring when she was off sport [KWA]
Geography Fieldtrip to Seaford Beach On Monday afternoon, Jemima and Phoenix went to Seaford beach to collect primary data for their Geography A Level coursework. Their data showed that longshore drift does indeed occur at the beach, as a strong southwesterly chopped up the surf. Fortunately the back end of storm Alex had already passed through over the weekend, so the sun shone and it was smiles all round. Thank you to Mrs Finn and Mr Sheriff for supervising the trip.
Sixth Form Shining Stars Daisy (Yr12) for welcoming me into the year and asking me how I am all the time [nominated by Kate]
Lisha (Yr13) for always being so motivating and inspiring [nominated by Liv]
The Arts – What’s Your Talent? Each week, a member of staff who has gone above and beyond the call of duty can be nominated by their colleagues or the girls. Miss Bodsworth for always smiling and being positive every morning [KWA]
Hi – we’re Amélie and Ava, your Arts Prefects this year. Although live performances are pretty tricky at the moment, we want you to be able to perform, without the pressure of an audience, if you’d prefer that...
To give you an idea, have a listen to this recording we made – we had a really good time recording it!
So, if you’re messing around at a piano or with a guitar, at home or at School, and you want to share it, just to put a smile on someone’s face, please email a video clip to us at AD37 or AS39 – we’d love to hear it!
We’re really keen for you to know that it doesn’t need to be super-polished – this is really for anyone and everyone (staff included!)
Creative Competition – Making Waves Professional Qualifications for Miss Wight Congratulations to Miss Wight for completing two university courses, the first at UCL (Supporting Children with Difficulties in Reading and Writing) and the other at the University of Derby (Understanding Autism, Asperger’s & ADHD).
This week’s prompt was ‘Making Waves’, and the winners had two very different but delightfully creative interpretations. This week’s winners were Millie and Maggie. Well done!
Our next prompt is ‘Hidden History’. Maybe you will be inspired by our events for Black History Month, or maybe you have a different interpretation. Create a written, visual, or musical piece that takes you no longer than an hour, and submit to Ms Boobis (HBO) by Wednesday break time. Enjoy! Page 6
HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW
9 October 2020 - Issue 5
Roedean’s ‘Live-Streamed’ Music Scholars’ Concert – 1200 Hits on Facebook! Monday saw the return of Roedean’s Teatime Recital series, and the very first one to be live-streamed. It was a poignant moment hearing our wonderful musicians perform again, and we are delighted that so many people have been able to listen to it! The Music Scholars rose to the occasion and offered us some fantastic musical treats. First up were our new Year 7 Scholars, led valiantly by Eden playing a cheerful Scherzo on the Cello. Next we had Elspeth, who performed some lively Handel, followed by Isabella, playing beautifully on the Piano. We look forward to seeing these new Scholars progress over the coming years. Galina (Yr9) then took to the Piano to play a very fun and complex prelude by Gershwin from memory, which she accomplished beautifully, and she was followed by Suraya who performed a melodic Piano piece by Einaudi. Next to perform was Solari, another Scholar joining us in Year 9, who performed a piece by Robert Schumann on Viola; her performance was very musical and she chose her piece well.
Alice (Yr8) sang L’ho Perduta by Mozart from memory, and, to end the concert, Jojo (Yr13), who has only been learning the Trombone for a year, played us out with Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off. This was a technically challenging piece, and she certainly rose to the occasion, conquering the style and jazz rhythms of Gershwin. Throughout the recital, accompaniments were superbly handled by Roedean renowned pianist extraordinaire, Mr Rous, who did a fantastic job of making the performers feel secure whilst adapting to a vast selection of music. Thank you to everyone involved for this splendid musical feast. Special thanks to our camera woman and technical support for the event, Miss Ray. The recital has been extremely well received, with over 1200 views. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to watch it, just click on the link https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=676160992994486
Shannon is another new Music Scholar in Year 9, and she chose to perform a very beautiful but technically difficult piece called The Lark by Balakirev – she showed incredible talent and musicality, playing from memory. Katarina and Alissandra (Yrs13 and 10) chose the famous waltz from Shostakovich’s Jazz Suite – the sisters play so well together and really communicated the nuances and style. Rosie in Year 11 then gave us a rousing version of La Folia by Corelli, nimbly executed with lots of good technique and spirit. For a sudden change in mood, Ananya (Yr11) treated us to Schumann’s sonorous Fantasiestücke. It is always a joy to hear such beautiful depth of sound on the cello, and, as always, this was a tremendously musical performance and thoroughly enjoyable to listen to. To maintain the pensive mood, Eva (Yr12) continued with Chanson Triste by Tchaikovsky. This was musically played, with a great range of vibrato and dynamics. Amelie (Yr13) began the next section of the concert containing wind, brass, and voice. At this point, the Scholars were required to perform to an empty room because of Covid-safe guidelines, but this didn’t deter their spirit or performance. Amelie treated us to a song by Strauss and demonstrated great vocal range and control. Amy (Yr13) followed with a lively rendition of Mozart’s Flute Concerto in D – the cadenza and solo passages in particular were very ably handled.
Our next live-streamed recital will be on 30 November. If you would like to perform, it is open to everyone, so please email Ms Bartlette (sob@roedean. co.uk) to arrange a time to audition. SOB
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HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW
Ms Boobis’s Run for Rise Due to the current restrictions, the communal Rise 8K has been cancelled. In order that Rise does not lose its vital opportunity to fundraise for victims of domestic abuse and violence, the race has gone virtual, and Ms Boobis will be running it this week. There is still time to sponsor her, so please do if you are able:
https://my.race-nation.co.uk/sponsorship/ entry/361299
Year 7 Farm Club
9 October 2020 - Issue 5
A Letter to an MP As part of HHH, Isabella wrote a letter to the MP, George Eustice, about her concerns about Climate Change – the letter is impressively written and researched, as you can see from this extract. Well done, Izzy! ESH
Dear Mr. Eustice, My name is Izzy and I am 12 years old. I am writing to express my concern about the imminent threat that climate change poses to our country, to our people, and the future of our children. An overwhelming number of scientist s agree, and signs abound that climate change is occurring much faster than was initially predicted. We only have a few critical years before the changes become irreversible. More than 2,000 scientists contributing to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change (IPCC) have made it clear that cuts of at least 50% to 70% in global greenhouse gas emissions are necessary to allow our climate to restabilise. Therefore, the Government should be making every effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – this needs to happen now. To secure a future for our nation and our children, now is the time to set a new and positive direction for our national energy policy. We need policies that will lead our nation away from fossil-based fuels. Our addiction to fossil fuel harms human health, causes global warming , degrades land and marine ecosystems, and pollutes the earth. We need energy ecosystems that provide clean, renewable, and reliable energy that does not threaten human health or the environment. We do create our futures, and not to reach for it would be a gross abdication of our moral responsibility. […] Please take into account this letter, as the fate of our future country rests in your hands. I understand that focusing on climate change is just one of the many issues during these challenging times. However, we cannot wait until tomorro w. We must take strong action now to address the daunting issues that climate change poses.
er
Roedean in Octob
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9 October 2020 - Issue 5
Life Drawing Life Drawing is an integral part of the A Level Art experience. We learn so much about drawing and the quiet skills of observation through our study of the human form. During lockdown, we continued this practice with weekly classes, drawing from classical sculptures and studying the drawings of other
artists. It is such a relief to welcome our model, Frankie, back into the Studio and start drawing from life again. These drawings are the result of the Year 12's first life class. SSN
HHH Connecting with Nature As part of our first half term in HHH, we have been looking at connecting with nature and using nature as a way to build resilience. We spent one of our lessons outside recently, and the girls began to create outcomes based on how it made them feel. The two pictures below were created by Jamie (left) and Nikhita (right) during the lesson. I think they are brilliant!
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9 October 2020 - Issue 5
From this week’s Chapel Services Miss Walker’s Reflections on Daddy Longlegs
The Chapel services have been looking at how we interact with Nature, and here are a few reflections from girls and staff on this subject:
I could tell you that during the term of teaching lessons from my loft room I had some notable encounters with nature, such as the deafening sound of seagulls running across the flat roof to take off, or a fox scaring the life out of me by jumping into my garden and straight out again, or the family of spiders who frustratingly refused to move away from the front of the house as I was painting it, however many times I moved them to a place of safety, or how long the grass and daisies in the local school playing fields grew with no one cutting them down. But I won’t. Instead I want to let you know about the much-misunderstood Crane Fly or Daddy Longlegs.
Alyssa (Yr12) chose to read ‘Remember’ by Joy Harjo Remember the sky that you were born under, know each of the star's stories. Remember the moon, know who she is. Remember the sun's birth at dawn, that is the strongest point of time. Remember sundown
Things you probably don’t know about these fragile creatures: firstly, they do not bite! They do not even have the jaw structure to be able to eat, according to my sources they only dab at fluids. Many adults never feed at all in their very short life span of about 10 days. During this time their only aim is to mate with another crane fly. They do not want to hurt you.
and the giving away to night. Remember your birth, how your mother struggled to give you form and breath. You are evidence of her life, and her mother's, and hers. Remember your father. He is your life, also. Remember the earth whose skin you are: red earth, black earth, yellow earth, white earth
They are attracted to light and warmth which is why they might fly into your room. To get rid of them simply turn the light off and leave the door open. No need for screaming.
brown earth, we are earth. Remember the plants, trees, animal life who all have their tribes, their families, their histories, too. Talk to them, listen to them. They are alive poems. Remember the wind. Remember her voice. She knows the
Despite the large numbers you have seen recently the poor daddy long legs is in decline. Their larvae grow in wet soil and among marshy grasses. The drainage of agricultural fields and pesticide usage has led to fewer larvae developing into adults. Crane flies are a very important source of food for a lot of birds, such as starlings. When you see the wonderful murmurations of starlings gathering at this time of year before migration they are fuelled in some part by daddy longlegs.
origin of this universe. Remember you are all people and all people are you. Remember you are this universe and this
So next time you see one, be amazed by its huge body held up by its tiny legs, the fact that it only lives for such a short time and doesn’t even eat, and that it is an important part of a food triangle that keeps the birds flying. Certainly don’t scream at it.
universe is you. Remember all is in motion, is growing, is you. Remember language comes from this. Remember the dance language is, that life is. Remember.
Reflections on Nature – Lisha (Yr13) Since I came back to Roedean, I go down to the pitch often, to just forget about my busy life. The fresh sea breeze, and sound of seagulls, clearing my stress and embracing me with the hug of nature. I watch the ocean whilst I am walking, I notice the splashing of waves and the colour of the skies. What’s so special about nature is that you never see the same thing twice; it’s always changing. It always surprises us with joy and
peace. Many of us now live in cities, and with our daily schedule we tend to forget the nature around us. It is essential to take some time off and go to the beach, or for a walk along the sea front, or just laying down on the grass for a while. Trust me, you will feel so relaxed and time does seem to slow down, because deep inside us we know nature is where we came from, and it is time to go back and link with it again!
Lifestyle Management for Sports Scholars Last week saw the beginning of a series of workshops for Sports Scholars, focused on Lifestyle Management and Wellness. The initial session was an introduction to the topic and was delivered online by Nick Denning from the Professional Cricketers’ Association. There will now be one session each half term throughout the academic year, with topics including the importance of sleep, time and stress management, social pressure, resilience, and transition.
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9 October 2020 - Issue 5
HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW
8 Orange Hockey During Wednesday’s Games lesson, Year 8 Orange played their first halfpitch hockey match of the season against each other. The girls enjoyed playing on the all-weather pitch, using the width of the pitch and focusing on their dribbling within match play. They have been working hard on eliminating defenders and moving the ball into space. Their work ethic has been outstanding this season and they have been improving week by week! Well done and keep it up Team Orange!
Winter is coming!!! Roedean Year 7s modelling the new Roedean coats and gilets. In order to keep warm this winter, the new Roedean coats are still available on School Blazer. To keep your hands warm during hockey, feel free to purchase some hockey gloves. If you are unsure what type to get, click this link for a suggestion.
Ava (Y7) and Amy (Y10) taking part in last weekend’s NSEA Coombelands
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