10th February 2017 - Issue 6
HEAD’S
WEEKLY REVIEW
Head’s Introduction What a wonderful first half of term we have had! In six weeks there have been so many opportunities for you to enrich your experiences and learning at Roedean – there have been sports fixtures and music masterclasses, fireworks and charity sales in the fireplace, play auditions and academic lectures, social events and trips to the Houses of Parliament or the Saatchi Gallery or to see the Nutcracker... certainly something for everyone, and I am glad that so many of you have taken full advantage of these. This week, we have welcomed the Deepdene pupils to Roedean again, this time to enjoy some Science workshops; they had a wonderful time doing experiments in the labs, and they particularly enjoyed making and firing rockets. The week we come back after half-term, there will be the two performances of the Gala Vox Concert – I am looking forward to seeing so many of you perform in the different ensembles, and I know that it will be wonderful. The Friday performance will be preceded by the launch of the Sixth Form Centre at Keswick House, with a reception running from 6:00 until 7:00 for parents, to show off the fantastic refurbishment of the hall. I hope that you all have a wonderful break over half-term, good luck to the 52 girls going skiing and thank you to the six members of staff for accompanying them, and I am sure that the 19 girls on the Geography trip in Iceland are already having an amazing time!
A very chilled-out sheep
Sir Ian McKellen talks about his life On Tuesday, six Roedean students were privileged enough to hear Sir Ian McKellen speak about his life, his career, and his work as an ambassador for LGBT rights through Stonewall. McKellen was truly inspirational, advising students who defined themselves as ‘different’ to be true to themselves, because anything else would ‘corrode their insides’ and potentially destroy their relationships. He movingly spoke of how his acting roles before coming out at the age of 49 were all about disguise and concealment, whereas afterwards, he found the joy of revelation and authentic truth, even finding that he was able to cry in character. McKellen reminded us that we are all minorities by some definition, and that our schools are little worlds that we have the power to run in a way that makes us all feel included. HBO
19 girls and 2 staff are in Iceland
£43.07 in the water bottle Earlier in the term, 11P spoke to us in Assembly about the difference our loose change might make to the lives of others elsewhere in the world, and how we should be careful not to waste water, something many of us take for
granted. As a result, we put a water bottle in Horizons so that we could donate any change to charity. The girls’ loose change has amounted to over £43 in just a few weeks – something to think about!