Head's Weekly Review - Spring Issue 6

WEEKLY REVIEW

Head’s Introduction

Congratulations to our netballers, who have enjoyed some excellent matches this week, and well done, in particular, to the U14s, who have been crowned Sussex Champions! They played against some very strong schools in the area, and then met Ardingly in the final. This was a great match, and the team played with determination and grit to win 9-5. Well done!

Well done also to Charlotte in Year 9, who has just won three medals competing for England in Taekwon-Do. She is already a black belt, and was competing with her team in the Nations Championships. She won one Silver and two Bronze medals, showing her strength in the three disciplines of this martial art. Congratulations, Charlotte.

Last night’s Evening Recital was a wonderful event, and I was thoroughly impressed by the range of pieces and styles performed by the girls, and by the number of outstanding musicians we have in the School. The performers not only played and sang with passion, but introduced their pieces with great poise. Thank you to all those who came to support, and well done to everyone who performed so beautifully, and to the Theatre team who set up the Old Ref and served the cheese and wine. Finally, a huge thank you to Mr Rous and Ms Bartlette for accompanying and organising the event, and for supporting, encouraging and inspiring the next generation of musicians.

I am pleased that the Year 8s took part in the sponsored visual impairment day. They were raising money for our neighbours, Blind Veterans, who have set them a series of challenges to undertake. These are things that many of us take for granted, but things which are very difficult if you are visually impaired. The 30 students learnt a great deal during the day, and the year-group has raised over £3000. More widely, congratulations go to the whole school community – together we have raised over £21,500 for charity since September, which is outstanding!

Good luck to the three groups of staff and students who have set off on trips today. Forty students have gone to Iceland, where they will have a wonderful time exploring this amazing country. Sixteen students have flown to Valencia to immerse themselves in Spanish culture. And eight musicians left at 4:00am to visit the Steinway factory in Hamburg, where they will be choosing the Music Department’s new Steinway pianos, as part of our programme to introduce Steinway pianos to Roedean. I hope these trips go well, and I am grateful to my colleagues for leading them, and for giving the students such wonderful opportunities.

Well done to everyone in a hugely successful first half of term, and I hope that you all have a lovely half-term break!

U14 Netball Sussex Champions!

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.

Evening Music Recital

The Old Ref was beautifully lit in reds, pinks, and blues for our evening recital, turning it into a wonderfully intimate performance space. There was certainly an air of excitement and expectation, with a programme covering seven different instruments and voice, and as many musical periods and styles.

Athena in Year 10 opened the recital with a confident performance of the first movement of JC Bach’s Viola Concerto. Her bowing was strong and the warm tone of the Viola most certainly shone through.

In a change of styles, the next piece was The Winner Takes It All, by ABBA, performed by Galina in Year 11. She sang beautifully, with great power and pathos, and she gave every single word meaning. Alissandra and Ella also provided lovely backing vocals, and it was a lovely performance.

Rosie (Yr13) played the famous Méditation from Thaïs by Massenet on the Violin. Her lyrical line was beautiful, and her playing mirrored the operatic style of the piece. It covers the instrument’s complete range, and Rosie’s tone was warm and rich in the lower register and strong in upper harmonics.

Candis in Year 10 then took to the piano to play Schubert’s Impromptu in A flat major. It was clear from her performance that she had complete control of the instrument and of the complexity of the piece – her rubato in the running quavers’ section was lovely.

The next piece was She Never Told Her Love by Haydn, performed by Alice (Yr10). Singing the words of Shakespeare, she was able to give the words colour and showcase her beautiful soprano voice, and the top notes were clear and rang out brightly.

Natalie (Yr8) performed the first movement from Mozart’s first Violin Concerto with great command of her instrument. She was able to change between alternating forte and piano sections with ease, and her playing was crisp and precise. Her cadenza at the end of the movement allowed her to show her mastery of double-stopping while also running effortlessly between the top and bottom of the instrument’s range.

In stark stylistic contrast to her performance in SIX before Christmas, Ella in Year 11 sang the stunning Domine Deus from Vivaldi’s Gloria. Her voice was beautifully clear, and her mastery of the long phases requiring outstanding breathcontrol was remarkable. It is a beautiful piece, and Ella’s performance certainly did it justice.

Sisters, Queena and Kate (Yr12 and 11), played two wonderful movements by Doppler on the Flute, the Andante and Rondo. The

timing between the two players was perfect, particularly so when they moved into the faster Rondo. The interplay was lovely, covering the the instrument’s full range, and their playing was matched beautifully by Abi’s skilful accompaniment on the piano.

Burning Eyes R Calling by Wasia Project, an amalgamation of pop and classical which fuses British and East Asian styles, was performed by Tiffany in Year 12. Not only was her voice powerful and lyrical, but she also accompanied herself on the piano – it was a lovely performance.

The next piece was the unaccompanied Largo from JS Bach’s Violin Sonata in C Major, performed brilliantly by Alissandra in Year 12, just a week after performing so brilliantly as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables. It is very exposing to play without an accompaniment to support you, and her timing was impeccable throughout.

Fleur sang Still Hurting by Jason Robert Brown, and her powerful voice was clear. She was able to move effortlessly between the quiet contemplative sections and those where her character was more certain of her feelings. It was a bewitching performance.

The next piece was the third movement of Schubert’s A minor Sonata, performed by Abi in Year 12. She demonstrated the confidence to wait as long she dared before starting new phrases, with lovely rubato, and the changes between the different sections of the movement were clearly defined.

In a wonderful change of mood, Charlie sang At Last by Etta James – singing jazz demands a different type of confidence, the confidence to pull the music around, and enjoy every moment of it. Given her brilliant rendition, you would never believe that she’s only in Year 9 – wow!

Carmen in Year 12 played the Allegretto from Saint-Saëns’ Clarinet Sonata, and she was able to show off the instrument’s full range, from the rich lower register to the ringing top notes. The next piece was a duet for Cello and Double Bass by Dragonetti, and Sarah and Zyta in Year 9 played this little-known piece beautifully, showcasing their instruments.

The recital concluded with the stunning and fiendishly difficult Nocturne in B flat minor by Chopin. Bernice in Year 10 was able to show complete mastery of this challenging piece, moving easily between the louder and quieter sections on the piano, and in full control of the instrument.

The recital was a remarkable showcase of the School’s musicians – well done to all our performers. Thank you also to Ms Bartlette, for

Tildy (Yr10) and Romy (Yr9) – for reading poems by Christina Rossetti and Emily Dickinson so well in Chapel this week [Miss Allen]

Charlize (Yr9) – for playing Sicilienne by Paradis on the Cello so beautifully in our Chapel services this week [Dr Barrand]

Joyce (Yr12) – for a fascinating Academic Lecture on : ‘False Etymology: Changing Word Origins in a Changing World’. [Ms Ibanez-Barcelo]

overseeing the recital, to Mr Rous for his faultless accompaniment, to Mr Wailes and Mr Pashley for setting up the room and providing the cheese and wine, and to everyone who came to support.

Dr Barrand

Programme

1st movement from Viola Concerto – J C Bach

Athena (Yr10) – Viola

The winner takes it all from Mamma Mia –Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus

Galina (Yr11) – Voice

Méditation from Thaïs – Massenet

Rosie (Yr13) – Violin

Impromptu op. 142 No. 2 in A Flat Major –Schubert

Candis (Yr10) – Piano

She never told her love – Haydn

Alice (Yr10) – Voice

1st movement from Violin Concerto No. 4 –Mozart

Natalie (Yr8) – Violin

Domine Deus from Gloria – Vivaldi

Ella (Yr11) – Voice

Andante and Rondo – Francois Doppler

Queena (Yr12) and Kate (Yr11) – flute, Abi (Yr12) – Piano

Burning Eyes R Calling – Wasia Project Tiffany (Yr12) – Voice

Largo from Violin Sonata No. 3 in C major – JS Bach

Alissandra (Yr12) – Violin

Still Hunting from The Last Five Years – Jason Robert Brown

Fleur (Yr11) – Voice

Allegro vivace from Piano Sonata No.4 in A minor – 3rd movement – Schubert

Abi (Yr12) – Piano

At Last – Etta James

Charlie (Yr9) – Voice

Allegretto from Sonata, Op 167 – Saint-Saëns

Carmen (Yr12) – Clarinet

Adagio from Duo for cello and contrabass – 1st movement – Dragonetti

Sarah (Yr9) – Cello and Zyta (Yr9) –Contrabass

Nocturne Op. 9 No. 1 in B Flat minor – Chopin

Bernice (Yr10) – Piano

Sport Stars of the Week

Congratulations to this week's Sports Stars!

[Miss Kirby-Jones]

Year 7

Dita, for stepping up to play lastminute Netball fixture

Year 8 Molly, for great progress in Netball this term

Year 9

Gaby, for brilliant performances in both Netball and in the swimming gala

Year 10 Mia, for a great Netball performance at SISNA

Year 11

Esme, for fantastic netballing for the U16s

Year 12

Lila, for brilliant commitment and effort in Netball

Year 13

Emma, for wonderful commitment to Netball in the face of adversity

Steinway Pianos on their way to Roedean

A group of 8 Roedean pianists along with the Director of Music, Mr Rous, and piano teacher Ms Macdonald, left the UK at around 4:00am on Friday morning for a day trip to Germany that is the start of a very exciting project.

Mr Rous said: 'Holly, Charlie, Bernice, Candis, Alicia, Galina, Abi, and Tiffany. All arrived early and cheerful! Even though six of them were performing in the Evening Recital last night! At 3.50am, we set off in two taxis. There was lots of chat on the way about what the new pianos would be like and which rooms they will go in. Bernice was delighted to realise our Steinway Model B will be delivered in time for her concerto performance in the Brighton Fringe Festival Concert on 6 May.'

The group arrived at 9.30am in Hamburg for a special visit to the renowned Steinway Factory. The Steinway team met the group, and provided a tour of the factory, where the students learned about the history of Steinway and how the pianos are handcrafted by master craftsmen, using only the finest tools and materials.

The purpose of the trip is to help choose a number of magnificent pianos that will soon be on their way to Roedean. These will include

'It is important that our high-level piano players are playing on instruments that can match their talent, so that they are able to express the music in the way that they could if they had an exceptional instrument,' Mr Rous explains.

'For all of our piano players, an exceptional instrument can actually speed up their rate of progress and aid the development of their technique, allowing them to reach their potential without being limited by the instrument itself. For this reason, all of our piano lessons from April will be conducted on these new Steinway pianos; we won’t be saving them just for concerts and recitals.'

According to Steinway, over 97% of concert pianists would choose to perform on a Steinway piano, which makes it all the more exciting that the girls will have access to these prestigious instruments.

The trip to see them being crafted is a wonderful opportunity for the students, and looking to the future, there is hope that Roedean may one day become a Steinway School.

Music and Mystery

Book now for a fantastic evening of Music, Mystery, and Intrigue!

Be transported back to the 1920s, with a cocktail reception, top class musicians, world renowned artists, and just a little bit of Drama!

Dress code (optional) – 1920s Evening Glamour

This is a promenade event which will take place in a variety of locations – unfortunately it is therefore not suitable for those with restricted mobility.

There are limited tickets for this event so Book Now!

https://roedean.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/ shows

3 Steinway Grands, a Boston Grand, and a number of uprights.

Visual and Performing Arts Day 10 February 2023 – Issue 6 HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW

On Tuesday morning, Roedean welcomed 40 visiting girls for our annual Visual and Performing Arts Day, as part of the Admissions programme. For a whole day, the girls took part in a carousel of creative workshops that covered Art, Music, Dance and Drama.

The theme was Mary Poppins, and the day finished with a performance to parents on the Roedean Theatre stage. The performance included an abridged version of the Mary Poppins story, with both a dance number and a song – a mash-up of the iconic songs 'Chim Chim Cher-ee' and 'Let's Go Fly a Kite'

The visiting girls had a lovely time, and their parents were really impressed – here is just one of the comments we have received since the day: 'I can't comprehend how you and the team managed to pull off a performance within a few hours, it was more cohesive than the normal school ones that they have months of prep on! Our daughter loved it, and the team at Roedean bring out the best in her, the bubbliness is most certainly amplified by you and the team!'

This will have been a little taster of what is to come, as our Junior Production later in the year will be Mary Poppins, hot on the heels of our recent major production successes, Six and Les Misérables

Many thanks to our Performing Arts team, Mrs Woodbridge, Ms Clarke, Miss Abaza, and Mr Rous, and to Ms Strachan from Art, for leading the workshops, and to Admissions for organising the day. Finally, a big thank you to our Year 8 and Year 9 helpers for supporting our visitors throughout the day.

This beautiful work is by Ivy (Yr13) – it is an installation of an acrylic cut textiles habitat, inspired by crystals. Ivy said: 'I was inspired by a crystal I saw in the Natural History Museum, and decided to recreate the effect and shininess of the crystal. By emphasising the spiky structure and surface textures, I was able to create this installation.'

Ms Strachan

Year 10 at the London Design Museum

This week, the Year 10 Design & Technology students visited the Design Museum in London. It was a brilliant trip and the students were excellent ambassadors for the School.

As well as attending a hands-on workshop on sustainable and smart materials, the day was packed with design ideas and inspiration.

During their trip, the girls had the opportunity to see three exhibitions: Designer Maker User; Objects of Desire (Surrealism); and ASMR.

All these ideas will be used as inspiration for their GCSE Design projects, so this trip has laid excellent foundations for the remainder of their GCSE courses.

Mrs Quirk

Amnesty International at Roedean – £588

The work of Amnesty International is so important because they aim to protect and empower people, by campaigning to tackle human rights abuses, particularly within vulnerable communities. We at Amnesty Society support this organisation because we believe that the protection of human rights can help make the world a safer place. While we alone cannot solve global challenges, supporting Amnesty with the resources we have, and raising awareness of current affairs within our school community ensures that we do not lose sight of the harsh realities many societies are forced to live in.

This term we centred our campaign on women’s rights, focusing on the current humanitarian crisis in Iran that was sparked following the death of Mahsa Amini in custody. The nationwide

protests in Iran were a plea for gender equality and governmental responses to poverty, as the demonstrators cried the words “women, life, and freedom.”

We are incredibly grateful for everyone who supported our fundraiser – we raised £588 – and we hope it inspired you all to reflect on the current-day global inequalities. As well as the freedom we can enjoy to wear clothes of our choosing, where this can, in some states, lead to prosecution. We are looking forward to being more proactive around school to continue our support for Amnesty International! If you would like to get involved, you can find us in the Humanities Classroom on Wednesday Activity 2.

Sarah and Anike (Yr13)

Fola Loved BIP

'Over the span of three weeks, there have been three trips to the BIP print workshop in Brighton, and I managed to go twice because I am an overachiever (and it’s just a very good excuse to get work done!). From the moment you step into the workshop, you are transported into this whimsical land of colors, printing presses, and the smell of white spirit lingering in the atmosphere. You are immediately put to work as you are separated into two groups, one for etching and the other for lino. After slaving away at a lino block and etching plate days beforehand, I finally got the chance to witness the fruits of my labour. I got to experiment with different colors, textures, and backgrounds in ways I couldn’t even fathom before stepping foot in the workshop. Although it was a rigorous process and my legs felt like kit kats after each visit, it was a unique experience that I will never forget, that broadened my skills, and expanded my love for the art of printing. I will forever remember it and cherish this opportunity.'

Fola (Yr11)

Half-term Bucket List Challenge

Half-term lasts nine days, so here is a bucket list of nine activities to get through, one for each day, just for a bit of fun!

Paddle your feet in the sea or a river and skim a stone - the water’s still pretty chilly in February, but exhilarating at the same time! Give it a go –what’s the worst that can happen?

Post a handwritten card to a friend or relation - when did you last receive a card or letter through the post with actual handwriting on it? And how nice did it feel? Why not share that feeling with someone special?

Make a pizza or a cake there is no question that eating something you have made yourself is so much nicer than something bought, and even better to make something for someone else to eat…

5 1 6 2 7 3 8 4 9

Snuggle up in a quiet corner and get lost in a good book - is there anything better, particularly if it’s cold outside, than getting under a blanket with a book and letting the story transport you somewhere?

Learn ‘pi’ to 30 decimal places - this might sound like a really tricky task, but if you learn it in small chunks, and look for patterns, it’s definitely possible – it’s quite a good way to train your brain!

Do a cartwheel or a handstand in the street sometimes it’s fun to be a bit silly and do something that no-one expects, so why not try this – it’ll definitely bring a smile to people’s faces!

Wear one colour from head to toe - fashion editor, Jess Cartner-Morley, says, ‘Embrace colour. Think pink today, be true blue tomorrow. Mellow out in yellow to bring the sunshine in. Make the world a little jollier, one pair of red socks at a time.’

Create an outdoor ‘picture’ with stones or shells - it could just be a pattern, like lots of beach art you can find on the Internet, or it could be a portrait with different coloured pebbles

Surprise someone special with flowers - this could be for Valentine’s Day, but it doesn’t have to be and could be on any day –orange roses are so much more beautiful than red ones anyway!

Take a photo of a video clip as a record of each, and submit them here – BucketListChallenge. All those who complete the bucket list will be listed in the Head’s Review, and the best will win a prize! Have fun!

Dr Barrand

ROEDEAN'S FESTIVAL

Celebrating Inspiring Women 2023

Wednesday 8 March

Priscilla Aldridge

Priscilla is an Independent Advisor with John Lewis, who works closely with Lewes Football Club, the only one in England to pay female and male players the same.

Shahin Bekhradnia

'The Role of Women in Zoroastrian Society'. Shahin is the granddaughter of a renowned Iranian Zoroastrian priest, poet, stargazer, and mathematician.

Kelly Chan OR

Kelly, who is an OR, has her own fashion photography business based in Paris, where she works the likes of Vogue and Hermès.

Mairi Cunningham

Mairi works for the Halo Trust, which is an organisation which works to de-mine war zones –she is currently in the Ukraine.

Gqibelo Dandala

Gqibelo is Executive Director of One To One Africa, where she is able to combine her passions for Africa, women, and economic growth.

Lindi Dlamini

'Gender Equality in South Africa'. Lindi is the newly appointed Executive Director of Roedean South Africa, our sister school in Johannesburg.

Dr Naomi Falcone

'The Evolving Roles of a Doctor in the Modern Day'. Dr Naomi works between psychiatry, paediatrics, and A&E for the NHS.

2023 is the 125th anniversary of the founding of the School on this site by the Lawrence sisters. Their founding ethos that this school should provide girls with an outstanding education to empower them and prepare them to make their mark in society, makes marking International Women’s Day all the more important this year.

#EmbraceEquity

At this year’s festival, Roedean is proud and delighted to welcome twenty-one speakers, all of whom are at the forefront of their careers –they cover a range of topics, catering to diverse interests and passions. All students will attend 5 talks in the day – have a look at the information below to start thinking about which you would like to attend. You will make your selections after half-term.

Dr Ross Barrand

Lesley Fitton OBE

'Colour: the Fourth Dimension of Classical Sculpture'. Lesley is a British classical archaeologist and former Keeper of the British Museum's Department of Greece and Rome.

Shermara Fletcher

‘It’s not about how great you are; what defines you is your consistency’. Shermara is Principal Officer at Churches Together in England.

Prof Gillian Foulger

Gillian is a Geologist and Emeritus Professor at Durham University – one of her interests is ‘Hot Spot’ Volcanism.

Dr Suzie Imber

Suzie is Professor of Space Physics at Leicester University, Roedean’s STEM Ambassador, and also an intrepid explorer!

Mariam Khan

Mariam is a writer and journalist, who has recently written a book entitled ‘It’s Not About The Burqa’, an anthology of essays by Muslim women.

Prof Monica Lakhanpaul

'The Arts – An Essential Ingredient of Science'. Monica is a clinician, science communicator, and Professor of Integrated Community Child Health at UCL.

Charlie Martin

As a professional racing driver, Charlie is a game changer in the male-dominated field of motorsport – as a transgender woman, she represents a paradigm shift in motor racing.

Sophie Montagne

Sophie was part of the British Army's record-breaking Ice Maiden team, the first team of women to ski across Antarctica using muscle power alone.

Prof Jane Ridley

Jane is an English historian, biographer, author and broadcaster, and Professor of Modern History at the University of Buckingham.

Hannah Rudd

Hannah is a writer and marine conservationist, who specialises in sharks – and she is mad about our planet.

Lila Turner MA

'From Painter to Fashion Designer, to Clarity of Mind and Relationship Coach – Finding your Wisdom and Learning to Trust Yourself.'

Hilary Wood

'Agency and Empowerment in Photography: ‘209 Women’ and its Role in Rebalancing the Gender Bias'.

Victoria Usher –

Victoria is the founder and CEO of GingerMay, a multi-award winning global B2B PR and digital marketing agency.

Dr Kiki Yu

Kiki is a film-maker and Senior Lecturer in Film at Queen Mary University of London, focusing on global cinema and decolonising film studies.

Sponsored Visual Impairment challenge

On Wednesday, 32 Year 8 students took on the challenging task of a sponsored 'Visual Impairment' to raise funds for our neighbours, Blind Veterans UK.

Having received their training from the Blind Veterans last week about how to be a guide to someone visually impaired, the girls took turns to wear specially designed goggles that replicate varying degrees of sight loss.

Whilst wearing the goggles, the girls went for a walk across the School and grounds, being guided up and down stairs and across uneven ground, before returning to the ODR to try and make toast and write a card without sight.

This was a chance to fundraise for their chosen charity (the girls have already raised almost nearly £3000), but also to really understand and empathise with those who experience sight loss and the challenges they face every day.

If you would like to donate to the Blind Veterans, you can do so here:

https://bit.ly/3DTOYX0 Mr Wilson

Eco-Council at Roedean Roedean's Charity Fundraising

This year’s Sustainability Prefects and Eco CAP group have decided to set up an EcoCouncil, where representatives from each year group can gather together to share any concerns and ideas regarding sustainability at Roedean, with one of our main goals being to achieve the Bronze level of the Eco-School’s Green Flag Award.

If you are interested, please email IJ37 and MK48 with your name, year group, why you would make a great team member, and any ideas you may already have.

Our first meeting will be Activity 1 on the first Wednesday after half term (22nd) –location TBC. We look forward to hearing all of your brilliant ideas on making Roedean a more sustainable environment!

So far this academic year, we have raised over

£21,600

Marta and Issy (Yr13) – Sustainability Prefects for charity – congratulations to everyone in our wider community!

Sisterhood Chapel

This week, Miss Allen led our Chapel services, focusing on the theme of sisterhood. The services included two poems by female writers, a musical piece by the French female composer, Paradis, and the words of the hymn were also written by a woman.

'Next week, on 14th February, is the Feast of St Valentine, or Valentine’s Day. As you will all know, this has become a day on which it is traditional to celebrate romance and love.

The origins of the celebration are not completely clear – it is known that there were several martyred Christians named Valentine in the third and fourth century, and the feast was originally honouring two Italian Valentines who had been persecuted and killed whilst ministering to Christians in the days of the Roman Empire.

Considering the mass awareness of modern Valentine’s Day, these origins are perhaps surprising – they are not well known, and the details are disputed. However, as time has gone on, the focus has shifted from ‘St Valentine’ himself, to a general celebration of love and romance, and to gift giving as a sign of affection.

The custom of sending flowers, chocolates and presents originated in the UK, but is now commonly practised in many places around the world. These gifts symbolise our love for one another and – along with the sending of anonymised cards and messages – are the emblems most commonly associated with the Valentine’s Day.

When I think of romantic love, I think of Disney films. Like many people, my first exposure to ‘love stories’ was from watching movies like Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty. Even films with non-human characters focused on a romantic relationship, at least in part – Lady and the Tramp, the Aristocats, and the Lion King were all firm favourites. But it was the concept of ‘true love’ and ‘true love’s kiss’ that was powerful – the idea that one gesture, between the right couple, could be a salvation and open the door to happiness.

One of my favourite moments in any Disney film is the ending of Frozen. You will know that in this story true love’s kiss comes, not from a romantic relationship at all, but from a sibling one. In the film, the audience realises that the true love we thought would happen between Anna and Hans is a fake, and then it is not even Kristoff who saves her – it is her sister, Elsa.

The power of the sisterly relationship is celebrated in this film in a way I hadn’t seen before, and it made the point brilliantly that ‘true love’ is not a phenomenon solely enjoyed by romantic partners – it is in the powerful bond of sisters.

For me, at this school, ‘sisterhood’ is not solely relevant to those who have biological sisters. As a collective, we are a sisterhood, and you all during your time at the school will develop, or will have developed, bonds of trust with friends here which are as powerful as the sisterly relationship, in all its brilliant complexity.

One of my favourite poems about sisterhood is by Emily Dickinson and it isn’t about her literal sister at all – it is about her metaphorical sister, her best friend, whose name is Sue. She explains in the poem that she has one sister in her house – her biological sister – and a second, Sue, who lives next door.'

Tildy (Yr10) then read 'One sister have I in our house' by Emily Dickinson.

One Sister have I in our houseAnd one a hedge away. There's only one recorded, But both belong to me.

One came the way that I cameAnd wore my past year's gownThe other as a bird her nest, Builded our hearts among.

She did not sing as we did It was a different tune Herself to her a Music As Bumble-bee of June

Today is far from ChildhoodBut up and down the hills I held her hand the tighterWhich shortened all the milesAnd still her hum The years among, Deceives the Butterfly; Still in her Eye The Violets lie Mouldered this many May.

I spilt the dewBut took the morn,I chose this single star From out the wide night's numbersSue – forevermore!

'Authors have long understood that sisterhood is complex – it is founded on deep love, but can also be intensely competitive, hard to understand and hard to manage. Famous examples of strained sisterly relationships can be found in works of literature such as Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear’ and Chekhov’s ‘Three Sisters’

A far more recent exploration of the dynamic between three sisters is found, once again in the Disney canon, this time in the three Madrigal sisters who star in Encanto.

In this film, the three sisters are all, in their own way, confused by each other and struggling against pressures placed upon them both by their wider family, but also by themselves. Louisa, the eldest, feels she should shoulder all responsibilities and burdens, even though it costs her her peace of mind and happiness. Isabela is viewed by everyone as the ‘perfect’ girl, representing feminine beauty and grace, with no ability to express her creativity or her more complicated side. And Mirabelle feels lost – she doesn’t understand her sisters or her role in their world. When the film reaches its climax it is because Mirabelle unlocks the power of the sisters and frees them from their self-imposed restrictions, by showing them their limitless possibilities. They in turn recognise what she has done for them, and the film ends with joyful mutual happiness and celebration.

We are lucky to have the sisterhood of school, and to enjoy the power, the magic and –ultimately – the love that this represents. So next week, on Valentine’s Day, do take a moment to think about these relationships and our wonderful Roedean sisterhood.'

To conclude, Romy (Yr9) read an excerpt from Christina Rossetti’s Goblin Market, which wonderfully articulates the power of sisterhood:

For there is no friend like a sister In calm or stormy weather;  To cheer one on the tedious way,  To fetch one if one goes astray, To lift one if one totters down,  To strengthen whilst one stands.

'This past one and a half terms in boarding has been nothing but fantastic. One of the excellent things about boarding is that we have so many activities to participate in! I’ve joined house competitions this term such as House Quiz, and I watched the House Swimming competition, in which my friend Charlize swam (and she was absolutely fabulous!).

I’ve also joined in House activities such as the Quiz Nights on Mondays and Bingo Nights on Wednesdays. Boarding life is always fun, from Monday to Sunday.

On Saturdays, we have breakfast in House, and prep time, then in the afternoon we can either go on the Brighton shopping trip or stay in the House and have some free time. On Sundays, we lots of activities we can sign up for, ranging from a trip to the i360 to paintballing.

As you can see, boarding life is never boring. If you asked me what my favourite thing about boarding is, I would say that it’s the sense of family, the warmth and care, the strong connections, and most importantly, the belongingness I feel when I’m in the House.'

Natalie (Yr9)

Boarding in House 1

Mrs Hurley

'Life in House 1 has been very enjoyable this half term, especially with the brilliant Lunar New Year fireworks, Les Mis, and the steadily increasing sunny days.

On the weekends, there is always a lively board game going on in a corner of the House. There has also been a lot of baking throughout the week, with House staff making sure that there are baked snacks after House meetings.

For me, the swimming gala was the most memorable event, as it was my first time taking part. Many of my friends showed up to support, with most screaming themselves hoarse. The chaos of people scrambling around dripping wet trying to work out who needed to go where will not be easily forgotten!'

'Boarding in House 1 has been so much fun this half-term!

The house normally offers a range of activities I love to attend, like Quiz Night, Bingo, and Toasties sessions. Normally, after prep time, I love to come down with my friends and relax while doing these activities.

On top of these, I've also attended many of the house competitions on Thursdays, the most recent being House Dodgeball, which was so much fun to be a part of representing my House.

Normally on Friday nights, I play one of the many boardgames that the House staff have bought for us with the other boarders; we have been very interested in a game called "Ticket to Ride" recently, where the aim of the game is to build the longest train route around Europe.

Another highlight of my boarding time was watching the recent school production of Les Miserables last week; it was amazing to see all my friends on the stage performing, and I enjoyed the story very much!'

Some House 1 boarders share their thoughts about their boarding experience.

Athena (Yr10)

Solari (Yr11)

House 3’s newest arrivals, who are now boarding pros, reflect on their first term at Roedean:

House 3’s newest arrivals, who are now boarding pros, reflect on their first term at Roedean.

Miss Ford-Senior

'I really enjoy my time in Roedean, I have experienced many things which I like, including being a star in the House Christmas decoration competition (which we won!), going to Wagamama, eating pancakes, and playing giant sardines… Most importantly, spending time with my House team and friends here.

When I first came to House 3, I felt really homesick and I felt that I was still not settled in even after many days, and I really wanted to leave. But, in the second term, I just settled in! Who knows why? Maybe because of the fun activities and joking with my friends? But generally, I think boarding is fun and I have created a lot of memories in House 3. When I look back to the ‘me’ in the first term, I noticed how much more I’m enjoying the second term and… I realised that I’m actually glad that I didn’t leave!!!'

Hilary (Yr7)

'My first term and a half at Roedean has been great and House 3 has been so much fun. Returning in January was much easier than when I arrived in September and I settled in really quickly, much quicker than I expected! Getting to go on trips to things like football matches has been exciting – I’ve tried lots of new things. I am really looking forward to the rest of Year 9 here in House 3.'

Darcey (Yr9)

'Since I’ve come to Roedean, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a boarder. Being in House 3 is so great and there is always an activity to look forward to. Since I've been here, I have made so many good friends that I get to spend so much time with and get closer with. Everyone is so kind and considerate, and whenever I need anything, I know someone will be there to help. I am really looking forward to the next couple of terms here, as I get to continue to experience new things and make the most of this new adventure.'

Alayna (Yr10)

'Roedean has been great and filled with fun. I enjoyed a lot of things like making lifelong friends in all year groups in House, and eating many toasties, and having strawberry lace competitions. All of these and much more with all be core memories that I will never forget. I can’t wait for even more to come because so far it has been good, no, actually great!'

Jolie (Yr7)

'Coming from a totally different city and culture, I enjoyed a change to my lifestyle; from participating in House activities to enjoying seaside walks during weekends. Although adapting was never easy for me, I felt a new sense of community and acceptance in House 3 and at Roedean.'

Elsa (Yr10)

'This first term at Roedean has been fun. Although the memories of Mamma Mia songs will haunt me for the rest of my life! The baking, Friday ASDA trips, and endless snacks have been by far the best part and, together with the new friends I’ve made in House 3, it has all contributed to this positive experience I’m having here.'

Ellie (Yr9) Page 12

'My first term at Roedean didn’t go as I planned whatsoever. For the first few weeks at Roedean I was bed- stricken due to an illness I contracted because I wasn’t used to England’s harsh weather. I felt homesick and missed my friends and family terribly. However, I found consolation through my new dorm-mates, friends, teachers, and especially my Housemistress and the House team. Although it took me a while to get settled in, I found warmth and comfort in the people I talked to and lived with every day. I look forward to seeing what else is to come.'

Camilla (Yr10)

Boarders Lead CPD for Staff

On Wednesday this week, fourteen brave boarders led a Continuing Professional Development session with the staff, giving them a real insight into what it is like to be a boarder at Roedean, and ideas of what might help them in the future. Thank you to Jana, Yujin, Mbali, Diana, Matilda, Ellie, Fola, Onose, Scarlett, Khadija, Nicole, Sigrid, Louise, and Helen – it was really impressive!

Miss Hart

U16s Take 3rd Place at SISNA U15 Netball SISNA

The U16s worked extremely hard in the lead up to SISNA. Their commitment to training and matches allowed them to be in the strongest position possible. They started off well against both Burgess Hill and Hurst B team, taking wins 15-6 and 14-6 respectively. They carried on in that fashion, extending our goal difference with some very accurate shooting from Elsie, Lizzie, and Lilah, helping us secure a 15-1 win over Seaford and 11-4 win over Mayfield.

We then faced the two deciding games of the tournament one after the other, first was Hurst, followed by Brighton College. We came out the blocks quickly against Hurst, turning over their centre pass with brilliant pressure from our defensive unit, Jasmine, Jamie, and Ruby, and managed to take it to goal. Unfortunately, we made an error and allowed Hurst to score off our centre pass, bringing it back to a draw. Despite lots of defensive pressure and some slick attacking moves from Pearl, we could not get the ball into our attacking D. Hurst took the win on this game.

Next up was Brighton College, and the girls wanted to take the win to secure second place. We started shakily, after injury trouble from the game before had left us unsettled. Fortunately, we clawed it back to only being down by one at half time. The girls gave their all, but, unfortunately, Brighton took the game away from us, winning 11-6. The rest of the tournament was more relaxed, with calm wins, despite us still pushing for goals difference. Ella and Esme communicated well, picking off lots of intercepts, allowing us to beat Christ Hospital 13-2 and Worth 14-1. Phoebe and Katie controlled the attacking end nicely to see the last three wins over the line, 9-1 vs Ardingly, 13-4 vs Brighton Girls, and 11-2 vs Lancing.

I am so proud of the whole squad for giving their all in every match, during a very long day of netball. You should be so proud of yourselves.

Miss Hammond

Tuesday: the day the U15As had been building up to all year... SISNA.

We went into the day with the mindset of taking each game as it comes, staying positive and keeping the ball safe. And I tell you what... we did just that!

Let me introduce you to the squad:

■ Captain Clara (GD) – loud and proud on the court, mum vibes off the court

■ Georgie (GK) – silent assassin, sneaky interceptor

■ Evie (WD) – hustler and general wing attack irritator

■ Polly (WD, WA, C, GS) – Little Miss pretends she can't shoot, so the crowd goes wild when she scores every goal...

■ Tildy (WA, C) – the triple C: cool, calm, composed

■ Alice (WA) – 1...2...3....Alice: feisty feeder

■ Grace (WA) – late but valuable, short and snappy

■ Saffron (GA) – Saffr-ON every ball, and a shooting legend

■ Mia (GS) – the SISNA scratching post

The team's first game was against Ardingly. We made a strong start, but we got pipped at the post with a 4-10 loss. After a regroup and gather, the team fought hard against Bedes, and won 8-7.

Next up was Hurst. With a possession game plan, the score stayed at 2-2 for the first 5 minues, and we were 2-4 down at half time. The strong side turned it up int the second half, ending in a 3-11 loss. Eastbourne were next on the list, and we won 8-5.

Our final group stages game left us with Brighton Girls. With some silly errors in a winnable game, we lost 2-8. However, in a dramatic turn of events, the team finished third in their group stage, meaning we went into the 5th & 6th place play-off versus Burgess Hill. The BH team were physical and tall, and we struggled to get any goals in the first half, leaving us a tough second half, and we lost 3-9.

There are areas to work on, but a sixth place overall finish is great. I cannot explain how proud I am of the squad, for their team effort and positivity throughout the day. They worked hard for each other, remained focused, and fought for every ball in every match. They've made me the proudest coach and I can't wait for their final matches of the season after half term.

Miss Bamford

This Week in Boarding

The final week of half term has been a fun-filled one! From a Wagamama's trip to chocolate cake and homemade pizza to Valentine's cookies, the girls have enjoyed lots of foodie treats. Boarding assembly was a very musical one, with lots of talent displayed from House 3, House 4 and Lawrence – a big well done to all involved! Houses have been creative in many ways, decorating for Valentine's day, painting masterpieces and making crafts with Hamma beads! We hope everyone has a well deserved break for half term!

Miss Barnett

Netball vs Mayfield

U14C 34-9 Win

'On Saturday morning, U14C team, with tired faces, sauntered onto the buses to travel to Mayfield. With Chloe as Captain and Peony as Vice-Captain, the match started with Mayfield taking the first centre. This did not sway the team because, with Mimi's excellent Goalkeeping, Isabella's amazing intercepts, and Chloe being able to stick to her player very tightly, the team was able to block Mayfield from receiving many chances to shoot.

In the middle of the court, Darcy linked both defence and attack with her superb drives. Across the court, Jemima and Peony worked together well and managed to shoot in nearly every chance they received. Both Farwa and Darcy were there to assist the shooters and increase the chances of winning. and Isabella showed great support by calling out constructive criticism and praise. By the third quarter, the players stepped out of their comfort zone by playing in positions they did not play in often. Despite this, the team was still able to sneak in another 9 goals.

The game ended with 34-9 to Roedean, with Chloe and Mimi named as Players of the Match. Another day of winning, U14C!'

U14E Victory

On Saturday, the U14E team played their first match of the season against Mayfield! They were super excited to get going and put on a great show. With Freya, Henrietta, and Chloe working hard at the shooting end, Lucia, Emelie, Chloe, and Claire transitioning the ball through the middle, and Romy, Lucia, and Nathania dominating the defensive end, the team fought hard!

It was 1-1 after the first quarter, and then a massive 6-1 at half time, so the team were more confident going into the second half. The match finished 9-6, which is a huge win for the U14Es who played Mayfield's D team!

I am really proud of the players, and of Nathania who was Coaches' Player of the Match. Great work, team!

Miss Bamford

U14D Win vs Mayfield U14C

The U14Ds were a joy to coach last weekend. They were upbeat and hardworking for the whole match.

We played a fast-paced game, moving the ball quickly between players in short and sharp patterns. This made it hard for the Mayfield defence to intercept, allowing us to take a 5-goal lead after the first 12 minutes. Alice, Maggie, and Iris were strong at the back, chasing all loose balls and forcing errors with their strong defensive pressure. Elisabeth and Poppy linked up with the defence nicely, and transferred the ball to the shooter with ease. With some extremely accurate shooting from Chloe, Orla, and Asmitha, the U14Ds took the win 18-13.

It was an excellent game – special mention goes to Chloe, who received Opposition's Player, and Elisabeth, who received Coaches’ Player. Keep up the hard work!

Miss Hammond

U15

Up with the larks and rising sun, our U15Cs travelled to Mayfield on Saturday for the muchanticipated netball fixture.

With the mist lifting above the rival’s court, our team arrived in good time to execute a strong warm up and were fully prepared for what was set to be an end-to-end showdown.

The match got off to a quick start; the pace was furious; the game was physical. Playing four quarters, this was to be a game of fortitude as well as strategy. At the end of the first quarter, Roedean were down on goals, however they were able to identify the opposition's game tactics. With a determination to play to our strengths, the team went in fighting.

Throughout the next two quarters, Roedean played with a fluidity and determination which saw them move into the lead going into the last quarter. Mayfield made a last-minute substitution, which turned out to be decisive. With only a four-goal deficit to make up, Mayfield went in with a renewed thirst and desire to win, and pushed a huge 9 goals in the last quarter. Roedean were not able to hold off their advances, however they displayed some of the best netball I have seen them play all term.

We all agreed it was a fantastic game, full of twists, turns, and many goals. In the end, Roedean was defeated 27- 34. Many lessons have been learnt, but it was an extremely positive and high scoring match. Well done team.

Miss Marek

U15B Robbed of Victory

The U15B team travelled to Mayfield for an enticing fixture this week, with a few missing, but an exciting team going to court. The match started well and went up 2-0 in a tensely defensive quarter.

In the second quarter, we managed a 6-4 lead, maintaining our 2 point advantage and keeping Mayfield at touching distance. The game was feisty and tensely fought, with both teams motivated to win.

In the third quarter, it tightened again as the two point advantage was maintained and the score 8-6. With no substitutions, it was difficult going and the team were unlucky to go down in the final quarter. Mayfield stepped it up, and we responded well until the final few minutes, where their shooting became even more accurate and they managed to pull ahead.

The match ended 14-11 to Mayfield

Mr Campleman

Farwa (Yr9)

U14C

U14D

Netball vs Mayfield

U15A 23-16 Win

On Saturday, the U15A team travelled to Mayfield. After the first 12 minutes, Roedean were up 6-4, and they then pushed on, taking the score to 11-7 at half time.

The team was confident heading into the third quarter, powering on with 19-10 on the board. The confidence within the team won them the game, and this is just the time to do this, ahead of the Sussex Cup and SISNA.

Jasmine, Clara, and Georgie dominated the defensive end, Polly, Tildy, and Alice controlled the middle, and Mia and Saffron excelled at the shooting end. It was a physical game, and the team adapted well to this – despite multiple wipe outs and clatterings!

Congratulations to Clara for being awarded Girl of the Game. The final score was 23-16.

Miss Bamford

U15D Win Convincingly

Last Saturday, the U15Ds put on a brilliant performance away at Mayfield. All members of the team made a fantastic contribution to the match, putting their lesson focuses from the past couple of weeks into practice. Chloe controlled the middle and communicated with her team effectively. Holly and Maya were both unstoppable in the shooting circle, scoring from range! Kelly and Indigo made fast-paced drives to the ball carrier, allowing them to make a safer pass which helped us take the lead, with the score 12-6 at half-time. In the third and fourth quarter, our defence worked tirelessly, with Amy, Grace, and Zella preventing the ball from going in their D, allowing us more attempts on goal. The final score was 24-13 to Roedean. It was an excellent performance – well done all. Congratulations to Chloe who received Coaches’ Player and Zella who received Opposition's Player.

Miss Hammond

Netball vs Windlesham & Great

Walstead U13A

On Wednesday, the U13As had a triangular versus Windlesham House and Great Walstead, two very strong opponents.

We faced Great Walstead first and played simple netball effectively. Defensively, we stuck to our players and got clean intercepts. Our timing has improved, and this allowed us to seamlessly transfer the ball through court. We were up 5-3 at half time. In the second half we pushed on and extended our lead to win 9-6. Well done to Amarah, who received Opposition's Player.

U18A

This was the third day of netball for the girls, but you would never have known, as they went out there full pelt and really fought hard. It was a tough match, but we actually maintained a good amount of possession throughout.

We were bringing the ball down the court beautifully, with well-timed drives, front cuts, and sensible passes against a difficult defence. We struggled to get the ball in the D against their defence, who were fast, physical, and strong. Lila, Erin, and Flo did a great job getting rebounds and turning the ball over. We started scoring some goals and hitting our target, and this definitely gave us a boost.

Izzy, Millie, and Amelia were working the ball around in midcourt, which was sensible against their defence, so it was hard work, but their patience meant we weren't losing the ball too often. Decision-making was excellent throughout the game – we didn't throw away too many crazy passes, we waited for the right option, and it was flowing down the court. There were definitely highlights to take from the match.

Amelia was rewarded with Player of the Match. Erin was my Coach's Player for being brilliant in attack and defence, showing great movement.

Miss Patching-Jones

After a short break, we then faced Windlesham. We started slowly against a fast-paced Windlesham House side, which meant we went 3-0 down immediately. We upped our intensity and managed to claw it back to 4-4 at half time. Unfortunately, we took our foot off the gas in the second half and Windlesham House took the win 10-7. Well done to Liv, who received Opposition's Player.

They were two very closely contested matches, and we learnt a lot to take back to training. You are all making brilliant progress keep up the hard work!

Miss Hammond

Lady Taverner's Cricket

U13A

Over the last two weeks, we have seen both our U15A and U15B teams enter the first round of the Lady Taverner’s cricket competition.

The A team played against Sackville and Downlands, and won both games. Stand-out performances came from Maya, Mia, and Harriet with the ball, and Harriet even took three wickets in one over. Orla and Lydia batted well to get us over the line in the first game. This puts the team through to the county finals in March.

The B team faced BACA and Warden Park. The first game saw Eloise take a hattrick in her over, but, even with some great batting from Evie, we lost in the penultimate over by just one run! The second game was much better, with us reaching 72 runs off 8 overs, and reducing the opposition to just 42 runs. Unfortunately, BACA also lost to Warden Park which meant Roedean finished second and were unable to proceed to the finals.

Miss Kirby-Jones

U15A

Charlotte Competes for England at Taekwon-Do

Congratulations to Charlotte (Yr9), who won a Silver and two Bronze medals representing England in Taekwon-Do last weekend!

Taking part in the Nations Championships was the result of an arduous selection process dating back to August last year. This was a unique event since it was teams-based, and England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales all participated.

Charlotte performed exceptionally well, competing in three events – patterns, sparring, and power breaking. Alongside her teammates, she won a medal in all three elements. In patterns, Charlotte and her team took the Bronze medal for England. In sparring, once again they took the Bronze, and in power breaking they were rewarded with a fantastic Silver.

This is an amazing set of results, which is all the more impressive because Charlotte showed immense maturity in helping run the morning sessions for the belts below black belt, before then competing herself.

Congratulations, Charlotte – we will all be keeping an eye out for your future successes!

Miss Marek

Netball vs Great Walstead

U13D Win

A much-changed U13D team, with 4 girls promoted from the E team due to their huge progress, won an excellent game against Great Walstead. The first quarter was 5-5, and the following two were both 4-2 to Roedean, so the score was a close 13-9 entering the final 12 minutes.

Roedean managed to get on top and pull away, thanks to lots of movement off the ball from Lilah, Ava, Molly, and Hettie, accurate shooting from Molly, Sienna, and Lily, and aggressive defence from the other Molly and the outstanding Sohana.

The final score was 23-13, but it was a much closer game than the scoreline suggest. Well done!

Mr Smethurst

U12D vs Great Walstead U12Bs

The U12D team had a good match against Great Walstead U12B team. We were pleased that the opposition challenged us, and we had to raise our game to meet their standards. It was great to see Hazel, who played WD nominated as Players' Player, and Ying and Flo who were nominated as Coaches' Player. Although we lost the match it was wonderful to see Aya making her D team debut from the Es, and Momo play as she has just come up from the E team too. Well done!

Miss Wakeling

U18 Netball vs Christ's Hospital

'In our final match of the half term, the U18Bs played an incredible match against Christ’s Hospital. Despite CH’s physicality and strength, the team fought back and worked together, despite the loss. In the D, Sabrina, Tammy, and Lea converted the hard work to goals after many turn overs from Issy and Emma. Kaia, Ruby, and Eni’s persistent marking and interception proved effective, as we forced many turnovers. Nettie worked hard to defend the goals and fight for the rebounds. A special mention goes to the other Emma, who bravely stepped up to play for the first team!'

Netball vs Windlesham

U12B vs Windlesham U11A

It was another close match for the U12Bs this week, playing against a talented Windlesham team (their Year 6 A team). We were slow to start, which meant Windlesham went up 5-1. We had a pep talk after the first quarter and spoke about moving faster, sharper, and trying to get free form our defenders.

Martha and Eva worked well in the D together, and scored 2 goals between them. Naomi, Bea, and Beth were strong in defence as always and, after the pep talk, were moving faster and making more interceptions, and we stopped Windlesham from scoring many more goals. It was 6-2 at the end of the second quarter.

Alex moved to GS in the third quarter and scored some excellent goals for us. She worked well with both Martha and Eva in the second half of the match. Georgia was playing a lovely Centre, making good decisions, waiting for the right pass and for someone to get free. Flo did a great job of getting her arms up fast and pressuring the ball, As a result, Windlesham only scored one more goal in the third, it was 7-4.

The girls really stepped it up in the last quarter and stopped Windlesham scoring anymore goals, and we scored another, taking the final score to 7-5. We just needed to have started at bit more 'on it', and I think we could have got the win, but Windlesham played some great netball. Well done to Eva who got Player of the Match. Georgia got Coaches' Player for playing so well at Centre.

Miss Patching-Jones U12A

The U12A team travelled to Windlesham House for their last game of the half term. The match was goal for goal throughout. Q1: 5-5 Q2: 10-10. With a big team talk at half time, the team regrouped. Q3: 16-15 Q4: 24-18 WIN! Well done to Sophie, Chiara and Matilda for their shooting, Yasmin, Paloma and Maddie controlling the middle and then Andrea, Katherine and Sorcha for their awesome defence. Congratulations to Sophie for attacking girl of the game and Andrea for defending girl of the game! Coaches player of the match goes to Chiara for her excellent shooting and through court at centre. Have a great half term team, it’s nearly SISNA time!

Miss Bamford

U12C Wind up with a Win

This Wednesday, the under 12C team went to play an away match against Windlesham House School. During the first quarter of the game, Roedean had managed to move the ball quickly up the court, with some outstanding goals by the GS Rosa and GA Chloe.

In the second quarter, Windlesham managed to cut through our defence and score a goal of their own to make the game interesting. The third quarter was a difficult one for Roedean, as Windlesham managed to score three of their own goals and set the bar high, but Roedean

came back, scoring a couple of their own goals to stay ahead.

In the last quarter, the pressure was up for Roedean to try and maintain their lead in the match. Roedean had very tight marking, making it very difficult for Windlesham to keep the ball.

The final score was 10-4, and Girl of the Game went to GK Georgie. Congratulations to everyone who played – it was a great game of Netball.

Mr Campleman

U12C

U14 Netball Sussex Champions!

Congratulations to the U14 Netball team, who were crowned Sussex Champions on Tuesday!

The Sussex Independent Schools Netball Association tournament is the pinnacle of the team’s season – this is what the squad has been building towards and it was clear to see their training paying off. The girls got into the swing of things in the group stages with an early win against Christ’s Hospital (17-1), they then continued increasing the goal difference with a 17-1 win against Seaford and a 16-1 win against Bede's.

With the team now into their stride, it was time to face the big two opponents, Brighton College and Ardingly. After loosing to both teams in the National School competition at the start of the year, the girls really wanted to win. They snuck a win in the dying moments against Brighton College (9-8) and secured a tight draw against

Ardingly. This put us at the top of the group and set up a semi-final game against Worth.

After an hour's break, and the temperature dropping, the players found it tough to find their rhythm against Worth and were 5-5 at half time. With a few positional changes, the goals started to go our way and the turnovers in our defence became a regular occurrence; this allowed the team to storm to a 15-8 win and a place in the final! It was to be Ardingly again…

After going up 2-0 and then down 4-2, it was going to be the team who could keep their heads when all around them were losing theirs, and it was Roedean who did just that. Keeping their cool, the girls took the win 9-5 and were crowned 2023 Champions!

Miss Kirby-Jones

U15A

Netball vs Warden Park – Sussex Cup Round 1

On Monday, the U15A took on Walden Park in Round 1 of the Sussex Cup. With a very cramped bus journey over to Cuckfield, the team was in good spirits and had their individual targets set for the next two days. The team had some inside knowledge about the players in the WP team, and we were ready to take them on! The court was extremely slippery, meaning that our drives were more cautious. It took us a bit of time to adapt to this, with Roedean 4-9 down after the first quarter.

The team stepped up to the plate, drawing the next quarter 6-6, 4-5 in the third and 5-5 in the final quarter. Unfortunately, with the damage done in the first quarter, we just didn't have enough time to claw it back. I am extremely proud of the squad, after putting out one of their best performances yet. Special mention goes to Mia for being Girl of the Game, and Coach's Player of the Game, for her outstanding shooting and composure in the D.

The final score was 19-26 to Warden Park.

Miss Bamford

U13A into the Next Round of the Sussex Cup!

On Monday, the U13A had a Sussex Cup match against Brighton College Lower School. We came out the blocks fully firing, and prevented them from getting many shots up in the first quarter. In our attacking end, we were calm and composed, and putting away some excellent long-range shots. Despite taking an early lead, the squad pushed on to extend it and were up 15-3 at half time.

The girls focused on driving forward and pressuring the ball carrier, both of which we had been focusing on in training. Their hard work paid off and this allowed us to keep progressing through the game. With a couple of injuries, Sophie came to our rescue and stepped up to help the squad see the win over the line. We tired in the final quarter which allowed them to claw some back, but we still took the win 28-11. It was a full squad effort – congratulations to all. Well done also to Liv who received Opposition's Player and Sophie who received Coaches’ Player. We will be playing Warden Park in the next round.

Hammond

Thanks from the PE Department

It has been a brilliant term of sport, and, as well as thanking all of the students who have taken part in games and fixtures, i would like to thank Mr McWilliams for always helping out with a smile on his face, our amazing Catering Team for all the wonderful cakes served for Match Teas, and the Security Team for opening the pool at 6:30 every morning for early swim sessions. Thank you – what you do is really appreciated.

Miss Wakeling

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: abw@roedean.co.uk

Miss