Head's Weekly Review - Summer Issue 7

HEAD ’ S WEEKLY REVIEW

Head’s Introduction

It was such a pleasure yesterday to welcome to Roedean the girls who will be joining Years 7-9 next year. Most were a mixture of excitement and nerves, but I am sure that meeting their tutors and the girls who will be in their tutor-groups will help the first few days in September to run smoothly. I also enjoyed meeting the new parents, along with my Senior Team colleagues and the tutors – we are all excited about the coming year.

I was very pleased to welcome representatives from Best Schools UK to Roedean this week, and to be presented with an award for being one of the top 10 UK girls’ boarding schools for last year’s A Level results. These accolades are hard-fought, and I was proud to receive the award on behalf of all the students and staff. The representatives enjoyed a tour of the School and were full of praise for everything they saw.

The Year 9s enjoyed a great residential trip at the start of the week, and I am pleased to have heard very positive feedback about the experience – I am grateful to Miss Shrubsole and her tutors for organising and taking part in this trip. Many of these and 65 Year 10s will also be doing their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze and Silver assessed expeditions this weekend, and there is a Sixth Form Geography field trip – I wish them all the best of luck! You will all have received the booklet containing next year’s exciting residential trips, and I am sure that there is something for everyone.

I would like to congratulate all those taking A Levels and GCSEs, who seem to be approaching their exams calmly and with a quiet confidence – well done. I wish you all a lovely weekend.

Roedean – Top 10 UK Girls' Boarding School for A Levels

£409 Raised for Project 125 Moldova

Year 9 Residential

This Week in Boarding...

We are thrilled that Roedean has been recognised as a 'Top 10 UK Girls' Boarding School by A Level'!

This week, we welcomed Ali Pettitt and Dan MacDonnell, representing Education Advisers Ltd and best-schools.co.uk, to Reodean – they enjoyed a tour of the School and took the opportunity to present the award to Mrs Green.

Congratulations to everyone in the Sixth Form whose hard work in recent years has culminated in this incredible award!

Mrs Wienekus

Roedean –Top 10 UK Girls' Boarding School for A Levels OR News – Esmee Ellis

Congratulations to Esmee Ellis, whose graduate collection was featured by the British Fashion Council – this is how she describes it:

'My 6-look collection is a canvas for the exploration of woven and geometric pattern, drawing inspiration from Bauhaus textile design and mid-century garden furniture. Silhouette and garment construction is considered to offer minimal fastenings, allowing for the fabric to contort,

gather, wrap, and tie around the wearer’s body, rather than using traditional fastening methods. The collection features varied handwoven checked print designs developed from my paper weaving, digitally printed onto jersey and organic cottons. Other garments feature Harris Tweed wool, as well as mohair and cotton jacquard knitwear.'

What an amazing collection! Page 2

Roedean musicians present

Summer Evening Recital

Roedean Chapel – 7pm

Pre-concert Drinks in the Cloisters – 6.30pm

Come along to see performances from some of our top musicians!

Please book tickets here: https://roedean.ticketssolve.com

Phoebe Wins Place on Yale Research Programme

Congratulations to Phoebe in Year 12, who has been accepted onto a hugely competitive research programme, called Pioneer Academics.

It is the only fully-accredited online research programme for high school students – it is highly regarded for its selectivity and its rigorous academic system. Selected students are mentored first in small international groups, and then in one-on-one research by the staff of the leading colleges and universities, culminating in a full-length research paper.

Phoebe will be doing original research on American Literature, with an Associate Professor from Yale University – what an outstanding opportunity!

£409 Raised for Project 125 Moldova

This week's 'Dress in the Colours of the Moldovan Flag' non-uniform day, and the charity bake sale, raised £409 for Project 125 Moldova.

In less than a month, twelve students from Years 11 and 12 will be in Chisinau in Moldova, where they will be teaching English to over 50 Ukrainian refugee children and Moldovan

orphans – this project has been launched in the School’s 125th year on its current site.

It draws together the fact that we have a student in School from Moldova, as well as Ukrainian students who have been forced to flee their country, and a strong and fundamental desire among the students and staff to help those who need it and to make a difference.

If you would like to support this truly transformational project, you can do so here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/ roedeanschoolproject125moldova

Thank you in advance for your generosity! Dr Barrand

The Year 9 enjoyed a hugely successful and engaging residential trip at the start the start of the week. Our students took part in a range

Year 9 Residential Chapel – Pride Month

of physical and mental challenges, and bonded together around the campfire, where we were treated to a number of performances from the

group, proving that Roedean really has got talent!

Ms Boobis led this week's Chapel services, which marked Pride Month, focusing on the significance of flags and inclusion.

Ms Boobis: In the 1990s, Stewart Lee, one of my favourite comedians, performed a routine where he deconstructed the hymn ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’. He pointed out that the repetition of the word ‘all’ in the hymn’s chorus makes it clear that G-d created ALL things, and that this renders the 13 specific things that are listed thereafter in the verses somewhat redundant. If G-d created all things bright and beautiful, then we can safely assume that, not only did he create a bird, he also created their tiny wings.

Sigrid: Unfortunately, inclusion isn’t always so obvious. Take the original Pride Flag, featuring horizontal stripes in rainbow colours, which debuted in 1978. The flag was designed by Gilbert Baker, after he was challenged by Harvey Milk to create a pride symbol for the LGBT community. Previously, the Pink Triangle had been used, but this retained with it the overtones of Nazi oppression, and the community wanted something more inspirational. Baker was inspired by the hippy movement in the 1960s and the lyrics of songs like ‘She’s a Rainbow’ by the Rolling Stones, which celebrates the unbridled vibrancy and freedom of the woman being described. When Harvey Milk was assassinated in November 1978, the calls for the realisation of this project became more urgent.

The colours in the flag each hold a specific meaning. Logistics of fabric dye availability and a preference for the symmetry of an even number meant that the original 8 colours went down to 6, with the remaining colours representing Life, Healing, Sunlight, Nature, Serenity, and Spirit. The message was of love, harmony, and unity, within a specifically hippyinfluenced context. In 2017, Baker added a lavender stripe to his original design to represent diversity. This was in response to the election of Donald Trump, and marked a recognition that the rainbow didn’t necessarily feel inclusive to all, even though that was what many felt it represented.

Maria: In 2017, the Philadelphia Pride Flag debuted. It added a black and brown stripe on top of the 6 colour rainbow flag to represent people of colour, who have often been erased from LGBTQ+ narratives. For example, it is only relatively recently that people have actively recognised Marsha P Johnson’s prominent role in the Stonewall uprising on 28 June 1969, the event that created the template for all Pride marches since, and the reason why June is World Pride Month.

Other versions of the Pride Flag have followed, building upon older versions to be increasingly inclusive. In the latest Pride Flag, each colour of the rainbow retains the same meaning Baker had assigned to them from the very beginning. The rainbow encapsulates all LGBTQ+ identities and sexualities.

The chevron pattern was added to represent the idea of progression or moving forward. The brown and black stripes remain from the Philadelphia Pride Flag, and reinforce the continuing aim of combating marginalisation within the community.

The blue, pink, and white stripes incorporate the flag of the transgender community – those who do not identify with the gender they were assigned at birth – who have been ignored throughout history, even within the LGBTQ+ community. The most recent addition is the intersex flag. This latest design reflects the recognition of intersex people – those whose biological sex is neither wholly male nor wholly female.

Matlida: This version of the Pride Flag is the most inclusive to date, but, of course, there are many LGBTQ+ identities that aren’t represented explicitly, such as non-binary, lesbian, and bisexual. That is why some choose to identify using their own more specific flags. In fact, there are now more than 50 different LGBTQ+ flags, representing different parts of the vibrant community.

The pride flags hold profound meaning for members of the LGBTQ+ community. No matter which flag, or flags, we choose, they are a symbol of our identities, something we can identify with, and that communicate our connections to each other. The purpose is in the name: to feel pride.

Mrs Shrubsole

Year 7 Music Showcase

This showcase is the culmination of the Year 7 instrumental project – this sees every student in the year-group learning an instrument over the course of Year 7, and every year some choose to continue playing their instrument the following year.

The first Violin group performed Hoe Down and Under the Coconut Tree, and they were able to demonstrate a strong, rich sound. Not only were they able to bow with confidence, but they also tackled some challenging rhythms. Next Martha and Zaina played Pease Pudding Hot on the Bassoon – it is great to see some of our students choosing this less common instrument, which can be tricky to play, but they did brilliantly.

Eleven students then played Start & Stop and Goosebumps on the Trumpet. They showed good timing, and played with confidence. Four Year 8s, who have continued to play this year, then presumed Dog and Duck on the Violin, their improvement since last year was clear to hear.

The second Violin group also played Under the Coconut Tree, along with Twinkle Twinkle – they played well, and were able to move between the strings with skill. Sofia and Molly in Year 8 performed Evening Prayer on the Trombone –they coped very well with the dexterity required to position the slide correctly to maintain solid tuning.

The next piece was a solo performed by Hilary on the Flute – she played On a Summer’s Evening and demonstrated good breath-control and expressive range.

Next was a group of seven Trombones, who played Aces High and How Do You Do? excellently, and with good tuning. Aces High even had some slides, which is something only the Trombone can do! The Trumpets and Trombone then joined together for a Brass spectacular, entitled Chummy Charleston – it was great, particularly given that they have only had 11 hours of tuition over the year.

Next, Tilly performed Clown Dance on the Bassoon with Mr Russell, showing a remarkable level of proficiency after such a short space of time – the instrument is very heavy to hold, and the reed can cause all sorts of problems, but Tilly managed really well.

Alex performed next, singing Part of Your World from The Little Mermaid – her voice was powerful and her timing was excellent. The third Violin group played The Grand Old Duke of York, making a full sound with very solid tuning. They also reprised Under the Coconut Tree

Three Trumpeters in Years 7 and 8 played When the Saints, and they certainly have potential for the future. A group of six Clarinets then played Twinkle Twinkle Little Star – their timing was great. Olivia sang Castle on a Cloud from Les Misérables – her voice was powerful, and she also nailed the characterisation.

The last group brought together seventeen Violins and Violas, and took the audience full circle, playing the two pieces we heard the first group perform. They were equally confident, and made a great sound.

The Year 7 instrumental project gives every student in the year-group the chance to explore the process of learning a musical instrument –some students choose not to continue with their lessons and focus on other areas, but every year others discover a talent for music, which may become a life-long passion!

Dr Barrand

This Week in Boarding...

The sunshine welcomed our boarders back this week after half term, and what a glorious week all the Houses have had.

On Monday, Years 7 and 8 (and some Year 9s) threw themselves into an epic Rounders competition. Afterwards, the girls enjoyed some well-deserved ice lollies.

Girls in House 4 got creative and made a beautiful mural for Mrs Wilson to see from her flat to celebrate her birthday. They also did some baking to help raise money for the School's Moldova trip in July, when 12 Roedean students will travel to Moldova to teach English to Ukrainian refugee children and Moldovan orphans.

In Lawrence, the boarders made Miss Diplos an amazing surprise birthday cake. What a lovely way for the girls to thank her for all she does for Lawrence House!

House 1 enjoyed their usual Wednesday Bingo, but were ecstatic when they discovered the prizes were bubble wands. Who knew teenagers loved bubbles so much – they have even requested bigger ones for next week's prizes!

House 3 also enjoyed some time outside in the evening sunshine, playing tennis and a big game of Kubb. Afterwards, they devoured chocolate sundaes!

It’s brilliant that our boarders can make the most of our wonderful grounds now that we have the weather to match – bring on next week!

Miss Roe

U15 Tennis Victory vs Bede's

Roedean versus Bede's was always going to be a competitive match, and it did not disappoint. There was some brilliant play from both teams, with some super long rallies taking place. Both teams could really hit with pace, and it was often a backcourt battle.

The doubles was just as good, and there were some lovely drop shots and lobs being thrown in, which made for interesting tennis. One of the highlights was match point in Eloise's singles match – it must have been a 20-shot rally and we were all holding our breath as we needed her to win, and she stayed consistent and won it. What an amazing result.

Here are the singles scores: Saffron won 6-0, Mia won 6-1, Maya lost 6-0, and Eloise won 7-5. The doubles results were as follows: Saffron and Mia won 6-2, Maya and Eloise lost 6-4. This meant that the overall score was 8-4 to us.

The girls have won all their league matches, so should now be through to the next round which is the regional knockout round. Congratulations!

Gabriella and Harriet – 6th in the Country with 5ways!

After their success getting through to National Clubs, Gabriella and Harriet had a very successful first day, playing some top-level Netball with 5ways, securing them a spot in the finals' day on the Sunday.

The girls gave their all on the Sunday, displaying fantastic resilience throughout, and they managed to come 6th nationally, which is an incredible achievement!

Congratulations to both Harriet and Gabriella –we are so proud of you!

Miss Patching-Jones

Miss Hammond

9 June 2023 – Issue 7 HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW

Sport Stars of the Week

Congratulations to this week's Sports Stars!

Miss Kirby-Jones

The U13s enjoyed another great afternoon of Tennis, with some close matches. In the singles, the girls played well: Amelie won 6-3, Miranda won 6-3, Zoe lost 6-0, Erin lost 6-5.

In the doubles, Amelie and Miranda won 6-1, Zoe and Erin lost 5-3 (match shortened for time). This then meant that it was a 6-6 draw, so on to a 10 point tiebreak. Again it was right up to the last point: Amelie and Miranda were leading, then went 8-5 down, but managed to fight back and took the win, 10-8. This meant that Roedean were the overall winners.

There were some brilliant rallies – both teams were really fighting for every point, and the girls were hitting some lovely low baseline winners, but also mixing in some short, drop shots, to catch their opponent off guard.

We now wait to see if we have qualified for the next round, which will be a regional knockout competition.

Miss Patching-Jones

Year 7

Naomi, for excellent progress made in Cricket and Athletics this term

Year 8

Evelyn, for a superb Aquathlon performance

Year 9

Lucie, for excellent effort and progress in Tennis this term

Year 10

Grace, for fantastic performances in both Athletics and Cricket

Year 12

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