On Tuesday this week, both students and staff enjoyed a variety of activities to celebrate Lunar New Year. I am grateful to Kaitlin, one of our Heads of School, for organising these; thank you also to those Sixth Formers who ran the activities, which included Chinese calligraphy with ink and brushes, Mah Jong, origami, and paper decorations. It was lovely to see so many students and staff getting involved. There are some lovely reflections in this review on how important the Lunar New Year celebrations are to those from a range of countries in South-East Asia.
A section of this week’s Chapel services was dedicated to marking Holocaust Memorial Day, which was this week. Ms Benton-Stace read a quotation from the famous diarist, Anne Frank, whose poignant memories reflect the experience of many of those persecuted in World War II. A number of Sixth Form students have also shared their thoughts in this review about the importance of marking this day each year.
I am delighted that our Year 13s are continuing to receive excellent offers for a whole range of universities and courses. After a long wait, the Cambridge offers came out yesterday, and our congratulations go to Flora, Julia, and Carrie, who are now holding offers to study Veterinary Medicine, Computer Science, and Architecture respectively. Earlier this month, Mairi also received an offer to read Medicine at Oxford, and there have been a good number of excellent offers in STEAM subjects this week, highlighting the fact that Roedean students continue to buck the trend in pursuing subjects in these fields in large numbers. Congratulations to our Year 13s!
Our annual Roedean Academy programme was launched this week. 15 Roedean students hosted 75 like-minded Year 10 students from six local state schools, all of whom have high aspirations and are keen to be challenged intellectually. The first session included discussing a range of social dilemmas in groups, as well as a tour of the School. I look forward to hearing the students’ reactions following the exciting modules over the next few weeks.
Good luck to Sorcha, Saffron, Bella, Greta, Georgia, and Andrea, who travel to Roedean South Africa for their three-week exchange this weekend – I have no doubt it will be a wonderful experience. Good luck also to Charlie and Ellen, who are performing in the Finals of Sussex Superstars on Saturday. I wish you all a restful weekend.
It's Full STEAM Ahead for Roedean's University
Lunar New Year – A Celebration of Unity and Tradition
U13C Triumph vs Brighton Girls
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.
Siyun (Yr12) – for playing a Charleston on the Trumpet in Chapel [Dr Barrand]
A Big Carrot
Congratulations to Merla in Year 13, who wins the 5th annual English Literature carrot-growing contest. To support their study of 'Death of a Salesman' by Arthur Miller, each year students are given carrot seeds, soil, and a pot. In the play, seeds and planting, especially of carrots, are symbolic of Willy's investment in the future of the Loman family. Although Willy has problems with his carrot crop because he has a small backyard in Brooklyn overshadowed by housing developments, which are meant to suggest the encroachment of urban capitalism on the family unit, Merla seems to have had no such issue. Well done!
Kaitlin, Mancy (Yr13), Candis, Hannah, and Athena (Yr12) – for preparing and delivering a very insightful Academic Lecture on Lunar New Year – we enjoyed learning about its origins, symbolism, and your family traditions. Thank you! [Ms Ibanez-Barcelo]
House Maths
The hybrid sporting event combining numeracy and athletics returned to the corridors of Roedean as the highlight that is House Maths made its annual appearance on the House Events calendar at the end of last week.
It was a closely fought competition, with just 5 points separating all four houses, but it was House 4 that won through by a single point from House 1 – this was partly due to having a larger spread of year groups in their team, a new addition to the points system to encourage house members of all ages to get involved. The event, as many will know, features 16 relay questions, where progression can only be made upon a correct answer, plus four more complex problems of increasing difficulty and reward, with teams
nominating 'runners' to take the solutions to the answer hub (a re-branding of the Conference Room for the competition).
The enthusiasm and determination of all those who got involved was fantastic to witness, and the fact that a Maths competition can stir such passion in such a wide range of Roedean students is testament to the positive attitude so many at School have towards the subject. The Maths department would like to thank all those who got involved, both students and staff, as it is their energy that makes the event such great fun.
Mr Wriglesworth
Mr Woodhouse
Luna's Magic Flute
This week, our Year 9 Drama Scholars came together with flautists from a variety of year-groups to present this interesting work by the composer, Blaz Pucihar – it tells the fairytale of the adventure of Luna and her Magic Flute, as they explore the world. Eleven pieces for Flute and Piano are interspersed with scenes, portraying how Luna and her new-found friends are triumphant over an evil dragon who steals her magic flute.
The audience, made up of students from across the year-groups and Year 4 from St Mark's, really enjoyed this innovative performance. Both the flautists and the actors performed brilliantly, and thank you to Ms Leclercq and Mrs Sellers who prepared the two groups of performers. Well done!
Dr Barrand
English Department's Student of the Month
Whether it is engaging in class, making commendable progress in debating, scoring maximum marks in coursework, this month's bumper selection of students is well-deserved. We have been impressed by students' team work in class, as well as striving to achieve the highest possible marks in a competitive environment, with enthusiastic determination. Keep up the fantastic work, Mathilda (Yr7), Cindy (Yr8), Diya (Yr9), Erin (Yr9), Theodora (Yr9), Lux (Yr10), Amber (Yr10), Nisreen (Yr11), Zyta (Yr11), Nicole (Yr12), and Amelia (Yr13).
Ms Shahab
It's Full STEAM Ahead for Roedean's University Hopefuls!
It has been a big week in the Futures Department, with Wednesday’s UCAS deadline and Thursday’s Cambridge decisions being announced. Offers are coming in thick and fast, and the pace will pick up now that universities can see all applications for their places.
Roedean students are doing exceptionally well in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) with all 4 of our Oxbridge offers (5% of the year group) being in STEAM subjects. Congratulations, and good luck to:
■ Mairi – Medicine (Oxford)
■ Flora – Veterinary Medicine (Cambridge)
■ Carrie – Architecture (Cambridge)
■ Julia – Computer Science (Cambridge)
In addition, this week, Twinkie secured a place at the prestigious Architectural Association School of Architecture, Fola is being courted by Ravensbourne University for Fashion, Soyoung gained a place for Biochemistry at King’s College London, Nivana got a Veterinary Medicine offer for Harper and Keele, and Ingrid was offered a place at Bristol for Chemistry with Industrial Experience.
Well done to everyone! These achievements from this week alone show that, when it comes to inspiration and innovation, Roedean’s students really are full STEAM ahead!
Ms Boobis
Holocaust Memorial Day – 27 January
Anne Frank, perhaps history’s most well-known diarist, would have been in Year 11 when she died. I have thought about that a lot this week. It is sobering when I imagine, just for a second, ‘what if…’ for any one of our students. As the School’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion lead, I am very aware of the diversity of our student body. It is one of our community’s greatest and most precious strengths. It would not have been the case for a Roedean in Nazi Germany.
After years in hiding, Anne Frank was captured and taken to Auschwitz, a Nazi concentration camp. Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated on 27 January 1945, 80 years ago this week. In her diary, before her capture, she wrote: 'Ideals, dreams, and cherished hopes rise within us, only to meet the horrible truth and be shattered. It's really a wonder that I haven't dropped all my ideals because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet, I keep them, because, in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.'
I asked some of our Year 12 and Year 13 students for their reflections on why it is still important to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day every year. Here’s what they said:
Ms Boobis
'While I had learnt about the holocaust at school and was always conscious of it, seeing memorials like the Shoes on the Danube Bank in Hungary last year was a stark reminder to me of how important it is to keep the memory of those who suffered in the holocaust alive, and remember them as people, not just numbers. It’s also vital that we do this to allow us to continue understanding and learning from the past in order to prevent history from being repeated.'
Eva (Yr13)
'Learning about the Holocaust to me is imperative, as the horrors of the events teaches us lessons; Lessons of how we must treat one another with the utmost kindness and respect, since when these attributes are neglected, evil overcomes. It also exposed the measures of evil present in the world, teaching us that we must strive never to add to the darkness of the world but rather we must do our due diligence to be contributors to the light of the world.'
Onose (Yr13)
'Holocaust Memorial Day is not just an important day for Jewish people to remember the atrocities that their families had to endure during the Second World War, but also for the rest of the world to reflect on the consequences of hatred and persecution, and to ensure that history is neither forgotten nor repeated. It is a day of recognition for the antisemitism suffered in the past, the persistence of antisemitism and injustice today, and the responsibility we have to be aware of it and challenge it. Remembrance requires more than an acknowledgement; it demands action, and a willingness to ensure that this day does not go unnoticed.'
Ingrid
(Yr13)
'Seeing the Holocaust memorial in Berlin last year was a striking visual representation of the number of people who suffered at the hands of the Nazis. It was a surreal feeling to walk through, thinking of the individual stories of each person it symbolised, and remembering the continued importance of lessons we have learned.'
Hannah (Yr13)
'When I was 8 years old, I visited Auschwitz with my family. Even though I was so young, what I saw has stuck with me – particularly seeing the glass cases full of hair from the prisoners. It really put into perspective the scale of the holocaust, and also the importance of learning from this history to prevent anything like it from happening in the future.'
Mairi (Yr13)
'I believe I could not answer the question of ‘Why do we learn about the past if it is not relevant to our current lives?’ before learning about the Holocaust, even though I had passion for History. Whilst conducting coursework about Nazi propaganda and concentration camps during GCSE History, I believe I was able to acknowledge the answer to this question – that we should learn the world of the past in order for us to view the world of the present with empathy and inclusivity, whilst remembering those who have been through this extreme level of atrocity.'
Sooyeon (Yr12)
'The Holocaust reminds me the importance of learning history and the danger of neglecting critical thinking. It also emphasises the responsibilities we have to recognise and challenge any injustice.'
Ella (Yr13)
Lunar New Year – A Celebration of Unity and Tradition
As the vibrant festivities of Lunar New Year sweep across campus, it’s a joy to reflect on the meaning and traditions this special occasion holds for our community. Here, students share their unique perspectives, each offering a glimpse into the rich tapestry of cultural practices and family connections that make Lunar New Year so meaningful.
Elisa (China & Austria)
‘For me, Lunar New Year is all about family quality time, good food, and the excitement of receiving red packets. We wear red for good luck, and although my mum is Austrian, she joins in wholeheartedly by wearing a qipao and playing mahjong with us. It’s wonderful to see how our traditions bring us closer, even as a multicultural family.’
Hunny (Thailand)
‘In Thailand, there is a large Chinese population of over 7 million in the country who celebrate Lunar New Year annually. Temples and shrines get crowded with people coming to pray for a successful year ahead – even the Thai princesses are sighted at shrines every year. During this time, families gather together to have a New Year’s meal and offer red packets. In Yaowarat, the Chinatown of Bangkok, and Phuket, hundreds of people dressed in red clothes flood the roads to celebrate the festival. There are dragon dancers and food vendors all over the street.’
Athena (Hong Kong)
‘Lunar New Year means reunion for my family. It’s the time when my grandparents visit from far away, and we celebrate with traditional dishes like nian gao (sticky rice cake) and tang yuan (sweet glutinous rice balls). We start celebrations on New Year’s Eve, with a big 團 年飯 (family reunion dinner) and some spirited games of mahjong.’
Siyun and Sihu (Korea)
‘In Korea, we call Lunar New Year ‘Seollal.’ It’s a time to pray to our ancestors and meet the entire family. One unique tradition is standing silently for 30 minutes with the windows and doors open to welcome our ancestors’ spirits. We also enjoy special foods like songpyeon (rice cakes) and play YutNori, a traditional gambling game. Wearing a hanbok adds a sense of tradition and formality to the celebrations.’
Mancy (China)
‘Lunar New Year is about family, exchanging red packets, and discovering the diverse traditions of China. My family is from a mix of the North and South of China, so we celebrate in our own unique way. In the north, we eat dumplings; in the south, we eat noodles to symbolise long life and prosperity. On Lunar New Year’s Eve, we clean the house for a fresh start, but on Lunar New Year’s Day, throwing away trash is forbidden to avoid discarding luck. My favourite tradition is watching 春晚 (the New Year's Gala) on New Year’s Eve with my family up until the countdown for New Year!’
Hannah (Hong Kong, living in the UK)
Lunar New Year has always been about family reunions and enjoying a variety of special foods together. Now that I’m living in the UK, I miss the chance to reconnect with family members and have such a huge array of dishes. But it’s still a time to remind myself of my cultural identity. Being at a school with people from so many ethnicities, it’s also an opportunity to share my culture with others from around the world.’
Ella (Taiwan)
‘In Taiwan, Lunar New Year is the time for families to come together, no matter where you live. We greet each other with ‘Xīnnián kuàilè’ (Happy New Year), ‘Gōngxǐ fācái’ (Wishing you wealth), and ‘Shēn tǐ jiàn kāng’ (Wishing you good health). Some families also visit temples to pray for good fortune.’
Marion (Singapore)
‘In Singapore, Lunar New Year is a time for family and friend gatherings and to welcome in the new year. I begin by visiting my grandparents with mandarin oranges and wishing them a Happy Lunar New Year. Later, we join a family party filled with delicious foods, including spring rolls and Lou Hei, it symbolises prosperity, and you and your family toss the Lou Hei as high in the air as possible, the higher the throw, the better your year would be. The rest of the day is spent receiving red envelopes and watching the lion dance.’
Race (Hong Kong)
‘Lunar New Year is a time for reconnecting with family. We visit the 年宵市場 (Lunar New Year night market), eat tanghulu (candied fruit), and exchange red packets. It’s an opportunity to see extended family members we don’t meet often, making it a truly heart-warming reunion.’
Yujin (Thailand)
‘In Thailand, Lunar New Year is a religious and familial festival. We visit the temple, pray to the Buddha, check our zodiac signs, and give red packets. It’s a time for family reunions and new beginnings, steeped in both spiritual and cultural significance.’
Kaitlin (Hong Kong, living in Singapore)
‘Living in Singapore, Lunar New Year is a blend of two cultures for me. I begin the day by serving tea to my parents and receiving ang pao (red packets). We eat Lou Hei (prosperity salad in Singapore) and my grandma’s turnip cake, a cherished family recipe I hope to pass on one day. For me, Lunar New Year is about embracing my family’s unique traditions while celebrating new beginnings and the joy of reunion.’
Julia (China)
‘Lunar New Year is a time for family reunions, when everyone returns home and meets relatives we haven’t seen in years. It’s the most important and grand festival of the year, filled with wishes for happiness and fortune. We celebrate by hanging Spring Festival Couplets on the front door, sticking the character for ‘blessing’ on walls and windows, and preparing a hearty dinner on Lunar New Year’s Eve. My family has a tradition of playing a rotation match of mahjong while others enjoy the Spring Festival Gala and fireworks at midnight. On the second day of Lunar New Year, we visit my mother’s side of the family – usually followed by another lively mahjong match!’
Candis (Hong Kong)
‘Our family cherishes the tradition of 全盒 (a symbolic tray of togetherness) filled with sweets and snacks. We also play 魚蝦蟹 (a traditional dice game), share 壓歲錢 (red packets given on New Year’s Eve), and spend quality time with relatives and cousins, creating memories that last a lifetime.’
Melissa (Vietnam)
‘In Vietnam, Lunar New Year means gathering at the temple to pray for our ancestors and for a prosperous year ahead. Each family has its unique dishes, like Banh Chung, and our family calls spring rolls ‘Nem’. Each house has its own name for this dish that cannot be replaced. The evenings are filled with fireworks, dragon dances, and visiting friends and relatives, spreading joy throughout the week.’
Samantha (Vietnam & Hong Kong)
‘Lunar New Year holds deep cultural meaning for me. In Vietnam, we prepare food for our ancestors all day, ensuring we pay our respects with sincerity. Traditional dishes like Bahn Chung (square rice cakes) are essential, and I look forward wearing áo dài (Vietnamese traditional dress). I also receive lai see (Cantonese red packets), which adds to the joy. Lunar New Year is a celebration of heritage and reverence.’
Lunar New Year is a powerful reminder of the beauty in our diverse traditions. Though celebrated differently, the shared themes of family, gratitude, and hope for the future unite us all. Wishing everyone a prosperous and joyful Lunar New Year!
Kaitlin (Yr13)
Lunar New Year: Exploring Traditions, Symbolism and Global Festivities
This week, some of our Language Ambassadors and Academic Scholars delivered a fascinating Academic Lecture on Lunar New Year, exploring its origins, symbolism, the 12 zodiac animals, traditional foods, and core values. They also shared personal family traditions, such as visiting Lunar New Year fairs, buying lots of plants for good luck, and eating a whole fish for prosperity. Some of the more peculiar customs included avoiding haircuts (so you don’t “cut away” your luck) and holding off on sweeping (because no one wants to accidentally sweep their fortune out the door!). It was a fantastic opportunity for our community to learn, connect, and celebrate this rich cultural tradition. Thank you to Kaitlin, Mancy, Candis, Hannah and Athena, and 新年 快樂!
Ms Ibanez-Barcelo
Chapel – 'Innovation'
Mrs Waller: A key theme for Chapel this term is ‘Innovate’.
When I think of the word ‘innovate’ my mind goes to running, purely based on the brand of running shoes with that exact name ‘Inov8’ –lately it got me thinking about why a brand of running shoes would have such a name. What have innovation and running got to do with one another?
We readily think of innovation as the spark that lights the way forward, the driving force behind progress, a catalyst for positive change in life. It describes the people with the ability to see beyond what is and imagine what could be, to break free from the boundaries of the known and step into uncharted territories. Surely innovators are the movers and shakers, the history makers of the world: with products and ideas that transform society: the big, the impactful, the sweeping changes.
But what if innovation is also about the small, the incremental improvements, the starting with self to see what can be transformed and improved? It’s the attention to detail, the small tweaks, the little ideas that slowly build over time and add up to something far greater than the sum of their parts. These small innovations often lay the foundation for larger breakthroughs, and can make a huge difference in our daily lives.
How do we become innovators? In a world that is so fast paced, and in a school that is equally so, it could be easy to get discouraged when we can’t feel or see progress for ourselves, when we feel we are standing still, not taking steps, let alone running at pace.
But surely a crucial element of innovation is also perseverance. It’s easy to get discouraged when things don’t work out the first time, or the second, or the hundredth. But the true innovators are those who keep going, who keep refining their ideas, and who never give up on their vision. Every setback is an opportunity to learn, to adapt, and to improve. The most transformative innovations were not the result of one “eureka” moment, but rather the product of years of trial and error, persistence, and an unwavering belief that progress is possible. Sometimes this progress is simply one more step along the road.
Some Year 7s shared their thoughts about innovation:
Nkem:
Self-innovation is the process of improving yourself through personal growth. It can involve changing your habits, learning new skills, or setting goals.
Here’s how to innovate yourself:
Cara:
1. Identify flaws: Recognise your weaknesses and accept them
Elva:
2. Set goals: Create clear goals for what you want to achieve
Hannah:
3. Learn: Take advantage of opportunities to learn new skills or languages
Marion:
4. Build your network: Connect with others who can help you grow
Tilly:
5. Be flexible: Embrace change and be open to new ideas
Sela:
6. Be creative: Use your imagination to find new ways to improve your daily life
Thea:
7. Get feedback: Ask for feedback from others and use it to improve
Wren:
8. Test early: Try out new ideas and learn from your mistakes
Ayase:
9. Persevere: keep going! Take one more step along the road
So we all have the capacity for innovation. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a scientist, an artist, or simply someone with an idea, or a habit to imbed to improve yourself: innovation is within your reach. The key is to cultivate the right mindset – a mindset that embraces change, that is unafraid of failure, and that sees possibilities where others see limitations. It’s about being open to new ideas, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, and continually striving to improve yourself.
It's an ongoing process, sometimes of selfdiscovery, of creating, and reimagining what the future can hold for you. It’s about being brave enough to challenge yourself, being a dreamer who refuses to accept things as they are, be a doer who takes action and turns dreams into reality.
Innovation is the heartbeat of progress, and it’s through innovation that you will continue to move forward, shaping a world for yourself and for those around you, that is full of promise and possibility.
Innovation is not therefore, a destination; it is a journey. Maybe it’s time I got my ‘Inov8s’ on again and took another step. Maybe you will too?
U13C Triumph vs Brighton Girls
The U13C Netball team delivered an outstanding performance against Brighton Girls, securing an impressive 21-3 victory. Led confidently by captain, Soraya, the team showcased exceptional teamwork and determination from the first whistle.
The match began with a dominant first quarter, as the team surged to a 9-1 lead. The defensive unit of Cindy, Perla, Anna, and Shahdi worked tirelessly to intercept passes and block Brighton’s attempts to score. Anna’s sharp awareness and defensive strength earned her
recognition as one of the Players of the Match.
In the midcourt, Lily was instrumental in transitioning the ball from defence to attack. Her precise passing and quick decision-making ensured a seamless connection between the two ends of the court. Up front, shooters Cora and Amara formed an excellent partnership, converting their opportunities with skill and confidence. Cora’s accuracy and composure in the shooting circle earned her the second Player of the Match accolade.
By half-time, the team extended their lead to 14-2, maintaining their intensity throughout the final quarters. The girls finished strongly, with the final scoreline reflecting their dominance and hard work.
This victory is a testament to their excellent teamwork, skill, and resilience – congratulations to the U13C team!
U13B Netball vs Seaford
The U13B team played against Seaford on Wednesday. This was a much improved performance on the previous week’s match and the girls showed both group and individual progress. The first quarter was low scoring, with this 3 goals scored in total, but the movement around the court was positive. Roedean found their feet in the second half, with Gracie and Maisa working together to create good
movement in the D, leaving us with just a one goal deficit at half term.
Despite Dixie, Hester, and Emily having countless turn overs in the third quarter, the Seaford shooters were on a scoring roll and they left us 12-6 up going into the final quarter. Phoebe, Valerie, and Bea made some excellent transitional plays through the court, and we
were able to stop the opposition scoring any goals in the final quarter and pull the final score back to 8-12.
Well done to Emily and Maisa for their Player of the Match performances.
Miss Kirby-Jones
Miss Hayman
Roedean Online Dog Show Winners
Well done to the amazing winners of the Roedean Online Dog Show ��
A huge thank you to everyone who entered, and to our Raystede CAP group for their incredible fundraising effort, raising £75 for the charity.
If you would still like to donate, please head over to: https://justgiving. com/page/ roedeancharityy9
Mr Wilson
We welcome contributions from all parts of the Roedean community. If you have something you would like featured in the Head’s Weekly Review, please email: aws@roedean.co.uk
