Head's Weekly Review - 26 June 20 - Issue 35

Page 1

26 June 2020 - Issue 9

HEAD’S

WEEKLY REVIEW

Head’s Introduction

It is the last day of the summer term, and I want to congratulate you all on a wonderful, if very strange, term, and I hope you have a great holiday. However, before I say more, I know that you will all want to join with me and congratulate Liverpool FC for their incredible Premier League victory this year. It has, like all good things, been a long wait. This last review of the year illustrates brilliantly the holistic breadth of the School: there are links to virtual music concerts, with performances the girls have recorded at home, there are dramatic performances of sonnets by Year 7, there are the results from our Virtual Sports Day, there is a charity sea-swimming challenge, and there are examples of work produced in remote HHH lessons this term. It really is so impressive – well done to everyone!

Race Around the World

I am very pleased that the Race Across the World to Roedean South Africa went so well – by logging our exercise since lockdown began, our two schools have covered a huge distance, with both schools crossing the world to reach the other, and we made it there and back! If you would like to congratulate everyone involved by donating to Off the Fence, the link is at the bottom of this page. In fact, we did so well that we covered 5502 kilometres since Tuesday, and our total distance is 43,882, so we managed to encircle the globe – what an excellent achievement! We were informed yesterday that Roedean has been shortlisted for Independent School of the Year 2020 for our Community and Outreach. The final results will be announced in October, but this is a wonderful accolade in itself, which reflects our commitment to be a central part of our

Liv and Gracie Swim 'the Channel'

community. I am also very proud to let you know that members of Roedean staff chose to enter a salary sacrifice scheme to support the NHS at the Royal Sussex Hospital, and we have donated over £6700 over the last two months. I am delighted to introduce all our Prefects for 2020-2021 – they will make a wonderful team, and I am sure that they will have strong ideas of what they hope to achieve from September. Term ended today with end of year celebrations and Final Chapel, but without our traditional Hand Shaking – while it may be a while before we reintroduce this, I look forward to all being back together at Roedean in September. I wish you all a wonderful Summer holiday!

Roedean on shortlist for Independent School of the Year for Community and Outreach

We have made it around the world! Please encourage your family and friends to sponsor your brilliant efforts to exercise and keep healthy, while also raising funds to support Off the Fence, via Roedean’s Justgiving Page


HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW

26 June 2020 - Issue 9

What an exciting end to the Race Across the World We made it to Roedean South Africa and back! And Roedean South Africa also made it to Brighton, which is brilliant! For our final week of term, up to Tuesday, we had covered 2259.11 kilometres as a Roedean community, bringing our journey grand total over six weeks to 25,167.17 kilometres. An amazing final push from House 3 has seen them nearly double any other house total, with a particularly heroic total from Year 13. Year 7 have clocked up another impressive weekly total, but staff have continued as they started, covering the most kilometres every week. The winners of the Race to Roedean won by less than 7km, proving that every kilometre really does count! Congratulations to House 3! In the last days of term, an amazing final flurry meant that you added 5,502km to our total – just amazing! Cumulative aerage km per person 1st Place

House 4

28.42

2 Place

House 1

27.42

3rd Place

House 3

25.65

4th Place

Kats

24.01

nd

5 Place

Lambs

23.97

6th Place

House 2

19.65

7th Place

Bears

14.99

Staff

7935.29km

Year 7

4906.98km

Year 9

4031.07km

Year 8

3136.80km

th

Race Across the Globe Last week, because we had done so well, I set you the additional challenge of seeing if we, as a joint Roedean community with our sister school in South Africa, could actually travel all the way around the world – and we did it! The target was 40,075 kilometres, and on Wednesday, we had covered 38,380 – thank you to everyone who got out and covered some more distance by today, and you actually added 5502 kilometres! So we more than got around the world, covering 43,882 kilometres in total! What an unbelievable collective achievement! RB

Please encourage your family and friends to sponsor your brilliant efforts to exercise and keep healthy, while also raising funds to support Off the Fence, via

A message from Dr Mos-Shogbamimu

Roedean’s Justgiving Page Extreme Hair-Cut – for Charity Well done to Mr Halsey for shaving his head for charity – he had had about as much as he could take of his hair, so he took extreme measures! Must be much cooler in this weather! If you would like to support Mr Halsey, who is raising money for Off the Fence, please do follow this link!

...After

Before...

A message from Kate and Helen Richardson-Walsh

Page 2


26 June 2020 - Issue 9

HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW

A Letter from the Headmaster

This anonymous poem, read by Mr Blond in Final Chapel, has gone viral during the Covid-19, providing a beacon of hope at this difficult time – we hope that it might help you to reflect on it: I heard that we are in the same boat. But it's not that. We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat. Your ship can be shipwrecked and mine might not be. Or vice versa. For some, quarantine is optimal: a moment of reflection, or reconnection.

Letter from the Headmaster

Easy, in flip flops, with a whiskey or tea.

Dear Year 13,

For others, this is a desperate crisis.

No one could have foreseen back in September, when you were embarking on your last year at Roedean, that the world would change as suddenly and dramatically as it has. All countries and all lives have been affected by the current pandemic, but most importantly, I wanted to send our sympathies to all those families and all of you who have directly experienced the impact of this virus, either through the impact on the health of loved ones, economic uncertainties and hardships, or by some form of isolation from those you care about. It has been, and will continue to be, tough. Secondly, I want to thank you and congratulate you. 2020 has been a very dramatic year, but the day you suddenly found out that your exams were cancelled must have been traumatic for you individually, as you struggled, as we all did, to work out what it meant. Since then, you have been mature, determined, and courageous. We often talk about grades being less important than the people you’ve become in your time here, and this crisis will have tested you in ways you probably hadn’t realised – your character, your resilience, and your support for others. You will all have your own story, and in due course, once things are safe, I hope that we will meet again, here at Roedean, and share some of those, as well as marking your achievements and congratulating you for graduating from your Sixth Form. Well done and good luck in the next few months, managing the process of heading off to universities and your next steps, while restrictions and regulations continue to fluctuate and change, will need even more of your flexibility and perseverance. You leave us with our distant applause for your humour, your compassion, and your strength. You have been brilliant and will continue to be brilliant in so many different ways. The future is only paused for a moment, so use this pause to good effect, to focus on what matters and who matters, and make this the stepping off point you need for your particular journey. Do not try to be like anyone else – delight in yourself and your differences – the world needs ‘you’, not a version of yourself that you think other people want. And the world needs your optimism, so be optimistic about yourself first. And most of all, read. Read widely, deeply, and voraciously. Reading opens you to the experiences, lives, and hardships of others. It creates space and capacity in your minds, it empowers and teaches, and, at the current time, that is our most urgent need. Be educated, but be always willing to learn. Fare well, voyagers. Your alma mater will be here to support you, wherever you travel. Page 3

For others, it is facing loneliness. For some, peace, rest time, vacation. Yet for others, Torture: How am I going to pay my bills? Some were concerned about a brand of chocolate for Easter (this year there were no rich chocolates). Others were concerned about the bread for the weekend, or if the noodles would last for a few more days. Some were in their "home office". Others are looking through trash to survive. Some want to go back to work because they are running out of money. Others want to kill those who break the quarantine. Some need to break the quarantine to stand in line at the banks. Others to escape. Others criticise the government for the lines. Some have experienced the near-death of the virus, some have already lost someone from it, and some believe they are infallible and will be blown away if or when this hits someone they know. Some have faith in God and expect miracles during 2020. Others say the worst is yet to come. So, friends, we are not in the same boat. We are going through a time when our perceptions and needs are completely different. And each one will emerge, in his own way, from that storm. It is very important to see beyond what is seen at first glance. Not just looking, more than looking, seeing. See beyond the political party, beyond biases, beyond the nose on your face. Do not judge the good life of the other, do not condemn the bad life of the other. Don't be a judge. Let us not judge the one who lacks, as well as the one who exceeds him. We are on different ships looking to survive. Let everyone navigate their route with respect, empathy, and responsibility.


HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW

26 June 2020 - Issue 9

CO-CURRICULAR

Year 7&8 Travel Writing Pastiche Lots of memes have popped up since the world went into lockdown, among the most popular have been those that make light of the restrictions on travel: from mock ups of plane departure boards to imaginative names for different rooms in the house, to using a treadmill as a travellator and luggage carousel, people around the world have enjoyed pastiching some of the recognisable tropes of international travel. In HHH, the Yr8 Hedgehog group have spent a few weeks learning how to write their own piece of travel writing: a blog or a travel guide. Here are some of our favourites! HBO Blog Not long ago, I decided to visit an interesting house in France which seemed very familiar, although I’m not quite sure why‌ The kitchen was very big and had large bay windows from which you could observe a very nice swimming pool. The next room was the living room which was unimaginably big! Large (and super comfy!) sofas were put around a little round table where some biscuits and fruits were waiting to be eaten. A fancy lamp was lighting up the whole room! Next to this room was the cinema room where some lazy people would watch movies at night. I particularly loved this room because of its very soft couch where the cat and I would fall asleep. Sometimes, in the mornings and throughout the whole day, I could hear a girl speaking to no one in the office. I think she was on call but I’m not quite sure why‌ I also noticed a door which lead to the basement; I was too scared to go down there so I decided to explore upstairs. I discovered a bathroom with a shower and a bath. I really liked the bath as it’s also a jacuzzi! Next were the toilets which, to be honest, have nothing special. There was a bedroom which was used by visitors or friends. It had a nice large bed with a wooden wardrobe and another bathroom. The second bedroom creeped me out because of its very high roof. It looked a lot like a parent’s room, with a double bed, a big desk and even some stairs that lead to a dressing room full of fancy clothes that I didn’t particularly like. And of course, saving the best for the last, the third bedroom which belongs to a 13 years old girl. She really has great tasteđ&#x;˜Š. There was a turquoise and pink double bed and next to it a small night table with books and a phone. Her desk was white and there were pictures of her and her friends everywhere around it. I saw a white table with a mirror where she put all the creams and makeup things and next to that was a wardrobe with many clothes that I liked a lot. I really would like to meet that girl; I wonder if we like the same things‌ To finish off my visit, I went up the stairs that were in her room and discovered many games that she probably used to play with and another couch with a cute heart carpet.

Travel Guide El Outdoorsia is a fabulous place to spend your time, with a large park, kidney shaped pond, courtyard, small woods, and two rolling fields. It is most pleasurable in the Summer, where you can spend your time having barbecues or relaxing with friends. El Outdoorsia is located in the countryside, so there will only be the sound of wildlife to disturb you, although around three times a day a tractor will come to feed the nearby farmyard animals. Spring is the best time to visit if you are a fan of lambs and other baby animals. There are also four chickens, who are actively laying eggs, providing a sustainable source of food to the community. Furthermore, there is a feral, but friendly cat who lives in El Outdoorsia. If you wish to see her, try to coincide your visit during the evening, although she is around for most of the day. Also located within the town is the vegetable patch, a thriving area of El Outdoorsia which is great fun for all. Located within the park is also a swing set and trampoline – providing unlimited enjoyment to the children. This wonderful little village called El Outdoorsia is the ultimate holiday destination if you enjoy spending time in the great outdoors! The bed and breakfast hotel has 4 double bed rooms and 4 bathrooms, but has the capacity to hold over 10 people. Inside the bed and breakfast there is a shared kitchen, dining and living area, with 3 televisions and a small gym. 'The Barn' bed and breakfast is a clean, comfortable place to stay during your time in El Outdoorsia. Mairi

Travel Guide The bedroom is inhabited by one feral teenager, who is grumpy and judgemental. She leaves the bedroom between one and two o’clock, so be sure to enter during that time. Do not be fooled by her sheepishly tired looks, as she is ready to bite back with a sharp comment at any given moment. This is a huge tourist destination as it has the best cooling system in the house, so make sure to get in early to grab the remote. Following the bedroom out through the backdoor, into Le Enchanted Garden. Out here you will see many slow moving and gentle tortoises, but beware of Shelly as she will bite once picked up. Here is a tranquil space, with the soft winds blowing through the trees, and the aromatic scent of flowers. You will spot a vegetable garden in the far north-west corner. Where the father of the house has tried his very best to grow delicious vegetables, to no avail. This location is best to visit in the morning or early evening, as the temperatures can skyrocket at midday. The side yard is occupied by two dogs. One large and old Rottweiler, who is struggling with movement, due to age and arthritis. If you manage to spot her, be sure to give her lots of cuddles. The other dog is a crazy puppy, who will bite at anyone’s heels and bark at you for not playing with him, although his adorably cute looks will make you inclined to give him love. The garden is a dry and messy spot, with anything the dogs have managed to scavenge from the floor to chew. It can be incredibly hot out here, with no real key point. So only visit if you have a real liking for dogs. Freya Blog On Fridays, it is a good opportunity to visit some of the locals who live near the beach. This is a long trip, but is manageable in a day, and well worth an early start so you can hear the seagulls in the morning. I would advise a short stay in the house with a local woman calling herself 'Grandma'. She is very friendly and there are excellent craft activities available, for example paper crane folding. The rooms are cosy and have lots of touches that might remind you of childhood, like fairytale books and decorations. 'Grandma' has prepared the lunch. Today is a Chinese festival called Dragon Boat festival, and it is my first to time celebrate it. People will have dragon boat competitions and eat rice dumplings. By the way, the rice dumpling was delicious because 'Grandma' is native to Hong Kong and has made them for over 30 years. After lunch, we are watching the dragon boat competition. It is a group of men, rowing and trying to be the first to the end of the river. It is wonderful and exciting.

Overall, I enjoyed my visit and I will definitely think about going back! Manon

After watching it, it is already 10pm which means it is time for bed. If you are interested in what will happen, please keep watching me, I might upload in any point. Venice

Page 4


26 June 2020 - Issue 9

HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW

HHH

PSHE

This term in HHH, Y9 have been enrolled in Roedean Academy. Each week, they participated in a seminar on a big idea in socio-politics or culture, with sessions on American Politics, Criminal Psychology, Archaeology, The 1980s, Dictators and Despots, Language Codes, and the Role of Stories in Culture. They were given sessions at the end of the course to reflect with their groups on what they had learned, as well as on the value of academic enrichment and extension more generally. The pupils got a lot out of the course, and some have even started thinking about their A Level choices as a direct result. Here is a selection of some of the responses to showcasing the pupils created:

The start of a Yr 7 PSHE class with me this week. Happy and engaged Year 7s, and so pleased to see each other and their pets! Siyun is holding her dog, Louis, Chloe is holding her cat, Candy, and Olivia is holding her cat, Timmie. JC

A poster from Polly outlining reasons for Donald Trump’s election as a response to the American Politics session:

Chemistry in your Cupboard

Portia and Ruby's Coke and Mentos

Year 8 were set the challenge to carry out some practicals at home from the #Chemistryinyourcupboard series from the Royal Society of Chemistry, and here are the results – well done! SLB

Claudette's Lava La

mp

A visual response from Tallulah representing what she learnt about the Psychology of Crime:

Galina's Lava Lamp Another visual Response from Becky to learning about archeology: I feel that this sketch is able to represent the main idea of archaeology. In the picture, we are able to see a man standing with a shovel and a hole in the ground. This suggests to the audience that the man has been digging through the ground, possibly wanting to obtain something. Next to the man is a woman analysing the "treasure" in her hands. The actions of these two people showcase the main purpose of archaeology – to find items buried from the past, in order to know more about their way of life, ceremonial events, and traditions.

A written review by Gracie: My favourite lesson in HHH was the 80s, because Dr Hobbs asked a lot of questions to ensure we fully understood everything he told us. We talked for the first half of the lesson about trends in the 80s, such as big hair and roller blades. I personally found this very interesting as I did not know half of the stuff he put on the screen! I liked how he delivered the PowerPoint slowly so that we could all hear and understand what he was saying. We also discussed important political things in the 1980s, such as Ronald Reagan being elected US president. Throughout this time was also the Cold War, so many were struggling, but it was closer to the end. At the beginning of the 80s, there was also apartheid, which enforced racial discrimination against people of colour, mainly focused on skin colour and facial features. Overall, I found the PowerPoint really engaging and easy to follow. Page 5

Katie's Bath Bombs

Eva Bath Bom 's bs


HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW

26 June 2020 - Issue 9

Year 7 Sonnet Film Project And the nominees are… the whole of Year 7, as this week they have completed their wonderful Sonnet Film projects. During their live remote Drama lessons, the students have been studying the rhythm of the iambic pentameter and the structure of a sonnet. They began with Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18, which allowed them to convey the poetry and emotion of the playwright’s vivid language. They were then introduced to Shakespeare sonnet film projects from around the world, analysing the different performing and technical elements combined to create a highquality short film. Year 7 had the opportunity to work solo or in groups, to recreate or make their own films. This included having the option either to work on a Shakespearean sonnet, or to create one from a modern song, or to write their own original sonnet from scratch. I so am impressed by the way they have used images and sounds, by just taking an idea, applying genre, locations, and, all this, while working remotely. Ms Tsaousi received over 35 wonderful films, of which an impressive number were originally written by the students. The high quality, imagination, creativity, and technical artistry were so outstanding that it made it very difficult to decide on the winners of ten categories. Some of the named categories were inspired by the students’ work, such as Freya’s message on Black Lives Matter, and Indigo and Ellen’s message on self-love, love for each other, the environment, and animals. Ms Tsaousi and everyone in the Drama department are immensely proud of all Year 7’s Drama achievements.

Amelia

Here are the winners of the Year 7 Roedean Film and Drama Awards: Best Original Film Sonnet Jasmine for The Beauty of the Hills Best Shakespeare Film Sonnet Emily for Sonnet 39 & Tildy for Sonnet 18 Best Creative Concept Jana for Together Forever & Maisie, Jess, Hettie, Oyinda for Miranda with a C Best Contemporary Concept Joanna for Sonnet 71 Best Director Amelia for Sonnet 65 Best Camera Artistry Hermione for Hope Best Performance Maya and Angelica for The Lonely Maiden

Tildy

Best Message Freya for Black Lives Matter Indigo and Ellen for Stop and Look Best Sound Editing & Sound Effects Martha, Megan, Agatha, Millie, Galya, Rida for Sonnet 60 Eloise & Willow for Just the Way you Are

Jasmine

Best Guest Performer (from outside Year 7) Tilly, Daisy, & Annie

SW

Freya

Indigo and Ellen

aya

M Angelica and

Emily

Page 6


26 June 2020 - Issue 9

HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW

Roedean’ Virtual Musical World Contained within this edition of the Head’s Review you will find links to Roedean’s Virtual Summer Concert, which we hope you will all enjoy watching. During this term of online lessons and activities, the Music department has had to adapt very quickly to new ways of teaching and directing our musical groups. Individual music lessons have continued online, live via Microsoft Teams, with pupils and teachers adapting to new, varied, and ingenious methods of teaching and learning. In the classroom, instead of an almost entirely practical curriculum in KS3, pupils have had hugely enjoyable projects to work on, using the digital audio workstation Soundtrap, creating multi-layered pieces of music using original sounds and loops, learning how to edit and refine their creations, individually as well as collaboratively. Some of these pieces are included in the virtual concert for you to enjoy. We also wanted to continue with some form of “group music-making” and created Teams for a virtual orchestra, choir, and virtuoso string group for students to participate in, as they would have done back at school. Immediately, we all missed the actual singing and playing together, and, of course, the social aspect of musicians from throughout the school working together in combined musical endeavour. All musicians across the world have very quickly found that live ensemble performance via video communication platforms is not possible. Ever adaptable, our Roedean musicians have learned to record themselves singing and playing their instruments along to a guide track, and we have built some performances for you by combining all these tracks. Mr Rous has done a fantastic job in editing the huge number of individual tracks into a musical tapestry of solo and ensemble performances for Roedean’s first online, virtual concert. Thank you very much, Mr Rous. Particular thanks to Ms Bartlette and Ms Money, who have relentlessly enthused and encouraged their pupils into crafting individual items for the programme. We really have appreciated

that it is not easy trying to sing or play at home (without the beautiful acoustic of the school Chapel), and you have done incredibly well in this musical venture. As well as the KS3 Soundtrap compositions, we are also delighted to include in our programme other original musical compositions as world premières: Un moment de refléxion, a GCSE composition by Anamika (Yr11), and Serendipity, an A Level composition by Eden (Yr13). Eden’s piece was originally going to be performed in May by the orchestra, with Eden playing piano, as part of our annual Brighton Festival Fringe Concert, so it is very fitting to be able to include it within this virtual performance.

Very well done to all our wonderful musicians who have taken part in the virtual groups, this virtual concert and indeed earlier in the year, all the previous concerts and events. We much look forward to a time when live music can be possible again, but, until then, enjoy the virtual concert, keep practising, and have a lovely summer break. With many thanks, congratulations, and best wishes from us all in the Music Department.

VF

1

Concert intro

2

Theme from Enigma Variations (Elgar)

Roedean Orchestra

Orchestra

3

Me voglio fa'na casa (Donizetti)

Marina

Singing

4

Waiting in the Wings (Menken)

Lillie

Singing

5

Flower Dance (DJ Okawari)

Yoyo

Piano

6

Eres tú (Mocedades)

Daisy

Singing

7

Se tu m’ami (Pergolesi)

Maggie

Singing

8

Aria (Alexandre Aroutiounian)

Anamika

Trumpet

9

Angel (Sarah McLachlan)

Genie

Singing

10

Scherzo in B♭ (Schubert)

Hettie

Piano

11

An die Musik (Schubert)

Jacqueline

Singing

12

Serendipity (Binks)

Eden

Composition

13

A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square (Sherwin)

Galina

Singing

14

Sonate 2 (Bach transc. Alkan)

Kate

Piano

15

Un moment de réflexion (Nebhrajani-Wallace)

Anamika

Composition

16

Princess (Grieg)

Alma

Singing

17

Pavane (Fauré)

Eva

Violin

18

Summertime (Gershwin)

Amelie

Singing

19

I Dreamed a Dream (Schönberg)

Roedean School Choir and Orchestra

Choir and Orchestra

20

Concert outro

Alicia Playing Piano Alicia, who is starting Roedean in September in Year 9, sent in this fabulous video: Click here to watch the concert

Click here for Bonus Content Page 7


HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW

26 June 2020 - Issue 9

Liv and Gracie’s Sea Swim Liv and Gracie (Yr12) set themselves an amazing challenge, which they completed last week – when the cross-Channel relay was cancelled, they decided that they would swim the same distance along the Sussex coast. Each day, they swam part of the distance, and Liv described each stage: •

The first day was a 4.5 mile swim from Portslade to the Marina – we completed the swim in just over 2 hours, and the weather was great that day so we were feeling optimistic for the week to come

The next day, we completed another 4.5 mile swim, but we encountered a bloom of jellyfish when swimming around each pier – luckily only one species was strong enough to sting, and we completed the swim, dodging jellyfish, in 2hours 15mins

Wednesday, we swam just over 5 miles from Newhaven to Seaford Head and back, in around 2.5 hours – it was nice to see a different part of the Sussex Coastline, particularly as it is one of my Geography case studies

Day 4 was another 4.5 mile swim, and this time, the weather was not so much in our favour, with 70 centimetre waves – apart from a bit of sea-sickness, it was a good swim of around 2 hours, with a strong current

Day 5 was our final day, accompanied by Miss Wakeling, Dr Hobbs, and Miss Le Bihan – it was around 3.5 kilometres, with excellent weather and a few scenic stops along the way, and the support at the end of the swim was amazing, so a massive thank you to everyone who met us on the beach for the end of the challenge!

Gracie reflected on the experience: ‘Liv and I wanted to complete the Channel swim because, aside from the fact that we love a challenge, we wanted to do something to prove to ourselves that we could have completed the Channel crossing this year. Given that next year we will be doing our A levels, we were gutted that we would not be able to take part and didn’t want all our training to have been for nothing. Furthermore, as all other sports competitions that we otherwise would have been taking part in have been cancelled and the pools are closed, it was something for our training in lockdown to work towards. We both felt it was important to select local charities. During the Coronavirus outbreak, many of the most vulnerable in society have faced a heightened hardship. Reduced city footfall has meant the homeless have been unable to receive help and donations from passers-by. Lockdown restrictions have also meant that Brighton Food Bank has had to restrict their donations to purely financial, resulting in a significant reduction in the amount of food available to families in need; Off the fence is our school charity and we decided to also donate to them as they help the most vulnerable in society during this time.

Page 8

Swimming over consecutive days was challenging both mentally and physically. It was particularly difficult at the end of the first swim knowing that we still had to get up the next day to swim the same distance again, and again on the days after that. A lowlight of the experience was definitely being surrounded by jellyfish on multiple occasions during one swim (and Liv being stung!), however we managed to encourage each other to keep going! We’ve been blown away as to how much support we’ve received. Our initial sponsorship target was £150, and we’ve now raised over £2000! I think our choice of charities has made people especially willing to donate, as they recognise the importance of helping everyone within our community through these difficult times.’ Congratulations to Liv and Gracie – what an unbelievable achievement!


26 June 2020 - Issue 9

HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW

Shan

Amirah

‘My digital collage reflects the jarring disconnection in the new life of social distancing. The social distancing pods levitate above the ground using the Maglev transportation system, which encourages a no-touch environment. I have overlayed different brutalists, Bauhaus, and futuristic buildings to build a utopian environment. The contrasting colours of blue and orange, pink and green emphasises the separation of nature and social distancing life.’

Kelly

‘This illustration is the result of inspiration from the Bauhaus movement of creating a utopian city. Although, architectural utopians are challenging to design because of the practicality of them, this floating city on the sea will tackle issues such as overpopulation. The city would be self-sustaining and energy efficient with farms, solar panels, as well as residential islands. 6 Islands join together with bridges that can collapse to form segregated islands.'

Rolin

‘These posters are inspired by Bauhaus movement. I tried to make them simple and power at the same time. I wanted to convey the anxiety of this special period and a warning of BLACK LIVES MATTER. It was my first time using photoshop and illustrator to create posters. I really enjoyed making them while familiarise with new softwares.'

Pre-U Work Students heading off to study visual Arts degrees in architecture, graphic design and photography have been reflecting on current cultural, social and environmental issues. They produced work and design solutions that address issues that are currently pressing, for example social distancing, the environmental crisis and the need to tackle systemic racism.

Freya's Artwork Freya bought lots of ply wood and building paint just before lockdown and has been getting on with some artwork. Her pieces are remarkable, including a self-portrait... and all about 6ft each! She's even shared time-lapses of her work being created!

Page 9


26 June 2020 - Issue 9

HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW

Mollie

Years 8&9 Classics Projects In the Classics Dept this term Year 8 have been learning about the eruption of Vesuvius and Year 9 have studied myths. Here are some of their amazing efforts! Year 8

Stella Merla Mia

Grumio - coquus

Clementina - ancilla

Metella - mater

Summer triclinium

Caecilius - pater

Quintus - filius

tabulinium

latrina

impluvium

culina

Year 9

Cerberus - canis

peristylium

thermae

Jess and Liv

lararium

Louise

Oreoluwa

Niamh and Petra

Gracie

Ruby Annie

Sabrina

Page 10

n


26 June 2020 - Issue 9

HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW

University Entrance Test Preparation Each year, we provide Year 12 students with the opportunity to have guidance on the various entrance tests required for Oxford and Cambridge, as well as those needed for Medicine and Law. On Saturday 20 June, 28 Year 12 students attended an online Oxbridge Applications Admissions Test Skills Day. Whilst we would normally hold this session in School, the students adapted really well to the live online event, and attended a variety of sessions, including mathematical sciences, problem-solving, and essay writing. The students also completed 2 mini-mock tests, and received feedback and guidance on how to improve. Well done to all the students, this was a rigorous, but enjoyable day! JSH

Tennis Academy for Heidi

Feedback from the Roedean Community We are very grateful for the wonderful feedback the School has received – please do continue to let us know what is going well, as well as what you think we might improve:

‘Please will you pass Blond and the team on my thanks to Mr . Fr (and knowing at cl om my perspective os other schools have e-hand how two difficult and evolvin handled the very g approach has been situation), Roedean’s ex well-balanced. Out ceptionally good and in front at all times I am very grateful . involved. It’s clearly indeed to all of those no but, given the circ t ideal circumstances umstances, I can thin of nowhere else I wo uld rather have loo k after Eleanor’s educ ki ation at this criticang l juncture.' (Year 12 Parent )

Well done to Heidi (Yr7), who has been invited to a week's training at the Justine Henin Tennis Academy in Belgium over the summer break.

k you to well and than e hard re a u yo e op th ‘We h t Roedean for all the staff a g around preparing the nin work and plan for their return as Sixth Year 11 girls tember. Our daughter is ep Formers in S to starting her A Level rd a rw fo g in that she is look are delighted n.' e w d n a s, ie stud ue at Roedea able to contin Parent) (Year 11

‘Please pass on our thanks to all Senior Management Team, plus the everyone else, who are working so so har d to get the girls back to school. The remote provision has been FANTASTIC learning thi but I know my daughter will be s term, skipping to school in September.' (Year 9 Parent)

‘Thank you, Mr Blond, for your email regarding Black Lives Matter, and for attaching the academic lecture. I am a teacher at a primary school, and I would very much like to share the transcript of the lecture with staff members at my school. Thank you for everything you are doing at Roedean to try and redress the balance. I am grateful that, as a school, you are reinforcing some of what I have been discussing with my daughter at home.' (Year 10 Parent)

‘We need to say thank you on so many accounts ‘This is just to pass to everyone at Roedean. on for the high standa my incredible gratitude done, has School the that ing I can’t list everyth have delivered to m rd of online learning you y but I would like to you to know how particularly she has been fully daughter and her peers – s Parent ay’s en yesterd with impressed I was inspired and motiva gaged in classes, has been the of many met really te not Evening. We had to perform well in d, and feels she was able are! they bunch tic th fantas a teachers but what great tribute to th e summer exams. It is a They all came across as everything you would the switch to virtu e teaching staff who made al want in a teacher! – the enthusiasm and love well, without losing teaching so quickly and so qu of knowledge and teaching of all the staff shone also felt very suppor ality of delivery. She has through the screen! greater engagemen ted pastorally. She misses t wi forward to some m th her friends and looks My daughter has had a great year, made but overall is very anaged outdoor meet ups, fantastic friends, and has learned so much ha thanks to all of yo ppy at school and this is – she is really looking forward to Year 8. ur pass on my gratitu hard work. I wanted to September won’t come soon enough! de. Please extend my thanks ‘I would like to than (Year 7 Parent) to al l te ac he rs k .' al l of m y amazing subject patience and suppor (Year 10 Parent teachers fo ) term dealing with t over the year, but particularly over r their remote learning. Ou the last throughout, and th r curriculum has co my nt is final week of e th is is th flexibility. They ha is due to their incredible organisatio inued ‘Please may I also take this at a year! can’t believe day, and for that ve helped us to cope with this change n and ‘I ughter’s Year 7 – and wh opportunity to say a big k n I da nd a huge tha the te Beadle, our wonder am so grateful. A special mention al every ex to d thank te you for your care and n a r so fu Firstly I w u and all the school fo And not forgetting l Head of Year for her unwavering su to Ms suppor yo t t of our girls. You and or of h pp th pp organising a vast an e Sports Department and Ms Boob ort. you to bot le learning provision and su riod of your colleag ues have worked is incredib uring this pe at d provided me with ba d varied co-curricular programme, for ed iv ce re tireles sly to deliver some ve wh the girls ha e is desperate to be back e course kept me enga dly needed time away from screens ich norma lity h lin and structure to S on an e ge lockdown. note, a huge thank d in fitness and other interests. On d of ally enjoyed th gs that re s a h their e days, and deliver a 1st sh school, but s discovered new thin lessons... I learned you to Mr Ebden for the brilliant co that class a to virtua h l educat r ion.' to ok lessons and d doing too. School prio er staff have been am make so many delicious dishes! Our ery (Year 7 and 9 Parent) ye ev jo ow en h H az , s ou in a se g h ow to n e o, sh especially Ms Le Bi ago taking an interest han, al to s a long time lockdown seemhad such a fantastic start needed socials with in what we were doing, and arrang ways r ing much our House. THANK my daughte at Roedean. So many YOU SO MUCH ev eryone!!! her time (Maria, Year 9) rent) Page 11

(Year 7 Pa


26 June 2020 - Issue 9

HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW SPORT The PE department would like to thank each and everyone of you for your commitment and enthusiasm to PE and sport this term. You have jumped at every opportunity thrown at you, from the online sock tournament, to Roedean Virtual Sports Day, and Netball challenges to name a few. We know you will be missing your Cricket, Tennis, and Athletics, but hope you enjoyed the new opportunities. There are no individuals or teams of the week this week as you have all been amazing so well done to everyone! Congratulations to Maria and Roma, who were joint winners of the Netball challenge this week. They created some awesome challenges of their own, super creative and fun. Well done girls. Thank you and well done to the members of the U13 and U14 netball squads, who planned and delivered Netball club. Both the sessions put on were fantastic and innovative. Your parents will have received a ‘Summer Fitness Programme’ today, which hopefully will inspire and motivate you keep active over the Summer holidays. There are lots of different ideas and sessions you can use and adapt to suit your strengths and weaknesses. As always, if you have any questions on anything, drop a member of the PE department an email. We are all extremely proud of you for how you have coped online during this period, and wish you a well-deserved rest. Have a lovely Summer and we look forward to welcoming you back in September. AHD

Roedean Strava Community Roedean Duathlon A huge well done to Mrs Miller, who took part in the Roedean Duathlon, and she performed brilliantly, transitioning smoothly from her run to bike! Strava 10K Cycle A huge well done to Gracie, who had a phenomenal swim with Liv for the Channel Coastal Swim, but also she has been consistently active on Strava throughout the week, with a total time of 4 hours 34:37. Sasha has also been active, covering a total of 81.3 kilometres for the week, a fantastic achievement! Furthermore, Katie, Lizzie, and Lara have kept up their exercise, with numerous runs and cycles throughout the week, so well done!

Virtual Sports Day – Week 4 As our Virtual Sports Day 2020 has come to a close, there is an incredible amount to be celebrated. Your resilience to keep on going, and stay motivated to keep active during this tough and uncertain time has amazed us, and we are incredibly proud of everyone who took part. Over 200 of you entered into at least 1 event, and have been working hard to earn points for your House team. A particular mention should be made to these 32 athletes who took part in 8 or 9 events, which is outstanding: Completed 9/9 Events

Completed 9/9 Events

Madison

Yr7

Ellen

Yr7

Tildy

Yr7

Maisie

Yr7

Jasmine

Yr7

Hettie

Yr7

Sihu

Yr7

Willow

Yr7

Siyun

Yr7

Cherry

Yr8

Hannah

Yr8

Alex

Yr8

Mairi

Yr8

Sara

Yr8

Liv

Yr8

Martha

Yr8

Fleur

Yr8

Oreoluwa

Yr9

Clemmie

Yr8

Emilia

Yr9

Claudette

Yr8

Nettie

Mollie

Yr8

With 9 events to compete in, it would only be fair to announce our best athletes in each event. A huge well done to the following girls who have come 1st in your events! Event

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

100m

Olivia

Lilah

Lucy

800m

Maisie

Lilah

Rose

1500m

Maisie

Jamie

Amy

3km

Emily

Roma

Amelia

Standing Long Jump

Izzy

Alex

Daisy

Standing Triple Jump

Freya

Ella

Amelia

Speed Bounce

Madison

Jamie

Isabella

Shot Putt

Eloise

Talya

Megan

Family Relay

Team Butlin

Team Nevitt

Team

The next area to be celebrated is our overall winners in each year group. With close point scores separating all of the athletes, the overall top 3 are as follows. What an excellent achievement, well done! Overall Winners

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Yr9

1st

Eloise

Mollie

Isabella

Rose

Yr9

2nd

Tildy

Talya

Dani

3rd

Jasmine

Dani

Yr9

Olivia

Yr9

Isla

Yr9

Maria

Yr9

Amelia

Yr9

Isabella

Yr9

Dawn

Yr9

Carla

Yr9

With 6 points up for grabs after each event, the totals are in, with Year 8 earning the most points for engagement and achievement, closely followed by Year 9, and then Year 7. Well done! Total Points Year 7

894

Year 8

1372

Year 9

1303

Mairi Fleur

Maria

And now it’s time for the results you’ve all been waiting for… Which House takes top spot? With some nail-bitingly close points’ averages, HOUSE 1 takes the crown! Overall Results

House

Total Points Average

1st

1

31.10

2nd

3

27.67

3rd

2

24.73

4th

4

24.7

On behalf of all of the PE department, we have been blown away by your engagement in Virtual Sports Day 2020, and we are looking forward to putting all of your hard work at home back onto the track next year. Have a fantastic summer and keep active!

Over the summer, we will have a number of challenges and events set up on Strava, so remember to stay safe, keep active, and log your exercise on the Roedean Strava Club Page! :) SCH

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: marketing@roedean.co.uk

Follow us

@RoedeanSchool

@RoedeanSchool


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.