29 April 2022 – Issue 1
HEAD’S
WEEKLY REVIEW
Training to Swim to France!
Head’s Introduction
Welcome back! I hope that you all enjoyed a good break over the holidays. I am pleased to see that you have all hit the ground running from the very start of term, with public exam assessments, sports fixtures, partnership activities, and music rehearsals all taking place in this first week.
Galina and the NYCB
Well done to Years 13 and 11, who have been sitting assessments this week – as the A Level and GCSE exams approach, I hope that this final round of assessments is helping your preparation and allowing you to hone your exam technique. Well done also to all those who completed their GCSE speaking exams at the start of the week. I wish you all the best for the coming weeks. It was great to welcome the pupils from Year 5 at St Mark’s to Roedean yesterday, for the first of their weekly Academic and Sport Enrichment sessions. They were delighted to be with us, and had a great time playing cricket on the Astro with Mr Borsoi and learning some Russian with Dr Barrand, although it sounds like lunch was also a highlight for some of the children! In Sport, our hardy sea-swimmers were training in the sea at 6:30 on the first morning of term, and they will have three training sessions a week to prepare for the relay swim across the Channel in June – it really is a brilliant opportunity. I am very pleased to hear of a number of individual successes over the holidays, in a whole range of activities, and you can read more about these in this Review. Well done to the following: Malika (Yr13) is a Finalist in one of the BSA’s School Awards categories for her remarkable artwork; Roedean has three category winners in the international poetry recitation competition, Poesiae; Galina (Yr10) performed with the National Youth Concert Band over Easter; six of our U16 Hockey players were in the team which won the England Hockey Tier 1 Plate; and Jasmine (Yr9) won a regional netball tournament with her squad. Congratulations to you all! Well done to all our musicians, who are rehearsing hard for the Fringe concert on Friday 6 May. The programme is wonderful, with Anamika, Bronwen, Alyssa, Eva, and Rachel all playing Concerto movements with the orchestra, followed by a performance by the choir and orchestra of Carmina Burana. I am looking forward to it a great deal, and I hope that you can come along to support our wonderful performers. Thank you in advance for your contributions to tomorrow’s Open Day – I am very grateful. And I wish you all a restful Bank Holiday weekend.
Malika is a Finalist in the BSA's Best Artwork Project Award
Brighton Fringe Festival Concert Roedean Chapel 6th May 7pm Tickets available through the school or from Brighton Fringe Box Office roedean.ticketsolve.com
HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW
Poesiae – 3 International Winners from Roedean!
29 April 2022 – Issue 1
ROEDEAN PRESENTS
Congratulations to Gabby, Alice, and Joy, who won their category for their year-group and chosen language in Poesiae, the International Poetry Recitation Competition – this is amazing! Competition was very high, with students from more than 250 schools all over the world taking part!
Brighton Fringe Festival Concert
Here are the winners: ■
Year 12 Spanish: Gabby, with ‘Pienso mesa y digo silla’ (by Federico García Lorca)
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Year 8 Spanish: Alice, with ‘La mariposa’ (by Federico García Lorca)
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Year 7 Chinese: Joy, with ‘Farewell to Cambridge Again’
Roedean Chapel 6th May 7pm Trumpet Concerto First Movement Allegro in B flat by Vivaldi
Please follow the link to watch the performances of our fantastic linguists!
Soloists: Anamika Nebhrajani-Wallace Bronwen Trowhill
Elégie by Glazunov
Soloist: Eva Fletcher
Libertango by Piazzolla arr Mr.Rous Soloist: Alyssa Li
Symphonie Espagnole by Lalo Soloist: Rachel Cheung
Carmina Burana by Carl Orff
Tickets available through the school or from Brighton Fringe Box Office roedean.ticketsolve.com
Well done to the winners, but congratulations too to everyone who took part, because it takes terrific courage to recite poetry in another language in front of an audience! Ms Ibañez-Barceó
Congratulations to the following who have won the first Golden Tickets of the term Well done! Miss Hart
Year 7 – Liv
Year 8 – Tiah
Year 9 – Alya
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Anabel Wins a Silver Medal In March, 22 brave Biology Sixth Formers took part in the prestigious British Biology Olympiad competition. Well done to all those who were commended and highly commended. Bella, Rita, Sophia, Sophia, Jemima, and Maddie can be very proud of themselves for winning a Bronze award, and particular congratulations go to Anabel, who was awarded a Silver medal. These are fantastic results – well done to all our participants! Mrs Andrew
HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW
29 April 2022 – Issue 1
The Most Biodiverse Place on Earth for Year 12 Biologists! Year 12 Biology students enjoyed an awe-inspiring day at Wakehurst this week. Wakehurst is part of Kew and has a wonderful botanic garden which includes some extremely rare plants and trees from all around the world. There are also extensive areas of native habitat, including coppice woodland, which is currently full of beautiful bluebells. Our students carried out practical work in this woodland to compare the biodiversity of two areas. The Millenium Seed Bank is also at Wakehurst, and our students learned so much about the vital conservation work done here during a guided tour. There are over 2.4 billion seeds in the seed bank and from such a variety of species that Wakehurst is now the place with the highest biodiversity in the world. The beautiful Spring weather made this an even more memorable trip. Thank you to Mr Swapp, Mrs Andrew, and Mr Thomas for leading the trip. Wakehurst is a precious and wonderful place. It is open to the public and not too far away – do visit if you can! Mrs Borsberry
Malika is a Finalist in the BSA's Best Artwork Project Award Congratulations to Malika in Year 13 – she is a Finalist in the Boarding Schools Association’s Best Artwork Project Award! This is an excellent achievement, and recognises her exceptional work. She is studying Art, Biology, and Chemistry at A Level, and there can be no doubt that her artwork is in response to her interest as a scientist. Her obsession with looking at cells under a microscope initially developed into the scientific stimulus for her etching work, but Malika is not focused on one type of art work, and she has used a wide range of media, underlining the breadth of her artistic and creative skill-set. She says, ‘For my personal investigation, I chose the title ‘An exploration into the introspective art and the extrospective science’. I wanted to pursue this as I am interested in both sciences and art, and wanted to see how they link as they are important parts of my life.’ Malika is focusing on print-making, as well as using acrylic to represent cells growing and mutating, using a laser-cutter to create the shapes, both on paper and acrylic. The next stage of the process is to layer the acrylic shapes one on top of the other to create 3D effects. In this respect, she has been strongly influenced by her research into the American artist, Rogan Brown, whose work focuses on the fine detail of where art and science meet. Inspired by this work, Malika has produced stunningly beautiful pieces of free-motion embroidery of cells encased in petri-dishes. The winners are announced next week, so we look forward to hearing the results – good luck, Malika!
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HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW
29 April 2022 – Issue 1
Galina and the NYCB Congratulations to Galina (Yr10), who spent a week over the Easter holidays rehearsing with the National Youth Concert Band. They rehearsed for 7-8 hours a day for the whole week, which culminated in an amazing performance at the Birmingham Conservatoire concert hall, where she played clarinet, bass clarinet, and Eb clarinet. She also had the opportunity to play in a rare bass clarinet quartet as part of the chamber music programme. We are also delighted and proud that, after a rigorous audition process, Galina has also been offered a place as a musician, playing Clarinet 1, for the National Youth Music Theatre's (NYMT) production of Chess, which is taking place at the Leicester Curve Theatre in August, she'll also be playing in the orchestra for the NYMT Showcase at the Rose Theatre in Kingston in July. Well done, Galina – these really are outstanding achievements! Dr Barrand
Autism Acceptance Month April is Autism Acceptance Month. As we mark Autism Acceptance Month, here are some thoughts from across our neurodiverse community:
“Having a different way of thinking is very difficult at a place like school, where you have to think about so many different things so much of the time. Often, even small things that people might not even think about can be difficult for me, so school can be very overwhelming. If people don’t know that I am autistic, they might not understand why I do certain things or judge me. But, if they do know, they might see me differently. People don’t understand the way my brain works, and, in the same way, I don’t understand how theirs works, which can make it difficult for me to connect to people and make friends.” Year 10 student
ing films books or watch "I find reading trating, and tism really frus that portray au any that ot recommend I honestly cann en, they m for me. Too oft represent Autis ho w are just d 'smart' people show 'nerds' an m or read a never seen a fil 'weird'. I have big personality. esents me, as a book that repr l only shows a e show Atypica For example, th . I don't tell side, to Autism nerdier type, or use I don't ve Autism, beca way. people that I ha me in the wrong at of k in th to want them ', as I find th 'I have autism I prefer to say ing. I do not tistic' too defin saying 'I am au define me.” want autism to ent
Year 8 stud
“What I find ha rd is how to tell people that I am autis tic. It isn’t so mething that can easily be put into a casual conversation, like, ‘Oh, by th e way I am autistic’. That would fee l like an awkward thing to say, and ca use an awkward mom ent in the co nversation! Also, when is there ever th e right time to say it?"
Year 7 student
"I think that someone would not have a clue what I was about if I did say it, so what’s the point. People don’t really know what autism is, it is such a diverse thing in itself. I talk about autism in whatever way that comes out at the time, never choosing ‘I am autistic’ or ‘I have autism’ specifically. I try not to talk about it to people so this hasn’t been a big consideration.” Year 10 student
“I have recently been diagnosed with autism, so I feel a bit strange talking about this, as I just feel ‘this is me, people!’. But one thing I can say is that the word autism is just a description of who I am – getting the diagnosis was like finding out I have an allergy. Fact. That’s me. It isn’t like suddenly there is something to worry about. In fact, when I found out I have autism I actually realised that what I thought was odd about me and worried me a bit, was actually just autism. It was a relief and comforting to realise it is the autism that explains certain ways I behave or do things. If you think you might have autism, don’t be afraid of getting a diagnosis, it feels good to know.” Year 10 student
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rks’ are autism, “When you realise that your ‘qui It feels as if it can be a relief – it was for me. community I joined a community. Except, this together is undercover. I wish we could get al soci anxiety. more, but part of autism can be loudest clown, Sometimes I feel like the biggest, intensely. At and want to just be with people not see or other times, I want to retreat and masking of speak with anyone. The pressure don’t ally liter is huge and it is exhausting. I king mas is t know what is the real ‘me’; wha on thoughts milli a has d hea My not. t’s and wha hard to sleep. spinning around and I find it s. I would So, I am already tired most day really act t like people to know that I migh myself. like seem differently some days and not s that hap Per . But please just accept me for that and d weir bit a person in class, that you think is tly, eren diff ing annoying, has a brain that is work If ve. beha and they cannot help the way they how they are, someone struggles to let you know ys feels like or covers everything up and alwa might be autistic. they’re putting on a show, they n is working It helps to know that their brai differently.” Year 10 student
“It’s a very isolating experience that is hard to understand. Autism affe cts every thought I have and everythi ng I do. It shapes who I am and how I interact with the world. For exam ple, sensory stimulation – it never goes away. People may not see or realise a lot of things because of masking, whi ch is very tiring.” Year 10 student
29 April 2022 – Issue 1
HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW
Autism Awareness Month – Reading List The State of Grace – by Rachael Lucas
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine – by Gail Honeyman
Sometimes I feel like everyone else was handed a copy of the rules for life and mine got lost. Grace has Asperger’s and her own way of looking at the world. She’s got a horse and a best friend who understand her, and that’s pretty much all she needs. But when Grace kisses Gabe and things start to change at home, the world doesn’t make much sense to her any more. Suddenly everything threatens to fall apart, and it’s up to Grace to fix it on her own.
Eleanor Oliphant has learned how to survive – but not how to live. She leads a simple life. She wears the same clothes to work every day, eats the same meal deal for lunch every day, and buys the same two bottles of vodka to drink every weekend. Eleanor Oliphant is happy. Nothing is missing from her carefully timetabled life. Except, sometimes, everything. One simple act of kindness is about to shatter the walls Eleanor has built around herself. Now she must learn how to navigate the world that everyone else seems to take for granted – whilst searching for the courage to face the dark corners, she's avoided all her life.
A Kind of Spark – by Elle McNicoll
The Maid – by Nita Prose
A Kind of Spark tells the story of 11-year-old Addie, as she campaigns for a memorial in memory of the witch trials that took place in her Scottish hometown. Addie knows there's more to the story of these 'witches', just like there is more to hers. Can Addie challenge how the people in her town see her, and make her voice heard?
Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by. Since Gran died a few months ago, twenty-five-year-old Molly has been navigating life's complexities all by herself. No matter—she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. But Molly's orderly life is up-ended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself dead in his bed. Before she knows what's happening, Molly's unusual demeanor has the police targeting her as their lead suspect.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – by Mark Haddon Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow. This improbable story of Christopher’s quest to investigate the suspicious death of a neighborhood dog makes for one of the most captivating, unusual, and widely heralded novels in recent years.
The Space We’re In – by Katya Balen
The Diary of a Young Naturalist – by Dara McAnulty Evocative, raw and lyrical, this startling debut explores the natural world through the eyes of Dara McAnulty, an autistic teenager coping with the uprooting of home, school, and his mental health, while pursuing his life as a conservationist and environmental activist.
The London Eye Mystery – by Siobhan Dowd
When Frank’s younger brother is diagnosed with autism at the age of three, their mum explains that it means he may not always understand the way the world works. Frank, with great perceptiveness, observes that he doesn’t understand the world, either. Who really does? Now aged ten, Frank is learning that people can sometimes be cruel. When kids make unpleasant jokes about Max, Frank fails to defend him. Like many older siblings, he is also frustrated at how much of his parents’ time and attention his brother now demands. All in all, he’s currently wrestling some pretty serious feelings of guilt and resentment. Little does he know, life is about to throw something far, far worse at the family.
A Different Sort of Normal – by Abigail Balfe
When his cousin goes missing, even the police are baffled: it's up to Ted, whose brain runs on its own unique operating system, to solve this mystery and find Salim. The story of how Ted, a boy with Asperger syndrome, and his sister Kat, solve the mystery of how their cousin, Salim, seemingly vanishes from inside a sealed capsule on the London Eye.
In this warm, important, and immensely moving book, writer and illustrator, Abigail Balfe, charts her experiences of growing up neurodivergent, offering candid and powerful insights into autism.
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HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW
29 April 2022 – Issue 1
BOA Film and Theatre recommendations:
The pupils and staff have put together some recommendations for fiction and non-fiction, if you are interested in finding out more about autism.
Book recommendations: Can You See Me – by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott “I highly recommend this book! It follows 11-year-old Tally’s day to day life as she navigates school, home, and relationships. Anyone should read it, whether neurodivergent or not, I think everyone would relate to it and not be able to put it down.”
The Spectrum Girl's Survival Guide – by Siena Castellon “This is such a good book which tells Siena’s own story, as well as dropping in tips and advice for anyone with autism or any other neurodiversity. Siena is in herself amazing – she is only 19 and already the founder of Neurodiversity Celebration Week, and also campaigns against bullying and advocates for neurodiversity. This is well worth a read.”
Girls and Autism – edited by Carpenter, Happe and Egerton A valuable book for teachers in helping to understand some of the traits commonly found with girls with autism. As we know, autism often presents differently in girls than boys. Here we have an insight into those differences in this useful guide for both students and teachers. It contains practical suggestions to make the classroom as welcoming and prosperous as possible. This book delves into previous assumptions and brings to light new evidence, insight and advice for those working with and living with girls with autism.
Dear Evan Hansen – Grammy Award-winning musical by Steven Levenson (film directed by Stephen Chbosky and book written by Val Emmich, with Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul)
“I have watched the movie and seen the theatre show (the show does contain some profanities). Although this film contains mature themes, it is a gripping plot in which someone with complicated mental health issues gets embroiled in an unlikely and awkward scenario. This isn’t strictly about someone with autism, however it really struck a chord with me and portrays some of the emotional complexities we feel with autism and anxiety.”
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime – by Mark Haddon (now also a theatrical production) “This book does contain some bad language, but it is a really good story! It has lots of twists and turns, and has such a positive and uplifting outcome. It really pulls you into what Christopher, the 15-year-old narrator of the book, is going through.”
Inside out – by Disney Pixar “This is such a great film which explores the emotions of Riley, a girl for whom emotions take over at different times in her life. We are viewing from the vantage point of Riley's mind and get taken on a journey of discovery into emotional intelligence. I loved it – suitable for any age!”
Articles of interest:
Thank you to Ms Friedman for sharing this article by Hannah Gadsby, taken from the Guardian. Hannah gives a wonderfully entertaining depiction of her life with autism: https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/mar/19/hannah-gadsbyautism-diagnosis-little-out-of-whack
Hannah Gadsby
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29 April 2022 – Issue 1
HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW
New Books in the Library Truth be Told – by Sue Divin
Lessons in Chemistry – by Bonnie Garmus
Two teens from very different backgrounds – Tara, the Catholic daughter of a two generation single parent family, and Faith, the daughter of strict Evangelical Protestants from Armagh, come face to face at a residential and discover they look almost identical. A DNA test reveals they are related, and that Faith's father is not who she thinks – while Tara has never known hers.
Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing. But it's the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute take a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans; the lonely, brilliant, Nobel-prize nominated grudgeholder, who falls in love with – of all things – her mind. True chemistry results.
The Secret of the Treasure Keepers – by AM Howell
Malibu Rising – by Taylor Jenkins Reid
February 1948. Ruth has been whisked off to the lonely Rook Farm to investigate the discovery of long-buried treasure with her mother. But, at the farmhouse, she finds secrets lurk around every corner. Joe, the farmer's son, is hiding something about the treasure, while land girl, Audrey, watches their every move.
The author of Daisy Jones and The Six returns with a wonderfully juicy recreation of the glamour and excess of 1980s California, and one night that will bring the shimmering world of the Riva family crashing down around them.
She Gets the Girl – by Rachael Lippincott
Vile Stars – by Sera Milano
A romantic comedy from the author of Five Feet Apart. Alex Blackwood is a little bit headstrong, with a dash of chaos and a whole lot of flirt. She knows how to get the girl. Molly Parker has everything in her life totally in control, except for her complete awkwardness with just about anyone besides her mum.
What feels to Luka, at first, like the giddy rush of falling in love swiftly turns much darker in Milano's sensitively handled and compelling novel of toxic control. 17-yearold Luka isn't looking for love. She's trying to piece her life back together after a heartbreaking loss. But when she meets the gorgeous and charismatic Cosmo under a meteor shower at the Greenwich Observatory, it feels like destiny has played a hand. Surely theirs is a love written in the stars.
Skandar and the Unicorn Thief – by A.F. Steadman
One Day I Shall Astonish the World – by Nina Stibbe
Thirteen-year-old Skandar Smith has only ever wanted to be a unicorn rider. To be one of the lucky few selected to hatch a unicorn. To bond with it for life; to train together and race for glory; to be a hero. But just as Skandar's dream is about to come true, things start to take a more dangerous turn than he could ever have imagined.
Susan and Roy have been married for twenty years, and she's beginning to wonder whether she's really happy. As her husband drives her crazy, Susan realises that that her job at the university might just be the best part of her life. When 2020 dawns and Susan's grown up daughter returns to the nest, along with her very strong opinions, Susan begins to question all of her life decisions.
The Colony – by Audrey Magee
Reminders of Him – by Colleen Hoover
Mr Lloyd has decided to travel to the island by boat without an engine – the authentic experience. Unbeknownst to him, Mr Masson will also soon be arriving for the summer. Both will strive to encapsulate the truth of this place – one in his paintings, the other by capturing its speech, the language he hopes to preserve.
After serving five years in prison for a tragic mistake, Kenna Rowan returns to the town where it all went wrong, hoping to reunite with her four-year-old daughter. But the bridges Kenna burned are proving impossible to rebuild. Everyone in her daughter’s life is determined to shut Kenna out, no matter how hard she works to prove herself.
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29 April 2022 – Issue 1
HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW
SPORT Training to Swim to France! It was only the first day of term, but the sea-swimmers were in the water before the day started at 6:30am! It’s still chilly in the sea, but training is well-underway for their relay swim across the Channel to France in June! Clara (Yr9) wrote: 'On Monday morning, me and 9 others met at Brighton beach and braved the cold sea. This was the first of 21 sessions in preparation to do the Channel relay swim. We meet on Monday, Friday, and Sunday mornings. We planned to go in for at least 2 minutes and everyone managed over 10 – the best lasted 21minutes and 27 seconds. We swam as a group with 4 members of staff who encouraged us all the way. Once we got out, we felt warmer, however that quickly went, so we quickly put on warm clothes and jumped into the taxi. It was cold but it was worth it, and everyone was proud of what they'd achieved and smiling.' Dr Hobbs and Miss Wakeling
6 Roedean Girls in the England Hockey Tier 1 Plate Winning Team Congratulations to Amelia, Isabella, Eliza, and Nia (Yr11), and Elodie and Olivia (Yr10), who were part of the talented Brighton and Hove U16s, the Cormorants, who won the England Hockey Tier 1 Plate Competition. The six Roedean girls made up nearly half of the 13-strong squad who played at Reading Hockey Club last weekend. They took a fantastic 5-0 win over London Wayfarers in the final. The team produced an excellent display of attacking hockey, and the whole experience was wonderful for the girls! Well done!
Hurst Swimming Gala 'This week, 23 Roedean girls took part in a competitive swimming gala against Hurst. 6 teams competed – U13A and Bs, U16 A and Bs, and U18A team. It was a successful gala, with all age groups wining their category, and the A team winning the gala overall. This was our last gala of the season, and we now have a strong swimming team of 25 regular swimmers. We are all really proud to be on the Roedean swimming team, and love the fact that we can put out an A and a B team, and sometimes a C team too. We are now looking forward to aquathon season, and Miss Wakeling has organised 2 aquathons at Roedean this term. Well done to all the Roedean swimmers for a great season.'
Alice (Yr10)
Miss Wakeling
Jasmine Wins Tournament with Magic! Congratulations to Jasmine, whose team won the Blue Jay's South West Tournament last weekend. She is part of the U14 regional squad at Magic, and had a busy weekend of Netball. They performed well at the Magic Tournament on Saturday, where they competed against a couple of U17 teams too and held their own. They then travelled straight from there to Salisbury ahead of another tournament on Sunday. Jasmine and her team were undefeated all day after 6 action-packed matches, getting through to semifinals before coming away with the win in the final! The team played together so well and Jasmine got some fabulous intercepts to boot too. We wish her and her squad the best of luck at the regional entry tournament which is fast approaching. Well done! Miss Hammond
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 Page 8
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