roedean school magazine

Aims of the School

Roedean provides a stimulating education and exciting extra-curricular opportunities in an environment which is supportive and friendly.

The pupils are encouraged to be self-reliant, explore their talents and strive for excellence.

At Roedean, caring and committed staff ensure that our pupils:• develop their intellectual curiosity• make informed decisions• lead as well as be part of a team• appreciate cultural diversity• enjoy learning, are happy and safe

The school is a community where:• each person is welcomed as an individual, whilst recognising that their role as part of the whole is also vital• academic excellence is prized by all, whilst it is seen to be a part of the broader nature of education • self confidence is encouraged, whilst recognising that it develops through risk taking and the making of mistakes• we value our environment

The following values are central to our life as a community:• fairness and honesty• respect and tolerance• compassion and forgiveness

If you are educated at Roedean you will have respect for yourself and others. You will be qualified to enjoy a fulfilling career, confident that you have the skills to balance a personal and professional life.

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CONTENTS— 2010

REGULARS

03 The Head’s Introduction The thinking behind the new magazine format

04 Two Views A look at Roedean from contrasting perspectives

06 Flashbacks 2009-10 A quick reminder of some of the highlights of last year

48 The Last Word Head Girl Sharon Jacobs talks about her aims for the year

FEATURES

12 Vision for Roedean Mrs King identifies the priorities for this year

16 Five Paths to the Future Mr Tarbet explains the Sixth Form Review

20 The Value of Music Miss Fewkes highlights the benefits of music

22 Values of Life Former student Hin Hin Wong on her love of Art History

24 Winning as a Team Games Captain Caitlin Boyland on her passion for sport

26 Holocaust Memorial Day A personal account of surviving Auschwitz

EditorZoë Marlow

DesignCarr Kamasa Design

PrintLeycol Printers Limited

Roedean SchoolRoedean Way

BrightonBN2 5RQ

T: +44 (0)1273 667500E: [email protected]

www.roedean.co.uk

www.roedean.co.uk 01

26

ROEDEAN REVEALED

30 The Sound of Music

32 Dance Showcase

34 Final Shows

36 Roedean Junior School

37 France

38 Spain

ORA

40 Old Roedeanian Review An update on activity by ORA President Sasha Glynn

42 Roedean in Canada An account of Roedean’s wartime relocation to Nova Scotia

46 Obituary Emily Pluthero pays tribute to House Three contemporary Polly Renton

02

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features roedean revealed oraregularsThe Head’s Introduction


THE HEAD’S INTRODUCTION

Roedean 2010 offers you a sample of life at the school over the last year. The articles here have been chosen to give you a sense of the

variety of activities taking place and the energy and excitement that these generate.

Our previous school magazine, Hoofprints, was very popular, but with the arrival of the student newspaper The Boudicca Bulletin, we felt it appropriate to move away from a student-led magazine to one which offered a broader perspective on school life.

In this edition we reflect on academic development and share with you aspects of our extra-curricular programme; we give you a sample of our school trips and visitors, and we hear the latest news from the Old Roedeanians’ Association.

My thanks go to all the contributors to the magazine - I very much hope that you will enjoy Roedean 2010. Please email any comments or suggestions to [email protected]

writer Frances King

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regularsTwo Views

TWO VIEWS— Chairman of Council’s address

04

Roedean has a phenomenal brand. It is one of the most recognised names in UK private education.

We are delighted to be starting a new school year in which the school is full and we can continue to build on this excellent reputation.

We must recognise, however, that beyond our gates the country is facing immensely fragile economic conditions, with the real possibility of a double-dip recession and the consequent shrinkage of the education market. You will be reassured to know that Council has taken careful stock of the school’s viability to weather such times and will continue to assess the potential risks and the school’s ability to face them.

The focus of the last two years was on the management of the merger between St Mary’s Hall and Roedean.

writer Christopher Jonas CBE, Chairman of Council of Trustees

PrefaceAn extract from the start of year address to staff from Christopher Jonas CBE, Chairman of Council.

With this now reaching its conclusion, the priorities of Council for the coming year are:

• to support our superb Headmistress as she focuses on the operational aspects of leading Roedean

• to realise assets on the surplus land at Eastern Road, either through rent or sale

• to apply for a new and more responsive Royal Charter to replace the 1938 version

It is worth restating the role of the Council of Trustees. Our job is to ensure the school is fit for purpose but we remain the servants of the school. I am incredibly grateful for Council members’ time, breadth of expertise and sense of perspective, which is freely given with Roedean’s interests in mind. On behalf of the whole Council, I wish you a happy and successful year.


features roedean revealed oraregularsTwo Views

— First impressions of Upper Three

The biggest difference between St Margaret’s and Roedean is the actual buildings. St Margaret’s is tiny

compared to Roedean. I haven’t explored the whole school, but I like the main ICT room and the dance studios. I haven’t got lost on the way to classes yet…

I wanted to come to Roedean to get the best education in the world. I am also looking forward to making new friends and learning new things about my favourite subjects, which are English, dance and history.

So far I have had a great few weeks. House 3 has really friendly staff and I like our JPR. The best thing I have done so far is play hockey and write book reviews with Mrs Wilkinson. The nicest lunch was pasta and meatballs, yummy!

writer Tara McMaster

photographer Larry Bray

PrefaceTara McMaster, formerly of St Margaret’s CE School in Rottingdean, is a new Upper Three student in House 3.

regularsFlashbacks

Windows on the World

Local artist Clare Hackney had a weekend In Residence at Roedean, running a painting workshop for 20 Roedean and local girls on the theme of ‘Windows on the World’. The girls produced some lovely pieces which were later displayed, alongside Clare’s own work, at the Brighton Fringe in May 2010. ‘We used the workshop for talent identification’, said Mrs Stanway, Head of Art. ‘The children may have been young, but I definitely saw some possible future art scholars.’

Also in September…

Craig Sams, founder of Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate, spoke to Business Studies students from Roedean, Lancing and Eastbourne College about the challenges of entrepreneurship.

Roedean’s first ever participation in the Heritage Open Days weekend culminated in a fascinating talk by Dickie Dunn about Roedean’s spell as HMS Vernon during the Second World War.

SEPNOVOCT

FLASHBACKS— 2009-10

Five Minds for the Future

Professor Howard Gardner, described by The Financial Times as ‘the man who changed our notion of what it means to be clever’, gave a lecture to an invited audience on his book, Five Minds for the Future. Professor Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences has set the agenda in the psychology and educational theory communities for twenty five years, so it was an honour to have him at Roedean.

Also in October…

The Drama, English and Biology Departments hosted a sell-out Discovery Day as girls from 30 schools descended on ‘Hemlock Hall’ to solve the mystery of the murder of socialite Honey Crisp.

Team 3 triumphed at the Shakespeare-themed Team Play Festival with their interpretation of Much Ado About Nothing.

Roedean’s Got Talent

Celebrity judges Piers Morgan (Britain’s Got Talent), Katie Derham (ITN News) and Graeme Hawley (Coronation Street) were struck by the standard of performances at Roedean’s Got Talent. Jess Roper was the eventual winner. The evening raised an incredible £3000 for Cecily’s Fund, a UK charity working to enable Zambian children orphaned by AIDS to attend school.

Also in November…

Dr Heather McGregor, former pupil at St Mary’s Hall and now contributor to The Financial Times, gave the keynote address at Speech Day and advised, ‘You can’t do it alone, so remember to reach back and pull up the people behind you.’

The German Department, celebrating 20 years of the exchange with Landfermann School, Duisberg, welcomed a party of girls to Roedean.

06

FEB

DECJAN

RJS Christmas Production

The Junior School’s Christmas production of Shepherd Little was a traditional nativity story with a twist – locals wouldn’t believe Angel Gabriel’s news of Jesus’ birth until they had seen him with their own eyes. All the children from the Nursery to Year 2 took part, many with a speaking role, and also dancing and playing in the small band. Headmaster Mr May remarked, ‘I feel very proud. The pupils have put in so much effort to give a professional Christmas production.’

Also in December…

In a stunning netball result, the 1st team won the Sussex Round of the U19 National Schools Netball tournament and went on to represent Sussex in the Southern Round of the competition.

The girls had gone, but heavy snow left staff struggling to get to work… although it was nothing compared to the later snow in January.

OR Starred in TV Special

Old Roedeanian and self-made millionaire Seema Sharma starred in a Channel 4 special, Slumdog Secret Millionaire. Based in sprawling Dharavi, Asia’s biggest slum and the location of Danny Boyle’s Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire, Seema was touched by the warmth and humility she encountered. ‘I met one lady whose husband had to travel five miles every day to pick up one canister of water, yet she insisted on making me a cup of tea using water from that canister’, she recalled.

Also in January…

W. David Martin, Chair of History at Phoenix Country Day School, Arizona, arrived as a guest lecturer to bring a transatlantic perspective to the Sixth Form Civil War and civil rights classes.

There was a record turnout at the ORA AGM to hear Tatiana Macaire, daughter of a White Russian, give a fascinating account of her life.

RJS Choir Success

The Junior School’s choir was the only one in Sussex to reach the finals of the highly acclaimed Barnardo’s Young Supporters Festival Competition. At the finals at Royal Festival Hall, the choir performed two contrasting pieces, one of which had been especially composed, in front of hundreds of parents and guests. ‘I was really excited that we got to the finals and just couldn’t wait to get on that big stage,’ said Isobel in Year 6.

Also in February…

Bob Morley, a leading ornithological expert, brought a collection of owls, including an enormous European Eagle Owl and an unusual Great Horned Owl, into Roedean for talks and demonstrations.

60 instrumentalists and 70 singers captivated the Mayor of Brighton and Hove and a sell-out audience (some in period costume) with a variety of wartime hits at the 1940s Gala Concert.


features roedean revealed oraregularsFlashbacks

Public Speaking Success

At the English Speaking Union’s (ESU) 50th annual Public Speaking Competition, Emma Alexander from Roedean ‘A’ team won the ‘Outstanding Competitor’ award, the Joyce Rolf silver salver. Joyce Rolf gave the ESU its largest ever legacy from a Brighton and Hove resident; it was the very first time the salver has been presented to anyone in the first round of the competition. Mr Hargreaves, who prepared the teams, said, ‘I am delighted! Emma performed with calm authority and great presence to sum up admirably.’

Also in March…

The school production The Sound of Music was sold out on all three nights (see page 30).

Award-winning author Sophie McKenzie discussed the inspiration for Girl Missing and Blood Ties with Upper 3, Lower 4 and Upper 4 and the secret to writing a sequel (ensure it is better than the first).

MAR

MAY

APR

Roedean – Marathon Mile 7

The inaugural Brighton Marathon, instantly established as UK’s second largest after London, passed our main gates in both directions before ending at the Palace Pier. Six intrepid members of Roedean staff ran: Mr Back (English), Mr Brett (Bursary), Mrs Carnaghan and Mrs Chandler (PE), Mr Orys (H2) and Mr Woodgate (PE). After compliments about the girls who marshalled the London-Brighton bike ride last year, we also contributed a team of ten 6.2 marshals.

Upper 3 cheered on our St Dunstan’s neighbour Matt Rhodes who completed the Marathon in thirteen hours, over two days, raising funds for St Dunstan’s and Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Also in April…

Roedean’s Virtual Learning Environment proved its value when work online kept the students on track after volcanic ash grounded flights into the UK for almost a week.

Mr May Leaps Into Beans

The Junior School’s first ever Spring Fair raised money for St Barnabas House in Worthing and Chestnut Tree House near Arundel. On a perfect sunny day, the bouncy castle and traditional games were popular attractions, but the undisputed highlight for the high-spirited Kemp Town crowd was the charity Bath of Beans. Hats off to Headmaster Mr May, who bravely leapt into the tub of beans to raise over £270.

Also in May…

U4 went to Fishbourne Palace and Chichester to see Roman mosaics and antique pottery and learn how to distinguish between the rich and the poor in Roman times using clothing.

The announcement that Teams will revert to Houses was warmly welcomed; from 2010 they will be known again as the Lawrence sisters originally named them - Houses 1, 2, 3 and 4.

regularsFlashbacks

08

AUGJUN

Rock Pools Day

Rock Pools Day was the official launch of 2011 pupil recruitment. 40 girls from London and the southeast headed to the Biology labs to watch videos and examine samples of the sea creatures they might find on the beach. Then, armed with nets, gloves, buckets and jam jars, the group headed down the tunnel to find crabs, shrimps, fish and seaweed of all shapes and sizes. ‘The informality of the afternoon - and the warm weather - ensured that this was a great experience for all’, said Miss Fraser, Head of Biology.

Also in June…

The ribbon on Horizons café was officially cut by Grace Sorrell, who had proposed the winning name.

End of Year

The sun had barely set on Sports Day, and winners Team 1, before the annual surge of emotion among the leaving girls at final chapel and handshaking. Once the girls had left, the Gold Duke of Edinburgh group set off for their Cévannes expedition, the staff had a hog roast and farewell to colleagues and the school was prepared for its summer language school tenants.

Also in July…

Meanwhile at the Junior School, Margot Chaundler, OR and member of Council, presented the awards at the Junior School prizegiving in St Georges Church Kemp Town, which was followed by the traditional family picnic on the field.

Exam Results

Every August is about exam results, but August 2010 was unique as we recognised the former St Mary’s Hall girls’ achievements, as well as those of the internal Roedean girls. Having worked extremely hard and handled the transition year in a mature way, girls were rewarded with a 100% pass rate at both A level and GCSE and deserve huge congratulations for their efforts. In a challenging year for university placement, we were delighted that all our Oxbridge offers were met, and that several students ‘upgraded’ their offers through astute negotiation during the adjustment process.

Also in August…

A comprehensive schedule of maintenance work was carried out around the site, including further limewashing in the cloisters, and repainting in the music wing and Old Ref.

JUL


features roedean revealed oraregularsFlashbacks

In October 1885 the Lawrence sisters opened Wimbledon House School in Lewes Crescent, Kemp Town. From a small beginning - just 10

pupils - the school prospered. We are delighted to be celebrating this anniversary with three special events.

EO HOPPÉ EXHIBITIONNational Portrait Gallery— 17 February – 30 May 2011

Renowned portrait photographer EO Hoppé captured royalty, Society and Roedean girls. Invitations to a private Hoppé event will be sent in due course.

OLD ROEDEANIANS’ ASSOCIATION 125 YEARS BLACK TIE BALLLondon— 2 April 2011

PIER TO PIER SWIMBrighton— 26 June 2011

Please email [email protected] for further details of any of the above events.

An independent day and boarding school for boys aged 3 to 11 and girls aged 3 to 18 in Brighton

Junior School Open Days 2011

Saturday, 5 March 3pmSaturday, 7 May 3pmTo reserve your place contact [email protected]

T: +44 (0)1273 667500E: [email protected]

www.roedean.co.uk

Senior School Open Days 2011

Saturday, 5 March 10amBank Holiday Monday, 2 May 10amTo reserve your place contact [email protected]


My first two years as Head were spent tackling the business model of the school, with first the merger with St Mary’s Hall and then the

settling in of the girls and staff into Roedean. This was a significant consolidation of girls’ education in the Brighton area and has encouraged us to refocus our attention on what makes a Roedean education so special.

Roedean offers an unusual combination: a school with an international reputation, drawing students from around the world and yet also with a strong link with our local community. The school deliberately embraces the wider world view that comes from such an intake and aims ‘to prepare, through academic expectations and relevant extra-curricular activity, global citizens whose career ambitions are unlimited.’

writer Frances King

photographers Larry Bray: 01, Lucy Pope: 02, Mark Upton: 04

PrefaceWe begin 2010-2011 with a real sense of excitement and energy. The celebration of 125 years allows us both to look back with pride on what has been achieved at the school but also, most important, to look forward to new initiatives and plans for the future.

VISION FOR ROEDEAN— 2010 and Beyond

‘Roedean offers an unusual combination: a school with an international reputation, drawing students from around the world and yet also with a strong sense of local community.’

featuresVision for Roedean

roedean revealed oraregulars

01 Prepared for the future


14

‘Academic achievement and challenge remain the top priority at Roedean.’

03 Abra Reid, new Head of Careers

04 Prospective new exchange partner for Qingdao Oxford International College

Academic achievement and challenge remain the top priority at Roedean and we are giving this an extra focus in the coming year with the appointment of Peter Tarbet as Assistant Head of Teaching and Learning, a new post in the school. One of the initiatives that Peter is keen to develop is the existing link with King’s College, London and their Assessment for Learning scheme. Through this scheme both teachers and students become more engaged in the process of learning itself - rather than just studying for results - and consequently become much more stimulated by their studies.

Our graduates face an uncertain future, with access to university places becoming more difficult and careers more competitive. What is

known, however, is that within the shrinking global village they will need those skills which will give them a competitive edge when compared to their peers who may be studying anywhere in the world. The initiatives we are putting in place this year will, we hope, help to equip them to face such a world.

02

04


Our appointment of Abra Reid, an Old Roedeanian, to develop our careers department demonstrates our commitment to preparing our students for the future in a very proactive manner. Abra will be encouraging the school to balance the drive for academic excellence with that of developing the skills that are required by tomorrow’s world of work. She will also be liaising with the Old Roedeanians’ Association to develop the Mentoring Scheme for students to engage with professionals already working in the student’s intended career and actively encouraging our pupils to become involved in work experience and internships across the globe.

The new “Roedean Award” will be introduced this year. This is a scheme which will encourage all pupils to develop a broader set of personal skills. All students will be expected to engage with activities which promote community service, leadership and democracy, for which they will gain credits. This will be further developed in the new Sixth Form programme which will give all new sixth formers a chance to explore the ethical issues, being a global citizen, the skills of spoken communication, research skills and their own wellbeing.

In terms of getting our students out of school and into the wider world, we are working on a series of overseas visits. In the early stages of planning is an exchange link with a school in Qingdao, China, as well as Madrid, which will add to our newly formed relationships with schools in Australia, Canada and the US. We do not forget, either, our sister school in South Africa and look forward to hosting their choir in May 2011 as part of their UK tour.

I hope this gives you a sense of the momentum and energy that will be driving Roedean forward, as we look ahead to another 125 years of providing excellent education.

03



featuresFive Paths to the Future

16

After initial meetings and discussions with staff, and sounding out their ideas with the current sixth form, a working party was set up to

explore ways in which the academic curriculum could be complemented to provide broader exposure to Gardner’s five minds and thereby better prepare our students for the future.

The fruit of the work of this group is a new programme for all students in 6.1 which started in September 2010. Over the year every student will follow five, five week-long, courses run by Roedean staff.

The courses are: Research Skills, Global Citizenship, Presentation Skills, Ethics and Well Being.

writer Peter Tarbet, Assistant Head, Teaching and Learning

photographers Larry Bray: 01, Lucy Pope: 02

PrefaceIn autumn 2009, celebrated American academic Howard Gardner lectured at Roedean on his book Five Minds for the Future. Professor Gardner’s minds are the disciplined; the synthesizing; the creating; the respectful and the ethical minds. Roedean prides itself on the breadth of its educational programme but, inspired by Gardner, we decided to review the sixth form programme.

FIVE PATHS TO THE FUTURE— Curriculum Developments

01 Professor Howard Gardner

01

Through the Research Skills module, we hope to enhance our students’ process of independent thinking. Nobel Prizewinner Professor Harry

Kroto emphasised the need for young students to engage in their own projects and research when he opened the refurbished Physics labs last year. It is hoped that this course will encourage more students to think beyond the narrow boundaries of AS and A2 specifications and carry out an extended project, working with a supervisor, on a topic of their own choice. Research Skills is taught by Dr Blood (Library) and Mrs Andrew (Biology, Extended Project Coordinator).

Roedean’s students come from many different countries, making for an international community, and many of our students will be the decision makers in an increasingly globalised world. Mr Thomson has developed a course on Global Citizenship to raise awareness and understanding of the particular issues that young people will face once they have completed their studies.

Achieving one’s best has always been a core value at Roedean. But achievements on their own are not enough. Mrs Armes and Mr Lawrence (Drama) are teaching essential Presentation Skills so that the girls can make a confident, articulate impression against their peers at interviews and give persuasive, compelling opinions at meetings.

With the pace of technological developments and the harsh realities of world economics it is essential that leaders and decision makers of tomorrow are not just well schooled in academic disciplines, but understand the moral implications of the choices they face. Ms Langley (RS) is delivering the Ethics course.

Coping with the stress and strains of contemporary life and feeling at ease with oneself are essential tools for young students. Following successful implementation in other independent schools, Mrs Brett (Deputy Head), is running the Well Being course.

Overall, this course should extend the pattern of our students’ thinking from the disciplined approach of their A Level studies through to a greater awareness of the need for ethical and respectful minds. By mixing students of different academic backgrounds they will have a greater opportunity to explore the synthesis between subjects and to think creatively as they are eased out of their comfort zones.

Initial reaction from university admissions tutors to the new programme has been positive. The Head of Admissions at a London Russell Group university said, ‘The global citizenship element of this programme chimes very well with us and the emphasis on research skills is also welcome. We are always looking for commitment, knowledge and enthusiasm to come through on the personal statement and this course is a great starting point for submitting rounded applications.’

‘Achieving one’s best has always been a core value at Roedean. But achievements on their own are not enough.’


featuresFive Paths to the Future


featuresThe Value of Music

THE VALUE OF MUSIC— Curriculum Reflection

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Music can be particularly beneficial for our international students, many of whom arrive as successful and disciplined musicians.

A 2010 British Council report, Understanding the UK Boarding School Experience: The International Student Perspective, identified that the key factor in a successful transition to the UK was finding a ‘first friend’. This first friend usually came from a shared interest, for example playing a team sport or joining in with a musical group.

In a recent government study, Professor Susan Hallam (Institute of Education) noted that, ‘In adolescence, music makes a major contribution to the development of self-identity and is a source of support when young people are feeling troubled or lonely.’ We see at Roedean how our choirs and orchestras promote a sense of belonging and community, so it is no surprise that the majority of students study an instrument or sing, and play, with a group. My colleagues and I can recognise, and nurture to the optimum, talent which may sometimes be hidden by a lack of linguistic confidence.

Public performance can lead to a sense of achievement, an increase in self-esteem and self-confidence. I am very proud that performance standards have rocketed at Roedean in the last eight years and that audience members often comment how impressed they are by the levels of commitment and professionalism the girls show.

writer Veronica Fewkes, Head of Music

photographer Lucy Pope

PrefaceAt Roedean, music is an important part of the curriculum, right from the Nursery through to the most accomplished senior girl, like last year’s Head Girl Georgina Wheatley (now studying music at the University of Birmingham). It can also provide valuable balance for girls who have very mathematical or science-based timetables.

‘Music is an international language which has the power to bring people together.’


featuresThe Value of Music


Another awe-inspiring project illustrating music’s life-enhancing benefits is El Sistema in Venezuela. Through this music education programme, 250,000 children – 90% of whom come from poor socio-economic backgrounds – receive state-funded musical training and tuition. Its Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra made its debut at the BBC Proms in 2007, and received hugely enthusiastic reviews.

In May 2011 we will be contributing to supporting music across borders by hosting our sister school Roedean South Africa. Their choir’s concert in the Chapel will be the grand finale of their UK tour.

However, the value of music stretches beyond the confines of the curriculum and concert platform. In an age when many forces drive a wedge between nations, music is an international language which has the power to bring people together.

An excellent example of international cooperation through music is the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra founded in 1999 by Professor Edward Said and Daniel Barenboim. This youth orchestra brings together musicians from Egyptian, Iranian, Israeli, Jordanian, Palestinian and Syrian backgrounds as one united team performing together. The orchestra now performs around the world and in 2009 Barenboim was awarded the Moses Mendelssohn Medal for his contribution to tolerance and international understanding.

featuresValues of Life

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VALUES OF LIFE— Art History

Rodin’s intriguing sculpture The Gates of Hell, a 184 figure ‘sketchbook’ which he worked on for over 40 years, contains the well-known

figure The Thinker. From this I was inspired to consider the values of life. My starting point for this big philosophical topic will be to consider the two most common ways of viewing life – optimistically and pessimistically – through the work of two different artists.

No one will disagree with me that Vincent van Gogh lived a sad life, suffering poverty and times of mental illness. Although nowadays his paintings are worth a fortune, he only actually sold one painting during his lifetime. The public did not like his art, as his style was ahead of its time, and constant rejections and ill health resulted in his very pessimistic view of life.

In 1890, recently released from an asylum, van Gogh moved to the picturesque village of Auvers-sur-Oise, near Paris. Although he wrote to his mother ‘For the present I am feeling much calmer than last year, and the restlessness in my head has greatly quieted down’, in reality his mood was still unstable. He painted three large canvases of cornfields near Auvers under troubled skies, remarking, ‘I did not have to go out of my way very much in order to try to express sadness and extreme loneliness.’

writer Hin Hin Wong

PrefaceWhen A level History of Art student Hin Hin Wong visited the Rodin Museum, Paris, and stood under Rodin’s absorbing sculpture The Gates of Hell, she found herself reflecting on the values of life. Back at Roedean, she decided to offer a series of Art History talks to inspire younger students to consider taking up the subject. This article is based on an extract from Hin Hin’s ‘Values of Life’ talk.

01


‘Matisse once compared colour, beautifully, to music, saying, “When I put colours together they have to join in a living chord or harmony of colour, like a musical chord or harmony.”’

01 Auvers Town Hall on 14 July 1890, Vincent van Gogh

02 La Danse, Henri Matisse

In La Danse (1909) Matisse used big, homogeneous areas of colour. Blue, orange and green represented sky, man and land, demonstrating the links and harmony between them. The simplicity of the colours and smooth brushwork contributed to this, too. These three sections were perfectly balanced by the equal amount of each colour applied. The oval composition created a sense of space.

The five nudes, and the simplicity of their dance, gives a sense of primitiveness and also reflected the change from a more complicated geometric form to a simpler circular form. There is energy towards the right hand side of the painting, where the momentum of the dance is demonstrated by the linkage and movement of the elevated and tensed muscular arms and knees. We cannot see the figures’ faces (except for one); therefore the figures could be interpreted as anyone, and everyone could substitute themselves into the painting.

Hin Hin is now studying BA History of Art at York University

A summer highlight in France, especially in a small village, is the patriotic celebrations of Bastille Day. Van Gogh painted Auvers Town Hall on 14 July 1890. Although the bunting points to a festival atmosphere, the emptiness of a normally crowded area reflects van Gogh’s pessimistic view that even among a huge, joyous crowd, one can still be sad and lonely. He expressed this by using a rapid, unstable brushstroke to create a distortion effect, which was symbolic of his own sad, unstable state of mind.

Shortly after painting Auvers Town Hall, van Gogh, then aged 37, went into the fields and shot himself. His dying words were, ‘La tristesse durera toujours.’

Like van Gogh, who was an early influence on him, Henri Matisse adored colour and worked in oils. Unlike van Gogh, he had a much more optimistic character, clearly visible in his art. Matisse once compared colour, beautifully, to music, saying, ‘When I put colours together they have to join in a living chord or harmony of colour, like a musical chord or harmony.’

featuresValues of Life


02

I am passionate about sport as I believe it brings the school together. I have personally been overwhelmed by support at inter-house events and

would like to share this thrill with others.

For me, the key ingredient in being a winner is having the determination and ability to maintain focus for long periods of time, whether in training or in a game. Every time you arrive at a training session or game you have to believe, as a team or an individual, that you are better than everyone else. You have to believe you can win. When the 1st netball team got through to the Nationals last year, our Games Captain Astrid gave us a great pep talk. We had trained hard and were such a close knit team that she reminded us that we were doing this for each other.

There are many gifted sportswomen at Roedean. Phoebe Tomlinson is a real all-rounder; we all know her for her achievements in cross-country and distance events, but she also conducts herself very well on the hockey pitch. Jess Jasper is another one to watch, this time for netball – the way she reads the game and positions herself is way above her age in my opinion. Momo Hassan-Odukale has an unbelievable talent on the track and Christie Mak is a swimmer with great technique. Finally, Amelia Balthazor, just up from the Junior School, has talent in both netball and swimming.

featuresWinning as a Team

24

Now that sailing has been introduced, I am hoping that we can take advantage of being so close to the sea and start competing in due course. I have sailed a bit but never competitively, and having a new club sport like that would be different to many other schools.

Who inspires me? British heptathlete Jessica Ennis. Following a stress fracture to her ankle, she had to change from her natural foot for jumping and throwing in order to come back to the sport without further risk to the fracture. Often we see these athletes as being completely out of this world, but when I met her at Crystal Palace this summer I had a chance to talk to her, and she was just a normal down to earth person.

writer Caitlin Boyland


PrefaceGames Captain Caitlin Boyland rarely goes a day without sport. Named Sportswoman of the Year in 2008 and 2009, she has won practically every trophy there is at Roedean.

WINNING AS A TEAM— Caitlin Boyland

‘You have to believe, as a team or an individual, that you are better than everyone else.’

Susan was born Zsuzsanna Biall in 1930 in Hungary. At that time, the 500,000 strong Jewish community was well-integrated into a

population of almost 10 million. Her father had fought for Hungary in the First World War and been captured by the Russians; when he finally returned, he kissed the ground in relief at being home.

But as Hitler’s power grew, propaganda was seeping into the media. ‘I was just a young girl when I was caught up in the inferno of anti-Semitism,’ Susan said.

‘Wearing the yellow Star of David was a humiliation. My loyal father had his business closed, national institutions like the civil service dismissed Jewish workers overnight. At school, we were forbidden to play with or sit near non-Jews. My brother, who dreamed of becoming an engineer, was not accepted for university.’

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY— Susan Pollack

writer Zoë Marlow


‘I was just a young girl when I was caught up in the inferno of anti-Semitism.’


featuresHolocaust Memorial Day


PrefaceThe theme for the 2010 Holocaust Memorial Day was ‘The Legacy of Hope’. We were honoured that Holocaust survivor Susan Pollack came to Roedean to share a very powerful personal account of her time at Auschwitz with girls from Upper Five and above.

‘The human attributes of love, kindness, affection and tenderness were gone. I didn’t cry; my emotions were frozen.’

‘Over time, our trust in the Hungarian authorities disappeared and we

hoped and prayed that the Allies would end the war. Our fear grew. Some Jews paid for fake passports, some hid. But it was risky. In desperation we set up a séance. “Will we survive as a family?” we asked. Everything came back, “Yes”.’

Then, in late 1943, Susan’s father was one of many men summoned to the town hall and taken away on a ‘resettlement programme’. He was never seen again.

The next morning, Susan, her mother and brother were also told to be ready to leave. They baked fresh bread and packed whatever belongings they could carry; Susan, only 12 but already thinking of how to support the family, carried a sewing machine with her.

The family was first held in the Vac ghetto and Monor internment camp before moving, in May 1944, to Auschwitz, in the last transport of Hungarian Jews.

‘It was a long walk back through Monor to where the windowless cattle trains were waiting. We were jammed in tight, with not a breath of fresh air. Day after day we rattled along in the dark wagon, no hygiene, no food or water, people suffocating around us.’

When the train finally arrived late at night at Auschwitz, it was a chaotic, noisy scene. Susan’s mother was immediately gassed; Susan and her brother were selected for labour.

‘We could smell the stench of burning flesh daily and we were regularly beaten by the female guards. The human attributes of love, kindness, affection and tenderness were gone. I didn’t cry; my emotions were frozen.’


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In time Susan was transferred to the Gubben slave labour camp to work on armament production and finally force-marched to Bergen-Belsen in the winter of 1944-45.

‘There was no jubilance when Belsen was liberated. The camp was rife with disease and no-one had the energy. I was virtually a corpse; I crawled out.’

Although Susan has been bearing testimony for many years, it doesn’t get any easier.




‘Auschwitz was a place of terror. I haven’t got over it and nor do I want to. But we are compelled to share these memories to show what discrimination, no matter how small, might lead to.’ There were many moments of absolute silence in the House 3 ODR as the girls absorbed Susan’s account. Organiser Mrs Yacoub (History) said, ‘Susan’s talk was utterly compelling and I was impressed by the mature and sensitive questions the girls asked at the end.’

The girls described Susan’s talk as, ‘Thought-provoking and incredibly inspiring, although very emotional at certain points.’ One said, ‘Being Jewish myself, it is very hard to understand the horrifying ways that Jews were treated in such recent times. It could have been me in a different time and place.’

01 Susan answering questions from Upper Five

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roedean revealedThe Sound of Music

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ROEDEAN REVEALED— The Sound of Music, April

01 “How do you solve a problem like Maria?”

02 Persuading Maria to go and work at the Von Trapp house

03 The Von Trapp children sing04 Rolf serenades Liesl05 “The Lonely Goatherd”06 Maria’s wedding07 The dramatic finale: escape

over the mountains on foot

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features roedean revealedThe Sound of Music

oraregulars

roedean revealedDance Showcase

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— Dance Showcase, June

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01 Lower Four Curriculum Dance: The General Election

02 Grade 4 Modern Dance: Jai Ho

GALA CONCERT:A Spooktacular Night of Creepy Classics— Friday 3 December

GALA CONCERT: Let’s Face the Music and Dance— Friday 11 March

SCHOOL PLAY: Once in a Lifetime— 24-26 March

ROEDEAN SOUTH AFRICA CHOIR PERFORMANCE— Wednesday 4 May

BRIGHTON FRINGE FESTIVAL CONCERT— Saturday 7 May

Please email [email protected] for tickets

PERFORMANCES— 2010-11

roedean revealedFinal Shows

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— Final Shows, June

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features roedean revealedFinal Shows

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01 Yeona Kim, A level02 Mimi Connolly, A level03 Wendy Chen, A level04 Design Technology,

various year groups

roedean revealedRoedean Junior School

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— Roedean Junior School

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01 The only choir in Sussex to reach the finals of the Barnardo’s Festival Competition

02 Some of the first cohort of RJS girls who progressed to Roedean

03 RJS Spring Fair Fundraiser for St Barnabas House and Chestnut Tree House


features roedean revealedFrance

oraregulars

— France, December

One highlight was our visit to Les Escargots du Bocage, a snail farm. We learnt that snails are born male and become female after mating (once they have given birth they die of exhaustion) and that snail mucus is good for the skin and often used in eye make-up. We ended by sampling snail pate… délicieux!

writers Caitlin Scott & Marina Sagay

roedean revealedSpain

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— Spain, March

In March, Upper Four to Upper Five set off for Murcia, in southeast Spain. The city

is sometimes called Europe’s orchard due to its long agricultural tradition, but it is also famous for its dramatic Easter parades.

As well as daily language lessons, local cultural visits around Murcia, and spending time with our host families, we sampled lots of tapas and practised our flamenco dancing like true señoritas!

writer Annie Daniels, U5

01 Las Señoritas02 Flamenco Dancing03 The Easter Processions04 Cartagena Theatre

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The Easter processions take place every night in the run up to Easter Sunday. Traditionally dressed Murcians parade through the streets for hours, playing trumpets and beating drums, carrying heavy floats.

The carved wooden statues on the floats represent scenes from the Easter story. The men carrying the floats were wearing robes full of sweets, which they handed out to the children lining the streets to watch the procession.

We also went on an excursion to Cartagena, an important sea port dating back to Phoenician times. Cartegena really flourished in the Roman period and the recently restored theatre, built between 5th – 1st C, is one of the city’s landmarks.

features roedean revealedSpain

oraregulars

oraORA Review 2009-10

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(1) Keeping alive the spirit imbued by the Founders of the School and upholding the reputation of the School

All year I have worked with colleagues at school to respond to ad hoc enquiries from ORs, researchers and interested third parties. We have traced ORs who were the subject of some really interesting projects, including, for example, some who took part in an edition of Tomorrow’s World as young girls in 1966. One of these participants is going to take part in a follow up programme to be filmed later this year.

In June, I was invited by the South Africa ORA (SAORA) to join them for a lunch to welcome the current Headmistress of Roedean South Africa, Mary Williams, to the UK. I was surprised to learn that the SAORA has over 200 members in the UK and have already started to forge links between the SAORA and the ORA.

(2) Providing support and assistance to the School

I am often asked by staff and girls to put them in touch with ORs with various skills or experience and can use the extensive ORA network to oblige.

Mrs Wilkinson (English) asked if I could find some ORA volunteers to be pen pals for her Lower Four class, so I sent out a plea via our ORA Facebook group. Within 24 hours, I had over 30 volunteers from all over the world and between them their experiences of school spanned every single year from 1946 to 2009! The ORA participants enjoyed writing about their school days and learning about Roedean in 2010 in return. The resulting projects were on display outside the library on Roedean Day, much to the delight of the ORs.

writer Sasha Glynn, President, ORA

PrefaceThis year has been phenomenally busy for the Old Roedeanians’ Association (ORA). I was appointed for a two year term in February 2009, so this was my first full academic year as President.

I reproduce the aims of the ORA below and report progress achieved in each area over this academic year:

OLD ROEDEAN REVIEW— 2009-10

(4) Supporting the Old Roedeanians’ Scholarship Fund

I am pleased to announce that we have raised significantly more for the Old Roedeanians’ Scholarship Fund this year than last year.

The Trustees of the OR Scholarship Fund were overjoyed to appoint a new ORA Scholar for this coming academic year, Jodie Gough (61) who played the lead part of Maria in the Sound of Music. I attended this fabulous production with my five year old daughter, Ella, who is now dead set on being a Roedean girl because she was so inspired by Jodie’s performance.

I hope this gives you an indication of some of the energy and activities of the ORA. Here’s to the next 125 years of top flight education for girls at Roedean!


‘Keeping alive the spirit imbued by the Founders of the School.’

(3) Providing a link between ORs and the School and each other and sustaining their interest in the School and in the ORA, in particular by maintaining a list of ORs and holding reunions and social events

When the ORA and the School jointly invested in a new database earlier this year, I helped negotiate the contract with the supplier – as a solicitor specialising in IT and commercial contracts, the skills of my day job came in handy here. The ORA then supplied the data which our dedicated Membership Secretary Nicky Orlebar had been gathering over many years. The new database will mean that the School and ORA are able to work more closely together and should promote better communications between us and our members. We also launched the ORA Facebook page this year which now has nearly 400 members and is growing every day. This is a quick and easy way for the ORA to communicate with members and facilitate some interesting forum discussions. Next on our list is to add the ORA to LinkedIn.

features roedean revealed oraORA Review 2009-10

regulars

ROEDEAN IN CANADA— 70 Years On

oraRoedean in Canada

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Renee Wilkin (House 4)

‘Miss Tanner [the Headmistress] has written,’ Mother began, ‘to say that a Canadian school has offered to take fifty girls and

you have been accepted. It’s because there may be a German invasion.’ Canada! That sounded exciting – bears, Red Indians...

We had only a few days to pack before travelling to Liverpool in the charge of Miss Briggs and Miss Marshall. At the dock, there was a last-minute change of plan; we were downgraded from our reserved first class cabins on The Arandora Star (which was already full of evacuees) into steerage on the steam passenger ship The Duchess of Atholl. We were most put out.

However, life on board was fun – nobody to tell us off – until we passed Northern Ireland, where we hit a terrific storm. As waves crashed high over the ship, most people took to their bunks. My friend Jacqui and I were made of sterner stuff, however, concluding

writers Renee Wilkin & Mary Chevallier

‘Someone had opened the porthole, forgetting that we were below the waterline!’

PrefaceRoedean’s wartime relocation to Keswick in the Lake District is well-documented. But the experience of fifty girls, all under 16, who were evacuated to Canada with less than a week’s notice is less well-known. Renee Wilkin and Mary Chevallier recall their experience from 1940.

01 The Duchess of Atholl


that the best way to cope was to eat and to have a full stomach. In due course we went down to see how our cabin mates were doing and opened our door to see clothes, cases and shoes floating in several inches of water. Someone had opened the porthole, forgetting that we were below the waterline! We took one look and relocated to the lounge, which was not only dry, but had the bonus of sailors who served us mugs of tea.

The storm subsided and life returned to normal for a few days until The Arandora Star – the ship in which we had originally hoped to sail – was struck by a U-boat not far from us with the loss of over 800 lives. We raced to the ship’s railings to see if we could spot the U-boat. Luckily it was not in sight, or we might have been its next victim.

Nearing Canada, we passed magnificent icebergs, majestic, serene, like dowager duchesses. Turning into the wide St Lawrence River, we could see neat fields, small houses and vast churches on both sides. All seemed so calm after the Atlantic. Finally we reached Montreal, with a traditionally-dressed Mountie and Indian chief in full regalia standing on the dockside to welcome us to Canada.

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features roedean revealed oraRoedean in Canada

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oraRoedean in Canada

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Mary Chevallier (House 3)

Without pause, we boarded a sleeper train to Nova Scotia. The final stretch through the Annapolis Valley to Windsor proved gently

beautiful, with its lakes, forests, apple orchards and red sandstone hills.

Our final destination, Edgehill School, was modelled on the lines of a small English boarding school and in fact had a tradition of English headmistresses. Before our arrival, there were only 55 girls enrolled, so effectively doubling the school brought many logistical challenges. Neither salaries for Miss Briggs and Miss Marshall, nor tuition fees, came through until after the war.

Edgehill had a more limited curriculum than Roedean. There was no Physics, Chemistry or Biology, Art, Cookery, Dancing or Gymnastics. But Canadian and US History was fascinating. Roedeanians quickly got into Edgehill’s hockey, baseball and basketball teams and we loved skating, hiking, skiing and sleigh rides.

Beyond class, we were kept very busy: a lot of reading and letter-writing, and we knitted compulsively – socks, gloves, sweaters – for our families. The Edgehill girls were delightful, though more interested in boys and less bookish than many of us, and we got on very well. We liked Canadian food, especially their ice creams, cookies, sweetcorn and strawberries. But we became heartily sick of endlessly reappearing apples – yet felt guilty, knowing rations at home were so limited.

We certainly gained in adaptability, resourcefulness and breadth of horizons; probably too in empathy and insight. But no matter how kind people were – and they were – we felt terribly cut off from home. Shipping losses in 1941-42 (including in October 1942 our own Duchess of Atholl) meant we sometimes received no mail at all for three or four months at a time. We were safe, but certainly not carefree.

A longer version of Renee’s article appears in the ORA Magazine 2010.

02 Edgehill School, Nova Scotia

‘The Edgehill girls were delightful, though more interested in boys and less bookish than many of us.’

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GRAND 125th ANNIVERSARY BALL— Saturday 2 April 2011 Hilton Park Lane, London

We have chosen a central London venue so as many members of the Roedean community as possible can attend. Please feel free to invite friends and family, and other Roedean supporters.

Tickets (£95) include champagne on arrival, delicious three course dinner with wine and entertainment.

Please contact the ORA directly if you are able to collaborate or offer any assistance with this event.

[email protected] or [email protected]

‘I produced her fabulous production of Guys and Dolls, which House 3 won, and we were all in awe of her natural writing and directorial capabilities.’

OBITUARY— Polly Renton

oraObituary

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I met Polly in September 1982 as we entered Upper IV, House 3. She was a streaky, gawky, guffawing girl. All sharp angles and fine blonde hair. And

always radiant. Self-deprecating too; although lacking in physical self confidence, she still exuded a buoyant charm. She’d skip and dance (and likely fall over or bump an elbow so doing), sing loudly and beautifully down corridors and introduced me, and us all, to the world of musicals and operetta.

One of my overriding memories of Polly is seeing her hunched over a desk, head close to the page – as she’d invariably lost a contact lens – legs crossed, biro (always) moving like lightning over the A4 lined pad, covering it in her tight, fast, gently forward-sloping handwriting. Instantly recognisable; even the shapes and hard indents of her letters communicated passion and pace. Plays, essays, letters, Spanish prep… always the same position, and always the same frantic speed and concentration.

writer Emily Pluthero

01 Polly Renton02 Guys & Dolls programme

signed by Polly

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I produced her fabulous production of Guys and Dolls, which House 3 won, and we were all in awe of her natural writing and directorial capabilities. It is no surprise that directing was a part of her later life. She was able to get everybody focussed on task, motivated and delighted to do her bidding! We all wanted to create her vision; she was a natural leader, with an inimitable style.

And later, after our friendship became a lovely memory, she went on and conquered. And inspired others to do things and live up to their potential. My brilliant friend Polly.

Award-winning documentary maker Polly Renton (H3, 1982-88), and her daughter Sita, died in a road accident in Kenya in May 2010. She is survived by her husband and son.

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features roedean revealed oraObituary

regulars


regularsThe Last Word

THE LAST WORD— Sharon Jacobs

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writer Sharon Jacobs


I am lucky enough to have lived on three different continents, but nowhere else have I received such a full education. That is the main reason I am so

proud to be Roedean’s Head Girl.

I still remember, in autumn 2006, arriving at this huge building with my two heavy suitcases and thinking, ‘How will I ever fit in?’ The answer to that question is ‘Better than I could ever have imagined’.

The friends I made then soon became like my second family and as I grew into the community, I realised that almost everyone around me had become someone I could trust. Nowhere else have I been able to barge into someone’s room to spend hours reliving an exciting event or complaining about a bad day.

PrefaceSharon Jacobs reflects on her pride at being Head Girl of Roedean.

As this year’s Head Girl, my main aim is to sustain, and surpass, the work of our previous Head Girls. I want to make sure that the voices of the students are heard, through Student Council and the various other committees we have here at Roedean. I want to pick out the key issues in the school and devise solutions to benefit both students and the School.

Together with Sheena Cheung, one of our Deputy Head Girls, I will strive to make Roedean a greener place to be, as we feel that there are many opportunities to do our bit to save our world. As well as this, I will work to ensure that the transition from Teams to Houses will be a smooth one.

I hope to leave Roedean at the end of the year proud of what I have given back to a community that has given me so many enriching experiences.

Roedean SchoolRoedean Way

BrightonBN2 5RQ

T: +44 (0)1273 667500

www.roedean.co.uk

An independent day and boarding school for boys aged 3 to 11 and girls aged 3 to 18 in Brighton

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