4th March 2016 - Issue 8
HEAD’S
WEEKLY REVIEW Head’s Introduction The school is looking wonderful, and I shall be very proud when our Open Day visitors see it tomorrow. We are lucky to have wonderful facilities and committed teachers at Roedean, but it is the fact that the girls are so obviously happy and flourishing which sends a very powerful message.
Strictly Broadway at Roedean What an amazing concert! From the very impressive new online booking system to the wonderful musicians and singers the evening proved to be another triumphant Roedean spectacular. After a welcome from Mr Blond, we started what was to become a journey encompassing all the emotions through many well-loved Broadway musicals. The orchestra started the evening off, and it was a delight to see the confident faces of the girls lost in the music whilst producing an incredibly polished rendition that can only have been achieved after hours of practice. For me, the highlight of the evening was when the choirs and the orchestra came together – this was Roedean teamwork at its best. Just watching the girls give their all to entertain us, the audience, made me feel very proud of each and every one of them. They managed to match their faces with the emotion of the songs and were particularly happy when also mastering choreography with their singing. The soloists were brilliant, each singing with confidence and clarity, their soaring beautiful voices carried to the very top of the auditorium, so congratulations to Seyi Adebutu, Lizzie Wilmot, and Ava Dodsworth – what poise, what
confidence, and what beautiful voices! There were so many songs that held special memories for me that I was taken on a very emotional journey, laughing and crying on the way. I was also very impressed with the versatility of the girls, several dashing between performing in the choir and the orchestra. The audience were spellbound and showed their appreciation by the rapturous applause during and at the end of the show. All I can say is thank you, thank you to the music department, thank you to the Theatre staff, and thank you to the girls for another wonderful evening of entertainment. Joan Arnall, House 2
The Strictly Broadway concert last Friday was a triumph, bringing together a huge proportion of the girls on stage, either singing or playing. The girls threw themselves into their performances with gusto, and their sheer love of making music together shone through. Congratulations to everyone involved. A number of our singers were performing again at the weekend at the Springboard Competition, and I am delighted that they acquitted themselves very well indeed. The Roedean courts have played host to over one thousand netballers today and yesterday for the IAPS Netball tournament, all playing their hearts out to qualify to return next Saturday for the Finals. With the variety of activities going on this week, there really has been something for everyone, including dressing up as your favourite book character for World Book Day, performing in the concert, asking probing questions at the Politics Conference, playing netball in the SISNA tournament, and reading Latin out loud. And some of our girls in U4 were even lucky enough to have a surprise visit from Prince Andrew while they were helping with reading as part of the Whitehawk partnership project! I am also delighted that 24 girls from 6.1 to L5 have been to Cambridge University today, and I have no doubt that this experience will inspire them to strive to achieve as highly as they can in their academic endeavours. As ever, I am so impressed by the diverse activities which happen as a matter of course at Roedean, and I wish you all a wonderful week and good luck with everything you do.