Heads weekly review (7) 05 12 14

THIS WEEKThe Female Mind? Malala YousafzaiLife is not fairKeswick House Christmas FayreTheatre Workshop Christmas ProductionFriday Night Christmas Cake DecoratingScholar’s reception and Council dinnerParent vs Daughter’s Netball Match!Poetry SlamA Day to Remember: Kids Company

A Day at Kids Company“I wanted to write to you because I wanted to say

how much I appreciate the incredible help the girls gave us. They were so, so, so lovely

and a joy to work with, as well as an amazing credit to the

school. We are really grateful for the presents, which are,

indeed, of the highest quality. And the artwork they did was

also delightful!”Camila BatmanghelidjhFounder and Director

of Kids Company

see page 5

5th December 2014 - Issue 7

The Female Mind?

JJ GSA CONFERENCE 2014

Each year, the Heads of all the independent girls’ schools join together to discuss the issues of the day. And each year, the issue of girls’ education arises. One of the views put forward this year was that girls are more inclined to be cautious in their approach to learning than their male counterparts.

What does this mean in practical terms? Well, it was argued that girls are naturally more ‘risk averse’, ‘less willing to make mistakes’, ‘more dependent on note-taking’, ‘less resilient’ and ‘showed less self-confi dence’ than boys.

During the conference, we were shown scientifi c research that showed how girls’ brains light up differently to boys’ brains We explored the idea that boys and girls learn differently because the different genders react differently to similar stimuli.

If I understood the science correctly, the message was that girls’ brains and boys’ brains evolved differently as each gender needed different skills to survive. It was explained that girls survived by being cautious and attuned to noticing mistakes and boys survived by taking more risks and showing their strength. Essentially, the theory is that evolution has created two different types of brain — girls who focus on their errors and boys who show off.

As I listened, I began to wonder less about whether these things were scientifi cally provable and more about the effect of sharing these views with girls in schools. If our starting position is to focus on what we think pupils lack in general terms, do we actually start limiting pupils by setting our expectations quite dazzlingly low?

More far-reachingly, for me, was that I couldn’t help thinking of the amazingly vibrant, risk-embracing, confi dent and resilient girls I have seen over and over again arriving at the start of their secondary education and leaving at the

end of it. If girls really are less risk-embracing than we want them to be, should we also consider whether this is down to something other than gender? Is nurture potentially as strong a factor as nature? If so, then is it really girls who lack confi dence or we, as a society, who treat girls differently and encourage them to be more cautious?

As teachers and parents, we must be alert to the subtle messages we convey that let girls know what we expect of them. Since girls are the most successful learners in every type of educational institution, and are therefore arguably the most adaptable, conscientious, resilient, self-motivated and independent students, perhaps it is surprising that we focus so readily on their perceived weaknesses. If boys were this successful, you can be sure that society would be shouting about their strengths. OB

Malala YousafzaiOne of the most moving and memorable moments of the conference for most delegates was listening to Malala talk about her life, inspirations and education. It is a rare privilege to meet a Nobel Peace Prize winner but perhaps an even rarer one to meet a Nobel Prize winner studying for her GCSEs.

Malala spoke about her passion for the British education system, explaining how the freedom and creativity offered in the UK was not available to girls in Pakistan. She enthused about the dedication of schools to support and encourage each and every individual.

She spoke movingly about her own fi ght against injustice and put her courage down to her father who didn’t, in her words, ‘clip [her] wings’ and encouraged her to ‘believe in herself’. While many of the girls in her society had no access to education, Malala’s parents did not stop her from fi ghting for her beliefs.

She explained that her courage came from a realisation that she had only two choices, to speak and be killed or not to speak and still be killed. Her passion for fi ghting peacefully came across very strongly. She said ‘I did not pick up any weapon, I did not pick up any

gun. The weapon I used was a pen’. It was a brief meeting with someone who stood up for injustice at great personal risk and for principles that mattered.

Malala was grateful for the second life she has been offered in the UK and wanted this to be available to every girl across the world. Her

determination continues to raise awareness of the gross injustice and inequality that exists throughout the world. Her overriding quality, in the words of her Headteacher is ‘infectious enthusiasm’. And as for risk-taking, self-confi dence and resilience, well, you judge for yourselves.

5th December 2014 - Issue 7HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW

Page 2

Life is not fairAamna, Eden, Tabitha and Sasha presented an excellent ‘Thought for the Day’ during the assemblies on Monday and Tuesday last week. Aamna’s script was her own response to the short films we had watched in previous weeks about the work undertaken by Kids Company… and in her words – ‘it’s not fair’.

‘It’s not fair’ how often do we say these words? I know I am guilty of throwing them all over the place, without giving any actual thought to their meaning. Then I came across this initiative that Oxfam were running and it made me want to change the way people think...

‘Life isn’t fair—and neither is this. At an Oxfam Hunger Banquet, the place where you sit and the meal that you eat, are determined by the luck of the draw—just as in real life some of us are born into relative prosperity and others into poverty.’

What happens at one of these banquets is that as you arrive you are given a random number. This allocates your status in the world. You are then either given a sumptuous meal, which leaves you replete, a middle of the range meal which just fills you up, or a cup of water and barely enough rice to sustain you.

Why should some people have everything in life when others have next to nothing?

It is simply an accident of circumstance. Just two generations ago my own grandma was not allowed to pursue her dream of a university education even though she was remarkably bright because it was believed that girls did not need to study, as their role in the world was to be wives and mothers. She always reminds me of how lucky I am and that I should never take my opportunities for granted and always try to be the best I can be.

When we talk about the Kids Company and the fact that these children could wake up on Christmas

morning to nothing when we have so many presents makes me realize that we all need to try harder to change things.

Listening to Reverend Rose on speech day reminded me of how harsh reality is and how hard some people have to work to change their circumstances in life.

So coming back to my earlier point, I am so guilty of saying ‘it’s not fair’ without even thinking about it, that we have a demonstration for you that might remind us that life truly isn’t fair but in a much bigger context.

You were all given a ticket as you came in, if you look at that ticket it has a letter on it so will all the people with an A on their ticket please come up on stage...

If we were to assume that the global population is represented by the people in this room, then the truly tragic and heartbreaking fact is that just under half of the world’s wealth is now owned by only one percent of the world’s population.

In this room that’s you...

This shocking fact is that this wealth totals to $110 trillion.

That is 65 times the total wealth of the bottom half of the world’s population.

These cakes represent your wealth.

So now all those with a ticket with the letter B please stand up...

You represent 30% of the world’s population and control 56% of the world’s wealth.

You will receive a Kit Kat when you leave the theatre.

Finally will all the remaining people who had a C on their ticket please stand up.

You represent 69% of the world’s adult population this equates to an incredible 3.2 billion people and yet you control just 3% of the world’s wealth.

Please collect your raisin on the way out...

So, as most of you leave the room with a single raisin, I can’t imagine that anyone would suggest this is fair...

I would like to leave you with just one last thought. What could each and every one of us one of us do to make a difference...’

5th December 2014 - Issue 7HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW

Page 3

A big Thank You to all who supported the Lawrence House stall at the Keswick House Christmas Fayre on Saturday afternoon, in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society charity.

A total of £277 has been raised so far!

We still have some trees ornaments and would like to invite you all to the Fireplace area in reception between 12:30-1:30 on Tuesday for the ‘Sale of the Season’ as items have been reduced to 75p, 50p, 20p and 10p.

See our popular ‘Hedgehog’ which sold for £5 large and £4 Medium, if you missed out on owning your own Lawrence House Hedgehog and you would like to order one, please email Lawrence House by Tuesday evening.

Thanks for your support!

The Christmas Fayre was a fantastic festive event. We had high quality products on sale, Santa’s grotto, elves and even a reindeer! The 62’s and community Action Project group in 61 did a fantastic job of serving warm spiced apple juice and cakes and enjoyed every moment of raising money for disability in sport.

Friday Night Christmas Cake Decorating Christmas is upon us and the scene was set. Cakes on the tables, marzipan, icing ready to be rolled and decorations in abundance. 30 girls were keen to get started and it was not long before the girls were adding the finishing touches to the icing and keen to have their photograph taken. Their creations were fabulous, creative and colourful. What more could a student want to Christmas!

Theatre Workshop Christmas ProductionWe were delighted to host the Theatre Workshops Christmas productions in our Chapel on Friday night, Saturday matinee and Saturday night. A Christmas spectacular of music, dance, drama and laughter as over 600 families from Brighton came to see the culmination of their sons and daughter’s work this term.

This is the beginning of what we hope will be a fruitful partnership with the Theatre Workshop who already provide Street dance after school for the girls, an Advance Theatre academy on Friday nights in our Studios, a Sunday choir in our Theatre twice a half term. We were delighted to be able to share our facilities and hope to have more to report as the year unfolds.

Keswick House Christmas Fayre

5th December 2014 - Issue 7HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW

Page 4

Poetry Slam On December 2nd 2014, a select group of poetry enthusiasts gathered for an afternoon of poetry recital and Roedean’s first ever Poetry Slam.

Slam poetry sits somewhere between traditional poetry and rap, relying on the momentum of its delivery to give it its beat, structure and rhyme, rather than a more formal arrangement on the page. It is assertive and polemic in nature, delivering a fresh perspective on an issue close to the poet’s heart, usually dealing with perceived injustice or social inequality. The standard of poetry was excellent, as you can see from the poem reproduced here.

JJ LILI BANKS (U5)

Everything is races

Religions, traditions and different places

But er where am I from

British, German, Jamaican

But the truth is who knows because I don’t

And stop it stop asking me where I am from

Because I don’t know where I belong.

The more you ask me the more I’m wrong,

I thought I was English but no…

If people ask me I say I am English.

Why is that so hard?

You’re Black how can you be English?

Where were you born they then say

Pressing out my identity.

I am a Patchamite born and raised.

They shake their heads why can’t they just appreciate?

But nobody can, because near and far where ever I go

The answer always is no

When I go to my Mother’s land

What they say

If only you knew

English they say

And that is true

But I am not satisfied by that

Black on White and white on black

Unlike them I cannot fit in

Just because I have the other skin

You could laugh about it I suppose

A square peg in a round hole

But I cannot lie, we’re not the same

I do have more than one grain

‘Yet if I have all colours in the rainbow then why don’t I fit into all of them

Not just none’ I ask my mum

But by talking about all these things we make ourselves more different

Which we are not. So I will stop.

If a little girl is sitting there

Four years old plaiting her hair

Hopelessly looking at her Cinderella poster on the wall

She had just lost it all

The princess dress had been taken away

Because I did not have the blond hair or the blue eyes

And to my mother’s surprise in my head it is unclear why I cannot be a princess,

But I do not have an argument as to why I am not blond,

So I have to accept I do not belong at the fantasy wishing wells.

As I did not know anything else

I have just one more thing to say

And that is that if we went to the moon

One day or one night

With lots of people black or white

An Alien comes and asks us, ‘Where are you from?’

What do we say? Because we’re all from different

Places, religions and races.

We reply Planet Earth!

We can’t deny what we are worth.

We are all together

Lost and found

We are earthlings, hear our cries

Once we have hardships we’re allies

Scholar’s reception and Council dinner

JJ SCHOLAR’S RECEPTION

Monday evening saw the Old Ref brimming with scholars and their parents. Celebration was in the air as Mr Blond and Miss Del Federico hosted a reception for our new scholars.

Almost fifty girls from Upper 3 to Six One were presented with their badges and signed the prestigious Honour’s Book. Along with other staff, our new Faculty Leads for Sport and Drama spoke about exciting initiatives that scholars would be involved in and we had presentations from Ivy Robin, our Senior Sports Prefect and a group of Lower Four actors. Aimee de Havas, one of our music scholars captivated us with her rendition of Ave Maria and the entertainment continued with Miss Fewkes and her ensemble lending a seasonal atmosphere performing festive tunes. Well done to all the girls and congratulations to you and your parents.

JJ COUNCIL DINNER

Tuesday night was a great opportunity for Roedean’s Council to meet staff, be introduced to new staff, and to enjoy a lovely meal in good company.

Parent vs Daughter’s Netball Match!A fun morning was had by all on Saturday when the parents took on their daughters at netball.

Height was clearly an advantage for the adults but the girls changed their style of play to outwit the parents. The girls forged ahead in the first quarter as the parents got to grips with the rules. Mrs Oluwademilade, who is an old Roedeanian and was taught by Mrs Goulet, added pace and control to the team in the second quarter and the parents soon found their groove. Mr Hinton and Mrs Henderson formed a superb partnership in the shooting circle.

Parents started to tire in the last quarter and the girls began to close down their lead. Unfortunately tight marking by Mr Bernard and Mr Finnegan prevented the girls from catching. The final score was 17-15 to the parents.

Well done to Mr Bernard, Mrs Bernard, Mrs Stoner, Mrs Nunn, Mr Finnegan, Mr Hinton, Mrs Oluwademilade, Mrs Henderson and Mrs Kelly.

A really enjoyable morning and we look forward to similar events in the future.

5th December 2014 - Issue 7HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW

Page 5

A Day to Remember: Kids Company Mrs Chandler and her helpers, mainly Elves, travelled up to the headquarters of Kids Company in London on Friday and little did they know that another journey was about to unfold!

‘A warm welcome, a spiral staircase to climb, an office like no other and staff who were committed to making us feel welcome for all the reasons we were visiting - to support Kids Company is any way we could. 45 students chose to be involved with logging and wrapping presents, adding ribbons and bows and visiting the art workshop that certainly had the wow factor! Vast splashes of colour before our eyes with swirls of bright paint and glitter in abundance. Decorating as many ball balls as we could in an hour ready to hang on a very big Christmas tree was a challenge and fun too. Working with tissue paper in colours of the rainbow was a creative task and from flat paper, enormous flowers blossomed ready to be hung. We mixed and matched in groups to experience all these activities to support staff prepare the Christmas party for over 4,000 children on Christmas Day. We felt great to have been part of the preparations, knowing children from miles around would benefit from feeling some joy on Christmas Day; plenty of cheerful company, a disco with colourful decorations and presents suitable for everyone’.

It is difficult to sum up a wonderful day, however our students did:

A huge thank you to all the girls for making a difference – a real difference. On Christmas day when Roedean girls are having their Christmas

lunch, they can be sure that somewhere in the heart of London a small boy or girl will be opening their present and, because of you,

having a Christmas day to remember.

Thank you. Everyone.

I had so much fun supporting Kids Company to-day

I loved every minute

I am so pleased I signed up - the day felt very rewarding

When can I return to help some more?

This felt like a very special day

I have never seen so many presents!

What fun to have been involved and to help make Christmas special for other children

The staff were amazing

Christmas cheer was definitely in the air

I don’t want to leave just yet, I have more presents to wrap for

the children

I loved every minute

Please can we stay longer

Please can we return soon

A simply wonderful day

5th December 2014 - Issue 7HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW

Page 6

U18 Sussex Schools Chess Tournament. This is the first time Roedan has entered the tournament – all because Caitlin Nathan-Maister wanted to develop a chess club for the girls. Chess club has been running every Monday in House 2, and when the tournament details came out the girls decided to ‘go for it to gain experience at competition level’.

Caitlin captained the team brilliantly underpinned by her belief in the girl’s ability and in developing chess at Roedean.

Roedean team came second overall, and won a small trophy, as well as a silver medal each. Caitlin also won the Arbiter’s Award.

The girls are very grateful for all the support from Mrs Chandler throughout the year and all the time and effort she put into to help them. Our Congratulations go to:

CAITLIN NATHAN - MAISTER VICTORIA NATHAN - MAISTER MICHELLE DYONISIUS CHLOE LIANG PREET GHODASARA ISABELLA MASON

Nepal tripOver 30 girls attended the pre Nepal Expedition meeting on Wednesday night to hear about the exciting new trip planned for July 2016.

Trekking through the Annapurna mountains, exploring Kathmandu, white water rafting and working on a community poverty reduction programme. 18 days of an unforgettable experience within reach – once fundraising and training has been completed of course! For more details please contact Mr Maxwell.

Spanish PlayWe were delighted to welcome Onatti Productions to Roedean on Thursday, 4th December. They performed a wonderful Spanish play for the girls in U3, L4, U4, L5, and U5.

The performance was created by professional actors specially flown over from Spain. Although the actors were native speakers, they had been trained to slow their dialogue down specifically for this age group. There was a lot of fun: there were volunteers from the audience on stage, raucous laughter, much giggling, some chanting, and many whoops of applause at the end.

Some of our students asked the actors questions at the end of the play, about the performance and also about their lives as

actors. A little later, a brave group of linguists came up on stage to chat to the actors a little more and talk to them in Spanish.

We were very grateful to the actors David and Amparo for the super performance they gave us, and we hope to see more from Onatti Productions next year.

5th December 2014 - Issue 7HEAD’S WEEKLY REVIEW

Page 7