As we are sure many of you will remember fondly, Christmas at Roedean is a very special (and busy!) time of year, with all sorts of fun and traditional activities and events taking place.

The Sixth Form started the Christmas Festivities in style with their Snow Ball, held in Keswick Hall on Friday 2nd December, The girls all looked very glamorous dressed up in their evening gowns, and it was wonderful to also welcome some former students back as guests. During the evening, the girls also raised £200 for the Sixth Form Charity - Chailey Heritage.

The Ball was swiftly followed the next morning by our Charlie and the Chocolate Factory themed Christmas Fair on Saturday 3rd December. Run by the Parents' Guild, the Christmas Fair is one of our biggest fundraising events during the year, and we are delighted that this year we raised an incredible £10,400. 

The Christmas Fair is split into two sections - taking over most of the main school building. Throughout the Classrooms, Library and Conference Room, each form group ran their own stall - many of which included delicious goodies to eat! The Studios were packed with stalls either run by the Parents' Guild such as the Raffle, Tombola and Second Hand Uniform, and outside companies. It was wonderful this year that three of these stalls were run by OR linked companies - Brilliant Gin, Alice Mary Mathilda and Healing Alternatives.

The final week of term was then jam-packed wtih events. On Tuesday, we had the House Christmas Decorations Competition. This is a really fun occasion, that goes much further then the name suggests! As well as their decorations, each House puts on entertainment for Senior Team as they go around judging the houses. There were prizes in various categories as follows:

• Best Performance of a Carol: House 2
• Best Looking Christmas Tree: House 1
• Best House Staff Santa: Lawrence
• Best Christmas-themed Cookie: House 4
• Best Atmosphere of Christmas Cheer: House 3
• Best Home-made Christmas Cracker: Keswick

But the overall winner was House 3 - the story telling was brilliant, the genre-busting nature of their presentation was phenomenal, and the entire house dancing to Abba in the ODR will not be forgotten easily.

On Wednesday we had our traditional Carol Service, and it was wonderful to once again welcome ORs and Former Staff members back to the School to join us for the morning service. This was followed by a delicious lunch in the Old Ref. This year's guests ranged from the Class of 1960 to more recent leavers who left just last year, and included two mother and daughter OR pairs.

The Wednesday evening then saw the staff have a chance to celebrate the year, with festive drinks and canapes after School in Roedean House.

The penultimate day of term saw a fabulous arrange of festive outfits as we marked Christmas Jumper Day. There was everything from full on 'ugly Christmas sweaters' to more pared back options of subtly sparkly choices, and several girls and staff also chose to sport Christmas hats and headbands as well. This fun and festive feeling continued with our delicious traditional roast turkey Christmas lunch (thank you catering team!) and the raucous Staff Panto performances in the Theatre.

This year the Staff put on an adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, which saw Belle (played by Miss Shillito) breaking the curse by teaching the Beast (Mr Lutwych) to embrace Christmas Spirit. With the full cast of the Beast's servants, Dr Barrand as Gaston, Mr Orys as Maurice, and Miss Shrubsole and Miss Mitchell as horses Phillipe and Phillipa, the panto was a wonderful chance for the audience to let their hair down and relax - with of course all the correct cheers, boos and 'he's behind yous' expected of a pantomime!

After all that excitment, the final day of term was a half day, with Final Chapel rounding off the term in traditional Roedean style.

Meanwhile, as well as all of these events, the girls also continued with their community focus. Maria (Yr 12) organised a collection of Christmas gifts for Ukrainian children who have fled the county and moved into our local area. Maria is very grateful for the generosity of our staff, students and parents: 

I would like to sincerely thank every single person who donated a gift to my charity appeal for Ukranian refugees. Your generosity has provided at least one gift for every child living locally. This means so much to this community, who have endured the worst possible circumstances, and have been separated from loved ones this Christmas.

 Year 7 have also been collecting gifts, for the Rockinghorse Christmas Present Appeal. Rockinghorse is their year group charity, and the Christmas gift appeal provides gifts for children who will be in the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital over Christmas.