ROSSALL NEWS
“Dovidjenja” From Mrs Porovic
Exciting opportunity to visit Krakow
Dates for your Diary
Events
Open Day Information
Festive Timber Creations in Design & Technology
Upper School Christmas Dinner
Year 7 and 8 Christmas Dinner and Celebration
Rossall School Football Highlights
Santa Dash on Blackpool Promenade
Student Success
TEDx Conference 2025
Rossall Students Tackle the GCHQ Christmas Card Puzzle
Charles' Dickens A Christmas Carol
Medstream at Rossall
Sixth Formers of the Literary Farrell Society
Headmaster’s Awards: Celebrating Exceptional Rossallians
Ways to be Well at Rossall
With Love From Chapel
New Edition of The Rossallian Released
IN THIS ISSUE
PRE-PREP & PREP SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
Exciting opportunity to visit Krakow
The History and Politics Department is proposing a school tour to Kraków, Poland in February 2027.
The visit offers a cultural learning experience that supports Year 9 HPQ studies of the Holocaust and future Year 10 GCSE History content. It also aligns with AQA GCSE History Paper 1: Germany 1890–1945 and relevant A Level History and Politics topics.
The trip, last run in 2019, has proved to be an extremely valuable experience. All of Year 9, along with Year 10 History and Year 12 History and Politics students, are invited to sign up.
CLICK HERE to view the official letter.
“Dovidjenja” FROM MRS POROVIC
Despite my fairly nomadic existence as a child, I have never been a great fan of goodbyes. I feel them too much. The illusion of control I try to exert over how I respond to the challenges of life rarely holds if I truly attempt to face an ending. I am not particularly proud of this, but I suspect that it is a human response, perhaps defined by the proper goodbyes I have failed to say in the years gone by.
I have found over the years that endings have a habit of defining relationships and the way that we pack up our memories. Too often, I have breezed past these moments, subconsciously reassured that they will return at some as yet unknown future time and I will be able to say all the things I need to say to them.
I blame my mother tongue for this. The word goodbye in Serbian, “dovidjenja”, literally means “until I see you next”. It would appear on reflection that I was born into a culture that literally struggles to confront and define endings….
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
‘Carols in the Square’ - Friday 5th December, 5:30pm - 7pm
The Old Rossallian Christmas Carol Service - Friday 19th December, 5pm - 7pm
OPEN DAY - Saturday 21st March 2026
Choosing a school is a significant family decision and we want to give all prospective pupils and their families an opportunity to experience all that Rossall has to offer.
We want you to know that this is the right school for you and your child.
An Open Day at Rossall provides an insight into the vibrant and varied life of our wonderful community.
You will be able to visit any departments or specialist programmes your child is interested in and talk directly with both staff and students who will be there to answer any questions.
Festive Timber Creations in Design & Technology
Year 10 Design and Technology students have recently completed a festive focused practical project, creating their own timber Christmas trees from scratch.
Throughout the project, students explored a range of woodworking skills, including measuring, marking out, cutting, sanding, and assembling components with accuracy and care.
They also considered design choices such as size, structure, and decorative finishes, allowing each tree to reflect the student’s individual style.
The activity not only strengthened their confidence in using workshop tools and equipment but also gave them the satisfaction of producing a high-quality, handmade piece to take home for the Christmas season.
On Tuesday evening, Upper School gathered in their houses to enjoy a wonderfully festive Christmas dinner in the dining hall. The space was brimming with holiday cheer, every seat filled as the hall shimmered with Christmas spirit. From the snap of crackers and the aroma of pigs in blankets to the glow of the glittering tree and the joyful buzz of conversation, the atmosphere was truly magical. It was a delightful evening, and students left with full hearts and full plates from their first Christmas feast of the season.
Upper School Christmas Dinner
Year 7 and 8 Christmas Dinner and Celebration
Year 7 and 8 enjoyed their own festive Christmas parties, each filled with excitement and seasonal cheer. Year 7 gathered in Big School for a lively pizza party featuring delicious Domino’s pizzas, balloon games, mini golf, lemonade pong, and even a challenge to wrap friends up as presents. The hall buzzed with energy, filled with colourful Christmas jumpers and delighted Year 7s enjoying every moment.
Year 8 celebrated in the Performing Arts Hall, where Domino’s pizza was once again a clear favourite. The fun continued as the students burst into what felt like a flash mob while taking part in Just Dance games, filling the room with laughter and movement. It was wonderful to see everyone unwind after a busy term, singing and dancing the night away with friends and classmates.
Rossall School Football Highlights
U16 Girls Triumph in Lancashire Schools Cup
Congratulations to our U16 Girls, who secured a superb victory against Haslingden High School in Round 2 of the Lancashire Schools Cup.
This outstanding performance reflects the team’s hard work, determination and growing confidence on the pitch. Well done to all involved on an excellent result.
U18 Girls Headmasters XI
Congratulations to the U18 Girls Headmasters XI, who delivered an outstanding performance to defeat Worksop College 3–1 in Round 3 of the ISFA Cup.
The squad showed superb teamwork, resilience, and determination throughout the match. This well earned victory reflects their continued hard work and growing strength as a team. Well done to all involved.
U13 Team Shines in ISFA Shield
The U13 team recorded a brilliant 2–1 victory over Queen Ethelburga’s in the ISFA Shield.
It was an excellent display of commitment and skill, with the team showing real composure throughout a competitive match. Congratulations to the players and coaching staff on a well deserved win.
Boys U12A, Boys 2nd XI, and Boys 3rd XI
Rossall enjoyed a fantastic block fixture on Saturday against The King’s School, Chester. It was an impressive afternoon of football with brilliant wins recorded by the Boys U12A, Boys 2nd XI, and Boys 3rd XI.
The teams displayed excellent skill, commitment, and teamwork throughout each match. Well done to all players and coaching staff for a highly successful weekend of sport.
Santa dash on blackpool promenade
Rossall School was delighted to take part in this year’s Santa Dash along Blackpool Promenade, joining hundreds of festive runners in support of a wonderful community event.
Pupils and staff braved the chilly sea breeze dressed in their best Santa suits, bringing plenty of cheer and enthusiasm to the promenade. It was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the run-up to Christmas, promote wellbeing, and showcase Rossall’s spirited commitment to local charitable initiatives.
Well done to everyone who took part and helped make the day so memorable!
Student success
We are delighted to announce that Frankie S has been selected to join the ISFA U18 Squad at St George’s Park for their first national camp of the season, taking place from 9 to 10 December.
During the camp, Frankie will participate in high level training sessions and competitive fixtures against Wales Colleges and English Colleges. This represents an outstanding achievement and a remarkable opportunity to develop and showcase his talent on a national stage.
Congratulations Frankie on this well deserved accomplishment.
TEDx Conference 2025
Public Speaking is terrifying. It is even more so when you are opening up about personal stories, without notes, in front of friends, teachers, parents, who may not know what you are about to say. But Public Speaking is one of the most important skills a person can develop - it translates into every area of personal and professional lives. The speeches were all written by the students, rehearsed, memorised — all completed around full timetables, mock exams, university applications, and the day-to-day stresses of life.
I cannot tell you how proud I am of each and every speaker. I have felt so privileged to be a part of their journey, to listen to them open up, explore areas of interest, and in some cases, reveal some of their toughest moments. I have been reduced to tears more than once and I am in complete awe of them all. I said, two years ago, when we ran our first ever TEDx Conference, that it was the greatest thing I have been involved in in my career. This year has rivalled it without question. Thank you to everyone who has supported the students and the event.
- Mr Nick Crombie, Deputy Head (Sixth Form and Senior School)
Rossall Students Tackle the GCHQ Christmas Card Puzzle
This week, students from KS3 to KS5 took part in the annual GCHQ Christmas Card Puzzle, an exciting event that brings together code-breaking, teamwork and plenty of logical thinking. Designed each year by the United Kingdom's intelligence and cyber security agency, the challenge presented our pupils with a festive mix of cryptic ciphers, patterns and lateral-thinking problems.
Classes worked in teams to decode hidden messages, identify mathematical structures and test a range of problem-solving strategies. It was inspiring to see students encouraging one another, combining their strengths and discovering the power of collaborative learning. From substitution ciphers to visual logic puzzles, the activity stretched reasoning skills and sparked friendly competition across year groups.
A special mention goes to Erin, Aghan, Rio, Carlos and Zach in Year 13 for their leadership and enthusiasm throughout the challenge.
Well done to all students who took part for your perseverance, creativity and curiosity. We look forward to taking on next year's puzzle and are already excited for what 2026 will bring.
Parents and students who would like to explore the challenge further can download the cards here:
https://www.gchq.gov.uk/files/gchq%20christmas%20challenge%202025.pdf
Charles' Dickens A Christmas Carol
"On Wednesday the Year Sevens went on a trip to see Charles' Dickens A Christmas Carol. Even though the weather was cold and windy outside, inside the Bolton Octagon theatre everyone was happy and ready for the show to start.
After studying A Christmas Carol in English, this trip helped bring the story to life as we saw Ebenezer Scrooge in action.
It was very enjoyable when we saw all of the ghosts that met Scrooge; the ghost of Christmas past, the ghost of Christmas present and the ghost of Christmas future.
This structure had a really close connection to the book. A huge thank you to Mr McNab who organised the whole event. This was an all-round fantastic and festive trip for everybody!"
- Marianne B, Year 7 Pupil
Medstream at Rossall
Medstream is a bespoke programme for Years 10-13, exposing them to professionals and the institutions in which they work and providing incremental support for those who aspire to vocations like medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry and bio-medical research.
In an approach unique to Rossall, Medstream sessions integrate dissections, microscope work, patient case studies, medical ethics debates and discussions about technological advances in the news, alongside personalised advice on UCAT preparation, finding work experience, university applications and interview practice.
Autumn Term 2025 has seen Rossall Medstreamers working weekly on career development. Year 13 students have been focusing on finalising their university choices, personal statements, and interview preparedness. Year 12 students have discovered the importance of NHS Values in debate and investigation related to the Charlie Gard Case and Shropshire Maternity Scandal. They have also explored the topic of coronary heart disease, with a deep dive into “The Case of Grandma Edna’s Heart", reviewing the diagnosis and management of a patient with heart failure, and studying why Blackpool has the highest mortality rate from coronary heart disease in the UK. Budding doctors used a heart dissection to relate a healthy animal heart to the physical changes that a pathologist would find in an obese patient.
Click here to read more.
- Mrs Amanda O’Hara, Head of Medstream
Sixth Formers of the Literary Farrell Society
Years 7 & 8 had some younger looker English teachers this week! Sixth Formers of the Literary Farrell Society worked hard to prepare and deliver fun and festive literary lessons exploring Christmas Literature, traditions and much more through games, stories, debates and even the medium of dance!
A massive thanks to "Miss" Toluwani A, Thishani S, Prisha V, Thea H, Alyssa E, Seren M, Sofia F, Sofiia R, Olivia M, Tise I & Cynthia L.
These sixth formers enjoyed the opportunity to extend their learning beyond the A Level & IB English Syllabi, although found the experience of being called "Miss" (despite telling the children to call them by their first names!) rather strange! Most importantly, Years 7 & 8 had an enjoyable, educational and Christmassy time of it!
- Mr Tom McNab, Second in English
Headmaster’s Awards: Celebrating Exceptional Rossallians
This week’s Headmaster’s Awards shone a spotlight on two remarkable Year 7 students, Archer and Oleh of Dragon House, who embodied the very best of community spirit during the annual Gingerbread House Competition.
When several senior Dragons, originally set to lead the team fell ill at the last minute, Archer and Oleh didn’t hesitate. Instead, they rose to the challenge with enthusiasm, rolling up their sleeves and taking on the full responsibility of representing their house.
What followed was a masterclass in creativity, teamwork, and determination. The pair worked tirelessly to bring their vision to life, crafting a gingerbread creation that impressed everyone who saw it. Their entry wasn’t just beautifully made, it was a symbol of resilience and the kind of house pride that makes Dragon House so special.
Staff and students alike have been full of praise for the duo, who turned an unexpected setback into a moment of triumph. As we head into the festive break, Dragon House, and indeed the whole school can feel incredibly proud of what Archer and Oleh achieved.
A brilliant reminder that sometimes the youngest members of our community shine the brightest.
WELLBEING AT ROSSALL
We had a wonderfully exciting start to Sunday as Sixth Formers joined Anchor House to take part in the Santa Dash! Not only did this lively event raise money for Trinity Hospice and Brian House, but it also gave us all the chance to step outside our comfort zones and enjoy a real sense of achievement—despite the rain. Seeing the prom completely filled with sprinting Santas was an unforgettable and highly entertaining sight!
As the term draws to a close, it feels like the perfect moment for reflection. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our fantastic team of student Wellbeing Ambassadors. They work tirelessly behind the scenes to support our wellbeing events and are a consistent, caring presence for their peers throughout the school. I am also sharing a pertinent article this week which explores the growing presence of AI in wellbeing, which you can find linked here.
with love from chapel
How do you know it’s Christmas at Rossall?
More and more questionable jumpers and fluffy Santa-hats grace our wardrobe, prep school elves pop up unexpectedly, ‘12 days of Christmas’ seems to be sung at any occasion, there is way too much chocolate on teachers’ desks, gingerbread house-engineering challenges the boarding houses, reindeers and Santas are running around the square and tiny sheep make their way across the site hand in hand (or possibly hoof in hoof) to take up their roles in their nativity.
The last couple of weeks have left no-one untouched by our Christmas-spirit. Amongst all this fabulous hustle and bustle, our Carol Services have been an amazing source of calm - a very different Christmas-spirit amongst beautiful tunes from organ and choir and the magnificent candle-light more than 170 candles shine on us. Stepping into the chapel, you realise Christmas is bigger than all the (very fun!) partying you have left outside - a space where you can feel God’s offer of love when he came and joined us on Earth as a little baby. If you feel you have not had the chance to experience this, may I encourage you to find a church nearby and take them up on their offer of Christmas? You will not regret it. With the words of a very special Christmas-blessing, the warmest wishes from Rossall chapel to you all:
May the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds,
the perseverance of the wise men, the obedience of Joseph and Mary, and the peace of the Christ-child
be yours this Christmas; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us and remain with us always.
Have a happy and blessed Christmas!
- Mrs Kerstin Dixon, Chaplain
New Edition of The Rossallian Released
Rossall School is delighted to share the latest edition of The Rossallian, click here to read. This is our school newspaper that celebrates life across both the Senior and Preparatory Schools. The publication highlights recent activities, achievements, and events that showcase the vibrancy of our community.
Available in both print and digital formats, this edition will be shared with alumni, parents, staff, friends of Rossall, and visiting families.
Thank you to everyone who contributed. We hope you enjoy reading the new issue.
