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Thursday, May 11, 2017
RudiOppenheimer giveshistalkontheHolocaust atTheale Green School
Pupils hear of horror of the Holocaust
YEAR 9 students at Theale
Green were able to hear a
harrowing first-hand account
of the Holocaust during a
recent seminar at the school.
Holocaust survivor Rudi Oppen-
heimer returned to the West Berk-
shire school to give a thought-
provoking and moving talk to the
youngsters.
He spoke about his experiences
as a Jewish child living in
Germany, Britain and Holland
during the 1930s and 40s.
Mr Oppenheimer is now 85
years old and still visits many
schools throughout the year.
He, his brother Paul and sister
Eve were deported to Bergen-
Belsen concentration camp when
he was just 12 years old and,
although all three survived the
ordeal, their parents and grand-
parents did not.
Speaking of his experience, Mr
Oppenheimer said: “I am the little
boy who stood at the barbed wire
fence and saw. I’ve made it one of
my life’s missions to ensure that
people don’t forget – we must learn
the lesson so that others don ’t
have to suffer.”
He added:“I find it so rewarding
and important to share my experi-
ences with young people who
might not otherwise know what
went on.”
Pupil SeanDyer said: “Rudi is a
gifted presenter that made us both
laugh and cry at his recollections
of the Holocaust.
“The journey that he tookus on
was powerful and was further
amplified by its depth and specific
details.”
Another pupil said: “Rudi came
to Theale Green to share his
harrowing experiences of the
Holocaust, and, even though such
memories must be extremely hard
to share, he relived them for us in
vivid detail.
“He was incredibly inspiring
and has encouraged me to stand
up for my own rights.”
Year13students atTheDowns School
Clean sweep for
Downs students
THE Downs School Sixth
Form took time to congratu-
late its Year 13 pupils recentl y
with 100 per cent of those who
applied for a higher education
place receiving offers.
The Compton school held an
assembly to highlight the year
group’s achievement, with head
of Sixth Form Pete Hogan
emphasising the wide range of
subjects for which students have
been offered places, from
accounting to veterinary
medicine.
“This assembly is about cele-
brating the success our students
have had in applying to a wide
variety of institutions, not just
universities,”he said.
Eighty-two per cent of the Year
13 students submitted a pplica-
tions to UCAS, with every one of
those students receiving at least
one offer.
Three students have received
offers from Cambridg e Univer-
sity – Harriet Allan to read
human, social and political
science at Clare College, Marcus
Rabbetts to read chemical engi -
neering at Magdalene College
and Catherine Walker to read
history and politics at Gonville
and Caius Colle ge.
Headteacher Chris Pr osser
said: “We are extremely proud of
the success our students have
achieved in securing their
offers.
“They have been suppor ted
really well by the Sixth Form
teamwhen making their a pplica-
tions.
“But, more than anything, the
success of our students reflects
the hard work and determination
they have shown throughout the
two years of their courses.
“They have had a great ethos
as a year group and this is
reflected in the fantastic
progress they are projected to
make.”
100percentofthose who applied receive offer forfurther education Drummers demonstrate rhythm of Africa
PUPILS in Newbury had a taste of
Africa recently during a visit from
the Kakatsitsi: Master Drummers
of Ghana.
The African drummers visited
youngsters at Winchcombe Primary
School, Fir Tree Primary School and
Parsons Down Primary School as part
of the education programme organ-
ised by the Newbury Spring Festival.
The group, which includes some of
Ghana’s finest traditional drummers,
dancers andsingers, treated pupils to
a concert and a talk about where the
drummers come from, after which
they were taught how to sing some of
the chants, before joining in.
Reading v
Fulham
Tue 16 May, 7.45pm
AdvanceMember prices
Adults £20, 65 and over £10
18–24 £10, Family tickets av
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Newbury Weekly News