Newbury Weekly News - May 11th 2017

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Newbury Weekly News

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

Year13students atTheDowns School Clean sweep for Downs students 100percentofthose who applied receive offer forfurther education

RudiOppenheimer giveshistalkontheHolocaust atTheale Green School

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.”

Drummers demonstrate rhythm of Africa PUPILS in Newbury had a taste of Africa recently during a visit from the Kakatsitsi: Master Drummers of Ghana.

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.”

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

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

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 readingfcdirect.co.uk 0