St George’s School, Ascot  welcomes survivor from the Holocaust Educational Trust

On Monday, 26 June 2017, girls, staff and parents from St George’s Ascot heard testimony from Holocaust survivor, Rudi Oppenheimer, as part of a visit organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET).

Rudi Oppenheimer spoke movingly about his horrifying experiences and gave pupils an opportunity to ask questions to enable them to better understand the nature of the Holocaust and to explore its lessons in more depth. The visit is part of the Holocaust Educational Trust’s extensive all year round Outreach Programme, which is available to schools across the UK.

Liz Hewer, Headmistress at St George’s Ascot commented:  “It is a privilege for us to welcome Rudi Oppenheimer to our school and his testimony will remain a powerful reminder of the horrors so many experienced. We are grateful to the Holocaust Educational Trust for co-ordinating the visit and we hope that by hearing Rudi’s testimony, it will encourage our pupils to learn from the lessons of the Holocaust and make a positive difference in their own lives.”

Karen Pollock MBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust added: “The Holocaust Educational Trust educates and engages students from across the UK, from all communities about the Holocaust and there can be no better way than through the first-hand testimony of a survivor. Rudi’s story is one of tremendous courage during horrific circumstances and by hearing his testimony, students will have the opportunity to learn where prejudice and racism can ultimately lead. 

 “At the Trust, we impart the history of the Holocaust to young people, to ensure that we honour the memory of those whose lives were lost and take forward the lessons taught by those who survived.”

On Friday March 24th, Charters School  held a Founders Day Gala Dinner at De Vere’s Northcote House in Sunningdale to raise much needed funds for the school.

During a champagne reception the guests, who included parents, staff and members from local businesses, were entertained by the school’s Jazz Band before taking their seats for a delicious 3 course meal.

Matt Sleigh, the out-going manager of Barclays Bank in Ascot very kindly agreed to draw the raffle and also acted as auctioneer; donations from local companies included an overnight stay for two at Coworth Park and a ‘Learn to Play Polo Experience’ at Westcroft Polo Club.

Guests danced until the early hours and the event was a huge success, generating almost £7,500 for the school.

Mrs Wendy Finch, a parent at the school said, “What a great way to raise funds! It’s been a fantastic night full of dancing eating and fundraising. Charters is a fantastic school and I am looking forward to more events like this.”

The school would like to thank all the local businesses who generously donated items for the raffle, auction and ‘gift tree’ or advertised in the evening’s program.

CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR PETITION :  'Calling RBWM Cllrs to vote AGAINST proceeding with Borough Local Plan as currently drafted'

The petitioners explain: 

"We, the residents of the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, call on all our local Ward Councillors to vote at the forthcoming Extraordinary Council Meeting on 19th June 2017 AGAINST proceeding with the Borough Local Plan as currently published, because of widespread concerns shared by a significantly large number of residents across the entire Borough.

This is a bad Plan that will harm our area & the Character of our Towns & Villages.

Reasons

• Lack of Local Consultation
  We recognise our area needs more homes, but the Borough has not properly engaged or consulted with Parish Councils, local Organisations, Neighbourhood Plan Groups and local residents about where the new development should go.
• No Proper Green Belt Review
  86% of the land in the allocated sites in the Plan is in the Green Belt. Yet no full Green Belt Review has been carried out to identify which sites would be most suitable; and no consideration has been given to the option of a new settlement as an alternative strategy.
• Concerns Over Infrastructure
  Many residents would be prepared to accept the proposed development IF we had sufficient assurances that the infrastructure necessary to make the new developments sustainable will be provided as well as how it will be funded. The Borough Local Plan evidence does not provide these assurances. As an example, the Local Transport Plan relied upon is dated 2012 and pre-dates all the site allocations in the Plan.
• No Real Engagement with Neighbouring Authorities
  The Borough has not engaged sufficiently with neighbouring authorities to discuss how and where land for housing and employment can best be located, nor how necessary cross-border infrastructure such as roads and schools will be provided.

Please sign this Petition to stop the Council from proceeding with the current Plan until a full proper consultation is taken.  

Please visit our website www.rbwmresidentsactiongroup.co.uk and register your details to ensure that you are kept updated on all developments.

Also, please follow our Twitter @RBWMResidents '

Row Farm in Winkfield Row, Bracknell opened its gates to the public on Sunday 11^th June 2017 for Open Farm Sunday. The farm takes part in the annual national event which was founded in 2006 and witnesses 1500 farmers across the UK opening up their farms to demonstrate farming to 1.8 million people on one day a year.

Row Farm's Open Farm Sunday attracted over 1000 visitors over the six hours the farm was open. Visitors enjoyed tractor and donkey rides. Visitors were able to meet the animals, feed the chickens, hunt for eggs, pet the lambs and ducklings, talk to the bee keeper, play on the bale tractor 'racetrack', enjoy the ice cream van and BBQ. Thames Valley Police were meeting the community and families got to sit in a police van and dress up as police officers. PartyBales, bale & event hire specialists were also on hand with their straw bales demonstrating farm diversification.

Radio 2's Breakfast Show presenter Chris Evans came along with his family to the farm to enjoy a family day out. Chris used a number of farming facts that were placed around the farm during Open Farm Sunday for his radio show on Monday morning.

'Open Farm Sunday at Row Farm was a huge success again this year and it was fantastic that the local community really got involved and supported the event'. Alison Frost, Row Farm's Open Farm Sunday Organiser.

Row Farm looks forward to opening its doors again next year to support the national farming event.

Email: info@partybales.com / Phone: 0333 939 0048

Papplewick School | It was safe to say that Papplewick’s Got Talent, on Friday, 9^th June, was another rip-roaring success, with over 70 boys auditioning and a very strong final with eight top-drawer acts.

The annual event at Papplewick School in Ascot is always popular and highly creative. The acts this year ranged from a classical Year 5 music trio to a Year 6 boy bringing skipping to the masses. There could only be one winner though - and Phoenix Ogilvie Robertson and Luca Judge, both in Year 5, took the title with their interpretation of ‘Bad Guys’ from Bugsy Malone, splurge guns and all!

Second place was taken by some of the mighty Year 2s, who brought us ‘Little Men’ from Les Misérables, ably led by Balthazar de Clermont-Tonnerre, Sebastian Cunningham Day and Hugh Turner-Linke. Third place was James Choi from Year Six with his skipping act, which was the crowd’s favourite.

Headmaster Tom Bunbury said: “Well done to all involved – once again, it’s clear from this year’s outstanding performances that Papplewick definitely does have talent!”

Next Open Morning:   Saturday 4th November 2017 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m   Visit:  www.papplewick.org.uk 

About Papplewick...

Pupils across RBWM, including those from a disadvantaged background, have performed well at Key Stage 4 as the confirmed results show above average attainment in many key areas.

The new Progress 8 measure saw Charters and four other schools (Newlands, Furze Platt, Cox Green and Windsor Boys) achieve above the national average with a further four schools maintaining progress above the floor standard.

KS4 pupils in the borough collectively ranked as equal 22^nd out of 150 areas for Progress 8 results, placing them in the top 15 percent in the country. A good performance was also recorded for children from a disadvantaged background with our pupils from the borough ranking 25^th out of 150.

Cllr Natasha Airey, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “I am always pleased to hear when children and young people perform well but it’s excellent to hear that our pupils from more disadvantaged backgrounds are also making good progress and I look forward to seeing these results continue to improve further in the future.