Page 15 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • July 2009 15
Big boost for round Britain Rachel Parents meet headteacher for first time
A remarkable teenager from Peatmoor, who is looking forward to her The first ever meeting for parents who have enrolled their children for
fifth year in remission from leukaemia, is hoping to join famed sailor the Oakhurst Community Primary School took place on 9 June with
Dame Ellen MacArthur as a volunteer helper. headteacher Dale Burr welcoming about 50 parents.
In May Rachel Mr Burr will be joined
Blackford took by foundation stage teach-
part in her fourth er Gillian Jones, Kasia
trip with the El- Wojewodka, Year 1 teacher
len MacArthur currently at Bridlewood ,
Trust which uses Primary School, and Denise
sailing to boost Barkham, also at Bridle-
the confidence wood Primary, who will
of young people be school bursar.
who have had Mr Burr, who is head-
cancer or leu- teacher at Minety Primary
kaemia. School, told parents he had
Rachel was vowed never to be involved
o
diagnosed with in another brand new Dale Bin randhisstaff fronileftKasiaWojeoodka,
Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2005 and said. "It wig the longest I've been school, but the opportunity Denise Barkhain, Gillian Jones
missed almost 12 months of school on; a whole week. It was good to to return to Swindon was too great the meeting was taking place, given
during her treatment. She said, build up my experience of sailing an attraction, they had to campaign to have the
"being out of school for so long, I and getting to know the others." "It will be blood, sweat and school built, then argue for it to be
lost a lot of confidence and sailing Dame Ellen, above, visited for tears, but Ms Wojewodka and Mrs run by Swindon Councilratherthan
really helped bring it back. It's been photos and interviews before join- Barkham have both experienced a Muslim faith organisation.
absolutely brilliant every year; as ing the youngsters for a day. "She the joys of opening a brand new LisaDavissaid, "it's almostover-
soon as I get back, I talk about it was interested to know about us and school. We know how hard parents whelming, it's been such a struggle
non-stop to friends and family." what was going on in our lives." have worked to get their school and to get to this stage. To finally have a
*
Rachel set sail from Cowes with Rachel, who gained 12 A GCSEs we want to be part of building the school for the Oakhurstcommunity
four other young people and volun- at Braden Forest, despite her illness, Oakhurst community." is unbelievably fantastic."
teers from the Trust. On their 48 foot has just taken her A Levels. She The school will open for recep- The foundation stage is almost
yacht, Scarlet Oyster, they sailed the hopes to set a course for Oxford tion and Year 1 children in two full, but there are about 20 places
first leg of the four month round University in September to read phi- temporary classrooms in September for Year 1 children.
Britain trip, from Cowes to Dover. losophy, politics and economics. in a corner of the site on Pioneer To contact Mr Burr mail: dburr@
They were given a fantastic send off Bitten by the sailing bug, she Road. Building work on the 240 swindon.gov.ukorleaveamessage
with over 30 boats following and also plans to take her day skipper place permanent school has started on 463877.
cannons fired to mark the start of qualification so that she can become with completion programmed for • Read about the battle to secure
the voyage. a volunteer for the Ellen MacArthur July 2010. Oakhurst primary at www.swin-
"This was the best trip so far," she Crust next year. Some parents could not believe donlink.com

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