Page 34 - link magazine

34 swindonlink.com • July 2010
Red Oaks says `dumeleng' to South African visitors
Staff and pupils at Red Oaks Primary welcomed some very special visitors from Dihlabeng Christian School in Free State, South Africa, who
have been in partnership with a number of Swindon schools since 2003.
Margaret Grant, headteacher at would be fine too."
Dihlabeng said, "it started out as a While at Red Oaks
British Council led global partner- the visitors have taken
ship, but seven years on we've car- part in art activities
ried it on out of friendship." and in helping to run
Margaret was accompanied on the Dumeleng (Hello)
this visit by twelve-year-old Year 5 Club, which exchanges
pupil Zandile Mani, thirteen-year- regular messages with-
old Year 7 pupil Ineke Basson, and Dihlabeng.
by trainee teacher Pusetso Nkomo. " We've also been
While they were here the group learning the Disky
visited the sites in London, Forest Dance to celebrate the
of Dean and Tintern Abbey. "We World Cup, which is Red Oaks children with Margaret Grant andZandileMani,left, andPusetsoNkomoandlnekeBasson
saw the changing of the guard in very clever and uses football move- "Disky is township slang for a lot of dancing on their return as
London, and I liked the Eye very ments," said Red Oaks headteacher football," clarified Ineke. World Cup fever overcame their
much" said Zandile. Terri Menham. No doubt the visitors were doing nation.
"The technology here is very
advanced, and makes learning
easy," said Putsetso. "Also the Former Greendown pupil organises gig for trip to partner school
infrastructure is very good with Laura Dunham from West Swindon is hoping to return to Moriteng Wa Thutu, Greendown's partner
nice roads and towns, and seeing school in South Africa, but only if she can raise the money to cover the cost.
London was amazing." In 2007 she was one of nine who spent a week meeting fellow pupils at
"It is excellent for trainee teachers Moriteng and learning about life in South Africa. Now studying A level Eng-
to see what is available here," said lish and Media at New College she wants to travel with the next Greendown
Margaret. "At Dihlabeng we have I exchange group in February as an assistant to organiser Cristina Bennett and
only three standalone computers ft other teachers.
which are quite old. We need to "The trip to Moriteng was a wonderful experience and I'd like to return there
raise funds for a better computer during my gap year to meet some of the friends I made in 2007," said Laura.
suite. Ten would be ideal, but five She is planning a range of fundraising events including a band night at
Riffs Bar on Thursday 15 July, 8pm. She has five bands lined up and is busily
baking cakes to sell on the night. Tickets are £2 on the door.

Bradon end of term date in Romania
Swindon Ocotal Link A group of pupils from Bradon Forest School are taking a welcome break from GCSE studies to spend
Annual General Meeting two weeks in Romania from 10 July.
The ten Year 10 pupils have been holding
Friday 23 July, 7.30pm
fundraising events such as cake sales, car washes
Hannington Village Hall followed and bag packs since last Autumn and organising
by a gathering in The Jolly Tar. individual ways to come up with the £1,600 each
Discover more about the partnership needs to fund the trip.
with Swindon's twin town in Nicara- Katy Sellars and Hannah Pettit produced a
gua, the projects supported by SOL book of eighty recipes which they sold in school.
and meet three visitors from Ocotal. The two weeks include decorating an orphanage
For details call Bruce Clarke and playing with the children and a long distance
on 533338 hike in Transylvania, ending with a trip to Count
Dracula's castle.
Wii games night and
"It's really exciting as we get closer to going; it
curry supper in aid SOL will be a relief after exams," said Katy. "It's going to
Tuesday 20 July, 7pm be a life changing experience, but we'll be holding
£10 • The Tawny Owl, Taw Hill onto each other when we go to Dracula's lair. We Bombay Lounge ownerHanifRobanidonatingf350raisedatacharity
Tickets from 495073 don't want it to be too life changing." curry night to Katy Sellers, Hannah Pettit and Shannon Stevenson

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