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Cancer survivor Aviyah N. A. Ottley gets personalised storybook

- named as main character in ‘The Ballerina Princess’
Little Aviyah N. A. Ottley is said to be a child who loves to read and now she has a book in which she is featured as the main character. Photo: VINO
Cancer survivor Aviyah N. A. Ottley was honoured by the her school, Enid Scatliffe Pre-primary, yesterday October 30, 2015. The school presented Aviyah with a personalised story book, The Ballerina Princess, in which she was named as the main character. Photo: VINO
Cancer survivor Aviyah N. A. Ottley was honoured by the her school, Enid Scatliffe Pre-primary, yesterday October 30, 2015. The school presented Aviyah with a personalised story book, The Ballerina Princess, in which she was named as the main character. Photo: VINO
Miss Junior BVI‎ Kiarah Moolenaar takes Aviyah on a journey to becoming a princess. Photo: VINO
Miss Junior BVI‎ Kiarah Moolenaar takes Aviyah on a journey to becoming a princess. Photo: VINO
A queen and a princess - Aviyah after her make-over journey. Photo: VINO
A queen and a princess - Aviyah after her make-over journey. Photo: VINO
The Queen and the Princess on their convertible royal ride. Photo: VINO
The Queen and the Princess on their convertible royal ride. Photo: VINO
One of the objectives of the activity on October 30, 2015 was to embrace the support of Ms Charisse Thomas, Special Education Officer of the Ministry of Education and Culture. Photo: VINO
One of the objectives of the activity on October 30, 2015 was to embrace the support of Ms Charisse Thomas, Special Education Officer of the Ministry of Education and Culture. Photo: VINO
Teachers of the Enid Scatliffe Pre-primary School and Aviyah's mother, Thelma O. Ottley (left), in the moment of celebrating the successful fight against cancer by Aviyah N. A. Ottley and promoting literacy. Photo: VINO
Teachers of the Enid Scatliffe Pre-primary School and Aviyah's mother, Thelma O. Ottley (left), in the moment of celebrating the successful fight against cancer by Aviyah N. A. Ottley and promoting literacy. Photo: VINO
Ms Charisse Thomas (right), Special Education Officer of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Principal of Enid Scatliffe Pre-School Ms Valerie Charles-Welch (centre) and Miss Junior BVI‎ Kiarah Moolenaar with Aviyah. Photo: VINO
Ms Charisse Thomas (right), Special Education Officer of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Principal of Enid Scatliffe Pre-School Ms Valerie Charles-Welch (centre) and Miss Junior BVI‎ Kiarah Moolenaar with Aviyah. Photo: VINO
Aviyah and her close friends are the featured characters in the book. Photo: VINO
Aviyah and her close friends are the featured characters in the book. Photo: VINO
Attentive were the pupils of the school as they were spoken to about healthy eating. Photo: VINO
Attentive were the pupils of the school as they were spoken to about healthy eating. Photo: VINO
Students of the Enid Scatliffe Pre-primary School. Photo: VINO
Students of the Enid Scatliffe Pre-primary School. Photo: VINO
Despite being very tired from the early morning activities of putting things in place for the close out event for Cancer Awareness Month, President of the BVI Cancer Society Ms Gloria A. Fahie took time out to address the little children of the school. Photo: VINO
Despite being very tired from the early morning activities of putting things in place for the close out event for Cancer Awareness Month, President of the BVI Cancer Society Ms Gloria A. Fahie took time out to address the little children of the school. Photo: VINO
The BVI Cancer Society presents Breast Cancer pins to the school for each child and teacher. Photo: VINO
The BVI Cancer Society presents Breast Cancer pins to the school for each child and teacher. Photo: VINO
Principal of Enid Scatliffe Pre-primary School Ms Valerie Charles-Welch being pinned by President of the BVI Cancer Society Ms Gloria A. Fahie. Photo: VINO
Principal of Enid Scatliffe Pre-primary School Ms Valerie Charles-Welch being pinned by President of the BVI Cancer Society Ms Gloria A. Fahie. Photo: VINO
Pupils, teachers and parents in song at the Enid Scatliffe Pre-primary School on October 30, 2015. Photo: VINO
Pupils, teachers and parents in song at the Enid Scatliffe Pre-primary School on October 30, 2015. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – At 6 years of age she is already a heroine having bravely battled cancer. Nevertheless, Aviyah N. A. Ottley had the honour of being portrayed as the main character in a personalised storybook ‘The Ballerina Princess’ by Patti Boucher.

Equally special for Aviyah is that some of her friends and classmates of the Enid Scatliffe Pre-School were also named as some of the other characters in the book.

There was much pomp and ceremony at the Enid Scatliffe Pre-school when the book was presented to Aviyah by her teachers and others associated with it on October 30, 2015, the penultimate day of Cancer Awareness Month.

Princess for a day!

The little cancer survivor was a princess for the day and had a special makeover done for her by Miss Junior BVI‎ Kiarah Moolenaar. Aviyah was dressed in a beautiful pink gown, symbolic of Cancer Awareness, and had the enviable experience of being escorted before her school peers in a convertible car alongside Moolenaar.

Aviyah was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer at the tender age of 7 months and underwent several extensive procedures since. Today she is a very healthy girl in remission.

The objective of yesterday's ceremony and celebration at the school was to embrace a mandate of the Ministry of Education and Culture.

According to the school's Principal, Ms ‎Valerie Charles-Welch, "The Ministry of Education and Culture has mandated that all principals must 'think outside the box' and design creative ways of upgrading the school and helping the students academically and otherwise. A leadership programme was designed to equip the principals to do so. As a result of strategic planning among the principal, teachers, janitors and some active parents, today's (yesterday October 30) activity was coordinated."

The main objectives were to implement a literacy campaign, build cancer awareness among young students, to lend support to a family by demonstrating a high level of emotional intelligence in celebrating the life of the student (cancer survivor Aviyah N. A. Ottley) and to embrace the support of Ms Charisse Thomas, Special Education Officer of the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Despite being very tired from the early morning activities of putting things in place for the close out event for Cancer Awareness Month, President of the BVI Cancer Society Ms Gloria A. Fahie took time out to address the little children of the school.

She told them how touched she was by Aviyah's experience and that anyone can get cancer despite their age. Her bigger message to them was to practice healthy eating and to challenge their parents not to give them many junk and canned foods but rather lots of fruits and vegetables.

12 Responses to “Cancer survivor Aviyah N. A. Ottley gets personalised storybook”

  • pat (31/10/2015, 14:05) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    So sweet i feel like crying
  • Special (31/10/2015, 14:05) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am just touched by how this school has celebrated and made this child feel so special. This is a wonderful event! May God bless her and the wonderful staff at End Scatliffe, the Cancer Society and all who displayed such love to this child.

  • Great Story (31/10/2015, 16:57) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is awesome!
  • In attendance (31/10/2015, 20:23) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    My Gosh! This was such a magical moment. From beginning to end, it was 'Lights' 'Camera' and 'Action'

    You just had to witness it in order to understand the quality of the programme, the sincerity of the staff and the appropriate mode that was set. I love this staff.

    Ms. Jr. BVI was so lovely and handled the child with such care and warmth! She will make an excellent teacher.

    Best Wishes on your reign for 2015-2016
  • dem say (31/10/2015, 22:58) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    This was very touching...Kudos to the principal and the staff for gping way beyond their call of duty!
  • Educator (01/11/2015, 07:39) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Excellent team work! An educator wears many hats as we perform our roles.

    However, our hearts continue to beat with care, love, compassion, empathy and voluntary givings.

    Best wishes to the Enid Scatliffe Pre Primary School family.

    Best wishes to little Aviyah! May God continue to guide and keep her.
  • mya (01/11/2015, 12:30) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    She is a nice preety girl i cannot deleve she has cancet
  • Not Right (01/11/2015, 21:14) Like (4) Dislike (10) Reply
    why is this child's life issues being broadcast on the news. the decision to reveal that she has cancer should be hers when she's old enough to decide not the parents. This is so unfair to her. I would have been so upset if it was me. But i do applaud the school for making her life a little bit of heaven on earth for a day. they should have just simply stated that she has faced some medical challenges in the past but is doing a whole lot better now. that would have been enough.
  • About Awareness (02/11/2015, 14:06) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I think it is good that more and more, people are coming out of the shadows about Cancer so others don't feel they are in the battle alone. However, I don't think Breast Cancer Awareness month was the right setting, September, which is Childhood Cancer Awareness month would have been the better time to highlight that little princess.
  • @Not Rigght (02/11/2015, 18:59) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    This child's stpry was in the online news some weeks before the school event. Do your research. The school did not air this childd's story. The school simply wanted to shower her with love and affection. I applaud them. The decision to permit this event and the first story in the news is that of the parents, and they made their decision. You are free to make that decision for your child though.


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