Young Tribune

TIME TO CHOOSE? Where should you go to university?

If you're a student entering Year 13 you may be trying to narrow down your choice of university. It can be quite a task because there are so many. Even if you know what you want to study - chemical engineering, maths, architecture, medicine, music etc., different universities can have radically different approaches. Here are some points to consider. Course and Contact Hours - How much tutor contact do you want or need? Do you want a more conventionally academic course, or would you prefer something more practical and hands on? Scholarships - These can be awarded for a variety of reasons: academic excellence, music, and sports are most common. The good news is that you don't have to be studying music, or sports as a subject, just willing to perform on behalf of the university. Bursaries - If you grew up in the care system or come from a background where parental finances are strained, universities may offer a financial incentive for you to attend. Modules - You can usually check course modules online. Do they look interesting? You don't want to end up studying something you hate for a year. Placements - Are there any placements associated with your course? Are they compulsory? Whereabouts in the course do they fall? Are they paid?

By Jayne Grant

The Student Halls - Are there halls and are they near the university? Not having to negotiate transport and bus timetables can be a bonus when there are so many other new skills to learn. Student flats can be great, but in the first year when you don't know anyone it can be daunting organising bill-sharing and rent payments on top of everything else. Consider location; rents in London and the South can be considerably higher than other parts of the UK. Societies - What are you into? Some unis are famous for their theatrical societies, others for their sports facilities, sailing clubs, choral societies, or orchestras. If you have a hobby you are passionate about there will be a university society for you. Nightlife - If you're the nightclub type you might want to make sure you're going somewhere with a good night scene. People assume all universities have this, but some are situated on isolated campuses, and you might need to take this into consideration. Local Area - If you like to get out hill walking at the weekends then London might not be the best choice of city. But if you love art galleries and theatre trips it might be the perfect place. If you love to sail or sea kayak, then you might like to consider universities near the coast. Do you want easy access to a gym? A swimming pool? Dance studio?

Is your chosen uni where you think it is? - Think I'm joking? I grew up in Warwick and every year without fail we had lots of people wandering around the castle area asking where Warwick University was. They were always surprised when we said, 'Coventry!' How far away from home is it and are there are good transport links? - If you want to pop home now and then, you might not relish a nine-hour bus ride.

Going to open days is a great idea, to get a first-hand feel of where you could be staying. This year open days should be happening again, so go to a few, and trust your gut. villagetribune 41villagetribune 41

MUSTARD SEED PROJECT

BACK TO SCHOOL

It has now been almost 18 months since our last visit to Kenya meaning that we have been unable to see our beautiful new school.

13 years ago when we started the project being unable to visit would have been disastrous, but in many ways we have been much closer to what is going on than we would have been in normal circumstances. Whilst school was closed we had weekly Skype meetings with the headteacher and even now we meet regularly on Zoom. In fact Zoom has now become a huge benefit as the teachers receive training from the UK. Our P1 teachers (qualification is for 6 - 14 year olds) are being trained by Charlie, one of our trustees, whilst our ECD teachers (qualification is for 4 - 8 year olds) are receiving training from Christine a volunteer. Both are highly qualified teachers and are making a real difference. Although the children are back in school it must be very tiring for all. The Kenyan government decided that they would gradually move the school year back to its original timing by reducing holidays. As a result each term is followed by just one week’s holiday. I dread to think how everyone will cope with the situation. Fortunately, cases of Covid in Kenya remain low and initially it appeared that all school staff were to be vaccinated which was amazing news. Sadly, very little vaccine arrived in Kenya so this just has not happened. We just hope that the vaccine arriving as a result of Covax will reach then soon. The Kenyan government has not lifted its Covid safety measures however and everyone still wears

a mask, washes hands etc. Schools have also been inspected for Covid safety and we passed with flying colours. And there has been some other good news. I think I mentioned before that we are being supported by England Footballer, Jude Bellingham. The fundraising page he set up on Virgin Money Giving has resulted in some generous donations and we have now managed to raise all the money needed for the feeding programme until the end of this year. Raising the £18,000 needed to feed our children each year is always a worry so that is a great relief. The new year begins in January however! Secondly, as I mentioned before we had pleasing results in our KCPE (Kenyan Certificate of Primary Education) but there was a clear divide between rich and poor. Rich children in Kenya have had online lessons whilst those of our children who chose to collect it were given homework, which was marked, but no teaching. Just as in the UK it was the poorest to suffered most. It made us realise how important it is to improve the IT capabilities of our children if they are to succeed in the world they will inhabit. New laptops are very much on the agenda. So far the only laptops we have are for the use of the teachers but when funds are available we shall buy a class set of laptops meaning that children will be able to chat with the children at Northborough Primary School on Zoom, which we are all looking forward to.

If you would like to learn more about Mustard Seed Project and how you could help please visit our website www.mustardseedproject.co.uk

HELPSTON PLAYHOUSE

Abbi Smith

The end of the summer term is such a bitter sweet time as we say goodbye to our oldest children and wish them well as they take their next big step in the world.

We know we send our rising fives off to school as prepared as they can be for the physical and emotional challenges ahead and we are so proud of every one of them. As we broke up for summer this year we also said a fond farewell to our amazing childcare practitioner, Hayley. She’s been such a joy to have around and will be sadly missed by the children and staff. We’re very much looking forward to our new member of staff starting with us in September and we know she’s going to love it.

If you would like to play a role in delivering exceptional childcare in Helpston please consider joining our amazing committee of volunteers. The committee meets twice each term to consider finances, staffing and fundraising and is looking for new members to join at our AGM on 30th September. We are particularly

interested to hear from anyone who is interested in the Secretary role. If you could manage the committee’s correspondence and record keeping and organise meetings please do get in touch. If your skills are in marketing and communications (including social media and the web) we’d also love to hear from you. Or maybe your child attends the Out of School Club and you’d like to become our OOSC Rep? Having parents on the committee helps the Playhouse to create the best learning environment for our children and means you are involved in and have influence over our decision making. But you don’t have to have a child enrolled at the Playhouse to become a member. People who have been declared bankrupt are not able to stand as members and all nominations are subject to approval by Ofsted but these are the only barriers to membership. We would be delighted to hear from anyone who may be interested in joining. If you have questions about the committee or Playhouse please visit our website or email playhouse@helpstonplayhouse.com

Carve the Best Pumpkin By Louise Addison

Carving Jack O' Lanterns dates back to an old Celtic holiday, Samhain. People carved scary looking turnip lanterns and lit them with candles to ward off spirits.

When the Irish migrated to America, they found that pumpkins grown there were much easier to carve so adapted their custom. My children love to carve pumpkins. Oh who am I kidding, my husband and I love it too and over the years our designs have become more ambitious. Here are a few tips. Start with the right pumpkin. It should be fresh with a sturdy stem, no bruises and a flat bottom so it won't roll. A smooth one is easier to carve and if you can find one with a flatter 'face' so much the better. Use proper safety pumpkin carving sets. No-one wants to spend Halloween sat in the accident and emergency department dressed as Dracula's Bride. Ok that was the one year I did NOT use proper pumpkin saw and I was more at risk at dying from embarrassment than the blood loss but don’t risk it folks. Cut the lid using the saw angled in towards the stem. That way the lid won't drop inside the pumpkin when you replace it. Scoop out all the pulp and some of the flesh - an ice cream scoop works brilliantly. You can now download patterns from the internet. These are terrific if you have limited artistic skills like me. Tape the pattern to the pumpkin (make little cuts around the edge of the pattern if the pumpkin is a bit too round, and that way it will fit better). Then use a pin or small nail to puncture the paper and the outer skin of the pumpkin at intervals of around 1/4 inch / 0.5 cm, or even closer for intricate designs. If it's difficult to see your pokedout pattern, rub a little corn flour or baby powder into the dots. The dots will turn bright white and your design will magically appear. Carve the tiniest sections first. Then carve the areas in the centre of the pattern, and then work outwards. That way you can rest your hand on the uncut bits of pumpkin, not your carvedout design. Rather than always cutting all the way through the pumpkin try just removing some of the skin. The yellow flesh underneath will glow when lit up from inside. Spread Vaseline on the cut edges to seal in moisture. If you have to carve it a few days in advance and it shrivels you can revive it with a face-down soak in cold water. Pumpkin carving is a great activity for all the family. You can make it competitive, or have a theme for your pumpkins, or invite friends over for a pumpkin carving party. Just don't end up in casualty wearing a wild wig and face paint. A safe Halloween is a Happy Halloween!

By Louise Addison

Bike to School Week takes place from 27 September to 1 October 2021. It encourages families to cycle and scoot to school.

BIKE TO SCHOOL WEEK

Cycling is second only to swimming as a low impact activity that offers full-body workout. When your child is cycling, almost all of their major muscle group gets into action. Even though riding a bike primarily depends on the muscles on the lower body, the muscles on the upper body are also engaged. Children who cycle regularly have improved cardiovascular fitness. They have stronger bones, better joint mobility, and tend to be more flexible. Cycling also improves postural balance and coordination.

Being outside exposes them to more vitamin D, which is good for the immune system…just make sure they wear sunscreen if the weather is fine.

The combination of exercise and light reduces stress, depression, and anxiety, while improving brain development, mental wellbeing. Most importantly, children who are active while growing up, are more likely to become active healthy adults. So, get your kids cycling to school and start a good habit that will last a (healthy) lifetime.