United nations: primary school celebrates cultural diversity

Tea and fruit could prevent memory loss

A DIET lacking a compound found in tea, apples and berries is linked to age-related memory loss, according to a large trial in older adults.

The project explored the impact of flavanols - compounds found in foods such as tea, apples and berries - on cognitive ageing in 3,562 older individuals over three years.

Conducted by staff at Columbia University and co-investigated by the University of Reading’s Gunter Kuhnle, the study showed that individuals with high habitual flavanol consumption have better hippocampal memory function than those with lower consumption.

Lead investigator Scott Small MD, professor of neurology at Columbia University said: “The identification of nutrients critical for the proper development of an infant’s nervous system was a crowning achievement of 20th century nutrition science.

“Research is starting to reveal that different nutrients are needed to fortify our ageing minds.”

Prof Kuhnle said: “We used nutritional biomarkers in urine to measure the baseline diet of around one-third of the participants. This method is more accurate than relying on self-reported diet and provided us with a better estimate of flavanol intake.”

By EMMA MERCHANT emerchant@wokingham.today

A LOWER EARLEY primary school held a grand celebration of cultural diversity last week.

Around a thousand people, made up of pupils and their families, came to enjoy the sights, sounds, and flavours of multi-cultural heritage at a joyful parade and festival at Hawkedon Primary School.

It is the largest primary school in Lower Earley, serving 630 pupils, who come from 60 different countries, and speak 35 languages between them.

Headteacher Gareth O’Shea said: “Our community is very diverse here, and we wanted everyone to be able to come into school to celebrate all the different cultures.

“It’s brilliant to have so many parents here. They’ve been really enthusiastic, and there’s such a sense of excitement.

“They put together a number of stalls representing countries from around the world.

“Some have brought in food, while others have brought in objects that represent their culture.

“We usually ask children what their home languages are, but we don’t necessarily learn where their birth place is.

“So it’s been really interesting to find out that they come from such a wide range of places, and wonderful to be able to celebrate that.”

On the celebration day, the children were invited to dress in traditional or typical clothing, or the colours of the country they represented.

They processed together as part of a colourful promenade around the school in recognition of all the represented communities and cultures.

There were two parades, one for reception children, and another in the afternoon for the rest of the school years.

Afterwards years 2 and 3 performed Indian drumming, and years 4 and 5 demonstrated a Chinese dragon dance.

LIz Woodard, school business manager said: “We’ve had events going on all week and the atmosphere is buzzing.

“All the stories that the children have been telling, and the conversations we’ve been having, have been wonderful. Everyone is learning and sharing about where they come from.

“One of our teachers said that this has been the best off-curriculum days they have ever had, because of the children’s engagement.

“This hasn’t been teacher led, it has been led by the whole community.”

Staff and parents set up stalls to represent the different countries, displaying traditional clothes, flags, musical instruments, objects of interest, photographs and artwork.

Festival goers were also able to sample cultural delicacies from around the world, including soda bread made by the headteacher, at his stall representing Ireland.

Head of year 4, Amy Cooke, said: “Two weeks ago we gave all the children homework. We asked everyone to research and share something about their country with the community.

“We had an amazing response, with children singing traditional songs in their own languages, playing musical instruments, sharing food, making posters, and even making things out of Lego.

“We’ve all been learning something, not just the children, but the teachers too.”

Families were full of praise for the event.

Parent, Subadhra, said: “It’s a wonderful day. It’s all so colourful, and everyone is so enthusiastic.

“I’m helping out on the Indian stall, and parents have been coming to taste the different foods we have brought.”

Another parent, Omaima, said: “We’ve felt so welcomed.

“It’s really interesting to learn about all the other cultures. At our Sudanese stall people have been enjoying the baklava and falafel.”

Other parents, Pradeep and Meenakshi, said: “This is a great event.

“Britain has always welcomed migrants into the community, and this celebration brings everyone together.

“In India there is a saying, which means all cultures, all people, are one family. This is a ‘one family’ event. It’s such a big community, but it looks like a family.” n For information about the school, visit: www. hawkedon.wokingham.sch.uk

Omaima, a parent at the school, ran the Sudanese stall, and said that it had been interesting to learn about other cultures during the day

The research was part of the COSMOS study (Cocoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study), a double-blind placebo controlled randomised study of more than 21,000 participants over three years.

In contrast to other studies, which rely on foods as flavanol sources, the COSMOS study used a standardised flavanol extract, which allowed a better control of the intervention, making it possible to attribute any effects to the compounds and not specific foods.

This study already showed that flavanols reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

In celebration of our 30 year anniversary this year, we are offering 30% off room hire for all new special events to be booked and take place by 30th November 2023

Please quote SMGC30 to receive your discount