6 | NEWS
To advertise, email advertising@wokingham.today STEM: Students at Dolphin Hurst in Hurst took part in a STEM week, including a science fair
Week of STEM sees students at Hurst school grow in confidence with science
A HURST school recently celebrated STEM subjects with a week of special events. The events at Dolphin School started with an interactive assembly featuring special guest, Boffin John. The school said that students were left amazed and the hall very messy. The Boffin then continued the fun by conducting polymerisation workshops - a great excuse to make some slime. The school said that the energy balls showed just how much our bodies rely on electricity. The day ended with an impressive rocket launch, the parachute landing in a nearby field. There were a whole host of activities throughout the week: going online with Geobus from UCL, who showed images of meteors viewed with 3D glasses. There was an Engineering Day where students were tasked with building structures that would withstand a natural
disaster - well .. water guns and fans Some Escape Rooms were set-up, to encourage students’ problem solving skills and put their maths brains to the test to find the code to escape. All Dolphin students took part in maths relay races, displaying teamwork, collaboration within their Houses and excellent mathematical skills. The week concluded with its very first Science Fair. Students from Years 1 – 8 had been asked to produce a display board showing either an investigation or an information project – topics covered a huge range, including “Whose mouth is cleaner, a human or an animal?” and “How can you calculate the number of atoms in your body?” Parents, staff and pupils were invited to drop in and quiz the exhibitors – it was a fantastic example of the creativity and passion of the school’s teachers, and an opportunity for children to express their own interests and ideas.
WOKINGHAM.TODAY Thursday, March 31, 2022
Remembering Chris Pape MANY people in Wokingham will know Chris Pape, who died earlier this month. Most recently, she worked for Just Around The Corner (JAC), helping young people who, for whatever reason, needed some additional support. This included her long-held vision to open a shop in Wokingham town centre to allow the youngsters to get vital work experience. Here, her family pay tribute to her.
M
UM (Christine Rose Holland), was born in 1949 in Oxford. She went to teacher training college in Brighton, then moved to Wokingham in the early 70s as a teacher at High Close School, working for Barnardo’s. Mum became active within the Youth Service, taking on more responsibility and eventually running Wokingham Youth Centre in the 70s. This is where Mum and Dad (John) met, as Dad was running a Duke of Edinburgh scheme. They married in 1975. There are three of us children (Jo, Richard and Kirsty), however Mum and Dad fostered for many years, opening their home to hundreds of young people, so I find it difficult to put a number on the amount of children and grandchildren then have. They would also offer our sofa to those who were homeless, giving them the time and support needed to get themselves back on their feet. Mum taught English as a foreign language to students from Europe and ran church groups and DofE rallies with Dad. Over the years mum has been active in a number of churches, in particular St Mary’s & St
John’s California, Wokingham Baptist Church andNorreys Church (as well as the Salvation Army). She’s never been particularly bothered by the different denominations, believing that God is the same one however you choose to worship him. Mum continued to do youth work, spending evenings engaging with young people on the street, listening to their problems and handing out stickers telling people “God loves you” and such like… Mum has always been concerned about people & in particular the homeless which led her to co-found Caritas homeless charity, which raised funds for Seaford Court in Wokingham. This was in the early 90s. The youth work led her to affiliate herself with JAC and that evolved into the work that she did at the JAC Pad and JAC in a Box. Mum saw it as an opportunity to encourage young people to live life to their full potential & overcome anxieties. What Mum meant to us as a Mum: We couldn’t be prouder of Mum & the amazing role model that she has always been. The compassion that she has for people is inspiring & has been present throughout her life.
CHRIS PAPE Mum has always had a simple but clear philosophy & in a letter which she wrote to one of her grandchildren she offered the following advice: n Be kind n Love God and follow his guidance n Be honest n Don’t judge others (you have not walked in their shoes). Since Chris died, as a family, we have received many tributes. We’ve been overwhelmed by the love and support from people who knew Mum. We’ve always known that
Mum was special, but we’ve been surprised at the vast amount of people she has had a positive influence on. We’ve enjoyed reminiscing and the reminders of all mum has done and the people she cared about. We’ve been amazed by the volume of messages and cards, which show the impact of Mum’s life. If anyone does want to give on mum’s behalf, we would ask them to donate to JAC in a Box, via jacoutreach.org The Pape family
Pub plans jubilee event A WOKINGHAM pub is holding a right royal celebration this summer. The Queen’s Head pub will host a beer festival over the Platinum Jubilee weekend, from Thursday, June 2, to Sunday, June 5. The team is looking
forward to running a festival again, with plans to do so being put on hold for the past two years. Real ales and ciders will be available to try, and there will be music and a barbecue on the Friday night and Sunday afternoon of the weekend. For more information, follow The Queen’s Head on The Terrace on Facebook
Volunteers needed for Twyford Beer Festival
ORGANISERS of a popular village event have asked for volunteers to help it to happen this year. Twyford Beer Festival, which takes place on Stanlake Meadow in June, is looking for people to fill a number of roles. These include building the site during the week commencing Monday, May 30 and take down once the festival is over on Sunday, June 12. A marquee will be used for a number of events in the village over the Platinum Jubilee weekend. It will also be fitted out with bar equipment and staging for beer barrels for the beer festival, which will happen on the following weekend. Other roles available for the event include working behind the bar and litter picking. n For more information, visit: twyfordbeerfest.co.uk
