Friday 2nd Febrauary 2024

This week in our School Council Meeting, we prepared to host our book swop for World Book Day. The children made book tokens whilst listening to lovely piano music. The KS2 children also took bags of sultanas back to class which were kindly funded by the PTA.

Mrs Hunter and The School Council

School Council Meeting 

Friday 13^th October

The children introduced themselves to the council and told us which class they represented. Last summer term our previous School Council had chosen bean bags and footballs for each class, after a kind financial gift from the PTA.

The new council delivered the bean bags to class; the footballs have been inflated and will be delivered to class early this term.

After a photo, the children also suggested some thoughts for the year ahead which included a requests for a Christmas class party and another book swop event.

Mrs Hunter and the School Council

Food bank collection and delivery.

We were absolutely thrilled with the generosity of parents and children when they brought in food on Friday 24th March. The School Council team helped to carry the bags to my car and we delivered them to Foodshare Maidenhead the following morning. 

School Council Meeting 3^rd March 2023

Our chosen charity is the food bank and we looked at their website to see how best to 

support them.  We would like anyone in a position to do so to send in an item of food

on Friday 24^th March which we'll collect in the playground both before and after school. 

The food bank has especially requested these items below if possible - 

Basic items  - Tinned Potatoes, Tinned curry, Tinned Sardines, Tinned Mackerel, Long life Waffles, Biscuits, Tinned Sweetcorn

Tinned Peas, Tinned Mixed Vegetables, Cooking Sauce, Tinned Ravioli, Jam & Marmite, Savory snacks, Crisps, UHT Milk

Puddings - Tinned Fruit Cocktail, All Tinned Fruit, Tinned Rice Pudding, Tinned Custard, Individual steam puddings

Spreads - Marmite, Chocolate Spread, Syrup, Jam, Marmalade

With many thanks from

The School Council and Mrs Hunter 

School Council Meeting 5th November 2021 

It was lovely to hold a socially distance School Council Meeting for the first time in a very long while. The children introduced themselves and were congratulated on being selected by their peers for this important role within our school. We discussed the upcoming Children In Need day and took a vote to confirm that we are happy with the non uniform fundraiser to take place on Friday 19th November.  

KS2 has some particularly exciting news – the trim trail is to be almost completely remodeled. Nick, who designs and builds our trim trails has 2 designed options for the school. These will be discussed by the KS2 School representatives and Mrs Daniels and so the very best one can be chosen.  

Finally, the children were given a task to complete for our next meeting on Friday 10th December. They are to consult with their peers and have a think of their own preference for a chosen school charity. At the next meeting, we’ll write a list of possible options, the children can make a case for their choice and then we’ll vote to select one.  We'll also make a plan for how to fundraise for our selection.

With thanks to our representatives for a great start to the year, 

Mrs Hunter  

Update - June 11th 2020

We have added up how much money our School Council has raised in total this academic year. We are delighted to announce...

£497.40

to be shared between The World Wildlife Fund and The National Autistic Society.

The school council representatives have all worked very hard this year and I am proud of them all,

Mrs Hunter

School Council’s Meeting with Sue from Caterlink 

March 2020 

Every child in the school contributed to a Pupil Parliament meeting which discussed Caterlink school meals. More specifically, we debated what we enjoy, what improvements we’d like to see and what we think about ‘grab bags’ (the equivalent of a school packed lunch.) 

As you can imagine, there was a wide range of views but also some definite common themes emerged. Here is a summary -  

Sue met with our School Council to discuss the feedback as listed above. The children were very impressive in the way they conveyed the information. She talked about some specific points and how or if these could be rectified. 

1. Salt and sugar in school dinners 

Sue explained that the Government lays down stringent guidelines which bans added salt in school dinners and strictly limits the amount of sugar they may put in, for example, cakes. 

1. Tomato sauce on pasta 

Sue said Caterlink would be able to create a herby, tomato sauce for pasta as an option. 

1. Portion sizes  

      Sue explained that the portions should be a fair size and that she would organise some training to              ensure that all kitchen staff adhered to this.  

1. Salad bar 

       Sue explained that the kitchen staff should be refilling the salad bar during lunchtime and that she             would remind them to do so. 

1. Choice of drinks 

        Sue explained that Caterlink are planning to introduce a range of flavoured water options,           including choices such as lemon, mint, cucumber and orange water. 

1. Tablecloths 

Sue is to bring some new tablecloths to refresh the look of serving tables 

1.  Yoghurt station 

Caterlink plans to introduce a yoghurt station, where children can select from a range of flavoured yoghurts 

1. Pre ordered puddings 

Sue explained that this would be too complicated to organise and that they try to keep a range of puddings for every year group.  

The School Council and Mrs Hunter 

Fundraising Update!

We are delighted to announce that the popcorn and cake stall raised a magnificent £130.40 and would like to thank everyone for their very kind cake donations. We would also like to thanks the PTA for lending us their popcorn machine and for donating the kernels and Katie Hone for kindly giving her time to run the machine. 

We have also been given half of the donations collected at the Christmas shows bringing our grand total to a marvellous £367 for The Autistic Society and The World Wildlife Fund. 

Many thanks indeed,

Mrs Hunter and The School Council

Feb 2020

Our Marketing Meeting for the cake and popcorn stall

We met up on Friday 24th January to prepare eye catching posters in order to

advertise our upcoming stall in aid of The National Autistic Society and The World Wildlife Fund.

This stall will be held outside directly after school on Friday 7th February.

We would very much appreciate donations of cake (home made or shop bought) to be

delivered to school on the day (at morning drop off please)

The PTA is very kindly freshly popping the corn in the afternoon and donating the it

to our cause. The school council themselves will be running the stall and they look forward to

serving lots of happy customers!

Mrs Hunter and the School Council

November School Council Meeting Minutes

We met as council to debate a range of different ideas to raise funds for our two charities, which are The National Autistic Society and The World Wildlife Fund. 

After the pros and cons were discussed, the children voted for a cake and popcorn stall straight after school on Friday 7th February. 

Next term we will spend time on marketing the event with special posters and ask parents and staff to kindly donate cakes. 

Mrs Hunter and The School Council

Choosing our charities - Minutes of meeting

Friday 8th November

Our school council met to debate which charity we should support this academic year. The representatives suggested a range of 5 charities and expressed their opinions on the merits of each one. After careful discussion and debate, the children were ready to place their votes. We had a tie for first place and the children decided that they would prefer to support both charities. The two winners are...

The World Wildlife Fund

 & The National Autistic Society

Before our next scheduled meeting, the children will be talking to their class mates to decide how they would like to raise funds,

Mrs Hunter and The School Council.

Congratulations to our School Council Class Representatives 2019 - 2020

Minutes of the meeting - Friday 4th October 2019

I started by congratulating all the class representatives for being voted on to the council by their peers. We then discussed the purpose and scope of the school council. The children would like to make Cookham Rise Primary even better and to select a charity to support this year.

After our group photo, we started making decisions. The council would like the school to hold a "Mufti" (non school uniform) day for Children in Need on Friday 18th November. We would welcome a minimum donation of £1 per child in return for dressing in pyjamas, sports wear or any other choice.

Finally the representatives were set a research task. They are each going to consult with their class and then bring a suggestion for a charity to champion. After listening to each other's views, we will hold a vote to select one at the next meeting. 

Mrs Hunter and The School Council.

Round up news: July 2019

Cancer Research Sponsored run

In the Spring term, the entire school supported our sponsored run on Catherine Barrett's Way. The children counted their own laps and each class took it turn to complete as many laps as possible in a 20 minute period. We were kindly supported by the local Cancer Research champions who came to a launch assembly and presented a certificate after the event. The staff, children and parents were whole heartedly behind our venture and we raised an incredible

£2,078

End of year reflections from our wonderful School Council Representatives (2018 - 2019)

We celebrated our year with a chocolate biscuits and a reflective chat -

School Council "...is fun. You raise money and you give money to charities"

"It's a privilege to be in it"

Advice to the next School Council Representatives... "Don't be afraid with choosing a charity"

STOP PRESS!

We raised a magnificent £226.67 for Children In Need day on 16th November.

Many thanks for your kind donations.

The School Council

Minutes of our School Council meeting - 16.11.18

The primary purpose of our meeting was to select charities to support over the course of the year. Some of the older representatives explained the history of our support for 'New Brainstorm School' in Uganda and the children voted to continue supporting this venture. The children then made a case for other charities to be considered. They were Cancer Research and Homes for the Homeless. In pairs, the children debated their merits and in a close vote of 8 to 6, Cancer Research was duly chosen.

Following this, the children had an opportunity to discuss Jigsaw, our Life Skills / PSHE programme, which is taught across the school. Here is some of the feedback - 

"I like celebrating differences form all around the world" (year 3)

"The structure's solid....it's a perfect technique. It's in the right order" (year 5)

"It's my favourite lesson because it controls my attitudes" (year 3)

"We've been doing anti - bullying and making posters (such as) 'If you have a negative mind, then you'll never have a positive life.'" (year 6)

"It's one of my favourite lessons. You calm down, when the teacher plays the chime bars" (at the start of each session, to focus the mind) (Year 4)

At the next meeting, children will suggest ways of fund raising for our charities.

Mrs Hunter and The School Council

School Council Meeting Minutes

23.3.18

We met as a team to debate and select a way of fund raising for our two chosen charities this year - The Greyhound Trust and New Brainstorm School. In small groups, the children came up with a whole host of ideas for after school stalls...l including -

books / soft toys / cakes / colouring books / second hand clothes / sweets / puzzles / teddies.

After some discussion and tallying of ideas, we realised that the most popular suggestions were for cakes, sweets and second hand soft toys which are still in good condition. During week commencing 30th April, we will be asking parents to kindly donate cakes and soft toys and I'll produce the sweets! Our stall will be open in the playground after school on Friday 4th May, run by the school council. We look forward to seeing you there,

with many thanks,

Mrs Hunter and The School Council

School Council Meeting - minutes

Friday 23rd February 2018

 Minutes of our meeting 24.11.17

The children arrived with thoughts about which charities they would like to support this year and explained their choices with great enthusiasm and respect for each other's ideas.  We decided that we would happily continue to support New Brainstorm School and so then set about casting two votes each to determine our second charity.

The results for the nominated charities were as follows -

Shelter - 4
Battersea cats and dogs home - 6
RSPCA - 4
Cancer Research - 3
Toilet Twinning - 4
Greyhound Trust - 9 (our winner)

We meet again early next term to learn about a mini project of supporting the NSPCC's "Speak Out" campaign and to organise dates and times for other fundraising ideas.

Mrs Hunter and The School Council.

Minutes of our first meeting of the new academic year

29.9.2017

The children introduced themselves and took the decision that they would like the school to support Pudsey Bear's Children In Need day on Friday 17th November. They suggested that children could wear football kits, pyjamas or any non school uniform clothes of their choice. As ambassadors, they each had a Pudsey sticker.

After taking a group photo, the children split into 3 mixed aged groups to discuss what they'd like to achieve from being on the council this year. Suggestions included supporting New Brainstorm School, encouraging more outdoor learning, holding an ice cream stall or a free money stall, promoting more academic competitions and developing teamwork. Some representatives felt that their personal confidence in speaking in front of others would improve as a result of the experience of School Council.

Mrs Hunter and the new School Council.

Friday 27th January - Our Marvellous Cake and Sweet Stall in aid of New Brainstorm School and Wateraid.

Many thanks to all the children, staff and parents who baked and bought goodies for our popular after school stall. The council had met a week before to design posters as part of the marketing campaign. Thank you to all the school council children who helped out on the stall. The money is currently being counted and the funds raised will be posted on this site soon,

with many thanks again,

Mrs Hunter and the School Council.

*************STOP PRESS**********

Total raised (to be shared between Wateraid and The New Brainstorm School)

 £148.80

Many thanks, once again, to everyone who made this possible.  

25.11.16

Minutes of our first meeting

30.9.16

Our newly elected representatives were welcomed and each introduced and gave an interesting fact about themselves. The meeting took place on a very special day for our school - we were having a 'mufti' (non school uniform) tea and cake sale day for our teacher, Mrs Barrett, who is poorly. After taking the group photo, we discussed what we'd like to achieve this year. Initial ideas included -

1. a visit to Bisham Primary School's School Council, to share good ideas
2. gathering suggestions to make school trips and lessons even more fun
3. replacing / mending KS2 lunchtime equipment for the playground
4. having a talent show for Mrs Barrett
5. providing highly motivating rewards for good behaviour in KS2, such as cinema trips
6. holding a charity stall

Mrs Hunter had recently attended a Friends of the Rise meeting and had been asked about play equipment needs, so this could be a joint venture to be pursued.

The children were asked to research and nominate charities for our next meeting. We'll hold a vote and support one or two for this academic year.

Our next meeting will be held after half term.

Mrs Hunter and The School Council

School Council 2016 - 2017

Welcome back to school. This week and next, each class will vote for 2 class representatives. I very much look forward to seeing who is awarded the badges and responsibility during our weekly 'well done' assembly on Friday 16th September.

Mrs Hunter

School Council Supporter.

8.9.16

March 2016 minutes

Laura Tull, who is a councillor with Cookham Council, came to visit us in order to find out the children's views on how to improve The Alfred Major Recreation Park. In pairs, the children completed a questionnaire which may well be sent to all pupils in the school at a later date. Laura was very impressed with our school council and the way in which the children expressed their views clearly and with confidence.

The children took away paper in order to design a poster for our cake and sweet fund raising stall, which will be held after Easter.

Finally, we discussed ideas for the theme of our school summer fair.

Mrs Hunter.

February Minutes of our meeting

The children debated various ways in which we could raise money for our 2 charities this year. We discussed the pros and cons of a second hand toy shop, sweet and cake stall, a sponsored silence and a mufti day. A vote was taken and the sweet and cake stall was selected. As there are a lot of other fund raising events happening at the moment, we decided it may be better to organise this one for after Easter. The children all took home an A3 sheet in order to design a poster.

Local Councillor Laura Tull contacted our school and, having met with Mrs Hunter, has now arranged to visit The School Council on Friday 18th March in order to garner views on improvements to The Alfred Major Recreation Park. She is keen for the children's ideas and thoughts to become part of the plan and we look forward to working with her.

Minutes from our meeting on 26th November 2015

Following Pupil Parliament meetings, involving every single child in the school, the council met to review, collate and discuss views expressed on behaviour at Cookham Rise Primary. The debate was very interesting and the children listened respectfully to opposing views.

In general, the children felt that positive behaviour management is working well for most pupils and that our Golden Rules were widely understood and followed. It was thought that the reflection room has the biggest impact (working as a deterrent) for those who are rarely asked to go.

The children had practical suggestions to improve behaviour further, such as the KS2 children being sent out to collect items from their lockers in small groups and that children who misbehave are withdrawn from special treats.

The children felt that merits, nuggets, house points and public praise all helped to encourage and reward good behaviour. 

These ideas are to be shared with the staff by Mrs Hunter.

In addition, we discussed and voted for our 2 charities for the year and the most popular were Dr Barnardo's and The New Brainstorm School in Uganda.

Minutes of our School Council Meeting (Thursday 17th September)

Our new representatives met up to introduce themselves and explain what they would like

to achieve this year through our school council. There were requests for resources, ideas

for the Summer Fair, organisational changes suggested and also a simple request for

sweets.

We also discussed which charities to support this year and to that end, the

representatives have been asked to research ideas to bring to our next meeting.

Mrs Daniels had received a request from the borough for us to ‘adopt a street’ to keep

clean and tidy and suggested that the enclosed Alfred Major Park area may be a possible

location. The council voted in favour of this.

Finally, we assembled for a really lovely group photo.

Mrs Hunter and the School Council.

February Meeting - Minutes

Cookham Parish Council has asked the children to suggest ideas in order to improve Cookham over the next few years. This was discussed in Pupil Parliament and The School Council worked well to collate all of this information. We will be presenting our creative ideas at the next Cookham Parish meeting to be held in March.

We also discussed fund raising ideas for our two charities and, after a vote, the idea of an after school sweet stall was decided upon.

Finally, we turned our thoughts to Comic Relief's Red Nose day, to be held on Friday 13th March. The theme this year is secret agents and the council have asked the pupils to dress as either a secret agent, to wear red or to dress in a funny way. We're looking forward to seeing the outfits!  

December 2014 Meeting Minutes.

 Pupil Parliament, which comprises each child in the school organised into 7 debating groups, has recently been discussing school clubs. They suggested clubs which they would like to see set up. The school council representatives then helped to sort these suggestions.

Some of the suggestions were for clubs that have been up and running for some time, such as football. After comparing with the current club list, there were no less than 33 new ideas! Each of the school council representatives had 3 votes and they considered carefully where to place their votes.

The most popular club suggestion was for football cards and the second was for roller skating club.

December also saw the School Council meeting representatives from one of our charities - Re:Charge R&R in Maidenhead.

The ladies from RE:Charge wrote us a kind email following their visit.

What is a School Council?

A school council is an ideal opportunity for pupils to get involved in the way a school is run. They are made up in a number of different ways but it is usual for each year group to be represented by two children. Councillors are voted in by the other pupils and it is their responsibility to ensure that they express both their own views and the views of the pupils that they represent.

A school council benefits the whole school. It provides opportunities for pupils to communicate their feelings to teachers and staff as well as influence decisions that are made.

A school council gives pupils the opportunity to develop skills such as confidence, negotiation, discussion and listening. All of which are skills that help explore the idea of what being a good citizen means. It is an active learning experience that is supported by P.S.H.E. lessons. The council meets once every half term. Representatives are pictured on a board in the school hall.

We support two main charities each year which are voted for by the children. We are also continually supporting Foodshare. Please see below for more information.

First School Council Meeting 25.9.14

We met to introduce ourselves to each other and to start the business of running the council. The children discussed which 2 charities to adopt this year and chose Africa Turns Green and Re-Charge of Maidenhead. 

After our group photo, we had a paired discussion on how to improve the running of lunches at school. Each representative will be discussing ideas with their own class and bring ideas to the next meeting.

Mrs Hunter

School Council Co-ordinator.  

https://www.cookhamriseprimary.org/africa-turns-green-1/

There is a real spirit of entrepreneurship in Africa despite the political, social and climatic challenges facing the continent. Every year, new sustainable businesses are set up, providing much needed jobs and boosting local economies. One of the key difficulties is that many eco-entrepreneurs live in remote locations and don’t have access to help and advice from other businesses. This is where Africa Turns Green can help. It aims to create a pan-African business support network for environmentally-friendly companies. For more information please click on the picture to go straight to their website or on the link to see what our school has been doing in association with Africa Turns Green.

Foodshare is a charity providing food and help for people in and around Maidenhead who cannot afford to feed themselves properly.

Our Deputy Head, Mr. Richard Rhodes, launched our school's involvement with the charity in March 2014 when Mr. Tom O'Kane visited the school for a special assembly.

Re:charge R&R (Restore & Revive) work with families in Maidenhead community with weekly drop in sessions at Larchfield, Furze Platt and Maidenhead town centre. Their aim is to help with parenting, stress and any difficulties with home life. All families can feel safe and supported at all their venues which are open for most weeks of the year. For more information please click on the picture to go straight to their website.