School Council

THE HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT SCHOOL COUNCIL TRIP

On Friday the 4^th of may, the members of the School Council attended the Houses of Parliament trip in order to learn about democracy and have a tour of the building. On this trip the councillors had an opportunity to learn about why the parliament was created and what it was used for.

First, the 17 councillors gathered together at the school office at 8 am. We did the register to make sure everyone was present and then - about 20 minuets later- we went on the coach. The drive took about an hour and a half but the children still managed to keep themeselvs entertained.

After the long coach ride, we arrived and we walked through the parliament doors into the learning centre. As this was a very important place, we had to go through security and wear a visitors badge which showed that we were allowed to be there.

As we got through security, we met our tour guides: Becky and Emily. They took us into a room where we watched a mini movie about how the institute of the parliament was created. We heard about the suffragettes movement. These were ladies who fought for the right for women to vote. Saw the picture of the first Woman MP, Lady Astor who lived in Cliveden, only about 8 miles from our school. After the video, the children asked some questions and we then we could finally enter the building of the parliament.

We went through the entrance and Mrs Edmonds decided we should split into groups. KS1 went with Becky and KS2 went with Emily. They then gave us a tour and taught us about all of the statues. They also showed us the key parts of the parliament. We were allowed to go inside both of the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The guides told us how one day we could be sitting in those seats as either elected MPs or a lord/lady for being selected for doing something outstanding in our jobs.

After seeing all of the rooms, we met up and unfortunately, our amazing, helpful tour guides had to leave. We then decided to capture some memories and took a picture as a group under a special stained glass window created for the memory of the Suffragettes. Then it was time to head to the gift shop.

After buying some souvenirs, we headed to the park to have some lunch. All of the children were playing games and having lots of fun. We recognised lots of different animals and famous attractions, which included the London Eye, the old City Hall and the Westminster Abbey. We also saw the Westminster Bridge, which is on the end of Parliament Building where the House of Commons sits (it's painted green for the colour of the commons), and the Lambeth Bridge, which is at the end of the building where the House of Lords sits (and  it's painted red for the Lord)s.

After a busy day, sadly, we had to come back to school. We got on to our bus and had a good sit down. This was a great trip. We all wish, we could go again!

Inaya and Kyra  

School Council Consultation

Are children happy with the new class name and year group lands system?

Our School Council had a meeting on the Thursday 22^nd March to discuss what children like most or dislike most about the new class name and year group lands system that was introduced at the beginning of this year. The 17 councillors who were present overwhelmingly expressed their like of the new system.

The idea of different lands was one of the things the councillors liked the best because they thought that they brought the classes in the year group together and it was also exciting to look forward to moving to a new land each year.

The councillors also appreciated the special art, history and story lessons at the beginning of the year when the classes were learning in details about the characters they classes were named after and the lands where they lived and they loved making great displays.

The representative of Nottingham Class said that he'd rather have his class also named after a person like the others.

Some boys at the beginning of the year didn't like that their classes were named after women but most of them have changed their mind. They understood that if girls can accept men as their class names then it is fair for boys having to accept female characters for their class names too.

The councillors also had some suggestions. One of them was to revisit the characters and lands at the beginning of each term for half a day because they felt that they had forgotten a lot of what they found out about them in September. They would also like to learn more about them.

Another suggestion was that the classes should have worry jars that could have a sign referring to their class' name. For example: Tell Achilles about your worries.

Year four would have their table named after Greek monsters as they live in Antic Greece and they thought other classes could do similar things.

Finally, the Councillors agreed to talk about these issues with their own classes and listen to the opinion and suggestions of their class mates. They will then take notes and bring them back to the council for further discussion.

We hope that at the end we will b e able to take some useful ideas to the Senior Leadership of the school.

Shelby Stroud and Ashton Henwood

Council Secretaries

Great success with raising money for Children In Need

The school has raised  £647 as part of the BBC Children In Need action with our fantastic Spotty Day. The children bought all the spots created by the members of the School Council and put them up everywhere in the school. Children also bought and wore the teddy masks as well as dressed in spotty clothes. The best part of our fundraising day was the parade in the big hall where every class walked around for the music of the 80s - the same theme as the BBC chose - and paraded their costumes.

Thanks for all the children who contributed to this great success.Be proud that you have managed to help children in need.

The new School Council held its first meeting on 12.10.17.

Below are the official notes taken by the secretaries of the Council.

All members were present.

The council was officially formed and its officials were elected.

Secretary: Shelby Stroud

Deputy Secretary: Ashton Henwood

The Council chose only one charity for the school to support this school year to put less financial pressure on parents and to be able to focus our attention to that charity. Ryvers School is going to support BBC Children in Need. 15 people agreed with the BBC charity, 0 opposed.

The next Council meeting will be held on Thursday 2nd November at 1.30 pm.

The new Council has been elected

The following children were elected for the 2017-18 School Council

6 Arthur - Mehak Kapilla

6 Guinevere - Lucy Deung

6 Lancelot - Inaya Ali

5 Achilles - Navin Rehiusi

5 Perseus - Adam Adebusoya

5 Heracles - Ashton Henwood

4 Marian - Hassan Motoj

4 Nottingham - Karamvir Gill

4 Robin - Shurtej Deep

3 Ra - Samuel Bignell

3 Anubius - Laylah Shaikh

3 Osiris - Beth Marshall

2 Ran - Shelby Stroud

2 Sif - Zakary Daily

2 Mani - Arin Ahmed

1 Thor - Emanuella Dogah

1 Loki - Anushka Tripali

1 Odin - Iman Baig

Octopus - Vardan Choudhary

School Council

Welcome to our School Council page. The following is a message from our School Council for the 2017-18 School Year

Hello,

Our School Council is made up of one child from every class. We have to campaign to our classmates to be elected like candidates do in real elections. We talk together at the School Council meetings every half term with Mrs Edmonds, share ideas and make decisions about projects. We also try to help our community and try out ideas to make our school a better and safer place.

After the meetings we write minutes so we remember the decisions we have made.

To be a good school councillor, you must be a good listener, be fair and approachable because we have to listen to our classmates ideas and opinion and bring them to the Council. However, we also have to inform our schoolmates about our events and successes in school assemblies, in the school newsletter and on our website blog.

Last year we  raised money to buy a playground equipment box full of toys so we have things to do when we are playing. We also got to decide which toys to buy. In addition we agreed on how to decorate our Buddy/ Friendship bench.

How has this helped us?

Our playground equipment gives us more activities to choose from and stops us getting bored. Playground markings, chosen by our Council, have encouraged us to develop our teamwork skills and friendships. We even have Playground Leaders who are trained to organise equipment and help us to become independent and hopefully our Buddy bench will be a brilliant place to chat to new friends.

This year, amongst other things, we are going to choose a new charity to be supported by the school, learn about leadership and democracy, and discuss the new class names system.

Weʼve raised over £300 purchase some new playground equipment for the school!! THANK YOU!

We want to improve the play area that the children currently have making it more fun and to allow the children to have an even more enjoyable playtime.
We feel it is important for the children to be active and enjoy their time at school and we want to give the school something that will last for many years to come and will be suitable for all ages.
With your help we can make this happen and we are extremely grateful for any amount you are able to contribute.

The following children have been elected as School Councilors for the academic year 2016/2017

Year 6

Azure: Abdullah

Ultramarine: Joshua

Year 5

Emerald: Sneha

Topaz: Karima

Lime: Ankur

Year 4

Amethyst: Ronak

Indigo: Neil

Violet: Riya

Year 3

Cerulean:Maddison

Aqua: Sajjan

                                                        Turquoise: Asri

                                                       Octopus: Akshay

School Council  2016-2017

At the beginning of each school year a new School Council is elected from children in year groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. One child is chosen from each class in these year groups, along with the Head Boy and Girl from year 5 or 6. 

Children volunteer to represent their class and share their ideas for the year ahead. An election is then held whereby prospective school councillors are asked to prepare a short presentation to their peers about their personal strengths, ideas and reasons for wanting to be part of the school council. The children and staff join together to make an informed decision and vote.

All School Councillors wear a special badge so they can be easily recognised throughout school. The School Council meet on a regular basis with our school council leaders Mrs Czapla and Mrs Edmunds.

Role of the school council

The school council play a crucial role in the development of our school. They are an extremely dedicated, responsible team of children who are keen to represent the voices of all children in school. The school council;

• Have ideas for school

• Represent the voices of all children in school

• Represent others in their class

• Meet regularly, writing minutes for each meeting

• Help to organise events such as discos, charity days and fundraising events

• Seek opportunities to improve areas of school

• Take part in interviews for staff members

• Lead assemblies and competitions

• Join debates

• Lead projects which involve managing school budgets and funds

   

School Council

The School Council is an ideal opportunity for pupils to get more involved in the way the school is run. The School Council benefits the whole school, pupils and teachers, because it provides opportunities for pupils to communicate their feelings as well as influence decisions that are made.

Councillors develop skills such as confidence, communication and negotiation. It is the responsibility of each Councillor to ensure that they express both their own views and the views of all the other pupils they represent.

Who can be a member of the School's Council?

We have an active School Council with a boy or girl representing their fellow pupils from each class from Year 1 to Year 6.

Each councillor is elected by their classmates at the beginning of the school year after a short presentation explaining why they should be elected. The members then elect a Chair, an Assistant Chair and a Secretary.

What do we do?

Members of the Council take part in discussions and votes and also feed back any relevant information to their class. At times they are requested to ask their class for ideas or take class votes relating to discussions by the Council.

Members meet regularly with teacher representatives and the Headteacher and Deputy.

What have we done so far?

The School Council discussed and explained the School Rules with their classes. These rules set out how we behave in school. We have helped organise special event fundraising days such as Children in Need and Comic Relief. We have also worked alongside the kitchen staff to develop special themed healthy lunches and with our school developers in planning for new play equipment.

The following children have been elected as School Councillors for the academic year 2015/2016

Year 6

Azure: Sakeenah and  Zakariya 

Sapphire:  Elvina and Musa

Year 5

Emerald:  Khushi and Soorya

Topaz: Siya and Josh

Year 4

Amethyst: Ashita and Shahab

Indigo:  Carol and Anirudh 

Violet: Jasmine and Aarav

Year 3

Cerulean: Mysha and Miracle

Teal: Hamida and Frankie 

Turquoise: Zoya and Elaalan

Year 2

Burgundy: Elizabeth and Hayder

Claret: Safira and Shiven

Magenta: Zainab and Abdul

Year 1

Crimson: Kashvi and Adam

Ruby: Sara and Amir

Scarlet: Rida and Lucas

Octopus

   Spencer and Abdi

Wednesday 9th March 2016 KS2 School Council trip to the Houses of Parliament

The upper Key Stage School Council visited the Houses of Parliament to learn about how government works. We were shown around the House of Commons and the House of Lords where the Queen delivers the Queen’s Speech every year. What a fascinating visit !  

School Council went on a very exciting trip to the Houses of Parliament to learn about this very prominent building.

We all travelled up to the centre of London by coach.

On arrival we had to put all our bags and belongings in a tray to be scanned and then walk through a metal detector. This was to ensure security was tight and that nothing dangerous could be brought in to endanger life.

We then walked into the ‘Great Hall’. The ceiling was impressive and made out of wood, - apparently it leaks where the roof opened to allow out smoke from the fireplace inside the hall.

A lady called Jenny Coleman introduced herself as our tour guide. She told us that we could not take photos once we walked from the Great Hall.

Walking along, we saw large statues, paintings, elaborate furniture and decorative wallpaper. Many of the paintings were of Kings and Queens past and present. Also lots of statues of past prime ministers were in the huge corridors and lobbies.

We visited the House of Lords and were told not to sit on the red leather seats because it would wear out the expensive leather if lots of people sat down on them. The present government sit one side and the opposition, the other side. 

The Queen opens parliament and sits on a gold throne which is made of actual gold. (Apparently Michael Jackson visited and attempted to buy the gold throne from out government – it was not sold!!)

When the Queen visits the Houses of Parliament, a blue carpet is laid for her to walk on.

When Queen Victoria reigned, she would visit here and she had her very own secret, hidden toilet behind the wooden panels. It was made out of brass - so that would be freezing cold to sit on –Brrr!! Also she was so small, she needed a footstool to rest her feet upon.

The reigning monarch is not allowed inside the House of Commons. She sends her representative, the Black Rod, to knock on their door very loudly to summon them to the House of Lords for her speech for the State opening of Parliament.

We were informed of Oliver Cromwell’s role in our history. He took over when King Charles I was beheaded and he was not popular. Oliver Cromwell was the leader of this country for ten years, and then he died of malaria. Charles I’s son became King, Charles II. He dug up Oliver Cromwell’s body and put him on trial. He was found guilty and sentenced to death although he was already dead. His head was chopped off and displayed on a spike for people to see that he was a traitor.

In the Great Hall, Henry VIII used to play tennis; he was not very good as many of his balls ended up in the ceiling.

So, the School Council had a mind-blowing, informative experience – we will never forget it. We learnt such a lot.

By Khushi 5E

Ryvers Primary School pupils quiz the Mayor of Slough

Langley Remembrance Parade November 2014

On Sunday 9^th November, several school council representatives participated in a Remembrance parade in Langley, to mark the centenary of World War 1. Ryvers School joined many other organisations in the community to show our respects at this important and significant event. They all laid a remembrance cross and our own handmade wreath to commemorate local Langley servicemen who gave their life for our country. We were extremely proud of the children!

Poppy Display at Ryvers

All the children at Ryvers were extremely busy decorating their own unique poppy, as a chance to reflect on why we celebrate Remembrance Day. We have recreated a beautiful display of our own based on of the Tower Bridge poppy memorial in London.

School Council Interviews

The School Council has recently been involved in both interview processes for our new Deputy Head Teacher and Early Years Leader at Ryvers School. The children were extremely professional and had some fantastic questions for the candidates to answer!

We are positive that the successful candidates will be fantastic future leaders here at Ryvers School and we thoroughly enjoyed being part of the interview process alongside Miss Fell!