School Council
Meet our 2024 / 2025 School Council team!
Ezra, Annie, Freddie, Annabelle, Nina, Jessica, Martha, Fliss, Flynn, Margot, Frankie, Primrose and Benji.
Spring term activities!
Kampala Children's Centre and Destiny Africa Children's Choir
School Council were thrilled by the response to this year’s big question about which charity we should support as a school. The in class assemblies engaged students and staff in discussions, ensuring that their decision reflected the values of the school community. After deliberating on various options, School Council are proud to announce that Destiny Africa has been selected as the charity of choice for this academic year. This organisation, known to us through the visits of their choir to Holbrook Academy, resonated deeply with the council's commitment to fostering global awareness and meaningful change. Fundraising efforts and initiatives are already being planned and we have already raised £141 by donating the earnings from our Christmas Jumper Day to the foundation.
Children in Need
School Council’s main thrust in November was Children in Need. For this, they planned and arranged a carousel of activities, including a pyjama day, a book sale, basketball and hula hooping at lunchtime and placing copper coins on an outline of Pudsey. All of these activities brought in an amazing total of £269.06 - which is absolutely super! Thank you, Holbrook!
What have we been up to?
What have we been discussing?
March 2025
Items Discussed: | Actions: | |
Dancing for Cancer | Arrange a day in June for Maddie and Mia (and Annie) | Arrange a date with Mr Perry |
Break the Rules Day | Share information to classes about which rules can be broken. | HS to make poster clearer and share with classes. |
Comic Relief | School councillors need to arrange joke telling competition. | Mr Perry and Mr Byam to run assembly. Y6 to arrange sound effects. HS to arrange book sale - Margot, Primrose, Nina, Freddie and Fliss. Mr Perry and running club to arrange the fastest track. |
Recycling | Launch the glue stick recycling | HS to do poster. |
February 2025
Designed and painted egg for Alton Water Easter Egg trail
January 2025
Items Discussed: | Actions: | |
Items which could be recycled. | Feedback to School Council how Milly can help us. How shall we word the Big Question? UKS2 can research alternative options on laptops Milly to come in and deliver an assembly. Plastic, paper, cans, electronics, printer cartridges, cardboard, glass, batteries, clothes, composting | Milly has suggested: recycle digital gadgets and cables? We could have one day where the students can take stamps, foreign notes, watches, game consoles, MP3 players, digital cameras & old film cameras, SatNavs, and old phones. food/beverage containers scheme through Milly. Terracycle glue stick recycling box. |
Break the Rules Day organisation for Destiny Africa | Hair down or gelled or coloured Nail varnish Makeup Socks One item of school of school uniform | Agree a date with Mr Perry and advertise. |
Comic Relief plans | Book sale Joke assembly How fast can you run the daily mile track? Pay to enter. | Agree with Mr Perry and advertise |
Fruit stall and no technology day | Board game tournament Talent show or Victorian School
Look into ways of sourcing fruit. | Mrs Sharp write to Co-op. |
Easter Eggs for Alton Water | Yes from School Council | Pupil voices eggs - green gang, school council, librarians, digital leaders and JRSOs |
What shall we focus on for our council as our legacy? | Create a school council book, an ideas board, recycling area, bench | |
For next time - Upcycling or recycling toy day. Alton water easter egg decoration - spring theme - rabbits, eggs and baskets, flowers, chicks, feathers. Same day as disco
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Next Big Question: Which items should our school focus on recycling? | ||
Items Discussed: | Actions: | |
Items that were to be discussed moved to next meeting due to recycling emergency. Pen recycling has stopped. | Presented an assembly on recycling and explaining our problem and asked for ideas. Next meeting to research and come up with options for the children to vote on during the next Big Question. | |
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Next Big Question: Which items should our school focus on recycling? | ||
December 2024
Items Discussed: | Actions: | |
Assembly | Practised assembly for afternoon. | Made powerpoint together. Joint with JRSOs to announce BrightBandz competition, that we are supporting Comic Relief in March and that Desitny Africa were chosen as the school charity this year. |
Next meeting | Not until next term due to the trip to Red Rose Theatre chain. | |
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Items Discussed: | Actions: | |
Milly from the repair shop? | Mrs Sharp has asked. | Year 4 to chase up Milly’s contact details. |
Any other recycling initiatives? | Restock book swap and advertise. Use reverse of unused work kfor drawing on at break. Recycle old footballs? | Mrs Sharp to investigate recycling old footballs. Talk to Mrs Pereira about restocking book swap. |
Designs and lines - playground markings | Alphabet and 1-20 spiral or dragons Roman numeral ladder -10-+10 number line Activity and/or agility trail Warm up circle Language hopscotch | Mrs Sharp to feedback to Mr Perry |
What are we going to do next to raise money for Destiny Africa? (Our chosen charity.) | Break the rules day/teach the teacher day.
Christmas jumper day this term.
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Friday 21 March 2025.- Comic Relief - do we want to do a similar thing to CIN? | We will plan for Comic Relief.
Joke day and non uniform.
Toy sale? | |
Bee line project - next step and update | How are we going to get more plants?
Raise money to buy plants by organise reselling old toys. | |
| Next time: How can we set up a fruit stall? No technology day | ||
Next Big Question: What skill are we going to teach our teacher next term on teach the teacher day? e.g. Can your teacher play the guitar? Can your teacher floss? Can your teacher do keepy uppies? | ||
November 2024
Items Discussed: | Actions: | |
Big Question | Big question put in school council books. | In-class assembly on Thursday. Which charity should we support as a school this year?
Please vote in your classes for one of the following:
FIND https://www.findipswich.org.uk/
Destiny Africa https://www.destinyafrica.org/ |
What can we do to raise money for our charity? | Christmas Jumper Day Christmas cracker theme Wash cars Running race Bicycle race Football related activity Swimathon Walkathon Danceathon Drawing competition Rule breaking day Teddy day Fashion show The children teach the teachers. IT day Joke day School trip to Colchester zoo | |
Next Big Question: N/A | ||
Reported to the children that we raised £239.06 for Children in Need!
Passed on that Mr Perry found their list of suggestions extremely useful and the the PSA is going to fund some of them.
Items Discussed: | Actions: | |
Children in Need | Assembly on Friday | |
Book sale | Margot, Frankie, Fliss, Freddie, Primrose, Flynn, Annabelle, Jessica | |
Loose change | Benji, Nina, Ezra, Annie | |
Basket ball and hula hoop | Annabelle, Freddie, Martha, Margot, Frankie | |
Make Pudsey outline | Jessica and Annabelle | |
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Next Big Question: Which charity should we support as a school this year?
Please vote in your classes for one of the following:
FIND https://www.findipswich.org.uk/
Destiny Africa https://www.destinyafrica.org/ | ||
Items Discussed: | Actions: | |
Children in Need | Assembly on Thursday next week | HS to prepare PowerPoint - prepare assembly next week. |
Book sale | Margot, Frankie, Fliss, Freddie, Primrose, Flynn, Annabelle, Jessica | |
Loose change | Benji, Nina, Ezra, Annie | |
Basket ball and hula hoop | Annabelle, Freddie, Martha, Margot | |
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Next Big Question: Which charity should we support as a school this year?
Please vote in your classes for one of the following:
FIND https://www.findipswich.org.uk/
Destiny Africa https://www.destinyafrica.org/ | ||
October 2024
Items Discussed: | Actions: | |
Litter pick | We completed this. | Next one, after half term. |
Water fight | Spoke to Mr Perry - suggested colour run. | Mrs Sharp to speak to PSA. |
Football goals | Spoke to Mr Perry, more goals to be made up - and then children can have 2 goals. | Mrs Sharp to ask caretaker about when the goals are to be built. |
Big question | Year 1: Wooden balance beam Swings and slides Healthy snacks sign Plant more lavender for the bees Second hand stalls at hometime More vegetables More bins Fresh bark Plant more flowers and trees Chickens Year 2 Swings Bigger concrete area with more equipment Slide Fruit stall Food for wildlife New school dinners. Year 3 KS2 get snack too. Brunch bars and more salad at lunchtime More activities for playleaders More Diary of the Wimpy Kid books. Monkey bars Swings and slides More outside games Rounders posts Rock climbing wall More balls at breaktime Badminton More tennis balls Drawing stuff at lunch Bingo and lego More benches Fundraising opportunities Longer breaks and shorter lessons Tags for clothes School pet Pickle ball Ice-cream stall Swimming pool Year 4 Climbing frame on the field Cricket field No school uniform on Fridays Metal football goals A treehouse in the hollow Music hub at breaktime for bands Change white shirts for a different colour - change the red uniform colour Rugby pitch Forest school for KS2 Scooters Bike area with ramps (BMX) Longer breaktimes Monkey bars
Year 5 Help foundation with play equipment Monkey bars with foam pit Tennis and basketball court Safe place for equipment Rock climbing wall Bins on field Rota for litter picks £10 for entry to bike race for age category Have different destinations for the annual sponsored walk. Going somewhere with dirt tracks Hedgehog houses Pizza van Bake sale Pet room Grass, not bark
Year 6 Meal deals - (sandwich option for lunch too) Tuesday toasties Swings Class pet Trampoline Slide Monkey bars Zip line in the Hollow Improve the year 6 toilets Seesaws Hula Hoops and skipping ropes Mud run for charity Celebrity to come from school from ITFC Spacehoppers Bins on the field Class litter pick More scrap paper used Non-paper day Clean the pond More pond dipping in KS2 Pyjama day Cheer squad Netball team
| Mrs Sharp to collate list and distribute items to Mrs Johns for Green Gang and Mr Perry for the rest. |
Bee Assembly | Prepared Bee assembly - aim to ask families to donate cuttings and seeds. | Request put in bulletin. |
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Next Big Question: Not discussed | ||
September 2024
Litter Pick | Date to be set for next pick: | Next week - Thursday 26th September |
Next big question | Playground equipment What would you like to change about our school? How can we make hot dinners better? How can we increase recycling in school? How can we encourage better choices for snacks at break? How can we raise more money for school projects? How could we create a quiet nature area in school at break times?
| How can we further improve our wonderful school? - To be put to classes on Thursday 3rd October during an in-class assembly. |
Requests for Mr Perry | Would it be possible to have a water gun fight in the summer term?
Would it be possible to change the football rota so that 2 goals are available on football days? |
Eco Code:
We have checked our school Eco Code and made the following amendments:
We no longer recycle crisp packets in school.
Reduce our negative impact on the environment through picking up our litter on our school site and putting this in the bin.
At Holbrook Primary School, we take pride in fostering pupil leadership through our School Council elections meetings and in-class assemblies. This ensures that every pupil has a voice in shaping the school environment and has the opportunity to contribute to decisions that impact their daily school experience.
In-class assemblies provide a platform for all pupils to raise concerns, share ideas, and engage in meaningful discussions. During these assemblies, pupils are encouraged to work collaboratively to reach democratic solutions. Issues of broader significance that arise during these assemblies are taken forward to the School Council, reflecting our commitment to ensuring every pupil’s voice is valued.
Our School Council meets fortnightly, with members sharing updates and minutes during whole-school assemblies. Additionally, every half term, pupils participate in discussing a 'Big Question' during in-class assemblies, further encouraging critical thinking and active participation.
The School Council also serves as an eco-committee, dedicated to making Holbrook a more sustainable and environmentally friendly school. This dual role reinforces the importance of leadership and responsibility among our pupils.
At Holbrook, pupils understand that this is their school. Their thoughts, ideas, and contributions are not only welcomed but essential to our community.
Holbrook Primary Eco-Code
The School Council would like all pupil, staff and visitors to agree to the following eco-code
We will…….
· RECYCLE all scrap paper, using both sides.
· RECYCLE all cardboard.
· RECYCLE all clean, plastic containers.
· RECYCLE used batteries, textiles, ink cartridges, and shoes.
· REUSE fruit and vegetable waste for compost.
· REUSE materials to support our learning (junk modelling, glue pots, flower pots etc.).
· REUSE pens and glue sticks by putting lids back on after use.
· REDUCE the amount of paper printed and always print double sided and use less coloured ink
· REDUCE the amount of energy used to heat our radiators by turning them down and wearing a jumper
· REDUCE water wastage by turning off taps.
· REDUCE electricity wastage by switching off and closing doors.
· REDUCE food wastage by pre ordering our school lunches and eating up!
· REDUCE our carbon footprint by walking, scooting or biking to school.
· REDUCE our use of single use plastics by using reusable drinks bottles, avoiding cling film and purchasing responsibly
· REDUCE our negative impact on the environment through picking up our litter and putting this in the bin
· REDUCE the use of plastic by only laminating when absolutely necessary
Past agendas
March 2024 Meeting Agenda:
We carried out our first litter pick of our local area! We collected lots of litter up 'The Cut' and removed this. We planned where our next litter pick would be based on where we had seen litter in the area.
February 2024 Meeting Agenda:
This month we had our first sponsored event to raise money for our chosen charity Ipswich Town Foundation. Students took part in a sponsored dartboard event raising over £1,100 for the Foundation.
The day was a big success, with students given an opportunity to take on the dartboard challenge, as well as meeting Town mascot Crazee. “I really enjoyed the event, it was so fun to cheer on our friends and practice our football skills,” said Amelia, a Year 6 student at Holbrook. “I think the amount we raised is so good and I am so please for the Foundation.”
“I liked trying to score the highest number, it was great to see the class compete to get the best score,” add Louis, Year 2.
December 2023 Meeting Agenda:
We began planning for our first charity event in the New Year. We are working with Ipswich Town Foundation to host a sponsored dartboard event! The School Council started planning the timetable and learning more about where our money is going.
November 2023 Meeting Agenda:
The School Council met with our chosen charity, Ipswich Town Foundation. We discussed different fundraising ideas and began planning our future activities to raise money. We have had a successful food bank collection for Fans Supporting Food banks who have also visited our school to deliver an assembly on the importance of Food banks. We collected lots of food items ready for their Christmas parcels. Our 'pen recycling scheme' has also launched, this is replacing our crisp packet scheme.
October 2023 Meeting Agenda:
Chosen charity:
The School Council has taken suggestions from all the classes to create a shortlist of local charities. We have voted to support Ipswich Town Foundation and Fans Foodbank this year. Our big question next week is 'what fundraising ideas can we think of to raise money for our new charity?'. We have presented our new charity in assembly and shared this with the school.
September 2023 Meeting Agenda:
Overview of School Council in class assembly:
We discussed this weeks big question 'which local charity should we choose to support this year?'. We began brainstorming some ideas before the School Councillors take it to their classes for further suggestions. When we meet next week we will decide our new charity.