The Riverside Primary Parents and Teachers Association (RPPTA) represents a diverse, aspirational group of local Barking Riverside parents who value the importance of Riverside Primary School within our new and evolving development.
The RPPTA was established this year and we are a group of volunteer parents and teachers who are working together to bridge the gap between home and school to create a vibrant learning space where our children can thrive; fostering not only academic excellence but also a strong sense of community.
Since our inception in January 2024, following a successful committee election, we have made significant strides, including raising funds through various initiatives.
Our journey began with a warm Pancake Coffee Morning, inviting parents to join us and engage in discussions about our collective goals for the year. Subsequently, we’ve organised engaging events such as Wear Red for Valentines, a Mother’s Day Flower Sale and an Easter Treat Sale, raising almost £500 in only three months!
We are looking forward to investing funds raised into the school by purchasing new equipment, supporting extracurricular activities and generally improving the life of the school community.
Who We Are
Our core committee is formed of five members. Beyond our committee, our Riverside parents are essential members of our PTA and this was showcased at our recent Easter Treat Sale. The power of collaboration was truly evident – we were overwhelmed by the kindness of our Riverside parents and their generosity and creativity. For instance, we had one parent volunteer, Khushbu, who graciously crafted detailed labels, meticulously noting all allergens, while another talented parent, Frank, donated a magnificent ‘Matilda’ chocolate cake!
Making local connections
At our heart we want our school to be a centre of our community. With this in mind we have partnered with several local businesses during our events. The Co-Op, the shop on Minter Road, kindly donated towards our Coffee Morning and a local small business, Dried Flowers by Qamari, supplied some dried flower bouquets towards our mother’s day sale. As we build this initiative we would love to hear from any local residents who would like to get involved.
If you are a parent or local resident who would like to help (the more of us the better!) or just keep up with what we are doing please follow us on Instagram @RiversidePrimaryPTA. Alternatively, please email us on riversideprimarypta@riverside.bardaglea.org.uk for any questions you may have and to discuss volunteering and donations.
By Sana Afzal
Local resident and Riverside Primary PTA publicity officer
