Dear Parents and Carers,

What a wonderful and busy couple of weeks it has been here at school. Here’s a snapshot of some of the exciting activities:

Last week, we officially started the festive season in style. Every child in the school made a unique decoration for the Christmas tree in the hall, and it now looks absolutely stunning.  Ash Class took to the stage and impressed us all with their class assembly. Their hard work, enthusiasm and creativity were evident and it was a joy to watch them shine. Well done to all the children involved.  Reception children starred in their very own nativity play. They brought the Christmas story to life with confidence and it was a true delight for everyone who had the chance to watch.

We thoroughly enjoyed a bustling Christmas dinner day on Wednesday complete with festive jumpers.  KS2 had a fabulous trip to see the pantomime at Watford Palace Theatre—it was an absolute pleasure watching their faces light up during the performance and hearing their laughter. The children, who attend the Hub, also had a trip to watch one of their all time favourites: Electric Umbrella.  Although I did not attend, I heard the children loved it.  We also had a fantastic Winter Fair and we would like to say a huge thank you to Allen Talbot (Y2 Parent and Governor), Mr Freeman, Miss Donald and the rest of the team for getting everything organised in advance. A special thank you to Nicola, our drama therapist, for kindly pestering many local businesses and securing the amazing raffle prizes. 

In other news, we had Harvey's training on Tuesday.  He passed with flying colours and Mrs McHenry, Mrs Goman and I will be introducing him officially to the classes before we break up.  Watch this space for further information and his Instagram page.  

Just one more week to go—we hope you all have a restful and enjoyable break. We look forward to welcoming you back in the new year on Tuesday 6th January 2026.

Kind regards

Mrs Wright

Christmas Fair Update

Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make our Christmas Fair such a brilliant and joyful day. We are delighted to share that, with your support, we raised over £2,000. A huge thank you also goes to the generous companies who donated raffle prizes: Tesco, The Grove, The Entertainer, Waterstones, Salt Cave Spa, Flip Out, Warner Brothers Studios, Ashridge House and Bury Lake Young Mariners. We are incredibly grateful to our parent volunteers, whose time and energy made the event possible. In the new year, we will share details of our upcoming events as well as information about how PSA funds will be used to support the school community. 

In Year 1, children have been exploring the topic “How have toys changed over time?” They looked closely at real old toys and compared them with the toys they play with today. The class discussed the materials toys are made from, the mechanisms that make them move and how technology has influenced modern designs. Children noticed that many of today’s toys use batteries, make sounds or light up, while older toys were often simpler and made from wood or metal. It has been exciting to discover how toys have changed—and how some have stayed the same.

This half term, Year 2 have been learning about the significant individual Louis Braille and how he changed the world. The children created timelines of his life and discussed why Braille is so important. They considered how different life would be for blind people if Braille had never been invented and reflected on how his work continues to support millions today.

In History, Year 3 have been learning all about the Stone Age and the Iron Age. They have spent time discussing what life was like during these periods, including how people found food and where they lived. Children explored the three main Stone Age periods—Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic—and are thoroughly enjoying their learning so far.

In Year 4, children have been investigating the impact the Roman Empire had on Britain. They have been gathering evidence to answer their big question: “How did the Romans influence life in Britain?” The class began by learning who the Romans were and why they invaded, before examining whether the Britons welcomed or resisted their arrival by studying the rebellion led by Queen Boudicca. They have also explored Roman inventions and their impact both then and now. Alongside this, children have enjoyed a daily ‘Fantastic Fact’, a Roman song, and work on primary and secondary sources. They have answered questions, made posters and even created their own game, which they are excited to play in the next lesson!

Year 5 have been exploring the big question “How did the Vikings invade and settle?” They began by learning who the Vikings were, where they came from and why trade was so important in their lives. The class investigated how Viking skills—especially shipbuilding and navigation—helped them raid Britain, before challenging common stereotypes about the Vikings being solely “fierce” warriors. They then examined why so many Vikings chose to settle and debated whether they were raiders, settlers or both. During their visit from History Off The Page, children experienced Viking daily life by making ink, writing runes with quills, dipping wicks to create candles and crafting clay candle holders.

This half term, Year 6 have been exploring the fascinating question “How has Central Primary School changed over time?” As part of their local history study, pupils examined old photographs, timelines and historical sources to understand how education has developed from the 1700s to today. They compared Victorian classrooms with our modern school, learned about Elizabeth Fuller’s role in shaping education in Watford and discussed how new laws have improved fairness and equality. The children have loved becoming historians and are now preparing final projects to showcase how Central Primary has changed and grown through the centuries.