P3 and P3/4 Sports Day 1/6/21

We hope you enjoy looking at our photos.

P1 and P2 Sports Day Fun! 1/6/21

Sports Day For P6 and P7 31.5.21

Sports Day Fun For P4/5 and P5

Well done for all trying your best and showing great sportsmanship.

Charleston Academy Transition

P7 parents are encouraged to watch the following video presentation from Charleston Academy.

26/2/21

March Running Challenge - Lets Do This #TeamMuirtown!

We are delighted to announce the launch of our HLH Virtual Running series for the month of March!

We are missing being able to put on our running events and practices this year but we want to still help you get out and run!  This virtual running series hopes to get as many Primary aged children from across the Highlands to participate.

Full details can be found on our website: https://www.highlifehighland.com/sport/high-life-highland-virtual-running-event/

Each pupil who completes their local course and submits their entry will be gain an email certificate.  We will also showcase the participation figures per Primary School and School Cluster and the award schools with the highest percentage of pupils taking part as our ‘Active Highland Virtual Running Series Champions’.

You can complete your local courses as many times as you want during the month and submit all your entries. Time is not a requirement, yet if recorded can be included in your submission (see if you can improve your time over the month). We also encourage you to upload and share your photos, videos, tracking data and stories through our social media channels.

The submission of all participant runs must be in by 5pm on Wednesday 31st March 2021 via the HLH Challenge Link. Entries after this time may not be counted.

Need some advice or support please contact your local Active School Coordinator.

Good luck to all pupils and schools taking part!

Highland Active Schools Team.

19/2/21

Our Guide to Returning To School (ELC/P1-3) and Continuing Remote Learning

A copy of this guide has been emailed to all parents today. We hope you find it useful.

Burns Day Celebrations

We all worked together to organise a virtual Burns Day celebration. Children from across the school sent in videos of Scottish themed performances for us all to share and enjoy. We were able to watch dancing, listen to Scottish music, hear some fun facts and even look at photos of some delicious Scottish food which people had worked hard to prepare.

Everyone was invited to wear tartan to help celebrate this important day for Scotland.

We all had a BRAW time!

Monday 4th January 2021

Firstly, I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year!

I hope you have all had a lovely and safe holiday.

I am sure you will all be aware of today's announcement by the First Minister which declared that schools would remain closed for the majority of children till at least the 1st February. 

We appreciate that this announcement may have come as a real blow to some of our families, but I would like to reassure you that we are here to help and will do our very best to support you and your children throughout this period.

We have received a number of requests for children to attend school due to parents having key worker roles. I am pleased to share that we can accommodate all these requests. If, following todays announcement, you no longer require this place, or the days you require your child to attend school have changed, please let us know.

For those children attending school between Wednesday and Friday of this week, please remember that this is for childcare purposes and not in school learning. Children should bring things with them which they can use/play with during this time in school. Please ensure that any items brought to school are clearly labelled with your child's name.

Online learning for all children will commence on Monday 11th January and we will be in touch with further information about what this will look like later this week.

Please make sure that you can support your child to log onto their Google Classroom. If you have any problems with this, please let us know asap and we will do our best to help.

I hope you can all enjoy what is left of this holiday, despite the new lockdown measures.

We are all in this together and we will get through it. #TeamMuirtown

Please do not hesitate to get in touch if I can help in anyway.

Best wishes

Janice MacRae

Our Virtual Christmas Fair

It is finally here - Our Virtual Christmas Fair!!

We have lots of amazing Christmas crafts and prizes up for grabs!

Crafts will be sold on a first come basis, so get your orders in quickly!!

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1dt67NtLAHAc09sHhQSbRDan0vUGIgCkdFfJQd9Pzzco/edit?usp=sharing

Our Christmas Virtual Show 2020

We are delighted to share our virtual Christmas show with you. We hope you enjoy it!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/164aunLh2Lz9H6wCt3y44nTgrDzRPkbAP/view?usp=sharing

A big thank you to all our children and staff who worked hard to put this film together.

We hope you enjoy it!!

Christmas Fair 2020 - Tickets available from the school office

30/11/20

Our next Parent Council meeting will be taking place on Wednesday 2nd December at 6.30pm on Google Meet. Codes to join have been emailed out to all parents.

30/11/20

Festive Fridays start this week.

Everyone is invited to wear something festive to school each Friday in December. This can be something simple like a piece of tinsel in your hair, a Christmas jumper or even a pair of Christmas socks. 

Our School Improvement Plan Priorities and Values

We are delighted to be able to share our summary of our school improvement priorities for session 20-21. Information will be emailed to all parents this week.

23rd November 2020

We would be very grateful for any donations of items which could be used as prizes for a raffle at our upcoming virtual Christmas Fair.

Thank you!

1st November 2020

Fallen Tree

Over the weekend a tree fell down in our playground. It took down a section of our fence and landed on the pavement. 

A very kind person/group of people moved the tree and used a chainsaw to cut it up.

We would like to find out who the kind person/people were who helped make the area safe so that we can thank them. Please let us know if you know who this was.

Thank you.

Halloween Fun

We all had lots of fun on Friday for Halloween.

We had over 100 pumpkins entered into our virtual pumpkin competition which was amazing! A huge well done to everyone who took part.

Here are some photos for you all to enjoy.

Halloween

We all appreciate that Halloween may be a bit different for children this year and we want to make sure that it is still a fun time for everyone.

We would like to invite children to come to school dressed up in their Halloween costume on Friday 30th October. (We still have to limit items being brought in from home so please refrain from sending in additional items such as broomsticks, wands, etc)

We will be running our pumpkin competition with prizes for the winning entries from each class.

Further information about this competition can be found here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScxXeD0Vv0jjQ_Ljknhvs0vG4B1u-bt03JNWZDVMnDMVEy_Yg/viewform?usp=sf_link

We would also like to challenge everyone to create a pumpkin or spooky picture to display in your house window during Halloween week so that children can enjoy spotting them as they walk through the area.

24th September 2020

Bike to School Week - Sustrans.org.uk

Next week is 'Bike to School Week'.

We would really like to encourage all children to walk, cycle or scoot to school if they can.

Sustrans can provide parents with a free 'Guide to walking, cycling and scooting to school' and run events and competitions to keep students, parents and teachers engaged.

Sign up to receive your free family guide to an active and hassle-free school run

Bike to School Week family competition

Join their Bike to School Week family competition where one lucky pupil will win an exciting prize from our friends at Halfords.

Share a short video or a photo with a message telling us why you love to or would like to cycle to school. Follow and tag @sustrans on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and use #SustransWin to be in with a chance of winning. 

Find out more information and read the full terms and conditions.

22nd September 2020

Head Lice

Head Lice are a common problem in school aged children. They can’t be prevented, but

regular checking ensures early detection and treatment if necessary. Parents and carers

should check their children’s head once a week during hair washing. You need your

usual shampoo, conditioner, and a detection comb – ask your local pharmacist to

recommend a suitable one. Remember that you are looking for living moving lice, the

only evidence that your child is infected.

If you find a living louse, ask your local pharmacist, school nurse, health visitor or GP for

advice regarding treatment.

A wee message to you all from the staff

Friday 17th April

Fundraising Appeal from Ciaran P4

Ciaran, P4, and his older brother Aidan, S1, have decided to do a fundraiser and try and raise some money for NHS Highland, so from Monday next week over 6 days they are going to run a marathon with their dad, they want to raise £250.

They would love your support with this fundraising attempt.

This is the link for their go fund me page which they have set up.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/run-for-raigmore-hospital?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link-tip&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet

 Good luck boys!

Friday 17th April

With school being closed, we are all missing being together to share successes and achievements. 

I would love it if you could let me know about any birthdays and achievements your child experiences. I will aim to read these out on a video which will be shared via all google classrooms on a Friday. Please share achievements with either myself or your childs class teacher by 3pm on a Thursday so that they can be included in that weeks 'virtual assembly'.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Best wishes

Janice MacRae

Thursday 16th April 

An exciting STEM challenge open to all our children. Well worth a wee look! (Details have also been emailed to all families)

There is nothing like a little boredom to fuel creative invention!

With that in mind, we would like to present our ‘If you were an engineer, what would you do’ Home Learning Project. Completely free for all children and young people aged 3-19.

We are providing more online interviews with engineers, who will share their work experiences and answer your questions; along with some activities to help get you ‘thinking like an engineer’. 

So, how do you get involved?

Firstly, you will need to register, this can be done by clicking the link below. 

Once registered, you will be given access to our online resources, guides and information on the upcoming engineer interviews via our resources area.

Please feel free to share this email with other families! We want everyone to have the opportunity to delve into the fun world of engineering and put their creativity to the test.

This project has been created both for parents/carers/guardians to deliver at home to children and young people in their household; and also, for teachers to deliver to key worker pupils in class or pupils at home. Teachers who are already registered for the Leaders Award competition, please share this with parents/carers/guardians to aid them with home learning.  

The deadline for this project is 10th September 2020.

If you do have any queries at all or require more information, please visit our website, sign up to our newsletter, or contact us directly at info@leadersaward.com. 

You can follow us here:

Twitter: @leadersaward

Facebook: @leadersaward

Instagram: @primaryengineer

YouTube: PrimaryEngineer

Best Wishes,

The Leaders Award Team

Wednesday 15th April

Welcome back! I hope everyone has had an enjoyable and safe Easter holiday. 

Please see information below regarding free school meals;

Free school meals FAQs

Who is entitled to receive the voucher?

Following Scottish Government guidance, vouchers can be given to children in P1-P3 who receive School Clothing Grants and all children in P4 – S6 who are entitled to Free School Meals.

Children in Early Years who are eligible will also be supported during this time.  Further details will be issued to families shortly 

I think I am entitled for School Clothing Grants and/or Free School Meals.  How do I apply?

If your circumstances have changed, or you have not previously applied for a School Clothing Grant or Free School Meals, then you can apply online at: - 

https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/899/schools_-_grants_and_benefits/10/free_school_meals_and_assistance_with_clothing

How much is paid?

£15 per child per week.  

What is an e-voucher?

An e-voucher is a digital voucher that you can use to pay for food. It is sent to your e-mail address. 

How are e-vouchers issued?

They are sent via e-mail to the main contact e-mail address provided by you to the school.  

What can they be used for?

For food and everyday supplies. Exclusions include alcohol, tobacco, lottery tickets and fuel.

How do they work?

You can either print the voucher, use the e-mail in store or take a screen shot using your smart phone. 

Where can they be used?

They can generally be used in any of the following retailers: Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys, Marks & Spencers and Morrisons.  

(The exception is for vouchers issued through “PayPoint” for those the most remote areas of the Highlands where they can be used at retail outlets that offer PayPoint).  

Can the vouchers be used online?

The vouchers can now be used in store or online in Asda.  For Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsburys and Marks & Spencers, the vouchers must be used in store. 

Who are they issued to?

They are sent via e-mail to the main contact e-mail address provided by you to the school.  

What do I do if my e-mail address has changed? 

Please e-mail School.FoodVouchers@highland.gov.uk the following information: 

·         Current main contact e-mail address

·         New main contact e-mail address

·         Main contact name

·         Home address

·         Post code

·         Contact telephone number

·         Name of school/s attended by your child/children

What do I do if the Council has written to me for my main contact e-mail address?

Please e-mail School.FoodVouchers@highland.gov.uk the following information: 

·         Current main contact e-mail address

·         New main contact e-mail address

·         Main contact name

·         Home address

·         Post code

·         Contact telephone number

·         Name of school/s attended by your child/children

Will the Council phone me to ask me for my e-mail address?

No, never.  The Council will write to you seeking this information if required and you will be asked to respond to: -  School.FoodVouchers@highland.gov.uk

I do not have an email address, what can I do?

If you do not have a contact email address that we can use, please contact us via the HC Helpline on 0300 303 1362.  

I have not received an e-mail or a letter from Highland Council, but my children already get Free School Meals.  What should I do?

Please contact us via the HC email : School.FoodVouchers@highland.gov.uk

I have not received my voucher?

Some vouchers could go into your Spam/junk e-mail. Please ensure you check before e-mailing School.FoodVouchers@highland.gov.uk

How often are vouchers issued?

We intend to issue fortnightly payment in advance with the next vouchers due to be issued during the week commencing 13 April 2020, and on a fortnightly basis thereafter.

Can I get change if my shop is less than the value of the voucher? 

No cash/change is available from these vouchers. If your spend is less than the value of the voucher, then the balance can be used on your next shop with that same retailer, and the total value of the voucher is to be used within 3 months of the date of issue of the voucher. 

There are some exceptions to this and in these circumstances,  payments will be issued through “PayPoint” for those in the most remote areas of the Highlands.  Paypoint vouchers are exchanged for cash at retail outlets that offer PayPoint.  

Does the voucher need to be spent in the one transaction?

No. If your spend is less than the value of the voucher, the balance can be used on your next shop with that retailer, and the total value of the voucher is used within 3 months of the date of issue of the voucher. 

For vouchers issued through “PayPoint” for those in the most remote areas of the Highlands, the vouchers expire after 1 month

If you have any questions, please contact School.FoodVouchers@highland.gov.uk

 Friday 27th March 2020

Hi,

I just wanted to get in touch to say a huge well done and thank you to you all for everything that you have accomplished this week.

It’s been a steep learning curve for us all but I could not be prouder of how our whole school community have embraced the challenges that we have been faced with.

Here is a list of ten really useful sites that have been recommended by our Digital team:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize

https://learnathome.withyoutube.com/

https://bumps2bairns.com/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/live-lessons

https://artfulparent.com/

https://www.3dgeography.co.uk/

http://www.amazingeducationalresources.com/

https://www.thebodycoach.com/blog/pe-with-joe-1254.html

https://www.worldofdavidwalliams.com/watch-and-listen/

https://a2zhomeschooling.com/explore/homeschool_explorations_directory/

There is no pressure to look at these sites, but there may be some useful activities on them for the children over the next couple of weeks.

Access to google classrooms and education city will still be available over the holiday period but no new activities will be being posted.

I will be regularly checking my email throughout the holidays, so please get in touch if there is anything at all that I can help with.

Wishing you all a very safe, healthy and restful holiday,

Best wishes

Janice MacRae

Wednesday 25th March

Good evening,

I hope everyone is getting on ok.

We still have a number of children who have not completed our online registration process or engaged in any google classroom activities.

I understand that this way of working has been a huge change for families but we, as a school, still need to know that our children are all safe and well. Please make sure that your child completes the online registration task each morning. If, for some reason, you are unable to access this then please send your childs teacher or myself a quick email to check in. We will need to be in touch with any families who have not engaged with us this week for a welfare check.

We appreciate that some parents may be feeling overwhelmed by the situation. Please remember that we are here to help and there is absolutely no need for you to be hunting for resources. Get in touch if you have any worries or concerns that we can help with.

Some children have been able to engage with their teacher and peers using Google Hangouts. This app is already on the chromebooks and may be on some other devices, but if it is not, then it can be easily downloaded. The use of this app is something we would like to extend after the holidays so it would be great if you could make it available for your child. Please don't worry if you are unable to do this though.

Education City is going to be out of action for most of the day tomorrow for essential maintenance work which will hopefully help with the high demand currently on the site.

It has been great to see photos being posted  by children of their decorated eggs , Easter pictures and rainbows. Cant wait to see some more fantastic creations!

Remember to get in touch if we can help you out in any way.

Tuesday 24th March

Good Morning,

I hope everyone is well.

Well done to everyone who has already got logged on to google classroom this morning. A wee reminder that all children should complete the online register daily.

It is really important in this time of uncertainty that we do our best to keep some fun things on the go for the children which reflect the life and ethos of Muirtown. I am intending to set a weekly Head Teacher challenge for all children to engage in.

Had we still been in school, we would have been having our Easter Egg  house challenge this week so our first challenge is going to link to this.

HT Challenge: week 1

If you have eggs at home, can you hard boil one and decorate it.

If you don’t have any eggs at home, can you draw an egg and decorate it.

An alternative challenge for those who would prefer not to engage in an activity linked to Easter is it to draw/paint a spring picture.

You should then take a photo of your work and post it on your google classroom page. It would be lovely if you could also tweet a picture of your work to our school twitter page @MuirtownP

I am sure that seeing each others pictures will cheer everyone up.

Have fun and take care!

Best wishes

Janice MacRae

Monday 23rd March 2020

Hi everyone,

I hope you are all well.

A daily registration task, with an emotional check in, is being uploaded to all google classrooms. 

It is important that this is completed daily by 11 o’clock so that we know everyone is ok.

At the end of the registration task children should press ‘submit’ which is at the bottom right of the page.

This will be in place for all classes by tomorrow.

Class teachers are more than happy to help with any technical problems you experience. 

They can be contacted on the following e-mails:

louise.passmore@charlestonacademy.org.uk (for both P1/2 classes)

donna.grant@charlestonacademy.org.uk              

melanie.mckay@charlestonacademy.org.uk

donald.murchison@charlestonacademy.org.uk

maggie.macleod@charlestonacademy.org.uk

emma.williams@charlestonacademy.org.uk

elizabeth.fuller@charlestonacademy.org.uk

19th March 2020

Good evening,

Please see below for message from our Chief Executive, Donna Manson

Thursday, 19 March 2020

Highland Schools will close at end of school day on Friday 20 March

As communicated by the First Minister yesterday, we can confirm that all schools in The Highland Council region will close at the end of the school day on Friday 20th March. Pupils should not return to school on Monday 23rd March.

The Chief Executive of The Highland Council, Donna Manson said:

“Having received a letter from the Scottish Government at 2:45pm today, immediate and extensive work will be required to make sure that we can assess the implications of the Government’s requirements in terms of the provision of learning and care for the children of key worker groups. It is hoped that these arrangements will be in place from Friday 27th March.

“Further information will be communicated as the Council engages with a range of partners to ensure that we support the Highland effort to reduce the spread of coronavirus and the work of the emergency services as set out in the Civil Contingencies Act.

“Another key piece of work will be the continued and adapted provision of food, care, support and protection to our vulnerable children.

“With regards to the week beginning Monday 23 March, I am confident that our education staff across the Highlands are in a position to provide families with an education package for all our children at home, during this first week of school closures in these exceptional circumstances.

“Schools have been in contact with parents and the Council has set up access to online resources via the educational improvement team at: https://www.highland.gov.uk/digitalschoolshub .”

“Any parent or carer enquiries should be directed to schools on Friday 20 March. From Monday 23 March Highland Council Education Helpline details will be communicated publicly in helping parents and carers with enquiries.

“Your support in these unprecedented times is greatly appreciated.”

19th March 2020

Good morning, 

Many thanks for your support during this difficult time. We appreciate that our early closure will have caused issues for many of you and can only apologise for this.

Staff are currently preparing online resources for you to access and we will be in touch asap with further information on this. In the meantime, all children should hopefully be able to access activities on Education City.

We still plan to go ahead with our Easter egg challenge next week and would love it if children were able to decorate an egg at home and post a photograph of it on their google classroom page and/or on our Twitter page: @MuirtownP

We are aware that many children have left belongings in school. You are welcome to come and collect these items today or tomorrow.

We would like to encourage all children to keep a diary of what they are doing during this period. If you require a jotter for them to write in we can happily provide this.

Highland Council have created a website to support digital learning at home which I am sure you will find really useful: https://sites.google.com/millburnacademy.org.uk/highlanddigitalschoolshub/digital-learning 

Please keep checking our website, Twitter and your email for updates from school.

Take care

Janice MacRae 

#TeamMuirtown