06 06 2025

Happy Friday!

As we wrap up another busy week at Central, we want to say a big thank you to all our pupils for keeping their energy levels up, working hard and bringing smiles each day. Whether you are heading into a weekend of adventure, relaxation, or a bit of both, we hope you enjoy some well-earned rest.  

We wish our families a very happy Eid ul-Adha. We hope you enjoy a celebration filled with happiness, good food, and company.

🥦 Health Week

Next week we are looking forward to participating in Health Week, which will include the Torvean Park Run for P4–7 and a playground run for P1–3 on Tuesday. On Wednesday, there will be activities promoting health and play, followed by the House Obstacle Challenge on Thursday. We will finish the week with a Sports Day on Friday. Information regarding Sports Day will be shared via Google Classroom.

🏆 Writing Success for Central!

We were absolutely delighted to recently discover that Lucja was the overall primary winner of an Inverness-wide writing competition!

Lucja proudly collected her prize of £100 Amazon voucher and, even more excitingly, her achievement brought an additional £500 to the school. With this generous award the chidlren have decided to purchase new dictionaries for our pupils—an investment in literacy that will benefit Central for years to come.

Well done, Lucja—what an incredible achievement and a lasting legacy for Central! 🎉

🎨 Author's Live with Jamie Smart – Bunny vs Monkey

On Wednesday children took part in an exciting Author's Live event with Jamie Smart, the author of Bunny vs Monkey. They joined in with a fun draw-along session and created our very own Bunny and Monkey cartoon characters. Afterwards, they made their own comic strips featuring the characters and listened as Jamie answered questions from pupils all around the UK.

🗨️ "I liked the part where we drew along because it was good fun."

🗨️ "I liked making the comic strips because it was fun."

🗨️ "I learned how to draw cartoon characters."

🗨️ "It showed me you can just use simple shapes to create a drawing."

🗨️ "I will practise starting with simple shapes to create my own characters."

🧸Makaton Family Webinar

As a Makaton-friendly nursery, we encourage our Early Learning and Childcare families to take part in the upcoming webinar. It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn more about how Makaton supports children's communication and development.

Join us for a powerful and heartwarming webinar as two inspiring parents share how Makaton has transformed communication for their children — and how they’ve used it to build more inclusive communities.

Expect real stories, practical tips, and honest insights on:

•  Using Makaton at home

• Collaborating with schools and communities

• Finding support and connection

Featuring Sarwat & Atholl – parents, advocates, and changemakers!

This online event is free for all to attend. For more information and to register, click here: https://bit.ly/4mzKzx5

🌟Highlights of this week 

ELC - ''Playing with friends, playing with trains, reading stories on the new couches.''

P1 - ''Making wolves homework and making dens, missing numbers.''

P1/2 - ''Playing, reading and making Father's Day card''

P2/3 - Caterpillars, learning clock time, morning starters, library, Farm, writing.''

P3/4 - ''Silent reading, ERIC, spelling, times table, division/maths, PE - Sports Day.''

P5 -  ''Equation, science experiment - materials in water, similies, adjectives, metaphors.''

P6 - ''Subtraction, compass points, PE jumping, spelling words, scale.''

P7 - ''Dodgeball, leavers assembly practice, spelling dictionary work.''

🏠 Home School Partnership Learning  

Play is powerful! On Tuesday 11 June, we’re celebrating National Play Day—a day to recognise the vital role of play in every child’s learning and development.

At Central, we believe that play is not just fun—it’s a right. Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states that every child has the right to rest, relax, and play.

Through play, children build friendships, explore the world, and develop skills for life. We encourage families to get involved by making time for outdoor fun, creative games, and shared play experiences at home. This strengthens not only learning but also the vital partnership between home and school.

Let’s work together to make sure our children have time, space, and freedom to play—every day! 🛝🌱

Celebrate National Play Day at home with these simple, joyful activities:

• Nature Scavenger Hunts🍃

Head to the park or your garden and hunt for natural treasures—leaves, feathers, pebbles, or flowers.

• Build a Den or Fort 🛏️

Use blankets, cushions, and imagination to build a cosy den. Perfect for storytelling or quiet time together.

• Chalk Art on the Pavement 🎨

Create colourful messages or hopscotch games right outside your front door.

• Recycled Creations ♻️

Gather cardboard tubes, boxes, and safe scrap materials. What can you build—a robot, a rocket, or a puppet theatre?

• Story Builders📖 

Start a story, and let each person add a line. You’ll be amazed where your imaginations take you!

• Free Play Time ⏳

Give children unstructured time with their toys, dressing up clothes, or cardboard boxes—this kind of open-ended play boosts creativity and problem-solving.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead!