Learning the Difference Between Healthy and Unhealthy Friendships.

23rd March 2026Charlotte Newman

Last week in caring crew, Crew McLoughlin explored the important topic of healthy and unhealthy friendships through an interactive activity. Around the classroom, they were presented with a variety of real-life scenarios. They worked collaboratively in pairs and they discussed whether each situation reflected a positive (healthy) or negative (unhealthy) friendship. They were encouraged to think critically, share their opinions, and listen to others’ perspectives before recording their decisions. After reviewing all eight scenarios, we came together as a class to discuss their ideas, giving everyone the opportunity to explain their reasoning and reflect on what makes a friendship supportive, respectful, and kind. This activity helped develop not only their understanding of relationships but also their communication and teamwork skills.

Mothers Day🌷

17th March 2026Hannah McLoughlin

This week, our crew enjoyed getting creative by making Shrinky Dinks Mother’s Day key rings. The children wrote a thoughtful handwritten message for their lovely mum.

After writing their designs, we placed the shrink plastic in the oven. The children were amazed with the transformation and were excited to turn their designs into finished gifts.

Once cooled, we added key rings so the children could take home their unique creations ready for Mother’s Day. We hope you like them! 🥰

Learning from a Tudor Expert

12th March 2026Thomas White

Last week, our UKS2 Crews had a very special visit from an expert artist and Tudor enthusiast. She brought with her a remarkable portrait of King Henry VIII, which had been painted for her by her father. Seeing the portrait up close was a fantastic experience for the children, as it helped bring our Tudor learning to life.

During the session, she shared fascinating information about Hans Holbein the Younger, one of the most famous artists of the Tudor period. Holbein is well known for painting incredibly detailed and realistic portraits of important figures at the court of Henry VIII. His paintings were not just about showing what someone looked like — they were carefully designed to show power, wealth and status.

We looked closely at some of the features that made Holbein’s portraits so distinctive. The children noticed the rich fabrics, detailed jewellery and confident poses used to show the importance of the people being painted. We also discussed how artists used colour, position and symbolism to send a message about the subject.

Our visitor also gave the class some helpful critique and advice about their own Tudor portrait work. She encouraged the children to think carefully about proportion, detail and expression, just as artists like Holbein would have done hundreds of years ago.

The session was a brilliant opportunity to combine history and art, helping the children understand not only what Tudor portraits looked like, but also why they were created in that way. It was a memorable experience and gave everyone lots of inspiration as we continue developing our own Tudor-style portraits.

Inside the Circle of Control!

8th March 2026Charlotte Newman

This week in Crew McLoughlin’s Caring Crew, we talked about the difference between things that are inside our control and things that are outside our control. We shared ideas about how we can control our actions, our effort, and how we treat others, while learning that some things, such as the weather or other people’s choices, are not in our control. It was a great discussion that helped everyone think about how to stay positive and make good choices every day!

World Book Day Crew!

5th March 2026Charlotte Newman

This morning, Crew McLoughlin started by watching a short summary of The Wizard of Oz, which helped us think about the idea of courage and how different characters show bravery in their own ways. After the video, each table was given a different question related to courage and the characters in the story. Then as a class we then discussed our question and shared our thoughts with each other.

Next, we thought about someone in our own lives – someone in our family, crew, or school – who has recently shown courage. We then had to write that person a postcard praising them for being brave and explaining why their actions mattered. After debriefing, some students shared their postcards with the class.

Celebrating a Beautiful Bulgarian Tradition in Crew McLoughlin

3rd March 2026Charlotte Newman

Today, a thoughtful member of Crew McLoughlin was so very kind to bring in red and white yarn bracelets as part of a special tradition from their country Bulgaria, called Baba Marta Day. On this day, people exchange small red and white bracelets known as Martenitsi to celebrate the arrival of Spring. The colours carry special meaning — red symbolises health and strength, while white represents peace and new beginnings. It is a joyful tradition that welcomes the changing of the seasons and wishes good fortune for the year ahead.

Children and adults traditionally wear the bracelets at the first signs of Spring, such as blooming trees, and then tie them to a branch as a symbol of hope and renewal. We are proud to celebrate and learn from the diverse cultural traditions represented in Crew McLoughlin, and we appreciate your support in helping us create an inclusive and welcoming community for all.

благодаря ви (thank you) !!

Memory in Action

2nd March 2026Charlotte Newman

For this week’s crew challenge, Crew McLoughlin and Crew Gray worked on strengthening their memory skills. They were given 15 seconds to carefully observe a selection of objects on the board before they were covered up. The children then had to recall and list as many items as they could remember. It was wonderful to see their focus, teamwork, and determination as they challenged themselves to improve each round.

The Student Becomes the Master

25th February 2026Charlotte Newman

Today the students became the masters of their own learning during our maths consolidation lesson on statistics. They confidently explained concepts and challenged each other with thoughtful questions and worked collaboratively to solve problems. Amazing work, keep it up!

Crew McLoughlin Rise to the Challenge!

25th February 2026Charlotte Newman

This week, Crew McLoughlin took part in a fun and challenging Crew activity that put their teamwork and problem-solving skills to the test. The pupils were split into two groups and were tasked with passing a ball of paper around a circle without using their hands – encouraging creative thinking and strong communication. Once they had mastered this, the challenge was made even harder by removing the use of both hands and legs! The crew showed fantastic resilience, cooperation, and determination as they worked together to succeed.