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.

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.

First Day Back Crew!

23rd February 2026Betty Ramsay

For our first day back we enjoyed an extended crew session in Crew Ramsay. We spoke about the beautiful Work in our class last half term and celebrated these with the new unveiling of our Beautiful Work display. These children have worked on their pledges and showcased real growth and perseverance! We then enjoyed a challenge in groups playing The Leaning Tower of Feet-za! This reminded us to reflect on our work/challenges and strategise for improvement, always. Great work guys!

Crew Focus: Safer Internet Day – Navigating the Future with AI 🤖🌍

12th February 2026Hannah McLoughlin

This week in Crew, we took part in Safer Internet Day, focusing on navigating the Future with AI. We explored how artificial intelligence is becoming a bigger part of our lives and how we can use it safely, responsibly and with our crew values in mind.

To start, we did an active debate activity around the room. Signs said “Okay,” “Not Okay,” and “It Depends,” and we had to move to the area that matched our opinion about statements involving AI. Some statements were tricky! One statement really got everyone talking: ‘Is it okay to use AI to help with homework?’

We realised that many answers were not simply yes or no – sometimes it does depend. By listening to others respectfully and explaining our reasoning, we practiced respect and integrity. It reminded us that staying safe online means thinking carefully and making thoughtful choices with trusted adults.

Next, we worked in our mini crews to act out short scenarios where children faced troubles with AI. We gave advice on what the character should do. We suggested things like:

  • Never sharing personal or private information online (integrity).
  • Telling a trusted adult if something feels wrong or confusing (courage).
  • Using AI as a tool to support learning, not replace it (respect).

Through these activities, we practised compassion by understanding others’ experiences, courage by sharing our opinions, respect by listening carefully and integrity by giving honest, thoughtful advice.

Safer Internet Day reminded us that AI can be exciting and helpful, but it must be used safely, kindly and responsibly.

Crew Ramsay Has Faith!

29th January 2026Betty Ramsay

In Crew, we put our faith in each other to the test by doing this fun partner challenge. We stood opposite our partners and took a step back, then we leaned closer and leaned on each other! We bounced gently on each other’s hands to feel the security of our crew member’s hold. We giggled and squealed and had a great time but ultimately we learned to have courage in ourselves and faith in each other! What a great Crew.

Crew McLoughlin’s Christmas Party

18th December 2025Charlotte Newman

Crew McLoughlin had a wonderful time celebrating their Christmas party together, filled with laughter, festive cheer, and big smiles all around. The children enjoyed seasonal games and music that really captured the magic of Christmas. It was a lovely way to end the morning.