The first week of Year 9 was nothing short of incredible for Crew Brunel. From exciting challenges to moments of reflection, we came together as a crew and as a year group to set the tone for what promises to be an amazing year ahead.

Day 1: Rebooting Crew

Our first day began with a crew reboot, revisiting our crew norms and reflecting on our character traits and Habits of Work and Learning (HoWLs). It was a great reminder of how important it is to support one another and hold each other accountable.

Then, we jumped straight into our first round of crew-building activities:

• The Egg Drop Challenge – Using sponges, plastic bags, straws, and tape, we designed protective shells to keep our eggs safe during a drop from the balcony. The tension was real, but the creativity was next level!
• Plane Races – We crafted paper airplanes, attached balloons and straws, and launched them along a string to see which could travel the furthest.

Then we headed to the sports hall for a series of energetic team games — Rock, Paper, Scissors, Ice Cream Cone, and Marble Balance. These activities pushed us to think strategically, communicate effectively, and most importantly, never give up. It was amazing to see everyone encouraging one another, showing determination, kindness, and resilience.

The afternoon brought a welcome shift in pace with mindfulness activities:

• Football – Everyone got involved, supporting one another and demonstrating excellent sportsmanship, even when things didn’t go as planned.
• Yoga – Despite some technical glitches, Miss Mitchell stepped in to lead the session. Miss Mitchell and Miss Burnitt reminded us that yoga isn’t about flexibility but about finding calm and moving at our own pace. The session brought balance and focus after our action-packed morning.

We ended the day with mindfulness colouring and bubble making, the perfect way to reflect and relax after an amazing first day together.

Day 2: Building Community

Wednesday began with a community morning where we welcomed the families of our Year 9 students into school. Over refreshments, families, students, and staff connected while taking part in fun games like skittles, curling, parachuting, skipping, and bingo. It was inspiring to see everyone working together, trying new skills, and simply enjoying time as a community.

The afternoon brought one of the highlights of the week: our sponsored colour run in support of Age UK and Diabetes UK. These charities are close to our hearts — diabetes affects members of our school community, and supporting Age UK means giving back to the older generation in our area.

Running laps of the field while being splashed with water and vibrant paint was an unforgettable experience. Parents joined in the fun too, watching us laugh, cheer, and celebrate being part of such a supportive crew.

Day 3: Preparing For DofE

Thursday took us outdoors for an exciting adventure along the Monsal Trail, where we stopped at cache points to collect information for our learning booklets. The walk was tough in places, but our crew showed true grit, determination, and perseverance to complete the trail together.

This is just the beginning, as all Year 9 students will be taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award programme — an amazing opportunity for our students to try new things, challenge themselves, and have plenty of fun along the way! Throughout the programme, they’ll get to learn a brand-new skill, give their time to help others, get active and push themselves physically, and embark on an unforgettable expedition with their crew.

Day 4: Reflecting and Looking Forward

On Friday, we spent time in solo reflection — thinking deeply about the past year and how we’ve grown as individuals and as a crew. We then connected our reflections to this year’s guiding question:

“How can I show kindness to myself and my community and have a positive impact?”

It was a powerful moment of introspection, helping us set personal intentions for the year ahead and reminding us of the strength we have as a crew when we work together.

A Week To Remember!

Our first week in Year 9 has been full of learning, laughter, and growth. From building resilience through challenges to finding calm in moments of mindfulness, Crew Brunel has shown what it truly means to live our values.

If this week is any indication, Year 9 is going to be an incredible journey — one where kindness will guide us every step of the way. Here’s to Year 9!

Miss Mitchell