On Friday Etone College once again celebrated World Mental Health Day. First established in 1992 the event is an initiative from the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organization with members and contacts in more than 150 countries, as an opportunity to raise awareness for mental health concerns and to remove the stigma surrounding mental health.

To honour the day Etone pupils will have the opportunity over Friday and the rest of the week to;

• Attend our Theme of the Week Assembly, where they will explore some of the negative impacts from poor mental health and the ways we can promote and support positive health.
• Form time activities where pupils with have the chance to plan effective strategies to ensure positive mental health.
• Pop-up Wellbeing Stand hosted by our Wellbeing Ambassadors and Wellbeing team, sharing support, advice and treats across break time.
• Wear yellow ribbons and stickers in support of positive mental health.
• Attend our monthly Brew Monday event with hot chocolate, games and biscuits to relax and chat to peers as we unwind.

Remember that we have our key top tips for maintaining a positive mental health along with information about all of our other mental health and wellbeing initiatives here: https://www.etonecollege.co.uk/student-wellbeing/

You may have noticed the September Numeracy Competition winners displayed on the school screens. We are pleased to share that A Beard (7G2) came in first place and won a Harry Potter Funko Pop, followed by E Sharkey (9D2) in second place, and I Higgs (7D2) in third place.

We would like to take this opportunity to update you on how each House is performing after the first competition.

Here is a quick summary:

• Dragon House is currently in the lead with 54 points.
  • Form group 8D1 has the highest individual score so far with 19 points.
• Griffin House is very close behind with 53 points.
• Centaur House is just behind them on 51 points.
• Phoenix House has 40 points, putting them 14 points off the lead.

Looking at form groups:

• 8P2 are close behind the leaders with 15 points.
• 8G2 follow with 13 points.

With scores still very close, everything is still to play for! We’re excited to see how the standings might change after the Ada Lovelace Day competition next week.

We wish to say a warm welcome to our new ambassadors and welcome back our ambassadors from last year.  As a careers ambassador students will get the chance to be involved in events such as:

• mentoring the year 7's to help them decide their options for possible careers for the future. ​
• meetings and group talks. ​
• careers fair ​
• Showing various visitors around the school​
• Receiving training from the Careers hub​

I look forwards to working with you all this year 

On Wednesday 1^st and Thursday 2^nd October our Year 11 Geographers conducted a fieldwork enquiry as part of their preparation for GCSE fieldwork exam and to broaden and enhance their knowledge about Birmingham. Pupils saw the contrast between Sutton Four Oaks and Aston on their carefully planned coach route into the city centre, looking at the inequalities between different areas. Once in Birmingham city centre, students investigated to what extent they thought urban regeneration had been successful walking along a transect through Digbeth, the Bullring, Grand Central station and Brindley Place. At each site students conducted their own primary data through an environmental quality survey, people count, land use survey and field sketches. Students had a fantastic time and it gave them the opportunity to see all the place specific detail they had learned in the classroom, in real life!  

On Friday 3rd October, Etone College were delighted to welcome poet Damani Dennisur to Etone College.

Damani Dennisur is a local poet based in Birmingham.  He started his poetry journey aged 12, writing for black history month, nationwide poetry slams and local rap/writing competitions, within a few short years he was Birmingham's 7th Young Poet Laureate and his talent would put him in rooms he could only dream of.

Damani was so popular last year with Etone pupils that we asked him to return this year.  After an exciting, interactive assembly with Year 11, Damani delivered hour long sessions to all pupils in Years 9 and 10.  He performed some of his poems and talked about his authorial intent, a critical skill for English literature.  There was also the opportunity for pupils to ask questions, and meet him and obtain his autograph on a specially designed bookmark to celebrate his visit.