October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and on 23rd October, our School Health Nurse Barbara Tandi came into school to raise awareness and signpost our pupils to more information.

1 in 7 women in the UK will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.  Symptoms can include a lump, but this isn't the only form of breast cancer.  It is caused by a combination of our genes, environment and our lifestyles.

It is important for everyone to be aware and to encourage each other to go to the GP if there are changes that are new and or unusual.

As part of Barbara's stand, she was also giving out badges to raise awareness in the community  - here are some of our Year 11s proudly wearing theirs!

Find out more information at https://breastcancernow.org/ 

Wednesday 18^th Ocotber is Anti-Slavery Day.  We have discussed this in asemblies this week led by Mr Murphy and rasies awaareness of the need to stand together to stop modern slavery.

We have also shared some signs that are more and less obvious.

Here at Smestow Academy, we are a "telling school" and we encourage all our pupils to report anything that is worrying them, about themselves or about somebody else.

We can all play our part in helping others to escape modern slavery.

Monday 16^th October is "Restart a Heart" day - a day to raise awareness about the importance of early CPR and defibrillation.  More than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen every year in the UK and sadly, less than 1 in 10 people survive.   

This important day is now in its 10^th year and is more important that ever, especially for the people of Wolverhampton, where 29,000 people are living with heart disease in the city and where it is recorded that heart and circulatory disease causes 65 deaths every month.

Our pupils have taken part in an assembly this week, led by Mr Murphy, that signposted what to do in the event of an emergency.

Year 9 pupils will also be taking part in First Aid training delivered by the Air Ambulance team next week - watch this space for more information!!!

As part of our Personal Development curriculum, today pupils in years 8 and 9 had the opportunity to watch a brilliant performance by Saltmine Theatre Company on the dangers of gang violence and knife crime. Following the session, students were then part of a workshop with the actors to discuss the main messages of the performance and to ask questions about the characters. We were really impressed with how engaged the students were with both watching the performance and taking part in the workshop today.

Work is well underway on the £100000 swimming pool and changing room refurbishment. With current progress we are still hopeful of reopening for January 2024.

At Smestow Academy, we value all members of our school community. We are proud to recognise National TA and National Teacher Day in our school.  Pupils have been busy writing thank you cards to staff as part of this event. We had an overwhelming response from our pupils, who were really grateful to be given the opportunity to say thank-you. All staff were presented with a handwritten card, with personal thank-you cards inside. We celebrated with a staff breakfast to show our gratitude to the hardworking and professional staff at Smestow Academy who make such a difference to the lives of our pupils every single day. 

We are raising awareness of the importance of positive mental health and wellbeing this week, through our assemblies delivered by Ms Patel and Heads of House, but also through our mindfulness challenges, of which all pupils have been invited to take part in.  Using our 5 top tips for looking after our mental health, pupils have been challenged to explore each tip and record this, in return for a leadership commendation.  Year 7 pupils can also participate in mindfulness colouring at lunchtime and are being offered "time to talk" during the different lunch sittings this week.

Mental Health UK have created a Conversation Guide: Talking to someone about mental health. 

Please do read this if you need to.

On Friday 29^th September, we were delighted to hold a cake sale to raise money for Macmillan cancer support.  We were very proud of the generosity of our pupils who donated shop bought cakes for sale.  Staff and pupils donated money at break time to purchase cakes and manage to raise an impressive £144.07 for the charity. Macmillan Cancer Support is one of the largest UK charities providing specialist healthcare, advice and support for people suffering for cancer and their families.  Thanks to staff, pupils, parents and carers who took part and supported this event.

What a fantastic start it has been to the new academic year! 

Smestow academy have welcomed year 5 and year 6 pupils from Castlecroft Primary School to take part in a brilliant forensic workshop. This workshop involved pupils becoming forensic scientists for the day to investigate a crime that was committed. All the pupils showed impeccable behaviour and represented their school really well. 

A big thank you to the Year 5 and Year 6 pupils, staff and a special thank you to the wonderful Mrs Neish and Mrs Robertson for hosting such a great event.