b'THE ELLESMERIAN67get the opportunity to participate in a number of activities everyEllesmere Arts receives top award for the Wednesday afternoon to stretch and challenge them, learn life skills,second timebuild resilience and leadership, and take part in activities such as wildlifeEllesmere has been re-accredited with its second Artsmark conservation, climate workshops, making bug hotels, map reading,Platinum Award for its continuing commitment to providing cycling and more.high quality arts and cultural experiences for pupils and in and around the community. One group of students who took part in the John Muir Award last year, were delighted to learn that they had been awarded Gold CertificatesArts Council England, which gives out the awards, praised the College by the John Muir Award for their contribution to the programme overfor continually developing creative partnerships with charitable the course of the year, including planting and maintaining the Woodlandorganisations and local primary schools. Trust donated hedge located between the Tennis Centre and Lower School.With these organisations, College pupils have held a range of creative arts workshops, music concerts, storytelling sessions and have also raised money for a broad range of charities including the British Red Sixth Form students launch mental health support scheme Cross, AGE UK and Hope House. A group of Sixth Form students have launched the Mental Health at Ellesmere Support System (MHESS), a support scheme that focuses on raising awareness of the importance of mental health and wellbeing, ensuring that students know how and where they can access support.The initiative is being led by Year 13 student, Elin Jones, along with a team of Sixth Form students and Alex Murphy, Director of Rugby. It is also supported by the team of on-site medical staff.Elin and her peers felt that as well as supporting students with their overall mental health and wellbeing, the scheme would provide a safety net system to prevent potentially bad situations from escalating. The College has invested in the training of over 30 pupils and staff, demonstrating how seriously we take the emotional wellbeing of our pupils.The scheme is up and running and we are raising awareness about general mental health and wellbeing for our students. Mr Murphy said. Training students places them in the ideal position to recognise the problems and issues faced by their contemporaries and provides them with the necessary skills to offer guidance in helping them seek support. People often find it difficult to identify and discuss things which are worrying them, but its good to talk, and that is one of the most important messages we are communicating. There are many risks associated with mental health and young people can put themselves under an enormous amount of pressure with exams and day to day school life, not to mention the added stresses that the Covid-19 pandemic has contributed. Rachel Schubert, Director of Drama, said she was delighted with the We are in the process of creating a multi-layered support structureaward. "We are very excited about being awarded Arts Mark Platinum with lots of options for students who are unsure of where to turn toStatus for the second time in succession. Having received Platinum when dealing with difficult thoughts and emotions. Having a studentStatus initially in 2015 - and as the only independent school in the support team provides an approachable source of guidance forcountry to be awarded it - our re-submission has been an ongoing students that acts as a stepping stone between pupils and staff.focus for all the Arts subjects since."Staff and students have consistently worked in partnership to provide young people from a number of different schools - as well as our own - these amazing opportunities to experience extended projects in Art, Dance, Drama, Music and Media outside our own school gates in the community.Artsmark said Ellesmere had successfully engaged staff and parents in artistic performances and concerts and that the number of pupils engaging with arts and cultural activities is ever increasing year on year, impacting on student wellbeing, development and understanding of the world around them.'