Class of 2016 alumni Marissa Parker, Tracy Wu, Kaitlyn Liang, and Emily Crowe have started Sending Sunshine - a non-profit organization that collects and distributes cards to seniors in long-term care facilities in Mississauga.

The group was inspired to start Sending Sunshine when they noticed that senior citizens - already vulnerable to depression and loneliness - were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and were experiencing the negative effects of social isolation. Says External Relations Co-Director Emily Crowe, "We know how important giving back to our community is from our time at Mentor College. Both Kaitlyn and I were lucky enough to participate in Memories to Music, and Marissa contributed to a number of Habitat for Humanity initiatives."

Congratulations and best of luck to Marissa, Tracy, Kaitlyn, and Emily! If you would like to support Sending Sunshine and seniors in your community, here is how you can help.

We are so happy to see everyone back for the the start of the 2020-2021 school year! Thank you to students, staff, and parents for such a safe, smooth and successful start!

For the 40th anniversary of the Terry Fox Run, students in the Primary, TEAM, and Intermediate divisions will be holding events starting next week. The Terry Fox Run is a longstanding tradition at Mentor College & TEAM School. Back in the late 1990s, TEAM School was chosen by the Terry Fox Foundation to get a special visitor for their Terry Fox Run Assembly and Terry's mom Betty came to speak to the students!

This year, in order to maintain our 15-student cohorts, the Run will take place during phys. ed. classes. When full details are known for your child's division, there will be information in the "Notices" group in Edsby for your review. 

On Wednesday September 30, Mentor College & TEAM School will join schools and organizations across Canada for Orange Shirt Day to "commemorate the residential school experience, to witness and honour the healing journey of the survivors and their families, and to commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation." (source: https://www.orangeshirtday.org/)

In honour of the #EveryChildMatters initiative, students in all divisions can wear a solid orange shirt (over their uniform) on this day.

The 2016 High School Athletic Association did not know it at the time but the "Serenity Garden" has become the most sought-after spot on the grounds this fall. With the addition of tree stumps as chairs, it is the #1-booked outdoor classroom and a popular place for students to chat during outdoor breaks and recess. Kudos to the crew in the photo for their work years ago and take a look at it now!

Today, in honour of the #EveryChildMatters initiative, students in all divisions join schools and organizations across Canada for #orangeshirtday. This day gives students the opportunity to "commemorate the residential school experience, to witness and honour the healing journey of the survivors and their families, and to commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation." (source: https://www.orangeshirtday.org/)

Please see the letter RE: COVID-19 Screening Changes from Region of Peel Health Services, Office of the Medical Officer of Health that contains important changes to COVID-19 screening.

This year's HS Drama production consists of two radio dramas - which will be available to stream this weekend! The Mentor College theatre department presents two holiday classics, in the style of a 1940s radio broadcast, to kick off your holidays. Each broadcast will only be available to stream for a 24-hour window, so don't miss them!

It's A Wonderful Life: A Radio Play
Streaming starts Saturday, December 12 @ 7:00pm (available for 24 hrs)
Free to stream: no promo code needed!

Watch the show! 

If you have any questions, please send an Edsby message to Ms. Beales. In lieu of ticket sales, we are encouraging donations to Second Harvest.

It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (short version) adapted by Joe Landry. Produced by special arrangement with Playscripts. Inc.

This year's HS Drama production consists of two radio dramas - which will be available to stream this weekend! The Mentor College theatre department presents two holiday classics, in the style of a 1940s radio broadcast, to kick off your holidays. Each broadcast will only be available to stream for a 24-hour window, so don't miss them!

A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play
Streaming starts Friday, December 11 @ 7:00pm (available for 24 hrs)
Free to stream: You must create a FREE account -> here are instructions
***Add Promo Code "mentor" to override fees***

Watch the show! (NOTE: for this show, an account is required. It is recommended that you register before Friday December 11 @ 7:00pm so that you can enjoy the show!)

If you have any questions, please send an Edsby message to Ms. Beales. In lieu of ticket sales, we are encouraging donations to Second Harvest.

A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play adapted by Kevin Connors adapted for the stage by Joe Landry. Produced by special arrangement with Playscripts. Inc.

Last week, Fashion Show committee representatives Ms. Vendittelli and Ms. Lucato had the pleasure to visit the Armagh House and CE Academy with several gift card donations from the 2020 Fashion Show - which sadly never took to the stage.

COVID-19 has had a detrimental impact on charities this year, so instead of holding on to these donations, the committee divided them up and went to the intended benefiting charities to spread some Christmas cheer.

Thank you to the generosity of the Mentor/TEAM community for donating to the 2020 Fashion Show. This allowed us to pay it forward to two organizations near and dear to the hearts of many. The committee also gifted Armagh House with 6 Gingerbread Kits for their residents to enjoy - courtesy of Mr. & Mrs. Philbrook.

Today is “Let’s Talk Day” in Canada. We are in the 4th week of remote learning (and the second lockdown of the pandemic) so its timing could not be more relevant.

Everyone would love to be back-to-school with our pre-pandemic “normal” and while I think it is nice to look forward to this day, it is clear that it will be a long time before COVID-19 will be in our rear-view mirror. In the meantime, we are all doing our best to apply the “new normal” to our lives. For our students, it means being more attached to the same screens that parents scolded them for over-using 12 months ago. For our staff members, it means not only teaching material lessons but also learning a new suite of software (for everything from daily lessons to final evaluations) in order to best deliver to their students in a remote-learning setting.

For an individual student or teacher, the “new normal” would be tough enough on its own. When you add in the dynamics of a family where everyone is needing the time, space, and devices in order to do their daily tasks, however, the physical and mental health of everyone suffers. Any parent who is ensuring the kids are logged in and engaged in school lessons, working from home themselves, and still managing to keep everyone fed, dressed, and clean (particularly with our younger students) has undiagnosed superhero powers! This of course also applies to our teachers who have school-aged children who are learning at the same time Dad or Mom is teaching.

We know everyone is struggling at times and we are also aware that the lockdown has affected some of you greatly. It is OK to feel this way and it is even more OK to talk about it. Mentor’s high school principal, Mr. Whyte, says:

It is very important for our high school students to reach out and talk to someone, especially during these days of isolation. Our guidance counsellors are available every day to listen and help. Guidance is a valuable resource for students, parents and teachers and we are happy this service continues to be of use.

Mr. Whyte loves the outdoors and when I asked him for his best advice for remote learners, teachers, and parents, he suggests:

I cannot overstate the importance of physical and outdoor activity. We should all aim to get outside for some fresh air every day to help refresh us from the screen time we all endure each day.

Our director, Mr. Macdonald, has noticed the sense of community and how teachers and students have been a great source of peer-to-peer strength for each other:

When I visit a class that is remote learning, one of the things I enjoy seeing most is the students interacting with each other. When I start a staff meeting I know that the teachers will log on a few minutes early just to have a moment to see each other and to socialize. It’s amazing to see how students and teachers manage to support each other and lift spirits, even in a virtual setting.

This sense of community goes for our parents as well. We know that you are keeping in touch with each other and fostering some of the friendships that have developed through your association with our school. We have been receiving messages from parents who want to thank a specific teacher or the school in general for the remote learning programme; teachers seem to get these needed bits of praise just when they are needed most. We have also heard from parents who feel that they (or their children) are “failing” because they have trouble juggling all the new responsibilities that the pandemic has been placed upon them. Reach out and let us know. We might be able to help in a tangible way; even if that means just listening, perhaps that can help in some small way.

Most of all we are thankful for the students and there are wonderful little stories shared among staff that keep us going. My favourite so far is the teacher who, seeing that the class was starting to get off-track, used the “stern face” that works so well in the classroom setting…only to have the students all call out that “your screen is frozen”!

We all need to talk to each other, not just today, but every day. Take a look at some of the resources available on the “Let’s Talk” website and share them with your family. If you need help, reach out. If you are in a position of giving help, reach out. We are blessed with a school community that truly cares for each other.

Chris Starkey
Admininstrative Principal
Mentor College/TEAM School

Congratulations to alumnus Eric Meandro (Class of 2017) on being named a McMaster University Marauder Scholar! Eric’s tenacity, competitive spirit, and work ethic left a lasting impression on coaches, classmates, and opponents during his time at Mentor.

High School athletic director Mr. Miller (who, himself, won the same award during his time at McMaster) reflects, “Eric is such a winner and the skills he developed at Mentor in the classroom and on the wrestling mat will serve him well throughout his entire life.”

Eric graduated from Mentor as a top academic and athletic student. His achievements in academics, cultural-arts, leadership initiatives, and athletics earned him the prestigious Tie Award. As High School principal Mr. Whyte explains, “we always say that the Tie winners are worthy of university scholarships and awards. Eric proves this tremendously.”

We wish Eric continued success in his post-secondary pursuits.

In recognition of Black History Month, a group of dedicated and passionate members of the High School Division’s EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) club have created a Black History Museum - an interactive and engaging tool to inform and inspire peers and members of the Mentor/TEAM community.

For the past four weeks, the students have been meeting virtually after school to discuss, plan, research, and create the museum – with emphasis on allyship and how to assess one’s own bias.

The teachers are very proud of this inspiring and educational student-led effort. Well done Laura Cappellacci, Sydney Gutelius, Sarah Harrington, Sara Hudda, Katie Nguyen, Romina Sedighy, Gurbaksh Sidhu, Mairead Stasiulis, Yeraz Tahtadjian, and Alice Tokareva. We invite you to visit and explore the Black History Virtual Museum.

Congratulations to Grade 12 Mentor student Anam Biabani - who was selected as a winner in the 680 Junior Traffic Reporter Contest! Anam and the school each receive prizes of $500 - which will be donated to Trillium Health Partners.

Well done, Anam!

Labs may look a little different this year, but students are still participating in hands-on learning in a safe way.  In the Flow Rate Lab, Grade 8 students calculated the differences in flow rates based on changes in temperature.  Our remote students also joined in, watched the lab experiment, and took careful observations along with their classmates.

As a fun activity to complete the class unit on rocks, Grade 4 students grew their own crystals out of saturated solutions.  Students wanted to show off their creations and one student decided to make a necklace.  Other designs included tree decorations and even a crystallized car!

Mrs. Gerlai's class had a "sneaky" visitor today.  While students were learning about the life cycle of a snake and other interesting facts about snakes, a real ball python showed up to their lesson! It came dangerously close to the camera, and students had a chance to observe that it has no eye lids, an interesting pattern on its skin, and a forked tongue. They also got to see how the python moves. Students tried to open their mouths wide enough to swallow a rabbit, a favourite python meal, and compared their skin and backbones to the snake's. As the class moves on to study habitat, one can only wonder what fantastic creature will make the next guest appearance!