STUDENT LEARNING ENRICHED THROUGH MENTORSHIP

St. Michael’s College School leverages mentors to help guide its students, with lasting results.

Before students even walk through the doors of St. Michael’s College School (SMCS), a boy’s private school in midtown Toronto, they are introduced to their mentors.

“Joe has helped me in so many ways that it’s impossible to think of all of them,” says Jacob Postill, a Grade 11 student at SMCS, of his mentor, Grade 12 student Joseph Cressatti. “He has been a big help for me during all of high school, helping me with school, extracurriculars and most importantly, my life in general.”

Now in its second year, SMCS’s Mentorship Program takes a novel approach to student guidance, continuing its mentorship through the students’ post-secondary education and even their professional career.

“The Mentorship Program was created in large part to help students develop confidence, gain a deeper comfort level during the often-challenging teenage years and foster meaningful connections while in school as well as postgraduation,” explains John Walsh, who leads SMCS’s Mentorship Program.

New and prospective students are introduced to a school Ambassador, a current student, whom they shadow for the day to experience the school in person. “We encourage them to keep in touch after the new student goes back to his home school. Often that relationship CONTRIBUTED continues right through their time at SMCS and beyond,” says Walsh.

In addition, the school’s Outdoor Education program takes students on an overnight camp outing at the start of the year. “There, they are introduced to a cabin leader, an older student, who often becomes a mentor,” says Walsh.

Past graduates often return to share their knowledge, life and professional experiences with students — particularly those who have become professional athletes. “We ask our athlete grads to helpmentor them through unique situations like balancing athletics and academics or moving away from home to pursue their athletics and education elsewhere,” Walsh says.

Beyond graduation, SMCS also offers Alumnus to Alumnus opportunities to introduce new graduates to those who are already established.

The mentorship formula has so far proven successful, bringing new, current and former students together, forging meaningful and enduring connections.

CONTRIBUTED Now in its second year, St. Michael’s College School’s Mentorship Program takes a novel approach to student guidance, continuing its mentorship through the students’ post-secondary education and even their professional career.