We have been blessed with the presence of some wonderful speakers and famous people during our Speaker Series. For parents, Peter Mansbridge, Stephen Lewis and David Suzuki were household names for our generation (and our kids’) and Craig Kielburger is certainly the Canadian face of youth activism as the co-founder of Free the Children and the Me to We movement.

I think it is safe to say that we have not had a speaker who brings together both generations like former astronaut Chris Hadfield, though. Not only did he have a really cool job but through his use of social media and his engagement with the youth of Canada and the world, he was elevated to “rock star” status (and it helped that he used a classic rock song by David Bowie to keep the old folks like me interested!). He is just as current today as he was when he was on the International Space Station as he is in the middle of a book tour (#3 book in North America) and is a consultant for an upcoming ABC comedy based on that book as well.

If you are not a Grade 8 to 12 student and have not yet picked up your guest ticket for the lecture next Wednesday, you need to do so. There are fewer than 50 tickets remaining and we cannot guarantee seating if you arrive next Wednesday without a ticket! If you have a ticket, you are reminded that a freewill donation will be accepted for Mr. Hadfield’s charity of choice, the Canadian Red Cross. Please join this down-to-earth guy who believes that the sky is not the limit.

Chris Starkey
Administrative Principal
Mentor College / TEAM School

Like the school itself, many of the school events that we host each year had relatively humble beginnings. But whether the event is graduation, the charity fashion show or our musicals, there is some commonality. In each case, there is a core group of students who want it to happen, at least one teacher who agrees with them, a principal who gives the event the “green light” and supportive parents who ensure that their children get to and from the meetings, practices and the event itself. It is a fascinating process and even though they are not our students, we are proud of the way a group of our parents has somewhat replicated this for an event that happens tonight.

Four years ago, a group of women got together to decide on a way to raise money for the Credit Valley Hospital. “Fashion With Flare” was born and even though the school did not have an official role in the event at its inception in 2011, guests tonight will be very aware of the Mentor/TEAM presence…and not just because we now are the title sponsor! The organizing committee is made up almost entirely of Moms who currently or once had children attending our schools. I imagine that once again this year, the volunteer student base will have a large Mentor/TSS contingent and the MC is a former student of ours, Matthew Maida.

Add all this together plus the fact that the event is in memory of Jenna Santelli, a 12-year old student of ours who passed away four years ago at the Credit Valley Hospital from complications due to cancer, the decision for the school to be the title sponsor is an easy one. We know we will see lots of students, parents, alumni and teachers there tonight and we thank you for making this non-school event a successful one once again. Come visit the “principals’ table” tonight and say hello. We will be smiling extra wide because we don’t need to wear our ties and (for a change at a school event), we don’t need to stay behind afterwards to stack chairs or take out the garbage!

Chris Starkey
Administrative Principal
Mentor College / TEAM School

We are very excited to announce that the 2014 Speaker Series will feature the most famous astronaut on any planet…Chris Hadfield. Hadfield kept the world captivated with his photos, videos and commentary from space as the commander of the International Space Station last year.

Because of the interesting bits of information he sent back from space, he is now described as a social media rock star. His “Space Oddity” music video had over 20 million views and he has over one million Twitter followers and counting.

He will present his talk to next year’s Grade 8 to 12 students and faculty, alumni, parents and friends of the Mentor/TEAM community. Mark Wednesday, October 22 at 10:00am at the Main Campus in your calendar now as this promises to be a great school event.

Chris Starkey
Administrative Principal
Mentor College / TEAM School