Movember Underway at SMCS
St. Michael’s College School (SMCS) is coming together to support Movember, raising money and awareness for men’s mental health, suicide prevention, and prostate and testicular cancer.
The Wellness Team and a group of Mo Mentor teachers are leading the many activities happening this month, with several ways for students and staff to participate.
“Movember is more than a wellness initiative—it’s a powerful opportunity to bring our school community together through awareness, conversation, learning, and action,” says Alessandra Lombardi, teacher and wellness team moderator. “Through engaging activities, learning sessions, and shared experiences, students and staff build healthier habits, stronger connections, and a deeper understanding of physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Most importantly, Movember helps young men develop resilience, seek support when needed, and support others, fostering a culture of wellness, compassion, and community that extends far beyond November. It empowers our students and staff to focus on their well-being and build a community of belonging and personal growth.”
The Movember Foundation states that men die on average five years earlier than women, often from causes that could have been prevented. More than two-thirds of suicide deaths worldwide are men. Every year, over 1.4 million men are diagnosed with prostate cancer, and more than 109,000 are diagnosed with testicular cancer.
Men’s health is also a theme in this year’s Blue Notes journaling sessions, a weekly programme that teaches students how to think about, reflect on, and write about specific themes aligned with the SMCS mission and vision.
“We are home to 825 young men—at a time when men account for two of every three deaths by suicide and are less likely to seek help for physical and mental health concerns, and help-seeking behaviours are not just important, they are lifesaving,” says Liat Benzacar, school social worker. “Movember reminds us that supporting the well-being of boys and men means encouraging them to be in touch with their bodies, recognize pain, both physically and emotionally, and to know where to go for help when they need it. In a world where young men are exposed to competing and often confusing messaging about masculinity, we want our students to know that real strength includes vulnerability, connection, and the courage to ask for help.”
Students who want to grow a moustache can join the St. Mike’s MO Team by donating, using the QR code on the posters around the school or the link in the Movember Edsby group. Participating students will wear an official SMCS Movember pin on their blazer.
Students can also participate by joining the Movember Movement and Mindfulness Activity Challenge. A small donation will enter them into the challenge, where they will receive a Mo Activity Passport they will use to complete related activities run by the Mo Mentor teachers or on Strava, a digital fitness platform, on Mondays and Wednesdays. Students can also join the SMCS Strava team to work toward a 60 km walk or run for Movember. The students with the most completed challenges are entered into a raffle.
Homerooms are also challenged to get involved by picking a movement or mindful activity they can do together. Examples include push-ups, stretching, breathing exercises, a gratitude practice, and prayer. Prizes will be awarded to the homerooms that participate on the most days throughout November.
SMCS is also offering Monday morning educational and reflection-based discussions titled “MoMent Mondays” before classes begin and again at lunch hour to chat about men’s health.
“Participating in Movember is a great way to show your understanding of the struggles within men’s mental health and the importance of engaging in conversations about vulnerable topics,” says Charlie Appt, Grade 12. “Participating in Movember shows that you care about the students around you and promotes a school community that is open to conversations about difficult and ‘awkward’ concepts.”
Donations can be made through the SMCS MO Space team page or in cash. The student who raises the most gets a prize. Other prizes include Best St. Mike’s Mo, Best Teacher Mo, and most kilometres on Strava in Grades 7 to 8 and Grades 9 to 12.
“Movember is important because it brings awareness to issues that many men struggle with but don’t always feel comfortable talking about,” says Liam Asher, Grade 12. “I hope that by participating, we can encourage students to look out for one another, start meaningful conversations, and create a school community where everyone feels comfortable asking for help.”
For the second year in a row, alumni from the Class of 1990 are partnering with the school during Movember, turning its annual reunion into an opportunity to serve students by investing in conversations around youth mental health, belonging, and suicide prevention.
Motivated by their own experiences and the memory of classmates they have lost, they are helping to build a community where asking for help is seen as a sign of strength.
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