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  <h1>Collison to Join Johns Hopkins Lacrosse in 2022</h1>

  <p>St. Michael’s College School (SMCS) student Matthew Collison is headed across the border in 2022 to begin his post-secondary journey at Johns Hopkins University (JHU).</p>  

  <p>The Grade 12 student-athlete is getting set to join the university’s lacrosse team, the Blue Jays, as a midfielder.</p>  

  <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/matthew-collison-1a.jpg" alt="Matthew Collison 1" width="450" height="600" class="float-left size-full wp-image-6139" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/matthew-collison-1a.jpg 450w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/matthew-collison-1a-225x300.jpg 225w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px" />

  <p>“With Hopkins being the second most winningest programme of all time, obviously, there&#8217;s an immediate attraction,” says Collison. “Their attention to detail as well as an obsession with continuing their greatness really played a heavy role in my decision as well. Not to mention the recent acquisition of Coach John Grant Jr., who is a fellow Canadian and considered to be one of the all-time greats of the sport of lacrosse.”</p>  

  <p>Collison has been playing lacrosse since he was around seven years old and enjoys the creativity and competitiveness of the sport the most.</p>  <p>“Lacrosse is a sport where you can easily become a very creative, unique player and can be successful without fitting into a specific playstyle,” he says. “I find that the playstyles that vary from team to team really makes the sport impossible to get tired of. It’s like there is always a new challenge at play. In regards to competitiveness, that sense of competition is something that helps me thrive in different life scenarios to this day.”</p>  <p>“I decided on Johns Hopkins due to the combination of world-renowned excellence in the classroom, year in and year out the display of elite-level competition on the field, and last but not least, the people and culture I will be surrounded by for the next four years of my young life,” says Collison.</p>  


  <p>While at Johns Hopkins, Collison plans to pursue a major in economics and minor in political science.</p>  

  <p>“I chose economics because of my experience taking the course this year at SMCS,” says Collison. “Since the beginning of this year, I found the subject extremely interesting and something I can easily see myself becoming well educated in, over the next four years of university.”</p> 

  <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/matthew-collison-3a.jpg" alt="Matthew Collison 3" width="450" height="595" class="float-right size-full wp-image-6140" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/matthew-collison-3a.jpg 450w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/matthew-collison-3a-227x300.jpg 227w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px" />

  <p>At SMCS, Collison was also active in many co-curriculars apart from his role on the Blue Gaels Lacrosse Team.</p>  <p>“I’m the prime minister of the Irish Club, I played hockey in my younger years, and was part of the honour band programme, the Blue Knight&#8217;s Chess Club, and intramural soccer,” he says.</p>  

  <p>“Matt is a dominant on-field presence. A gifted and hard-working athlete, with tremendous strength, offensive power, and vision, Matt will be a key contributor for the Blue Jays from the moment he arrives,” says Angus Dineley, SMCS teacher and lacrosse coach. “He’s a pleasure to coach, a fierce competitor, and a natural leader on and off the field. Matt will be joining two other Blue Gaels alumni in Baltimore: Johnathan Peshko ’19 and Jakson Raposo ’19.”</p>  <p>Collison plans to take a gap year in 2020-21 while he continues to prepare for the rigors of his student-athlete experience at Johns Hopkins.</p>  

  <p>“I believe that you are most definitely a product of your environment in every way shape and form,” says Collison. “This is the same belief that myself and my parents had when choosing to attend St. Mike’s, as well as choosing a university to call my second home.”<br />  </p>

</div>

<p> <br /></p>


SMCS Matthew Collison with Lacrosse stick

Collison to Join Johns Hopkins Lacrosse in 2022

<div class="page-inner">

  <h1>Alumni Information Series &#8211; The Future of Real Estate in Toronto</h1>

  <p>Real estate never seems to fade as a conversation piece and is often filled with diverse opinions. Add in the realities of a global pandemic and the potential interest grows.</p>  

  <p>So begins the conversation for the sixth edition of the St. Michael’s College School (SMCS) Alumni Information Series on Wednesday, March 3, at 7 p.m.</p>  

  <p>The Alumni Association is excited to welcome back classmates from the Class of 2000, D’Arcy McConvey and Adrian Rocca to discuss the future of real estate in Toronto.</p> 

  <figure id="attachment_6143" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6143" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/alum-info-series-real-estate-1.jpg" alt="D’Arcy McConvey &#039;00 and Adrian Rocca &#039;00 discuss the future of real estate in toronto" width="1200" height="800" class="size-full wp-image-6143" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/alum-info-series-real-estate-1.jpg 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/alum-info-series-real-estate-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/alum-info-series-real-estate-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6143" class="wp-caption-text">D’Arcy McConvey &#8217;00 and Adrian Rocca &#8217;00 will discuss the future of real estate in Toronto at the upcoming St. Michael&#8217;s College School Alumni Information Series.</figcaption></figure>

  <p>D’Arcy McConvey &#8217;00 and Adrian Rocca &#8217;00 will discuss the future of real estate in Toronto at the upcoming St. Michael&#8217;s College School Alumni Information Series.</p> 

  <p>“Our goal is to help with the watercooler office chatter by bringing real-time real estate insights to alumni and discuss what’s next for the Toronto real estate market,” says McConvey. “Real estate is relevant to almost everyone, and in many cases makes up a significant percentage of personal expenditure and asset base. Whether you are an owner, renter, buyer, or seller, real estate touches all of us in one way or another.”</p>  

  <p>McConvey’s background is a winding path that took him from professional hockey to investment banking, entrepreneurship, and now real estate. He is the Executive Director of Capital Markets at Greybrook Realty Partners where he focuses on real estate private equity.</p>  

  <p>Rocca is the CEO of Fitzrovia Real Estate, a vertically integrated asset manager. Previously, he served as the Head of Tricon Luxury Residences Canada, Tricon Capital’s purpose-built apartment platform and Tricon Lifestyle Communities, a manufactured housing business in the U.S.</p>  

  <p>The panelists bring their extensive real estate knowledge on topics such as the population growth within the GTA and surrounding areas and how condo and rental buildings are meeting the demand, to how developers are creating communities and lifestyles within their buildings.</p>  

  <p>“The pandemic has been very difficult for so many people, and we are doing our best to bring insights and expertise to help our alumni during this time,” says Stephanie Nicholls, Alumni Officer at SMCS. “Real estate has become a very popular topic for our alumni as witnessed by the many questions we have already received for D’Arcy and Adrian. Understanding the realities of the pandemic have changed the lives of many, we are looking for a variety of ways to help and are grateful to both D’Arcy and Adrian for joining us and sharing their insights.”</p>  

  <p>Alumni are invited to <a href="https://www.mysmcs.com/alumni-info-series" target="_blank" rel="noopener">register</a> to join in the discussion on March 3 at 7 p.m. Questions for Adrian and D&#8217;Arcy can be forwarded to Stephanie Nicholls at <a href="mailto:nicholls@smcsmail.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nicholls@smcsmail.com</a>.</p>  

</div>

<section>
<p><em><strong>Related links:</strong></em></p>
<p><a href="https://st-michaels-college-school-one.vercel.app/alumni">SMCS Alumni</a></p>
<p><a href="https://st-michaels-college-school-one.vercel.app/news-events">News And Events</a></p>
</section>

SMCS D’Arcy McConvey '00 and Adrian Rocca '00 discuss the future of real estate in toronto

Alumni Information Series – The Future of Real Estate in Toronto

<div class="page-inner">

  <h1>First Virtual Grade 11 Career Day Set to Debut</h1>

  <p>A new platform, fresh format, and a host of first-time speakers will highlight Grade 11 Career Day at St. Michael&#8217;s College School (SMCS) this academic year. </p>  

  <p>Among the scheduled speakers: a paralympian, a PhD, and a media relations staff member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. </p>  

  <p>Grade 11 Career Day at SMCS is designed to serve up a menu of professions and occupations for students to learn about as they prepare to consider post-secondary plans and future jobs.</p>  

  <figure id="attachment_6146" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6146" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/virtual-grade-11-career-day-graphic.jpg" alt="Photo courtesy of: Scott County Foundation" width="1200" height="771" class="size-full wp-image-6146" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/virtual-grade-11-career-day-graphic.jpg 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/virtual-grade-11-career-day-graphic-300x193.jpg 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/virtual-grade-11-career-day-graphic-768x493.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6146" class="wp-caption-text">Photo courtesy of: <a href="http://www.scottcountyfoundation.org/careercollege-counselor-intern-position-available/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scott County Foundation</a></figcaption></figure>

  <p>The annual event supplements a host of resources provided across the school throughout the year to help students discern their career path, including: experiential learning opportunities, Student Affairs initiatives, guidance counselling sessions, practicums, and other activities. </p>  

  <p>Here&#8217;s a snapshot of what to expect for Grade 11 Career Day 2021: </p>  

  <h2>BY THE NUMBERS</h2>  

  
  <table class="table">   
    <tbody>
      <tr> 
        <td>207</td> 
        <td>Grade 11 students</td>    
      </tr>
      <tr> 
        <td>16</td>  
        <td>Grade 11 Career Days held annually in its modern day form</td>    
      </tr>
      <tr> 
        <td>9</td> 
        <td>First-time speaker/presenters</td>    
      </tr>
      <tr> 
        <td>8</td> 
        <td>Industries represented:<br />  
        Computer engineering (AI), Media, Retail, Acting, Fashion, Business, Biopharmaceuticals, Athletics</td>
      </tr>
      <tr> 
        <td>8</td> 
        <td>Speaker/presenters</td>
      </tr>
      <tr> 
        <td>3</td> 
        <td>Alumni speaker/presenters</td>    
      </tr>
      <tr> 
        <td>1</td> 
        <td>Keynote speaker</td>    
      </tr>   
    </tbody> 
  </table>  

  <h2>FAST FACTS</h2>  

  <table class="table">  
    <tbody>
      <tr>
        <td>2021 theme</td> 
        <td>Follow your passion<br /> It is possible, if you think it is. <br />Think outside the box and make a difference<br />  </td>    
      </tr>     
      <tr>
        <td>Organizers</td> 
        <td>Luciano Volpe &#8217;93<br /> John Walsh &#8217;73 (Community &#038; Learning Partnerships)</td>     
      </tr>   
    </tbody> 
  </table>  


  <p><em><strong>Grade 11 Career Day will be held on Tuesday, March 2, 2021.</strong></em></p>  

</div>
<section>
<p><em><strong>Related links:</strong></em></p>
<p><a href="https://st-michaels-college-school-one.vercel.app/news-events">News And Events</a></p>
</section>


Career Day SMCS Photo courtesy of: Scott County Foundation

First Virtual Grade 11 Career Day Set to Debut

<div class="page-inner">

  <h1>First-Ever Virtual Archangel’s Den Awards Top Prizes</h1>

  <p>On Thursday, February 18, 2021, the St. Michael’s College School (SMCS) Alumni Association, hosted its third Archangel’s Den Alumni Entrepreneur Contest &#8211; virtually. SMCS community members, including alumni, parents, students, prospective families, and friends watched the event streamed through the school’s YouTube channel. </p>

  <p>“The Archangel&#8217;s Den provides an opportunity for alumni mentorship to flourish,” says Kimberley Bailey, SMCS Director of Advancement. “Whether it’s a young alumnus with an entrepreneurial spirit, an experienced entrepreneur willing to teach younger alumni, or an industry expert, the event provides a backdrop for alumni to give back by supporting the next generation with advice, new skill sets, polishing presentation skills, or funding.&#8221; </p>

  <p>&#8220;Our goal through Advancement and Alumni Affairs is to coordinate alumni relations and build lifelong relationships,” she says. “The Archangel&#8217;s Den not only strengthens a bond with the school, but with fellow alumni beyond their graduation class.&#8221; </p>

  <p>This year, young alumni entrepreneurs were challenged to submit proposals that will have a positive impact on the world. A diverse and experienced panel of judges had their work cut out right from the start in choosing only five business proposals to continue to the mentorship stage of the contest.  </p>

  <p>New to the Archangel’s Den was Riley Stefan, Grade 12 SMCS student, who was the event’s host. Stefan worked with Brandon Sousa ’07, current Archangel’s Den pitch mentor, on the creation and delivery of his script, along with valuable pointers for filming his segment all on his own.  </p>

  <p>The finalists were invited to present individually to the judges over Zoom. Following each presentation, the judges asked challenging questions as part of the evaluation process. Following the judges’ deliberation, the following three winners were announced: </p>

  <h2>Plastic Flux</h2>

  <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Plastic-Flux-Award.jpg" alt="Plastic Flux Award" width="1200" height="675" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6149" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Plastic-Flux-Award.jpg 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Plastic-Flux-Award-300x169.jpg 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Plastic-Flux-Award-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />

  <p>First place and the cash prize of $10,000 was awarded to Hanson Wong ’12 and Mohesan Sreekuladevan, co-founders of Plastic Flux. Their presentation focused on producing elegant furniture from recycled plastic while providing full transparency on how much plastic will be diverted away from landfills.  </p>

  <p>“The next step for the company is to purchase the commercial equipment we had mentioned in the pitch. Once we have the machines, we can proceed with optimizing the building process with the new commercial equipment and exploring methods to further customize products for our consumers. All of this will occur as we simultaneously build our plastic collection network” Wong reflects after the event. “Overall, the contest was a phenomenal experience. The guidance and questions posed by the mentors and judges had really accelerated our growth as a company. The contest had pushed our boundaries and presented new insights we would not have had otherwise. The advice we would offer to other young alumni entrepreneurs is don&#8217;t be afraid to try. If you fail, learn from it and iterate quickly. If you realize you need help, ask.&#8221;</p>

  <h2>Andi Bamby</h2>

  <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Andi-Bamby-Award.jpg" alt="Andi Bamby Award" width="1200" height="675" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6150" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Andi-Bamby-Award.jpg 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Andi-Bamby-Award-300x169.jpg 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Andi-Bamby-Award-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />

  <p>Erik Babinski ’13 and Mandy Chan, co-founders of Andi Bamby took second place and won $3,500 with their idea to offer advertising and web-based content creation for small businesses and artists. </p>

  <p>“The overall experience was positive. Obviously, it was our goal to win the top prize, but despite missing that goal we&#8217;ve gained valuable experiences and connections as a result of the competition,” says Babinski. </p>

  <p>He shares the following advice to his fellow alumni entrepreneurs, “Work on creating a business you are passionate about and seek the opinions of others to ensure you are headed in the right direction.” </p> 

  <h2>Lucidity</h2>

  <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Lucidity-Award.jpg" alt="Lucidity Award" width="1200" height="675" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6151" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Lucidity-Award.jpg 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Lucidity-Award-300x169.jpg 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Lucidity-Award-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />

  <p>Third place and the winners of $1,500 are Luca Bernardini ’20 and Tyson Lowe ’20, co-founders of Lucidity, a mental health programme designed to evaluate, monitor, and improve the mental health of student-athletes.  </p>

  <p>“We will be using the funds to develop the SMS service, improve the website, and database. We are hoping to have a trial run in September of 2021 and bring Lucidity to market in September of 2022,” Lowe says once hearing of their success. “The Archangel&#8217;s Den was a fantastic opportunity for both ourselves and Lucidity. In addition to the startup funds we received, the progress we made on the project was instrumental to Lucidity, and we could not be happier. We are grateful for the learning opportunity and look forward to working with the mentors. A valuable lesson we learned was to take criticism positively. It is normal to be protective of your business; however, it is essential to take advice from others. Once we were able to implement recommendations, we instantly saw improvements.” </p>

  <p>Congratulations to all of the finalists. SMCS looks forward to following their promising young careers as entrepreneurs. </p>

  <p>The Alumni Association is grateful for the many members of the SMCS community who stepped forward during difficult times to make this event a success. Special recognition and appreciation go out to event sponsors, Crunch Media Branding &#038; Communications Inc. and Lyn Group. </p>

  <p>Watch the recorded presentation:</p>

  <p><iframe loading="lazy" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n1CBsSR0K4c" width="560"></iframe></p>

</div>
<section>
<p><em><strong>Related links:</strong></em></p>
<p><a href="https://st-michaels-college-school-one.vercel.app/alumni">SMCS Alumni</a></p>
<p><a href="https://st-michaels-college-school-one.vercel.app/news-events">News And Events</a></p>
</section>


First-Ever Virtual Archangel’s Den Awards Top Prizes

<div class="page-inner">

  <h1>Soaring Opportunity for Aspiring Young Aviators</h1>

  <p>Students in the St. Michael’s College School (SMCS) Aviation Club recently participated in an exciting opportunity during one of their virtual meetings.</p>

  <p>Alumnus Andrew Giguere ’13, a pilot with Air Canada, lent his time to speak with club members over Zoom.</p>

  <p>“When I spoke with the students, I framed the conversation around the typical career path of a pilot,” says Giguere. “This typical career path moves from flight school to a regional airline and finally to a major airline. Since we were using the Zoom platform, I created a presentation that included photos of the aircraft I have flown and route maps of destinations. Then the floor was opened up to questions and we had a long discussion regarding everything from weather to emergencies.”</p>

  <figure id="attachment_6154" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6154" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/aviation-story-zoom-4.jpg" alt="Andrew Giguere ’13, a pilot, spoke with members of the SMCS Aviation Club over Zoom in 2021." width="1200" height="822" class="size-full wp-image-6154" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/aviation-story-zoom-4.jpg 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/aviation-story-zoom-4-300x206.jpg 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/aviation-story-zoom-4-768x526.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6154" class="wp-caption-text">Andrew Giguere ’13, a pilot, spoke with members of the St. Michael&#8217;s College School Aviation Club over Zoom in 2021.</figcaption></figure>

  <p>Joe Tropea, SMCS teacher and moderator of the Aviation Club, says the school first started the club in 2018. The club’s group on Edsby, SMCS’ digital learning platform, has over 40 members.</p>

  <p>“Before COVID we would meet once a week for about an hour, however, we always went over our ‘scheduled time,’ as the students were always having such a good time,” he says. “Sometimes we would have student-led presentations (on topics such as parts of an aircraft, types of commercial and civilian aircrafts, etc.). Other times we would just organically start conversations around current events in the aviation world such as ‘MAYDAY’ calls, or recent changes to the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) — TSB (Transportation Safety Board) in Canada — protocols. However, I think the students truly enjoy flying planes on the brand-new flight simulator the most. I mean, who wouldn’t?”</p> 

  <figure id="attachment_6155" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6155" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/aviation-story-zoom-3.jpg" alt="Andrew Giguere created a presentation with photos of the aircraft he has flown and route maps of destinations for the meeting." width="1200" height="702" class="size-full wp-image-6155" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/aviation-story-zoom-3.jpg 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/aviation-story-zoom-3-300x176.jpg 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/aviation-story-zoom-3-768x449.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6155" class="wp-caption-text">Andrew Giguere created a presentation with photos of the aircraft he has flown and route maps of destinations for the meeting with the Aviation Club.</figcaption></figure> 

  <p>Since the pandemic began last year, the club has met virtually via Zoom when schools were shut down. This is also the second time they have invited a guest speaker in to talk to students.</p>

  <p>“In 2019, we had another SMCS grad, Stan Kuliavas ’98, come and speak to the group in-person,” says Tropea. “Stan is a pilot who is now working on the business side of the industry selling private jets.”</p><p>Both Giguere and Tropea credit John Walsh, manager of Community and Learning Partnerships at SMCS for introducing them.</p>

  <figure id="attachment_6156" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6156" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/aviation-story-zoom-1.jpg" alt="The Aviation Club at St. Michael&#039;s College School met with alumnus and pilot Andrew Giguere over Zoom." width="1200" height="1007" class="size-full wp-image-6156" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/aviation-story-zoom-1.jpg 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/aviation-story-zoom-1-300x252.jpg 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/aviation-story-zoom-1-768x644.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6156" class="wp-caption-text">The Aviation Club at St. Michael&#8217;s College School met with alumnus and pilot Andrew Giguere over Zoom.</figcaption></figure>

  <p>“A pilot and a moderator of an Aviation Club who is also an aviation enthusiast, I knew Andrew and I were a perfect match and the conversation just continued from there,” says Tropea.</p>

  <p>“Since aviation is a large part of my family with my father and grandfather both being pilots, I was fortunate enough to have people to ask aviation-specific questions, but for many who are curious about it, they don’t have that luxury,” Giguere says. “I felt that it was important to make myself available to be that person for students and maybe help expose individuals to this fascinating industry. In addition to wanting to be a resource for the students, I wanted to hear about the club, its activities, and history.”</p>

  <p>Giguere, who has also volunteered his time with the school’s rugby and snowboarding teams over the past five years, remembers alumni returning to SMCS while he was a student to share their experiences about university, careers, and life after high school.</p>

  <p>“I felt that by speaking to the club I would be contributing to this practice that was common back in my time at SMCS,” he says. “Those experiences were impactful on me and I thought they might serve that same purpose on current students.”</p>

  <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/aviation-story-zoom-2.jpg" alt="Aviation Club story zoom 2" width="1200" height="767" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6157" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/aviation-story-zoom-2.jpg 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/aviation-story-zoom-2-300x192.jpg 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/aviation-story-zoom-2-768x491.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />

  <p>“This was a great opportunity for the students to connect and just have an open conversation with likeminded individuals outside of the regular Zoom/classroom setting,” says Tropea. “I think a great takeaway from this meeting was that we are all impacted by this pandemic in one way or another. Andrew mentioned that with the recent travel restrictions, all of his planes have been grounded. He used this opportunity to repurpose his time to other things like volunteering and speaking to individuals who share his passion for aviation.”</p>

  <p><em><strong>Learn more about other <a href="https://st-michaels-college-school-one.vercel.app/programmes/clubs-activities">clubs and activities</a> SMCS offers and which ones are currently running online due to the pandemic.</strong></em></p>

</div>
<section>
<p><em><strong>Related links:</strong></em></p>
<p><a href="https://st-michaels-college-school-one.vercel.app/news-events">News And Events</a></p>
</section>


Andrew Giguere ’13, a pilot, spoke with members of the SMCS Aviation Club over Zoom in 2021.

Soaring Opportunity for Aspiring Young Aviators

<div class="page-inner">

  <h1>Why I Chose Teaching as a Second Career: Francesco Bellissimo</h1>

  <p>The apple didn&#8217;t fall from the tree when it came to Francesco Bellissimo&#8217;s first career. </p>

  <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/bellissimo-headshot-1.jpg" alt="Francesco Bellissimo" width="400" height="600" class="float-left size-full wp-image-6160" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/bellissimo-headshot-1.jpg 400w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/bellissimo-headshot-1-200x300.jpg 200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" />

  <p>&#8220;My family history initially drew me to accounting,&#8221; says Bellissimo, accounting and economics teacher at St. Michael’s College School (SMCS). &#8220;Both my dad and my brother are accountants, so I was interested in and intrigued by it. Once I started my program at the University of Toronto, I saw the diverse career possibilities in accounting, which excited me to pursue this profession even more.&#8221; </p>

  <p>Things went according to plan for the first five years for Bellissimo, who has a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) designation. </p>

  <p>&#8220;Within accounting, I worked in three of the major fields commonly occupied by CPAs, which are external audit, finance, and internal audit,&#8221; he says. </p>

  <p>However, Bellissimo&#8217;s appetite for change and variety within the field was driven by an unlikely motivation.  </p>

  <p>&#8220;I switched each time because there was always something missing for me. I didn’t feel fulfilled,&#8221; he says. &#8220;Whether it was report writing or analysing spreadsheets, I was always looking for something else.&#8221; </p>

  <p>Each new experience helped him gain further clarity. </p>

  <p><br /></p>

  <figure id="attachment_6161" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6161" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/bellissimo-1.jpg" alt="Bellissimo is pictured with colleagues from the finance department during his time as an accountant with Loblaw Companies Ltd." width="1200" height="896" class="size-full wp-image-6161" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/bellissimo-1.jpg 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/bellissimo-1-300x224.jpg 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/bellissimo-1-768x573.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6161" class="wp-caption-text">Francesco Bellissimo is pictured with colleagues from the finance department during his time as an accountant with Loblaw Companies Ltd.</figcaption></figure>

  <p>&#8220;I really enjoy interpersonal interactions and working with individuals as a mentor.&#8221; That fact was confirmed by Bellissimo&#8217;s part-time activity. &#8220;In addition to my regular duties, I was training employees as well as tutoring economics and accounting on the side. That really helped me to think about pursuing teaching seriously,&#8221; he says. &#8220;I&#8217;d always thought about it as potentially a part-time position. I would teach at a college or university in addition to my full-time day job as an accountant.&#8221; </p>

  <p>During his fifth year of practice, the writing on the wall was unmistakable. </p>

  <p>&#8220;The enjoyment level started to become a factor. My role at the time didn’t involve much training and I was really missing that,&#8221; he says. </p>

  <p>The lure of starting a new career, dedicating a year to earn his teaching credentials, while exciting &#8212; posed immediate obstacles. </p>

  <figure id="attachment_6162" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6162" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/bellissimo-4.jpg" alt="Celebrating Halloween with former colleagues from Jonas Software." width="1200" height="900" class="size-full wp-image-6162" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/bellissimo-4.jpg 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/bellissimo-4-300x225.jpg 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/bellissimo-4-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6162" class="wp-caption-text">Francesco Bellissimo celebrates Halloween with former colleagues from Jonas Software.</figcaption></figure>

  <p>&#8220;I was still hesitant because we were a young family,&#8221; says Bellissimo. &#8220;My wife was pregnant with our second, so we knew she would be on maternity leave for pretty much the entire time I would be in teacher&#8217;s college. We&#8217;d be on a significantly reduced household income as a result.&#8221; </p>

  <p>Again, family played a critical role &#8212; this time his wife, who is also a CPA, CA.  </p>

  <p>&#8220;She helped convince me and push me over the hump,&#8221; recalls Bellissimo. &#8220;Without her being on board and helping me realize this is my passion, I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;d be here.&#8221; </p>

  <p>Seven years into his second career, Bellissimo has never looked back. </p>

  <p>&#8220;Being with other people, sharing my experiences, and imparting knowledge on a daily basis is really where I truly believe I thrive the most,&#8221; he says. &#8220;Getting to work with students on achieving their goals and working with them to master the content and bring out the best of themselves is what I enjoy.&#8221; </p>

  <p>&#8220;There are certainly many transferable skills that I apply in my current teaching career, such as multitasking, thinking creatively and working in a dynamic environment.&#8221; </p> 
  <figure id="attachment_6163" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6163" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/bellissimo-5.jpg" alt="During March Break in 2019, Francesco Bellissimo was among St. Michael’s College School staff to travel to Europe with a group of students as part of a business studies trip." width="1200" height="900" class="size-full wp-image-6163" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/bellissimo-5.jpg 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/bellissimo-5-300x225.jpg 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/bellissimo-5-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-6163" class="wp-caption-text">During March Break in 2019, Francesco Bellissimo was among St. Michael’s College School staff to travel to Europe with a group of students as part of a business studies trip.</figcaption></figure>

  <p>Additionally, he says his experience producing detailed, professional accounting presentations and reports serves him well in the classroom. </p>

  <p>&#8220;I can be meticulous with my PowerPoints! Sometimes I think I&#8217;m spending too much time on them, but when I get feedback from students saying they really enjoy them and find them not only interesting, but informative and helpful for tests and assignments &#8212; that&#8217;s really where the reward comes!&#8221; </p>

  <p>Transitioning from an accounting firm to a classroom has also meant other changes. </p>

  <p>&#8220;My biggest adjustment was really making sure to simplify things,&#8221; says Bellissimo, who received this feedback from one of his mentors in teacher&#8217;s college. &#8220;Now it&#8217;s almost like second nature to me. I always try and make sure that even if I&#8217;m leading with something, I&#8217;ll always backtrack and make sure we explain what it is or, even get class participation to explain what it is. Breaking things down before we proceed.&#8221;  </p> 

  <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/StMikes-NatPost-163.jpg" alt="StMikes NatPost 163" width="1200" height="800" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6164" srcset="https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/StMikes-NatPost-163.jpg 1200w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/StMikes-NatPost-163-300x200.jpg 300w, https://d97pdw6wu0.wpdns.site/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/StMikes-NatPost-163-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />

  <p><br />His biggest challenge? &#8220;Just trying to manage everything,&#8221; says Bellissimo, who is a father of four &#8212; all eight years of age and younger. </p>

  <p>&#8220;At this stage in my life, it is about trying to be a father at home and also trying to be a leader to the boys that I teach &#8212; just making sure there&#8217;s time for all of that.&#8221;  </p>

  <h2>Francesco Bellissimo&#8217;s learnings, career tips, and strategies: </h2>  

  <p>Never be afraid to try something new, regardless of your age, or where you are in your life. If you feel that’s your calling, then definitely pursue it.  </p>

  <p>Be passionate about what you do.  </p>

  <p>Make sure you&#8217;re doing what you love. And if you follow that, then you&#8217;ll end up where you need to be. </p>

  <p>Always pursue your dreams and what you want to do.</p>

  <p><em><strong>This story is part of an ongoing series on the career journeys of St. Michael’s College School staff. </strong></em></p>

  <p><strong>Grade 11 Career Day at St. Michael&#8217;s College School takes place on Tuesday, March 2, 2021.</strong></p>

</div>
<section>
<p><em><strong>Related links:</strong></em></p>
<p><a href="https://st-michaels-college-school-one.vercel.app/about/administration-and-staff/directory">SMCS Faculty</a></p>
<p><a href="https://st-michaels-college-school-one.vercel.app/news-events">News And Events</a></p>
</section>
