Mike Arsenault P ’00 ’03 ’04 (third from left) with former students (L-R) Werner Dietl ‘89, Joel Finlayson ‘89, P ’24 and Geordie Dalglish ‘89, P ’25. The Windsurfing Hut at Lakefield College School was dedicated to Mike in May 2022 in honour of his retirement and for his incredible contributions to the school.
40 Years a Teacher
Lessons Learned from Mike Arsenault LCS faculty member Mike Arsenault P ’00 ’03 ’04 retired in June 2022 after forty years. Mike joined the school as a teacher in September of 1982 following correspondences with Headmaster Terry Guest earlier that spring. Committed to lifelong learning, Mike conducted research, published articles, and often drafted memos to school leadership regarding topics such as the Socialization of Young Adults and proposing a teacher purchase plan for computers. He taught Biology, Earth Science and Environmental Science, has led the Science and Technology department, and has been the Head of Brown House and Grove House. He mentored countless teachers new to the profession and fostered a love of science in many Grove students. Mike, a champion of windsurfing, not only developed this program at LCS, but also kept our students safe as the Director of Waterfront. Trying to include all that Mike has given to LCS in 40 years is not possible to do in four pages. Careers that span 40 years are not necessarily uncommon, but careers that span 40 years in one place are extraordinary. Mike has experienced so much throughout his expansive career at Lakefield College School and we were pleased to capture some of the lessons he’s learned after educating teenagers for over four decades.
You Have Something to Offer Every Student When I first came to LCS, I thought there were two main kinds of students: those students whose parents had done everything they could to shape them into well-rounded adolescents and were looking for additional support and those who were already moulded into leaders with a range of skills and talents. We still get a mix, but now we also get a 10 | Grove News 2021/22