Walter Gretzky Elementary presents the Mo Brigade!

Caption: Walter Gretzky Elementary students celebrate Movember by raising awareness about men's health.

Another year has passed, and Movember, once again, is here.

This is Walter Gretzky Elementary School's third year participating in Movember. The men at Walter Gretzky will spend the month growing and grooming their very own moustaches in an effort to raise awareness about men's health. The great thing about it is they will not be completing this journey alone. These Mo Bros, as they are officially called, will have the support of the women on staff, known as Mo Sistas, and the students, known as Lil' Mos.

Movember started in 2003 in Australia and has become a global movement over the years to raise funds and awareness regarding men's health issues. In particular, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health are the three health issues Movember supports. Men who participate in Movember begin the month with a clean shaven face, and let their mo grow throughout the month, while grooming it as they become a billboard for men's health issues. Over the years, many men have donned very creative moustaches.

Each month at Walter Gretzky Elementary teachers focus on a charity, cause, or issue. Mr. Hull and Ms. Perreault's Grade 6 classes will be leading the charge this year. The school is named after Walter Gretzky, who has given back to the Brantford community and has made a difference in so many ways, which is the attitude teachers promote at the school. The Grade 6 classes recently completed the KIDS program, which replaced the old DARE program. During this program they learned some information about mental health issues. In social studies they are also learning about how Canada and Canadians participate in the world and can make a difference in many ways, and that global issues require global action. Throughout Movember students from both classes will pair up to learn more about mental health issues and how mental health is a global issue and showcase their learning to their peers.

Along with this great learning that will happen, the classes are organizing some fun activities for students to participate and support Movember. They will be launching the Movember campaign on October 31 at the monthly "Making A Difference" assembly, have a moustache theme day where students can sport their own Mo, participate in a Movember dance, and enjoy some cake to celebrate the hard work involved in growing a moustache and raising awareness about men's health issues.

Some friends from the Movember office in Toronto kindly sent a support package containing lots of stickers, wrist bands, posters, pins, and hats to give to students to make this Movember a memorable one. The theme for this year is "Made in Movember,” so Walter Gretzky encourages other schools to join in on the fun, and support Movember. There is also a push for more Mo Sistas to get on board and support the Mo Bros in this worthwhile cause too.

To learn more about Movember as well you can visit their website at http://www.movember.com.