'It was one of the most amazing teaching moments of my career'

NEWS RELEASE

HURON-SUPERIOR
CATHOLIC DISTRICT
SCHOOL BOARD

****************************
SAULT STE. MARIE - Mario Rocchetta recalls telling his GLS1O students the same thing he tells all of his students on the first day of class: "The sky’s the limit. Don't let anyone stop you from believing in the beauty of your dreams."

Fast forward to the end of the semester, and Rocchetta and his students are a shining example of what can be accomplished with a big dream, hard work and dedication.

On May 29, the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board got a true taste of Hollywood as students in Rocchetta's GLS1O class partnered with Young and the Restless superstar Michael Graziadei to partake in a learning experience like no other.

"Our Board offers the GLS course every year to Grade 8 students who are looking to fast track and get a high school credit under their belt," explains Rocchetta. "The course predominantly deals with teaching students a variety of learning strategies, but also encompasses the areas of psychology, teamwork and career planning."

In the careers portion of the course, students benefited from the use of technology and guest speakers to explore a variety of career options including teaching, law, dentistry, family medicine, and even acting.

When the students remarked how "cool" it would be to have a famous guest speaker from Hollywood, Rocchetta was sparked with a creative, albeit crazy, idea.

"I truly believe in dreaming big and executing big, and I wanted to model for the students that if you desire something with all your heart, you can put in the work to achieve it," says Rocchetta.

Rocchetta and his students reached out to Hollywood superstar Michael Graziadei, an accomplished actor whom the students had been studying throughout the semester.

Graziadei agreed to surprise the class with a 20-minute Skype session that gave the students the opportunity to speak with the actor and get real advice from him, direct from his home in Los Angeles, California.

Graziadei, who is best known for his role of Daniel Romalotti on CBS' number-one rated daytime drama The Young and the Restless, was better recognized by the students for his other roles on shows like Criminal Minds, CSI, American Horror Story and The Secret Circle.

"I was a little bit nervous but excited to ask him a question," says student Tessa Rotermann. "He was so amazing and inspirational. It was a dream come true."

"We joked about getting a star from Hollywood to join our class but didn't really think it could happen," added classmate Cameron Oliver. "I think it's really unique what we accomplished."

During the live Skype chat, Graziadei shared an intimate account of his journey into the Hollywood scene, and informed the students that his line of work as an actor is not as "glitzy and glamorous" as they may think.

Keeping aligned with Rocchetta's theme of dreaming big, Graziadei was also quick to offer some words of advice to the youngsters.

"I was always terrified if I didn't give myself a chance," Graziadei shared. "If you really, really want something badly enough you can make it happen. The world has a strange way of allowing you to realize your dreams if you really put your heart into it."

The experience marked a surreal end to a successful course, says Rocchetta.

"It was one of the most amazing teaching moments of my career that I will cherish for a lifetime. Judging by the smile on these students' faces, they will do the same."
 
****************************