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Since last week we’ve been lucky enough to welcome multiple guests into our community and kickoff one of the highlight spirit weeks of the year — Holidays at Lonsdale.

Friday’s assembly was sustainability-focused, with our Sustainability Steward emceeing and featuring Michele Andrews, introducing our community to UCC’s membership in the Climate Action Accelerator Program. Monday’s assembly was arts-focused, with guest speaker Amy Cameron, executive producer in the film industry, sharing insights into her career and journey. The arts assembly also featured a performance from the wind ensemble and a preview of the upcoming play The Twelfth Night. 

Holidays at Lonsdale kicked off with hot chocolate and holiday music greeting students as they entered the building Monday morning, and each day has featured casual dress themes, events at Flex Time, and plenty of cheer.

The Social Innovators Program

Dear Students and Families,

We are excited to announce that UCC is partnering again this year with the University of Pennsylvania and Schoolyard Ventures, an organization that develops university-level, real-world learning opportunities for ambitious high school students, to offer The Social Innovators Program for students in grades 10 and 11. 

The 12-week virtual program allows students to learn about social entrepreneurship and experience it first-hand, while earning a Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship from Penn.

During the program, students learn how to launch ventures of their own that create value and a positive impact on society. Students learn in small online classes and through engaging interviews and case studies with other young entrepreneurs from around the world, with personalized one-on-one guidance and support along the way. Because students choose their own projects, each student's experience in the program is unique. Learn more about the program here. 

This program does have a cost associated with it, but financial support is available and consideration is made upon request. 

The application deadline is Thursday, February 1st, and the program runs from February 19 to May 13, with classes meeting virtually one evening per week. You can register at the webpage above.

A virtual information session for students and parents will be held on Thursday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. Register online here.

If you have any questions please reach out to Paul Miskew.

Library resources and accommodations

The libraries at UCC collect resources in the following formats: print, digital, audio and DVD/video/video streaming. We will use the following resources to accommodate any request for a person with a disability requiring converted materials:

• In-house assistive technologies: Google Read/Write

• Library systems

• Vendors who currently or could supply the above-mentioned formats

• AERO service when subscribed to by UCC

RECORDING | Year 10 parent information session on Dec. 11

Please click here to view a recording of the information session. Click here to view the slides presented.

BOOK NOW | Military history biking trip 

We are delighted to announce that UCC is working with Georgia Hardy Tours for the fith year in a row to organize a Battlefield Cycling Trip to Belgium and France! The trip is open to all Year 9 to 12 students and will take place from June 14 – 22, 2024, and will include a variety of activities to enhance our curriculum. We have carefully designed an itinerary that will allow students to visit some of the most interesting, beautiful, and historically rich places on earth. 

To provide you with more insight into this exciting opportunity, we have asked Georgia Hardy Tours to put together a detailed brochure to highlight the itinerary, tour price ($4,995.00 per person + insurance) as well as the registration instructions.  

To register for this trip and secure your spot, please click here and click on the “BOOK NOW” button on the top right corner of the page. Once you register, you will receive an email from us, letting you know that we will process your credit card when we know our final numbers. In the unlikely event this trip does not sell out, we will cancel your registration and you will not be charged. Make sure you have your passport handy for the registration process. 

For those of you who are interested in the trip, there will be an information evening at UCC on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 5:30 p.m. We look forward to seeing everyone there.

Year 8 assembly

We celebrated the achievements and growth of Year 8s in their final year-level assembly of 2023, aptly held in the Prep’s Weston Hall. Students heard from, among other speakers, Pluralism Steward Gigi Ciardlandi and Sustainability Steward Bill Sun and their messages on the importance of self-advocacy, involvement and patience on individual learning journeys. Year 8 Community representative Zach Cyriac and Learning/Service representative Prince Zhang also highlighted their goals for this year and delivered shout-outs to several members of their class. The event concluded with a special video of Year 8 teachers reflecting on the ways working with students at this age is so special.

With our very best wishes,

Mr. Jugoon and Ms. Levene

Chanukah lunchtime celebrations

On Tuesday, Dec. 12, the UCC community was excited to celebrate Chanukah in the Student Centre where students, staff and faculty were able to partake in a wonderful spread of potato latkes and doughnuts. Many thanks to our dedicated parent volunteers for their much appreciated efforts in support of this festive occasion!

Ms. Levene and Mr. Jugoon

Skating party — Upper School families!

The Parent’s Organization is hosting a 'parent/guardian and child' skate on the afternoon of Friday, Dec. 15 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The holiday skate is for the Upper School only. If you’re not much of a skater, you can stay warm by the fire in the Foster Hewitt Foundation Lounge at Wilder Arena, where you can sip hot chocolate, socialize and watch the skating below. If you are planning to attend, please sign up here.

Helmets are mandatory for all skaters. 

Donations to the Food Bank are welcomed.

DONATE | Annual food drive for the Churches on the Hill (COTH) 

On Monday, Nov. 27, UCC’s annual Churches-on-the-Hill (COTH) food drive began collecting food donations at the Upper School. COTH Food Bank is just a few blocks away from UCC and serves between 1,100 and 1,200 people each week. Over the past 3 years, we have collected nearly 5,000 pounds of food. Today COTH needs our support more than ever. Rising inflation, especially in food prices and housing, is causing more households to rely on COTH to meet their needs. In fact, across Toronto, one in ten residents use food banks to survive. 

You can help out by bringing in food donations to the bins located in the main foyer for the next two weeks. Our goal is to collect a pound of food for every student, so please help us support this important cause. COTH has provided us with a list of the items that are in the highest demand, and we’ve allocated them by House. We also ask that everyone consider donating baby formula (Enfalac or Kirkland brands) and diapers (sizes 4-6) to support the Infant program at COTH. 

Please place your listed objects in the House labeled bins present in the Bernick Family Foyer.

Bremner's: Peanut butter (large size)

Howard's: Low sugar cereals such as Cheerios (large size)

Jackson's: Canned fruit

Martland's: Large flaked oats (not instant)

McHugh's: Dried beans (i.e. red kidney beans, chick peas, black beans, etc.)

Mowbray's: Canned tuna and salmon

Orr's: Salted crackers

Scadding's: Dry pasta (large size)

Seaton's and Wedd's: White or brown rice

Please consider bringing any additional food drive donations to the Upper School winter play performances Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. There will be collection bins at the theatre entry.

The clients of the Daily Bread Food Bank at Churches on the Hill are thankful for your support and generosity!