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The week was a busy one at the Upper School, and included a variety of activities and initiatives. The Churches on the Hill food drive kicked off in the Bernick Family Foyer, and planning is well underway for the upcoming Festive Marketplace. 

On the Dec. 1 Fun Friday, students and colleagues engaged in experiences to boost their spirit, body and mind, including steward-led Gaga Ball with Principal McKinney, Lego building and a November birthday party. The Lang Scholars also travelled to the Village of Carmacks in the Yukon for their leadership and service adventure.

Further, in Monday’s Principal’s Assembly, the community heard from students, faculty and guest speaker Ariana Gomes from Nellie’s Women’s Shelter about gender-based violence and allyship while observing the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

Holidays at Lonsdale

Next week the Board of Stewards will host its annual Holidays at Lonsdale. Each day will feature a different casual dress theme and there will be a variety of fun programming throughout the week (see table below). The school will be decorated honouring the variety of holidays that take place at this time of year.  

Surrounded by a community

Please click here to read the speech by Year 12 student representatives, Memo Ozdincer and Zchary Ali Khan.

SAVE THE DATE | Year 10 parent information session

Please join us on Dec. 11 from 7 to 8 p.m. virtually for a preview of the Diploma Programme (Year 11 and 12). Our DP Programme coordinator will outline briefly the DP programme and approach to selecting courses and highlight some new course offerings. Our Director of University Counselling will also speak briefly on the connection between course selection and post-secondary programming.  A recording of this session will be posted in Heads Up next week (for those unable to attend)

Please note our Year 10 students will also be given a preview of the program on Tuesday, Dec. 12 during their year-level assembly and will be asked to complete an initial courses selection interest survey. 

A more fulsome description of the program and individual course offerings will be provided on Jan. 16, 2024, at 7 p.m. at our formal course selection evening. 

Year 8 | Update

Year 8 is a time of transition and growth; with this understanding, we wanted to touch base as the first few months of school come to a close and the community builds towards a new year. There is much to celebrate among our 2023–24 Year 8 cohort, some of which we have captured in a Year 8 update along with:

• Strategies for balancing final summative work

• Ways of prioritizing in a busy schedule

• Staying engaged and feeling well during the break

• Some January trends

Please see the reflections and resources here.

Ms. Levene and Mr. Jugoon

From the wings

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 students 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. 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 an additional food drive donations to the Upper School winter play performances next Tuesday, 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!