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Dear Prep Families,

Every four years, February receives an extra day to keep the calendar in line with the Earth’s journey around the Sun. This past long weekend we enjoyed the additional time for family and rejuvenation. As we move toward February 29 of this year, with longer days of sunlight and warmer weather, we hope you are all refreshed from a short break, enjoying these sunny winter days, and the energy we feel as spring draws closer. Students are fully immersed in learning across the Prep. This week's edition offers a window into the moments of joy, excitement and accomplishment our students are finding, along with some of the engaging experiences planned for the coming weeks. As always, we hope these highlights offer some potential points of entry to talk with your children about life at school and to reflect together on how they are growing as learners this year.

Your partners in learning,

Julia Kinnear, David Girard and Gareth Evans

The Prep Leadership Team

Norval winter update

To start off the new year with a burst of excitement, the Year 4s embarked on a two night, three day Norval adventure! Fuelled by anticipation, they penned heartfelt letters to their future Year 10 selves, each letter brimming with their youthful wisdom, advice and memories. As our annual Arctic Winter Games commenced, the atmosphere buzzed with enthusiasm, ignited by the tales of Mr. Evans, who freshly returned from the Yukon accompanied by the Lang Scholars. Drawing from firsthand experiences, Mr. Evans shared the Arctic Winter Games from the Community they visited: Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation. Their next escapade included the realm of academia as the Year 4s delved into the mysteries of the states of matter. Their journey through the Norval campus became a voyage of discovery as they tinkered with experiments such as a C02 fire extinguisher, baking soda and vinegar bag bombs, explored the wonders of our frozen pond, and much, much more. Amidst laughter and learning, they savoured the triumph of their very first Norval cookout, relishing the flavours of self-prepared meals cooked over an open flame, yum!

But wait, there's more! Undeterred by the scarcity of snow, our Year 4s fearlessly took on the challenge of the Bobsled Grand Prix. While most of Mr. Bushey’s bunch glided effortlessly down Mount Norval with more snow than any other class has had this year, Mr. Ferley’s crew faced a more treacherous path with less snow. Their bobsleds were tested by icy patches and rugged terrain. Yet, through sheer determination and grit, both classes conquered every obstacle, leaving behind a trail of triumph, camaraderie, and some bobsleds in utter pieces. 

In a blaze of excitement, the Year 1s descended upon Norval for their legendary annual Pie Party! 1C embarked on an epic quest to uncover the dastardly thief who ate the cherished Norval Apple Pie. With hearts afire and minds sharp as blades, they delved into a whirlwind of plots, characters, and settings, determined to unravel the mystery surrounding our beloved dessert. As the shadows of suspicion loomed large over Norval, only the heroic Year 1s possessed the courage and detective skills to confront the mystery head-on. Was it the cunning Wolf, prowling in the shadows of the forest wreaking havoc on all? Or perhaps the hungry Coyote, looking for some extra scraps? Could it even have been our beloved friendly neighbourhood Ranger Riding? The Year 1s were able to unravel the clues and restore balance to Norval by bringing our suspects to justice and saving our Norval Pie Party!

In a tale whispered among the ancient pines of Norval, the SKs received an exclusive invitation from the mystical Norval animals of the forest to a fabled birthday celebration for the Winter Wizard himself. Yet, upon their arrival, they were met with a scene of chaos and disarray, as the woodland creatures found themselves in party planning mayhem. As Inquirers, the SKs have been trained in the art of questioning, problem-solving, and knowledge-sharing. Empowered by their training, they were steadfast in their resolve to aid the animal folk in solving their dilemmas. The Winter Wizard, disheartened by the belief that his special day had been forgotten, found himself unable to conjure the snow with his usual enthusiasm, leaving the landscape bare of snow. Not known to the Winter Wizard, the SKs had been recruited by the Norval animals to orchestrate the most magnificent surprise party imaginable! With their infectious enthusiasm and boundless creativity, the SKs succeeded in lifting the Winter Wizard's spirits, creating a truly spectacular celebration for his momentous “eleventy-fifth” birthday!

Behold! The grand finale unfolded as the Year 6s embarked on a legendary quest known as the Trappers and Traders game, a Norval quest unrivaled in scale, complexity, and sheer magnitude. An entire week was dedicated to honing the students' skills, fortifying their spirits, and enriching their minds in preparation for this epic adventure. Immersed in a simulation, the classes delved deep into the dual roles of European traders and Indigenous peoples, navigating the intricate web of the fur trade. To deepen their understanding, they were graced with the wisdom of Elder Gary Sault, who shared invaluable Indigenous perspectives on the fur trade, highlighting the profound significance of this chapter in history. Armed with newfound knowledge and fortified by survival skills honed through trials of fire, archery, challenge courses and mapping, the students ventured forth into the untamed wilderness of Norval. Whether the groups would survive, thrive or perish, was the only question. In small groups, they searched the land for fur markers, trading their hard-won fur for essential items to be able to weather the harsh winter ahead. Amidst the rugged terrain and unforgiving elements, the true test of resilience lay in unity. Through collaboration and communal effort, one class surpassed the boundaries of competition, achieving a historic triumph as they not only survived, but thrived as a whole class. Thus, granting their names into the records of Norval lore as the first to emerge victorious as a united front!

Coming up next, we are looking forward to the visits of the Year 3s and 5s to Norval!

Brittany Cook
Norval Teacher

Year 5 PYP Exhibition update and parent information session

Year 5 students have been considering their top three choices for possible exhibition projects. In the last year of Primary Years Programme (PYP) at UCC, Year 5 students engage in the PYP Exhibition, which is a collaborative, student-driven, research-based and action-oriented culminating activity.  

All year long, students have been considering issues they care about, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and ways people can take action. Students are now beginning to narrow in on their focus by indicating their top 3 possible choices. Their choices must meet certain criteria. 

Topics must:

• Be something they really care about 

• Be current

• Connect to WHO WE ARE and a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal

• Have resources/be researchable

• Have a possible local action

We encourage you to have rich conversations at home with your child about their top 3 choices. 

Students will form their groups in time for team building at Norval and they will begin their research in earnest following March Break.

We celebrate student learning and action with parents and the rest of our school community on Friday, May 10. Details will be provided as we approach this date but Year 5 parents should mark their calendars and plan to attend an afternoon event. 

Year 5 parents are invited to join a virtual PYP Exhibition Information session to learn more about the PYP Exhibition. Please join us on Monday, March 4 at 6 p.m. Zoom link to follow.

Dianne Jojic
PYP Coordinator

Pink Shirt Day 2024

The Prep will be marking Pink Shirt Day on Wednesday, Feb. 28.  It is a day to think about the prevention of bullying and promoting kindness and inclusion.  

We encourage students to wear a pink shirt (with their regular uniform pants) to represent a commitment to being open minded, accepting of differences and respectful of all.   

This year, we are pleased to have our student Allyship Council helping to organize activities connected to the day.  This council of student leaders includes the colour house captains and students from each Year 6 and 7 form.  The purpose of the group is: 

• To support faculty and students with exploring foundational concepts connected to allyship 

• To promote the feeling of belonging throughout the whole school community                                                     

With this in mind, council members will be preparing posters and announcements and doing presentations in classes with a focus on being kind, being an ‘upstander’ and supporting each other. They will introduce an activity in which students can recognize the positive qualities and actions of others so, in a Council member’s words, “we can build a school where we can share our strengths.” 

These conversations will be a nice link to ongoing discussions in the school around identity, kindness and respect. Though wearing a pink shirt makes a statement on the day, the message to students is that what is most important are our actions and how they impact those around us every day. 

Martha Boyce

Prep Counsellor and Health & Life Skills Teacher and Coordinator

Primary and Middle exciting French language school presentations await!

Get ready for an array of captivating performances coming soon to UCC, celebrating the vibrant diversity of French-speaking cultures! Here's what's in store:

David Lane's From Humming to Mouth Drumming

David Lane, hailing from Vancouver, presents an interactive performance From Humming to Mouth Drumming, blending acapella singing and beatboxing. Designed to engage SK to Year 4 students, this bilingual performance promises a dynamic and immersive experience.

Date and time: Thursday, Feb. 29 from 9:45-10:45 am

Razzmatazz's Enchanting Sing-along in French

Razzmatazz, originating from the East Coast and now in Toronto, brings their dynamic performance tailored for younger audiences. With sing-along songs in French, English and Hebrew, Razzmatazz promises an interactive and memorable experience.

Date: Thursday, March 7, 60 minutes in Weston Hall for SK to Year 4

Fana Sono's Drumming Workshops from Ivory Coast

Immerse yourself in the rhythms and beats of the Ivory Coast with Fana Sono, an African drummer offering mesmerizing drumming workshops in French. Fana brings to life the music, dance and culture of the Senoufo people, offering a unique glimpse into the rich heritage of the Ivory Coast.

More exciting French cultural activities are to come during French Week from April 15-18.

Peter Labancz
French - Learning Leader

SIGN UP | Come learn about opportunities on the PPO

Dear Prep Parents,

The Prep Parent’s Organization (PPO) is starting our self-nomination process for next year’s committee. 

Do you like to connect with other parents and feel part of a community? Maybe you love coming up with new ways to fundraise or have some fun swag ideas to sell at A-Day? Do you just want to be more involved in the school day-to-day? Join the PPO!  

Please have a look through our advisory positions here. PPO self-nominations will be open from Friday, Feb. 23 to Friday, April 5. Look for a link to sign up in your class WhatsApp chats or in the PPO newsletters.

DONATE | Mother’s Day Drive

Last year your donations meant more than 170 women at Ernestine's Women's Shelter and Women's Habitat received much-loved gift bags of toiletries from their children on Mother’s Day.

Students will be once again collecting full and travel/hotel sized:

• soap and body wash

• shampoo and conditioner 

• body lotion and skin care 

• cosmetics and nail polish

• hair care products

• toothbrushes and toothpaste

• antiperspirant and sanitary products

• beauty samples/perfumes

• small gift sets 

Your donations will be beautifully wrapped for children at shelters to give to their moms on Mother’s Day, so that together they can celebrate this special day.    

Donations can be dropped off at the reception desk in the Upper School or main office of the Prep. Please contact Linda Carvalho if you have any questions about drop off, or Samantha Dugas if you have questions about donations.