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This week the Upper School had the opportunity to host Holocaust survivor Elly Gotz during assembly to share his experiences during the Holocaust and the life he built for himself afterwards. This was a truly engaging and powerful assembly in which the community reflected on the importance of learning from our past.

Mr. Gotz has been a visitor to the school over many years, and we are so very fortunate that students have been able to have a Holocaust survivor speak with them in person and engage so sensitively and authentically. He was asked by a student to identify the most important thing he wanted students to learn from his talk. He spoke about the destructiveness of hate in all forms and the importance of combating hate towards any and all groups. He called for embracing our common humanity and approaching others who are different from ourselves with curiosity, compassion and a genuine desire to learn. 

This was a poignant and powerful reminder of the importance of the ongoing learning opportunities we provide in the classroom and through special events and programming in support of students' understanding of different experiences and identities and the ways that we can combat hate in all its forms.

Post assembly, Mr. Gotz engaged with students, meeting and speaking individually, and in small groups. He joined Ms. Metalin’s Year 11 English classroom, where students are currently studying the documentary The Accountant of Auschwitz, and was able to answer questions they had previously prepared with regards to his personal experience, but also on the topic of what our responsibilities are as a global community to protect and defend marginalized groups. 

Mr. Gotz's memoir, Flights of Spirit, is available to any student who would like a copy, courtesy of the Azrieli Foundation. 

In alignment with this strand of student learning, we have additional opportunities upcoming at the Upper School. A January 29 assembly for students will address Islamophobia, with an observation of the National Day of Remembrance to Acknowledge the Quebec City Mosque Attack. 

In February there will also be a celebration of Black Excellence Month, with Upper School students visiting their Prep peers for a special community time.

Best wishes,
Dr. Jeff Aitken

Winterfest, an annual showcase of school spirit, was a definitely highlight to cap off last week. Our annual “Stewards Madness” house basketball tournament took place, with the entire Upper School packing the stands of the Hewitt Athletic Centre to cheer on their house in a rapid fire single elimination style tournament. Afterwards, a selection of students played against the teacher team, with the teachers getting revenge on the students — who were victorious last year— with a decisive victory. Year 8, 9 and 10 students joined the Prep later that afternoon to watch the Year 7 and 8 hockey game that featured some great hockey and a band playing great music. 

In Laidlaw Hall, students led a Winterfest pep rally, including a video highlight reel and raucous rendition of Never Walk Alone. After the pep rally, students headed down to the arena to watch the varsity and junior varsity hockey teams play, followed by a varsity basketball game in the evening.

In Monday’s Principal’s assembly, students from the Jewish Culture Club facilitated a presentation observing International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Our community was honoured to hear an interview between special speaker, Elly Gotz, a Holocaust survivor, and Ms. Metalin, where he answered questions posed by students. Students engaged in related learning in advising, and some of the Year 8’s had the opportunity to de-stress with therapy dogs in the Old Gym.

REGISTER | Tickets available for Legally Blonde 

Join us in supporting the amazing performers of Legally Blonde which will be staged February 7–9 at 7 p.m. at The Bishop Strachan School's Stephen K. Hudson Theatre.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased starting tomorrow at lunch in the Student Centre. Tickets are limited, so buy them early!

Year 12 updates

Please click here to view updates.

RECORDING | Class of 2027 course information evening 

Please click here to view the recording from the Jan. 18 course information evening.

Please click here to view the slides.

RECORDING | Class of 2028 course information evening 

Please click here to view the recording from the Jan. 23 evening.

Please click here to view the slides.

REMINDER | Three-way conferences on Feb. 14 and 15

Dear UCC Parents/Guardians,

The Upper School three-way conferences will be taking place in-person on Wednesday, Feb. 14 from 2–8 p.m., and virtually (via Google Meet links) on Thursday, Feb. 15 from 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.

Feedback is an important tool to help students grow through their educational journey. The Upper School’s three-way conferences provide an opportunity for this to take place. 

In-person interviews will be held in five-minute intervals. Students are expected to attend and participate in these interviews with their parents/guardians to encourage ownership over their learning and develop self-advocacy skills. 

Virtual interviews will be held in five-minute intervals via Google Meet. Students are expected to attend and participate in these interviews.

*It’s important that you access the Google Meet link at the time of your scheduled appointment, and not before. Please use your email address and not your child’s UCC email. Upon entry, you will be placed in a “waiting room” until the meeting begins. At the start of the meeting, introduce yourself so that the teacher can confirm that the conversation is about your child. Please keep the conversation to the scheduled five minutes so that our faculty can meet with all families during the selected interview time slots.

Please feel free to book appointments on campus, virtually, or a combination of both. Registration must be completed through our pickAtime booking system. Please see below for instructions on how to book your appointments.

Accessing pickAtime

Each faculty member will have appointment times available between the opening and closing of each day. You will see their availability on the pickAtime system. You can begin scheduling appointments when the pickAtime system opens as follows:

pickAtime opens: Friday, Jan. 19 at 9 a.m.
pickAtime closes: Tuesday, Feb. 13 at noon

Please click here for instructions on how to book conferences. Please ensure that you can print or access your schedule when you’ve finished booking. 

Sincerely,

Joe Smith

Assistant Head of the Upper School

Year 9–11 | French exchange opportunity

We are excited to offer this unique partnership opportunity with Collège Jean-Eudes, one of Montreal’s top high schools, for Year 9–11 students. UCC students will interact with French-speaking students as they collaboratively create and share a business venture guided by principles of social entrepreneurship. 

The students from Collège Jean-Eudes are already working on exciting business proposals that will be submitted in a competition with JA Quebec, and they want our support! This work is done within the framework of a course called Sensibilisation à l’entrepreneuriat.

Interested students will have an opportunity to create their own pitch to present to the group or simply engage in authentic conversations with the aim of providing meaningful feedback. Along the way, all participants will get a chance to grow and refine their mastery of French conversation in a business context.

As part of this program, there will be four virtual meetings and an opportunity for students to visit each other's schools in person. If you are interested in participating, students are asked to complete this Google form by Jan. 22. 

All respondents will be invited to an information session which will be held during Flex Time on Jan. 22 in Room 247. Please watch for the invitation on the morning of.

Virtual meeting dates during Flex Time:

• Tuesday, Jan. 30

• Monday, Feb. 12

• Tuesday, Feb. 20 

• Tuesday, March 28

For any other information, you may reach out to Sophia Berezowsky, chair of the Modern Languages Department.

Year 8 | Parent/Guardian information evening on Feb. 6

Dear Parents and Guardians,

On the evening of Feb. 6, we will be hosting a parent/guardian information session for the Class of 2028. The goal is to provide information about the academic program, ongoing support for academic success, extracurricular opportunities as well as social and emotional wellbeing. 

Please indicate here if you will be attending so that we may prepare for your arrival.

Time: 6:30–8 p.m.

Format: In-person

Location: Manucha & Bellamy Studio Theatre (Room 201)

Many thanks for your support!

Gillian Levene and Alvin Jugoon

SIGN UP | Year 9/10 dance at Branksome Hall on Feb. 2

We have an exciting opportunity coming up for Year 9 and 10 students to attend a dance at Branksome Hall. The dance will be a Y2K-themed event (come dressed in your best circa 2000s wear). 

Friday, Feb. 2, 2024

8–10 p.m. 

AWC Gym at Branksome Hall (6 Elm Avenue Toronto, Ontario M4W 1N4)

Cost: $15 (billed to your UCC account)

Snacks provided

If students are interested in attending, please have them fill in this sign-up form to secure an invite. We will request spaces based on demand from sign-ups. If you have any questions please contact Lindsay Rielly (Year 9 Coordinator) or Sarah Khalanski (Year 10 Coordinator).

REMINDER | Last call for Lost & Found parade

Is your son missing clothing, bags, water bottles or shoes?

All Lost & Found items will be on display outside the Lower Dining Hall until Friday, Jan. 26. Parents and students are encouraged to drop by during school hours and take a look to see if anything is yours. Note: after tomorrow, any remaining items will be donated to charity.

If you have any questions, please email The Used Blues Store (TUBS) team.

SIGN UP | Self-nominations open for the 2024-25 PO Advisory Committee

The self-nomination process for the 2024–25 Parents’ Organization (PO) is now open!

Volunteering is a great way to meet other parents/guardians, stay current and connected with the school, and support our students. In-person meetings gives you the opportunity to interact with volunteers from Years 8–12, and is a great way to acquire knowledge about the Upper School.

PO goals and initiatives 

Our primary goal is to foster community engagement through social, informational and fundraising initiatives — from planning parent community speakers of interest, parent get-togethers and used uniform and spirit wear sales to organizing our annual Festive Marketplace. There’s a volunteer position for everyone!