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Dear Prep Families, 

We were excited to receive our copy of the Prep Times the other day. We want to acknowledge Mr. Cooper and our dedicated student yearbook team for their efforts to create this record of our time together as a Prep community in 2023–24. I’m sure for you and your child as for us it sparks special memories of this past year — of classmates and teachers, many things learned, events like A-Day and the Terry Fox Run when we united as a community, and highlights from the many activities students participated in outside the classroom, including athletics and the arts.

On Wednesday in our final whole school Prep assembly, we took a moment to practice gratitude, reflecting and expressing the things we have been most thankful for in our Prep experience this year. What we heard were the many things our students are thankful for: acts of kindness and support from others; special places and spaces in the Prep; objects that help our learning and make our lives at school comfortable; non-tangible things like health, nature or friendship; and good qualities that we see in ourselves and others. 

Expressing gratitude as we did in assembly is a way of seeing all the good we have in our lives. We told students that there is actually much research that says if we take time to practice gratitude regularly, we become happier. As French artist Henri Matisse once said “There are always flowers for those who want to see them.” We also know that expressing appreciation — saying thank you to others — is an important way to encourage and build each other up as a community. 

As this year draws to a close, it is an important time to acknowledge the adults who work so hard to support student learning and make sure we all have a safe, clean and welcoming school to come to each day. Thank you to our teachers, and all those in all parts of the school — the dining hall, security, housekeeping, our ASP programs and more — who take care of student safety and wellbeing. An important thanks also goes to our families for their ongoing partnership and support of our common goal, an outstanding learning experience for each student where they gain the knowledge and skills to be their best self.

We look forward to celebrating graduation with our Year 7 students and families next week. To all in our Prep community, we wish you all a wonderful summer filled with adventures and many beautiful flowers. 

Your partners in learning,

Julia Kinnear, David Girard and Gareth Evans

The Prep Leadership Team

REMINDER | Save Seesaw work if you wish to keep it

Prep report cards

Report cards will be released to parents via BLUENET on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 26 at approximately 4 p.m. For Instructions on how to access report cards please click here.

The purpose of the report is to summarize learning thus far with teachers' observations of your child’s progress and to identify skills and concepts we are working on together. Accomplishments, areas for improvement, and next steps will be provided. In addition to subject levels, comments on your child’s adoption of the IB learner profile and IB Approaches to Learning skills (ATLs) will be included. 

We encourage you to discuss the report with your child to assist with goal setting. 

REMINDER | Year 7 Graduation is on Tuesday, June 18

As mentioned in previous editions of Heads Up and indicated on our calendar, the Year 7 graduation ceremony will occur on Tuesday, June 18 at 6 p.m. in Laidlaw Hall and will run for approximately 75 minutes. The ceremony will be followed by a reception in Massey Quad. Students are asked to arrive at the Upper School at 5:30 p.m. wearing First Dress. An official invitation was emailed to Year 7 families earlier this week. The ceremony will be recorded.

Textbook/course materials ordering information for 2024–25

With the closing of Canadian School Book Exchange (CSBE) and a thorough review of alternative options, we are pleased to announce our new course materials supplier is University of Toronto Bookstore.

The UCC-specific section of the website will be available on Thursday, August 1 and a link to the site and all pertinent information will be provided closer to the date. Textbooks can be purchased online to be shipped to your address, or shop in-person at the Bookstore’s downtown location (214 College Street).  You can also request to have your order delivered to other University of Toronto campuses for pick-up, this includes UofT Mississauga (UTM) or UofT Scarborough (UTSC). Click here to check the hours and addresses. Boarding families will receive a special delivery code if they would prefer their books are sent directly to the school. Your books will be delivered to UCC and held for you to pick up for the first week of school.

True to the spirit of the MYP and DP, text selection is based on the success of previous units, current issues, student interest, and cultural awareness. This reflection and research takes place at the close of each academic cycle. The August 1 date provides our teachers with the necessary time for this selection process and the University of Toronto Bookstore to source the materials. 

In the meantime, please direct any questions to Patti Cawker (Blues Shop Manager).

Attention next year's Year 8 and 9 students at UCC and BSS

I know some of you have just recently closed plays —A Wrinkle in Time at BSS and Fool's Gold at UCC. Next year's Y8 and Y9 play will be an exciting interpretation of a graphic novel entitled Bea Wolf by Zach Weinersmith. So, if you are in Year 7 or Year 8 now, we want you to come out for this show!

This play is a parody of the classic Beowolf, mixed with some Coca-Cola and Mentos, then SHAKEN UP!

This is an amazing ensemble piece, with some wild characters (did I mention there will be drones and puppets?). There are no small parts and there are lots of ways to get involved as an actor or as a technician.

If you want to prepare for the auditions that will occur as soon as school starts you can read the graphic novel (available at the TPL for free or go to your local independent bookstore).

It will require a commitment of 3 days afterschool a week and more time as we draw closer to the show. If you are heavily involved in Fall sports or teams, I would avoid auditioning. Rehearsal days will be Monday to Wednesday from 3:45-5:30 p.m., most likely.

Each actor will be asked to stage the following speech

The Audition Piece:

Be prepared to deliver the tongue-twister speech below in the spirit following characters: 

• a little kid still in diapers

• an apathetic teenager
  a fortune-teller 

• an army general 

• a D’n’D dungeon master

• an old farmer

• a nasty terrifying monster

• a persnickety tax accountant 

• an over-sugared pre-teen

• a pig

• as a rockstar 

• as a zombie

Speech (you are free to memorize or use a printed copy at the audition):

"So, you say she was silent in glory? Bah! She was silent for fear that Bea Wolf had been blasted! Drowned in a dozen-dozen iron-dense dodgeballs! Devoured there in the hope-benighted demon depths! No! While you drowsed in your bed, dream-dancing, Bea Wolf parried the power strikes of the grease beasts! Boomeranging blast upon blast, bedevilling those teens. Who, in their hair-riven hearts, recked not the wrath of Bea Wolf!"

Audition dates will be announced as soon as you are back to school!  

Brendon Allen

Drama Instructor

Important Year 8 dates 

Dear Year 7 Families and Students,

We have really appreciated the opportunity over the past month to meet many families new to the Upper School at the Y7 Transition Information Evening, New to Blue, and the Y7 Assembly in Laidlaw Hall. We are so excited to welcome you in September!

Please take a moment to review some important upcoming dates:

Last week of June

UCC 2024–25 Orientation Day Email: Communication via email includes the agenda for new student Orientation Day, as well as guidance on what to bring and a few welcome videos.

Last week of August

Welcome letter from Senior House Adviser: Communication via email from your student’s SHA introducing themselves and sharing helpful information about House life at the Upper School.

Last week of August

Checklist — Opening Weeks of Year 8: Heads Up article that outlines what students need to bring and can expect that first week of school, as well as a checklist for the upcoming Norval trip.

Tuesday, September 3

Orientation Day: Students new to the Upper School attend a day filled with fun and informative activities to get them on the right foot Day 1. This includes all Year 8 students and new students in other year levels.

Wednesday, September 4

First full day of classes.

Monday, September 10 – Thursday, September 13

Year 8 Norval trip: Students experience a week at Norval (3 nights, returning the 4th day) as a grade, organized by House and co-led by their Senior House Advisor, to build community and relationships.

As always, please do not hesitate to follow up with any questions!

All the best,

Gillian Levene and Alvin Jugoon

DONATE | Used uniforms and equipment

Attention parents! If you are cleaning out your closets before the summer, please consider donating to the PPO used uniform sales. You can drop off gently used uniform items in the used uniform blue box, located under the main staircase of the lower level of the Prep. Please do not bring in any stained, ripped or non-UCC clothing.

We are also accepting used equipment for a September sale. Accepted items include: soccer cleats, hockey helmets, hockey skates and neck guards. There will be a box beside the used uniform bin for these donations. 

Thank you for your support!