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A message from the Prep Leadership Team

Dear Prep Families,

It is difficult to believe, but we are well and truly approaching the end of the year! There are many special events on the calendar at the moment that are real highlights for our students after all of their dedication and hard work over these last months of school. Last Friday’s Generations Day was a wonderful opportunity for our students from SK to Year 7 to share their learning and show off their classroom spaces to grandparents and other special friends and family. As a Prep team, we enjoyed the chance to connect with our extended community and to see our students make special UCC memories with those key figures in their lives. This week, we held Year 6 and 7 prize giving and then saw our Year 7s set off to Niagara and our Year 6s make one last trip to Norval. With our Middle Division students away at the end of this week, it is markedly more quiet in the hallways and our students in Primary feel the excitement of being the big kids on the block. You can read below about the learning that has been engaging them in the highlights shared by our faculty. Next week we are back together as a full Prep community and move into our last lessons, celebratory pizza lunches generously sponsored by the PPO, our final assembly and the last day of school! 

As always, we are grateful for your ongoing support and partnership and wish you well in the week ahead.

Your partners in learning,

Julia Kinnear, David Girard and Gareth Evans

The Prep Leadership Team

Potential TTC strike

Dear Prep School families,

As you are likely aware, there is a possibility of a TTC frontline workers’ strike starting in the early morning hours. The TTC is providing updates here. 

I wanted to get in touch to confirm that while the potential strike action poses travel challenges, we plan to maintain normal operations at the Prep, up until the end of the academic year. This includes previously scheduled activities and outings for students, as well as the ASP. 

Should the strike come into effect, your efforts to find alternate travel arrangements and plan for increased travel time are greatly appreciated.

Warm regards,

Dr. Julia Kinnear 

Head, Preparatory School 

An update from Year 5

We had a fantastic time celebrating Generations Day! It was wonderful to see so many family members come together to enjoy the day. The boys performed incredible musical performances and enjoyed delicious treats with their special guests. Thank you to everyone who made this day possible.

We have kicked off our final unit of inquiry for the year, focusing on Media Literacy. This unit is designed to help our boys explore the various ways we discover and express ideas through different forms of media. They are delving into media techniques, stereotypes, biases, and marketing strategies, gaining a deeper appreciation for the power of media in shaping beliefs and actions. For their culminating activity, the students will create a commercial for their design passion project. It's an engaging and enlightening way to end the academic year.

Alongside their media literacy work, we are excited to share the details of our upcoming Narrative Story Unit with you. This unit promises to be an excellent opportunity for your children to develop their writing skills, express their creativity, and experience the full writing process from start to finish. Students will write a two-page narrative story that follows a clear and engaging plot structure. This project will not only enhance their writing abilities but also their understanding of storytelling elements and narrative techniques. Before diving into their writing, the students explored a variety of mentor texts. These carefully selected stories served as models, helping students understand different writing styles, narrative structures, and techniques used by successful authors. Reading these mentor texts should inspire and guide students as they craft their narratives. The boys will follow the writing process that includes; 

1. Flash Draft: Students will start by writing a quick first attempt at writing their story. The flash draft aims to get ideas down on paper without worrying too much about perfection. It’s all about letting their creativity flow freely.

2. Self-Editing: Students will review their work after completing their flash draft. They will focus on revising the content, improving the plot, character development, and ensuring their story has a clear beginning, middle, and end. This stage encourages students to become more critical of their writing and make necessary adjustments to enhance their narratives.

3. Peer Editing: Students will then exchange their stories with classmates for peer editing. This collaborative process allows them to receive constructive feedback from their peers. They will look at each other’s work with fresh eyes, suggesting improvements and pointing out strengths. Peer editing helps students see their stories from a different perspective and refine their writing.

4. Final Draft: Students will write their final draft, incorporating self- and peer-editing feedback. This is where they polish their stories, paying close attention to grammar, punctuation, and overall readability. The final draft should be a well-crafted, engaging narrative they are proud to share.

Once their final drafts are complete, they will publish their work on Book Creator. This digital platform allows them to add illustrations, enhance their text with multimedia elements, and create a professional-looking e-book. Publishing their work in this format provides a sense of accomplishment and gives them a tangible product to share with others.

In the final week of school, we will have a sharing session where students can present their published stories to their classmates. 

As the end of the year quickly approaches, please remember to send your child to school with extra bags to transport their school work and belongings home.

Paul, Jen, and Lisa, we want to express our gratitude for your unwavering support throughout the year. We wish all the boys the best as they transition to the Middle Years Programme. We hope you and your families have a fantastic summer and look forward to seeing you around the Prep in the fall.

Lisa Brooks, Paul Faggion and Jennifer Harper

Spring in the Learning Garden: celebrating a new season of growth!

For the past six weeks, thirty Year 4 and 5 students have been getting their “green thumbs'' dirty by putting the principles of ecological gardening and land stewardship into action. Gathering on Mondays and Tuesdays after school in the Learning Garden, students have actively engaged with the pillars of ecological agriculture practices through soil-building activities such as mulching, adding compost and planting cover crops. 

Faculty members Dianne Jojic and Monika Kastelic are both passionate about putting the PYP into action outdoors. Ms. Jojic integrates garden-based experiential education into Units of Inquiry by taking PYP classes to the garden for lessons and activities during the school day during both the spring and fall. Ms. Kastelic shares, “Working on, and with the land in a respectful, reciprocal way has always been at the core of my life’s work. I found my way into teaching while co-managing an organic vegetable farm near Guelph, Ontario for several years after my first degree at university. I enjoyed working with school groups through our “farm-to-table” visits so much that I decided to pursue my B.Ed. in Outdoor Experiential Education. I am grateful to be in a position where my passion for the arts and land-based ways of knowledge are integrated to become a part of each day’s work with the college.”

During each Garden Club meeting, students have a chance to socialize with like-minded peers and build a deeper understanding and respect for the soil, insects, plants and other parts of the ecosystem.

This week, garden club members celebrated the season through a harvest party. They picked, washed and chopped seasonal greens including arugula, spinach, bok choy, lettuce, radishes and kale. Everyone enjoyed a salad packed full of diverse flavours straight from the field to the table!

During the final week of clubs, students will be planting “heat lover” species including heirloom tomatoes, peppers, zucchini and beans, as well as expanding the “pollinator garden.” The Learning Garden flourishes over the summer with the care of staff from BUFCO, the urban agricultural business we have partnered with for the past six years. 

Please reach out if your family is interested in helping to care for the garden over the summer or in the fall. 

Wishing you and your family a wonderful summer full of fresh local produce!

Sincerely, 

Prep Learning Garden coordinators,  

Monika Kastelic and Dianne Jojic

Innovation in Primary

As we wrap up this academic year, we want to celebrate the exciting lessons and activities in our Primary classes focused on technology and design. Teachers have been implementing innovative practices for technology integration, and students have become digital creators, designers, and builders of their own learning. Read below to see the most recent activities our primary students have been engaged in.

We look forward to watching our youngest innovators continue to thrive next year in our new Innovation Lab!

Joanna Martin
Technology and Design Integrator

Year-end pizza lunch and parties

As the school year comes to an end, Prep students can look forward to year-end celebrations including the annual PPO sponsored pizza lunch on Tuesday, June 11. Remember to look out for details about class parties aligned with this pizza lunch from your child’s form teacher.

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.

INFORMATION | 2024-25 Year 8 important dates

Please click here to view important dates for all Year 7 students who will be entering Year 8 for the 2024–25 academic year.

REMINDER | Locker clean out

To allow for the proper cleaning and maintenance of the College facilities, all lockers at the Prep need to be emptied by Wednesday, June 12. We encourage you to have your child begin emptying their locker ASAP. If your child is leaving early please have them make arrangements to empty their lockers with their form adviser. We will also notify and remind the boys of this arrangement. 

Students may keep their locks for next year. All lockers will be inspected by form advisers to ensure they are empty.

Any lockers that are still locked at 9 a.m. on June 13 will have their locks cut off and the contents removed.

Thank you in advance for your support.

An update from Norval

Head’s up at Norval Outdoor School! There are so many seasonal wonders flitting above and flying below, you have to keep your head on a swivel! In late April and into May, Year 3G and 3O basked in the sunny shade while exploring the "Fishy Creek" and cheered together in the annual Norval boat race "regatta". The Year 3s released their Paddle to the Sea boats and their environmental messages down the Credit River.  We are so proud of 3G and 3O for accomplishing their first Norval Sleep Over!

Norval hosted a Great Garden Adventure for the UCC Senior Kindergartens. World-famous Bruno the Worm Chef graced the Norval campus with the culinary wonders of soil parts, sand, clay, and compost to honour the birthday of Wanda the Worm (who turns two this year!). In the Pollinator Garden, the SKs planted pansies in rubber boots, looked for bugs, and explored how all living things are connected and have needs that support their growth.

In anticipation of their Caledon Trailway Bike Trip, Year 4B and 4F rocked and rolled to Norval to learn how to ride as a regimented heat of cyclists. Spanning Caledon, the Year 4 bike trail follows an abandoned rail line built in 1877. On their bikes, the Year 4s arrived at their rest stops and lunch locations along the journey to enjoy the roadside experience. Then, the UCC Year 4s turned from the road to the skies, hanging out around the Flight Center at a BBQ lunch in the afternoon to wait for their chance to fly in a Cessna airplane.

At the end of the second week of May, Year 2C ventured to Norval to explore the creek and ask, "Who’s Been Here?" around the pond. At the creek, students discovered, explored, and sorted the creatures they found (such as water-breathing fly larvae) to identify the adaptations they have for their environment. At the pond, the group followed an old deer path in search of clues of what animal had left its trail behind. The group read a story and ate a blueberry treat —just like in the book — and met together in the meadow. They climbed the Magic Stairs for lunch and played run-around games outside Stephen House until it was time to get back on the bus.

Mid-May welcomed the entire Year 10 and Year 7 cohort for the Mentor Training Trip. At Norval, the Year 7s stepped up to the challenge while the Year 10s ran the show; the group challenges included team play card games to explore the "big questions" and commonalities between the boys. The Year 10s and Year 7s ran the stations with Norval support and followed through in the afternoon with three Communication and Resilience activities: a 3D "car rally" puzzle, a "mind reading" activity, and a group "Inuit" blanket toss. The entire UCC student group of Year 7s and Year 10s learned and laughed together over three days of communication and cooperation challenges.

The last week of May made a SPLASH during the End of Year Norval Trip for the Year Ones! Y1C came to Norval to play outside and celebrate the sensations of spring and the start of summer. The party plan included an introduction to the unit on the brain; students learned about how the human body interprets smells, sounds, tastes, sights, and feelings. They smelled and crushed needles and bark to make tea inside Stephen House, planted native plants, tasted tart red rhubarb in the garden, as well as sighted and touched trees and soil in the arboretum. In the afternoon, students celebrated with inside games and a water-themed party outside. The students advocated for themselves to play in a gentle rainstorm shower, or then dried off and played with sensory and building toys in Stephen House. The activities focused on the sensation of having fun!

Hannah Riding

Norval Instructor

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

If you like shows like: The Simpsons, Gravity Falls, The Umbrella Academy, Cobra Kai, Shadow and Bone, Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon and Stranger Things... You will love:

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 (scheduled as soon as the school year 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 after school 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, bedeviling 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

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!

Hoops and Jump Rope for Heart last call!

6F, 6T and Y5 had a successful day of Hoops for Heart on Wednesday! Thank you to those who have already contributed, so far we have raised over $2,000 for the Heart&Stroke Foundation! 

SK–Y6 Students are asked to make a donation to the Heart&Stroke Foundation. UCC's goal is to have 100% participation. $2–$10 donations are suggested.

HOW TO DONATE:
1) If you would like a tax receipt: families must donate online by using this link, and then clicking on Donate to the School.  

2) If you are not interested in a tax receipt: please send cash to be collected by the Form Adviser or make an anonymous donation using this link.

Please see the schedule below for the remaining events:

• 6L and 6C will participate in Hoops for Heart on Friday, June 7 during their phys ed period.

• Y3 and Y4 will participate in Jump Rope for Heart on Friday, June 7 during their phys ed period.

• SK, Y1, and Y2 will participate in Jump Rope for Heart on Friday, June 7 during their phys ed period.