Dear Upper School Families,

We would like to share an important update to school operations. In alignment with our neighbouring schools, the College will be dismissing students early on Monday, April 8 due to potential safety concerns with regard to a rare total solar eclipse that will put parts of Ontario into temporary darkness around the time of dismissal.

During the morning, the Upper School will be engaged in a condensed timetable and students will attend all scheduled classes. Students in Years 8 to 11 will be dismissed at 12:20 p.m.

Please note all Year 12 students will remain on campus and will engage in supervised activities as part of their Group 4 Project in science. A summary of the Year 12 Group 4 Project and solar eclipse experience is included below.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding.

Jeff Aitken
Head of the Upper School

Year 12 Group 4 Project in science

On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross North America. The moon will completely obscure the sun, casting a shadow over the Earth, and this rare occurrence will be seen by millions on the continent. The total eclipse will first be observed in the southwestern part of Mexico and then head northeast, tracking a path across the United States before entering Canada, specifically Ontario. NASA has put together this excellent graphic that tracks the total solar eclipse. In case you didn't know, this awe-inspiring celestial event was last observed in Ontario in 1979, many years before our students were born. 

Given the unique nature of the day, the science department has decided that the total solar eclipse should be this year's theme of the Group 4 Project, which is a requirement of the sciences in the IB Diploma Programme. The Group 4 Project is a collaborative scientific investigation where Year 12 students work together across the scientific disciplines (biology, chemistry, physics, SEHS and computer science) on a joint project. Working in small groups with a cross-disciplinary lens, students typically identify a scientific problem (in this case, related to the total solar eclipse) and research ways to address it before communicating their findings. In the past, we have displayed student poster boards in the Student Centre for their peers, staff and faculty to read. On April 8, our current plan is to have Year 12 students working on their research in the afternoon, with the intent of going outside to view the total solar eclipse with special viewing glasses. More details related to the day will be shared with Year 12 families and classes by their science teachers in the coming weeks.

Dear UCC Families,

We are excited to invite you to the upcoming Personal Project Showcase taking place on Thursday, April 4, in the Student Centre. This event culminates months of hard work and dedication by our MYP students as they showcase their Personal Projects to the school community and families.

The Personal Project is a significant milestone in the MYP that allows students to explore their interests, passions, and creativity. Through this project, students have the opportunity to demonstrate the skills they have developed, such as research, critical thinking, self-management, communication, and social skills. 

Attending the Personal Project Showcase will allow you to see firsthand the incredible projects our students have been working on. This event celebrates their achievements and provides students with a platform to share their learning journey with others.

We encourage you to join us in supporting and celebrating our students at the showcase. Your presence and encouragement mean a lot to our learners as they showcase their hard work and dedication. See here for a digital “sneak peek” of this year’s projects. 

We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, April 4, from 2–5:30 p.m. in the Student Centre for this special event.

Emilia Martin 

MYP & Personal Project Coordinator