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Dear Prep Families,

It has been an exciting week for our Prep students and teachers. Our SKs enjoyed a special costume day on Wednesday — their chosen reward for reaching a learning goal as a class. Our Year 5 classes have headed to Norval with much excitement and anticipation of learning at our outdoor campus. Our Year 6 and 7s have been thoroughly engaged in project-based, experiential programming in relation to two U.N. Sustainable Development Goal areas — Climate Action and No Poverty. We are looking forward to the culmination of Project Week on Friday with special presentations and reading buddies activities planned alongside reflecting on the week’s key learnings. You can read more in this week’s edition about what has been engaging Prep students both inside and outside the classroom.

All of this activity comes at the culmination of what has been a busy and fulfilling term for the Prep community. Our students can be very proud of all they have learned and accomplished, along with the contributions each of them has made to making the Prep a kind and caring place to come to school each day.  

We’d like to take this opportunity to wish all families a wonderful March Break and to thank you for your continued partnership and support. We look forward to welcoming students back to school on Monday, March 25.

Your partners in learning,

Julia Kinnear, David Girard and Gareth Evans

The Prep Leadership Team

Year 1 update

Last week, we celebrated the 100th day of school with the SK class, engaging in various activities centred around the number 100. From exercise and building challenges to art activities, students proudly celebrated 100 days of Year 1 and relished the opportunity to visit their old stomping ground, the SK classroom. We are currently engrossed in our fourth unit of inquiry: The Earth and Sun. We have over 50 student questions to answer and the buzz of learning is alive as we inquire further. 

It has been an absolute pleasure to learn alongside the wonderful group of Year 1s— they are not making it easy to leave! A special thank you to the 1C families for their collaboration and support this year. I look forward to introducing you to baby Carter later this spring.

With gratitude,

Riley Carter

Year 1 Form Adviser

Primary music update

Dear Prep families,

I can’t believe that it’s already March!  Here is an update from primary music.

In Senior Kindergarten through Year 3, students have begun working on material for the primary musical, scheduled for Wednesday, May 29 at 2 p.m. (for the general audience) and Friday, May 31 at 1 p.m. (for grandparents and special friends). Students have learned to differentiate between musicals and plays, read scripts with appropriate expressions and projections and sing musical songs with gestures. Students from SK to Year 3 are eagerly anticipating this wonderful performance opportunity. Year 3 students, in particular, have been busy attending extra rehearsals after school on Mondays. Please use the link provided to practice songs at home regularly!

Year 4 students have been playing their recorders, learning various pieces and musicians, some of which connect to their biography unit and Black Excellence Month. They have also been introduced to playing two-part music. We discussed the challenges of playing two different parts simultaneously and ways to successfully master this skill.

Year 5 students have been progressing with their ukuleles, learning how to read chord diagrams and use a variety of strumming patterns. They have also been enjoying playing and singing their requested pop tunes, including Sunroof. Both Year 4 and Year 5 students are highly encouraged to take their instruments and binders home to practice.

Year 6 and 7 students in the Prep choir had a wonderful opportunity to rehearse at Toronto Montessori School for the Conference of Independent Schools Music Festival (CISMF), preparing for their performance on Saturday, April 13 at Roy Thomson Hall. Students will also head to St. Andrew’s College on Thursday and Friday, April 11 and 12, for two additional rehearsals. It was a great experience for the students to showcase their singing and vocal abilities while interacting with students from other independent schools.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

Musically,

Caroline Heo

SK–Year 5 Music Teacher

Year 6–7 Choir Director

Middle music update

In Year 6, students continue to develop their music instrument fundamental skills and now apply those skills to band repertoire. They will not only be applying improved technique, note reading and rhythmic understanding, but they will now learn how to interpret the music stylistically, learn about  a variety of  musical roles and strive to bring the music to life off of the page. Through a variety of newly developed articulation skills, dynamic understanding, and breathing techniques, they will learn to play their music with a new found energy, musicality and understand how their part fits in with all of the other young musicians in the room. 

Currently, students are also working on their history of their instrument projects. Students are currently listening to professional performers play their instruments. They will explore a variety of types/styles of world music. They will also use their ears to try and figure out why they like or dislike some music and put their thoughts into words using music terminology they have learned throughout the year. They will continue with some music analysis of 2 contrasting musical selections of different ages, styles, and feels. This includes discussing what makes them different, similar and put into words what they hear. In the future, they will also use their imagination and creativity to design and describe a “new” instrument that they will create.

In Year 7, students have worked a lot lately to develop their instrument fundamental skills and will soon apply those skills to challenging band repertoire. They will not only be applying improved technique, new notes and rhythmic challenges at a high tempo, but they will more so learn how to interpret the music stylistically, learn a variety of  musical roles, and bring the music to life off of the page. Through a variety of developed articulation accent skills, trills, and challenging rhythmic patterns, they will learn to play their music with a new found energy and musicality, as they explore modal music that has a very distinct sound.

Students also work to progress in their composer projects. Students are currently listening to, and analysing, 2 professional compositions written by their composer of choice. They will explore a variety of styles of world music. They have used their ears to try and figure out what instruments they can identify and what their role is in the music, and put their thoughts into words using music terminology they have learned throughout the past couple of years. After March Break, they will research, discover, and discuss pluralistic connections to their composer, and then finally conclude with using their musical knowledge, imagination, and creativity to create their own musical compositions. They will start with a basic framework, applying learned skills as they go through a 6 step process to produce a melody of their own, hopefully, demonstrating influence from prior listening experiences.

Paul McGarr

Middle Years Music Teacher

Prep bands update

On February 7, 2024 parents, administration, faculty, staff and friends were treated to a wonderful night of music at the Blue Note Jazz Cafe evening. A special evening that sees all of UCC’s jazz groups, and the Prep choir come together to share their music with a packed Weston Hall crowd. Participating groups include the intermediate jazz ensemble, Prep choir, junior jazz ensemble, Year 7 jazz ensemble and capping the evening with the senior jazz ensemble.

On February 15, both the Year 7 concert band and the Year 7 wind ensemble travelled to the Chinese Cultural Centre in Scarborough to perform in the Ontario Band Association (OBA) Provincial Music Festival. Students worked hard to prepare their festival musical selections, performing a contrasting mix of repertoire at a challenging level. They performed extremely well in the festival, representing UCC with great pride, and both groups came away with a GOLD award for their efforts, as well as an individual highlight of Thomas Wan performing an outstanding flute solo with the concert band. The groups also found out, for their level of performance, they received an invitation to the MusicFest Canada National Festival, demonstrating great musicianship combined with excellent technical capability - a prestigious accomplishment in which they should be very proud.

On February 29, the Year 7 jazz ensemble went to Humber College to participate in the province-wide Jazz Festival competition. They performed 3 contrasting and challenging musical selections that highlighted both group and individual talents across the group. The jazz band members had worked very hard, came prepared, and performed extremely well to much applause from the audience that contained some UCC seniors, other Toronto-based high school bands members, and some excited UCC parents. For their performance the UCC Year 7 jazz band received great praise from the adjudicators, as well as an invitation to the MusicFest Canada National Festival. Students should be extremely proud of their performance and accomplishments this week. Special congratulations for a wonderful example of risk taking, and great solo work goes to: (in order of performance) Masaru Fernandes (7C), Thomas Wan (7P), Christopher Chen (7F), Tommy Zhou (5F) and Donny Beaupre (7S) — Featured Performer.

Upcoming middle music performances:

• Saturday, April 13 — Year 6 and 7 choir members, CISMF Roy Thompson Hall performance

• Wednesday, April 17 — Year 7 jazz ensemble, York University competition and clinics

• April 25 – 28 — all Year 7 bands, Chicago band trip

• May 13–16 — Year 7 jazz ensemble, New to Blue events

• Thursday, May 30 — assorted musicians, Arts Assembly

• Thursday, May 30 — all Year 6/7 bands and choir, Spring Concert

• Friday, May 31 — all Year 6/7 bands, Generations Day (a.m.)

We hope to see you at a future performance!

Warmest Regards,

Paul McGarr

Middle Years Director of Bands

SAVE THE DATE | SK–Year 7 parent education evening 

We will hold our third SK–Year 7 parent education evening of the year on Wednesday, April 3 from 7–8:30 p.m. 

Please join us in person in Weston Hall for Tech Time! 

Members of the Prep team will focus on technology as a part of the Prep program, sharing highlights of the exciting tech learning our students are engaged in across the year levels, as well as information about our expectations for student conduct with respect to technology and how we approach student learning about online safety and digital citizenship. 

Parents may wish to review our Technology Guide for Prep Parents which outlines our school approach to technology education, logistical matters and student expectations.

The session on April 3 comes after a very well-attended PPO coffee morning in February that focused on online safety, where we were fortunate to hear from Radhika Kakkar, UCC parent and online safety expert. For those who are interested in exploring online safety from a parent perspective, the resources below suggested by Radhika may offer a starting place.

Online and digital safety resources

• Connect safely

• Connect safely parent guides

• Boston Children's digital wellness guide (research-based)

• TELUS Wise - Digital literacy and safety resources

Platform specific safety resources

• Apple parental controls

• Google family link

• Google's Be Internet Awesome content and guide

• Snapchat privacy and safety hub

• Snapchat parents guide

• Snapchat safeguards for teens 

• Meta safety centre

• TikTok safety centre

• Discord safety centre

Nearly every large-scale platform has a set of safety resources if you search for <platform name> safety center or safety guide.

SAVE THE DATE | Year 7 grad photos

Hello Year 7 Families,

CanGrad Studios will be on campus to photograph Year 7 students on Tuesday, April 4.

Process

All photos will take place in Weston Hall. Faculty will accompany students to Weston Hall.

Attire for photo

Students are expected to wear their First Dress uniform (with a white dress shirt) for these photos. Please click here for First Dress details.

Students should arrive at school in their First Dress uniform. As always, please be reminded that Year 7 students should also bring their PE uniform to school for their games period. 

Volunteers from the Prep Parents Organization (PPO) will assist with the photo process this year (e.g. making sure everyone looks sharp, etc.)

Details for ordering grad photos

The following details are especially important if your student is absent on April 4

1. CanGrad Studios contact information — always feel comfortable reaching out to CanGrad with questions. 

• CanGrad Studios, 416-253-6466 or cyelle@cangrad.com

2. Photo process 

• On April 4, it will take approximately 2 minutes per student to capture 5–6 images 

• CanGrad will email sample photo proofs and order forms directly to parents by end of the day on April 9

• The due date for families selecting a composite photo is April 19

• Students who are absent will need to have their photos taken at CanGrad Studios (there may also be opportunities to have a photo taken at U of T)

• April 22 is the last day for a student to be photographed at CanGrad Studios

Total inclusive cost: $39+tax per student

RECORDING | PYP Exhibition update 

Thank you for attending the PYP Exhibition parent information session on Monday.

Please find the recording and links from the session below:

• PYP Exhibition parent session recording

• PYP Exhibition calendar 2024

• PYP Exhibition — Parent Handbook

The Year 5 PYP Exhibition Project will begin in earnest immediately following March Break and run until we celebrate students’ hard work, thinking, creating and action in the afternoon of Friday, May 10.

Students will meet their teacher mentor when they return from the break.

As this is a collaborative project completed mostly at school, we ask that student absence is kept to a minimum during this time.

Should you have any questions please feel free to speak to your child’s form adviser or reach out to me.

Dianne Jojic

PYP Coordinator

REMINDER | Cell phone/smartwatch 

If students have mobile phones or smartwatches and bring them to school, they are expected to leave them turned off and with other valuables in their locker from the time they arrive at school until they are dismissed. Students who leave these devices unsecured will have them confiscated, and they will be returned to students at the end of the day. There is no need for a phone/smartwatch before or during school. After dismissal, students in Years 6 and 7 may use their phones/smartwatches in the Bitove Lounge while waiting for pickup. These devices may NEVER be used in the basement of Prep, in the Prep locker rooms or in washrooms; they will be immediately confiscated if used in a prohibited area.

ASP update | Brent Crawford

It is with mixed feelings that we are sharing some news. Congratulations to Brent Crawford, who is moving into the role of Year 4 teaching intern. As a result, he is leaving the ASP supervisor role after 4 years of dedicated and passionate commitment to the boys in the program. Many of you have interacted with Brent over the past 4 years, and have witnessed first hand his excellence in managing the day to day activities of ASP.  While we are sad to be losing him for after school, we are thrilled that he will be staying with us at UCC and developing his career in the classroom. We are currently searching for a new supervisor and will update you when the role has been filled. In the meantime please continue to use the ASP supervisor email for any questions or concerns on a day to day basis.

Colour house on vacation competition 

Colour house on vacation is one of many house competitions that occur throughout the school year. In this competition, students are encouraged to bring in pictures of themselves wearing their house colours during their holiday. If you are going away over the March Break or enjoying a staycation, take a picture of your son while he is wearing his house colours (maximum of 2 pictures). The house with the most pictures on the board will receive 1000 points.  Please email all pictures to Mr. Hustler.

John Hustler
Colour House Coordinator 

REGISTER | Blues Ties Breakfast

The Prep Parents’ Organization is thrilled to invite you to the Blue Ties Breakfast on Thursday, April 18. Enjoy a pancake breakfast, participate in a fun tie-swap, be part of UCC history by signing the giant tie on our wall and have a commemorative picture taken at the photo booth!

Students are invited to bring one special guest to accompany them to this event. To accommodate everyone there will be two seatings: 7–7:45 a.m. seating and a 7:45–8:30 a.m. Please click here to register.