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The end is officially in sight for our Year 12 students, who have begun their three week period of IB exams. While the halls of the College are certainly quieter without them, there’s been no shortage of activity for our younger students. Year 11 students and families participated in a new event, Step Up, which gave students a chance to tour their families around lesser-seen parts of the Upper School and to hear from Martin Kon ’89, on his fascinating journey from the boarding houses of UCC to Silicon Valley and now as a leader in the emerging field of artificial intelligence. Year 8 students also took part in the inaugural Research Showcase in the Lower Dining Hall to showcase their achievements in their learning strategies class, which both celebrated this work and highlighted habits that will be helpful for the Personal Project later on.

Friday was “Varsity Day” with the majority of our varsity teams taking to the courts and fields. The afternoon was a success, with fanfare, a food truck and many victories on the fields. 

On Monday students attended the annual Barton Lecture, aimed to heighten awareness among students of issues in our community and to expose them to representatives of communities other than our own. This year they heard from Neil Hetherington, CEO of Toronto’s Daily Bread Food Bank on the issue of food insecurity in Toronto and what they can do to make a difference.

Year 8 | Exam preparation

As we approach the end of the year, we want to let you know how Year 8 students will be supported as they prepare for their first set of final exams in June. We understand that different students will experience this period in different ways, and with different needs. As a result, we are engaging in a multi-pronged approach to our support.

First and foremost, the majority of subject-specific preparation for exam content will take place in Math and Science classes, where teachers will dedicate time to ensuring students have the right notes to do exam review questions, and helping students organize notes and resources as needed. This should provide students with the foundational materials that they will need to be successful.

On top of this, students will have a five-lesson unit to finish their learning skills class that is explicitly focused on exam preparation. That unit will cover study strategies from organizing notes to selecting and implementing effective study techniques (including both "sense-making" and "retrieval practice"), and will have time for students to plan out their own approach to their exams and practice some of these techniques. This unit will also work on meta-cognitive strategies, to support students making choices and selecting strategies that are likely to work best for them.

Finally, in terms of accessing extra help, students will continue to be able to email their teachers and arrange time for extra help during flex time, after school or otherwise by appointment. Additionally, teachers will have time to meet students in the study days leading up to exams as needed. Here is the exam schedule which was sent to all students via email.

These supports have been developed over time, and incorporates parent feedback and suggestions. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about these or other supports, please do not hesitate to reach out.

With appreciation,

Lincoln Smith, Alvin Jugoon and Gillian Levene

Year 8 | Research Project Showcase

On Tuesday, April 30, the Learning Strategies Team hosted the inaugural Year 8 Research Project Showcase. The purpose of this event was for students in Year 8 to display their completed research topics for their peers and teachers to provide feedback and more importantly, provide a precursory opportunity similar to the Year 10 Personal Project experience. 

There were many thought-provoking and interesting posters on display throughout the Lower Dining Hall, accompanied by many questions and conversations from participants.

We hope that this is the first of many more to follow, and that the activity inspires deeper learning and curiosity!

Best wishes,

Keiran Higgins, Maryam Pashali, Bella Di Stefano, Alvin Jugoon and Lincoln Smith

Year 10 | Norval and Canterbury Hills trip

Dear Year 10 Families,

We are excited to invite all Year 10 students to participate in one of two very special excursions on May 31. These excursions are part of the Year 10 programming and full attendance is expected.

Students will be at one of the two locations as part of this excursion (Norval Outdoor School or Canterbury Hills). Each group of students will participate in the same program.

The Norval Cup Program

The Norval Cup is a Year 10 tradition that has not been held since COVID. It's so exciting that this event is being rekindled! The Norval cup requires houses to compete against each other in six challenging activities in order to win the coveted Norval Cup title! The last Norval Cup winner was Bremners in 2019. The activities will be introduced to the Year 10 students at an assembly on May 21. The leaders will have to choose members of their house to compete in each event. Use the strengths of each individual team member to your advantage to be crowned Norval Cup champions. 

Lunch will be provided both at the Norval Outdoor School and Canterbury Hills sites. Please include all food restrictions on the permission form. The program will conclude with a house year-end reflection and campfire. Students will participate in outdoor activities. Students should prepare to spend the majority of the day outside — proper spring clothing layers are very important.

Early spring clothing list

Norval Cup Program

The excursions will be organized by house. Please complete the permission form here.

For both excursions, students will depart by bus from Upper Canada College on May 31 at 7:45 a.m. from the north entrance. We will arrive back at UCC by bus between 3:30 and 4 p.m. If the buses are going to be more than 15–20 minutes late, we will send out a communication to families. 

Students are permitted to bring their phones on the bus, though our gaming policy still applies and they will be asked to not use them at Norval and Canterbury Hills.

 Sarah Khalanski and Brent Evans

'Fun Friday' fundraiser — A lasting tribute for Max Ishida ’26

We are delighted to announce a very special 'Fun Friday' event scheduled for Friday, May 10. We will host a special fundraiser with the aim of adding a beautiful Japanese maple tree to our campus in memory of Max Ishida, Class of 2026. It's an opportunity for our entire school community to contribute to a lasting legacy that will beautify our school and offer a place of tranquillity for everyone to enjoy.

During the event, our Year 10 students will take the lead in hosting various activities such as soccer, ultimate frisbee and chess. Thanks to the generous contributions of snacks and drinks by our Parents' Organization, we are set to make the morning enjoyable and memorable for all attendees.

All funds raised through this initiative will be directed towards the purchase and planting of the Japanese maple. We encourage every student to participate and support this meaningful cause. Donations can be made in cash or via a tap machine for convenience. Additionally, our heads of house will assist in the collection of contributions during house meetings on Thursday, May 9.

We kindly ask you to prepare and send your child with the means to contribute on May 9 or 10. Your support and participation will not only help us reach our goal but also reinforce the values of community and wellbeing within our school.

Thank you for your engagement and support. 

Warm regards,

Ms. Khalanski and Mr. Sweetman

Student trips for March Break 2025

Camps International: Discover Costa Rica 

Plan for it now! This upcoming March break we will once again be offering international Experiential Learning Trips to all Upper School students. UCC is partnering with Explorica and Camps International to offer a service-focused experience in Costa Rica from March 16–25, 2025. Spaces are available for 14 students.

Join us on Wednesday, May 22 at 7 p.m. for an in-person parent information session with a representative from Explorica.

This trip meets the requirements of a Duke of Edinburgh's International Silver Award, Qualifying Journey. UCC will be partnering with BSS for pre-departure and post-trip seminars specifically for this trip next school year.

Plan for it now! UCC is partnering with Operation Wallacea International to offer a science-focused experience in Peru from March 16–25, 2025. Spaces are available for 14 students.

Join us Wednesday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m. for a virtual parent information session with a representative from OPWALL here. 

Relay for Life 2024 is today at the Upper School!

This is our fifth year hosting Relay for Life which is a major, student-led fundraising event for the Canadian Cancer Society.

We are excited to be hosting today's event with Havergal College and Crescent School from 4:15–9 p.m.

In other amazing news, just today it was confirmed that we have reached this year's goal of $300,000, which means that in total we have raised a total of $1,000,000 since the event's inception in 2019! Congratulations and thank you to all who have taken part.

Relay for Life is always a powerful evening full of fun, positive emotion and reflection on the way cancer has impacted our community and our own personal lives. Several parent teams have participated and found it a deeply meaningful experience. 

Relay For Life is more than a fundraiser — it’s a chance to send a powerful message of solidarity to our community. If your family or company is interested in sponsoring Relay for Life 2024, please see the website regarding sponsorship opportunities.

Year 12 | Laptop return

As we approach the end of the school year, we'd like to inform you about the process for returning the MacBook Airs and their power supplies. An email has also been sent to all Year 12 students.

Year 12 students must return their laptops and power supplies before graduation. Both items must be dropped off at the Upper School Help Desk between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on weekdays. The deadline is Friday, May 17 at 3:30 p.m. Please ensure all files are backed up. 

The laptop must be returned in its case, in good condition, and without damage. Any damage beyond normal wear and tear not covered under AppleCare will be billed to the family's UCC account. Kindly remove stickers from the laptop to avoid potential charges due to excessive sticker residue.

Please return a working Apple 30W power supply designed for the MacBook Air (M1 chip). If you do not return the Apple branded power supply, a replacement charge of $80 will be billed to your account. 

Students are responsible for transferring all their files from the laptops before returning them. Ensure all files are in the UCC Google Drive. Google Takeout can be used to export the files from the UCC account to a preferred location. Once the laptops are returned, they will be wiped immediately, and there will not be another opportunity to access the files. Rest assured, we will securely erase the hard drives. Your UCC Google Drive and email accounts will remain available until the end of October 2024, but we recommend exporting the files before the end of summer.

Year 12 student UCC Gmail and Drive accounts will remain active until Oct. 31, 2024. This allows students ample time to transfer important documents and update any important email contacts. After this date, the UCC account will be deleted, and there will no longer be access to any stored files or emails. Use Google Takeout to move content from the UCC Google environment.

Look for a reminder about the account deletion of your UCC email accounts in early October 2024.

Thanks in advance, and do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Kathleen Peak

Executive Director, Information and Innovation

Grad frame pick-up

If you’ve pre-ordered grad frames, please keep an eye on your email inbox. Pick-up times will either be Wednesday, May 8 between 2–4 p.m. OR Thursday, May 9 between 8–9 a.m. at the William P. Wilder ’40 Arena & Sports Complex.

Panel discussion on managing exam season

The PO is hosting a one-hour virtual panel discussion on May 6 at 7 p.m. on strategies to support students during exam time. Kathryn Barnes, UCC’s Associate Academic Dean and Executive Director of the Wernham West Centre for Learning and Caitlin Dobie, Upper School Counsellor, will recommend ways to reduce your child’s stress during exams. The speakers will also share supports available at school. Please register here.