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Dear Families,

It’s my pleasure to share details of the principal’s assembly on Monday, which focussed on Islamic Heritage Month and represented a truly intercultural and community experience rooted in our values of learning, community and pluralism. I found this experience to be one of the most moving and powerful in my time at Upper Canada College and possibly my career. 

The assembly was a student inspired collaboration and presentation; although the focus was around celebrating Islamic Heritage Month, the finale involved faculty and student representatives of the Jewish Culture Club, the Christian Students Association and the Muslim Affinity Group - seven members of our community taking the stage together in the interest of unity, peace, and a commitment to valuing differences and cherishing similarities. 

The assembly included a video, produced by the students, which celebrated Canadian-Muslim figures in sports, culture, history and politics, including the perspectives of UCC students as well as Year 5 students from Bishop Strachan School (BSS). 

We were fortunate to have such an engaging and thoughtful guest speaker and Prep parent, Dr. Mohamad Sawwaf, the Founder and CEO of Manzil, a Canadian Islamic FinTech company that manufactures and distributes Halal financial solutions. He holds a PhD in Islamic Finance and a Masters in Corporate Governance from the Henley Business School in the UK and completed his MBA at the Rotman School of Management. In his assembly speech, he shared a rich and concluding message, including:  

“Islamic Heritage Month is not merely about recognizing a specific faith or culture; it is about honouring the interconnectedness of humanity. By celebrating Islamic heritage, we celebrate the unity of human knowledge, the beauty of art and architecture, the richness of literature, and, most importantly, the universality of values like compassion and justice.”

The assembly concluded with faculty and student representatives of the Jewish Culture Club, the Christian Students Association and the Muslim Affinity Group saying a joint prayer for peace in Canada and abroad, and in all the regions of the world where people are facing loss, suffering, displacement, and trauma. Mr. Alamdar Murtaza, one of the faculty representatives for the Muslim Affinity Group, introduced the joint prayer by speaking to the Upper School about the connections, traditions and commonalities of Islam, Judaism and Christianity. I’ll conclude with an excerpt from his emotional and inspirational message:

“It is in the spirit of this joint heritage and commonality that I want to say today to members of all religious communities here at UCC, but especially to the Jewish and Christian members of our community, who in our own scriptures are referred to as the People of the Book - that we see you, we are aware of the hardships that you are facing, the hurt that you are also feeling in these moments, that your losses are our losses, that your suffering is our suffering, and that your prosperity, safety, and joy is tied to our prosperity, safety, and joy. I want to say in this moment here and now that no matter what is happening in the wider world, we will not be divided from you here in this community of learning, cooperation, and shared wisdom. We stand side by side with you, and we are all here to listen and learn from each other.”

The month of November will see additional learning and celebration around Treaties Recognition and Holocaust Education Week; Hindu Heritage, Indigenous Education and Diwali! We look forward to additional opportunities for Affinity and Culture Club representation in assembly and the advising curriculum. Please allow me to also acknowledge Mr. Alvin Jugoon, our pluralism coordinator, for his leadership, care and vision.

Jeff Aitken

Head of the Upper School

This past week has been a busy one in the Upper School! From Oct. 23  to 27, we celebrated Pride Week, planned and hosted by the GSA, which included welcome back an alumni guest speaker at our annual Pride Assembly and special activities all week, including tie-dying shirts and open GSA meetings. 

On Friday, we had our student led Halloween assembly featuring an outstanding and spooky performance from the Jazz Band and student “horror” films from our Halloween video competition. Additionally, houses competed in a house pumpkin carving contest in a house meeting and the week was capped off with the annual Y11/12 Stewards’ Dance, this year with a Halloween theme.

Remembrance Day Assembly

On Thursday, Nov.9, the UCC Upper School will be holding our special Remembrance Day Assembly in Laidlaw Hall. The day is also early dismissal, which means we will follow the schedule below:

Period 1: 8:30-9:10 a.m.

Period 2: 9:10- 9:50 a.m.

Period 3: 9:50-10:30 a.m.

Assembly: 10:40-11:50 a.m.

Period 4: 11:40 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.

Students will be asked to make their way directly to Laidlaw Hall at 10:30 a.m. We ask that students honour our esteemed guests and the significance of the event by arriving on time and wearing First Dress, as well as adorning the poppies given out in Period 1 classes by the Board of Stewards.

UCC veterans and VIPs, many of whom will attend an earlier Prep Assembly, will also participate in the Upper School Assembly and then join faculty, staff, and the Board of Stewards for a reception and lunch. 

In addition to remarks from Principal McKinney, this special community event will include a symphonic band performance of Nimrod by Edward Elgar; Nico Aitken playing the last post; The Blue Notes singing “Carrier of Hope” by Kai Leung; reflections from students on the June 2023 France Military History Enrichment Trip; and the first collaborative Prep and Upper Remembrance Day Theatre Performance focused on the sacred act of remembering. The piece showcases the talents of five Prep and ten Upper actors and melds together three different perspectives on War and Remembrance, including author Aldous Huxley, UCC Headmaster William L. Grant, and poet Wilfrid Owen. 

Havergal and Branksome Middle School Socials

On Friday, Nov. 3 from 7 to 9 p.m., both Havergal College and Branksome Hall will be hosting their Middle School Socials, and UCC has been invited. We are allowed to bring 20 students from Year 8 to each social event. 

Students who have been selected to attend have been notified, and the respective parents/guardians have been sent a permission form with details of the evening. If you have received this form, please complete it as soon as possible. Students who are attending the socials will be expected to attend an in-school meeting this week to discuss behavioural expectations and proper dress code.

Thanks and best wishes,

Gillian Levene and Alvin Jugoon

Year 8 | Toronto Public Health Hepatitis B/Menactra/HPV Clinic

Dear Year 8 Parents,

This is a reminder on Monday, Nov. 6 Toronto Public Health (TPH) will be holding its first Hepatitis B/Menactra/HPV Clinic at UCC, allowing Year 8 students to catch up on any doses missed from last year's clinic. The location will be in the Prep Dining hall, with students scheduled to attend from 2–4 p.m. Please note that some families who have outstanding vaccinations with TPH, as well as those who have signed up for their initial vaccinations, will have received an email directly from the Health Centre with further details. 

Please make sure your child eats breakfast the morning of the clinic and wears short sleeves. If your child is unwell due to fever and cannot receive their vaccinations, please notify the Health Centre as soon as possible. Any missed vaccinations that happen on the clinic date can be made up at a later date as Toronto Public Health provides “catch-up clinics” throughout the city. If you have not submitted a form yet, you may print off a consent form and bring in a hard copy on the day of the clinic.

A final reminder that the meningitis (Men-C-ACYW-135 vaccine) vaccination or a valid exemption is required for students 12 years of age and older for school attendance. If your child has not received Menactra, or it has been over five years, Toronto Public Health does recommend a booster. Hepatitis B and HPV are optional.

Additional information and consent forms can be found here:

• School immunization consent form  

• Hepatitis B, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and Meningococcal vaccine fact sheets

• Student and Parent check sheet

• SIP Facts and Checklist

• Frequently Asked Questions

• Translation insert

Questions or clarification on attending the vaccination clinic can be directed to  the Health Centre Team (ext. 2270)

Thank you all for your cooperation!

Getting Year 9-12 students caught up with vaccinations 

Below is an email received on Friday, Oct. 20

Dear Principal/School Administrators,

Re: Getting Students Caught up with Vaccinations

Thank you for your commitment to keeping your school community safe and healthy. From January to June 2023, Toronto Public Health (TPH) partnered with all secondary schools to offer School Immunization Program (SIP) clinics for human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B and meningococcal vaccines, which may have been missed during the pandemic.

There were over 200 clinics in secondary schools, with 8,282 students receiving vaccinations! This outstanding achievement was thanks to your school’s collaboration and offering your facility as a location for your students to receive these critical vaccines.

There are still many secondary students who are not up-to-date with their vaccinations. Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), students need to be vaccinated against nine designated diseases to attend school or have a valid exemption. Students in Year 9 to 12 can still get these vaccines at any of TPH’s four fixed-site vaccination clinics. Once students graduate from high school, they may no longer be eligible to receive some of these vaccines for free.

To get students up-to-date with vaccinations, please share the attached digital postcard with students and parents/caregivers.

Depending on our capacity in 2024, TPH is considering the possibility of organizing additional clinics in high schools during the current school year. We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with your school to improve vaccination rates and prevent illness and appreciate your support.

Fall Music Night  

It is with great enthusiasm that the UCC Upper School Music Department invites all members of the UCC Community to the annual Fall Music Night. Our first evening concert of the year will feature Concert, Jazz and Singing ensembles that highlight Year 8 to 12 music students. 

We look forward to performing for you in Laidlaw Hall at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. 

Your support will be greatly appreciated.

Tony Gomes

Faculty Chair of the Arts

From the wings

Arts survey | Please add your voice!

The Arts Booster Club wants your input! The amazing volunteers who promote the arts in the Upper School want to tap into your ideas. Please fill out the survey they’ve put together and give your feedback here. The ABC assists with Nuit Bleue, an evening showcasing arts at the College, as well as promotes plays, musicals, and much more. 

MHIP Trip in June 2024

We are delighted to announce that UCC is working with Georgia Hardy Tours for the 5th year in a row to organize a Battlefield Cycling Trip to Belgium and France! The trip is open to all students (Year 9-12) and will take place from June 14 – 22, 2024, and will include a variety of activities to enhance our curriculum. We have carefully designed an itinerary that will allow students to visit some of the most interesting, beautiful, and historically rich places on earth.

This trip is also a unique opportunity for students to gain a deeper connection to the UCC community, as we will explore battle sites where Old Boys fought during the Great War. Moreover, students engage in research prior to the trip about an individual Old Boy who gave their life during the war and present their findings at their grave site. 

In order to provide you with more insight into this exciting opportunity, we have asked Georgia Hardy Tours to put together a detailed brochure to highlight the itinerary, tour price ($4,995.00 per person + insurance) as well as the registration instructions. Here is the e-brochure: UCC Battlefield Trip.

The staff supervision ratio on this trip is 1 teacher/chaperone for every 8 students and we are taking a maximum of 16 students on this trip.  

To register for this trip and secure your spot, please click on the registration link and click on the “BOOK NOW” button on the top right corner of the page.

Once you register, you will receive an email from us, letting you know that we will process your credit card when we know our final numbers. In the unlikely event this trip does not sell out, we will cancel your registration and you will not be charged.   Make sure you have your passport handy for the registration process.  

Confirmation of your spot on this trip is based on a variety of factors, such as: 

1.       First come, first served, with priority given to senior students. 

2.       Confirmation your child is in good academic standing.

3.       If registration exceeds trip capacity, participants will be required to submit a personal statement of interest. 

4.      Assessment that your son can fulfill the physical requirements of the trip (cycling 50km a day).

We hope you can join us on this amazing trip!  

Sincerely,

Mr. Mohtadi and the UCC & GHT Team

Winter coat drive, November 15 - 24

As we enter the winter season, many of us will start to pull out our warm coats and many will buy new ones. However, warm clothes can be costly and inaccessible, especially for individuals experiencing homelessness. This winter, an estimated 8,000 people will face the challenge of living through Toronto’s harsh winters.

As a result, Year 11 students, Max and Ashlin will lead a winter coat drive this month in collaboration with Rosedale United Church. Their goal is to collect more than 500 coats to give to those in need. They need your help. Donate a coat and help keep those in need warmer this winter! At the beginning of December, the coats will be distributed between four homeless shelters in downtown Toronto.

Just following the November break, on Wednesday, Nov. 15, the coat collection will begin. Bins will be set up in the Upper School’s main foyer. This drop-off location will be visibly marked. The drive will accept new and used coats of all sizes and cash donations of any amount. Please gently place your warm winter coat into one of the bins from Nov. 15–24. Cash donations can be left in the collection container at the front desk. Donations will be used to purchase new coats. Note that each coat costs approximately $100.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with students, Max von Bargen or Ashlin Barry, who thank you, in advance, for your support.

REMINDER | Three-way conferences and pickAtime instructions

Virtual (via Google Meet): Tuesday, Nov. 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In-person on campus: Wednesday, Nov. 15 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Feedback is an important tool to help students grow through their educational journey. The Upper School’s three-way conferences provide an opportunity for this to take place. Both virtual and in-person appointment options are available.

Virtual interviews will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 14 for Year 8 to 12 students in five-minute intervals via Google Meet. Students are expected to attend and participate in these interviews with their parents/guardians, to encourage ownership over their learning and develop self-advocacy skills.

It’s important that you access the Google Meet link at the time of your scheduled appointment and not before. Please use your email address and not your child’s UCC email. If you do not have a Google account, you will need to create one in order to log in to the meeting. You will be placed in a “waiting room” until the meeting begins. At the start of the meeting, please introduce yourself so that the teacher can confirm that the conversation is about your child. Keep the conversation to the scheduled five minutes so that our faculty can meet with all families.

In-person interviews will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 15 for Year 8 to 12 students in five-minute intervals. Students are expected to attend (in regular dress) and participate in these interviews. Note that this day is a half day for students and that period 4 ends at 12:20 p.m. 

Please feel free to book appointments virtually or in-person. Registration must be completed through our pickAtime booking system. Please see below for instructions on how to book your appointments.

Warm regards,

Joe Smith

Assistant Head, Upper School, Student Life and Programming

Using pickAtime | Three-Way conference booking information

Each faculty member will have appointment times available between the opening and closing of each day. You will see their availability on the pickAtime system. You can begin scheduling appointments when the pickAtime system opens as follows:

pickAtime opens: Friday, Oct. 20 at 9 a.m.

pickAtime closes: Monday, Nov. 13 at 12 p.m.

Please click here for instructions on how to book your conferences. Please ensure that you can print or access your schedule via email when you’ve finished booking. If you experience any problems, please contact Sandra Fulford.