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This week the Upper School was honoured to host Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, a leading expert in the field of happiness as this year’s Casey Fellow. We benefited greatly from sessions in assembly, with faculty, with student leaders and with our community at large. Her messaging around trying approaches that work for you, and to take the time to measure your own happiness, were resonant to all. 

Interested students and faculty had the opportunity this week to dive into the process of harvesting honey from our official beekeeper who works with us on our campus beehives. On Friday was the fall athletics assembly, where our fall sports teams were recognized for their highly successful seasons.  

Co-educational and community experiences outside of the classroom

Dear Families,

We are pleased to provide an update on community and co-educational experiences that students can participate in throughout the year. Please click here for a list of experiences, both within our community and in partnership with other schools, that exist for students to learn from and enjoy. This is a live document: event details will be updated as they are confirmed. 

Additionally, we also take this opportunity to reshare year-level specific publications provided recently by the Year Level Coordinators:

Year 8 retrospective and looking ahead by YLC Alvin Jugoon

Year 9 retrospective and looking ahead by YLC Lindsay Reilly

Year 10 retrospective and looking ahead from YLC Sarah Khalanski 

Year 11 retrospective and looking ahead by YLC Maria Gauthier 

Year 12 looking ahead from YLC Christos Paschalidis

As you can see, there is so much to be excited about this year. Please feel free to reach out to any of the Year Level Coordinators or Assistant Heads should you have any questions or concerns. 

Best wishes,

The Upper Leadership Team

Festive Marketplace — calling all bakers!

Please support our incredible UCC community and this year's Festive Marketplace bake sale! Nut-free baked goods can be dropped off in disposable containers on Thursday, Dec. 7, and Friday, Dec. 8. 

Our amazing volunteers will collect items directly from your car at  the following times:  

Help make Festive Snowball Grab a success!

Everyone’s favourite Snowball Grab is back this year thanks to our sponsor Pizza Pizza!

The more gift cards we have the more students will get to play! Please donate gift cards (a few ideas are Pizza Pizza, Dairy Queen, Freshii, Shoppers Drugmart, Five Guys, McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, Indigo, Best Buy, Starbucks, Loblaws, Apple, Cineplex, etc) by December 1 for the exciting and nail-biting Snowball Grab. The fun starts at 10 am during Festive Marketplace on December 8. For only $5 students will be able to play and win gift cards and prizes. Everyone wins, every time!

Festival of Lights concert

Year 12 | Winter exams in 2024 

Dear Year 12 Families,

We will be running exams for Year 12 students in late January and early February 2024 to support their learning and preparation for the May IB Diploma exams. Exams will be held over a 10-day period beginning Monday, Jan. 29 and ending Friday, Feb. 9.

The expectation is that students write examinations as scheduled. If a student is absent for an examination, a parent or guardian must notify the Registrar’s Office at 416-488-1125, ext. 2227 or by emailing the Registrar, prior to the exam. Notification must be made for each exam missed. Medical documentation acceptable to the College may be required in such cases. Medical documentation must clearly outline the reasons for the absence and the expected duration of the absence. Any case of absence will be reviewed by the College’s Exam Committee who will determine the details of any required make-up exams.

Please see the exam schedule (locations and further practical details will be communicated to students in the new year). Students are expected to write their exams as scheduled and in-person.

The schedule is designed intentionally to provide time interspersed for preparation and study. Supportive arrangements will include a commitment to a buffer period with no assessment, exam packets, and appropriate time for preparation. We are also coordinating with colleagues to be mindful of ensuring students’ ability to participate in co-curriculars during this time. 

Unless you have been notified in advance, we do not expect that there will be any exam conflicts (two exams scheduled at the same time), but students should immediately review the exam schedule and if they find an exam conflict, contact Leigh Berndsen in the Registrar’s Office.

Students with accommodations will write in the Wernham West Centre for Learning based on need and the complexity of their accommodations. Students writing in the Centre for Learning will be messaged separately by the Centre with instructions on writing locations.

Warm regards,

Jeff Aitken

Head, Upper School

DONATE | UCC’s annual food drive: Churches-on-the-Hill (COTH) 

On Monday, Nov. 27, UCC’s annual Churches-on-the-Hill (COTH) food drive will begin collecting food donations at the Upper School. COTH Food Bank is just a few blocks away from UCC and serves between 1,100 and 1,200 people each week. Over the past 3 years, we have collected nearly 5,000 pounds of food. Today COTH needs our support more than ever. Rising inflation, especially in food prices and housing, is causing more households to rely on COTH to meet their needs. In fact, across Toronto, one in ten residents use food banks to survive. 

You can help out by bringing in food donations to the bins located in the main foyer for the next two weeks. Our goal is to collect a pound of food for every student, so please help us support this important cause. COTH has provided us with a list of the items that are in the highest demand, and we’ve allocated them by House. We also ask that everyone consider donating baby formula (Enfalac or Kirkland brands) and diapers (sizes 4-6) to support the Infant program at COTH. 

Please place your listed objects in the House labeled bins present in the Bernick Family Foyer.

Bremner's: Peanut butter (large size)
Howard's: Low sugar cereals like Cheerios (large size)
Jackson's: Canned fruit
Martland's: Large flaked oats (not instant)
McHugh's: Dried beans (i.e. red kidney beans, chick peas, black beans, etc.)
Mowbray's: Canned tuna and salmon
Orr's: Salted crackers
Scadding's: Dry pasta (large size)
Seaton's and Wedd's: White or brown rice

Thank you,

Alex Woolsey ’25
on behalf of the Upper School Community Service Council 

SAVE THE DATE | Year 10 skating and cookie decorating event with Branksome Hall

We are thrilled to announce a festive and fun-filled event for UCC and Branksome Hall Year 10 students—a skating and cookie decorating afternoon, on Thursday, Dec. 14, at the Wilder arena. This event promises to be a delightful blend of physical activity and creative expression, perfect for ushering in the holiday spirit! You can access more information and register here.

Sarah Khalanski
Year 10 Coordinator

RECORDING | UCC community service parent info session

Please click here for a recording from the parent information and Q+A session held on Monday, Nov. 20. 

This is intended to answer all your questions about service initiatives and tracking of student experiences at the UCC Upper School.