Prep School OCTOBER 26, 2023
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Prep School Highlights
Prep School Highlights
Friday, Oct. 27
🏳️🌈 Spirit Dress: Express Yourself day. Wear something that shows who you are, that you like or that is important to you, or a colour from the rainbow flag.
Monday, Oct. 30
2C to Norval for the day
Tuesday, Oct. 31
🎃 SK to Year 5 Halloween Parade
Wednesday, Nov. 1
Student late start day
5B to Norval until Friday
Thursday, Nov. 2
Prep fall plays Years 4–6 and Year 7
Friday, Nov. 3
👕 UCC Spirit Dress Day
THIS WEEK AT THE PREP
THIS WEEK AT THE PREP
Prep Leadership Team | Sarah Fleming, David Girard and Gareth Evans
Dear Prep Families,
We can barely believe that next week is already November! The leaves are on the ground, the air is changing, and students are well into their structures and routines for the year.
Thanks to all the families who joined our two Prep Socials this week. Gareth, David, Julia and I all enjoyed getting the opportunity to connect with you all, hear your highlights of the year so far and answer questions. We love having families engaged and on campus!
Today during Community Time, Primary students worked with buddy classes to create an art installation that represents our collective pride in our diverse identities as a community. Students contributed to a community heart map with things that are important to them — the heart will be displayed outside of Weston Hall for all to see! The Middle division had an assembly where Upper School student Matty Berman came to speak to them about the importance of Pride Week, and we launched the Prep Allyship Council, which encourages students to take action to ensure that everyone at UCC — regardless of identity — feels a sense of belonging in our community. As student Matty Berman reminded us, at UCC, we never walk alone.
Next week we have Halloween celebrations occurring on Tuesday, Oct. 31 as well as the fall plays on Thursday evening, Nov. 2. Please come out on Thursday night and celebrate our young actors!
And in other good news, the SK–2 Playscape is being fixed today! Through the generous support of the PPO, we were also able to order additional recess equipment, loose parts for creative play, and more picnic tables for our older students. We believe deeply in the power of rejuvenation and play for children in their wellbeing, and having the Playscape fixed, as well as the additional equipment and materials gives students additional options for outdoor time at recess.
Your partners in learning,
Sarah Fleming, David Girard and Gareth Evans
The Prep Leadership Team
Halloween at the Prep
Halloween at the Prep
Halloween is an exciting time for children. At school, we make plans with the belief that the day should be safe, fun and productive.
Students may wear their costume or casual orange and black clothes on October 31 (or regular uniform if they wish). It’s best that students wear running shoes with their costume. Wearing casual clothes underneath is also wise as students often take their costumes off at noon to preserve them for evening activities.
The wearing of costumes should be age and grade appropriate. No large props or weaponry as they prove challenging in a school context.
Please remind students that in preparing their costumes it is not a competition and that we encourage them to make use of regular household materials to construct a costume with some flair and creativity.
This year we are going to have an SK–5 parade with students safely visiting stations held by Ms. Fleming, Mr. Girard, Mr. Evans and other members of faculty and staff. Students will collect candy to bring home. A huge thank you to the PPO for supplying the candy!
Year 6–7 will also receive a candy treat package supplied by the PPO that teachers will distribute.
Please speak with your form adviser if you have any questions.
With our thanks and excitement for Halloween,
David Girard and Gareth Evans
Assistant Heads of the Preparatory School
Join us for a night of theatre at the Prep
Join us for a night of theatre at the Prep
Dear Families and Friends of Upper Canada College,
We invite you to a night of theatre! Please join us November 2 from 7–8:30 p.m. in Weston Hall. Admission is free of charge.
Here are our fall production facts:
It will be an evening of mystery with two plots to uncover.
More than 60 students are involved from Year 4 to 7.
There are roughly 40 actors and 20 crew members.
This marks our first time trying Theatre in the Round, with our stage in the centre of Weston Hall.
Bring $10 cash as we're introducing SWAG! Our crews have been busy creating tokens to help us remember this special night. Individual items, including keychains, bookmarks, stickers and a photo booth will be available for a small cost.
ONE NIGHT ONLY! Come support UCC and our theatre production at the Prep! Come one, come all!
Year 4–6 production details:
Come to watch what will happen when the street signs switch because of a criminal act, and chaos unfolds as two detectives try to find who the culprit is.
At the 2023 Year 4–6 fall play, we are going to be investigating who switched the street signs by interrogating many different people and asking them loads of questions. One of our great detectives is a nice "good cop", while the other one is mean, and not that nice at times.
Year 7 production presented by The Playmakers
A famous art piece, two hapless security guards and a gallery of rogues! Who destroyed Godfrey Nameless’ latest installation, Cardboard Boxes? Who is to blame? At the 2023 Year 7 play, Rogues Gallery, you will experience mystery, mayhem and mischief.
Come help our security guards uncover who the culprit is!
Sincerely,
The Crew and The Actors
Year 5 Design | Update
Year 5 Design | Update
In Year 5 design class, our students have embarked on an exciting journey of exploration and craftsmanship. Students kicked off the year by delving into the intricacies of the design cycle, setting the stage for their first fabrication unit, which centres on the art of woodworking.
This year, our Year 5 designers are inquiring into the origins of materials as they embark to design and craft their very own charcuterie boards. Throughout the process, they have been examining different types of lumber and investigating whether these materials are sourced locally or imported, while building awareness of the environmental and financial implications involved.
Students conducted research as they shopped online to handpick their choice of materials, while calculating the cost of these elements for their projects. From walnut to reclaimed wood, the choices were diverse. The next step is to begin constructing as students will be introduced to tools such as hand saws, sanders, rasps, and the drill press. Stay tuned for progress updates!
PYP Design Teacher and Prep IT Integrator
SK to Year 5 | Seesaw for families
SK to Year 5 | Seesaw for families
Seesaw serves as our digital student portfolio platform for students from SK to Year 5. This platform provides an insightful glimpse into your child's educational journey, allowing them to express their creativity by sharing a wide range of activities, videos, and projects assigned by their teachers. To help you get started, we invite you to watch Seesaw’s Get Families Started video.
You can download the Seesaw app onto your personal device, or visit the web portal and sign in to connect with your child’s class account. If you are not already connected, please follow the link and instructions that your child’s teacher has sent to you.
Once you are connected, you will receive notifications every time your child shares their work in their digital journal. You also have the opportunity to provide feedback by commenting at the bottom of their posts. We encourage families to leave meaningful and constructive comments to support students in becoming reflective learners.
Should you have any questions or require assistance, please contact Joanna Martin.
Upcoming Year 7 dance/socials
Upcoming Year 7 dance/socials
Both Branksome Hall and Havergal will be hosting a dance/social for Year 7 students on Friday, Nov. 3 from 7 to 9 p.m. A Google form has been circulated to Year 7 students so they can indicate their interest in attending one of these events. Unfortunately, if we have more students demonstrating interest than spaces allotted to us by Branksome and Havergal, we will need to use a random draw to decide who will attend. Every effort will be made to ensure Year 7s have an opportunity to attend at least one dance/social this year. Digital permission forms will be emailed on Monday, Oct. 30 and will include all necessary information.
Gareth Evans
Assistant Head of the Preparatory School, Middle Division
SAVE THE DATE | First meeting of Community Reads is on November 14
SAVE THE DATE | First meeting of Community Reads is on November 14
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee of the PPO, supported by the Prep Leadership Team, is excited to launch the Community Reads Book Club!
Our fall book selection is Boys: What It Means to Become a Man by Rachel Giese, a Toronto-based journalist and regular contributor to CBC Radio. She is also a Deputy National Editor at the Globe and Mail.
Winner of the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize, Boys takes an in-depth look at the societal myths surrounding masculinity and examines the many challenges facing boys today. The book is available at various community bookstores (Type Books, Another Story and Queen Books) as well as big box stores. Ten copies of the book are available to borrow in the Wilder Library. Parents who would like to borrow a book can come to the library between 8–8:30 a.m. or after school from 3:50–4:30 p.m. to check out a book themselves or they can ask their sons to check out the book for them. Parents and/or guardians who would like to buy a copy of the book can do so by sending an email to Crystal Arruda with their request. Books will be sold for $16.80 and will be billed to student accounts.
Our fall book club discussion will take place on Tuesday, November 14 from 6:30–8 p.m. in the Wilder Library at the Prep. We are delighted to have author Rachel Giese join us at this session!
If you are interested in joining the book club, please complete this form by Thursday, Nov. 9. Please contact us with any questions.
Christina Staikos
PPO President
Kate Viner
PPO Vice President
Hot Lunch opt-out
Hot Lunch opt-out
The winter session of the Hot Lunch program will begin after the November long weekend on Tuesday, Nov. 14. Email Janet Brock by Thursday, Nov. 9 if you would like to either opt in or out of the lunch program. Please do not email if you are already signed up and will continue participating in the Hot Lunch program.
REGISTER | Before School Program: winter session
REGISTER | Before School Program: winter session
The Before School Program (BSP) is available on Wednesday mornings (8–9:15 a.m.), at no extra charge, to families that need this service. The winter session of the program begins Wednesday, Nov. 15 and ends Wednesday, March 6.
You must register using the link on your student's Bluenet profile if you require this service for the winter session. The registration deadline is Thursday, Nov. 9. Having accurate numbers is essential for our planning.
Some reminders of the timing for Wednesday mornings:
If your child is joining the Before School Program, please have them arrive by 8:30 a.m.
If your child is not joining the Before School Program, we ask that students arrive at school between 9:15–9:30 a.m.
REGISTER | ASP Program
REGISTER | ASP Program
Session 1 clubs will end Thursday, Nov. 2 and session 2 will begin the following week.
Click here to sign up for session 2.
DONATE | Halloween Candy
DONATE | Halloween Candy
Don't want all that Halloween candy in your house? Please consider donating any extra Halloween treats to our Candy Donation Drive in support of Robertson House, a Toronto shelter for women and children. Bins will be at front reception for candy donations from Monday, Nov. 6 to Wednesday, Nov. 8.
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