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Year 7 Transition to the Upper School

Dear Year 7 parents,

With the spring term in full swing, it's also time to look ahead, and for the Year 7s this means thinking about their transition to the Upper School.

• Upper School house placement: All families completed and submitted information outlining any family connection to the Upper School house system. Students without a family connection were placed in a house according to numbers, academic background, co-curricular interests, and group dynamics. House placements were emailed to families, Wednesday, April 9.

• Year 7 family information evening: Year 7 parents are invited to learn about the Year 8 program and the Upper School. This information session will take place at the Upper School on Wednesday, May 7.  We'll begin at 6 p.m. with light refreshments followed by the formal program running at 6:30–7:45 p.m. in Laidlaw Hall. The administrative team will provide an overview of the Upper School experience, with a focus on student support; parents will then be taken on a school tour by student house leaders. Only parents have to attend this event and it's strongly suggested that at least one parent attend. Please see the article below for more information and the registration form.

• Year 7/ Year 10 mentor one-day retreat: All Year 7 students will participate in a Year 7/Year 10 mentor one-day retreat at Norval. This will take place on May 8 or May 9, depending on your child’s Upper School house placement. Please see below for the day your child’s Upper School house will visit Norval.

Year 7 students will complete a student profile (personal interest information, academic interests, information about participation in the arts program and athletic program, participation in outside activities, etc.) to be shared with their Upper School Senior House Adviser.  

During the retreat, information about your child’s student profile will also be shared with their Year 10 mentor as they begin to lay the foundation of a healthy mentor/mentee relationship. 

Please ensure your child dresses appropriately for the weather on the day they travel to Norval. Year 7 students should arrive at school for their regular drop-off time and are scheduled to arrive back from Norval at approximately 5:30 p.m.

Sincerely,

Gareth Evans

Assistant Head of the Preparatory School, Middle Division

Transition to the Upper School information evening

Dear Year 7 Parents, 

We invite you to a Year 8 Information Evening that will take place on Wednesday, May 7, beginning at 6 p.m. with light refreshments. The formal program will run 6:30–7:45 p.m. in Laidlaw Hall. Only parents have to attend this event.

This evening is dedicated to supporting Year 7 students and families in transitioning to the Upper School. Speakers include our Head of School, Assistant Heads, MYP Coordinator, Head Steward and Year 8 students. If you haven’t already, please fill out this Google Form if you plan to attend. Light refreshments will be provided. 

Following the presentation in Laidlaw Hall, families can tour the Upper School with Student Leaders. 

All the best,

Ms. Levene, Ms. Martin and Mr. Jugoon

Springquest 2025: Year 7s from UCC and BSS

On Wednesday, April 23 we will host Springquest!

Springquest welcomes BSS students to our campus to work with our Year 7 students in coed teams through a variety of team-building and problem-solving challenges. Please ensure your child comes dressed for the weather — our Norval team often reminds us, “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only not being prepared for the weather!” :-)

Sincerely,

Gareth Evans

Assistant Head of the Preparatory School, Middle Division

Update | Year 5

As spring begins, we’re excited to share some highlights of the engaging learning in our classroom. Our focus remains on nurturing caring, kind communities that support academic growth, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of the world around us. Below is an overview of our current and upcoming Mathematics, Inquiry, and Co-Curricular Activities units.

The three forms are now in their second week of Exhibition work. The IB PYP Exhibition is a significant culminating project for students in their final year of the PYP. This in-depth, student-driven inquiry allows learners to explore real-world issues or topics they are passionate about. Through research, collaboration, and reflection, students apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes they have developed throughout their PYP journey. Guided by form advisers and mentors, they work in small groups to investigate their chosen topics, gather information from various sources, and take meaningful action based on their learning. The project encourages students to think critically, communicate effectively, and take responsibility for their learning. The experience concludes with a formal exhibition on May 9, where students will present their findings to the school community. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend your son’s showcase of his hard work. The PYP Exhibition is both a celebration of learning and a meaningful transition into the next stage of their educational journey—the Middle Years Programme.

In Mathematics, the boys are midway through Unit 6: Investigations in Measurement; Decimal Multiplication and Division. They apply their understanding of place value to multiply and divide decimals by powers of 10. They are also exploring how patterns in powers of 10 help convert metric measurements, learning to use line plots to organize and analyze data, and investigating how to find the volume of composite figures. Students extend whole-number methods to work with decimals and deepen their mathematical reasoning.

In Language Arts, we continue our work with morphological awareness. Students are learning to connect sounds and meaning to strengthen word recognition and spelling by building on phoneme knowledge. This vital work supports the development of richer vocabulary, improved comprehension, and stronger writing skills.

Spring athletics are in full swing. Tryouts for U11 softball are ongoing, the track team had its first meet on April 15, and our Intramurals programme is enjoying pickleball, cosmic castle, and—weather permitting—softball.

Many exciting events will happen around the Prep School in the coming weeks, so read the Heads Up newsletter every Thursday for key dates and details.

We also look forward to welcoming families on April 25 for Student-Led Conferences (SLCs). These conferences are a powerful opportunity for students to take ownership of their learning by leading a conversation with their parents or guardians about their progress. During SLCs, students share work samples, reflect on their successes and challenges, and set goals for continued growth. They’ll discuss academic and personal development, while teachers support and guide the process. Student-led conferences promote confidence, self-awareness, and responsibility while giving parents a meaningful window into their child’s learning journey.

Finally, we want to thank all our parents for your continued support. Partnering with you helps ensure a successful and rewarding school year for your child. We truly appreciate all that you do!

Lisa Brooks, Paul Faggion, Paige Colallio

Y5 Form Advisors

Health & Life Skills: Year 4–7 Human Development and Sexual Health Unit 

Between late April and June, students in Years 4 to 7 will begin their Human Development and Sexual Health unit in Health and Life Skills. 

In Year 4 we will introduce the idea of puberty and talk about the basic physical changes that occur during this time. We will discuss the potential changes in emotions (e.g. feeling uncomfortable because you’re taller or smaller than all your peers) and social relationships (e.g. friendships change as people develop different interests) that may be experienced during this developmental stage. Personal care and hygiene practices associated with the onset of puberty (e.g. regular bathing, wearing deodorant) will also be reviewed.

In Year 5, topics to be discussed include how the body changes during puberty specifically with respect to the reproductive system, menstruation and spermatogenesis. We will look at how the changes during puberty might be stressful for some and how that stress can be managed in a healthy way. 

In Year 6, we will review the social, emotional and physical changes that may occur in puberty and discuss the characteristics of healthy relationships.  The impact of viewing sexually explicit media will also be addressed as will the effect stereotypes and assumptions can have on the development of a person’s self-concept.

In Year 7, how relationships with family and others may be affected by the changes occurring in puberty will be discussed as will the importance of communication within a relationship, including the concept of consent. We will also look at a variety of factors that need to be considered when making decisions related to sexual health including the identification and prevention of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs). 

Accurate sources of information related to human development is something we discuss at all grades and the Prep library has a number of books for students and/or parents to borrow on the topic. As well, the website Teaching Sexual Health is another source of information for parents around talking to children about sexual health as are the resources found on this website from sexual health educator Saleema Noon.  

Should you have any questions, please contact Martha Boyce or your child’s HLS teacher.

The Health & Life Skills Team

Dianne Jojic (4B, 4F)                              

David Girard (5B, 5F)

Kayla Gosse (6F, 6L)

Max Perren (7S) 

Martha Boyce (5C, 6C, 6H, 7B, 7G, 7M, 7T)      

Update | Prep Music

Dear Prep Families,

The Prep Choir (Year 6-7) had a wonderful opportunity to rehearse and perform at Roy Thomson Hall for the Conference of Independent Schools Music Festival (CISMF). CISMF is an annual event that involves months of preparation and multiple rehearsals throughout the school year. It's a celebration where schools from different regions of Ontario participate in various musical performances, including choirs, orchestras and other musical ensembles. The festival typically includes performances that showcase students' musical talents and skills. On average, over 20 to 30 schools participate, and tickets sell out in less than 15 minutes once the box office opens.

This event provided an excellent opportunity for the students to showcase their vocal abilities while interacting with peers from other independent schools. A special thank you goes out to the parents and families for their continued support, and especially to our chaperones—Mr. Cooper, Mr. Ismail, and Mr. Rossi.

Thank you to the Prep Choir singers for your continued commitment and passion for the appreciation and joy of singing. Our next "stop" is the Prep Spring Concert on May 29! Congratulations again on your fabulous performance at CISMF!

Musically,

Caroline Heo

Year 6-7 Choir Director

CISMF Choral Coordinator

Earth Week

Next week at the Prep we are celebrating Earth Week with a series of fun and meaningful activities that empower our students to be stewards of the Earth. Throughout the week we will focus on showing respect for our planet and taking small, everyday actions that make a difference.

Here’s what’s Happening:

• Tuesday, April 22: Earth Day: Earthy colours casual clothes (blue and green) and enjoy a Tofu Tuesday meatless lunch option.
  
  

• Wednesday, April 23: Vintage-inspired casual dress day. The Prep Parents Organization (PPO) will host a Retro T-Shirt Sale in the Bitove Lounge ($5 each) a fun way to reuse and recycle!
  
  

• Thursday, April 24: Tu B’shvat: In honour of the Jewish festival about the new year for trees, students will take part in a seed planting activity in their home forms. The planting on this holiday reminds us of the importance of taking action that will make a difference for future generations.

• Friday, April 25: Join us for a Farmer’s Market at the Upper school student centre from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m., open before and after student conferences. Families are encouraged to stop by, support local vendors, and enjoy fresh, sustainable goods.

Mr. Walderman and the Eco Warriors

You're invited! | Years 3 and 4 Family Design Challenge 

Following the success of our last Family Design Challenge with SK – Year 2, we are thrilled to invite Year 3 and Year 4 families to join us for the next exciting session in the Brenda and Reid Chen Innovation Lab on Tuesday, April 22, from 3:45– 4:45 p.m.

Thank you to all the families who joined us in February. It was a wonderful afternoon of collaboration, creativity, and joyful making!

This time, we’ll be tackling a new hands-on challenge: The Chain Reaction Machine! Can you and your child design a creative contraption that uses a series of chain reactions to complete a simple task? 

Together, you’ll experience how our Years 3 and 4 students bring design thinking and inquiry to life in the Innovation Lab. 

We have space for 15 families, and spots will be available on a first come, first served basis. If you would like to join us, please fill in this Google Form as soon as possible.

We look forward to another fun and inspiring afternoon together.

Brenda and Reid Chen Innovation Lab
Tuesday, April 22
3:45 – 4:45 p.m.

Stay tuned for details about our final Family Design Challenge with Year 5! 

Joanna Martin
Innovation and Technology Coach

Primary student-led conferences 

In Primary, formal feedback of learning happens throughout the year in a variety of forms. In the form of report cards, parent-teacher conferences, three-way conferences, and student-led conferences, the partnership between home and school and the development of reflective learners is fostered.

The upcoming student-led conferences create an authentic purpose for organizational and communication skills and the structure builds students’ sense of responsibility and accountability in their learning. It also hones their understanding of what it means to meet learning goals.

We are excited to host in-person student-led conferences once again this year. Student-led conferences will be held all day on April 25. Students do not have a regular school day but do attend with their parents/guardian for their Student Led Conference which you can sign up for using School Cloud.  The instructions to use SchoolCloud are here.

Parents and students can expect to be engaged in their student-led conference at school for approximately one hour. During this time students will facilitate a meeting with their parent(s)/guardian from start to finish using a “menu” of items featuring learning from the most recent term. 

Please note that SchoolCloud will open at 9 a.m. on April 11 and close at 4 p.m. on April 23. The time you select represents the start time for your 60 minute conference. Please be mindful of this if you are booking for siblings across divisions.

Dianne Jojic
PYP Coordinator

Years 6 and 7 student-led conferences

Feedback is one of the most important tools to help students develop and grow. In addition, building strong connections among families, teachers, and students is integral to continued academic development. UCC’s Middle Division 15-minute student-led conferences with Form Advisors provide an opportunity for both holistic feedback and connection to take place. Details are as follows:

• Interviews for Year 6 and Year 7 students and their families will take place on Friday, April 25, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; interviews will take place in 15-minute intervals virtually using SchoolCloud or in person. There are no classes for students on Friday, April 25

• SchoolCloud opened at 9 a.m. on Friday, April 11

• SchoolCloud will close at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23

• SchoolCloud sign-up details for conferences are here

• To encourage ownership over their learning and development of self-advocacy skills, students should be present for their conferences and participate in the dialogue. Students will use FLEXtime to prepare for their conference. Students should introduce their parents at the beginning of the conference

• If attending virtually, please access SCHOOLCLOUD only at the time of your scheduled appointment. If attending in person, please wait outside your child’s Form room until your scheduled appointment. Please also ensure your child is wearing First Dress

• There are no classes on Friday, April 25, during the student-led conferences, as students and teachers are fully involved in these meaningful conversations

Thank you for your continued support.

Gareth Evans
Assistant Head, Middle Years

PYP Exhibition Update | April 17

Year 5 Exhibition projects are going strong. Students are consolidating their research into Key Findings, which they will include on their group websites to teach others about their issue.

Groups are beginning to think about how they might take action about their issue. Students have discussed types of action and have explored the resource, 170 Daily Actions to Transform our World. 

We encourage parents to have rich conversations at home about the different ways to take action. Students have researched Responsibility questions like “What can be done to help? Who is helping? What organizations are already taking action and what are they doing?”. This research will aid in action-oriented conversations. 

Built into the project students will be taking action through Artivism in Art, their French messages and their design teaching others ideas, which will be displayed on Exhibition Day, May 9, between 1 and 3 p.m. To include faraway family members and other IB schools, we hope to provide a virtual schedule for group presentations in addition to our in person event, art gallery and exhibition hall. Please stay tuned for more information about the format and schedule.

Should you have any questions about the PYP Exhibition, please contact your child’s Form Adviser or Dianne Jojic, the PYP Coordinator.

Donate | Staff Appreciation Lunch

We need your support to make this year’s Staff Appreciation Lunch a success!

A time-honoured tradition at UCC, the Staff Appreciation Lunch is our school community’s way of thanking all the different staff who help make our students’ experience at the College so remarkable. This includes teachers, administration, arena staff, housekeeping, food services and support staff. Approximately 350 staff will attend the lunch on Wednesday, May 28 in the Foster Hewitt Foundation Lounge.

The Staff Appreciation Lunch is fully funded by parent donations, so please contribute to this wonderful event for all of our UCC staff by donating here. 

Thank you so much for your support!

Register | PPO and PO Spring Luncheon