Select a link to jump to an article.

Students are doing a great job of balancing both end-of-year academic assessments and their enthusiasm around the upcoming break. The front foyer continues to grow with donations to the  Churches on the Hill food drive, and Houses are getting ready for their annual tree decorating traditions and baking competition. The community also had the opportunity to hear from student leaders in service and the arts this week, including a Year 11 presentation on a tremendous CAS project in student assembly, as well as the Arts Captains reflections, fine art showcase, piano and UCC Strings performance, and Miami art trip vlog in the arts assembly. Students also participated in a friendly ping-pong competition in Laidlaw Hall, and joined together in a sing-along. There has been a lot of activity at grade-level as well, including a Year 10 assembly and Year 8 Canvas session on consent.

Junior House Soccer has begun with Year 8 and Year 9 students competing in the bubble at Flex Time for house glory and lots of fun. The Board of Stewards has been busy getting ready to run next week’s “Holidays at Lonsdale”, a festive spirit week that will serve as a relaxed way to end the term. 

Holidays at Lonsdale

Next week the Board of Stewards is thrilled to be hosting the first spirit week of the year, our annual "Holidays at Lonsdale" week. Please note in the schedule below the themed dress days and various fun, festive programming happening throughout the week. 

Locker clean out 

To allow for proper cleaning and maintenance of the College facilities, Upper School students must empty their lockers before leaving for the Winter Break. This is true for all of the Year 8 second-floor lockers as well. 

Each student must remove the lock, empty their locker completely and leave the door wide open for easy access by the housekeeping and cleaning staff. 

Thank you,

Mr. Smith

Important | School photo pickup

Families who have ordered their child's photos from Cangrad Studio can pick up their photo package from the front reception.

Year 10 | Upcoming Experiences

Dear Year 10 Families,

We’re thrilled to share details of some enriching and impactful events planned for our Year 10 students in the coming months. A big thank you goes out to Mr. Jordan Small and the English department for their efforts to make these presentations possible. These experiences complement our curriculum and broaden our students’ understanding of significant historical and cultural perspectives. 

The visits from authors Waubgeshig Rice and Reverend Joe Elkerton align closely with the goals of NBE3U, the English: Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Voices course, by offering students authentic insights into Indigenous perspectives, storytelling, and lived experiences. These voices highlight themes of resilience, culture, and identity central to the course. Similarly, the Holocaust education session ties directly to Ontario’s mandate of Holocaust education as a way to foster understanding of historical atrocities, combat antisemitism, and promote social justice. Together, these programs allow students to engage deeply with stories of cultural significance and historical importance, fostering empathy and critical thinking and connecting to our school values of learning, pluralism, and community.  

Reverend Joe Elkerton — Expanding Worldviews

Date: Tuesday, Dec. 17
Time: 9:45–10:45 a.m.
Location: Liadlaw Hall 

We are honoured to host Reverend Joe Elkerton, a member of the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation and a child of residential school survivors. Rev. Joe, who has served in the military and dedicated his life to relief work, brings a powerful dual perspective as both Indigenous and Christian. His firsthand understanding of the generational trauma of residential schools underlines the complex intersections of culture, history, and faith. This session ties deeply into our current unit of study and will challenge students to think critically about identity and reconciliation.

Holocaust Education Session with Rachel Metalin — Learning from History

Date: Thursday, Jan. 9
Time: 1:30–3:45 p.m.
Location: Liadlaw Hall 

Rachel Metalin, Manager of Professional Learning at the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies and former UCC faculty, brings nearly two decades of expertise in Holocaust education. She will guide students through an exploration of the Holocaust’s history and its contemporary relevance, drawing on her experience integrating Holocaust literature into classrooms and leading educational trips to historical sites. This session will highlight the importance of empathy, remembrance, and combating antisemitism.

Author Visit with Waubgeshig Rice — Storytelling and Identity

Date: Thursday, May 15
Time: 8:30–10:30 a.m.
Location: Liadlaw Hall 

Celebrated Anishinaabe author and journalist Waubgeshig Rice will visit to share his storytelling journey and reflections on identity, culture, and history. Raised in Wasauksing First Nation, Waubgeshig draws on his community’s stories and experiences to inform his writing. He explores historical and contemporary Indigenous perspectives authentically and respectfully through his novels and journalism. Students will gain valuable insights into the power of storytelling to preserve culture and foster understanding.

These opportunities allow our Year 10 students to engage with diverse voices and stories that connect deeply with their studies and encourage critical thinking. We believe these experiences will inspire reflection on the importance of history, identity, and community in shaping worldviews. If you have any questions about these events, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your continued support in enriching your sons’ educational journeys.

Jordan Small , English Department Chair 

Emilia Martin, MYP and Personal Project Coordinator 

UCC English curriculum | The NBE3U Experience

Please click on the link to learn more: Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Voices (NBE3U). 

Jordan Small,

Faculty Chair, English

Years 10 and 11 | Social Innovators Program

Dear Students and Families,

We are excited to announce that UCC is partnering again this year with the University of Pennsylvania and Schoolyard Ventures, an organization that develops university-level, real-world learning opportunities for ambitious high school students, to offer The Social Innovators Program for students in grades 10 and 11. 

The 12-week virtual program allows students to learn about social entrepreneurship and experience it first-hand, while earning a Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship from Penn.

During the program, students learn how to launch ventures of their own that create value and a positive impact on society. Students learn in small online classes and through engaging interviews and case studies with young entrepreneurs, with personalized one-on-one guidance and support along the way. Because students choose their own projects, each student's experience in the program is unique. Learn more about the program here. 

This program does have a cost associated with it, but financial support is available and consideration is made upon request. The application deadline is Thursday, Jan. 23 at 11:59 p.m. ET, and the program runs from the week of Feb. 17 through the week of May 12.

A virtual information session for students and parents will be held on Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. ET. Please register for the information session on the site.  

If you have any questions, please reach out to Paul Miskew.

Annual food drive 

The last day to donate is tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 13.  Please place items in the labelled bins in the main foyer, or bring any donation(s) to the Festive Marketplace on Friday, Dec. 13. There will be collection bins at the Hewitt Athletic Centre entry to the marketplace. 

Located just a few blocks from UCC, COTH supports 1,200 people each week. That number matches the student population of UCC! Over the past three years, our community has contributed more than 5,000 pounds of food, providing thousands of meals. However, COTH now needs our help more than ever. Rising inflation, especially in food and housing costs, is forcing more families to rely on food banks. Currently, one in ten people across Toronto uses food banks to help get by (Cheese & Draaisma, 2024).

How you can help:

• Drop-Off Location: Main Foyer

• Dates: Monday, Nov. 25–Friday, Dec. 13

• Goal: Collect one pound of food per student

Please bring your food donations to the bins in the main foyer—every pound counts!

COTH has also provided a list of high-demand items, which we've assigned by House (see below). Additionally, please consider donating powdered baby formula (Kirkland 1.36 kg for ages 0–12 months or Nestle Good Start Plus 1) and diapers (sizes 5–6) to support COTH’s Infant Program.

Each year, we have some parents who prefer to donate funds rather than the above goods. If you would like to donate funds, please do so via their website. Please indicate "UCC FOODDRIVE" in the info line and COTH will be able to report the amount of funds received.

House-specific items:

Bremner’s: Peanut butter (family size)

Howard’s: Tetra packs of shelf-stable milk (e.g., Organic Meadow, Dairy Pure)

Jackson’s: Toilet paper (packages of 8 or 12)

Martland’s: Canned salmon

McHugh’s: Dry pasta (Family Size)

Mowbray’s: Canned tuna

Orr’s: Low-sugar cereal

Scadding’s: Canned fruit (no sugar added)

Seaton’s and Wedd’s: Mac and cheese

The clients of the Daily Bread Food Bank at Churches on the Hill are very thankful for your support and generosity!