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Dear Prep Families,

The month of May is upon us!  Students and teachers are busy completing projects, units of learning, Norval trips, Spring trips and assemblies.  As you will read in this week's edition of Heads Up, our Prep students and teachers have been very busy on all fronts! 

This week we celebrated Canadian Children’s book week with several author visits and lots of visits to the library!  Please take an opportunity this week to share your favourite book with your child and to talk to them about the author visits this week.  

This week we also had two assemblies!  At our Primary assembly, Mr. Ismail celebrated the results of the recent Math contests, and shared the excitement that has been brewing around Math in the Primary division!  Some year 5 students also shared a collaborative picture book that was created alongside Upper School student Mathew Li.

At the Middle assembly, some of our Upper School Action and Affinity groups came to present about their experiences. We love when the boys in the Prep can learn from their older classmates, and for Year 7 boys, this gives them a sense of the clubs and experiences that will be available to them in the Upper school. The boys spoke about how impactful these groups have been to their sense of belonging and connectedness in the Upper School.  

We also acknowledged the passing of Pope Francis, highlighting the ways that his values align with the values of UCC. Please enjoy our assembly videos from the Primary and the Middle Division.  

We look forward to seeing everyone at the inaugural Blue Bash tomorrow!  

Your partners in learning,

Sarah Fleming, David Girard and Gareth Evans

The Prep Leadership Team

Update | Year 1

Thank you for joining us for your Student-Led Conference! It was such a joy to see the boys take pride in showcasing their learning. It’s hard to believe we’re nearing the end of Year 1. The students continue to expand their knowledge while staying curious and engaged with the world around them.

The students are engrossed in our current unit of inquiry, structures. Throughout this unit, students explore the unique features of communities, both local and global, and the needs they support. Students have relished the opportunity to explore different types of houses around the world. Students will soon design their own structure that meets a need they have identified within our community. Looking ahead, we are excited to welcome parent volunteers into our classroom to tell us a bit more about how their job supports the creation of various structures. If this is something applicable to you, please let me know, we would love to have you in. In math, we’ve just wrapped up our exploration of time. The boys read, wrote, and drew clocks, and learned to tell time to the hour, half hour, and five-minute intervals. Even though this unit is finished, the learning doesn’t stop! Please continue to point out clocks and discuss the time during your daily routines. This week, we launched into our new unit on shapes, which will support our understanding of structures. We are learning how different shapes provide strength and stability. This song is a current class favourite and wildly catchy (and supports our understanding of 3D shapes!). Please feel free to play it at home.

We have just wrapped up our April Printing Challenge, which focused on improving the boys’ letter formation. Their efforts have been fantastic! Please continue to encourage your child to slow down and take care when printing letters neatly and clearly.

Thank you to all our Year 1 families for your continued support throughout the year. We are grateful to be on this learning journey together.

Riley Carter

Year 1 Form Advisor

Update | PYP Exhibition 

Year 5 students are working hard in the final preparations for Exhibition Day held on Friday, May 9, from 1–3 p.m. We hope you can attend. You can expect an interactive and lively afternoon of learning.

The format will be:

1–1:15 p.m. | Opening Ceremonies in Weston Hall

• Welcome speeches and Year 5 musical performance

1:15–2:45 p.m. | Exhibition Hall 

• Student displays and informal sharing of learning in Weston Hall and Bitove Lounge

• In addition, group presentations will be scheduled in classrooms for virtual access and small-group enjoyment. Invitation linked here

2:45– 3 p.m. | Closing Ceremonies in Weston Hall

• Thank yous and a treat in classrooms for students

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

Update | Middle language and literature

Year 7

For the past eight weeks, our Year 7s have been fully immersed in our Creative Writing Workshop, and what a journey it’s been! Our focus has been learning from some of the greats of middle-grade fiction — authors like Alan Gratz, Jandy Nelson, Megan E. Freeman, and Andrea Davis Pinkney. Rather than taking on whole novels, we zoomed in on Micro Mentor Texts —powerful, carefully chosen snippets from these authors’ works. By studying these small but mighty examples, students uncovered the techniques behind great writing and then applied them to their own original pieces.

Throughout the workshop, students practiced a series of craft moves that real authors use to build compelling stories:

1. Expanding a Moment with Sensory Details — slowing down important scenes and using the five senses to immerse the reader in the character’s experiences.
   
   

2. Finding Voice through Literary Devices — experimenting with similes, metaphors, and playful language to create rich imagery.
   
   

3. Capturing Conversations between Characters — writing dialogue that sounds natural, reveals character, and moves the story forward.
   
   

4. Developing Scenes Connected by a Common Thread — linking scenes together so that stories unfold with meaning and purpose.
   
   

5. Adding Description using Lists and the Rule of 3s — layering vivid details that stick in a reader’s mind.
   
   

6. Creating Full-Circle Endings — crafting satisfying conclusions that echo the story’s beginning or key themes.
   
   

Beyond these techniques, students also explored story structure, genre, and thematic statements, diving deep into what makes stories resonate across different readers and cultures. Most importantly, we emphasized that human emotion and experience — not flashy plots or fancy words — are what truly breathe life into writing. Stories become unforgettable when they capture something real about being human.

As a fun twist, students also committed to "beating the bot" — aiming to write pieces that were more vivid, emotional, and creative than their AI counterparts. Spoiler alert: the humans definitely won this round!

It’s been inspiring to see the passion, effort, and creativity that our students brought to their writing. With so much talent in the room, don't be surprised if you see a few bestsellers from this class in the future... at the very least, we’ll need some extra-long bookshelves to fit all the future novels! We encourage you to ask your child to read their piece with you and to discuss the inspiration behind their story.

Year 6

Our Year 6 readers have been on an inspiring journey this term through our Overcoming Obstacles Book Club! Students had the opportunity to select from a powerful list of middle-grade novels — including Barren Grounds by David A. Robertson, Ghost by Jason Reynolds, King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender, Refugee by Alan Gratz, When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Park, and Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling.

Beyond just reading, students engaged in meaningful conversations and developed collaborative strategies to dive deeper into their texts. Working in book clubs, they compared and contrasted two novels at a time, exploring themes and motifs around resilience, human capability, and the tenacity of the human spirit — key ideas that connected their reading to the world around them.

Throughout the unit, students not only read and discussed but also wrote, designed, and debated their way through a variety of creative projects. Some highlights include:

• Literary Device Hunts — finding and analyzing powerful language choices.
  
  

• Constellation Mapping — connecting character journeys to the importance of the stars in Cree legend and storytelling.
  
  

• Movie Poster Design — imagining their novels as blockbuster films and capturing the essence of their stories.
  
  

Our goal was bigger than just analyzing literature: we worked hard to cultivate an atmosphere that celebrates great writing and encourages a lasting love of reading. It’s been a joy to watch students find themselves in their books — and each other — through meaningful discussions and shared discoveries.

As a grand finale, our Year 6s — now budding literary critics — will conduct interviews where they’ll showcase their expertise about their novels, speaking as reviewers, analyzers, and champions of great storytelling.

With all this talent and insight on display, it’s safe to say we have a few future book critics (and maybe even a few award-winning authors!) in the making — so watch out, New York Times Bestsellers list!

Warmly,

Michaela Trelford

Learning Leader, Middle Language and Literature

Join us | Spring performances

Primary concert

All primary students will perform

Wednesday, May 28, 2–3 p.m. in Weston Hall

Spring concert

All Years 6–7 bands and choir

Thursday, May 29, 7–8:30 p.m. in Weston Hall 

Generations Day on Friday, May 30 

All Years 6–7 bands — Middle Generations Day 9-11 a.m.

All primary students performance—Primary Generations Day 1-3 p.m.

We hope to see you at a future performance!

Warmest Regards,

Paul McGarr          

Middle Years Director of Bands

Caroline Heo
Musical Director / Choir Director

Transition to the Upper School | Information evening

Dear Year 7 Families, 

We are looking forward to the Information Evening taking place in the Student Centre of the Upper School on Wednesday, May 7, for parents and guardians of Year 7 students who will be coming to the Upper School in September. Parents attending the event should enter the Upper School via the main doors under the clock tower.

This evening is dedicated to answering questions about programming and supporting Year 7 students and families in transitioning to Year 8. Year 7 students do not need to attend, as they will be visiting the Upper School on May 2 for an assembly and tour.

Please see the agenda:

Student Centre: Light snacks (6–6:25 p.m.)

Laidlaw Hall: Presentation —Intro to the Upper School  (6:30–7:15 p.m.)

School Tours: Led by student leaders and organized by House in the Student Centre (7:15–7: 45 p.m. / 8 p.m.)

All the best,

Ms. Levene, Ms. Martin, Mr. MacDougall and Mr. Jugoon

Prep Games Day and Holi

Holi, the vibrant Festival of Colours, heralds the arrival of spring and the promise of new beginnings. Its joyful spirit has transcended borders, becoming a globally celebrated event that embodies love, unity, forgiveness, and communal harmony. People worldwide now come together during Holi to joyously celebrate their connections with one another.

The primary celebration involves the gathering of communities in outdoor spaces where people cover each other with colours. All colours are used except for black and white. Think of this activity as a big game of water tag, except with colour. 

The UCC Prep School community is celebrating Holi on Friday, May 23, as part of Prep Games Day. We hope all UCC students can join in on the messy fun! 

After participating in Holi, students will have coloured powder on their person and clothes. The Holi colour (dry colour will be used) is safe, non-toxic and washable (from skin and clothes). As a result, families should:

• For pick up, bring a pair of pants and a shirt that the child can put over the top of their colour house clothing

• Remind their child to bring a water bottle, wear their Colour House colours, and athletic wear to school.

Should your child not wish to participate, kindly advise your child’s Form Advisor that you would like your child to opt out of the Holi event. 

We look forward to integrating the Holi event with Prep Games Day, and we’re excited about our Prep community enjoying this celebratory event.

Year 7  | Second Hepatitis B/Menactra/HPV Clinic

Dear Year 7 Parents,

This is a reminder on Thursday, May 29 Toronto Public Health will be holding the second Year 7 Hepatitis B/Menactra/HPV Clinic at UCC, in the Prep Dining hall from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. 

The following vaccines will be given:

• Second dose of hepatitis B and human papillomavirus vaccines to Year 7 students

• Hepatitis B, meningococcal, and human papillomavirus vaccines to Year 7 and 8 students who missed the first clinic.

Please remind your child about this clinic. Also please make sure your child eats breakfast the morning of the clinic and to wear short sleeves. If your child is unwell due to fever, and cannot receive their vaccinations, please notify the Prep 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. 

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 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

Thank you all for your cooperation!

The Health Centre 

Save the date | Prep Prize Day

This year's Prep Prize Day will be held on Monday, June 2 in Weston Hall at 8:30 a.m. Parents of prize recipients will be notified by email during the week of May 5. We hope that parents of prize winners will be able to join the celebration on June 2.

Register | Community Reads PPO/PO Book Club

We're looking forward to another Community Reads session on Thursday, May 8, from 6–7 p.m. This event will take place in the Macintosh Library at the Upper School. Please register here.

A PO and PPO initiative, we are encouraging any and all UCC parents/guardians to pick up a copy of The Tech Solution by Canadian Harvard-trained psychiatrist Dr. Shimi Kang.

Dr. Kang is an expert in the area of technology and psychology and shares many useful insights for parenting in the digital age in her book. The book is available at Indigo or online from Dr. Kang. We look forward to seeing you there for a rich and meaningful discussion!

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! 

Save the date | Generations Day

Grandparents and special guests are invited to visit the Prep School on Friday, May 30 for an opportunity to attend a special assembly, explore classrooms, check out fantastic student artwork and enjoy light refreshments in the Bitove Lounge.

9–11 a.m. | Year 6 and 7 families

1–3 p.m. | SK–Year 5 families

A registration form will be coming soon, but please save the date and share with your special guests.

Reminder | Used uniform sale 

Support shopping sustainably

The Used Uniform Sale presents the perfect opportunity to stock up on gently used uniform items for SK to Year 7 students. It will be held on Wednesday, May 21, from 2:30–4 p.m. and Thursday, May 22, from 8–9:15 a.m. at the William P. Wilder ’40 Arena & Sports Complex. We have a great selection of pants, polo shirts, dress shirts, ties, sweaters, physical education uniforms and blazers. While we will have bags at the sale, we ask that families bring their own reusable bags if possible.

Donations

Please drop off gently used uniform items in the used uniform blue box, which you will find under the main staircase of the lower level of the Prep. Donations are always welcome, but please do not drop off stained, ripped or non-UCC clothing.

Volunteers

The Used Uniform Sale committee is looking for volunteers with a couple of hours to spare, to help sort and organize donations prior to the events or to take a shift at one of the sales throughout the year. Please click here if you can help out. Your time is greatly appreciated!