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This week was filled with final assessment submissions, exam preparation and celebrations. In particular, it was the week of the Leaving Ceremony for our Year 12 students, where we celebrated their graduation from the College. On Thursday we held our Leaving Class Dinner. Year 12s gathered in Laidlaw one final time for an assembly filled with memories, a teacher speaker, and some fun and games before moving on to a wonderful dinner. This year over dinner they heard from a young alumnus from the Class of 2019 on the support he has received from his classmates since graduating from the College. Friday marked the big day, where our Leaving Class and their families gathered for a celebratory ceremony, with remarks from school leadership and the presentation of diplomas and awards. Congratulations to the Class of 2025!

On Monday, May 26, the Upper School honoured departing colleagues in the Final Principal’s Assembly. This event was a tribute to tremendous members of staff and faculty. After Dr. Aitken shared some heartfelt final words, Principal McKinney provided closing remarks on the year and a staffing update, acknowledging those who are returning to the College in September as well as some who departed UCC earlier this year. Individuals moving into new leadership roles were also celebrated, as were faculty who have served their terms in positions that have left a lasting legacy on the College. Students and faculty said a few words in honour of departing faculty and staff, including two individuals entering retirement after many years of service.

Students participated in their final advising sessions, while the Year 8s enjoyed a year-end assembly in Weston Hall.

This week’s Principal’s Assembly

Several students volunteered to say a few words in honour of departing faculty and staff, and offered tokens of appreciation. Please click here to read more.

Years 8–11 | June exams

All morning exams begin at 9 a.m. and afternoon exams begin at 1 p.m. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the exam start (8:45 a.m. or 12:45 p.m.) in order to be seated and begin on time. Wait outside of the exam location until you are invited inside.

Exam schedule

Location 

• Year 11 exams will be written in the Old Gym unless indicated otherwise 

• Years 8–10 exams will be written in the Hewitt Athletic Centre

• Students with accommodations will receive communication directly from the CFL as to their exam location

Other details

Dress: UCC spirit dress (casual with UCC top) — please abide by this or we will return to full uniform.

Supplies: Exams must be written in either pencil, dark blue or black pen. Pencils must be used for multiple choice questions. You may bring a pencil case, but it must remain under your seat during the exam. Depending on the exam you may need a ruler and an eraser.

Water bottle: You may bring a water bottle, but it must remain on the floor at all times.

Backpacks: Must be left in your locker.

Electronic devices: No electronic devices, except calculators (when approved), may come into the exam room. This includes cell phones, apple watches, wearable technology, etc.

Best of luck on your exams, and please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you,

Ms. Berndsen

IMPORTANT | Week Without Bells in the fall

With spring well underway, our attention is focused on planning for the year ahead. One of the major experiences in our school calendar is The Week Without Bells, an experiential learning program in which all students in Years 8–11 travel, collaborate, and explore curricular and co-curricular themes.

For the 2025–26 academic year, UCC has partnered with ALIVE Outdoors, our Norval Team, and AdventureWorks, to deliver an exciting week of camp programming for students in Years 8–11, scheduled from Tuesday, October 14 to Friday, October 17.

ALIVE Outdoors works with well-established camps familiar to UCC, including Camp Timberlane (for Years 8 and 11) and Camp Wanakita (for Year 10). Meanwhile, the Norval Team and AdventureWorks will deliver exciting programming for Year 9 students at Olympia Sports Camp.

During this week, Year 12 students will remain on campus, focusing on completing Diploma Programme-specific tasks and working on their university applications.

Please note:
-  A non-refundable deposit of $575 will be billed to student accounts on September 15.
-  The balance of the program fees (approximately $575) will be billed after the trip concludes.
-  All students are expected to attend. If your child is unable to attend due to medical reasons or a mandatory prior commitment, please contact Gillian Levene (Year 8), Joe Smith (Years 9 and 10), or Damion Walker (Year 11) by September 12.

Please be aware that there will be no alternative programming on campus during the Week Without Bells as the faculty will also be at the various camps. 

We are excited for the busy months ahead as we celebrate the end of this school year and look forward to the opportunities of 2025–26!

*Please note that families currently receiving financial assistance for the 2025–26 academic year will receive prorated assistance for this program fee.

Kind regards,
Joe Smith, Gillan Levene and Damion Walker
Assistant Heads, Upper Canada College

UCC String Quartet receives Silver at MusicFest Nationals!

Our UCC String Quartet—directed by Mr. Louw and comprised of Bruce Zhou, Winston Chan, Sean Li, and Alexander Zhang—performed a demanding program featuring works by Mozart and Shostakovich at their National Performance at York University. Their Silver Award is a testament to the impressive accomplishments achieved through months of dedicated hard work.

UCC shines at international chemistry contests

We're proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Upper Canada College students in the University of Waterloo's Avogadro and Chem13 News Chemistry Contests. These prestigious competitions attract over 10,000 top students from across Canada and around the world — and this year, UCC scored well above both the national and global averages. 

Taking on these contests is no small feat. Our students extended themselves beyond the curriculum, managing preparation alongside demanding schedules. Whether they ranked among the top percentile or simply embraced the challenge, they demonstrated curiosity, commitment, and a passion for science. These contests are often attempted only by the most driven students, many of whom train for months, and UCC students have more than held their own.

UCC’s results at-a-glance:

• UCC outperformed the national and international averages.

• Several students were placed in the top 20% in Canada.

• Three students ranked in the top 200 globally, earning additional recognition from the University of Waterloo.

Outstanding individual achievements:

•  Prince Zhang placed in the top 200 globally in the Avogadro Contest, an impressive result in a highly competitive field.

•  Lawrence Zhou, a Year 9 student, competed in the Grade 12-level Chem13 News contest, placing #12 in Canada and #24 globally — a remarkable achievement at his age.

•  Karan Maheshwari earned a perfect score, placing #1 in Canada and the world among nearly 5,000 participants.

To all who participated: we are incredibly proud of you! Your willingness to take on this challenge speaks volumes about your dedication and drive. It is an honour to teach students who strive for excellence and deeper understanding.

Congratulations again — keep pushing your boundaries and exploring the world through science.

Update | Business Perspectives Club

On Monday, May 26, the Business Perspectives Club hosted David Segal, founder of DAVIDsTEA and Firebelly Tea, for a dynamic and inspiring talk in the MB Theatre. Over 35 students attended to hear Mr. Segal share his entrepreneurial journey, from launching a single tea shop to building a nationally recognized brand, and his latest podcast focused on archiving the world's most successful Jewish entrepreneurs. Club heads and Year 10 students Drew Dermer and Ezra Stein moderated the session, leading an engaging Q&A that sparked discussion around branding, innovation, and the challenges of growing a business. The event left students inspired by Segal’s creative mindset and his advice to take action. The leaders of the club hope to build on this event by bringing in even more high-profile speakers next school year.

Update | History Club

The History Club has been deeply immersed in a fascinating project: digitizing and organizing the World War I primary sources generously loaned to the school by Mr. Turner. During a recent session with UCC's Archivist, Bee Khaleeli, and History Teacher Ms. O'Halloran, the students made some incredible discoveries within the slides. Imagine seeing images of Zeppelins looming in the sky, a portrait of King George V, the determined face of Sir Douglas Haig, the vital work of nurses and doctors with the Red Cross, and stark scenes of war machines and soldiers entrenched in the trenches. Our poster shown offers just a glimpse of these powerful visuals. The process has also been a valuable lesson in organization, digitalization (using cameras and a lightbox), collaborative teamwork, and the initial stages of historical analysis as they worked through over 100 slides.

Lost and found parade  

Is your son missing clothing, bags, water bottles, or shoes? This is your last chance to reclaim missing items.

All lost and found items are now on display outside the Lower Dining Hall until Friday, June 6. Parents and students are encouraged to drop by during school hours and take a look to see if anything is yours. Note that after 3 p.m. on Friday, June 6, any remaining items will be donated to charity.

If you have any questions, please email The Used Blues Store (TUBS) team.

Used book intake and used uniform donations on June 10

As the school year winds down, we’re preparing for our used book and used uniform intake. The intake for Years 8-11 will be done at the William P. Wilder ’40 Arena & Sports Complex on Tuesday, June 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Click here for a list of the books that the UofT Bookstore will buy back.