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The Upper School has been a very busy place this past week, including the tremendous Relay for Life event that took place on campus, bringing together a number of COSSOT schools and raising beyond its donation goal of $200,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society. Despite the rain, students, colleagues and family members walked, ran, and honoured those impacted by cancer with great heart and spirit. As the rain got heavy later in the evening, the planning team did a great job of moving activities into the Upper School, having pizza in the Student Centre followed by student musical performances and closing ceremonies in Laidlaw Hall.

We also had our final student assembly of the year, which showcased a variety of student work including a musical performance of Les Mis by UCC and BSS students, a Lang Scholars presentation on their trip to the Village of Carmacks in the Yukon, new Board of Stewards video, Quiddity Quixote prizes and a Robotics Club demonstration.

On Friday, the new Board of Stewards spent the day at Norval, engaging in team building and goal setting for the year. They left the day energized and empowered to set some pretty exciting plans into motion over the next year! The annual Year 10/11 dance/social took place in the David Chu Theatre on Friday night. Students from UCC and guests from other COSSOT schools enjoyed an evening of music, dancing, games and snacks. 

Monday’s Principal’s Assembly in honour of Red Dress Day conveyed the powerful message of doing our part. Facilitated by the heads of the Human Rights Club, the community event raised awareness about the Moose Hide Campaign, which works towards ending violence towards women and children. Students and colleagues also had the good fortune of hearing from special guest speakers from the Ontario Native Women’s Association.

Co-curricular theatre

History Club Artifact Visit

Year 8 | Trip to Medieval Times

Dear Year 8 Families,

As we look to round out a very successful year full of building community and social connections, we would like to invite your student to join us for a trip to Toronto’s Medieval Times on Saturday, June 14, at 4:30 p.m. (meeting at the venue, 10 Dufferin Street, Toronto, at 3:50 p.m.). The show finishes at approximately 7 p.m.

This will be a fun trip for the Year 8s, and Mr. Jugoon and Ms. Levene will attend and supervise them. Students would be required to make their own way to and from the venue.

The cost (which includes dinner, taxes, and gratuities) is $80 per student. Payment will be made via invoice to your student’s UCC account.

Please fill out this trip permission form by Thursday, May 22. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email Mr. Jugoon.

Many thanks for your support and best wishes!

Gillian Levene and Alvin Jugoon

Year 8 | Parent night follow-up topics 

Please see below a review of some topics and policies of interest raised prior to and at our April 22 Year 8 Parent Information Evening. Thank you!

Generative AI at the College 

During this academic year, the College employee community has a focus on developing literacy around generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and exploring productive applications to enhance teaching and learning and business operations. This initiative includes professional development and action research in the classroom.

Students may use certain tools that have been approved by the College with guidance from their teachers and are engaging in age-and-stage appropriate conversations around the ethical uses of GenAI. Parents should note that any tools being used vary by age, course and assignment.  

As an employer, the College has a policy that encourages inquiry and judicious use of approved GenAI tools within parameters of transparency, accountability and high standards of privacy and information security. 

If you have further questions, please reach out to Kathleen Peak.

Cell Phone Policy (excerpts from The Family Handbook Pgs. 85-86 )

We recognize that most students use cell phones for communication, organization and personal entertainment. However, these devices often have a negative impact on the learning space, serving as tools of distraction and disengagement. Increasingly, research is pointing to potential harms of mobile phone use in class. Further, as all UCC students have a laptop, mobile phones provide almost no benefit to learning that cannot be provided by their computer. Cell phone and smartwatch use is restricted to the times and places outlined in “Expectations” below for all students. 

Expectations

Cell phones are not to be used, seen or heard during instructional time (inside or outside of the classroom), Flex Time, Community Time, which includes during assembly, advising, house meetings and during lunch. Cell phones may be used in class ONLY if explicitly required by the course/project/curriculum as authorized by the teacher. No student may record or photograph any member of the community anywhere on campus without their explicit permission. Students who must contact home may do so on their cell phones in the front desk area. 

Students who connect their cell phone to the College network should expect that anything accessed or transmitted may be discoverable by UCC, thus, the same rules apply regarding anything done that contravenes UCC policies or provincial or federal law.

Disciplinary Response

Students who violate UCC’s policy regarding cell phone use will be subject to the graduated consequences outlined in this document. Please be aware that cell phones may, at the discretion of the teacher/supervisor, be confiscated and picked up at the end of the day at the Main Office. 

Gaming Policy 

Students are not to use their laptops or mobile devices for gaming at any point during the school day, beginning at 8 a.m.
 

Disciplinary Response

Noted instances of gaming will be recorded in the form of an infraction. Consequences for students with repeated gaming infractions will occur according to our gradation discipline policy.

Other Technology Policy 

Students have access to a wide variety of personal devices that can have a harmful effect on their learning and their engagement with the school community. In the interest of the student learning experience and student wellbeing, we ask that students abide by the guidelines noted in “Expectations” noted below.

Expectations 

Laptops are to be used for educational purposes during instructional time and during Flex Time. Laptops may not be used at lunch in the dining areas of the school (Upper Dining Hall, Lower Dining Hall or Student Centre). 

AirPods and other headphones may be used with explicit teacher permission during instructional time. They may be used in the SAS (fitness centre), during Flex Time and during spares. Students are expected to not wear them during passing (e.g. in between periods) or community time. 

Disciplinary Response

Students who violate UCC’s policy regarding cell phone use will be subject to the graduated consequences outlined in this document. Please be aware that cell phones may, at the discretion of the teacher/supervisor, be confiscated and picked up at the end of the day at the Main Office. 

Discipline Gradation for Cell Phone Use and Gaming 2024-25

Cell Phones:

• 3 Cell Phone Infractions will lead to a detention

• 4 Cell Phone Infractions will lead to a conversation with the student’s Senior House Adviser (SHA) and a note home to parents from the SHA (copy Assistant Head) warning that a further infraction will lead to Conduct Advisory 

• 5 Cell Phone Infractions will result in Conduct Advisory

• Further Cell Phone Infractions will be handed on a case-by-case basis and can include escalating consequences.  

Gaming: 

• 2 Gaming Violations will lead to a detention

• 3 Gaming Violations will lead to Conduct Advisory

• Further Gaming Violations will be handled on a case-by-case basis and can include escalating consequences. 

Conduct Patterns in Year 8 & Supports

Each grade level comes with its own strength and growth areas. Year 8 students, for instance, bring considerable energy, creativity, excitement and initiative. Their age and stage also aligns with some patterns in conduct that we address through a variety of supports, and in partnership with families. 

For the 2024-2025 academic year, some of these patterns include:

• The use of language that is hurtful to others, often that makes fun of an aspect of someone else’s identity; sometimes, these incidents happen when students misinterpret humour or the distinction between teasing and taunting.

• Inappropriate technology use, in particular of social media or messaging platforms. 

• Challenges contributing positively to the learning environment.

Some of the supports we have in place to build skills in these areas include:

• Age and stage appropriate advising, with a focus on topics like bullying, positive digital citizenship, building positive peer relationships, and being an ally.

• Pluralism and Wellbeing programs like council initiatives that foster connections vertically in the school and build empathy (i.e.  varsity athlete mental health panel, Year 8 and 9s hearing from Year 11 and 12s), and consent education (boundary setting for year 8s) through CANVAS and follow-up activities with advisers

• A discipline process focused on student learning and community engagement.

• Individualized support through the Health Centre and WWCfL, including access to our school psychologist and counsellors.

• The Senior House Adviser relationship and Year 11 mentorship programme.

As students move into Year 9, these supports continue with programming tailored to the grade.

If you have further questions about our technology policies and / or Year 8 conduct patterns and supports, please reach out to Gillian Levene.

Recording | Year 9 and 10 Parent Information Evening held on May 6

Please click here to view the slides presented during the information session.

Please click here for a recording of the session

UCC Parent Grad Social

Year 12 parents,

please join us in raising a glass and saying some final farewells at the UCC Parent Grad social. This is a parents’ only event and takes place while the boys attend their Leaving Class Dinner at UCC. It's the end of an era, and we look forward to celebrating with you!  

Event details:

Thursday, May 22 

5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The Badminton and Racquet Club

25 St. Clair Ave. West

Cash bar and light snacks will be available.

RSVP here

Note: Parking is limited, so please consider taking an Uber, subway or parking in one of the many nearby lots. 

Mother's Day Charity Car Wash

Since 1985, the World Partnership Walk has united Canadians from coast to coast to help make the world a better place — one step at a time.

On Friday, May 9 we invite you to the North Lot between 4–6 p.m., where the UCC World Partnership Walk team will be working with BSS to hold a charity Mother's Day Car Wash (by donation). 

All proceeds will go to the team's fundraising efforts to support of empowering vulnerable communities worldwide to break the cycle of poverty.

RSVP | Years 9 to 11 parent socials

For Year 9 to 11 parents, the UCC PO warmly invites you to an evening social with other parents in your son’s year. It’s an opportunity to meet, reconnect and celebrate the school year before we all break for the summer. Cash bar and light snacks will be available.

Location: Toronto Lawn Tennis Club, 44 Price Street, Toronto

Please find your son’s year below, and follow the link to RSVP. We hope to see you there.

Year 9 Parent Social 

Tuesday, May 13, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

RSVP here by Monday, May 5

Year 10 Parent Social  

Wednesday, May 14

RSVP here by Friday, April 25

Year 11 Parent Social

Wednesday, May 28

RSVP here by Wednesday, May 21

Year 12 | Important: laptop return deadline is May 23

A reminder to Year 12 parents/guardians, that students must return their school-owned laptop and the Apple 30W power supply and charging cable before they graduate.

It's recommended that Year 12 students return their school-issued laptop and power supply after their last exam, but the devices must be returned before the Leaving Class Ceremony on May 23. Both the laptop and the power supply must be dropped off at the Upper School Help Desk between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on weekdays. The deadline is Friday, May 23 at 3:30 p.m. Students must ensure all files are backed up. 

The laptop must be returned in its case, in good condition. Any damage beyond normal wear and tear that is not covered under AppleCare+ for Schools will be billed to the UCC student account. Stickers must be removed from the laptop to avoid potential charges due to excessive sticker residue.

Please return the Apple 30W power supply and cable that was issued with the laptop. We only accept the small Apple branded 30W power supply. If the Apple branded power supply and charging cable is not returned, a replacement charge of $74 will be billed to your UCC student account. 

Access to students Google Drive will be removed on July 31, 2025. Their Gmail account will remain active until Oct. 14, 2025.  After Oct. 14 the UCC Google account will be deleted, and there will no longer be access to any stored emails.

Students are responsible for backing up all their files that are on your hard drive before returning the laptop. Once the laptops are returned, they will be wiped immediately, and there will not be another opportunity to access the files. Students can use Google Takeout to move content from the UCC Google environment before July 31, 2025.

Thank you in advance, and do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Kathleen Peak
Executive Director, Information and Innovation