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This past week, Upper School assemblies in Laidlaw Hall featured a student-led presentation and inaugural boarding life events. On Friday's Assembly, the Creativity Steward led a fun Winter’s Trivia between Grade 12s and faculty, students participated in a singing of “O Caroline,” and student leaders delivered powerful messages about mental health from both the Blue Hearts and Movember groups. On Monday, our community got a glimpse into boarding living both past and present, and heard many student members, the Director of Boarding, and Residential Assistants. In Tuesday’s Advising, Year 8s and 10s joined together in games and movement activities, and the Year 9s had a special grade-level assembly which featured performances from the band and speeches from Mr. Smith, Dr. Maloney, and the Year Level Representatives. This Friday we look forward to celebrating Fall Athletics during our Special Athletics Assembly. 

MYP Assessment

At Upper Canada College, we are proud of the Middle Years Programme as part of the IB continuum. Assessment in the MYP is not just about assigning grades; it’s about fostering growth, understanding, and reflection. Through various methods and tools, we help students uncover their potential, build critical skills, and prepare for future challenges. 

Click here to read the entire article.

The Year 8 and 9 play: Bea Wolf 

First production of the 2024–25 Co-Curricular Theatre Season 

Somewhere in a generic suburb stands Treeheart, a kid-forged sanctuary where generations of tireless tykes have spent their youths making merry, spilling soda, and staving off the shadow of adulthood. One day, these brave warriors find their fun cut short by their nefarious neighbour Grindle, who can no longer tolerate the sounds of mirth seeping into his joyless adult life.

As the guardian of gloom lays siege to Treeheart, scores of kids suddenly find themselves transformed into pimply teenagers and sullen adults! The survivors of the onslaught cry out for a saviour—a warrior whose will is unbreakable and whose appetite for mischief is unbounded.

They call for Bea Wolf.

(From McMillian Publishers)

Since early September, Mr. Allen and Ms. Gilbreath have worked with a cast and crew of Years 8 and 9 students from Bishop Strachan School, St. Clement's School, and Upper Canada College. Due to some unforeseen challenges, the Opening Night show had been cancelled. Both shows on Friday will continue as scheduled in the David Chu Theatre.

Bea Wolf is a play suitable for the whole family and we hope people of all ages will enjoy a great story and see the talent and hard work of these young actors. If you have any questions, please contact Brendon Allen or Julian Bauld. 

You may pay for tickets at the door, or reserve tickets through the Bea Wolf: ticket reservation form. 

Co-Curricular Theatre | Everybody by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

Years 9-11 | Military History Immersion Program

Dear Families,

We are thrilled to announce that UCC, in collaboration with G/Hardy Tours, is once again offering a meaningful and exciting cycling tour to the World War I battlefields of France and Belgium! The trip is open to all year 9, 10 and 11 students—with priority given to students of history and older boys—and will take place from June 13–21, 2025. We have crafted an itinerary that covers the poignant history and hallowed grounds of WWI on a unique cycling tour, from the Canadian memorials of Vimy Ridge, to serene cemeteries and moving memorials.

The trip requires considerable physical effort and fitness as we will be riding 50 km per day through the hilly country of Belgium and France. 

To provide more insight into this opportunity, G/Hardy Tours has prepared a detailed itinerary outlining the highlights, tour price, and registration instructions. 

Tour Price A: $5,495.00 per person based on 16 students and three accompanying chaperones.

To register for this trip, please click on the e-brocure below, then click on "Discover", and then the registration button on the top corner of the page. In the unlikely event that the trip does not fill, we will cancel your registration and refund your deposit. If you are renewing your passport, please enter your current details exactly as they appear and inform us once the renewal is finalized.

Here is the e-brochure: World War I Battlefields

Payment schedule: 

• Non-refundable deposit due upon trip registration: $1,000.00 

• Travel Insurance must be purchased upon trip confirmation

• Second payment due Jan. 14, 2025: $2,500.00

• Remaining balance due Mar. 13, 2025

Parent info session

Parent information sessions will be announced at a later date. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Geoff Mohtadi, 

We hope you can join us on this unforgettable trip!

Sincerely,

The teams at UCC and G/Hardy Tours

UCC’s annual food drive 

Starting Monday, Nov. 25, UCC’s annual Daily Bread Food Bank: Churches on the Hill (COTH) Food Drive will kick off at the Upper School! Kindly wait until Monday, Nov. 25 to bring your donations to the school.

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 1.36kg 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

Place items in the labelled bins in the main foyer, or bring Please any of the above food drive donation(s) to the Festive Marketplace on Friday, Dec. 13. There will be collection bins at the Lett Gym entry to the marketplace. 

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

MUN Club Victorious at SSUNS

From Nov. 7 to 10, 20 members of the MUN Club were selected to represent UCC at the 32nd iteration of the Secondary Schools United Nations Symposium (SSUNS) in Montreal. Determined to regain their title, the team worked tirelessly to prepare and carried themselves impeccably throughout, picking up eight gavels, five Outstanding Delegate awards, and four Honourable Mentions along with the title of Best Large Delegation.

Many congratulations to the following students on this remarkable achievement: Jett Nemeth (Year 10), John Mboutsiadis (Year 10), Bowie Dixon (Year 10), BZ Coleman-Goldkrand (Year 10), John Karakoulas (Year 11), Keon Abbaszadeh (Year 11), Daniel Ogunlaja (Year 11), Benedict Wang (Year 12), Alex Woolsey (Year 12), Will Greer (Year 12), Costas Oreopoulos (Year 12), Matty Berman (Year 12), Marco Iarocci (Year 12), Ryan Marhamat (Year 12), Andy Yu (Year 12), Jerry Zhang (Year 12), Matti Timusk (Year 12), Noah Kaufman (Year 12), Max von Bargen (Year 12), and Adrian Chi Hong Mak (Year 12). We would especially like to commend Costas Oreoupolos and Alex Woolsey, Club Heads, for their exceptional leadership of both the Club and the travel team. 

All interested Upper School students are encouraged to attend the MUN Club’s weekly after school meetings on Thursdays in the Macintosh Library. There will be many opportunities for Club members to participate in a variety of local and travel conferences in the months ahead, including UCC’s very own Ontario Model United Nations (OMUN) conference in April, which all are welcome to attend. Please feel free to email Katherine Maloney, MUN Faculty Adviser, to learn more. 

Katherine Maloney, Devon Kiddell, Teagan O’Halloran, Carys Owen, and Dylan Parry-Lai
MUN Faculty Advisers 

Recording | Community Service Information Session

This past Monday was a big information day for Community Service in the Upper School. First, we hosted a Volunteer Service Expo from 1:30–4 p.m. in the Student Centre where 10 local Volunteer Service Organizations from the GTA exhibited and presented opportunities for volunteer involvement in our community.

In the evening, a UCC Parent Community Service Virtual Information Session was hosted. Please click here for the recording.

Festive Marketplace | Volunteer or donate 

Festive Marketplace thrives each year thanks to the incredible support of our UCC community. All proceeds from Marketplace and Festive Auction are used by our Parent Organizations for special initiatives that provide direct and positive enhancements for UCC students. Parents interested in getting involved can do so in the following ways: 

• Volunteer your time. It takes 150 parent and student volunteers to make Festive a success. Flexible shifts are available throughout the day, and you can schedule your time around student musical performances. Prep students perform in the morning and Upper students in the afternoon. Sign up here.

• Donate to our Silent Auction. We need your help to fill our silent auction. We’re looking for donated items such as sports tickets, theatre tickets, gift cards, cottage rentals, services and unique experiences. If you have something to donate, please fill out this form.

Still looking for another way to get involved? Monetary donations allow us to purchase items and gift cards on your behalf. E-transfers can be made to treasurer@uccprepparents.ca. Please include “Festive” in the note.

Thank you for your support in making Festive 2024 a success! Join the festivities and make a difference for our students!

Order | UCC Crested Merchandise 

Check out these great gift ideas:

• Cozy flannel PJ pants 

• Cotton jersey blankets

• Yeti stackable mugs

Order now for pick up on Dec. 16 and 17.

Merchandise sold on UCC Marketplace is offered by the Parents’ Organization, and all proceeds go towards enhancing the student experience at UCC.