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This week held two special assemblies. On Friday, we celebrated all of the Fall athletics teams hearing from each team’s captains and cheering as they hoisted their trophies from their successful seasons. Additionally, Dane Halkiw ’19 spoke to the students about the positive influence that rowing and his passion for the arts have had on his life, driving him to develop a work ethic to succeed both in rowing and beyond. On Monday, we heard from some of our youngest students as well as some Year 11 and Year 12 student leaders about the power of mentorship and how each student can engage in it during their time at the Upper School. This was supplemented by advising time on Tuesday where Year 11s and 8s got together in groups, as well as Year 9s and 12s to connect and answer questions. 

Winter sports have officially kicked off, with the varsity hockey and basketball teams hosting multiple fixtures this week, including home games where their peers cheered them on. The Upper School Gymnasiums and the newly erected Field Bubble will be home to FlexTime House Sports and activities including volleyball, basketball, and soccer. The robotics team has been busy preparing for their competition season, taking over the design lab as participants design and test their robots.

DP Graduation Pathways | Information Evening 

Dear Year 10 students and families,

Thank you for your continued interest in learning more about UCC’s Graduation Pathways.

Please join the third information evening on Monday, Dec. 2 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Zoom for more specific information about the application process for the IB DP Systems Transformation Pathway and the IB DP Courses Pathway.

If you/your child are interested in applying for one or both of these new pathways, please join this session. 

Please find the slides and recordings from the first two information sessions here:

• Graduation Pathways Information Evening 1 (Oct. 23)

Slides | Recording 

• Graduation Pathways Information Evening 2 (Nov. 4)

Slides | Systems Transformation Recording | Courses Recording

We look forward to seeing you online on Monday, Dec. 2.  

Warm regards,

Dr. Julia Kinnear

Vice-Principal, Learning and Academic Innovation

Dr. Jeff Aitken

Head, Upper School

Theatre | Everybody by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

On Friday, Nov. 29 and Saturday, Nov. 30, Heather Crawford and Dylan Parry-Lai will present our fall play, Everybody, which is a reinvention of the 15th-century morality play Everyman. The play follows the main character “Everybody” as they move through the mystery of life towards a confrontation with... the inevitable. In this show filled with humour and pathos, the characters must contend with the unforeseeable and surprising moments of mortality. The performance is in the Mancucha & Bellamy Theatre and begins at 7 p.m. 

Everybody trailer (by David Crawford)

The cast and crew ( from Years 10 - 12) have been working steadily since September to bring this show to light. We hope you will join us for one of the performances. 

Please contact Angelo Braga at abrag25@ucc.on.ca to reserve a ticket or collect your ticket in the Student Centre at lunch or during FlexTime. 

Annual food drive 

UCC’s annual Daily Bread Food Bank: Churches on the Hill (COTH) Food Drive started on Monday, Nov. 25 and will run until Friday, Dec. 13.

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

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 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!