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Dear Prep Families,

Today we had two meaningful Remembrance Day Assemblies in the Prep. At the SK to Year 3 assembly in the gym, students sang a song, read a story and reflected with a moment of silence. For Years 4 to 7, students in 4B put on a moving presentation involving movement, music and theatre and the Prep Choir sang “We Honour You” to remember Canadian veterans and peacemakers. We were honoured to have special guests Mr. Jamie Laidlaw, Captain Trevor Young, Mr. Galen Weston, and Mr. John Eaton in attendance. Remembrance Day is an important day to honour our history, and to continue to wish for peace in our contemporary times.    

We want to communicate a shift in the upcoming holiday concert season. In order to ensure developmentally appropriate performances, students in SK–Year 4 will not be having featured performances at the Festival of Lights but will be putting all their energy into their main holiday performance at Festive Marketplace. We have had such positive feedback about Primary students being involved in Festive Marketplace, and this year Year 5 will be joining! The Festival of Lights performance will continue to include the Prep choir, and will now be able to feature the Year 7 Concert Band on the main stage! Mark your calendars for the following holiday performances:

• Sunday, Dec. 8: Festival of Lights featuring the Prep Choir, Year 7 Concert Band, and Upper School bands, 4–6 p.m.

• Thursday, Dec. 12: Prep Holiday Concert featuring the Prep Choir, Year 7 Concert Band, Jazz Band and Year 5 classes, 7–8 p.m.

• Friday, Dec. 13: Festive Marketplace featuring SK–Year 5 classes as well as Years 6 and 7 soloists (exact schedule to be shared closer to the date)

Finally, a BIG congratulations to all our theatre performers who were on the Weston Hall stage this week! It was a real treat for audiences to be entertained by such humorous and talented student performers — they shone bright!  

Wishing you all a wonderful long weekend.

Your partners in learning,

Sarah Fleming, David Girard and Gareth Evans

The Prep Leadership Team

Update | Year 1 

Year 1 has had a wonderful transition into fall and we are now experts with the routines and practices that come along with being a Year 1 student! 

In our current unit of inquiry, Stewardship, the students of 1M are exploring how human actions can impact the health of our planet. This exploration began on our first trip to Norval, where we met Recyclops, Composticorn, and Captain Stewardship! 

Along with these environmentally conscious characters, the students of 1M worked together to solve problems around the Norval campus. These problems all had to do with recycling, composting, and taking actions as an individual to make a difference for our planet. 

The Year 1 students brought this learning into practice with their Animal Upcycling Project, which they completed last week. Each student used materials they already had at home to create an animal of their choice. 1M is now the proud location of an upcycled zoo! 

In math we continue to use our understanding of number bonds to inform further learning around addition. The students of 1M just finished creating their own Addition Stories, which were documented visually through stop-motion videos! Students also learned a new game recently to practice their addition skills. Ask your child to teach you how to play 1-2-NIM (you will need a few coins or similar manipulatives to play). 

As we transform into authors for our first writing task, each student has chosen a small moment that they will stretch into a story over four pages. Students will work, page-by-page, to keep their readers engaged and curious to hear more. Stay tuned for an author’s celebration once they are published! 

Homework is also a new routine in Year 1. Each week your child will receive new homework on Monday and return it by Thursday. This encourages responsibility and a home-school connection for your learner. Thank you for your support in solidifying this as a routine for years to come!

I look forward to more excitement as we enter the colder months,

Anna Marshall

Year 1 Form Advisor 

Update | Prep French

Born in Cameroon, Njacko musically and spiritually draws on the lessons he learned in Africa from his musical family, mentors and village life. 

Although he loved life in the village where he was immersed in music, his dream was to discover the world and to learn all he could about people and different cultures. Njacko left home at the age of 17, eventually landing in Europe, and then Canada. Njacko moved to Toronto in 1998 where he recreated his band Kalimba Kalimba. Since then, Njacko has grown his band’s sound by blending traditional African instruments like the kalimba, djembe, ngoni and balafon with global sounds from the bass guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, accordion, flute, drum kit, cello, bagpipes, sitar, dilruba, grand piano and oboe. Traditional percussion like bata from Cuba, tabla from India, udu from Africa and cajon from South America complete the global sound.

We are looking forward to this meaningful experience.

Update | Primary Music

Across the primary grades, we have continued to sing songs related to Remembrance Day and Canadian veterans. In fact, by the time you read this article, students should have sung the song in our Remembrance Day assembly today! We've been discussing the appropriate tone and mood for songs, depending on the message and audience. Additionally, our students are busy preparing for the upcoming December performance at the Festive Marketplace. Please stay tuned for more information.

SK to Year 3: Students are exploring various rhythmic symbols and patterns. They apply this knowledge when playing holiday songs on their Orff instruments.

Years 4 and 5: Many students are making notable progress on their instruments and are working on establishing a routine of taking their instruments home to practice. They've been encouraged to take their instruments home on Fridays and return them on Monday mornings.

Year 3: Speaking of performance opportunities, Year 3 will begin both in-class and after-school musical rehearsals when we return from March Break. I wanted to share this information early for new families and those who would like to plan ahead.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Musically,

Caroline Heo

SK–Y5 Music Teacher
Years 6–7 Choir Director

PYP/MYP Parent Information Session

Are you interested in learning more about the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP) curriculum? Each year we provide an information session for parents who may be interested in learning more about the IB curriculum framework and philosophy. We’ll look at the elements of the programmes and connect them to practical examples from the classroom.

This year’s PYP/MYP information sessions will be held virtually on:

Tuesday, Nov. 19 from 7–8 p.m. 

Details and links will be provided in next week’s heads-up. Sessions will be recorded.

Dianne Jojic

PYP Coordinator

Emilia Martin

MYP Coordinator

Primary three-way conferences

We are excited to host our Primary student-parent-teacher three-way conferences in person once again. Conferences will be held for all students in SK through Year 5 on Friday, Nov. 22 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  

Please note that pickAtime opens at 9 a.m. on Nov. 12 for you to book your conference. Here is a link to the pickAtime instructions. There are no classes on Friday, Nov. 22 as students and teachers are fully involved in these meaningful conversations.

Three-way conferences are used as a method of self-assessment and reflection in our IB Primary Years Programme. In conjunction with a student’s portfolio and report card, three-way conferences allow each student to demonstrate and reflect on what has been learned and on their ownership of the learning process. Students are able to share products, processes, and skills. Strengths and areas for improvement as a learner come to life through the conferencing process. Your child builds self-confidence and takes ownership of their learning while engaging in the conference.

The conference is 30 minutes in length. The first 15 minutes will be spent in the student-parent-teacher three-way conferences meeting in the classroom. Following that meeting, each student and their parent(s) will engage in reflection and goal setting in Weston Hall. 

In preparation for the student-parent-teacher three-way conferences, form advisers will send directions for portfolio review on SeeSaw to be completed for homework before attending the meeting. 

Dianne Jojic

PYP Coordinator

Years 6 and 7 student-led conferences

Please note that pick-a-time for Year 6 and 7 student-led conferences will open on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 9 a.m. so you can book your virtual student-led conferences. Here is a link to the pick-a-time instructions.

All conferences will be virtual in order to be as efficient and inclusive as possible. 

Of particular note, please know that Mr. McGarr (Music) and Ms. Preston (Visual Arts) teach all Year 6 and 7 students. Keeping in mind there are a limited number of time slots over Thursday and Friday, please only register with them if you consider the conference essential.

All details concerning the Year 6 and Year 7 student-led conferences can be found below and will also be included in future editions of Heads Up.

Feedback is one of the most essential tools to help students develop and grow. In addition, building strong connections among families, teachers, and students is integral to continued academic development. Student-led conferences provide an opportunity for both feedback and connection to take place, and initial details are as follows:

• Conferences will take place virtually on Thursday, Nov. 21 from 1 to 8 p.m. and Friday, Nov. 22 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in 5 or 10-minute intervals.

• To encourage ownership over their learning and the development of self-advocacy skills, students should be present for their conferences. Students will have an opportunity during FLEXtime and subject classes to prepare for the conference. Please remind your child to make introductions and start the dialogue.

• Please access the Google Meet link only at the time of your scheduled appointment.

• If possible, please use your email address and not your child’s UCC email address.

• You may initially be in a Google Meet ‘waiting room’ until the interview time begins, and the faculty member admits you to the virtual meeting. Please keep conversations to the scheduled 5 or 10 minutes.

• Google Meet links for faculty and conference schedules will be shared with families during the week of Nov. 18.

• On Thursday, Nov. 21 classes end at 12:15 p.m. Students are immediately dismissed from the building. Conferences will begin at 8 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 22. There are no classes on Friday, Nov. 22, as students and teachers are fully involved in these meaningful conversations.

Gareth Evans
Assistant Head of the Prep, Middle Division

Reflections | Candy drive

A huge thank you to Prep teachers, students and families who brought in candy by the bags to make a difference in our Toronto community! 

“We brought in so much candy we were able to support multiple organizations including Robertson House, a shelter for women and children, and Haven Toronto, a shelter for men." — Chen Lin (7B) and Andrew Carrique (7G) 

Q: Why were you interested in getting involved?
A: I am interested in community service because of the difference I can make in my community. I always get too much candy trick or treating so I thought this was a great way to get involved. — Andrew Carrique

Q: What motivated you to participate?
A: I wanted to help others. I always had a great time trick or treating and I think it's an important part of everyone's childhood. I think everyone should experience Halloween! — Chen Lin 

Q: How did it feel to be a part of this initiative?
A: When I put my candy in the cauldron it felt like I was making a difference. In my mind, I was imagining a kid who couldn't enjoy treats or share candy with their friends. I told my peers to put their candy in the cauldron because I knew the more donations we had, the bigger the impact we would have. — Andrew Carrique 

Thank you for your generosity!

UCC Prep Community Service Council

Donate | Festive Online Auction and Snowball Grab

Parents, we need your help for two Festive Marketplace featured events. We’re looking for donations for the Festive Online Auction and Snowball Grab.   

Festive Online Auction

We’d be thrilled to receive donations, such as tickets for sports, concerts and other events, gift cards and unique experiences, behind-the-scenes tours to interesting places, and meet-and-greets with famous people. 

Let’s make this year’s Festive Auction just as successful as last years’ auction! If you or someone you know are interested in donating, please complete this online form or email festive@uccpo.ca. 

Snowball Grab

This is a favourite tradition where students have a chance to grab a “snowball” and win a prize. Tickets are $5 and all players win gift cards in the $5 to $40 range. There are also grand prizes, including Apple AirPods! 

We’re still collecting gift card donations to make this activity a success, and we need your help. We’re looking for gift card donations in the $5 to $40 range from Starbucks, Tim Hortons, Sport Chek, EB Games, Best Buy, Cineplex, etc. The more donated gift cards we receive, the more the students will be able to play. 

Please write the value of the gift cards on them and drop them off in the collection box at the Prep reception. Thank you!  

Want to support the Festive Marketplace but aren’t sure what to donate? You can send a monetary donation using e-transfer which will be used to purchase auction items and gift cards on your behalf. Please send monetry donations by e-transfer to treasurer@uccprepparents.ca. Please write “Festive” in the note. 

All proceeds from Festive Marketplace and Festive Auction are used by our Parent Organizations for special initiatives that provide positive enhancements for our students.

Pre-order | PPO Festive Gifts 

Get a head start on your holiday gift list with a pre-order catalogue from the PPO. Featuring items like a Pickleball set, large Yeti travel mug, Ice stuffed animal, and more! 

Order here by Monday, Nov. 18. Pick-up will be available on Dec. 12 and at Festive Marketplace on Dec. 13. Please note, all orders are custom and non-refundable.