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Dear Prep Families, 

Welcome to a new season! The weather has turned and the leaves have started to fall. Students have been enjoying their time at Norval so far this year, with team building activities, connections to Truth and Reconciliation and the development of resilience as they embarked on learning experiences in the rain! We are so fortunate to have such a beautiful outdoor campus and are grateful to the faculty and staff who run it so exceptionally. This has also been the busiest week of athletics this year, with our first U10 soccer mini meet yesterday as well as the first U14 flag football game for the Prep on Tuesday. Thanks to all the parents who have joined us out on the field! 

We are looking forward to a day of meeting with parents/guardians at our Hopes and Dreams Conferences next Thursday. The purpose of these conferences is for you to have a chance to connect with your child’s home form teacher, share your hopes and dreams for their academic year and discuss how they are settling into the school year so far.  

This Saturday is A-Day! There are a number of ways to participate. Please note that participation in the Prep Soccerfest is strongly encouraged and all the relevant details are in an article entitled “A-Day is this Saturday” below.  

Thank you to the PPO who provided a decadent breakfast on Tuesday for faculty and staff in honour of Teacher Appreciation Day which is celebrated in Canada on Saturday, Oct. 5. We are grateful and feel VERY appreciated!

Wishing our entire community a lovely weekend.

Your partners in learning,

Sarah Fleming, David Girard and Gareth Evans

Literacy Learning at the Prep 

We are excited to welcome back Colleen Ackford, an experienced literacy strategist from Erin Kent Consulting, to our school as she continues to support us with advancing our literacy program in alignment with the new Ontario Language Curriculum. 

Colleen has extensive expertise in literacy development and is passionate about helping students improve their reading and writing skills through structured, evidence-based methods. Colleen will work alongside our teachers in SK through Year 7 during the week of Oct. 14 to 18 to continue to grow our literacy practices. We look forward to the positive impact Colleen will have on our UCC-specific literacy program and the continued growth of our students' literacy skills. 

Parents are invited to join us for an evening of literacy learning with Colleen Ackford and the UCC literacy leaders on Thursday, Oct. 17 from 6-7:30 p.m. in Weston Hall. This session will focus on The Power of Reading in a Fast-Paced World and Tips for Supporting Readers at Home. Please join us to explore:

• The benefits of reading for children of all ages (and us, too)

• The role that reader identity and environment play in creating sustainable habits

• Reading on screens versus reading in print

• Playful experiences that support early reading development and more

Join us | A- Day is this Saturday!

This year we're  celebrating our 42nd Association Day! Bring your families for a day of fun and reunite and reconnect with parents, teachers, friends and alumni. 

The day is sure to be full of fun for the whole family and everyone is encouraged to attend! All new parents are welcome to a breakfast in Weston Hall from 7:30 to 8:40 a.m.

Prep students are asked to wear their house colours. 

SK to Year 2 students will meet in their classrooms at 8:15 a.m. 

Students in Year 3 and 4 will meet in their classrooms at 8:15 a.m. and leave at 8:30 a.m. to meet with the other Year 5, 6 and 7 students on the Avenue in front of the arena at 8:35 a.m. 

Opening ceremonies will commence at 8:55 a.m. and Soccerfest will officially begin at 9:10 a.m.

The Prep French Café will be selling beverages and fresh crêpes along with other yummy pastries. It will be located on the north side of the Eaton Building and open for business from 8:15 to 11:00 a.m. Bienvenue à tout le monde!

KidZone will take place outside of the Upper School’s Hewitt Athletic Centre with activities from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  

The Soccerfest game locations are:

• SK to Year 2 at Prep West

• Year 3 and 4 at Prep East

• Years 5, 6 and 7 at Lords Field

Soccerfest will be finished by 10:25 a.m. and students in SK to Year 4 will then need to follow their form adviser back to their classrooms, where they’ll be dismissed promptly to enjoy the rest of A-Day with their families. Parents, please pick up your child from their classroom. Students in Year 5 to 7 will be dismissed directly from Lords Field to enjoy the rest of the day with their families.

Families are invited to cheer on the UCC Blues at any sporting event. Check out the full A-Day schedule of events here.

Update from Year 2

Dear Year 2 Community,

We have had an exceptional start to Year 2! Our students have returned with enthusiasm and have quickly adapted to familiar school routines while embracing new ones. I'm delighted to share some exciting developments with you.

We're nearing the completion of our first unit of inquiry, "Healthy Me." Throughout this unit, our students have been exploring strategies to promote overall well-being. Topics such as quality sleep, regular exercise, and making healthy dietary choices have been central to our discussions. By making informed choices in these areas, our students are discovering how they contribute to their emotional well-being. I encourage you to continue these conversations at home, reinforcing the valuable concepts we are exploring. 

Last week was quite rainy, so after much anticipation we were finally able to get into the UCC Learning Garden to harvest vegetables. We're going to use these vegetables to spark a piece of procedural writing in class. Please work with your son to include the vegetables in a family meal, and take a photo to share it with me, which I will print off to use as a launching point for writing. You can use additional ingredients from home to include the veggies in your meal. Some ideas are making a salad, using the veggies in a smoothie, or including them in a stir-fry.

In mathematics, we have launched our program using the Dimensions Math curriculum, which is inspired by Singapore Math. We have already witnessed positive outcomes within our community. Our first unit of study revolves around place-value concepts up to the hundreds. There are numerous opportunities to extend this learning experience at home. Engaging your child in discussions about money and practicing simple counting exercises can help solidify the concepts we are covering in school.

Finally, I would like to draw your attention to our upcoming trip to Norval on Friday, Nov. 1. Please be on the lookout for any emails you may receive concerning this exciting excursion.

Wishing you all the best,

Carly Crippin

Year 2 Form Advisor

Valuable skills for MYP design

Year 6: Media and My Message

In their first MYP Design unit, our Year 6 students have embraced the design cycle, focusing on graphic design. Through careful research into what makes an effective video, and by building their skills in photography, photo editing, colour theory, typography, and layout, they are now working towards creating impactful videos that promote physical, mental, or social wellbeing within our community.

Over the past few weeks, students have made impressive strides, particularly in photography and photo editing, and are now diving into the fundamentals of graphic design. We invite you to take a moment to admire the refined techniques showcased in this collection of student photos. The learning garden provided the ideal setting for them to develop and practice their photography skills.

After exploring colour theory and refining their layout techniques, students will use the graphic design platform Canva to produce their final wellbeing videos for our community. These videos will be showcased on various screens throughout the school, highlighting the creativity and skills our students have developed.

Update from Physical Education

After the excitement of the opening weeks, our students have settled into the routines for their respective year levels. After an initial focus on student organization, specifically around wearing the correct clothing for PE, we have been impressed with the students’ attention to this (and we appreciate your efforts to support them).

The broad focus for our SK–Year 3 curriculum is for the students to be active and engaged in games that develop their basic movement skills and help them to develop the capacity to cooperate with one another. In Year 4, the students have been engaged in an Invasion Games unit that focuses on soccer to complement their first exposure to representative school teams within the Athletics programme. In Year 5, students are exploring Invasion Games concepts through modified forms of football, handball and basketball.

In Year 6, Gaelic Football is the vehicle through which our students develop their understanding of practice design. Having had an introduction to the rules and skills required in this sport, they are about to embark on their first attempts to design practice activities that will help improve their performance. We take this idea a step further in Year 7, where groups of students are designing an entire Invasion Game, working collaboratively in groups to plan, perform, and reflect on the quality of their product as they work towards sharing it with their peers.

Mark Baxter
Physical Education Learning Leader

French exchange 

Dear Parents of Year 7 and 8 Enriched French students,

We are excited to announce an incredible opportunity for your child to experience an immersive four-week exchange to Ermitage International School in Maison Laffitte, France. Located just 16 km outside Paris, this unique program offers students a deep dive into French culture both academically and personally.

Program Highlights:

● Academic Immersion: Students will attend full days of classes at Ermitage, gaining valuable insights into the French education system and interacting with French peers.

● Homestay Experience: Students will live with a French host family, providing a truly authentic cultural experience and fostering lasting friendships.

● Cultural Exploration: While we won't be organizing daily excursions to Paris, your child will have ample opportunities to explore the region and discover French attractions during evenings and weekends with their host family.

● Minimal School Time Missed: We've carefully designed this program to minimize disruptions to your child's Canadian education. By scheduling the exchange during and after March Break, we've been able to arrange an additional two-week stay, ensuring a seamless transition back to school.

Key Details:

● Dates: March 5 – March TBD

● Location: Ermitage International School, Maison Laffitte, France

● Program Focus: Full immersion in French culture, academics, and home life

Important Notes:

● UCC Year 8 Enriched French Students: These students will be matched with Year 8 billets but will attend Year 7 classes.

● Year 7 Students: These students will be billeted with Year 7 students and will attend Year 7 classes.

● Candidate Limit: We can select a maximum of 4 students for this experience.

● This exchange is specifically designed for our Enriched French Students, who will be fully immersed in the academic program throughout their stay.

● Travel Arrangements: Students will depart for France on March 5, travelling together with the twelve selected two-week French exchange students. The return journey will be independent, with students being dropped off at the airport by Ermitage International School.

This exchange offers a truly transformative experience for students, providing them with lifelong memories and invaluable cultural insights. We encourage you to explore this opportunity and consider how it can enrich your child's education and personal growth.

Please contact Peter Labancz at plabancz@ucc.on.ca to express your interest and receive the application form and process information. Please express your interest no later than Oct. 17.

Sincerely,

Peter Labancz

French Language Subject Coordinator

Wilder Library Update

It’s hard to believe that September is behind us and October has arrived! The library has been fortunate to welcome our parent volunteers this year, many of whom are brand new! We really appreciate the interest which has filled all shifts as well as providing some alternates as well. 

In the library we are in the midst of honouring National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with related read alouds and vibrant discussions surrounding how our students can play a part in recognizing what happened in the past and how we might become changemakers in line with the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. We are looking forward to taking the opportunity to learn more about the Seven Grandfather Teachings as related to our beautiful new mural from local Indigenous artist, Philip Cote. 

The Wilder Library has undergone a remarkable transformation with the addition of our Brenda and Reid Chen Innovation Lab. This modern space is designed to inspire creativity and collaboration among students and faculty alike. This space is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including 3D printers, laser cutters, virtual reality headsets, robotics equipment, and maker space materials. The lab offers students the opportunity to explore their passions and develop essential skills for the 21st century. By combining the traditional resources of the library with the cutting-edge tools of the innovation lab, the school has created a dynamic learning environment that fosters both academic achievement and personal growth. We are looking forward to making use of the space within our library periods. 

As a reminder, aside from the scheduled class time the library hours are as follows:

Monday | 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Tuesday | 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Wednesday | 10:25 a.m.–4 p.m.

Thursday | 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Friday | 8 a.m–4 p.m.

Students in Year 5, 6, and 7 are welcome to use the space (work on projects, return and borrow books, read) after school without a parent present. All students in Year 4 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Laptops/iPads are permitted to be in use during this time but we do not allow gaming. 

We also want to remind you that we are open for morning recess for Middle Years and Year 4 and 5 to read quietly.

Mallory McKinney

Teacher Librarian

Student Immunization Clinic

UCC will be hosting Toronto Public Health (TPH) vaccination clinic on Monday, Oct. 7 at the Prep, during school hours for all students in Year 7. It will also offer catch-up opportunities to students in Year 8 who may be behind on vaccines. 

TPH has confirmed they will not be providing vaccines onsite for Years 9 to 12 students. Please read on for options on how to obtain these vaccines for your child. 

Vaccinations that will be made available at the clinic for Year 7s:

● Meningococcal — to prevent meningitis 

● Human papillomavirus — to prevent cancers 

● Hepatitis B — to prevent liver cancer 

Eligible students: 

● All students in Year 7 and higher who have not received any or all of these vaccines. 

● Students who have started but not completed their series may also book an appointment. 

Important reminder for parents that immunization against meningococcal disease is required by law for all children attending school in Ontario, unless exempted. For more information about the updated immunization requirements for school attendance, please visit Ontario, Ministry of Health.

For more information, you can access the School Immunization Program Fact Sheets.

For questions regarding the TPH School Immunization clinic, please contact the health centre at health.centre@ucc.on.ca and include your son’s name and year in the title of the email. 

If your student does not meet the above requirements to attend the school clinic, please follow the below steps to schedule an appointment through the TPH. 

● Review the parent package and consent form. 

● Book an appointment in advance. Appointments can be booked at the TPH booking site.

For more information about these vaccines, please talk to your doctor or contact Toronto Public Health Appointment Booking System at 416-338-7600.

Thank you for your ongoing support to keep our students and UCC community healthy.

UCC Health Centre

Helpful links: 

Grade 7 and up TPH School Vaccination Program 

Ontario’s Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule 

ASP Reminder

A reminder that ASP does offer after care (but not clubs) on many of the days when students have early dismissal. Please note that there will be no ASP on Friday, Oct. 11 (before the Thanksgiving weekend).

Sign up | Hopes and Dreams Conferences on Thursday, Oct. 10

This is an opportunity for families to meet with their child’s form adviser to discuss how the year has started and begin to build the family-teacher partnership. Our pickAtime system will open on Monday, Sept. 23 at 9 a.m. for families to choose a time to meet with the form adviser. It closes at 4 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 7. If you don't sign up for a conference during this window, you will need to reach out to your child’s form adviser personally to choose a remaining time slot. Click here for instructions on how to use pickAtime. Conferences can be booked either in person or virtually. 

RSVP | PPO Coffee Mornings

The SK through Year 6 PPO Parent Coffee Mornings are next week! We hope you can join us to connect and enjoy coffee and snacks together with other Prep parents. RSVP here for your respective coffee morning:

• Monday, Oct. 7: SK–Year 3 

• Tuesday, Oct. 8: Year 4–6

Coffee mornings take place in the Foster Hewitt Foundation Lounge (inside the William P. Wilder ’40 Arena & Sports Complex) from 8:30–10 a.m.

Register | PPO Parent Social

As we know that parents cannot always attend daytime coffee socials, the PPO is looking forward to hosting an evening social for all Prep parents from SK–Year 7. Please join us on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 7–8:30 p.m. 

Click here to register.