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With the turn to fall, the Upper School campus has been abuzz with activity, whether it be completing summative assessments, participating in debating and sports tournaments, or implementing donation drives. Photo days, capturing students in their finest UCC dress, took place for those in Years 9 through 11 and was a three-day affair only made possible by parent volunteers. Note that after the November long weekend, we will move away from warm weather dress into regular dress. Reminders will be sent to students. Please see the UCC Family Handbook for more details.

Our assembly space offered dynamic and enriching community events, beginning with a student Halloween assembly that showcased a creative video about the upcoming Steward’s Dance, a Kahoot, and a lively performance of “Moanin” by the Senior Jazz Band. The Principal’s Assembly that followed was a celebration of both Islamic and Hispanic Heritage months, facilitated by the joint student leadership of the Muslim Affinity and Hispanic Heritage clubs. The event included an overview of Muslim contributions to architecture, language, science and culture, a presentation on the role of music in Hispanic culture, a rendition of “Spain” by the Senior Jazz Band, and an announcement about Diwali.

Upper students participated in consent education this week, with Year 10, 11, and 12 students attending sessions run by special guest speakers on this topic, and there was a parent session offered as well.

Special Year 8 advising session 

On Tuesday, Nov. 5, Year 8 students will have a special advising session in the Student Centre, hearing from Detective Corey Jones on the topic of online safety. 

The talk will provide a general introduction to the various risks associated with the internet, emphasising the need for caution when navigating online environments. It will then focus on the issue of cyberbullying and what it looks like. The speaker will then explain potential crimes these behaviours can constitute, the capabilities of law enforcement to track and prosecute such offences and then offer guidance on what to do if someone is targeted by these online behaviours, including how to support the victim and report the bullying to the police.

Detective Corey Jones is a 22-year veteran of the Toronto Police Service and has been a frontline responder to notable events in Toronto, including the 2004 Union Station hostage-taking, a TTC maintenance subway derailment in 2007, the G20 black-bloc protests in 2010, and the North York van attack in 2018. He spent his first ten years serving at 53 Division, where UCC is located. He has focused his career on criminal investigations since 2007 and is currently an investigator within the Professional Standards (Internal Affairs) Unit.

He is an experienced and provincially accredited Major Case Manager in many areas of criminal investigation. In addition to three years as a dedicated fraud investigator, Detective Jones was qualified last year as an undercover online investigator to assist in the investigation of internet-based crimes.

Before joining the police service, Detective Jones graduated from the University of Toronto and worked as a medical researcher at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health for ten years. Outside of policing, Detective Jones is a UCC parent with his wife Alexandra, to 2023 grad Cole and upcoming class of 2025 grad, Max. He is a stand-up paddleboard enthusiast, has recently taken up drone photography, and enjoys giving back to the community by volunteering to coach minor hockey.

Remembrance Day 

On Thursday, Nov. 7, the UCC Upper School will be holding our special Remembrance Day Assembly in Laidlaw Hall. The day is also early dismissal, which means we will follow the schedule below:

Students will be asked to make their way directly to Laidlaw Hall at 10:30 a.m. We ask that students honour our esteemed guests and the significance of the event by arriving on time and wearing First Dress, as well as adorning the poppies given out in Period 1 classes by the Board of Stewards.

UCC veterans and VIPs, some of whom will attend an earlier Prep Assembly, will also participate in the Upper School Assembly and then join faculty, staff and the Board of Stewards for a reception and lunch. 

In addition to remarks from Principal McKinney, this special community event will showcase an inaugural collaboration between the Symphonic Band, the Blue Notes, and theatre performers. The performance explores correspondence as an act of connection and commemoration, featuring the song “I Vow to Thee My Country” composed by Gustav Holst, with lyrics written by Sir Cecil Spring Rice. The service will also include Nico Aitken playing the last post, and reflections from students on the June 2024 France Military History Enrichment Trip, as well as individuals involved in the Year 8 Remembrance Day postcard activity. Additionally, the Bernick Family Foyer display cases will showcase items from the archives relating to UCC’s rich military history, including information on fallen Old Boys and WWII-era correspondences.  

Graduation Pathways | Parent meeting #2

Dear Years 8, 9, and 10 families,

Thank you for your continued interest in learning more about UCC’s Graduation Pathways. There was significant engagement in the first family information evening on Oct. 23. Please find the presentation here and click here to view a recording.

Please join the second family information evening on Monday, Nov. 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Upper School Manucha & Bellamy Theatre for a deeper dive into the two new Graduation Pathways. 

We will focus on the IB DP Systems Transformation Pathway from 6 to 7 p.m., and on the IB DP Courses Pathway from about 7:15 to 8 p.m.

Please RSVP using this form by Monday morning if you plan to attend.

Warm regards,

Dr. Jeff Aitken

Head of the Upper School

Dr. Julia Kinnear

Vice-Principal, Learning and Academic Innovation

Registration | Three-way conferences 

Registration for UCC’s Upper School three-way conferences is now open.

We are excited to introduce our new Upper School three-way conference platform, SchoolCloud. Key features include an integrated schedule, automatic reminders, a countdown timer, and an "up-next" notification. The platform also offers built-in video conferencing, ensuring greater privacy for your family. 

Nov. 12 | Virtual only: Each virtual meeting will be five minutes

Nov. 13 | In-person only: Each meeting will be 5 minutes long with 5 minutes of travel time in between meetings.
*Please do not book more than 1 appointment per teacher.

Preparing for Your Appointments

Once you have scheduled your appointments, please check your email inbox for a confirmation from SchoolCloud with your credentials. This will ensure you are able to join your appointment at the scheduled time(s). If you do not see the email, you may need to check your Spam folder, depending on your email settings. 

Note:

• When registering, you will need to enter your name and your child’s name exactly as it appears on the Portal. 

• Please ensure your device has been restarted recently to avoid technical difficulties.

Click here to schedule your Three-Way Conference Meetings

The registration link will remain open until Monday, Nov. 11 at 12 p.m. 

Generally, only one parent/guardian books all the meetings, as they will then invite the other parent/guardian to join the scheduled meetings. For more on how to do this and how to sign up for meetings, please visit the BlueNet Resource Board.  

Questions?

For technical assistance, please email Sandra Fulford or call 416-488-1125, ext. 2213.

Year 8 | Beaver Computing Challenge (BCC)

Dear Families,

We are excited to announce that our students have the opportunity to participate in the Beaver Computing Challenge (BCC) for the third year in a row. Many thanks to Design Department Chair Mr. Miskew, and Mathematics Department Chair Ms. Evans, for their support of this initiative. The BCC is an engaging, online competition designed to spark curiosity about computer science and develop problem-solving skills in a fun and supportive environment. This contest is accessible to students, and it is a great way for them to build and showcase their logical and computational thinking skills.

Contest Dates: For North America, the contest window runs from Monday, Nov. 4 to Friday, Nov. 15. 

Contest Format:

• Grade 8: 15 multiple-choice questions (selected from a set of 90)

• Time: 45 minutes

• Location: The contest will be written in the Academic Foundations class, where each student participates online and individually.

This competition encourages students to draw on skills developed in the math curriculum—no prior computer science knowledge is required! The problems are designed to be accessible and challenge students to think critically, solve creatively, and have fun.

Calculator use: Some calculators are permitted during the challenge, so students may use familiar tools while problem-solving.

Curriculum connection: How BCC aligns with Ontario math standards

The BCC is an excellent extension of our math curriculum and supports our coding design stream. The BCC helps our students develop their: 

• Numeracy Skills: BCC questions often require logical manipulation of numbers and basic operations, which strengthens students’ numeracy foundations.

• Patterns and Algebra: By identifying patterns and using algebraic reasoning, students engage in algebraic thinking crucial for problem-solving.

• Spatial Reasoning: Many questions involve spatial awareness and shape recognition, reinforcing geometry concepts from the Ontario curriculum.

• Data and Probability: Probability and data interpretation come into play, helping students apply data management skills to real-world scenarios.

We are thrilled to offer this opportunity and look forward to seeing students challenge themselves in this unique and enjoyable way. No preparation is necessary; however, should your son wish to access a practice test or to preview past contests, we highly encourage it. Please note that contest scores do not affect report card marks and are simply a point of celebration for our students. If you have any questions or would like further details, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Emilia Martin, MYP and Personal Project Coordinator

Paul Miskew, Design Department Chair 

Bina Evans, Mathematics Chair

Theatre Prop Donations

Co-Curricular Theatre is looking for props for the November performance of Bea Wolf. If you have any of the items listed below, for either donation or loan, we would be most grateful. 

Upper uniform purchasing

DGN-Kilters will be conveniently stationed on campus with their mobile sales van, located just outside the William P. Wilder ’40 Arena & Sports Complex on Wednesday, Nov. 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Upper families will have the opportunity to purchase winter dress uniforms and facilitate exchanges or returns. 

Patti Cawker-Chiang 

Blues Shop Manager

Take Our Kids to Work Day 

UCC supports Take Our Kids to Work Day, an annual career exploration event, held every November, where Year 9 students across Canada spend the day in the life of a working professional. This year it will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 6.

Ve’ahavta supplies drive

Hi UCC Community,

We are Nikhil and Rohan Gupta, Year 10 students.

As we approach the winter months, homelessness continues to be a significant issue in Toronto. There are more than 10,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given night. Sadly, many are without essential items such as warm clothing, blankets and personal hygiene items.

We are excited to launch a UCC "Drive for Supplies" on behalf of Ve’ahavta. Ve’ahavta is a non-profit, Toronto-based Jewish humanitarian outreach organization dedicated to promoting positive change in the lives of people who are marginalized by poverty, irrespective of faith or background. Ve’ahavta distributes essential items such as food, clothing, hygiene items, and medical supplies to those in need. 

From Monday, Oct. 28 to Thursday, Nov. 7, we will be collecting clothing and supplies donations in the Bernick Family Foyer. Here is a list of the most needed items. Clothing can be new or used.

1. Men's pants 

2. Men's hoodies, sweaters, and long sleeves 

3. Winter coats

4. Winter boots

5. Hand and foot warmers

6. Blankets and sleeping bags

7. Medical supplies (gauze, bandages, alcohol wipes, Polysporin)

8. Shampoo and deodorant (unused)

9. Razors (unused)

10. Socks (unused) 

In addition, please donate any old or unused cell phones. These will be distributed to those in need. 

Please donate any and all items you can to help make this drive a success! 

Sincerely,

Nikhil Gupta and Rohan Gupta, Class of 2027

UCC's Battle of the Bikes

Dear UCC Community,

I’m thrilled to announce a special fundraising event on World Diabetes Day on Nov. 14, in collaboration with JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) to support type 1 diabetes research. 

My name is Charlie Walsh, and as a Year 12 student living with type 1 diabetes, this cause is incredibly close to my heart. As a student-athlete with type 1 diabetes, there is no way I would be able to participate in activities and sports, or even live the life that I live, without all the research, technology and innovation that JDRF has helped fund. This fundraiser means so much to me, and I hope it will inspire our community to come together and help spread awareness about type 1 diabetes. 

Event Details:

• 10 spin bikes

• 10 houses

• 10 teams

• 50 athletes go head-to-head for UCC’s Battle of the Bikes

Format: This is a relay-style spin bike challenge featuring ten spin bikes. Each house will nominate one participant per grade (five total across Years 8-12), and participants will take turns riding for five minutes each. The house that rides the furthest in 25 minutes will win a prize and earn house points! 

Fundraising: Support your house! Donations can be made directly under each house team's page here: donate. This friendly competition aims to see which house can raise the most funds for T1D research.

How you can help:

1. Donate: We kindly ask parents who are looking to contribute to donate here. Ensure your donation is credited to your son’s house.

2. Sponsorships: We have exclusive opportunities to showcase your company and demonstrate your support for this important cause. If you or someone you know is interested in sponsoring, please don't hesitate to reach out to me.

Charlie Walsh, Class of 2025

Community and Belonging Survey

Dear Upper School Families,

UCC has agreed to participate in Lookout Management Inc.’s Community and Belonging Survey of Year 9–12 students in more than 100 schools across Canada and the U.S. Participation in this survey will provide valuable information about our students’ sense of belonging within the UCC community, which is closely related to wellbeing and learning. As we launch our refreshed wellbeing framework and action plan, this data will help us further refine our student-focused wellbeing initiatives.

The survey will be administered on Tuesday, Nov. 5 during advising time. It will take students approximately 10 minutes to respond and is completely anonymous. Responses will be collected and held by Lookout Management and cannot be linked back to any individual student. We will share a summary of key learnings later this academic year.

Because the survey questions are common across more than 100 participating schools, some questions or response options may be less relevant to your child. For those questions, students have the option not to respond or to write in a response if the options offered are insufficient.

If you have any questions or would like to opt your child out of this survey, please contact principal@ucc.on.ca.

Thank you,

Dr. Jeff Aitken
Head of the Upper School