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Dear Students and Families,

As September settles and the excitement of a new academic year unfolds, please allow me to extend a warm welcome. We are thrilled to embark on this journey together as we start another promising school year.

I had the pleasure of addressing new students earlier this week on Tuesday, where I offered advice about embracing community, pursuing excellence and the importance of hope — a message I’ll extend during assembly on Monday. 

To our returning families and students, welcome back! We hope you had a rejuvenating summer and are ready to dive into a year filled with growth, discovery and hope. For those who are joining us for the first time, we are delighted to have you as part of our community and the transformational learning experience that is UCC. If Tuesday is any indication, our new students will do great things in the Upper School!

This year promises to be an enriching one, with new opportunities to explore, challenges to embrace, and accomplishments to celebrate. Our dedicated staff and faculty are committed to fostering an environment where every student can thrive academically, personally, and socially.

We encourage you to stay engaged, communicate openly, and take full advantage of the many activities and resources available in the Upper School. Your partnerships are invaluable in creating a supportive and dynamic learning experience across all year levels.

Here’s to a fantastic first week and year ahead! 

All the best,

Regards, 

Dr. Jeff Aitken

It has been a thrill to see the Upper School halls filled with students once more as the 2024–25 school year has begun! 

On Tuesday new students were welcomed on campus for New Student Orientation. Their mentors and student leaders spent time with them touring them around campus, playing games, and answering questions. 

The first full day of classes took place on Wednesday, with a buzz in the air as students reconnected and jumped right into the school routines. Principal McKinney and Head of Upper School Dr. Aitken welcomed new students and new faculty/staff in our opening assembly in the morning, while in the afternoon students had time to connect with their advising group. Sports tryouts and practices, as well as theatre auditions have already started this week, and the year ahead seems filled with promise and excitement.

Upper School Curriculum Night | Personalized schedule

UCC’s Upper School Curriculum Night will take place tonight, Thursday, Sept. 5. Classes will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will conclude at 9 p.m. Click here to access your personalized schedules on Bluenet. 

Parent Information Evenings

We invite all MYP (Years 8–10) parents to join us virtually for an information evening on Tuesday, September 10 at 7:00 p.m. All DP (Years 11 and 12) parents are invited to an information evening on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. respectively.  Please see the highlights above for the Zoom links to join the meetings.

Families will hear from UCC's leadership and academic teams and learn about programming at each year level.

Recordings will be provided in Heads Up for those unable to attend.

UCC Laptop Administrator Access

Please note, as outlined in the Family Handbook, in order to support learning and reduce distractions, students will not have administrator access to their laptops. Students will still be able to install their home WiFi and printers, but will not be able to install any software that is not available in the UCC software manager. Requests for additional software will need to be made with the support of a subject teacher or club supervisor, for a documented learning purpose and approved through the Assistant Head of the appropriate Year Level. In conjunction with this, network filtering is in place to support online safety. Students are expected to remain on-task in class and use their school laptops for academic purposes only. 

Year 8 | Norval trip reminders

Please click here for all details on the Year 8 Norval trip next week.

Week Without Bells | Fall outdoor experiential learning programs

As shared with the community in the spring Head’s Up, for the 2024–25 academic year, along with our Norval Outdoor School programming, the Upper School has partnered with ALIVE Outdoors to provide an outdoor experiential program for all students in Years 9 to 11.

ALIVE Outdoors works with several Independent Schools in Ontario and contracts with well-established camps that many of our families may be familiar with. The program will highlight curricular and co-curricular themes that aim to foster student connections through shared experiences and learning. As this is an important component of our programming, full attendance is expected. This programming will take place from Monday, Oct. 7 to Thursday, Oct. 10. 

Year 9 students will engage in a four-day, three-night experiential program at Olympia Sports Camp led by Olympia, our Norval Team, and UCC Faculty. 

Note: This is updated information from the Spring where the Year 9 trip has been relocated from Norval to Olympia Sports Camp. This location update will allow for students to enjoy expanded experiences and amenities, including cabins.

Year 10 and 11 students will participate in a four-day, three-night program run by ALIVE Outdoors. They will participate in various outdoor activities that build personal skills and community connections. UCC Faculty members will accompany students at all camps.

Y9 Program: Olympia Sports Camp, Huntsville, Ontario (4 days / 3 nights)

Y10 Program: Camp Pine Crest, Bala, Ontario (4 days / 3 nights)

Y11 Program: Camp Wanakita, Haliburton, Ontario (4 days / 3 nights)

Coach buses will depart from UCC on the morning of Oct. 7 and will return on the afternoon of Oct. 10. 

Note: Year 8 students will continue to enjoy Norval programming, as planned, for Sept. 9–12.

During the week of October 7, Year 8 students will be on campus for a special IB Middle Years Programme interdisciplinary learning experience week. Year 12 students will also remain on campus, and use this time to focus on Diploma Programme-specific tasks, work closely with the University Counselling Office on their applications, and participate in other programming designed to meet their needs during a busy term.

Please note that the cost of each trip (Y9–11) will be approximately $1,100, which will be billed to student accounts in the fall.

Stay tuned to Heads Up for further detailed information, including itineraries, packing lists, and permission forms. Any questions should be directed to Gillian Levene (Y8), Joe Smith (Y9/10), or Andrew MacDougall (Y11/12).

Please note that there will be no alternative programming on campus during the trips as the majority of faculty will be trip supervisors or will be facilitating the Y8 and Y12 programs.

Years 10–12 | Call for Auditions for the UCC/BSS Fall Play 2024

Student private music lessons

Lesson information:

• Lessons are usually scheduled once a week by our private teachers 

• Cost is $44 each lesson (1/2 hr)

• Available for all band instruments for Years 5 to 12

• Available for violin, piano, guitar, and bass for Years 3 to 12

• Lesson times are first come, first served (teachers will reach out to you to schedule)

• Lesson times can occur during the school day only 7:40 a.m.–5:50 p.m.

For more information and to register, please use this application form.

Reasons for lessons could be: 

Recreational, assistance with keeping pace with curricular program, wanting to be "the best they can be" (soloist, leader in the bands), completion of RCM exams, getting a head start on the music program, advancing musical skills, assistance with skill development.

If you have any questions please feel free to reach out.

Sincerely,

Paul McGarr

Prep School Arts Coordinator

Years 6 and 7 Director of Bands

Register | Parent Coffee Mornings in September

The Parents’ Organization is once again hosting Parent Year Level Coffee Mornings!  

Please join us from 8:30 – 10 a.m. in the second-floor lounge of Wilder Arena for some coffee/tea/snacks and catch up with or meet new parents in your son’s year. Please RSVP in the links below.  

• Year 8:  Friday, Sept. 27

• Year 9:  Thursday, Sept. 12

• Year 10:  Monday, Sept. 16

• Year 11: Friday, Sept. 13

• Year 12:  Tuesday, Sept. 10

UCC puffer jacket and vests | Brought to you by the PPO and PO

Get ready for the fall season ahead with the UCC Crested Puffer Jacket and Puffer Vest! Both styles feature the UCC crest on the left chest pocket and are made of 100% polyester for durability and water resistance.

Puffer Jackets are available in Youth and Adult sizes, featuring a removable snap hood and elastic cuffs for a snug fit. The cost is $110. 

Puffer Vests are available in Adult sizes only for $70. Perfect for layering on chilly days.

Order yours now! The deadline for ordering is Sept. 25. Click here for more details and to order.

Toronto Public Health Student Immunization Clinic on October 7

Upper Canada College will be hosting Toronto Public Health (TPH) vaccination clinic on Monday, October 7 at the UCC Preparatory School dining hall, during school hours for all students in Year 7. It will also offer catch-up opportunities to students in Year 8 who are behind on these important vaccines, and who may have missed their opportunity in Year 7. Further details will be shared in future communication.

Please note that 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 

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

For students in Years 9 to 12

If your son is in Years 9 to 12, this is a reminder that your child may be eligible for one or all of the vaccines listed above. These vaccines are free of charge at a community TPH Vaccination Clinic. See additional information below regarding TPH community clinics:

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. 

Vaccines available: 

• Meningococcal — to prevent meningitis 

• Human papillomavirus — to prevent cancers 

• Hepatitis B — to prevent liver cancer 

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

Next steps for community appointments: 

• Review the parent package and consent form. 

• Book an appointment prior to attending the clinic. Appointments can be booked at the TPH booking site.

For more information about these vaccines, please talk to your doctor or call Toronto Public Health Appointment Booking System To Public Health 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 

Years 9–12 | March Break 2025 China trip for Mandarin students

We are thrilled to announce that we have planned a 2-week China trip during the March break of 2025 for our Mandarin students from Year 9 to Year 12. We will spend one week in Taipei, Taiwan and another week in Hangzhou, Mainland China, for language and culture learning. Click here for the itinerary.

We believe this exclusive trip will allow a first-hand exposure to traditional and modern Chinese ways of living, speaking, and thinking. It will also give students valuable real-life experience of customs in using both the traditional characters and simplified ones. The intensive language learning, enriched activities, and selective sightseeing will help the students gain a more profound appreciation for the diversity of Chinese languages and cultures.

Our tour operator is G-Hardy, UCC's long-term educational/service trip partner. Please note that the precise flight routes and package fee will be available before the information night that will be held late in September. We are very grateful to let you know that the expenses for the second week will be generously covered by the university in which we will be staying. 

If you are interested in this trip, please add your name to this Pre-registration Google Form so that we can provide the travel agency with an estimated number of participants. Thank you for your support!

Looking forward to an exciting and enriching experience for our students!

Holocaust Education trip to Poland | March Break 2025 for Years 10–12 

We are excited to announce that UCC in conjunction with G-Hardy Tours, will be offering our fourth Holocaust Education trip to Poland in March 2025. 

The trip will run for the first week of March break, visiting the cities of Warsaw, Lublin, and Krakow. Students will have the opportunity to visit many important Holocaust sites, including, but not limited to: Treblinka, Tykocin, Majdanek, and Auschwitz-Birkenau. 

Ms. Rachel Metalin, a former Upper School English teacher who is trained at the sites, will be the lead educator on the trip complemented by other professional guides in Poland. 

The trip will be available for students in Years 10–12, however, Year 9 students will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The trip is non-denominational and open to all students in those grade levels interested in learning about this time in history and the lasting impact it continues to have today.

Informational sessions will be held via Zoom on Sept. 24 from 7–8 p.m., however, if you have an immediate question, please contact Rachel Metalin.

Discover Costa Rica | March Break 2025 with Camps International

A UCC Upper School Global Learning Adventure 

A virtual parent information session is on Sept. 25 from 7–8 p.m. Please click here to join the meeting.

Plan for it now! This upcoming March Break, we will once again offer an overseas Experiential Learning Trip to all upper school students. UCC is partnering with Explorica & Camps International to offer a service-focused experience in Costa Rica from March 16–25, 2025.

Students will receive 30 hours of service recognition for participating in the activities on the trip, as well as have the chance to see some of the many highlights that Costa Rica has to offer, including a visit to Monteverde with a stop at Volcano National Park along the way.

This trip meets the requirements of a DUKE of EDINBURGH'S INTERNATIONAL SILVER AWARD, Qualifying Journey.

Also of note: UCC will be partnering with BSS on for pre-departure and post-trip seminars specifically for this trip next school year.

Spaces are available for 12 students. Registration is now open at this link. 

Click here to access a detailed itinerary and information about costs.

Peru Amazon Scientific Research Expedition | March Break 2025 with Operation Wallacea

Please follow this link for a detailed description of the expedition.

We are providing our students the incredible opportunity to spend one week with international professional scientists to conduct hands-on wildlife conservation and climate change science research with Operation Wallacea. Operation Wallacea (Opwall) is a network of academics from European and North American universities, who design and implement biodiversity and wildlife conservation management research expeditions. 

Opwall will provide students with the opportunity to apply aspects of their high school material in the field in Peru during March Break 2025! This school expedition offers students opportunities to meet other high schools and to network with professional environmental and wildlife conservation scientists, participate in real-world scientific fieldwork research projects, and be trained as research assistants.  

Having said this, students need not be studying science to attend. We encourage all current students in Years 10, 11 and 12 to join!  

We invite parents and students to attend a 45-minute virtual presentation about this school expedition to Peru on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. Join the meeting.

Volunteer Opportunity in early October | HYROX TORONTO 2024

UCC students have been invited by HYROX Toronto to volunteer at their event taking place on Saturday and Sunday, October 5 and 6, at Enercare Centre.

HYROX is an indoor global fitness event that is starting to spread across the U.S., Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East. We expect over 6,000 participants to race with us that weekend, and depend heavily on volunteers for our event to flow smoothly and safely. 

We have four and six-hour shifts in the morning, mid-day, afternoon and all day, with assignments ranging from registration, gear check to the competition floor.  The minimum age to volunteer is 14 years old. 

Volunteer perks:

• special edition volunteer shirts by Puma

• meals and snacks

• complimentary on-site parking 

• exclusive merchandise discount

• community service hours

• fun and fabulous perks for groups of 10 or more

Here is the sign-up link: 2024 HYROX Toronto Volunteer Crew.

"Upper Canada College" has been added to the group dropdown menu on the online app form.  

Sign-up instructions for ALL volunteers:

1. The link will take you to an application form. Fill it out completely.

2. For the group dropdown menu, choose Upper Canada College.

3. Read the waiver and check box.

4. Click on "Register."

5. You should receive a confirmation email.

6. The deadline to sign up is Thursday, September 12.

7. Final reminder emails with parking info 7–10 days before event day, to all volunteers who are signed up.