The winter session of the hot lunch program will begin after the winter break on Tuesday, Jan. 6. Please email Janet Brock by Thursday, Dec. 15 if you would like to either opt in or out of the lunch program.  

Please do not email if you are already signed up and will continue participating in the hot lunch program.

Our Kindergarten students recently completed a unit about family. They created drawings of their close relatives, cut them out, and glued them onto tree templates. The project culminated in delightful presentations, now available on Seesaw, where the children proudly introduced each family member.

We are now moving on to a unit focused on learning the names of different body parts. The children are enjoying an interactive reading of Va-t’en, Grand Monstre Vert! by Ed Emberley. Through listening, active participation, and repeated practice of words and short sentences, the children are expanding their vocabulary and developing their ability to recognize and produce sounds. It's been a joy to watch them grow and learn this term!

Year 1 students recently completed their project about friendship, working with a partner to create short dialogues. I'm delighted with the vocabulary they learned and impressed by their fluency and pronunciation. After this project, students continued to build their vocabulary and strengthen their listening and speaking skills through kinesthetic activities and oral communication games. They also began developing awareness of positive, negative, and interrogative sentences. They're now ready to begin their first story: La Poule Maboule. In this unit, students will identify key story elements they have been exploring in their Inquiry Unit, such as the title, characters, setting, problem, and solutions. We look forward to seeing their continued progress as they begin this storytelling journey!

Year 2 students recently completed a vocabulary-rich project on living a healthy lifestyle. They combined writing, drawing, and reading aloud, and shared their work on Seesaw. They did an excellent job, and I'm proud of both the progress they made and what they learned. They're now enjoying the story Comment y aller?, exploring the setting, the problem at the start of the story, and the main characters. Students are preparing short oral presentations with a partner, practising how to retell the story using key words and answer simple questions. This activity helps them build confidence and strengthen their oral communication skills. They'll soon be ready to read Scene 1, which includes both narration and dialogue. As they work with the text in the new year, they will focus on developing their reading comprehension.

In Year 3, students have grown in confidence as French speakers through class discussions about the first scene of the play L’arbre ungali and the story of Rémi, the multimedia component of our program. It's been wonderful to see new students begin to form simple sentences, while more experienced learners have continued to refine their communication skills. Working with a partner, students enjoyed preparing oral presentations. They retold the first scene using provided keywords and answered related questions. They also practised answering closed-ended questions in writing, strengthening their understanding of French spelling, including accents and apostrophes. Term 1 has been an exciting and rewarding period of growth and learning for our Year 3 students!

In Year 4, students enjoyed completing a project on Seesaw about the annual francophone festival Le Festival du Voyageur. They researched the festival’s activities and the historic first contact between Indigenous peoples and European voyageurs in the 17th century. Through this work, students developed their writing skills, with attention to syntax, spelling, and punctuation. Students also alternated between independent reading with the reader Le voleur and new episodes of Rémi, the multimedia component of our program, which helped them further develop their listening and speaking skills. As the term comes to a close, we're finishing the reading of L’aventure de Stéphanie and reviewing closed-ended questions through written responses. Open-ended questions were also provided for students who needed additional reinforcement. Everything we do in class—through texts or multimedia—provides meaningful opportunities for students to engage with French. Our classroom is an immersive space where students practise the language in authentic situations. It's a pleasure to see Year 4 students continue to grow in their communication skills.

Guillaume Dupre

Primary French Teacher

Curriculum: Students in years 6 and 7 are completing their second units; Completely Rational and Algebra respectively. 2026 will begin with students exploring Covering and Surrounding in Year 6 and Ratios and Proportions in Year 7. Students have also explored Flint as a valuable resource to assess their understanding, provide suggestions and guide their learning; please ask him to show you what it can do. Students recently used the program as a way to formatively assess their proficiency with the current unit. 

Math Cafe and Learning Commons is here:

We couldn’t be more excited about the space, and our students couldn't hold their excitement either. Students made the most of the writing surfaces, the collaboration rooms, the monitors to display and share their work, the flexible seating, the toys and manipulatives, and so much more!

We’re using the space to:

• Engage in joint classes

• Randomize groups involving “new” collaborators

• Give students choice of their “writing surface”

• Allowing students to pick the environment that works for them

• Work individually and/or with others when appropriate

• Make their thinking visible so we can formatively assess

• Promote appropriate levels of challenge

It's hard to believe we're approaching the end of 2025 and the end of our first term with the SKs. It's been a joy watching this class grow in their connection with one another and in their sense of belonging within our school community. 

We're currently engaged in our How We Express Ourselves unit with a focus on emotions. This inquiry supports SKs in recognizing and naming their feelings, understanding that all emotions are okay, and learning strategies to make thoughtful choices when their emotions feel big. Through books, discussions, and interactive activities, students have been expanding their emotional vocabulary, identifying feelings in everyday situations, and learning to recognize and respond to the emotions of others.

Each year level at the Prep is guided by one of the Seven Grandfather Teachings. For SK, our teaching is Love, represented by the Eagle. This teaching aligns beautifully with our emotions inquiry, so the SKs have been digging deeper into the meaning of love as an emotion, as a way of acting toward ourselves and others, and as a way of being in community. In Library, SKs read about how Johnny Eagle demonstrated love in Johnny Eagle and the Seven Teachings by Anishinaabe author Sandra Samatte. Back in class, SKs discussed what they knew and wondered about love and read books to help them reflect further. Here are some of the SKs’ insights on love: 

• “Love makes you feel happy”

• “Love is being safe”

• “Love is cozy”

• “Love is giving stuff that’s yours to [someone] for them to keep” 

• “Everybody has different things that they love”

Across the school day, we've also been encouraging students to notice, name, express, and embrace all their emotions as a natural and safe part of the human experience. During different classroom and outdoor experiences, students are learning to tune into their bodies and recognize the feelings that “wake up” inside them. 

Recently, our first class visit to the Innovation Lab served as an authentic inquiry into how new experiences influence our emotions. Before, during, and after the visit, the SKs described feelings of excitement, nervousness, curiosity, frustration, pride, and more, noticing how their emotions could shift from moment to moment.

As we approach the final day of our holiday drives, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the entire UCC Prep community for your tremendous generosity and spirit of giving. Your support for both the Churches on the Hill (COTH) Food Drive and the Thorncliffe Park Holiday Drive has been inspiring.

Over the past weeks, students and families have come together to contribute to the COTH Food Bank—one of Toronto’s largest, serving over 1,100 individuals each week. From baby supplies to pantry staples, your class-specific donations will make an immediate impact for families in our neighbouring community. Tomorrow is the final day to contribute, with all donations being delivered to the COTH Food Bank on Monday.

At the same time, the Prep community has shown incredible care for our Thorncliffe Park Holiday Drive. Thorncliffe Park Public School—North America’s largest elementary school—serves many newcomer families who face significant challenges during the winter months. Thanks to your donations of winter clothing, boots, and essential grocery gift cards, dozens of children will be warm, supported, and better equipped for the season ahead. 

These drives represent the very best of our community: compassion, action, and a deep commitment to supporting our neighbour communities. Thank you for giving so generously and for engaging your children in meaningful conversations about helping others.

Wishing everyone a warm and joyful holiday season,

Riley Carter
Community Engagement and Service Learning Coordinator
With the Year 6/7 Community Service Leaders

Festive Marketplace is tomorrow Friday, Dec. 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

This year we have more than 60 curated vendors selling wonderful items for you, your family and your home. It’s the perfect opportunity for holiday shopping. Check out everything Festive on our website!

Festive Auction ends tomorrow night at 8 p.m. 

To view and bid on our amazing auction items click here.

Festive Marketplace Bake Sale drop-off information

Festive Marketplace is tomorrow and one of many highlights is our Festive Bake Sale. We’re grateful for any homemade and store-bought baked goods you would like to donate. All items should be nut-free.

Drop off information: Friday, Dec. 12, 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
No need to park, as volunteers will be on hand to collect baked goods directly from cars. Thank you for supporting the bake sale! 

• Prep: Admission and Forest Hill entrances

• Upper School: Main entrance

Purchase | Lucky Draw Tickets

Don’t miss the chance to win an incredible gingerbread UCC clock tower, or a pair of Toronto Maple Leafs hockey tickets.

Get your tickets:

• Tonight — Thursday, Dec. 11 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Festival of Lights Concert at Laidlaw Hall

• Tomorrow — Friday, Dec. 12, all day, at the PPO table at Festive Marketplace.

Tickets are $5 each, or 3 for $10. Winners will be announced at Festive Marketplace on Friday, Dec.12 at 4 p.m.

While debit and credit are accepted throughout Festive Marketplace, parents may wish to send younger children to school with some spending money. We suggest $1 to $2 for the bake sale, and $5 for the Snowball Grab, if they wish to play.

Dear Families,

Year 6 and 7 students will visit the Festive Marketplace on Friday, Dec. 12, at the times listed below. 

Students may bring some money to purchase items at the Festive Marketplace, but they will not be performing. $10 to $20 is recommended, and they’ll be able to purchase from the bake sale and snowball grab. Faculty will accompany students during the visit.

They will be visiting at the following times:

• Year 6 will visit Festive Marketplace during morning recess

• Year 7 will visit Festive Marketplace during lunch recess/Flex Time

Gareth Evans

Assistant Head of the Preparatory School | Middle Division

Always a highlight, UCC’s student musicians will be performing holiday songs and musical arrangements they’ve been preparing for Festive. Plan your visit around the following student musical performances:

• 9:45 to 10 a.m. Year 3 singing

• 10:40 a.m. to 12 p.m. Year 6 and 7 various performers

• 12:35 to 12:50 p.m. 5F and 5V singing

Colour House On Vacation is a house competition that occurs over the winter break. In this competition, students are encouraged to email photos of themselves wearing their house colours while on winter break to Mr. Bushey. The House that sends in the most pictures will receive 1000 points (maximum of 2 pictures per student). Please contact Mr. Bushey for more details.

Michael Bushey

Prep Leadership Coordinator

Once again, we're excited to offer a year-end trip for our Year 7 students to the Niagara Region. The trip will be June 3–5, 2026. All Year 7 families will be emailed the Niagara Trip letter, including the permission form, on Friday. Please complete the permission form at your earliest convenience.

Please review this document for a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the trip, the packing list, and the draft itinerary.

Sincerely,

Gareth Evans
Assistant Head of the Preparatory School | Middle Division

Reminder: ASP will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 18, the half-day last day of school

Please see the below clubs and flyer for a list of our January to March offerings!

Harry Potter Mystery Club
Step into the magical world of Hogwarts with our Harry Potter Mystery Club—an exciting after-school adventure designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving. Through interactive games, hands-on activities, and STEM-based challenges inspired by the wizarding world, your sons will decode clues, brew “potions,” engineer magical creations, and unravel weekly mysteries. It’s the perfect blend of fun and learning, where imagination meets innovation and every young wizard can discover the magic of STEM!
SK to Year 3, Wednesdays from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Cost: $249.99
Please email Brent Crawford to register.

Global Music Explorers

Join us on a musical journey around the world with Global Music Explorers! In this dynamic after-school club, students will dive into diverse musical styles and traditions, discovering how rhythm, melody, and culture connect people across the globe. Through hands-on activities, pattern recognition, and interactive sound exploration, your sons will become active participants in this universal language—learning, creating, and experiencing the rich tapestry of world music in an engaging and inspiring way.
Year 4 to 7, Wednesdays from 4 to 5 p.m.
Cost: $249.99

Please email Brent Crawford to register.

Warm Wishes, 

Brent Crawford

After School Program Coordinator