Next week, the Board of Stewards will host the annual Holidays at Lonsdale. Each day will feature a different casual dress theme, and there will be a variety of fun programming throughout the week (see table below). The school will be decorated honouring the variety of holidays that take place this time of year.  

The course selection process for the 2026-27 academic year is underway with virtual course information evenings for families, group counselling sessions facilitated by the MYP Coordinator (students currently in Year 8) and the University Counselling Office (students currently in Years 9 and Year 10). All Year 10s have met or are in the process of meeting their university counsellor for their initial course selection meeting. 

Upcoming course information evenings for families will be held virtually as follows:

Tuesday, Jan. 13, 7 to 8:30 p.m | Class of 2028 (Year 10 students entering Year 11)

Thursday, Jan. 15, 7 to 8:30 p.m. | Class of 2029 and 2030 (Year 9 students entering Year 10 and Year 8 students entering Year 9)

For your information, please see the UCC Course Offerings Guide 2026-27. Course selections are made by students online in Bluenet and opens on Tuesday, Jan. 13. Parents/guardians should review student’s course selections in their student’s Bluenet account and then approve those selections by logging into their parent/guardian account in Bluenet and completing the school form by the deadline noted below (detailed instructions will be included in a future Heads Up).

Course selection deadlines:

Year 8 students entering Year 9 | Class of 2030:  Friday, Feb. 6 at 4 p.m.

Year 9 students entering Year 10 | Class of 2029: Friday, Feb. 6 at 4 p.m.

Year 10 students entering Year 11 | Class of 2028: Friday, Feb. 27 at 4 p.m.

MYP Coordinator: 

• Emilia Martin

University Counselling Office:

• Alison Champ, Bremner's and Howard's 

• David Hanna, Jackson's  

• Stephanie Rose, McHugh’s, Mowbray’s, Martland’s (L-Z) 

• Nili Isaacs, Orr's, Scadding's, Martland’s (A-K)  

• Andrew Turner, Seaton's and Wedd's 

Dear Families,

I'm excited to announce that Upper Canada College is partnering once again with the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Social Impact Strategy and Schoolyard Ventures, an organization that develops university-level, real-world learning opportunities for ambitious high school students, to offer The Social Innovators Program for grade 10 and 11 students. The 12-week virtual program allows students to learn about social entrepreneurship and experience it first-hand, while earning a Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship from the University of Pennsylvania. UCC is one of only forty schools worldwide invited to participate in this unique initiative.

During the program, students learn how to launch ventures of their own that create value and a positive impact on society. Students learn in small online classes and through engaging interviews and case studies with young entrepreneurs, with personalized one-on-one guidance and support along the way. Because students choose their own projects, each student's experience in the program is unique. Learn more about the program here.

The application deadline is Thursday, Jan. 22, and the program runs from the week of Feb. 16 through the week of May 11, with classes meeting virtually one evening per week, in addition to regular one-on-one advisor check-ins. At the end of the program, students will have the opportunity to present their work and learnings. 

A virtual information session for interested parents and students will be held on Thursday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. ET. The registration link for the information session can be found here.

Please consider this exciting opportunity. If you have any questions please contact me.

Sincerely,
Paul Miskew
Faculty Chair, Design Department

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!

Dear UCC Community,

This is the last week of our annual food drive.

Please remember to bring a donation to the Festive Marketplace tomorrow.

Our goal: 1,200lbs of food for the 1,200 people that COTH supports weekly. 

Last year, the Festive Marketplace donations were a significant source of necessary items that we were able to deliver to our Daily Bread Food bank partner. Members of our student team will manage a table outside of the Hewitt Athletic Centre to help receive and organize your donations. 

This year, COTH is especially in need of baby formula and diaper donations, but all contributions of the items below will also make a profound impact: 

• Baby diapers: Sizes 5 and 6

• Baby formula (Kirkland brand): Stage 1

• Baby Formula (Good Start Plus): Stage 1

• Canned tuna, crackers, canned salmon (for breastfeeding moms)

• Low sugar cereal: 900g family size

• Dried beans/lentils

• Peanut butter: 1kg family size

• Toilet paper 

• Dry pasta: 900g family size 

• Kirkland canned chicken 

• Tetra packages of shelf-stable milk, Ensure High Protein – vanilla, chocolate or strawberry (6 x 235 mL)

We truly appreciate all your support for this drive and everything it represents. Together, let’s make this year’s food drive the most impactful one yet and ensure that everyone in our community is supported. 

Thank you!

Please bring a new or gently used toy tomorrow to donate at Festive Marketplace. At his Student Club table, Ethan Lin , Class of 2027, will be collecting toys to distribute to children when he goes on a mission trip to Cambodia this winter. 

If you can, please bring any new or gently used toys that are smaller than a tissue box such as:

-Small stuffed animals

-Fidget toys

-Toy cars

-Other small, kid-friendly items

Please note that toys cannot be larger than a tissue box. 

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

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. 

• Prep: Admission and Forest Hill entrances

• Upper School: Main entrance

No need to park, as volunteers will be on hand to collect baked goods directly from cars. Thank you for supporting the bake sale! 

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.

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