Deadline
Students entering Year 11 must have course selections ​and ​online parent/guardian approval completed by Friday, Feb. 27 at 4 p.m. The course request system will be closed at this time. 

Year 11 student course selection instructions

Parent/guardian approval process

Please use the following steps to complete the approval process: 

Review student choices in their Bluenet account.

Approve course selections by ​the dates above.

• Login to Bluenet with your parent/guardian account.

• Click the yellow banner at the top of the page alerting you to the school form.

• Click the ​REVIEW​ button next to the ​appropriate course selection approval for 2026–27 form​. There are three separate forms — one for each year level.

• Follow the prompts on the form in order to submit your approval. Only one parent/guardian needs to approve the ​course selection form​. 

• You will receive a message upon submission of your approval.

If you would like to discuss your student’s choices before approving them, please contact one of the following:

MYP Coordinator, Emilia Martin, students entering Year 9

University Counsellors:

• 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 

Thank you for your ongoing support as we prepare for the 2026–27 academic year.

We're pleased to share that the results from the International Schools’ Assessment (ISA), which students in Years 3–10 completed in October 2025, will be uploaded to Bluenet prior to March Break. This standardized assessment provides a "snapshot" of student performance in mathematics, reading and writing.

At the College, we use these results to observe cohort growth, inform instructional strategies and compare our performance internationally. Please keep in mind that these results are for internal use to guide teaching and learning; they do not form part of your child’s report card grades.

To view the results, please follow these steps:

1. Log in to Bluenet.

2. Click on your child's name.

3. Navigate to the "Progress" tab.

4. Select "Files" to find the ISA report.

A detailed email will be sent directly to you when the results are ready for access on Bluenet. This will provide further context on how to interpret these results.

Sincerely,

Liz Kennedy

Director WWCfL and Student Services

Jordan Small

Director of Academics

Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, April 7 from 7–8:30 p.m. for StepUP, a signature evening dedicated to our Year 11 students and their parents/guardians. This event serves as a purposeful “pause button” in a fast-moving year, offering a unique opportunity to celebrate your son’s journey before he enters his final year of high school.

The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) is a provincial assessment that measures whether students are meeting the minimum standard for literacy across all subjects up to the end of Grade 9. Successfully completing the OSSLT is one of the 33 requirements for earning the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). 

OSSLT Assessment details:

• Date: Thursday, April 9

• Time: 8:30 to 11:45 a.m.

• Location: Hewitt Athletic Centre

• Arrival: Students are asked to arrive by 8:15 a.m. to ensure a smooth start.

What to expect on the test

The OSSLT is a computer-based assessment consisting of two sessions (Session A and Session B). The test includes a mix of “selected-response” (multiple choice, drag-and-drop, and drop-down menus) and “open-response” (written) questions.

The sections include:

• Session A (65 min.) Reading: Students will interact with real-life narratives, information paragraphs, news reports, and dialogues. They'll be asked to understand explicitly stated information and to make connections and inferences.

• Session B (75 min.) Writing: Students will demonstrate their skills through multiple-choice questions on grammar and punctuation, as well as longer written pieces, such as an opinion essay supported by reasons and relevant examples.

How we are preparing students

To ensure that all students feel confident and prepared, targeted instruction will be integrated into two MYP Seminars and two English classes. Our preparation focuses on:

• Skill development: Analyzing various text types and practicing structured opinion writing.

• Platform familiarity: Ensuring students know how to use the online tools, such as the built-in text-to-speech, high-contrast view, and digital "rough notes" area.

• Test-taking strategies: Time management and strategies for breaking down complex prompts.

Student readiness checklist

• Fully charged laptop: As the test is entirely online, students must bring their laptops with a full charge.

• Practice at home: EQAO provides an official Online Practice Test that mirrors the actual platform. We highly encourage students to explore this at home to become familiar with the digital tools.

• Watch the intro video: You can view a short overview of the assessment here: What to Expect on the OSSLT.

• Save the date: If you have any commitments scheduled for Thursday, April 9, we kindly ask that you consider rebooking. Students who miss the OSSLT will not have another opportunity to write the test until the following year. 

We're committed to supporting your child through this milestone. If you have any questions about readiness, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Upper School office.

The Academic Team 

Jordan Small, Director of Academics 

Liz Kennedy, Director of the WWCfL 

Leigh Berndsen, Registrar
Emilia Martin, MYP & Personal Project Coordinator 

All Year 9 parents and guardians are invited to the rescheduled Year 9 coffee morning on Tuesday, March 3, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Foster Hewitt Foundation Lounge (in the Wilder Arena). Please RSVP here.

The UCC PO will be hosting year-level evening spring socials for parents and guardians. Save the date for your son(s) year and watch for more details to come.

• Wednesday, April 15 – Year 10  

• Monday, April 27 – Year 9

• Tuesday, May 12 – Year 8 

• Thursday, May 21 – Year 12

• Thursday, May 28 – Year 11

Spring socials are a great opportunity to connect with other parents and celebrate the school year in a relaxed, social setting. We look forward to seeing you there.

The next meeting for the Community Reads Book Club is on Monday, April 20, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. We’ll be reading The Tech Solution by Shimi Kang, MD., with a focus on chapters 5 to 9. Please save the date and watch for more details to come. 

The self-nomination process for the 2026-27 Parents’ Organization (PO) closes today, Thursday, Feb. 26.

Volunteering is a great way to meet other parents and guardians, stay current and support our students. In-person meetings give you the opportunity to connect with volunteers from Years 8 to 12. Plus, joining the PO is a great way to stay current on what’s happening in the Upper School.

PO Goals and Initiatives 

Our primary goal is to foster community engagement through social, informational and fundraising initiatives — from planning speakers of interest to our community, parent get-togethers and sales of used uniforms, spirit wear, grad frames and rings, to organizing Festive Marketplace. There’s a volunteer position for everyone!

Show your school spirit at games and events with UCC Blue Army clothing and gear, for sale on UCC Marketplace. Our online shop is stocked with hoodies, toques, t-shirts, trucker hats and water bottles. 

Get Blue Army gear here. 

All items are sold by the PO with proceeds going back to the school to enhance student experiences.