To celebrate the opening of the 2026 Winter Olympics this Friday, Feb. 6, we’re hosting a Prep-wide Canada Spirit Day!

Students and faculty are invited to show their support for Team Canada by wearing red and white clothing. Alternatively, students are welcome to wear their regular UCC spirit wear. Let’s fill the school with pride as we cheer on our athletes in Milano, Cortina!

Since returning in January, Health & Life Skills classes in the Primary and Middle divisions have continued to address topics related to wellbeing and interpersonal skills. Here are some highlights from a few grades:  

Year 3 students have just completed a unit on Perspective Taking, where they explored how people can think and feel differently in the same situation. We'll be moving into a unit on Violence in the Media, focusing on how media can influence our thoughts, feelings, and behaviour, and how to make safe and thoughtful choices about what we watch.

In Year 4, students are beginning a Communication unit. We'll be learning about different communication styles, how our words and body language impact others, and strategies for communicating more effectively and respectfully in different situations.

Healthy eating has been the focus for Years 5 and 7. Both grades are looking at factors that might influence eating patterns and how to make healthier choices. In Year 5, we're specifically considering the information available on food packages, for example, Nutrition Facts tables, ingredient lists and nutrition claims. Year 7’s are using information about the role that different foods play as contributing or preventive factors in a variety of health concerns as a way to think about healthier eating choices. Lifestyle patterns (e.g. being active, getting enough sleep, managing stress) are also discussed.

Martha Boyce

Prep Counsellor,

Health & Life Skills Teacher and Coordinator

The past few weeks in Year 4 have been filled with rich learning experiences, hands-on inquiry, and exciting new academic focuses.

One of the highlights of the term were our recent Norval trips, where students embraced winter learning in a snowy outdoor setting. While at Norval, students engaged in a range of meaningful, cross-curricular activities connected to our Matter unit of inquiry. They created frozen suncatchers using water and natural materials, designed and built bobsleds from recycled items, participated in cross-country skiing, and conducted science experiments that deepened their understanding of properties of matter and scientific processes. The trip provided a memorable opportunity for collaboration, creativity, and real-world application of classroom learning.

While students can use FLEXtime to seek clarification from teachers and get started on assignments, they'll likely not complete all of their homework in that 35-minute timeframe. Students in Middle School can expect up to 60 minutes of homework daily. Of course, on some days there may be less homework assigned, and on some days there may be more, especially if work was not completed in class. 

And while students are becoming more independent in Middle School, there are still valuable ways that parents can offer support. Consider experimenting with a few of these strategies to see what works best for your family. 

1. Sleep Schedule

Creating a reasonable schedule is significant. Ensure a schedule that provides your son with time to get between 9- 11 hours of sleep each night. Quality sleep supports memory consolidation, enhances the ability to focus and absorb new information, and helps to support emotional regulation. In short, sleep is key to learning and to your son’s emotional wellbeing. 

2. Build in Homework Time

Creating a reasonable schedule also means factoring in time to complete some homework at home each week. Your son will need your help to build a schedule that provides time to work on projects or study for assessments.

3. Reading

Reading is important for older students and, indeed, has many proven benefits for people of all ages: 

• Strengthens cognitive functions

• Enhances writing skills

• Expands vocabulary development

• Develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills

• Fosters empathy

• Reduces stress and promotes well-being

Reading remains a daily homework expectation for Language and Literature classes. You can model the importance of reading by reading in front of your children or with them. Start a reading club with your tween; take turns reading aloud to support their fluency skills.  

4. Monthly Calendar

Use a Monthly Calendar to plot out after-school commitments and due dates. The visual image of the month makes it much clearer for students to see what time they have available, thus helping them to organize their time more effectively. 

5. Set Up for Success

Set your child up for success with a comfortable, quiet space, minimal distractions and a regular routine. Work together to set up expectations such as gathering all necessary materials before getting started, putting away electronic devices or using noise-cancelling headphones. 

6. Allow Input

Involve your child in decisions. For example, if they don't want to start with homework as soon as they get home, ask them to provide you with a realistic alternative. Perhaps they will have a snack break first or start right after dinner.

7. Build Independence

Encourage personal accountability and help your son build resilience. If your son is stuck on a problem, encourage him to look for similar examples, to check Brightspace for instructions or to contact a classmate. They could also leave that question blank and set up a reminder to ask their teacher for help the next day. It's better to leave it blank and move on to the next section, than to stay stuck and become frustrated. 

8. Study Buddy

Find a class study buddy. Having a classmate to call upon will be helpful when there are questions about an assignment or when students have been away from school. Studying with others can also be an impactful learning technique, as discourse can bring about new understandings and insights. The caveat is to find someone that'll remain on task and committed to the work; the best study buddy may not be their best friend. 

      9. Be Present 

Not only can you lead by example by doing your own work, but being present in the room can really help students stay on task. This does not mean parents are doing the homework with their sons; though you may help them to get started with one or two prompting questions: 

• Have you reread the instructions? 

• Do you have the rubric or checklist visible? 

• Do you have all your materials ready before you begin? 

Working nearby can help students to remain on task and resist distractions, especially when working on laptops. 

10. Plan Backwards to Move Forward

• After the due date has been plotted into the calendar, help your child to break down the assignment into smaller subtasks. 

• Then work backwards to schedule times to complete these subtasks. These are the ‘DO’ dates, times to complete the subtasks. 

• Middle School students may underestimate how long it takes to complete a task. Help them to schedule realistic amounts of time to complete tasks. 

• Backwards planning helps students to avoid feeling overwhelmed by large tasks such as studying for tests or completing a long term project. It helps them to plan ahead and manage their time more effectively, developing important skills that will help them be successful into adulthood. 

11. Focused Time Intervals

Use the Pomodoro Timer to help beat procrastination. The Pomodoro Technique involves working in 25-minute intervals followed by short 5-minute breaks. Research has shown that short bursts of productive work helps students avoid feeling overwhelmed and increases their concentration. If 25 minutes is too long for focused concentration, you can adjust the timer for shorter intervals. 

   12. Active Retrieval 

When studying, support the use of active retrieval strategies to move information into long term memory. Test your son using flashcards, a practice test, jeopardy games, or brain dumps. A brain dump involves a student writing out everything they can recall about a question or topic and then comparing it afterwards to their notes to see how much they remembered. What they forgot becomes what they need to study longer. There are also digital platforms available to support active retrieval strategies like digital flashcards on Quizlet or trivia games like Kahoot. Making studying more like a game can increase motivation.

13. Encourage Effort 

Encourage your son by praising their effort and work habits; do not focus on just the grade. Focusing on the value of seeing things through, and feeling that sense of accomplishment, will help students to develop resilience and strengthen their self-esteem. 

14. The ‘If, Then’ Strategy

On the off chance you encounter some resistance to homework, try the “If, Then” approach. If you complete x number of questions, then you can take a short break. If you complete x number of pages, then you can choose what we will have for dinner. Or, if you complete your homework this week without prompting, then we will do x this weekend.

15. Homework Helper

If, after trying many other options, homework completion remains a struggle, you might consider finding a Homework Helper. Students in Middle School are growing and changing, and sometimes it is helpful to preserve a peaceful family dynamic by having a third party help out. This could mean having your son attend Homework Club in the Centre for Learning after school on Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays. Or you might have a different family member, family friend or tutor help out. 

16. Food as Fuel

Doing what you can to help make the homework experience more enjoyable will go a long way to increasing their motivation. To that end, don’t forget to provide snacks! 

Every family has different needs. We recommend choosing a few strategies to focus on and try out. Be patient and consistent, allowing time for the new habit to form. If it isn't working for your child, simply move on to the next strategy. 

The goal is to find what works best for your child and family.

Resources:

Benefits of Reading for All Students - Graduate Programs for Educators

15 Quick (and Mighty) Retrieval Practices | Edutopia

How Sleep Helps the Brain Build Learning Maps | Psychology Today Canada

Keeping Kids Motivated for Online Learning | Common Sense Media

Pomodoro Timer

The Link Between Sleep & School Success: Are You Getting Enough? | Scholars Education

13 No-Excuses Homework Rules for Students with ADHD

Why the Pomodoro Technique Is the Productivity Booster You Need to Try

Over the years, your donations have brought joy and hope to moms and their children who are celebrating Mother's Day in shelters. Every night across Canada, thousands of women and children bravely seek refuge in shelters.

We'll once again be creating gift bags for children in shelters to give to their moms on Mother’s Day, and are gratefully collecting the following full and travel/hotel-sized toiletries: 

• soap and body wash

• shampoo and conditioner 

• body lotion and skin care 

• unused cosmetics and nail polish

• hair care products

• toothbrushes and toothpaste

• antiperspirant and sanitary products

• beauty samples/perfumes

• small gift sets 

All donations will be packed with care by UCC's Helping Hands Club.

Donations can be dropped off at the reception desk in the Upper School or main office of the Prep. Please contact Linda Carvalho if you have any questions about drop off, or Samantha Dugas if you have questions about donations.  

Thank you for helping to transform lives this Mother’s Day.

The self-nomination process for the 2026–27 Parents’ Organization (PO) is now open. When your child transitions to the Upper School in the fall, you do too. Volunteering is a great way to learn about the Upper School program, meet other Year 8 to 12 parents and guardians, stay current and support our students. We hope you’ll join the PO!

PO goals and initiatives

The PO’s 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, frames and grad rings, to organizing Festive Marketplace. There’s a volunteer position for everyone!

Sign Up Now

Follow these links for PO position descriptions and the self-nomination form. And, if you have any questions or would like to learn more about the PO, please email Mary-Lea Ruscetta, PO Past President. Reach out, describe your interests and we’ll find the best position for you.

We're grateful for your support and hope you’ll join us next year!

UCC Parents’ Organization

The PPO is celebrating Valentine's Day with a delightful bake sale, the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 11, in the Bitove Lounge. Please have your son bring in baked or store-bought donations during morning drop off. To ensure inclusivity, please ensure all baking is nut-free, and we'll also feature a dedicated gluten-free table of treats. 

If you know what you are bringing/purchasing, let us know here.

Would you like to volunteer and spend a few hours with us? Click here to sign up.

Don't forget to send your child with some money for the bake sale. A budget of $2–$5 should secure them a delightful treat or two!

Should you have any questions or need further information, feel free to reach out via email.

A big thank you from your PPO Bake Sale Team,

Amelia, Jennifer and Stephanie