The Prep is participating in UCC’s Winterfest on Friday, Jan. 16! Winterfest is an opportunity for all members of the UCC community to show their school spirit and support for the numerous winter athletic teams. Students and faculty will be attending games throughout the day and wearing blue and white casual clothing to show their school pride. 

We're looking forward to celebrating our school spirit with the Prep community! 

David Girard and Gareth Evans

Assistant Heads of the Preparatory School

Principal Sam McKinney and Head of the Preparatory School Sarah Fleming invite you to celebrate the opening of the Prep’s new interdisciplinary learning space for Year 6 and 7 students:

The Math and Science Learning Community

Sarah Fleming, Math Learning Leader Riyaz Ismail and Science Learning Leader Kerry Dupuis will share how this transformative space enhances collaboration and student-centred learning in math and science. You’ll also hear directly from students who will reflect on how the space has benefited them.

Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Math and Science Learning Community
Preparatory School
5:30–7 p.m.

Light refreshments will be served.

Please register here to attend. We look forward to seeing you!

Dedicated parking is available on a limited basis. 

Dear Prep Families,

Happy New Year! We hope you had a fun-filled and restful break with family and friends. We are so excited to welcome students back and look forward to another wonderful term of music-making together.

According to the Chinese zodiac, 2026 is the Year of the Horse, a symbol of energy, perseverance, and forward movement. In Primary Music, we are reinforcing the idea of personal growth by encouraging students to stay motivated, take risks, and continue developing their skills. Just as the horse represents strength and progress through steady effort, students are encouraged to build confidence and momentum as they move forward in their musical learning.

Across the primary year levels, we continue to reinforce classroom routines and expectations while engaging students in singing and playing musical instruments connected to various themes. Students have already explored different types of instruments, learning about how they work and discussing how to care for and maintain them in order to produce the best possible sound.

In Senior Kindergarten through Year 3, students are working on understanding a variety of rhythmic symbols and patterns. This knowledge is applied through singing, as well as playing both non-pitched and pitched percussion instruments.

Year 4 students are learning to play the recorder. They are mastering a range of new notes, applying them to songs, and practicing correct fingering techniques for each new pattern.

Year 5 students are making great progress on the ukulele. They continue to develop their ability to read and play chords while focusing on proper posture and playing technique.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to an amazing term ahead!

Musically,

Caroline Heo
SK–Year 5 Music Teacher
Year 6–7 Choir Director
Year 7 Musical Director 

In Middle Language and Literature, our Year 6 and 7 students are busy diving into their new units of study:

Year 6 | The Art of Influence: Persuasion and the Digital Manipulator

We’re excited to introduce a new and highly relevant unit in Year 6 language and literature called The Art of Influence: Persuasion and the Digital Manipulator. This media literacy unit meets students right where they already are — on their phones, in their feeds, and on the platforms they use every day.

Students are surrounded by media. From TikTok and YouTube to ads, reels, and influencer posts, messages are constantly competing for their attention. In this unit, students learn how to slow down, look closely, and think critically about what they’re watching.

Throughout the unit, students explore how ideas and messages are shaped across different types of media, with a strong focus on digital and social platforms. They examine how creators use visuals, music, editing, and language to persuade an audience. A key part of this learning is understanding how classic rhetorical appeals — ethos (credibility), pathos (emotion), and logos (logic) — are still everywhere in modern influencer culture, even if they look a little different than they did in traditional advertising.

Students will learn to identify these persuasive techniques and, importantly, examine where persuasion crosses the line into manipulation. They’ll compare examples of content that is upfront and transparent with content that is more subtle or hidden, building skills to question intent, recognize bias, and think more carefully about the messages behind the screen.

The unit wraps up with a creative and engaging Summative Assessment called The Transparency Takedown. Students create a parody video that exposes an influencer’s manipulation strategies by labelling them in real time — calling out emotional hooks, credibility tricks, or disguised advertising as it happens. It’s fun, clever, and highly engaging.

By the end of the unit, students won’t just be scrolling; they’ll be more critical, informed viewers who can enjoy media while seeing influencers for what they really are: advertisers.

Year 7 | Global Storytelling: A Study of Universal Archetypes

In Year 7 language and literature, students are embarking on an exciting new unit: Global Storytelling: A Study of Universal Archetypes. This unit explores how the stories we love — from ancient myths to modern blockbusters — are rooted in timeless archetypes that transcend cultures, beliefs, and generations.

We’re focusing on five story archetypes that are everywhere in pop culture: Rags to Riches, Rebirth, Overcoming the Monster, The Hero’s Journey, and Tragedy. Through these classic narratives, students will uncover the ways good storytelling connects us all and fosters empathy, helping them grow into stronger global citizens. By examining these universal themes, they’ll see how stories serve as bridges, uniting people across time and place.

To deepen their literary skills, students will study literary devices like allusions — those clever little references to other works that serve as inside jokes for readers and viewers. Understanding allusions not only enriches their appreciation of literature but also enhances their ability to connect with stories on a deeper level.

What sets this unit apart is its emphasis on collaboration. Students will work in project groups to become experts on an ancient tale — whether it’s a parable, fable, or myth — and then bring it to life in an innovative way. Partnering with our technology integrators, they’ll create a digital movie trailer for their chosen story, combining their literary analysis with modern digital storytelling techniques.

This creative, collaborative approach ensures that students gain both a richer understanding of storytelling’s universal power and practical experience in presenting their insights in dynamic ways. By the end of this unit, students will not only see the connections between stories from different cultures but will also gain the tools to craft and share meaningful stories of their own.

Michaela Trelford

Learning Leader, MYP Language and Literature

We are pleased to share an update from the Middle Division Prep French Department, along with some exciting upcoming events as part of Prep French Week, taking place from Feb. 23 to 27. This special week is part of the larger World Languages Week at Upper Canada College and celebrates language learning and global citizenship.

French Learning Update

Our Year 6 and 7 students have shown tremendous dedication over the past month and a half, successfully completing their second units of study:

• Year 6 – Bon Appétit

• Year 7 – Les Vêtements Autour du Monde

We are now beginning new units that continue to build students’ language skills and confidence:

Year 6 – Ma Journée Typique
Students are learning to describe their typical day, focusing on:

• Times of day

• Telling time

• School and extracurricular activities

This unit strengthens grammar skills and expands thematic vocabulary. Students will be assessed in:

• Speaking (Criterion C)

• Writing (Criterion D)

Year 7 – Le Temps Libre
Year 7 students are diving into the passé composé, learning to describe:

• Family events

• Holidays

• Vacations: For example a day at the beach or a day of camping

• Experiences in the past, present, and future

This unit aligns with the IB MYP key concept of time, place and space, helping students understand how language connects to real-life experiences. Assessments will focus on:

• Speaking (Criterion C)

• Writing (Criterion D)

Prep French Week: February 23–27

As part of World Languages Week at UCC, our French Team has planned a variety of engaging and fun activities for students:

• French Morning Announcements
  Daily announcements featuring French music and trivia.

• Recess Kahoot Tournaments
  Year 6 and 7 students will participate in friendly French Kahoot competitions, with prizes for winners.

• French Film Festival (Lunch hour)
  Students are invited to bring their lunch and enjoy a selection of French films with their peers.

• In-Class Scattergories Tournaments
  French classes will host mini tournaments, with class winners advancing to our school-wide competition during our French Week Assembly.

• French Assembly – Special Guest
  Each year we welcome a dynamic performer and educator who will headline our French Assembly with an engaging presentation for students. 

We are looking forward to a vibrant week that celebrates the French language and culture while encouraging student participation and enthusiasm for learning.

Warm regards,
Peter Labancz
French Language Learning Coordinator

Happy 2026! It was wonderful to welcome the students of 1M back into the classroom. They were thrilled to have the opportunity to reconnect with their peers and share stories about their winter holiday. We have launched right back into learning and inquiring. 

In math, we have just started our new unit, Numbers to 20! Students are first exploring how 10 can work together with small numbers to build our “teen” numbers. This builds on students' understanding of number bonds to recognize larger numbers. 

Report cards will be released to parents via Bluenet on the afternoon of Wednesday, Jan. 28 at approximately 4 p.m. For instructions on how to access report cards, please click here.  

The purpose of the report is to summarize learning so far this academic year, with observations on your child’s progress as well as skills and concepts that are being addressed in class. In addition to subject marks, comments on your child’s adoption of the IB Learner Profile and IB Approaches to Learning skills (ATLs) will be included. While we recognize grades as a snapshot of performance, we ask you to pay particular attention to teachers’ comments, which offer insight into strengths and areas for future growth.  

Report cards are only one element in our system of communicating student learning, which includes feedback on assessments, portfolios, conferences and celebrations of learning. We encourage you to discuss the report with your child to assist with goal setting. The information in the report card will help students identify next steps in their learning, with the support and guidance of their teachers and families.  

For support in understanding the MYP report card, please refer to the MYP Assessment Handbook 2025-26, which outlines the rubrics used in each course as well as the assessment criteria.   

As always, should you have any questions, you may reach out to your child’s form adviser or specialist teacher directly.

Dianne Jojic
PYP Coordinator

Emilia Martin

MYP Coordinator

One of our most popular PPO events is back in February! The Used Uniform Sale happens in the hallway of the William P. Wilder ’40 Arena & Sports Complex and is an amazing way to shop sustainably, get great deals and fundraise for UCC! The event is volunteer-run and all proceeds go back to the PPO to support and fund future events.

Wednesday, Feb. 4 | 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 5 | 8 to 9:30 a.m.

Donations: Please drop off gently used uniform items in the Used Uniform blue box under the main staircase of the lower level at the Prep. Please no stained or ripped clothing.

Volunteers: The Used Uniform Sale committee is looking for volunteers with a couple of hours to spare. Help is needed to sort and organize donations at the sale or to assist in the teardown. Please sign up here if you can help out. Your time is greatly appreciated!

The PPO is celebrating Valentine's Day with a delightful bake sale, the morning of Wednesday, February 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.

For all parents — 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