We were blessed with fantastic weather during the fall term again this year, with very few weather-affected days. Even as we begin our winter units and anticipate the readiness of the field bubble, conditions look favourable to be outside for another week or two.

As we inevitably head indoors for the winter term, the breadth of our program expands with the introduction of skating (all students), gymnastics (Years 6 and 7), Ultimate Frisbee (Year 6), various net games (e.g. table tennis, pickleball, crossnet and modified volleyball) in Years 3-7, and basketball in Year 4.

Skating units have already begun for some students. All students will get the opportunity to use our impressive skating facilities between now and March Break and will require skates, a helmet (with cage), and gloves. A neck guard is also recommended.

Mark Baxter

PE Learning Leader

Did you know the school library isn't just a quiet place for research? It's a launchpad for imagination, a playground for problem-solving, and a sanctuary for curiosity! We're hard at work connecting every student—from our energetic Kindergarten explorers to our critical Year 7 thinkers—with the stories, facts, and tools that light up their minds!

What we're reading now 

We know boys love action, humour, and a good challenge. Here’s what's currently flying off the shelves:

For the young adventurers (SK–Year 2): Books that encourage movement and big laughs are the clear winners. We're exploring picture books about construction sites, funny animal escapades, and stories that inspire building and creating. 
Some recommendations are:
Author vs. illustrator by Donald B. Lemke
The Friendship Guide by Jillian Roberts

For the mid-level explorers (Year 3–5): It's all about series and non-fiction. Think thrilling graphic novels, survival stories, books about coding, sports heroes, and the grossest facts in history. Getting hooked on a series is a powerful way to build reading stamina, and we encourage this with our weekly session, First Chapter Friday.
Some recommendations are:
I Survived by Lauren Tarshis
Snoop by Gordon Korman

For the senior thinkers (Year 6–7): Our older boys are diving deep into historical fiction, dystopian worlds, spooky and scary books, and biographies of people who changed the world.
Some recommendations are:
The Experiment by Rebecca Stead
The Mystery of the Haunted Dance Hall by Charis Cotter

As parents, you're our most valuable partner in fostering a love of reading. Here are some effective strategies to try at home to help encourage your Prep student to continue reading: 

• The power of the picture: Don't stop reading picture books! Even an 11-year-old enjoys the experience and conversation a picture book can spark. 

• Follow the obsession: Is he obsessed with dinosaurs, space, or a particular video game? Find books on that exact topic. Interest is the strongest motivator.

• Make it a team sport: Read the same book as him and discuss it. Or, listen to an audiobook together on a long drive. It’s a shared experience, not just solo work.

• Don't judge the medium: Graphic novels, magazines, comics, audiobooks—it all counts! The goal is to get him engaged with stories.

As a reminder, aside from the scheduled class time, the library hours are as follows:

Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday: 9:15 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Students in Year 5, 6 and 7 are welcome to use the space (work on projects, return and borrow books, read) after school without a parent present. All students in Year 4 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Laptops/iPads are permitted to be in use during this time but we do not allow gaming. We are also open for morning recess for both middle years and Years 4 and 5 to read quietly.

Mallory McKinney

Teacher Librarian

We have been very busy in 2C, working on a wide array of curriculum elements, all while making sure we find time to play and connect with our friends. Your efforts to keep on top of things at home have not gone unnoticed and have been deeply appreciated. Students have been returning their homework promptly and bringing in their agendas from Monday through Thursday. 

Inquiry updates:

We're now fully engaged in our Simple Machines unit and will be learning about the six simple machines (wheel and axle, inclined plane, screw, pulley, lever, and wedge). The students are fascinated by this unit and are deeply engaged in learning more about these machines in their everyday lives. The students love being tested on their knowledge and challenged to find items themselves.

Math:

We're introducing a simple measuring unit where we will learn about centimetres, meters, millilitres, litres, grams, and kilograms. We'll continue to develop automaticity skills in adding and subtracting double-digit numbers, but will be focusing more on measurement for the time being. When cooking at home, there are numerous opportunities for students to learn about and participate in measurement, preparing meals with their family. 

Reading and writing:

We're starting Unit 6 of Really Great Reading, our phonics program. Our current focus is on words with 2, 3, and 4 syllables, utilizing a combination of open and closed syllables. Where you break the syllables has a direct impact on how you pronounce the word. For example, consider the word "hexagon". “Hex” is the first closed syllable, and “a” is the second open syllable, as opposed to “gon”, which is the third closed syllable. We apply the strategies we learn in daily lessons to our daily reading and spelling activities. We're working hard to help students overcome their fear of tackling large words and gain confidence in applying these strategies.

I thank you for your continued support of all the hard work we do in 2C.

Carly Crippin

Year 2 Teacher

Feedback is one of the most essential tools to help students develop and grow. In addition, building strong connections among families, teachers, and students is integral to continued academic development. Student-led conferences provide an opportunity for both feedback and connection to take place, and initial details are as follows:

• Conferences for Year 6 and 7 students and their families will take place virtually on Thursday, Nov. 20 from 1 to 8 p.m. and Friday, Nov. 21 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Conferences will take place in 5 or 10-minute intervals.

• To encourage ownership over their learning and the development of self-advocacy skills, students should be present for their conferences. Students will have an opportunity during Flex Time and subject classes to prepare for the conference. Please remind your child to make introductions and start the dialogue.

• Please access the School Cloud link only at the time of your scheduled appointment.

• On Thursday, Nov. 20, classes end at 12:15 p.m. Students are immediately dismissed from the building. Conferences will begin at 8 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 21. There are no classes on Friday, Nov. 21, as students and teachers are fully involved in these meaningful conversations.

The opening of School Cloud for Year 6 and 7 student-led conferences

Please note that School Cloud, the application parents use to book their student-led conferences, opened on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 9 a.m., and will close on Monday, Nov. 17 at 12 p.m. For your convenience, here is a link to the School Cloud instructions. All conferences will be virtual in order to be as efficient and inclusive as possible. 

Of particular note, please know that Mr. McGarr (Music) and Ms. Preston (Visual Arts) teach all Year 6 and 7 students. Keeping in mind there are a limited number of time slots over Thursday and Friday, please only register with them if you consider the conference essential.

Sincerely,

Gareth Evans

In Primary, formal feedback of learning happens throughout the year in a variety of forms. Through report cards, parent-teacher conferences, three-way conferences, and student-led conferences, the partnership between home and school and the development of reflective and assessment capable learners is fostered.

The upcoming three-way conferences, on Nov. 21, create an authentic purpose for students to showcase thinking and communication skills and the structure builds students’ sense of responsibility and accountability in their learning. It also hones their understanding of what it means to discuss and set learning goals.

The format of three-way conferences includes a 10-15 minute meeting between parent(s), student and teacher, followed by 15-30 minutes for parents and child reflection and goal setting in Weston Hall. Parents can expect to be engaged with their child’s conference for 30-45 minutes. 

When you sign up for your meeting, that time represents the first 15 minutes and the teacher portion of your three-way conference. Due to the age and stage of primary learners, this is an in-person event only. The site opened on Tuesday Nov. 11 at 9 a.m.

Instructions for signing up for your conference are here.

Dear Year 5–7 Families,

Thank you to those who have registered for the Beaver Computing Contest. Please note the following:

1. Tuesday, Nov. 18 from 3:50–4:20 p.m: There will be an optional tech/ login session to ensure students are able to login. They will also be able to access practice tests they can continue to work on at home. This session is recommended for students writing the test for the first time. 

2. Wednesday, Nov. 19 from 3:50–4:50 p.m: Contest day for the BCC contest. All students need to be there on time. 

Both sessions will be held in Weston Hall. Students are asked to bring their charged laptops and a pencil.

Thank you for your support,

Riyaz Ismail and Paige Colalillo

Dear UCC Prep Community, 

My Name is Hashim, and I'm a Year 10 student hosting a Prep-wide shoe drive in partnership with the Prep’s Community Service Council. The drive is also running at the Upper School.

I have partnered with Soles4Souls, a respected non-profit organization, to collect gently worn and used shoes for people struggling financially in developing nations. Without shoes, these individuals are at risk of infections and diseases. Furthermore, the collected shoes are also given to women entrepreneurs who can sell them to start their own small businesses, offering them a sustainable path out of poverty.  

This is a powerful cause, and your help can truly change lives. Please look through your closets for any shoes that are too small or no longer worn. Simply have your son bring them to the Bitove lounge and place them in the provided collection boxes. One pair of shoes can provide hope for someone else. Your shoes will be sent to the Soles4Souls warehouse, where they will be organized and later sent off to developing nations across the world to people in need. 

The Footprints for Hope Shoe Drive officially began on Tuesday, Nov. 11 and will run until Friday, Nov. 21.  

To learn more about the non-profit organization, please visit Soles4Souls Canada and watch this video, Turning shoes into opportunity.

Thank you for your time and help in making this project a success and changing lives forever. 

Sincerely, 

Hashim Israr 

Class of 2028, Seaton’s

The Prep Community Service Council

Mark your calendars for this year’s Festive Marketplace Friday, Dec. 12. 

A wonderful UCC tradition that includes in-person shopping, an online Festive Auction, a bake sale, a snowball grab, student musical performances and more. Grab lunch with a friend. Meet for a coffee and a freshly baked treat. Enjoy exclusive shopping at one of our local curated vendors. 

Check out our Festive website for everything Festive! 

Volunteering at Festive 

We’re always looking for volunteers to help out at Festive Marketplace. It’s fun and a great way to meet members of the UCC community. Sign up to volunteer.

Our annual Festive Auction goes live on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 8 p.m., and closes on Friday, Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. with new items being added daily.  

Donations are welcome

Our Festive Auction Committee is currently curating amazing items for the auction.

We’re looking for items and experiences to add into our annual auction. Things like chalet and cottage weekends, trips and excursions, sailboat charters, ski passes, golf rounds, tickets to sporting events, opportunities to meet celebrities, movie passes, airline tickets, fun or fine dining, behind-the-scenes chef dinners, a visit to a film set, etc. If you have something you’d like to add to our auction, we’d love to hear from you.

Simply complete this form or send us an email with item details.

If you’d like to donate, but aren’t sure of an item, you can donate money and we’ll curate an auction item on your behalf. Please send cash donations by e-transfer to treasurer@uccpo.ca (please write “auction donation” in the note). 

New this year: Donate single items for Festive Auction gift bundles

The Festive Auction Team is now collecting new, single items to bundle into themed gift baskets. 

We welcome NEW toys, housewares, sports items, accessories, wine and gift cards. We’ll take care of bundling and creating themed baskets to add into our online auction, and any items we cannot use in our auction bundles will be donated to charity.

Please drop your items at the Upper School Reception, clearly labeled “For Festive Auction.”

With your help, we can make this year’s Festive Auction a huge success.