On Monday, Dec. 1, we will host an information session on applications for the IB Courses Pathway and Systems Transformation Pathway and Q&A from 6–7:30 p.m. 

Please click here to join the virtual meeting. If you have any questions, please enter them here.

UCC will be hosting its annual Year 8 and 9 Inter-school Cookie Decorating and Skating Social on Wednesday, Dec. 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the William P. Wilder ’40 Arena. Students from The Bishop Strachan School and Branksome Hall will also be joining us. This event is an excellent opportunity for students to meet new friends and enjoy a fun, community-building afternoon with peers from other COSSOT schools. An interest form has been sent to all Year 8 and 9 students, and a parent/guardian permission form will follow.

If you have any questions, please contact Year 8 Coordinator Mr. Alvin Jugoon or Year 9 Coordinator Dr. Katherine Maloney. We look forward to a fun and festive afternoon on the ice together!

On Wednesday, Dec. 10, there will be another exciting Civics and Global Citizenship field trip opportunity with the Ontario Justice Education Network (OJEN) to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Toronto. We will depart UCC at 8:45 a.m. and return at approximately 2:15 p.m. and will travel by TTC.  

Please see a summary of the trip below from the OJEN: 

Courtroom visits enable students and teachers to meet with judges, assistant Crown attorneys, defence lawyers, justices of the peace, and other justice sector representatives, and speak with them about different aspects of the justice system and their particular roles within it. Students can have their questions about the justice system answered by those most closely involved in the process. Students watch different courtrooms in session, observe different justice sector roles in action and gain real-life exposure to the justice system, complementing what is being studied in the classroom. 

Please see the cautions (pages 1-3) and behaviour protocol expectations (pages 7-8) outlined by the OJEN here before you sign up.

With the exception of public transportation to the courthouse, there is no cost for the trip. Students need to bring their own lunch/snacks to eat in the atrium after the courtroom visits and speaker session. Students are not permitted to eat in the courtrooms.   

Unfortunately, due to the nature of the courthouse facilities, only 30 students can be accommodated on this trip. If more than 30 students apply to attend the trip, a random draw will be conducted to select students. All applicants will be informed whether or not they have been selected for the trip.

If your Year 10 student is interested in participating in the trip, please fill out the permission form by Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 4 p.m. If more than 30 students apply, the draw will be held on Thursday, Dec. 4.  

If you have any questions, please let me know.  

Sincerely,

Jo Hogan

Civics and Global Citizenship Teacher

On Dec. 4, 5 and 6, UCC and BSS Co-Curricular Theatre will present A Christmas Carol in the David Chu Theatre. Our play tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miser whose shrewdness has left him cold and brittle and alone. On Christmas Eve, he's visited by the ghost of his former partner, Jacob Marley, who tells him he must change his ways. The production adheres to Charles Dickens' novella’s five staves, but has been adapted to tell the story with a new configuration of narrators who interact with the audience, the characters, and the challenging themes. There's much to learn from this well-known tale, and we open our doors to all ages. 

As part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening the UCC Week Without Bells experience, we recently invited students to share their reflections through a post-camp survey. We’re pleased to share several encouraging themes that emerged from their feedback.

Students reported that camp offered valuable opportunities to connect with classmates, step outside their comfort zones, and participate in activities they don’t typically encounter at school. Many noted that time spent with their cabin groups, along with shared activities, helped both strengthen existing friendships and spark new ones.

Key highlights from student feedback:

Growing connections
Students appreciated the chance to spend extended time together in a different environment, helping deepen relationships and build a stronger sense of belonging throughout the year.

Unique learning moments
The outdoor setting and hands-on programming created memorable experiences that promoted teamwork, independence, and resilience.

Student voice and engagement
Students offered thoughtful suggestions for enhancing future camps, including expanding activity options and creating additional time for informal socializing. They also indicated a desire for expanded food offerings. Their ideas will help us continue designing an experience that reflects their interests and supports their growth.

Looking ahead
Many students provided helpful advice for future campers, emphasizing the importance of staying open-minded, embracing new challenges, and supporting each other throughout the week.

Bonding and activities 

The core programming delivered by our camp providers received strong reviews. Students rated Year-Level Bonding at 7.3/10 and Activities at 7.24/10, reflecting the success of the camp in fostering social development, connection, and adventure.

Overwhelmingly positive overall experience

Nearly 80 per cent of students rated their overall experience as Good or Excellent. This strong endorsement highlights the positive impact of the week on students' relationships, confidence, and sense of community.

Year 12 programming on campus:

For our Year 12 students, the on-campus programming also earned very positive feedback.

• University Counselling Office (UCO) sessions
  Students consistently identified these sessions as the most valuable component of the week, particularly in supporting their post-secondary planning.
  
  

• Extended Essay (EE) focused time
  Dedicated blocks of uninterrupted time allowed students to make significant progress on their Extended Essays—an aspect they greatly appreciated.
  
  

• Flexible schedule
  Features such as scheduled breaks and Wednesday’s later start were noted as helpful in supporting student wellbeing and energy throughout the week.

Faculty reflections

Feedback from the 60 faculty members who participated in Week Without Bells was also extremely positive. Teachers shared that the experience provided a wonderful opportunity for students to bond outside the traditional school setting. They observed students showing leadership, supporting one another, and engaging more openly as a group, which are moments that underscored the importance of community, connection, and learning beyond classroom walls.

We're grateful for the thoughtful reflections shared by both students and faculty and look forward to using this feedback to continue enriching the Week Without Bells tradition.

As parents and guardians, we would also value your input. If you're interested in providing feedback—whether positive reflections or suggestions for growth—please do so here.

Thank you for your continued support as we work to create meaningful, memorable experiences for all our learners.

From Nov. 13 to 16, twenty members of the Model United Nations (MUN) Club represented UCC at the 33rd Secondary Schools United Nations Symposium (SSUNS) in Montreal. The team worked tirelessly in the weeks leading up to the conference and carried themselves with poise and professionalism throughout.

Highlights of the trip included a team dinner in downtown Montreal, a McGill campus tour hosted by Old Boys, three days of intense debate, and a delegate gala to close the conference. UCC delegates truly stood out from the crowd, earning nine themed gavel awards recognizing advocacy, leadership, ingenuity, and diplomacy, along with two Outstanding Delegate awards and three Honourable Mentions. For thirteen members of the delegation, this was their first major MUN conference, making this exceptional collective performance all the more impressive. Every member of the travel team, whether or not they received an award, contributed meaningfully to the group’s success and demonstrated the very best of UCC.

Many congratulations to the following students on this remarkable achievement: Year 11 students Aidan Fisher, Andrew Perri, Austin Siu, Bowie Dixon, BZ Coleman-Goldkrand, Charles Paterson, Daniel Ogunlaja, John Karakoulas, Hesam Naseer, John Mboutsiadis, Karam Adam, Keon Abbaszadeh and William Chandra, Year 10 students Andrew Weng, Dyaus Pan, Emile Weinstein, Milan Viswanathan, Year 9 students Harrison Baker, Josh Vandermeer, Tiger Ma and Year 8 student Ibrahim Naseer. We would especially like to commend Club Heads Keon Abbaszadeh and Bowie Dixon for their outstanding leadership of both the club as a whole and the SSUNS travel team in particular.

All interested Upper School students are warmly encouraged to attend the MUN Club’s weekly after-school meetings on Thursdays in Room 127. One of the most popular clubs on campus, MUN helps students develop confidence in public speaking, research and writing skills, diplomatic negotiation and collaboration, and leadership, while deepening their understanding of complex global issues and diverse perspectives. Members also build a strong sense of camaraderie and mutual support as they prepare, travel, and compete together; for many, it becomes a defining part of their UCC experience, creating memories and bonds that last a lifetime.

There will be many opportunities for club members to participate in a range of local and travel conferences in the months ahead, including UCC’s own Ontario Model United Nations (OMUN) conference in April, which all are welcome to attend. Please feel free to email MUN Faculty Adviser Katherine Maloney to learn more.

Katherine Maloney, Meaghan Higginson, Teagan O’Halloran, Carys Owen and Jamie Hardie
MUN Faculty Advisers 

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 this spring 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.

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

Sincerely,
Paul Miskew
Faculty Chair, Design Department

Our Year 12 students recently completed a hands-on investigation into oxidation–reduction reactions through a practical and environmentally friendly silver-cleaning lab. Using a non-abrasive redox process, tarnish is transferred from the silver to a more reactive metal, aluminum, restoring each piece without harsh chemicals or damage.

This initiative became a true community effort. Students and staff from across UCC contributed their tarnished silver pieces, from everyday items to treasured heirlooms. We were especially grateful to the UCC Archives for allowing us to clean several historic artifacts, some dating back to the 1800s.

And while we did bravely power through a few unpleasant odours along the way, students were reminded that chemistry isn’t just theory in a textbook; it’s hands-on, practical, and occasionally something you can smell before you see.

Thank you to everyone who contributed and helped make this learning experience meaningful, collaborative, and memorable.

Dear UCC,

We are proud to announce our continued support for our broader community by collecting food donations for the Churches On-The-Hill Food Bank (COTH). This year’s drive will run from Nov. 21 to Dec. 12. 

This time of year often brings joy and abundance, but for a significant portion of the Forest Hill community, it is a time of scarcity and worry.

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

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. 

With thanks,

Max Dingwell, on behalf of the COTH Food Drive Leaders

Class of 2028, McHughs House

We have arranged another virtual meeting with our Peruvian program partners on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. If you missed our session in October, this is your opportunity to learn everything you need to know!

Aima Molinari of Casa Kuska will be with us to present the program itinerary and host a Q-and-A about our collaborative program. Please join the UCC program leaders, John Sweetman and Mike Bradford, for this informative session.

We have five student spots still available for this transformative experiential learning program this coming March Break. 

Full itinerary details can be found here, and to register your child, please click here.

Is your son missing clothing, bags, water bottles, or shoes? All lost and found items are on display now in the corridor outside the Lower Dining Hall until Friday, Dec. 5. Parents and students are encouraged to drop by during school hours to take a look and see if anything is theirs. Any remaining items not collected by 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, will be donated to TUBS and charity. 

If you have any questions, please email the TUBS team.

Festive Marketplace is just around the corner on Friday, Dec. 12. 

There are many ways you can support Festive including volunteering. Find out more on our Festive website!

Donate auction items 

Year after year, the success of our auction comes from the generosity of our community.  We’re currently curating amazing items for the auction — and we need your help.

Do you have items or experiences you’d like to donate? We’re looking for things like chalet and cottage weekends, trips and excursions, sailboat charters, ski passes, golf rounds, tickets to sporting events and concerts, celebrity meet-and-greets, movie passes, airline tickets, fine wine and spirits, casual and fine dining, behind-the-scenes chef dinners, a visit to a film set.

If you’re ready to donate an item now, please donate here.  

Monetary donations

You can now donate money to the auction via the UCC donation page and receive a tax receipt for any donations of $20 or more.

At UCC Giving, once you’ve entered your gift amount, select “Other” in the "Designation" field, and then type “Festive Auction” in the "Other Gift Designation" field. Our Festive Auction Team will pool donated funds to buy popular auction items, like electronics. Donate money to the auction here. Thank you for donating to Festive!

Festive Marketplace is just two weeks away, and one of many highlights is our Festive Bake Sale. We’re looking for cookies, cupcakes, squares, brownies, loaves or anything else you’d like to contribute, including gluten-free baked goods. All items should be nut-free.

For those who don’t have time to bake, reach out to your local bakery. We’re grateful for any and all homemade and store-bought baked goods.

Please complete this form to let the Bake Sale Committee know what you’re planning to bring. 

For further information about the bake sale, including volunteering and drop off information, please see here.

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:

• Tuesday, Dec. 2 and Wednesday, Dec. 3, 3 - 4 p.m., at the Peacock Arch. Stop by for hot chocolate and treats while you’re there.

• Thursday, Dec. 11, Festival of Lights Concert, 7-8:30 p.m. at Laidlaw Hall.

• 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.

An annual favourite! Tickets are $5 each and every “snowball” is a winner with gift card prizes in the $5 to $50 range, as well as the grand prize of Apple Airpods. We're collecting gift cards for the Snowball Grab at the Prep Reception and the Upper School Reception. Please drop off gift cards in the collection boxes marked “Snowball Grab”. 

A special thank you to Jennifer MacGregor and Michelle Way of Chestnut Park Real Estate Brokerage, our key sponsors for this year's Snowball Grab. Thank you for your generous donation!