Upper School September 11, 2025
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Upper School Highlights
Upper School Highlights
Friday, Sept. 12
👕 UCC spirit wear dress day
Monday, Sept. 15
☕ Year 12 Parent coffee morning, 8:30 a.m. Foster Hewitt Foundation Lounge (in the Wilder Arena)
Wednesday, Sept. 17
🕓 Student late start
Year 9-10 course change requests close
Friday, Sept. 19
👕 UCC spirit wear dress day
THIS WEEK AT THE UPPER SCHOOL
THIS WEEK AT THE UPPER SCHOOL
Upper School Leadership Team
The school year is off to a great start and it’s wonderful to have the students back in the building and to welcome families in for Curriculum Night.
In Monday’s Principal’s Assembly, students heard from the Wellbeing steward and our Upper School Wellbeing Coordinators, as they kicked off the term with messages around building positive school culture and self-care. The Wellbeing steward spoke powerfully about strategies for managing stress and introduced the Wellbeing Framework, which encourages the development of healthy habits for UCC students and employees. Two faculty members, who also serve as the Wellbeing Coordinators, followed with reflections on the importance of presence and attitude, as well as the key roles students can play in helping one another and taking care of our environment.
The opening Board of Stewards assembly took place on Friday. A highlight of the assembly was a game of “Are You Smarter Than a Sixth Grader?”, where Stewards took turns testing their sixth-grade knowledge against a group of students from the Prep school. Both the Prep and Upper school students enjoyed the opportunity to connect for the first Student Assembly of the year.
The Lang Scholars started the school year with their leadership and team-building retreat over the weekend. One of the retreat's themes was “Legacy”, inspired by James Kerr’s book of the same name. The weekend was fun-filled with various team-building activities that ended with an engaging discussion about what it means to leave a positive legacy as a student leader.
Coming up:
The Week Without Bells takes place in just over a month from now in mid-October. It offers students a unique opportunity to grow, connect, and learn together beyond the classroom. Time together at camp helps build friendships, strengthen leadership skills, and foster a sense of community.
The trip promotes teamwork, communication, and problem-solving which are all skills that support success both inside and outside of the classroom. Perhaps most importantly, students return with stronger connections to their peers and teachers, creating a foundation for a positive and supportive year ahead.
Please note in BlueNet that forms need to be completed as part of the process, with a deadline coming up.
Reminder | Deadline for The Week Without Bells
Reminder | Deadline for The Week Without Bells
For the 2025–26 academic year, UCC has partnered with ALIVE Outdoors, our Norval Team, and AdventureWorks, to deliver an exciting week of camp programming for students in Years 8–11, scheduled from Tuesday, Oct. 14 to Friday, Oct. 17.
Important deadlines:
As this is school programming, all students are expected to attend. If your child is unable to attend due to medical reasons or a mandatory prior commitment, please contact Gillan Levene (Year 8), Joe Smith (Years 9 and 10), or Damion Walker (Year 11) by September 12.
A reminder to please complete the WWB consent and information forms. These forms include the ALIVE Outdoors letter to parents, a risk waiver and indemnity agreement, and a student health information form. You can find the form by clicking on the yellow "Forms" banner at the top of Bluenet or by going to the ‘Files and Forms’ section.
Please note:
A non-refundable deposit of $575 will be billed to Year 8-11 student accounts on September 15.
The balance of the program fees (approximately $575) will be billed after the trip concludes.
ALIVE Outdoors works with well-established camps familiar to UCC, including Camp Timberlane (for Years 8 and 11) and Camp Wanakita (for Year 10). Meanwhile, the Norval Team and AdventureWorks will deliver exciting programming for Year 9 students at Olympia Sports Camp.
Please be aware that there will be no alternative programming on campus during The Week Without Bells as the faculty will also be at the various camps.
Please note that families currently receiving financial assistance for the 2025-26 academic year will receive prorated assistance for this program fee.
Kind regards,
Joe Smith, Gillan Levene and Damion Walker
Assistant Heads, Upper School
Recording | DP Parent information evening
Recording | DP Parent information evening
2025 Fall Clubs Fair
2025 Fall Clubs Fair
Course change requests
Course change requests
Please note the following key dates and information about the course change process for the 2025–26 academic year.
Students should reach out to a university counsellor to begin a conversation. See contact information below.
There is also a late course change process that begins after the end dates below. At that point, students will have spent more time in their courses, and therefore, the request to move from one course to another can be more complex. A discussion centred on potential impacts will be led by the university counsellor and will involve the student and parent, course teachers, adviser and the Wernham West Centre for Learning (WWCfL) as required.
Course change dates
Students in Year 9 and 10
Begins: Day 3 (Sept. 5)
Ends: Day 2 (Sept. 17)
Students in Year 11
Begins: Day 3 (Sept. 5)
Ends: Day 2 (Oct. 14)
Course changes must be approved by a parent/guardian and a student’s university counsellor.
University Counselling Office:
Mr. Hanna — Jackson’s
Ms. Isaacs — Orr’s, Scadding’s and Martland’s(A-K)
Ms. Rose — McHugh’s, Mowbray’s and Martland’s (L-Z)
Mr. Turner — Seaton’s, Wedd’s
Ms. Champ — Howard’s, Bremner’s
Donate | School Supply Drive: Eta Colleges International
Donate | School Supply Drive: Eta Colleges International
My name is Quinn Tyers, and I am a Year 10 student here at UCC.
I am partnering with Eta Colleges International (a Canadian non-profit) to host an educational resources drive, with items collected being sent to Eta College Kumba, and Eta International Primary and Nursery School in Cameroon, Africa. The schools' focus is on giving children of Cameroon a strong education which is geared towards developing new young leaders in Africa. This project targets the UN Sustainable Development Goal of Quality Education for All by providing access to leadership education and the necessary resources to provide it.
From Monday, Sept. 15 to Monday, Oct. 6 I will be collecting the items listed below in the chart in the Bernick Family Foyer.
Monetary donations are welcome here and will be used towards purchasing items that the schools have requested. All monetary donations will receive a Canadian tax receipt.
Thank you for your consideration and help with my project to aid students in Cameroon.
Quinn Tyers
Class of 2028, McHugh's
Terry Fox School run on Sept. 19
Terry Fox School run on Sept. 19
On the morning of Friday, Sept. 19, UCC will celebrate our 25th annual Terry Fox school run!
We are proud to carry forward Terry’s dream of a world without cancer, and we invite you to join us by donating online. Our Upper School fundraising goal is for each student to donate $10. Please give as you are able here:
All Students should wear their house colours (athletic wear), running shoes and bring a water bottle.
A special assembly will occur immediately after regular Period 1, followed by a house competition 5 km run and our school-wide fun-run with our Prep school buddies.
The morning run will be capped off with a free BBQ burger lunch for all Upper School students on the Oval (UDH will not serve lunch that day, LDH will have limited offerings).
The Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic and parking from 9 a.m. to noon on this day.
Thank you in advance for joining us in supporting cancer research and continuing Terry’s legacy!
RSVP | Welcome Back Parent Coffee Mornings
RSVP | Welcome Back Parent Coffee Mornings
The UCC Parents’ Organization is once again hosting year-level Welcome Back Parent Coffee Mornings.
Please join us in the Foster Hewitt Foundation Lounge (second floor in the William P. Wilder ’40 Arena & Sports Complex) from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., for coffee, tea and snacks. You’ll have the opportunity to meet new parents in your son’s year, and catch up with those you already know.
Please RSVP using the links below:
Year 12, Monday, Sept. 15 – RSVP here
Year 8, Monday, Sept. 22 – RSVP here
Year 10, Monday, Sept. 29 – RSVP here
Year 11, Tuesday, Sept. 30 – RSVP here
Year 9, Tuesday, Oct. 7 – RSVP here
We look forward to seeing you there!
Last chance to order UCC puffer jackets
Last chance to order UCC puffer jackets
Get ready for the fall season with the UCC Crested Puffer Jacket. The order deadline is tomorrow, Friday, September 12.
Featuring the UCC crest on the left chest, these jackets are made of 100% polyester for durability and water resistance — perfect for layering on chilly days. Available in Youth and Adult sizes, with distinct Men’s and Women’s styles for the best fit. Each jacket includes a removable snap hood and elastic cuffs for a snug, comfortable feel. The cost is $110.
We’re aiming for a mid-October delivery, so you’ll have it ready to wear when the weather turns.
Year 12 parents | Order Class of 2026 merchandise
Year 12 parents | Order Class of 2026 merchandise
Families of the Class of 2026 are invited to purchase their own “grad” wear celebrating the 2026 Leaving Class.
Specially-branded items, including fleece jackets, hoodies and hats, are now available to order here until Monday, Sept. 15.
All funds raised through this initiative will go towards enhancing special events for the Class of 2026. If you have questions, please contact the Year 12 PO Parent Reps or contact the merchandise supplier directly.
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