Prep School August 20, 2026
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Prep School Highlights
Prep School Highlights
Tuesday, Sept. 8
Orientation Day for NEW students: Years 1 to 7 from 8:30–11:45 a.m. Please see notes below for specific pick-up times
Wednesday, Sept. 9
First Day of Classes for ALL Year 1 to Year 7 students. Arrival is between 8–8:30 a.m. No late start on this date
Friday, Sept. 11
Half Day for JK and SK students from 8–11:30 a.m.
UCC Spirit Wear Dress: Guidelines are here
Monday, Sept. 14
First full day of school for JK & SK students
Prep Photo Day
Used Uniform drop-off from 8–8:30 a.m.
Year 6 and 7 Welcome Back Information Evening from 7–8:30 p.m.
THIS WEEK AT THE PREP
THIS WEEK AT THE PREP
Prep Leadership Team
Dear Prep Families,
We know everyone is getting excited about the return to school! Please see the notes below for important information on class placement as well as arrival and dismissal procedures.
Class placement
At UCC, class placement is a highly collaborative process that considers many factors. Our goal is to ensure balanced classes that support the academic development, social development and emotional wellbeing of each student. Form advisers will email families their child's class placement in the late afternoon on Wednesday, Sept. 2. Families can also expect a welcome letter from their child's form adviser (homeroom teacher) on Wednesday, Sept. 9.
Arrival and dismissal
A few notes on morning drop-off to help the beginning of the year run smoothly. For those families doing morning drop-off in a car to the front of the Prep, please note the following procedures:
When entering the drop-off loop at the Prep, families must pull their car forward as far west as possible (in front of the Peacock Arch) before coming to a full stop.
Student greeters in Years 5 to 7, or a Prep employee, will do their best to help each family by opening their car door, saying good morning, and welcoming your child to school. It is especially helpful if your child is seated on the right side of the car to expedite drop-off.
We kindly request that families not park and get out of their car or stop for extended periods of time during morning drop-off.
If families would like to walk their child to the Prep’s front entrance, please park at the east end of the William P. Wilder ’40 Arena & Sports Complex parking lot. Ample parking is available in this location.
A few notes on afternoon dismissal to help the beginning of the year run smoothly.
Students are dismissed on a staggered schedule to ease congestion.
3:10 p.m. (JK to Year 2)
3:25 p.m. (Years 3 and 4)
3:40 p.m. (Year 5)
3:50 p.m. (Year 6 and 7)
Teachers will accompany students from SK to Year 3 to the Peacock Arch in front of the Prep.
Teachers will accompany students in JK and Year 4 to the pick-up area on the west side of the Prep just north of the Lonsdale Road and Forest Hill Road intersection
Parents/guardians can park in the Wilder Arena and meet their child or drive through the pick-up lane, and their child will join them.
It is important that parents/guardians do not park in the pick-up lines before the appropriate dismissal time, as that creates significant congestion. If you will be getting out of your car, please park at the arena.
In order for this process to work as efficiently as possible, please do not arrive early and wait in line. This causes a vehicle backup and delays everyone.
We value the opportunity for families to have a connection moment with their child’s teacher each day. However, please remember to refrain from talking to teachers at length, especially if you are in a car, as teachers are supervising dismissal.
Year 5 to Year 7 students exit the Prep independently at dismissal time. Please arrange with your child how they will be picked up or travel home.
If we all work together, we can make drop-off a pleasant and efficient experience for all families.
Your partners in education,
Year 7 | COSSOT events for the 2026–27
Year 7 | COSSOT events for the 2026–27
Please see events hosted by the Coalition of Single-Sex Schools of the Greater Toronto Area (COSSOT) for the 2026–27 school year here. These events are open to all Year 7 students, and will be advertised closer to the date. Note that there is a selection process. Due to high demand from students across all schools, not all Year 7s will be able to participate in all events.
Michael Bushey
Assistant Head, Middle
Year 4 to 7 | Co-curricular programs
Year 4 to 7 | Co-curricular programs
The Fall co-curricular program at Upper Canada College includes team sports, intramural sports, dramatic productions, bands, and clubs. Team sports begin in Year 4, and every student from Year 4 to 7 is required to participate in the co-curricular program.
UCC’s athletic teams are created through tryouts; however, there is one team per season that is “no cut”. Dramatic performances, some bands and some clubs also have tryouts.
Sign-up for athletic teams and dramatic performances will take place in homeroom classes in the first few days of school. Clubs and bands will be advertised to students during our first few assemblies.
The following is a list of the co-curricular options by year in the fall term:
Year 4
Soccer (no cut), and all students are placed on a team
Fall play
Year 5
Intramurals
Cross country (no cut)
Soccer (two teams)
Fall play
Choir
Year 6
Intramural soccer league
Cross country (no cut)
Soccer (two teams)
Volleyball
Fall play
Choir
Year 7
Intramurals
Cross country (no cut)
Soccer (A and B teams — The A team will travel to the CAIS National Tournament in Vancouver)
Volleyball
Field hockey
Flag football
Fall play
Choir
Concert band
Jazz band
Fall clubs
Garden club
Allyship club
Community service council
Prep ambassadors
Eco-warriors
Yearbook club
Commitment letters and team information for athletic and dramatic production teams will be emailed in the second week of school.
Max Perren
Athletic Director
New Student Orientation Day
New Student Orientation Day
This year, we have 151 new students joining us in the Prep School!
Creating a welcoming culture is important to us, and we intentionally design a thoughtful transition for new students joining our community. As part of that plan, new students (excluding the JK and SKs) will participate in New Student Orientation Day on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
This is a partial day, which allows students a soft entry to their new school and their new school year. They will meet their form adviser and fellow new students, see their classroom, tour the school, and participate in a variety of team-building activities.
In addition, students in Year 6 and 7 will meet student leaders who are eager to share their insights and experiences at UCC. These student leaders will also continue their mentorship of their new classmates throughout the upcoming weeks as they learn to navigate the Prep and establish new friendships.
In Primary classrooms, form advisers are thoughtful and intentional about ensuring the new students have mentors and guides throughout their first few days and weeks.
We are confident that our orientation will support students with their transition to our school community.
Year 1 to 4 students should wear regular dress uniform. Year 5 to 7 students should wear warm weather dress. Please see the Family Handbook for the uniform description.
Arrival for New Student Orientation Day is between 8:30 and 9 a.m. Please enter the Prep at the entrance to the Eaton building by the main office.
Dismissal from Orientation Day is 11:30 a.m. for new Year 1–6 students.
Dismissal from Orientation Day is 11:45 a.m. for new Year 7 students.
Your partners in learning,
Gareth Evans, David Girard and Michael Bushey
Helpful reminders for September
Helpful reminders for September
Tuesday, Sept. 8: New Student Orientation
Please see notes above.
Wednesday, Sept. 9: First full day of classes for all students in Year 1 to Year 7
Please arrive between 8 and 8:30 a.m.
Uniform:
Year 1 to Year 4 students wear regular dress
Year 5 to Year 7 students wear warm weather dress
See the Family Handbook for a description of the uniforms
JK/SK students: Family interviews will be conducted on Wednesday, Sept. 9 and Thursday, Sept. 10, with a half day of school for JK/SK students on Friday, Sept. 11. The school will be reaching out to schedule family interviews.
Regular arrival/dismissal times
The Prep arrival time for students during the 2026–27 school year is 8–8:30 a.m.
The Prep Dismissal times for the 2026–27 school year are as follows:
JK–Year 2: 3:10 p.m.
Year 3–4: 3:25 p.m.
Year 5: 3:40 p.m.
Year 6–7: 3:50 p.m.
Wednesday Late Starts
Beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 16, classes at the Prep will have a start time of 9:20 a.m. on Wednesdays, with student drop-off beginning at 9:10 a.m.
We offer a supervised Before School Program on Wednesday mornings (with student drop-off from 8 to 8:30 a.m.) for families who may need an earlier drop-off. This program will be offered at no additional cost to families. However, registration is requested which you can access here.
Uniform
The Prep School Dress Code is outlined starting in the Family Handbook.
You can view illustrations of the Preparatory School uniform items: JK–Year 4 and Years 5–7.
Other ordering options are available here.
Textbook Ordering
Year 6 and 7 families should follow the instructions included in the whole school section of this edition of Heads Up to order textbooks. An email with instructions was also sent to families when the textbook site opened.
Class lists
During the latter half of the week of Aug. 31, and before the long weekend, families will receive notification of your child’s class by email
Curriculum Nights
Year 6 and Year 7 Curriculum Night: Monday, Sept. 14 from 7–8:30 p.m., in Weston Hall
JK to Year 5 Curriculum Night: Thursday, Sept. 24 from 7–8:30 p.m., in Weston Hall
Lunch information
Lunch information
With the cooperation of Aramark, our food services provider, we offer all students the following options at lunch.
The hot lunch program (includes beverages)
The menu, which operates on a three-week cycle, offers soup, one main entrée, one vegetarian entrée, a sandwich/salad bar and dessert every day. Milk and water (and chocolate milk as an occasional treat) are included.
Bag lunches will be prepared for field trips as required for hot lunch participants.
Registration and fee information are below.
Lunch from home
Parents may opt to send lunch with their child. Thanks to the Prep Parent Organization, microwave ovens are available for all students.
A reminder that we are a peanut/nut-free school and ask that lunches be shellfish-free as well.
Lunch Schedule
JK–Year 3 (lunch begins at 11:45 a.m.)
All JK to Year 2 students eat lunch in their classroom
Year 3 students will eat in Weston Hall
Home lunches must be nut/peanut and shellfish-free
There is also a snack program available to JK and SK students
Year 4–5 (lunch begins at 11:45 a.m.)
Students will eat in the Dining Hall
Home lunches must be nut/peanut and shellfish-free
Year 6–7 (lunch begins at 12:15 p.m.)
Students will eat in the Dining Hall or Weston Hall
Home lunches must be nut/peanut and shellfish-free
Register | Hot Lunch Program
Register | Hot Lunch Program
Fees for the hot lunch program and snack program are listed in the table below.
To register, please sign up via your child's student profile page. To access the profile page, follow the instructions here.
Expectations
Prior to registering for the hot lunch program, we would ask you to review a sample menu here and consider which option best meets your child’s needs. Students will be encouraged to make sound nutritional choices and will be expected to finish with little or no food waste.
Please note
If you subscribe to one of the programs, the fee is added to your child’s account on a term-by-term basis. Once registered at the beginning of the year, students remain registered unless the parents advise the Prep Office by email.
There will be no credit for days remaining in a term if a parent withdraws from the program during the term or for days missed because of any absence. Students cannot sign up part-way through a term.
Register | Before School Programming
Register | Before School Programming
On Wednesdays, the school day begins with a later start time. Students have homeroom time with form teachers from 9:20–9:30 a.m on Wednesdays. This late start time allows whole school professional development for faculty and staff, and a wellbeing sleep-in time for students.
Please drop off your child between 9:10 and 9:20 a.m. on Wednesdays.
For families who cannot accommodate the late start, the Before School Program (BSP) is offered at no charge.
In order to plan effectively for numbers and to keep accurate safety lists, we ask that if you are going to regularly use BSP, you register here.
If your child will only require it occasionally, we will be able to accommodate on a drop-in basis, and you do not need to register.
Participants in BSP should arrive between 8 and 8:30 a.m. to allow for organized activities and consistent programming. Anyone arriving between 8:30 and 9:10 a.m. will be joining programming in progress, which can be disruptive, so we appreciate your consideration.
DJ Rossi
BSP Coordinator
After School Program | Fall clubs
After School Program | Fall clubs
For the new families joining our UCC community, welcome! The After School Program runs from Kindergarten dismissal (3:10 p.m.) to 6 p.m. daily. Pre-registration for extended care, excluding fall clubs, is not required. Please see the Family Handbook for more information.
Here at the ASP, we are busy planning a combination of new and exciting clubs to complement some past favourites. Please find information about our clubs here. Fall term clubs will run for 10 weeks (excluding holidays), from Monday, Sept. 21 to Friday, Nov. 27.
Brent Crawford
After School Program Coordinator
JK–Year 5 | Technology
JK–Year 5 | Technology
Dear Primary Families,
Upper Canada College commits to ethical, purposeful, and evidence-informed technology use to deepen learning, foster creativity, collaboration and critical thinking, and expand our capacity to meaningfully engage in our world. Central to this mission is our well-utilized Brenda & Reid Chen Innovation Lab. This vibrant, engaging hub empowers students to seamlessly integrate technology into a wide range of subjects, diving hands-on into coding, robotics, 3D printing, and design-and-construction projects.
All students in the Prep school receive a school-owned device for the duration of their time at the College. Students in JK - Year 4 will receive an iPad for use at school while students in Year 5 receive a laptop to use at school. None of these devices go home. Technology is an important tool in the day-to-day life of our students. All software on these devices is appropriate for student learning outcomes and the devices are fully managed by the Information and Innovation team.
Students are expected to use technology as guided by the Family Handbook and the Prep School: Acceptable Use Policy for Technology (JK–Year 5). Students will also be provided with a formal digital citizenship program exploring topics such as online interactions, cyberbullying, and digital privacy. We also want to share the Technology Guide for Parents at the Prep School, which outlines key logistical information for September as well as suggestions for managing technology and setting healthy expectations in your home. Please review each of these documents as a family prior to the start of the academic year.
A reminder that you will be asked to sign the Prep School Acceptable Use Policy for Technology, which will be available on Bluenet in the coming weeks. Please review the Family Handbook in conjunction with the Acceptable Use Policy for Technology as a family prior to the start of the school year
Best wishes,
David Girard, Assistant Head, Primary
Joanna Martin, Innovation & Technology Coach, Primary
Kathleen Peak, Executive Director, Information and Innovation
Year 6 and 7 | Technology
Year 6 and 7 | Technology
Upper Canada College commits to ethical, purposeful, and evidence-informed technology use to deepen learning, foster creativity, collaboration and critical thinking, and expand our capacity to meaningfully engage in our world.
School laptops are an important tool in the day-to-day life of our middle division students. It is critical that the laptops are used appropriately as a tool for learning. In order to ensure the smooth functionality and security of the laptop, the College manages the Year 6 and 7 laptops with restrictions against non-academic software use. The laptop assigned to the students is equipped with all of the necessary software to successfully support their learning. Any additional software that is required for academic purposes will be made available through the College’s software distribution process. Students have the access rights to connect the laptops to their home wifi and printers.
Students are expected to use technology as guided by the Family Handbook and the Prep School Acceptable Use Policy for Technology (Year 6 and 7) and with support from the Prep Administration and the Information and Innovation Team. Students will be supported with a formal digital citizenship program exploring topics such as online interactions, cyberbullying, and digital privacy. We also want to share our Technology Guide for Parents at the Prep School, which outlines key logistical information for September as well as suggestions for managing technology and setting healthy expectations in your home. Please review each of these documents as a family prior to the start of the academic year.
Year 6 and 7 students will sign a copy of the Prep School Acceptable Use Policy for Technology. Their teacher will review it with them. In addition, parents must also sign the Prep School Acceptable Use Policy for Technology which will be available on Bluenet in the coming weeks. Please review the Family Handbook and the Acceptable Use for Technology as a family, before the beginning of the school year.
Best wishes,
Michael Bushey, Assistant Head, Middle
Sarah Barclay, Innovation and Technology Coach, Middle
Kathleen Peak, Executive Director, Information and Innovation
RSVP | Parent coffee and conversation
RSVP | Parent coffee and conversation
The Prep Parent Organization (PPO) are thrilled to invite parents to our PPO Coffee Socials to connect with other parents in their child’s year. Please RSVP using the links below:
All PPO Coffee Socials take place in the Foster Hewitt Foundation Lounge (inside the William P. Wilder ’40 Arena & Sports Complex) from 8:30–10:00 a.m. Please ensure cars are removed from the Parkin lot by 10:15 a.m. to allow recess to begin.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Sign up | Become an occasional volunteer with the PPO!
Sign up | Become an occasional volunteer with the PPO!
As we prepare for another exciting year at the Prep, we invite all parents to be a part of our vibrant school community by joining the team of dedicated volunteers.
This is a wonderful way to build new connections, directly impact your child's UCC experience and contribute to the overall growth of our school. There are several fun and diverse volunteer opportunities available at the Prep to suit your schedule. To explore current opportunities and sign up, please click here.
Thank you for volunteering!
Order | Prep T-shirt bundle
Order | Prep T-shirt bundle
The PPO is proud to launch a limited-edition three-shirt bundle to support the meaningful awareness days we observe as a school community:
💜 Purple Shirt — Rowan’s Law Day (Sept. 30): Honouring concussion awareness and safety
🧡 Orange Shirt — Truth and Reconciliation Day (Sept. 30): Featuring a powerful mural design by Indigenous artist Philip Cote
🩷 Pink Shirt — Anti-Bullying Day (Feb. 24): Promoting kindness, inclusion and respect
💜 Purple Shirt — International Women's Day (March 8): Recognizing women's social, economic, cultural and political achievements
Each bundle includes all three shirts for $42.99, and with every purchase, $1 will be donated to each of the following organizations:
Concussion Legacy Foundation
Indigenous Spirit Fund
Kids Help Phone
Place your order here prior to Sept. 11, 2026.
Let’s wear our values proudly and support these important causes together!
Donate | Used Uniform Sale
Donate | Used Uniform Sale
Support shopping sustainably
Has your son grown out of last year's uniform? As you clean out your closets, please set aside gently used uniform items for our first Used Uniform Sale of the year. Donations are always welcome, but please do not drop off stained, ripped or non-UCC clothing.
NEW — Curbside collection
To make things easier, we will be collecting donations right at morning drop off on Monday, Sept. 14 from 7:50–8:30 a.m. Pull up, hand over your bag and you are done!
Can't make it Monday? No problem! Donations can also be dropped off anytime in the blue bin located in the basement of the Prep.
Mark your calendars
The first Used Uniform Sale will be on Wednesday, Sept. 16 from 2:30–4:00 p.m. and Thursday, Sept. 17 from 8–9:15 a.m. at the Wilder Arena!
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