Hello Upper School Parents and Guardians,

We're excited about The Week Without Bells, an experiential learning program in which all students in Years 8–11 travel, collaborate, and explore curricular and co-curricular themes. All students are expected to attend. If your child is unable to attend due to medical reasons or a mandatory prior commitment, please contact Gillian Levene (Year 8), Joe Smith (Years 9 and 10) or Damion Walker (Year 11) by Sept. 18.

For the 2026–27 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. 13 to Friday, Oct. 16.

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.

Take a look at photos from 2025–26 Week without Bells. 

Please note:

• A non-refundable deposit of $585 will be billed to student accounts on Sept. 18.

• The remaining balance of the program fees (approximately $585) will be billed after the trip concludes.
  Families currently receiving financial assistance for the 2026–27 academic year will receive prorated assistance for this program fee.

Please be aware that there will be no alternative programming for Year 8–11 students on campus during the week, as the faculty will also be at the various camps. 

During this week, Year 12 students will remain on campus, focusing on completing Diploma Programme-specific tasks and working on their university applications.

We are excited for the busy months ahead as we celebrate the end of this school year and look forward to the opportunities of 2026–27.

Kind regards,

Joe Smith, Gillan Levene, Damion Walker

Assistant Heads, Upper Canada College

As we have reached the end of the school year, we would like to share some important information regarding student laptops and digital spaces over the summer break.

Laptop care

Upper school students who are returning to the College next year must take their school-issued laptops home for the summer. Please discuss expectations for appropriate use and care during the break as a family. However, please keep in mind that students are always expected to respect the school’s Acceptable Use Policy.

• September return: Students are expected to bring their laptops to school fully charged on the first day of classes in September.

• Repairs: If a laptop sustains damage over the summer, please contact the Help Desk at helpdesk@ucc.on.ca to arrange for repairs. Please do not wait until August to get the laptop fixed. 

Digital organization

Students are encouraged to take some time to organize their digital workspaces to ensure they are ready for a fresh start in the fall. We encourage them to:

• Review their Google Drive to delete unneeded files, rename "untitled" documents, and organize their work into subject/activity (e.g. “English” or “DECA”) and year level (e.g. “Year 10”) folders.

• Clean up their Gmail inbox by deleting or archiving old messages and filing important correspondence into labels.

AI access

Over the summer, Flint AI will be turned off. This is the only AI approved for student use in Years 8–10. Gemini and Notebook will remain available for students heading into Year 12 (class of 2027) only. 

We hope everyone has a wonderful and restful summer!

Dr. Lincoln Smith

Upper School Innovation & Technology Coach

Kathleen Peak

Executive Director, Information & Innovation

The University of Toronto Bookstore is UCC’s course materials supplier. The UCC-specific section of the website will be available on Friday, July 31, and a link to the site and all pertinent information will be provided closer to the date. 

True to the spirit of the MYP and DP, text selection is based on the success of previous units, current issues, student interest, and cultural awareness. This reflection and research takes place at the close of each academic cycle. The July 31 date provides our teachers with the necessary time for this selection process and the University of Toronto Bookstore to source the materials. 

In the meantime, please direct any questions to Registrar Leigh Berndsen.

To help UCC families buy and sell used textbooks privately through the school community, the Parents' Organization will create dedicated WhatsApp Used Textbook Groups, specifically for the purposes of buying and selling used textbooks. 

Once UCC releases its official list of textbooks for the upcoming year — usually towards the end of July — an email will be sent out to parents with links for each Year level. Parents will then be able to join these groups and make their own arrangements to buy and/or sell used textbooks.

Dear parents/guardians, 

We would appreciate your assistance with checking in with your students as to whether they have any library materials to return to the Macintosh Library. 

All items are due back to the library by June 12, 2026. If the library is closed, items may be returned via the wall slot next to the Student Centre elevator. 

If items are not returned, families will be billed on the June statement at $30 per item (or higher if it is a reference item).

Items may be returned after the deadline, but refunds will not be processed at that point. 

All students are regularly reminded to return items via emailed overdue notices and have been contacted by us regarding their responsibility to check on their accounts and to return materials. 

Thank you,

Macintosh Library Staff

Until noon this Friday, June 12, used uniforms can be dropped off in the UNIFORM DONATIONS box inside the Upper School main entrance. Items can also be dropped off at TUBS during open hours.

The TUBS Lost & Found Parade also ends at noon on Friday, June 12. All items are on display in the hallway outside the Lower Dining Hall, and any remaining after 12 p.m. will be donated. 

Thank you to our TUBS volunteers!

Planning is underway for UCC’s annual Festive Marketplace and online Festive Auction. This year's Festive Marketplace will be held on Friday, December 11, and brings together local artisans and vendors, the beloved Festive Bake Sale, and a showcase of student clubs, artwork, and musical performances. 

Mark your calendar and watch for more details after the summer holidays.