Read this story online at the UCC website for photos and videos.
#1 Two words, Edward Snowden:
Thanks to some international negotiation with the world’s most famed fugitive, WAC organizers had a sensational, once-in-a-lifetime, national press event on hand. Said valedictorian James Lutz in his address, “Snowden contended that the quality of our queries was better than those he’d fielded from members of Parliament and Congress.” Amazing.
#2 Our Model UN may one day rule the world:
Our team remained undefeated at some of the best conferences in North America, taking the “best large delegation” title at McGill University and then at Columbia University, for the second year. And in news about other well-spoken young men, our Year 2 students Adam Rothman and David Niddam-Dent captured the Canadian Student Debate Federation’s Junior National Debating title.
#3 MPP Cheri diNovo called us “elitist”— and we responded:
Again we made national headlines when MPP Cheri diNovo called for an end to an “elitist” tradition of providing UCC students with access to Queen’s Park. OMP organizers quickly set the record straight. (To date, however, diNovo has not issued an apology.)
#4 Think Ahead Campaign hits $95 million:
We’re in the home stretch. This year, 188 boys received financial assistance and we hit our boarding campaign goal of $14 million. World-class boarding program? Check. As well, the UCC Fund had a record-breaking year with $1.5 million raised from our community. Thanks for your dedication and steadfast support.
#5 We are the champions. Well. Played:
*all Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario Athletic Association, unless indicated
FALL
WINTER
SPRING
#6 Our new Prep playground goes “adventure-style:”
With real dead trees for climbing and a whole lot of natural elements, the new Prep playground lets boys get in touch with their inner wild thing.
#7 We win awards all over the place:
Our Upper School math teachers earned the prestigious Secondary School Mathematics Department Award from the Ontario Association for Mathematics Education. (It’s the first time an independent school has ever won and the only math department award in Ontario.)
Our communications and marketing team earned a Bronze award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education in the “best single ad” category. The ad appeared in the Globe and Mail, celebrating Taylor Harris ’09 (above) and his $250,000 gift to the College.
Courtney Turner received a Teacher Recognition Award from the Brain Bee, an international neuroscience organization, for acting as faculty advisor for the neuroscience club
#8 Toronto has Nuit Blanche; But we have Nuit Bleue…
#9 …and mother-son dinner theatre
Thanks to our amazing Arts Booster Club, we painted the school bleue, then welcomed our first ever mother-son dinner theatre, to a sold-out crowd of 176 boys and their guests. Renowned director Ravi Jain ’99 brought a special performance of his acclaimed, two-person play A Brimful of Asha, starring just Jain and his real-life mom.
#10 Our Prep students win tons of awards:
Our Prep musicians rule: Competing against several senior high school bands, the Prep jazz band, concert band and wind ensemble all earned gold at the Toronto Festival of Music. They also earned three gold and four silver medals at the Toronto Science Fair.
#11 We know character is destiny:
Ever wonder what we mean when we talk about the “character project?” You need to watch this video. Our boys are lucky to get these life lessons so young.
#12 Our principal is finally a Canadian:
Jim Power became a citizen April 22, then returned home to find his residence and driveway coated with Canadian flags to celebrate the occasion—all documented on Facebook. (Eh, thanks everyone.)
#13 We had Don Kawasoe for 35 years (…sniff):
Some people truly are irreplaceable. The love was flowing when everyone got together to pay tribute to Don as he gets set to retire. (This video was shown at Leaving Class graduation.)
#14 We’re making great strides to juice more, coffee less:
Thanks to parent Joannah Lawson and her awesome team on the nutrition committee, our school food is even better. (And our executive faculty took a three-day raw juice challenge which took some getting used to.)
#15 Under Construction — There’s a big reveal coming this September:
Following the successful remodeling of large areas of the Upper School’s second and third floors, this summer we’ll be renovatingthe majority of the building’s common areas and main floor. The project is our most ambitious to date and will vastly reconfigure the layout to allow for more classrooms and more flexible areas for learning, meeting, working and socializing.
#16 Our Leaving Class is going places:
As our 2015 Leaving Class heads off for an impressive and far-reaching list of destinations, we get set to welcome a new influx of students in September. Our application numbers are up 10 per cent over last year and the number of those who’ve accepted our offer of admission is the highest it’s been in last five years.
#17 We’re awesome at keeping you in the loop on what’s going on at UCC:
To keep on top of UCC news, visit ucc.on.ca/news regularly and “like” our Facebook page. With almost 3,100 members, our daily posts reach an average of almost 38,000 people per month.
