REVIEW OF Upper Canada College BY parent, Sabrina Lalji

(4.5) Student Experience

Our son joined the prep school in grade 7 and has thoroughly enjoyed his experience to date. He has truly become a member of the community and has been accepted with open arms. He appreciates the opportunities the school provides, the brotherhood it creates and the academic challenges. He works hard and is constantly striving to improve. He has been disappointed a few times when it comes to the level of competitiveness in the sports teams, where he has been humbled often, as he is no longer the best and sometimes does not make it onto the competitive sports teams he wants, but he puts his head back up and tries again. The opportunities are endless, and there are always intramural options available to the boys.

Why Upper Canada College?

We chose Upper Canada College because of the reputation of the graduates, the opportunities the school provides, the school's history, the IB learning path and the networking opportunities that will be available to our son.

Expectations vs. Reality

The school has exceeded my expectations when it comes to providing opportunities and the level of academics it has made available to our son. The simple things, such as an assembly to discuss world events and raise awareness, create a brotherhood that I could not have imagined.

Your Advice

The school has access to financial aid and is quite generous. There are, however, a lot of items that are not a part of the regular tuition fees (ie, field trips, sports teams, etc.)

(5) School Leadership

The application process, the interview process, and the admission process were nerve-racking but very smooth. The entire team was very responsive and supportive. Although a few problems appeared, they were handled appropriately and fostered a positive school environment. Discipline issues were handled well and swiftly, and all affected parties were notified as soon as possible. Parents are notified of events weekly and look forward to Thursday's edition of Heads Up. At the prep school, there are also many networking opportunities for the parents, based on new parents, grades, and other categories. By participating in these events, parents are provided with great networking opportunities to see who their children encounter. The school has mastered the art of making the parents and the children feel welcome.

(5) Teaching

Grade 7 students at the prep are assigned to a home form teacher. Our experience was wonderful, and she worked hard to make sure our son not only adjusted to being a student at the school, but also ensured that the quality of his work was up to speed. She was communicative on all important topics and was great about sending reminders. She was also very responsive to emails and kept us in the know. The teachers at the upper school are a lot more hands-off and place a lot more of the burden and expectation on the boys to stay on top of their workload. Our interaction as parents has been minimal besides curriculum night, but I would like to believe that if an issue presented itself, we would be in the know.

(4) Academics

The academic program at Upper Canada College is rigorous and strong. Our son has started to bring home assignments that I remember learning several years after his current grade. His latest assignment was a cost benefit analysis - applicable to real life decisions. In year 8 he has now started an academic foundations course that is really helping him to learn valuable life skills (ie. scheduling, task bar usage) and other executive skills. The idea of flex time - a free period to catch up, join a club, do homework, get extra help and support is also a great way for the boys to stay on top of their workload and get involved in the school and community. The quantify of work is a lot more than I expected but I am assuming that it is also because of the IB curriculum.

(4.5) Extracurriculars

My son tried out for many sports teams and was unfortunately only able to join a select few. The athleticism the boys display is unmatched. Opportunities are present at every corner, and if you do not make the competitive teams, an intramural or "no-cut" option is always available. This is a great way for the boys to ensure that activity is part of their lives.

(4) Students

The student body is a good size, with approximately 20 children per class, and for Grade 7, there are 6–8 classes. It feels like a good number that can be easily managed by the home form teacher. The boys also have opportunities to meet people in other ways (i.e., sports, clubs, music, etc.). The boys have a great opportunity to support each other and give back to their community. My son thoroughly enjoyed being a member of the community service club, where they found various ways to give back to the community. The boys were very welcoming and helpful; they worked hard to include each other and build each other up. They supported each other and made a wonderful community that I hope will continue to grow in the years to come.

(4) School Life

The student life at Upper Canada College is well-rounded and very inclusive. My son looks forward to going to school, getting involved in clubs and sports, and seeing the friends he has made. The school also works hard to cater to the foods the kids love (patties, pizza, sushi, etc.). The school is always buzzing and busy and has a small-campus feel, allowing the kids to feel safe wherever they are on campus. There are lots of people, but it’s organized chaos where the boys find their way around. The school also promotes convenience, i.e., music classes offered after school to make it easier for parents. The boys are also divided into "houses," which helps form a sense of community among the boys in a different way.

(4) Community

The broader community at Upper Canada College really is a village. They support each other, send constant reminders, and are there to help with whatever questions you may have. The parents help each other, meet socially, and support the school wherever possible. The opportunities to volunteer are endless—they are always looking for help, and parents are always welcome to get involved. There are also plenty of opportunities to network: coffee chats in the mornings, social events through various committees, school-sponsored speakers, social events for first-year parents, and year-specific parents. Class reps are also able to support the teachers and the classrooms. There are plenty of opportunities, and everyone feels a part of that community, which is very evident on days like A Day.

(4) School Location

The school campus is absolutely stunning and a paradise in the middle of the city of Toronto. The members of the community use the campus as a park and walk through smiling regularly. The students do not venture off the school grounds often unless it is for a field trip, sports event, or planned community event. The school also provides opportunities to attend Norval, the land owned by the school, similar to a campsite.

(4) Admissions

The admissions process is stressful and nerve-racking. However, the admissions team is helpful, communicative, and wonderful to deal with. The admissions officer and our family were both reflecting on the best path for our son, and we worked hard to come to a final decision. The financial aid process took some getting used to, as it seems as though it was designed for U.S. schools; once your details are saved, they self-populate each year. The competition and the stress of applying seem to be something that will only get harder year after year.