Horizons goes virtual

Horizons has been a dynamic and enriching part of the Upper Canada College landscape for two decades. During a normal academic year, about 200 UCC students and 1,000 TDSB students take part, and the summer program is a much-anticipated fixture on the calendar.    

How has Horizons programming changed during the pandemic?

Sehgal: Everything is taking place online and the numbers of students involved at both UCC and TDSB schools are much smaller. In April, ten UCC students put together video lessons on debating, creative writing and science that were shown to Grade 4 to 6 classes at Sprucecourt and Lord Dufferin public schools as part of the curriculum. And these students connected with the TDSB students via Google Meet to discuss the lessons.

It’s not the one-on-one experience that Horizons usually provides, but our boys love the connection and want to maintain contact with TDSB students. Their efforts enhanced engagement for the younger students, who enjoyed hearing different voices, especially those of older students.

How did the summer program unfold?

Sehgal: Under normal circumstances, it’s geared towards 200 Grade 7 to 9 students from TDSB partner schools and is usually an all-day program held five days a week during July. This year, we offered an hour of livestreamed activities on weekdays and had a great response: more than 100 TDSB students participated. The sessions were led by UCC students and other volunteer summer tutors. There was quite a variety of activities: dance classes, debating, science and guest speakers such as Jason Rabinovitch '04, who works for NASA, and local spoken word poet Dwayne Morgan. With creative and inspired young people, amazing things happen.

What’s been happening since September? 

Sehgal: This fall, I’ve been working with the Year 10 advising program to involve UCC students from each of the houses in working with TDSB students on a curriculum about identity. By the end of the 2020–2021 academic year, each Year 10 student will have been involved with one of the four TDSB schools participating.

We also have six Upper School students involved in studying a novel online with junior grade students at Joseph Brant Public School. We provided the school with the novel, Number the Stars, and our students meet with the students weekly through Google Meet for rich, deep discussions. We’re planning to study another novel next term.

Orientation sessions for the UCC students before programs begin include discussing how to handle sensitive topics that might arise, whether from different lived experiences or our current perspectives. 

What about programming for TDSB high school students? 

Sehgal: We have a program that follows up with our summer program students who have moved onto high school. It’s weekly and online, and involves mentoring and socializing, because the graduates of our summer program really wanted that connection. Tom Lace '06 and other adult mentors, as well as ten Year 11 and 12 UCC students led by Jayson Tian '22, offer activities, discussion prompts, and other programming options. As an example, UCC’s associate director of university counselling, Nili Isaacs, provided an interactive session for these youngsters about planning for the future. 

Any final thoughts on delivering Horizons programming in a very uncommon year? 

Sehgal: For me, it’s all about looking for new ways to envision the program and keeping TDSB relationships strong. The absence of in-person Horizons has been noticeable to the students at UCC and many TDSB schools, so we’re really looking forward to a time when we can safely return to face-to-face interactions.