Fostering Independence and Belonging |
Robust co-curriculars and deep personal support are signature elements of the Upper School experience
Students in Years 8 through 12 pursue their interests and talents and become community-minded leaders, benefiting from the expertise of faculty advisers, mentors and coaches who know them well and provide support where needed.
Upper School At-a-Glance
- A Culture of Connection and Mentorship: Our house system anchors the student experience, providing support and camaraderie through weekly house meetings and an advising program.
- Dedicated Support Structures: Advising is a forum for connection and support outside the classroom setting. Students in Years 9 through 12 have a consistent adviser, while Year 8 students have a Home Form adviser to help establish routines, and are matched with a Year 11 mentor.
- “Flex Time”: Independence is fostered as students choose to do homework, relax, exercise, play house sports, or participate in clubs. A late start on Wednesday offers time for them to recharge, mentor at the Prep School, or catch up on their work.
- Vibrant Co-curricular Life: Students benefit from approximately 80 clubs, most of which are student-created (with faculty guidance). Clubs like Model United Nations, debate, robotics, and the World Affairs Conference allow students to represent the school at local, provincial, national and global levels.
Community and leadership
Students participate in numerous community and leadership roles across the Upper School.
- Broad Leadership Opportunities: Students can take on roles such as Steward, Head of House, Prefect, Blue Army General, Arts Captain, Club Head, and positions on councils.
- Impactful Events: School spirit flourishes across a wide range of traditional and novel events, including arts showcase Nuit Bleue, house track, Winterfest, music nights, and service-focused initiatives like the Terry Fox Run, Relay for Life and Founders Cup.
- Assemblies and Community Gatherings: Monday Principal’s Assemblies gather the Upper School community in Laidlaw Hall, connecting programming to our values and placing a strong emphasis on student involvement. Biweekly Friday assemblies are student-led, and alternate with “Fun Fridays,” which offer activities like sports, crafts or community service.
Upper School Experiential Highlights
- Year 8 students gain guidance and establish connections through an intentional program that matches them in small groups with a Year 11 mentor.
- Week Without Bells features programming at UCC’s Norval Outdoor School and emphasizes community-building, wellbeing and skills development.
- Four theatrical productions are mounted throughout the school year, and two of these are co-productions with artistic partner The Bishop Strachan School.
- Our World Affairs Conference, produced with partner school Branksome Hall, is the oldest and largest student-run conference in Canada.
- Those with writerly ambitions can join the teams creating high-calibre student publications including College Times, The Blue and White, Quiddity and Convergence.
