September 14, 2023

Written By UTS

Fostering Brilliance

Last Saturday, 19-year-old Coco Gauff defeated the number-one ranked Aryna Sabalenka to win the U.S. Open. The match was breathtaking with its display of physical agility, stamina and strategy. Coco returned shots that seemed unreachable, allowing her to win an epic 40-point rally. As I sat at home watching the match, I couldn’t help but think of the multiple moments in time and the thoughtful decisions that led up to such an incredible result. 

It takes an exceptional level of physical ability to be a world-class athlete. Determination, a drive to win and grit are also key ingredients. But what struck me most while listening to the commentary during Coco’s match was the repeated reference to her creativity and problem-solving on the court. And often, following those references was praise for Coco’s parents for letting her figure things out on her own. More than once, the commentators described how Coco’s parents learned to let go and allow their child to make decisions regarding her game and her career, even when the stakes were high.

Learning to problem solve at a high level involves inevitable experiences with failure. Experiencing failure multiple times is tough. So what is it that allows some individuals to persevere when others stop looking for the solution? What was it that allowed Coco to problem-solve the tsunami of power and skill that Sabalenka threw at her in the first set, causing her to lose 2:6?

Somewhere in Coco’s journey, she was taught to persevere by understanding that winning is preceded by losing. In fact, losing is what happens more often than not. During the on-court interview following her win, Coco said, “Thank you to the people who didn’t believe in me,” highlighting the energy and motivation she took from failure and the doubt of others. Losing, in Coco’s mind, was not a source of shame but of learning – the data point she would use to strategize her next move. 

Coco’s ability to internalize the message, “I’m not where I want to be yet,” is the epitome of the growth mindset described in the work of Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck. It requires an understanding that winning is not the result of being naturally gifted at something. (For this reason, we should never praise children for being “smart”.) Winning is the result of learning from failure and the ability to reflect on what went wrong, analyze the situation and try again in a new and better way. (It’s why we praise children for perseverance and determination.)

As parents, it’s hard to stand back and watch our child struggle or become frustrated. We naturally want to jump in to help, solve problems and relieve them from the discomfort they are experiencing. But in doing so, we rob them of the opportunity to grow stronger in their abilities and their belief in themselves. Unintentionally, we may even send the message that they’re incapable of problem-solving without us.

Like good coaches, we can support our children through failure from an early age (rather than rescuing them), praise the journey (rather than the win), and allow them the opportunity to sit with discomfort, learn through loss and endeavour in a new and better way. 

Dr. Leanne Foster

Principal, UTS

UTS Calendar

All members of the UTS community can see the UTS Events Calendar. This calendar includes major UTS events such as Parent-Teacher Interviews, House events, late starts, special schedules, school breaks, etc. Often the calendar events will include more information when you click on the event itself. Bookmarking this calendar or importing it to your own calendar system is recommended to keep track of the busy school year.

Please see the calendar for upcoming events in September. If you would like to import this to your own, click on the bottom right ‘plus’ Google Calendar.

Makerspace Policy and Agreement

Please visit the UTS Parents Portal here to complete your child’s Makerspace Agreement.

By signing this agreement, your child will be able to use our makerspaces throughtout the school.

Until this form has been completed, students will not be permitted to use makerspaces.

Please complete this form by Friday, September 22.

Photo Re-take Day

Photo Re-take Day will take place on October 12.

Students who had photos taken will receive their photo packages in class. Orders can be placed with lifetouch.ca. 

Paper orders can be dropped off at the Main Office. 

Volunteer Fair

Students are invited to come out at lunch on Wednesday, September 20 to meet over 15 organizations to learn about what they do and how students can get involved. 

Through informal and inspiring conversations, students will learn about how to connect their passions and interests to making a difference in the community outside UTS. 

If you have knowledge of, or a contact for an organization that may wish to be involved in this event or other initiatives at UTS, please be in touch with catherine.wachter@utschools.ca.

Foundation Community Service

Many F1s are asking about how they can get involved with Community Service. 

We have many initiatives coming up that F1s specifically can get involved with. Through our Together We Give, Together We Grow program, students in F1 and F2 participate in two Service Saturdays - one coming up on October 28 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and the other in April. 

In groups of 20, students are partnered with an organization and build empathy and community as they do collective community service all in house at UTS. Four community service hours will be awarded to participating students.

We are also looking for parent volunteers to help. If you are interesting in volunteering, please contact catherine.wachter@utschools.ca.

Club-o-Rama

Club-o-Rama will be on October 2 at 4 p.m.

This is a chance for students to explore non-athletic co-curricular activities such as clubs, at UTS this year.

More information will follow in upcoming Updates.

External French Language Opportunities

Would your child like to improve their French while creating a new friendship with another francophone or francophile from another Canadian province or territory? In the United Bilingual Correspondents program, offered by the organization French for the Future, students in Grades 7 to 12 will be paired to communicate together in French by phone, email, texts, or on social media.

This program gives them the opportunity to practice French outside the classroom.

Registration is due on September 29, 2023.

Click here to learn more. If you have further questions, contact: negar.shayan@utschools.ca 

Allergies Awareness at UTS

UTS is not a nut-free environment as we cannot control the foods that are brought in during lunch or break. However, some UTS members have anaphylactic allergies to nuts that require the use of Epi pens.

We are asking parents/care providers to ensure that food being sent from home is nut-free.

As a part of our commitment to a safe school environment, UTS has ensured that all meals provided by the hot meal vendors are also nut-free.

Tips for the Flu Season

With fall comes respiratory illnesses. The following are some of the ways that you can help protect our school community:

  • Stay home if you are experiencing symptoms of illness. Symptoms may include sore throat, stuffy nose, headache, tiredness, fatigue. 

  • Wash or sanitize your hands often, and cover your cough/sneeze into your elbow or a tissue.

  • Consider wearing a well-fitted, high-quality mask in crowded areas with poor ventilation, especially for those who are at higher risk of severe illness.

  • Consider getting your COVID-19 boosters and Influenza vaccine once available.

Skills for Life: Support-Seeking 

This is a great time of year to reaffirm support-seeking as an important life skill.

The UTS Pathways of Support lets students and parents know who to connect with in Student Support when issues or needs arise related to navigating learning, life and mental health.

School Social Workers Joelle, Rachel and Marleen can be emailed any time at social.work.staff@utschools.ca.

UTSPA Call for Volunteers - Parent Volunteer Group Members

Throughout the year, there are opportunities at the school to volunteer that include special lunches for students, reception support at events, and so many other offerings. Are you interested in getting to know more people at UTS? Do you have a few hours you could volunteer to support various initiatives? If so, you would be a welcome member of the Parent Volunteer Group.

As a member, you will have priority access to volunteer opportunities at the school. You can select the opportunities that suit your schedule, and you will receive messages on the positions available throughout the year.

Sign up with this form to be a member of the Parent Volunteer Group, today!

Artful Design & Artificial Intelligence: "What Do We (Really) Want from AI?"

Professor Ge Wang from Stanford University, author of Artful Design and co-founder of Smule, will be at UTS to give a STEAM keynote performance on - Artful Design & Artificial Intelligence: "What Do We (Really) Want from AI?" 

Here’s a teaser. We invite you to join us in the Withrow Auditorium at 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday September 21.

This special event is open to the UTS community, including students, parents, staff, alumni, and prospective students/families! 

Get your FREE ticket(s) by September 18.

Back to School at the UTS Shop

Start your school year with a visit to the UTS Shop! Whether it’s a UTS pencil case, backpack, or hoodie, we have what you need to show your school spirit. 

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