December 14, 2023

Written By UTS

Fostering Brilliance

Martin Luther King Jr. famously stated, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Corretta Scott King, MLK’s wife and an activist in her own right, said, “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” I’d like to ponder those two quotes and consider what they mean to UTS as we continue to grapple with the lasting impact of COVID and the effects of social isolation on our students.

Read more.

December Report Cards

December Report Cards will be published on the Parent Portal after school on Wednesday, December 20.

Please be sure to visit the Parent Portal ahead of time to make sure you have no issues logging in.

December Report Cards will also be sent directly to your inbox, but April Report Cards will only be available through the Parent Portal.

The Academics team and teachers will not be available to answer emails from December 23, 2023, to January 7, 2024, and will be in Professional Development sessions all day January 8 and 9, 2024.

December 22 - Special Schedule

This is a reminder that Friday, December 22 is a half day with a special schedule.

The day will start with Holiday Breakfast, followed by the Holiday Assembly.

Students will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m. and should plan to vacate the school by 12:15 p.m.

Course Selection Nights: January 15 to January 17, 2024

Course Selection Nights

  • F1 into F2 Course Selection Night: Monday, January 15, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

  • F2 into M3 Course Selection Night: Monday, January 15, 2024 from 6:45 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.

  • M3 into M4 Course Selection Night: Tuesday, January 16, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.

  • M4 into S5 Course Selection Night: Tuesday, January 16, 2024 from 7:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

  • S5 into S6 Course Selection Night: Wednesday, January 17 from 6:00 p.m. tp 6:45 p.m.

These are virtual events. Zoom links will be shared in January.

Available on the Parent Portal now:

  • Your child’s Guidance Counsellor’s presentation

  • A Quick Guide to Course Selection

  • A FAQ on Course Selection

  • Forms to submit your questions ahead of time.

Mandatory F2 to M4 Course Selection Sessions

We will be hosting mandatory 2024-25 course selection sessions for all F2 to M4 students on December 19 during the late start.

Your child should arrive at school at 9:20 a.m. as the information sessions begin promptly at 9:30 a.m. 

Please make note of the locations that course selection presentations will occur. 

F2 students: Jackman Theatre (room 144)

M3 students: Multi-Purpose Room

M4 students: Withrow Auditorium

F1 students will receive course selection information through classroom sessions; and S5 students will receive course selection information in S5 Guidance Seminar. 

Course selection materials will be provided to students through Google Classroom. Information for parents will be available on the course selection website. 

If parents have course selection questions, please aim to attend the parent virtual course selection evenings taking place January 5 to 17.

Students will be able to connect with guidance counsellors during drop-in sessions in January, in advance of their course selection submissions.

Winter Concert

Winter Concert is happening on Monday, December 18 from 6 - 8:30 p.m.

The concert features all co-curricular groups including : Sr & Jr Winds,  Sr & Jr Strings,  Sr & Jr Jazz, Taiko and Choir.

$5 tickets are available through School Cash Online for purchase. They will not be sold at the door. UTS students do not need to purchase tickets. 

Please contact mark.laidman@utschools.ca with any questions or concerns. 

Winter Art Ex

Come see many of the artworks that UTS Visual Arts students have been working on so far this year.

The UTS Winter Art Ex will take place between December 18-20 this year in the galleries on floors L1, 1 and 2, and will also be open during the Winter Concert.

Photography, sculpture, printmaking and more are on display on three floors!

French Immersion Programs: Explore and Destination Clic

Explore

Students aged 13 and older in Core or Special French will have the opportunity to enrol in Explore, an external program that spans three to five weeks of French immersion. The program covers the costs of tuition fees, instructional materials, meals, and accommodation. Any students interested should apply by February 6, 2024 on the Explore website.

Destination Clic

Students in Grades 8, 9 and 10 in Special French can also apply to Destination Clic, a three-week summer program for francophone youth outside of Quebec that provides students the opportunity to connect with francophone community and culture. The program covers the costs of tuition fees, instructional materials, meals and accommodation. Applications can be made online through the Destination Clic website by February 27, 2024.

S5 / S6 Core French Excursion to See Les Misérables

Students in Mme Amiot’s M4 and Mme Kelly’s S5 Core French classes are invited to participate in an excursion to see Les Misérables on March 27.

Keep an eye out for the field trip information sent to parents this week.

Lost & Found

A reminder to all student to check the Lost & Found located on L1, under the learning stairs for any of their lost items.

Anything not picked up by December 22 will be donated over the Holiday Break.

Post-Secondary Update

S6 students were asked to confirm that their college lists were correct on Naviance and/or submit their UCAS application by 9 a.m. on December 15.

Counsellors will start submitting US/UK supporting documentation immediately and before December 22.

Counsellors are not allowed to submit documentation to regular decision colleges for EDI applicants until we are informed of the outcome of their ED application by the student.

Students are reminded that the initial OUAC deadline to apply for “fair and equal consideration” is January 15, 2024.

Students are asked to compare admission averages with their December report card results, and to add to their choices if necessary. 

Student Council Skating Events

The Student Council Event Coordinators are planning skating events for the winter at Nathan Philips Square.

More information will be shared in January.

We also are aware that some students are planning to go skating after dismissal on Friday, December 22.

Any skating activities that students may decide to engage in on December 22 are not UTS supervised events.

Parent Volunteers Needed!

Fulford Debate Judges
UTS is hosting the Fulford Debate on January 13, 2024. As part of this experience, UTS is looking for 50 volunteers to help judge the debates and provide feedback to the participants. By signing up for this role, you will be asked to have Vulnerable Sector Screening as this volunteer position works directly with students. Sign up with this form.

Summer Experience Program Hosts
UTSPA is hosting our annual Summer Experience Program (SEP) this summer 2024. Please sign up to become a host, which involves giving our students a brief experience of your work environment and sharing your knowledge, thoughts and enthusiasm about your profession with them! The length can range from half-day to a week-long experience.   

SEP is a work placement experience aiming to give UTS students experience in different industry sectors through real-world working environments. Learn more about UTSPA SEP Program. You can also contact SEP co-leads at christine.wong@utschools.ca and randy.pang@utschools.ca.

UTS Events & Co-Curricular Calendars

Celebrate the holidays with the UTS Shop

The holiday season is fast approaching, and the UTS Shop is the place to go for UTSers to show their school pride! 

By student request, new ¼ zip sweatshirts and ½ zip sweatshirts are now available! UTS socks are new too and make a great stocking stuffer!

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