UTS UPDATES
September 3, 2026
A Warm Welcome to the New School Year
Welcome students and families to the start of another year at UTS!
The back-to-school anticipation is growing at our school. Teachers have returned after summer break, and are busy this week planning a challenging, inspiring and fun year. This morning, we were thrilled to welcome incoming F1 students to our new student orientation, as well as M3, M4 and S5 students who are new to our school, to help familiarize them with UTS before their first day.
At UTS, our mission is to ignite the brightest minds to make a difference in the world. I look forward to seeing this mission come to life this school year as students work together to make new discoveries, expand their horizons and most importantly, find joy in their learning and in one another.
Thank you to all our families for helping us get the year off to a strong start! We hope to see you at next week’s Welcome Back Social on September 10, co-hosted with the UTS Parents’ Association. We look forward to getting to know all of our families and students!
UTS Events
Changes to Important Dates and Closures for the 2026-27 School Year
Due to Bill 101, Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026, which was passed in May, we have made changes to the School Calendar.
- The Final Exam period is extended, running from June 4 to June 21. Attendance at exams is mandatory for all students.
- The PA Day that was originally scheduled for December 8 has been moved to December 1. December 8 will be a regular school day.
- The Late Start that was originally scheduled for December 9 has been moved to December 2. December 9 will be a regular school day.
Student Attendance and Punctuality Policy
As the Ontario Ministry of Education has introduced new requirements for attendance and participation, our Student Attendance and Punctuality Policy and Late and Missed Evaluation Policy are being revised and will be shared through a stand-alone communication on Tuesday, September 8.
Reporting Student Absences
Students are expected to arrive at school at the beginning of the day and return after lunch with enough time to visit their lockers and to arrive in their classrooms by the start of the period. On a regular school day, this means arriving at school no later than 8:40 a.m. in order to be in class, ready to learn at 8:45 a.m.
Please report student absences or late arrivals to the Main Office either by emailing mainoffice@utschools.ca or calling 365-297-5706 or 365-645-7609. Please note that in the 2026-27 academic year, SchoolMessenger will no longer be used for reporting student absences and/or lates. A new tool is currently being developed by our IT Department to replace SchoolMessenger, and will be widely shared once available.
For all planned absences related to non-UTS activities such as non-UTS competitions, events, athletics, family travel, etc., please submit an Absence Approval Form a minimum of two weeks in advance of the absence. This form is especially important for any absences extending beyond two school days.
Save the Date for Curriculum Night
Curriculum Night, where families can learn what teachers have planned for the year in their child’s courses, is scheduled for the evening of September 22. Your children are welcome to stay in the Rosemary Evans Library and/or the Learning Stairs. However, they cannot accompany parents/guardians to the actual class sessions for the teacher presentations. More details will follow.
August Course Changes and Student Timetables
The deadline to submit course change requests has passed. Student timetables are now available through MyUTS for families who have signed their Core Agreements and completed Contact Verification. Please note, as we continue to process course change requests, adjustments to timetables will continue. Student timetables should not be considered final until the end of day Friday, September 4. While new course change requests will not be considered, students should reach out to their guidance counsellor if they believe there is an error in the courses they have been enrolled in for 2026-27.
School Photos
School photos will take place on Tuesday, September 22. Teachers will bring their classes down to the photographers throughout the day. If you have questions please contact mainoffice@utschools.ca.
UTS Family Handbook
The UTS Family Handbook can be found in MyUTS under Information for Families.
It is your guide to the essential information parents and guardians need to know about UTS. Inside, you'll find details about school schedules, who to contact when, the technology we use, information about textbooks, policies and much more.
Exciting Opportunity: Can You Be a UTS Host Family?
Registration deadline: Monday, September 14 Homestay dates: Wednesday, September 30 to Sunday, October 4
Help welcome Danish visitors to UTS! We have the pleasure of hosting a class of grade 12 global citizenship students and two teachers from September 30 to October 6. We require several more families to be homestay hosts. Your assistance will allow our guests to engage in great intercultural learning with our students, including the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Assembly, a drama workshop and performance, and visits to UTS classrooms.
Please use this form to sign up to be a host family. Please see this program description for more information.
Contact Richard Cook, the UTS Global Citizenship Coordinator, at racook@utschools.ca with any questions.
PSAT/NMSQT: Sign up by Thursday, September 10
The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) will be offered at UTS on Monday, October 26 from 4:15 to 6:45 p.m. Only UTS students in M4 and S5 can sign up to take the PSAT/NMSQT.
The deadline for signing up to write the PSAT/NMSQT is Thursday, September 10 at 6 p.m. All M4 and S5 students have received an email link to sign up for the test, and students must register using their UTS email.
There is an additional, non-refundable cost of $50 for the PSAT/NMSQT. Students who sign up for a copy of the PSAT/NMSQT will receive an invoice from UTS Finance within two weeks after registration closes.
Guidance Counsellor Assignments for 2026-27
The guidance team is excited to welcome two new counsellors to the department for the 2026-27 school year. Ms. Melissa Shaddick, whom many of you already know from our Drama Department, will be joining our Foundation/Middle School Counselling Team, and Ms. Shumaila Khan, new to UTS this year, will be joining our Senior Counselling Team, bringing with her over 20 years of experience in Canadian and international university admissions. Ms Natalie Webber will now serve as the Head of Student Support.
You can find your student's 2026-27 Guidance Counsellor assignment in the Student Services Guide for Families.
Outdoor Education in September
All F1s, M3s, S5s and S6s will be attending Outdoor Education in September. Consent forms are now available on the MyUTS portal, and are due by the end of August. Accommodation forms will be sent directly to students on August 25. Any questions can be directed to studentlife@utschools.ca
- F1s: Camp Couchiching, September 15-16
- M3s: Camp Kandalore, September 14-16
- S5s: Camp Cedar Ridge, September 16-18
- S6s: Camp Couchiching, September 14-16
Co-curricular Music Ensembles
UTS has 11 co-curricular music ensembles for students with a variety of musical backgrounds, experiences and interests. Rehearsals are generally once a week, although additional rehearsals and sectionals may be called as needed. Students who have committed to a UTS music ensemble are expected to attend regularly and punctually, come prepared with sheet music, attend sectionals and practice parts individually. Generally, a maximum of three absences for any reason will be permitted per term, per ensemble. Every year, around 300 students participate in at least one music co-curricular ensemble that performs regularly throughout the year. Please take a moment to review each of our ensembles and learn about entry requirements, including some that have no pre-requisites.
Students will be receiving an email with this information on the first day of school. To indicate their interest in a music ensemble, they will be asked to fill out this form by September 18 (must be filled with a UTS email account).
Junior Winds: Tuesdays, 4 to 5 p.m. (Withrow Auditorium)
For woodwind, brass and percussion players in F1 to M3 with a minimum of four months of playing experience. No audition required. Directed by Mr. Tulloch (ian.tulloch@utschools.ca)
Senior Winds: Thursdays, 7:30 to 8:40 a.m. (L144)
This ensemble is open to all woodwind, brass and percussion players in M4 to S6 with a minimum of one year of experience. No audition required. Directed by Mr. Tulloch (ian.tulloch@utschools.ca)
Junior Strings: Thursdays, 7:30 to 8:40 a.m. (Withrow Auditorium)
For string players from F1 to M3 with a minimum of one year of playing experience. All new members must submit a playing audition through the online form. Returning members do not need to audition. Directed by Ms. Pat (lyris.pat@utschools.ca)
Senior Strings: Tuesdays, 7:30 to 8:40 a.m. (Withrow Auditorium)
This ensemble is open to all M4 to S6 string students who are currently taking a UTS music course. All other M4 to S6 string students may apply to be in Senior Strings by submitting a video playing audition through the online form. Directed by Ms. Shugarman (sshugarman@utschools.ca)
Chamber Strings: Mondays 4 to 5 p.m. (L142)
This ensemble is open to all students from F1 to S6 with advanced technical proficiency on a string instrument (violin, viola, cello, bass). Students may apply by submitting a video playing audition through the online form. All students performing in Chamber Strings must also play in either Junior or Senior Strings (depending on age). Auditions are due Friday, October 3. Directed by Ms. Pat (lyris.pat@utschools.ca)
Jazz 1 : Thursdays, 4 to 5 p.m. (L144)
The focus of this ensemble is for highly experienced musicians to develop their jazz performance skills. Instruments in this ensemble are saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar, piano, electric/upright bass, drums. No flute or clarinet. Students who play any of these instruments may declare their interest in a jazz ensemble by filling out the above form. Live auditions for new members of any jazz ensemble will be scheduled at a later time. Directed by Dr. Mcleod (jeff.mcleod@utschools.ca)
Jazz 2: Tuesdays, 7:30 to 8:40 a.m. (L144)
The focus of this ensemble is for musicians with a minimum one year of experience to learn about, rehearse and perform jazz music. Instruments in this ensemble are flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar, piano, electric/upright bass and drums. Students who play any of these instruments may declare their interest in a jazz ensemble by filling out the above form. Live auditions for new members of any jazz ensemble will be scheduled at a later time. Directed by Dr. Mcleod (jeff.mcleod@utschools.ca)
Jazz 3: Wednesdays, 4 to 5 p.m. (L144)
The focus of this ensemble is for musicians with a minimum of six months experience to learn about, rehearse and perform jazz music. Instruments in this ensemble are flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar, piano, electric/upright bass and drums. Students who play any of these instruments may declare their interest in a jazz ensemble by filling out the above form. Auditions for new members of any jazz ensemble will be scheduled at a later time. Directed by Dr. Mcleod (jeff.mcleod@utschools.ca).
Choir: Wednesdays, 4 to 5 p.m. (L142)
This ensemble is open to all students in F1 to S6 with any level of experience in singing. All voice types are welcome. The ability to read music would be an asset but not a requirement. No audition is required. Directed by Dr. Jamie Hillman, Associate Professor and Director of Choral Studies at the UofT. Contact Ms. Pat for more info (lyris.pat@utschools.ca).
Junior Taiko: Wednesdays 4 to 5 p.m. (Withrow Auditorium)
Taiko refers to traditional Japanese drumming. This ensemble is open to all students in F1 to S6 with any level of experience in music, including none. No audition is required. Directed by Mr. Anthony Lee. Contact Ms. Pat for more info (lyris.pat@utschools.ca).
Senior Taiko: Wednesdays 5 to 6 p.m.(Withrow Auditorium)
Taiko refers to traditional Japanese drumming. This ensemble is open to all students in M3 to S6 with several years of experience in Taiko. Directed by Mr. Anthony Lee. Contact Ms. Pat for more info (lyris.pat@utschools.ca).
Textbooks Available for Purchase
UTS textbooks for the 2026-27 school year are available at the U of T Bookstore, in person and online.
All books listed will be needed for the 2026-27 school year. If a course is not listed, there is no book for that course and the teacher will provide more information at the start of classes. Many course materials are already available for purchase, and more will be arriving over the coming weeks.
Shop Online
UTS course materials can be easily found and purchased online at University of Toronto Schools | U of T Bookstore. Materials purchased through the bookstore website can be shipped directly to your home or other address. Books can also be purchased online and then picked up in-store, which you can specify during the check-out process as you complete the transaction.
Shop in person at the U of T Bookstore
UTS course materials are available for purchase at the U of T Bookstore’s St. George campus store, located a short distance from UTS at 214 College Street. UTS materials can be found in the Great Hall on the second floor of the store. Please visit U of T Bookstore locations to check operating hours before you visit.
The U of T Bookstore also carries a variety of stationery and technology supplies that can be found in-store and online.
Have questions about course materials, merchandise, or placing an order?
Please contact Don Thompson at dthompson@uoftbookstore.com.
If you are buying used textbooks from UTS students, please make sure you are purchasing the same textbook as the texts listed on the U of T Bookstore website. UTS staff are not able to answer questions regarding student used textbook sales.
The U of T Bookstore is proud to partner with University of Toronto Schools.
Welcome Back Social - September 10
Get ready for the UTS Welcome Back Social on Thursday, September 10 hosted along with the UTS Parents' Association. This free event invites the UTS community to reconnect and celebrate the new school year. Join us after school for an afternoon of great food, lively student performances, a fun photo booth, and engaging activities. It's the perfect way to kick off the academic year.
Coffee Mornings for Parents and Guardians
Come and enjoy a cup of coffee at UTS! We’ve scheduled these events, for parents and guardians, around student camp drop-off times for your convenience, but please feel free to sign up for whichever day works best for your schedule. Each session will be in the Multi-Purpose Room from 8:15 to 10:15 a.m.
Reserve your spot now using the links below. We hope to see you there!
Back to School – Visit the UTS Shop
Get ready to show off your school pride as we gear up for the new academic year! The UTS Shop is fully stocked with everything your student needs for the crisp fall weather, including our cozy hoodies and classic sweatshirts. Perfect for chilly mornings, spirit days and cheering from the sidelines, our high-quality gear is the best way to stay warm and represent our school community. Visit the online store or drop by during our community welcome back social on September 10 to grab your favorite styles before they sell out!
Student Hot Lunch Orders
UTS is excited to offer hot lunches, through our trusted provider. See menu options and order forms below.
What's been happening at UTS
