September 25, 2025
Strategic Plan Strategic Plan Implementation Update - Year 1
UTS holds a deep commitment to excellence and inclusion, shaping our community and contributing to the future of our country. In September 2024, we launched the new UTS Strategic Plan as a shared commitment to ensure that we, as a school community, uphold our values while continuing to develop our students’ potential to lead in an era of rapid change.
Our mission is: We ignite the brightest minds to make a difference in the world. Our vision is one of academic excellence, and our values are rooted in a strong school community that fosters anti-racism, equity, diversity and inclusion for all.
The first year of this Strategic Plan has been one of growth and challenge as we endeavour to bring the plan to life within the halls of our school. During this time, our school became a member of Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS), a community of independent schools committed to excellence through rigorous standards and continuous whole-school improvement.
The Strategic Plan Implementation Update provides a snapshot of our progress, outlining highlights and milestones that bring the pillars of the plan to life at UTS. Holding ourselves accountable ensures our strategy effectively guides us forward, supporting our affiliation with the University of Toronto while preparing our students to navigate the challenges of the future, and preserving our the far-reaching impact of UTS for many years to come.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at UTS
Tuesday, September 30
On Tuesday, September 30, UTS will take time as a school community to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and reflect on the inequities committed through Canada’s Residential School System.
Students should refer to the Google Calendar for the full class schedule for that day.
At 10:40 a.m. on Tuesday, September 30, students will attend a school-wide Assembly in the Withrow Auditorium, escorted by their Period 2 teacher. In alignment with our shared commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, all students are asked to attend and take part in this important community gathering. The Assembly will include testimonies from Residential School survivors, reflections from students and staff, and an opportunity to hear from our Juno-nominated Composer-in-Residence, Cris Derksen, whose commissioned work, pinâskiw, will be premiered by just over 90 of our music students.
Cris hails from Treaty 8 territory in Northern Alberta with lineage from Northtail Cree Reserve on her father’s side and Mennonite homesteaders on her mother's side. She is a Juno-nominated winning cellist and composer. UTS has a long-standing relationship with Cris and her music. Cris will engage in a Q&A with some of our string performers.
After the Assembly, students and staff will return to their Period 2 (Block G) classes for a guided reflection and sharing activity. Students will require their laptops for this reflection activity.
Students are encouraged to wear their orange t-shirts on Tuesday, September 30. All F1 students will be given an orange shirt on Monday, September 29, in class. New M3, M4 and S5 students can pick up an orange shirt from the Student Life Office (350) on Monday.
SHOW 2025-2026 Audition Information
We are excited to announce that the audition form for this year’s SHOW (Student Dance and Music) production, Windows to the Soul (2025–2026), is now available. Students may sign up by completing the form in their inboxes by 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 1.
Auditions will be held after school during the week of October 6–9. Additional details will be shared with families and students as the audition dates approach.
We look forward to a wonderful performance season and to showcasing the talents of our students in this year’s production.
Group Chats and Online Content
At UTS, we remind students that their behaviour online should reflect the same respect and kindness they show in person.
We do not endorse the use of outside group chats since UTS provides email for school-related communication. Should students create their own groups, they should be small and purposeful, such as for a class project where everyone knows one another and the purpose is clear.
Large or unfocused chats can create problems: people may be added without consent, it is not always clear who is in the chat, and conversations can become overwhelming or unkind.
All chat platforms are not supported or monitored by UTS. Families can help by asking who is in their child’s chats, what the chats are for, and how they feel about participating.
The UTS Code of Conduct applies to all interactions that impact our community, including online.
School Photos
School photos were taken last week and proof have arrived in the Main Office.
Families are encouraged to order online for the fastest and most efficient process. Proofs will have a Portrait ID and an access code on them that you can use to place your order.
Photo Retake day is scheduled for October 22, and students can sign up in the Main Office.
Questions? Please contact mainoffice@utschools.ca
School Safety
Help us keep your students' items safe! All students have been provided with a school lock for their locker. Many students are leaving their lockers unlocked between classes, at lunch and after school. Please remind your child of the importance of securing their items. If they are having trouble with their locks, they can visit Ms. Ahmed or Iorek in the Main Office.
Evans Library Updates
This week, all UTS students received an email from the Evans Library seeking their participation in a survey. Libraries are community-driven and centered spaces, and the goal of the Evans Library is to support all UTS students, not only academically, but also through their leisure time (e.g. lunches/spares/before and after school) in the building and beyond. Please encourage your child to participate in the survey and share their perspective.
New Students and Families: Our IT department is currently working with U of T to have UTORids created. These are required to access University of Toronto Libraries. Once these have been created, all new students will receive an email from jpandey@utschools.ca with detailed instructions guiding them through UTORid activation, password setup and password recovery. Your support in completing these important steps is greatly appreciated, ensuring that all our students have access to the full range of resources available to them through the University of Toronto Libraries (UTL).
Once new student UTORids have been created, Evans Library staff will also work with UTL to have TCards printed. Evans Library staff will reach out to all new students when these are ready for pickup.
Join the UTSPA Parent Volunteer Group
The UTS Parents’ Association invites you to join our volunteer group - PVG. We need your help to support our school and students in various exciting events that are scheduled to take place throughout the year.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the UTSPA PVG this year and have not already signed up, please click the button below. UTSPA looks forward to working with you!
Go Blues!
Catch our exciting upcoming UTS Athletics games and practices:
Follow all UTS Blues Athletics events on the Foundation Athletics Google Calendar and the High School Athletics Google Calendar.
Adding the UTS Calendars to your Google Calendar
Visit UTS Calendars
Click the “+” in the bottom right to add these to your own calendar.
Note that you must be logged into your Google Chrome account and open your Google Calendar
It might take up to 24 hours for changes to show in your Google Calendar.
Student Hot Lunch Orders
UTS is excited to offer hot lunches, through our trusted providers. See menu options and order forms below.
What’s been happening at UTS recently….
Teachers Maureen McCarthy, Kristen Chen and Mita Bhattacharyya, travelled to the Toronto offices of GPTZero yesterday afternoon to participate in a co-design workshop on "Designing for Digital Critical Thinking Tools." UTS alums Alex Cui ’16 and Edward Tian ’18 worked with them to figure out an AI-related critical thinking problem teachers face and possible solutions.
Here are Maureen, Mita, Alex and Edward at the event.
