September 26, 2024
Orange Shirt Day and National Day of Truth and Reconciliation Assembly
September 30, 2024
The National Day of Truth and Reconciliation Assembly will be from 12:50 p.m. to 1:40 p.m. on Monday. Students will see a modified schedule in their timetables and should go directly to their period 4, Block D class after lunch for attendance. Their Block D teachers will accompany them to and from the assembly during period 4.
Wear Orange
We encourage all UTS community members to wear an orange shirt on Monday, September 30 to commemorate Orange Shirt Day.
School Assembly
On Monday, September 30, UTS will be having a whole school assembly that will include the performance of “Lost and Found” composed by Cris Derksen, an internationally respected Indigenous cellist and composer from Treaty 8 Northern Alberta and UTS’s composer-in-residence. Our assembly also will feature a video of a residential school survivor speaking to the impact of the residential school on their life and their community.
Keynote Speaker
The September 30 assembly will also feature a keynote address by Dr. Niigaan Sinclair. Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair is Anishinaabe (St. Peter’s/Little Peguis) and a professor at the University of Manitoba, where he holds the Faculty of Arts Professorship in Indigenous Knowledge and Aesthetics and is currently Head of the Department of Indigenous Studies. Niigaan is also an award-winning writer, editor and activist. Dr. Sinclair’s presentation will focus on how the understanding of Indigenous rights, treaties and Indigenous knowledge is a growing requirement of all Canadians regardless of profession.
CBC Camera Crew at UTS
Dr. Sinclair will be joined by a CBC camera crew who will be documenting Dr. Sinclair’s experience of National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Garry Kollins, Vice Principal of Student Life (gkollins@utschools.ca) or Nas Khan, Head of Anti-Racism, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion & Outreach (nasreen.khan@utschools.ca).
Bursary Applications for the 2025-26 school year
Open Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Application deadline is Thursday, October 31, 2024
Please visit http://applefinancialservices.ca/ and complete your application by October 31, 2024 if you are interested in applying for bursary support.
If you have any questions, please contact UTS Finance at finance@utschools.ca
Fall Music Lesson Scholarship Program (F2-S6)
Application deadline: October 9 at 4 p.m.
Thanks to the John and Margaret Withrow Foundation, UTS Music is offering Fall Music Lesson Scholarships to a selective group of students who are registered for a UTS Music course (F2-S6) in the 2024-2025 school year. Students who are awarded this scholarship will receive a full subsidy towards 5 music lessons to be taken between September to December. All of these lessons will take place at UTS.
Deserving recipients of the scholarship will have demonstrated the following attributes or requirements:
Demonstrated evidence that individualized music lessons will support their success in music studies at UTS
Must be enrolled in an F2-S6 UTS music course for the 2024-2025 year
Has shown a high degree of musical potential (not ability)
Demonstrated a love of music through contributions to the curricular and/or co-curricular music program
If you have any questions, please contact the Director of Music, Ms. Pat (lyris.pat@utschools.ca)
School Arrival
We appreciate your support in ensuring your child’s arrival at school with enough time to be in their classrooms ready for their Period 1 class to begin at 8:45 a.m.
Thank you for attending the UTS Family BBQ!
On Friday, September 20 over 550 community members came together for the inaugural UTS Family BBQ! Thank you to the many UTSPA volunteers who helped to create and support this event. It was wonderful that the community came together to create such an exciting start to the school year.
Coffee Mornings at UTS for Parents and Guardians
October 2, 8, 16 and 17 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
You are invited to join Dr. Leanne Foster, UTS Principal - and other UTS representatives - for coffee mornings at the school from 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Click on the links below for the event specific to your grade. We look forward to welcoming you!
UTS Pathways of Support
This is a great time of year to affirm support seeking as an important life skill. UTS’s Pathways of Support lets students and parents know who to connect with in Student Services when issues or needs arise related to navigating learning, life and mental health. School Social Workers Joelle, Steph and Marleen can be emailed any time at social.work.staff@utschools.ca.
School Vaccinations Clinic for F1 Students
Consent forms due Tuesday, October 1
Vaccination Clinic is Thursday, October 17
Toronto Public Health (TPH) will be on site at UTS on October 17 to provide school vaccinations to F1 students.
Consent forms were sent home with students over the last 2 days. The completed forms need to be returned by Tuesday October 1st to the main office.
Extra consent forms are also available at the Main Office in case your child did not receive one. F2 students who missed their vaccination will also have the opportunity to receive them in this clinic.
To find out more about the vaccine clinic process, click here. If seeking exemption from the vaccinations, click here to find out how. Exemptions are solely decided by TPH.
For questions and clarifications, contact UTS School Nurse Adi Sood at adi.sood@utschools.ca
F1-M3 Guidance Counsellor Update
On Monday, September 30, we are delighted to be welcoming Ms. Ronell Matthews to our F1 - M3 guidance team. The Student Services Quick Guide for Families has been updated to include the roster lists for Ms. Matthews.
Postsecondary Planning While in Middle School (F1-M3)
UTS has a robust university counselling program that begins in M4 with the Career Studies course.
In F1-M3, the best thing to do to prepare for this is to encourage your child to develop their learning and cooperative skills while exploring the fun curricular, co-curricular and volunteer opportunities UTS has to offer in a way that is authentic to them.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s counsellor.
Therapy Dogs for F1 Students
Over the next 2 weeks, the school nurse and social workers will have a 20 minute meeting with all F1 students to introduce the health services available at UTS.
The meetings will take place in small groups of 15 students with therapy dogs present. The idea is to increase your child’s comfort with the UTS health services team in a relaxed environment.
If there are any questions please contact Adi Sood (School Nurse) or Marleen Constantin (Social Work).
Getting Ready: The Postsecondary Counselling Program (M4-S6)
September 29 - October 4
Our experienced team of university counsellors provides individual and small group counsellng and support to students throughout their postsecondary planning.
The unique S5 and S6 seminar courses are tailored and revised each year to meet the needs of our students, and reflect the changing landscape of post-secondary admissions.
Students also have the opportunity in the fall to connect with domestic and international admissions representatives when they visit UTS.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s counsellor.
AP Exam Registration Portal Now Open
Registration deadline is Sunday, October 20
M4-S6 students can now use this portal to register for AP exams.
Students enrolled in courses that end in -P (ie. SBI4UP), AP exam registration is mandatory. Invoices for exams will be sent in November directly to guardians.
Learn more:
Reach out to apexams@utschools.ca with any questions. We are happy to help!
M4 Washington Parent/Guardian Meeting
October 7 at 6 p.m.
Parents and guardians of those students attending the M4 Washington trip will receive an calendar invite next week for the October 7 virtual meeting regarding the upcoming trip. to discuss:
Final trip itinerary
Overnight Code of Conduct
Hotel accommodations
Other important information
There will also be an opportunity for questions. A recording of the meeting will be sent out the morning of October 8 for those unable to make it.
