The Power of Global Connections

There’s so much we can learn from each other. Forging global connections deepens our understanding and enhances our ability to care for each other and the world we share.  

From September 28 to October 6, UTS had the pleasure of welcoming 22 Danish students and two teachers from Copenhagen’s Rysensteen Gymnasium high school into our school community, an exchange that has been a UTS tradition since 2018, as part of our Global Citizenship Program.  

For 19 of our families, this became an opportunity to take part in a deeper cultural experience, as they volunteered to host a Danish student, or in some cases two, in their homes.

The exchange is deeply reciprocal – our students and staff learn and grow from our experience of each other. In the spring, UTS students travel to Copenhagen and stay with Rysensteen families, experiencing Danish culture and taking part in RysMUN, a Model United Nations conference that is very different from what students can experience in Toronto. Rysensteen Gymnasium is a public high school dedicated to global citizenship that holds partnerships with several international schools; their Model UN is a true united nations, providing an opportunity for our students to deeply engage in international issues with students from around the world.  

The Rysensteen students who visited UTS this fall have studied Canada in depth since grade 10. The primary focus of their visit is learning as much as possible about the lives and issues facing Indigenous peoples in Canada, which can relate to the Kalaallit, Inughuit and Tunumiit of the Inuit from the Danish territory of Greenland. The Danish students attended our school’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Assembly on September 30, witnessing the musical premiere of pinâskiw, which in Northern Cree means ‘The Season of Falling Leaves.’ With the Indigenous composer Cris Derksen in the audience, the experience provided a pivotal moment for our guests, demonstrating that Indigenous peoples and cultures are vibrant and alive in Canada, contributing in a contemporary way to our country, and not something deep in our past.

The rest of their trip built upon this experience. For a joint Drama-Global Citizenship workshop, Rysensteen and UTS students worked together online since early September, sharing lessons and ideas. During their visit, they met in person, with UTS Drama Teacher Gabrielle Kemeny employing theatre techniques to connect and put them at ease together before the students presented a joint staged reading of the play Someday by Ojibwe playwright Drew Hayden-Taylor about the Sixties Scoop, where Indigenous children were removed from their homes and adopted into non-Indigenous families. The staged reading portion was co-facilitated with brilliant guest artist guest artist Brefny Caribou of Cree/Irish-settler descent and the workshop was also attended by the University of Toronto Head of Drama and Distinguished Professor Dr. Kathleen Gallagher, as well as several of her colleagues.

UTS Global Citizenship Coordinator Richard Cook led the Danish students on a walking tour of  First Nations Public Art in Tkaronto, which included a visit just across Bloor Street to Paul Martel Park. There, a vibrant mural called Interconnections, painted by artist Joseph Sagaj, Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) of the Sturgeon Clan, from a small community northeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario, brings to life the gathering of spirit animals, passing traditions, pollinators and bears, a canoe and much more. The students also attended the Royal Ontario Museum’s First Peoples Art and Culture Exhibition, toured the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto and Niagara Falls, taking part in the rekindling our relations Indigenous audio tour of Niagara Glen, and much more.

The Danish students and teachers are also very interested in discovering the secret of the extraordinary ethnic and cultural diversity that thrives in Toronto. Experiencing the home lives of UTS students provided a great window into this diversity as UTS students come from many varied cultures and backgrounds – thank you to all families who were able to share their homes and hospitality! Denmark has a much more homogenous culture than Canada, and while there are newcomers, tensions can escalate. The students’ joined Mr. Cook’s World Issues class, taking part in group discussions on how Toronto as a city manages to bring together so many people from different backgrounds so well and other discussion points.  

These conversations can take on a life of their own, and the relationships that form on these visits are what make partnerships like the one we share with Rysensteen Gymnasium so worthwhile. The UTS students who went to Denmark in the spring were incredibly excited to see their Danish friends again. Even two members of the Class of 2025 who graduated last June came back to meet our visitors at the airport and also joined our Danish guests on their weekend visit to Centre Island, relaxing and having fun together while fostering the deeper global cultural connections that are so meaningful for our students and our school. 

Everyone has a story.

"Everyone has a story. Every story matters. Not every story is easy to hear."

These words, shared by UTS Composer-in-Residence Cris Derksen during our National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Assembly, were a poignant reminder of why we gather as a community of learners ‒ to listen, to reflect, and to commit to act.

On September 30, our community witnessed the world premiere of her composition, pinâskiw, which means 'The Season of Falling Leaves.' One hundred musicians from Junior and Senior Strings, dressed in orange, took to the stage and filled Withrow Auditorium with the sound of hope and renewal. As the final notes faded, applause resounded while conductor Ms. Shugarman extended thanks to Cris, a Juno-nominated cellist and composer from Treaty 8 territory in Northern Alberta, with lineage from the North Tallcree Reserve on her father's side and Mennonite homesteaders on her mother's.

It was a powerful moment for our school community on a day of deep significance to our country.

As part of the assembly, organized by our school's Indigenous Solidarity Committee, Cris participated in a student-led panel discussion. She explained that music is her way of sharing stories, and 'The Season of Falling Leaves' expresses her love for the renewal of the seasons, the energy that comes when the leaves start to fall and the air cools. This renewal extends on a broader scale to our country as Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians work together to further Reconciliation.

Earlier in the assembly, students watched recorded testimony from Residential School Survivor Chief Dr. Robert Joseph. Today he is a Hereditary Chief of the Gwawaenuk First Nation in B.C. and a leading voice for Truth and Reconciliation, but when he went to residential school, he was just six years old, away from home for the first time. He described his fear arriving at the school, of being herded into showers, painted with white liquid, having his hair cropped off. He remembered being punished for waving at his sister, who also attended the school, and leaving many years later "truly broken." He also recalled the moment when the Prime Minister issued an apology to Residential School Survivors. He remembers the tears of joy he cried when he finally heard the words, "I'm sorry."

At last, they had listened.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is first about listening, and then about challenging ourselves to think about what we can do, what we are obligated to do, what we should do, and what we must do. After the assembly, students reflected in their classrooms on how they could help further Reconciliation and shared actions they plan to take in the year ahead.

I reflect on my own work and obligations both as a citizen and as Principal of this wonderful school. I remember the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action 63, which asks educators and school systems to ensure students learn about Indigenous voices. When we listen to and include multiple voices, representation follows, creating greater empathy and understanding between all Canadians and leading to unity.

It's not unlike listening to music. Cris told students that the collective act of listening to music together aligns the heartbeats of people in the audience a reminder that we are bound together by our humanity. This idea that we are all together and unified in this work is what Reconciliation ultimately means to us.

The Learning is Alive at UTS

The learning is alive at UTS, not only amongst students but thriving throughout our school community. Last week, UTS welcomed 32 keen first-year master of teaching candidates on the verge of their teaching careers from the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education (OISE). As they begin their first forays into the classroom, they join a longstanding UTS tradition of teacher training and leadership in educational research that is fundamental to who we are.

This school year’s cohort of master of teaching candidates.

Since its founding in 1910, UTS has been more than a school. It has been a cornerstone of teacher development and educational innovation. From the very beginning, teachers in training from the University of Toronto have come to UTS to learn what it means to be an exceptional educator. This tradition is not just part of our history; it is central to our identity and mission. Established by the University of Toronto to advance teacher training and educational research, UTS continues to embody this commitment 115 years later, shaping both outstanding students and the next generation of educators.

The learning flows both ways with the OISE master of teaching candidates, who come once a week on Thursdays during the first year of their program from September to February. The candidates learn from the exceptional expertise of our teachers, and provide extra support in the classroom. Some of them will return in March and April for an extended practicum placement at UTS, teaching classes in partnership with and guided by UTS teaching staff. Their presence strengthens our connection with OISE, bringing the latest best practices in education and exciting new energy and ideas into classrooms at our school. It enhances the learning of our students who are challenged in new and different ways. 

One of the greatest advantages of our University of Toronto affiliation is access to unparalleled expertise. Not only does this partnership enrich teacher training which is a founding pillar of UTS, but it also connects our students and faculty with world-class leaders in their fields. Last year, for example, UTS hosted a community panel on artificial intelligence featuring Dr. Susan McCahan, University of Toronto Associate Vice-President and Vice-Provost for Digital Strategies, and Dr. Steven Katz, Associate Professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. This conversation deepened our leadership in AI integration at the secondary level and laid the groundwork for ongoing dialogue this year.

Beyond events, our classrooms regularly welcome visiting scholars and experts from the University, while initiatives like our graduate student internship program with the Department of Computer Science bring cutting-edge AI research directly into our school. Together, these partnerships expand UTS’s capacity for innovation, preparing our students and our teachers for the future.

Another affiliation benefit is the opportunity to contribute to and support ongoing U of T and OISE research in the fields of education and the experiences of young people, through our in-house research institute, the Eureka! Research Institute at UTS. Our partnership allows teachers and staff to take on active roles as partners in research through co-designed studies. This enables staff to apply their considerable knowledge in the process and help ensures research is attuned to needs of the classrooms and students.   

For students, taking part in a study can provide an opportunity to experience the research process firsthand, furthering their understanding and potentially inspiring them to a career in research. Findings from research supported by UTS have been published in peer-reviewed journals and scholarly books, and presented at leading research conferences, furthering our knowledge of best practices in education and the experience of young people. 

Learning at UTS is not confined to our students—it is the heartbeat of our entire community. The growth of our students, the professional development of our staff, the training of Master of Teaching candidates, and the research that advances the field of education all build upon one another. Each dimension of learning enriches the others, creating a powerful cycle of shared growth. This collective commitment to continuous learning is what makes a UTS education truly exceptional.

Leading in Learning

UTS is committed to being a global leader in academic excellence, striving for continuous improvement to offer the best educational experience for our students. At this week’s Curriculum Night, I hope you shared our excitement as you heard about the learning that lies ahead for our students and appreciate the planning our teachers have done to provide an exceptional academic program for our students this year. At the event, I also shared a short update for families on our Strategic Plan work on Leading in Learning, one of the Plan’s five pillars.  

The world continues to change rapidly, and our school as an institution needs to be prepared for what lies ahead. The UTS Strategic Plan, which launched September 2024, provides a roadmap that outlines who we are and what we stand for as a school. More than just a series of goals, the plan is our shared commitment to ensure that we, as a community, continue the tradition of excellence and inclusion at UTS.

Whenever we are faced with new developments that have a major impact on society such as artificial intelligence, the Plan serves as our North Star, ensuring a strategic approach that aligns with our mission, vision and values. It helps us prepare and thoughtfully respond rather than react.

The UTS mission is, “We ignite the brightest minds to make a difference in the world.” Our vision is one of academic excellence, where our school is a global leader in education, thriving through our affiliation with the University of Toronto and our partnership with the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Our values of respect, accountability, honesty and integrity are underscored by an equity mindset that endeavours to create an environment where all can thrive.  

In the first year of our Plan, work on our Leading in Learning pillar sought to strengthen our technology curriculum with challenging real-world applications that prepare students to excel in their chosen fields. Some of these changes arose from feedback we received from parents, for which we are very grateful.  

We made space for an expanded UTS VEX robotics program, increasing student participation by hiring a full-time Computer Science and Robotics teacher and giving the program a designated space to support innovation and hands-on learning. Another new role, the creation of an Artificial Intelligence Integration Director, will provide high-level leadership, professional development and expertise to staff and students as AI rapidly integrates with society. A new technology focused summer course was established and support was also given to the new UTS Cybersecurity Club, to help foster skills in emerging fields for our students.   

In the 2024-25 school year, UTS also produced superior AP exam results – our mean scores continued to surpass Ontario and global scores, with 284 UTS students writing 629 AP exams. We also increased our support for teacher professional development, and increased student support with an additional counsellor for guidance and university counselling, all with the goal of enhancing the UTS experience for our students

This is just a sample of the continuous improvement taking place at our school, under the guidance of our Strategic Plan. Please read more about our efforts to advance equity and inclusion and safeguard student data and streamline processes in the Leading in Learning Presentation: Curriculum Night 2025.

The UTS Strategic Plan is an ongoing journey and your feedback is a vital part of the process we are undertaking to continuously improve our program. Please share your reflections on the UTS experience here to help us map the future of excellence at UTS. Your voice is important and we welcome your insights.

The Moments We Share that Matter

The halls feel a little quieter this week with our students off at different camps across the province, but we know they’re busy making memories that will last a lifetime. Camp is such a cherished tradition at UTS. It’s a time filled with laughter, friendship and the kind of teamwork and leadership experiences that shape the year ahead. My time at Cedar Glen with the F2s was a wonderful reminder of how curious and adventurous our students are. It also underscored how essential it is to help them see that true leadership begins with listening and that growth comes from stepping beyond their comfort zones to try new things. I am deeply grateful to all our dedicated teachers, who take time away from their own families to create these transformative experiences. Their commitment makes moments like these possible. 

Outdoor experiential education has been a cornerstone of UTS for more than half a century. Alumni often tell me about polar bear dips, campfire songs and far too little sleep, with a fondness that shows just how lasting these experiences are. Traditions like opening ceremonies or the annual House sorting activity, where new students discover which of our four Houses will be theirs forever, connect our current students to one another and to generations past, building a sense of belonging that defines our community.

We saw that same spirit of connection alive during our Welcome Back Barbecue, co-hosted with the UTS Parents’ Association (UTSPA). The plaza was filled with music from our Jazz Combo and a student-led rock band, while UTSPA volunteers kept the crowd happy with barbecue fare. Students tossed footballs across the lawn, and our soon-to-be-named owl mascot made its grand debut, adding a festive touch. It was a joy to welcome new families and reconnect with returning ones.

This week also gave us the chance to gather in smaller groups at Coffee Mornings, organized by grade. These conversations have been a wonderful way to connect, exchange ideas and open the lines of communication at the start of the year. Thank you to everyone who joined us to help strengthen those relationships.

Moments like these, whether around a campfire, a barbecue or a coffee table, are what make UTS more than a school. They are the things that help us build a community rooted in belonging, impact and integrity. I hope this week has been both exhilarating and rewarding for your children, giving them the bonds and confidence to set out on a joyful and successful year ahead.

A Warm Welcome to the New School Year!

Welcome students and families to the start of another year at UTS!

September always carries a special energy. There’s a freshness to new supplies, new shoes, and a perfectly ordered pencil case – the sense of possibility that comes with a blank page. At this week’s opening assembly, I asked our students: When you picture that brand new notebook, how do you want to fill its pages this year?

It’s not about grades or courses, but about aspirations: making new friends, joining a club, stepping into leadership or finally trying something that feels a tiny bit daunting but exciting. Each page is theirs to write, and I hope they fill this year with moments that bring both joy and growth. Because at its best, learning is and should be joyful.

Also during our assembly, we celebrated one of our beloved UTS traditions: welcoming our new students through our clapping-in ceremony. As music filled Withrow Auditorium and our new UTS mascot (fittingly, a wise owl) led the way, cheers rose in recognition of each new member of our community. It was a powerful reminder of the energy and excitement that fills the halls of UTS all year round.

At UTS, our mission is to ignite the brightest minds to make a difference in the world. This week is just the beginning. I look forward to seeing our students collaborate, question, experiment and discover – and most importantly, find joy in their learning and in one another.

We hope to see you at tonight’s Welcome Back Barbecue, co-hosted with the UTS Parents’ Association, and thank all our families for helping us get the year off to a strong start.