A Joyful Celebration of the 2024-25 School Year

The year 2024-25 has been one of exhilaration, with great challenges, exciting discoveries and boundless creativity.

There have been animated debates, great tomes written, complex formulas solved and innovative experiments. Our students have learned to ask the big questions and  challenge assumptions, while challenging one another and our school to greater heights. 

Students demonstrated their discipline, focus and intellectual capacity but also their curiosity, collaboration, compassion and humour – all qualities the world urgently needs.

On the last day of school, we came together for one final assembly to celebrate the year with our school community. Spirits were high as the Jazz Band and Music Teacher Dr. Jeff MacLeod set the tone. 

So many students contribute to making UTS a special place. From House to Lit Awards for co-curricular achievement, Athletics letters to awards for the graduating S6 class, the assembly honoured students for their leadership, dedication, initiative and engagement. For the second year in a row, the House Cup went to Cody Cougars! Graduating Captains Nathan and Avi (also known as Navi) were awarded the prestigious Gold and Silver Nesbitt medals for being exemplary well-rounded UTS students. They said their good-byes – “We loved being your captains this year!” as they inducted in 2025-26 captains Max and Angela. Four graduating students received the School Key Award to our school for their extraordinary roles in school co-curriculars: Cici, Adam, Anousha and Sterling. The Class of 1973 award, presented to an S6 girl for a high level of school spirit, enthusiasm and participation over her years, went to Xin and Brianna.

A successful UTS Charity Week (UCW) fundraising effort that met its goals for Socks 4 Souls Canada meant that Math Teacher Thomas Nachshen took to the stage as promised for the UCW Teachers’ Dance, accompanied by Canadian World Studies Teacher Chris Walasek and Guidance Counsellor Jennifer Kelly – their spirited performance brought the house down. 

And then there were the goodbyes. S6 Justine gave a heartfelt thank you to retiring Math Teacher Sandra DellaMaestra after 27 years at our school and Katarina and Aryana gave thanks to History Teacher Dr. Paul Harkison, retiring after 30 years. In typical history teacher fashion, Paul in turn gave thanks to three civilizations: the Indus River Valley and ancient city of Mohenjo-Daro known for their remarkable drainage; Meroë, one of three extraordinary civilizations in ancient Kush on the Nile, with a one-eyed woman warrior named Queen Amanirenas; and Dynastic China and empress Wu Zetian, the only woman to ever become the emperor of China.

What a way to say goodbye!

Thank you to all our students, staff and families for making this a year to remember and for growing and learning together. I wish you all a wonderful and relaxing summer and look forward to seeing returning students and families next year. To our graduates and their families, happy Graduation day! I wish you all the best in your next chapter – the learning has only just begun.