January 8, 2026
The AI Beat
by Adnan Zuberi, Director of AI Integration
Summer Camps
UTS Summer Camps are one-week programs featuring an academic-adjacent theme. Campers range in grade from 3 to 9 and run with the support of UTS student counsellors and MT candidates. This year, summer camps will run during the month of July. We aim to run several camps across a range of fields including science/engineering, math/coding, creative expression, debate/public speaking, and special interest. Programs should build towards a showcase for the families at the end of the week or include take-home components.
Additional compensation is provided to camp leads. This opportunity is open to both returning and new teachers. Interested in running a camp? Please email Sean and Charline by Monday, February 9 with:
your proposed camp theme
intended grade range (camps should span three or four grade levels)
a descriptive paragraph on the camp (ie. what campers will learn and do, as though you are marketing this program to families)
what specialty materials, equipment, spaces, or tools your camp program may require (eg. laptop, use of lab equipment, etc.)
Which weeks in July you are available to run the camp
Week 1: July 6-10 (5 days)
Week 2: July 13-17 (5 days)
Week 3: July 20-24 (5 days)
Week 4: July 27-30 (4 days)
a description of what students would show and share on Friday OR a description of take-home tangibles
Are you curious to know more but are not yet ready to commit? Visit Sean or Charline for a no-commitment conversation!
PD Slide Decks
Lydia Cao’s presentation on AI Literacy
Njeri Sojourner Campbell’s presentation on Human Rights and AI
Business & Operations department presentations and slides from Kim T.’s presentation
Plans are underway to continue these presentations, and how to present the information to all staff as well.
The AEDI session on transphobia for Business & Operations staff will be rescheduled.
There is still one day to fill out the Business & Operations PD Day Feedback survey.
Thank you for your engagement and openness on Monday and Tuesday. Wishing you a wonderful and warm January!
2026-2027 Calendar Consultation
The Academic Administration wanted to share the general plans for the 2026-2027 breaks and PD days. We would love your opinions, comments and suggestions and are collecting your feedback through this form.
The form will be open until Friday, January 9 at 4 p.m.
Donut Sale in support of our Heydon Park Buddies! Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Students at UTS who are involved in the Best Buddies Canada Program are excited to share a meaningful opportunity to support our broader school community.
In partnership with Heydon Park Secondary School, our Best Buddies partner school, we are hosting a donut fundraiser to support their Outdoor Education Program.
Please click the link here to purchase your donuts or to make a donation directly to Heydon Park today.
Lockdown Drill Next Week - Jan 14
The second lockdown drill of the school year will be on Wednesday, January 14 at 2:45 p.m. (Block A). Please do not share this with students at this time.
Please review the lockdown procedures and please also note there is a *NEW* lockdown alarm sound which you can preview here.
Teachers please speak to your Block B classes about what will happen during a lockdown. When they hear the siren, they should move away from the door against the back wall of the room and remain quiet. Please also warn them that they will hear banging and someone trying to open the door, simulating an intruder trying to get into the space.
All staff, please help students and other staff to get into safe, lockable spaces when you hear the siren.
Note that U of T does not do lockdowns and there are no lockdown speakers on the west side. To ensure that the entire UTS community is included during lockdowns, speakers will be installed in the west entrance foyer over the summer of 2026. Until then, staff located on the west side of 371 will not hear lockdown announcements and will not be able to participate in lockdown drills.
Admissions Brainstorm Jan 14
Wondering how we bring more kind, empathetic, collaborative students into UTS? Have a great idea for an icebreaker activity to share? Join us for an idea jam next Wednesday, January 14 at lunch in room 232 to discuss and design effective group task prompts! RSVP here. This session may be of particular interest to staff who work with F1-M3 students. All staff are welcome.
Not able to attend but have ideas to share? Please visit Charline anytime!
SHOW Reminder
Friendly reminder that the Dress Rehearsal for SHOW is between Period 2 and 5 on Friday, January 16. Students will sign in for Period 2 and proceed to the Withrow. F1 and F2 students will be back in class for Period 5.
Student Life is looking for supervision support on both Friday, January 16 and Saturday, January 17 for SHOW between 6 and 9 p.m. Please let studentlife@utschools.ca know if you are able to support us on either day. Lebanese Garden Dinner will be provided on both evenings. Thank you to those who have been supporting SHOW throughout the year.
OISE Master of Teaching Candidates - Thursdays
We are happy to welcome back our OISE MT teacher candidates to UTS, starting next Thursday (January 15 until February 5)! See the sign up sheet, updated each week to let candidates know what is happening in your classes (or if it’s not a good day for a visit)! Please feel free to get them involved as much as possible, and help with whatever is needed!
OISE Master of Teaching Candidates - Call for Panel Participants
This semester, the OISE teacher candidates will be completing an auto-ethnography focused on their personal professional growth during the first year of their program. Each candidate has identified a particular area of growth for themselves, and are asked to use a combination of classroom observations, conversations, and artifacts to demonstrate their learning for their final presentation in my course. To help support this, I am putting together a panel of willing UTS teachers to spend a period in conversation with the TCs (very informal - nothing to prepare ahead). If you are interested, please email Kim MacKinnon with your preferred times (Tuesdays or Thursdays, between Jan 13/15 and Feb 3/5).
PA System Feedback – We Hear You
Thank you to all staff who have provided feedback and collaborated with us on the system. We are currently awaiting the contractor and plan to either remove or repair the pre-announcement “ding-ding” in order to reduce or eliminate feedback.
PITJ has been working with students on best practices for microphone use, including appropriate distance and volume, to reduce overly loud announcements. In addition, the main office will be briefly closed during announcements to help minimize background noise.
Absences for Late Start, PD and Staff Meetings
Teaching Staff who need to be away for Late Start, PD or Staff Meetings are kindly requested to let jpittlainsbury@utschools.ca know. For full or part day absences, to please follow the steps in the Teacher Handbook p. 23-24. Operations staff who need to be away for Staff meetings should let jpittlainsbury@utschools.ca know and if they need to be away for PD they should let their Head of Department know and follow HR protocols. Thank you!
Thank You for Your Generosity and Support
As we begin the new year, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of you who contributed to the success of our Fall fundraising appeal. Your generosity directly impacts the opportunities we can provide for our students. Every gift helps us deliver enhanced learning experiences, innovative programs, and resources that empower every UTS student. Thank you for living our mission and for going above and beyond to make a lasting difference in the lives of our students. Together, we are building a stronger, more vibrant school community!
