For the second year in a row, February rolled in with a snow day at UA! And it is going to continue to be packed with exciting and engaging learning opportunities for us. So far we have had a variety of winter activities, athletic trips, the Grade 8/9 Yukon trip, UBC lab visit, nature walks and a MUN conference weekend where we sent nearly 30 students, as some examples. The arrival of the activity bus really couldn’t have come at a better time. I certainly enjoyed riding on it to accompany our Grades 2 and 3 students to Moody Park Arena!
Looking ahead on the calendar, there are many more meaningful learning opportunities and engaging community-building activities planned for this month including the JK/K concert, Senior Showcase Webinar, a number of field trips, athletics trips and tournaments, and a poetry workshop to name a few. During the Senior School Showcase on February 12, we are incredibly excited to be able to announce a new program rolling out in the Senior School for the 2025/26 school year. Looking to the nearer term future on the UA calendar, February also marks Black History Month and, as of this year, a Week of Belonging.
In every class, students learn about and celebrate the contributions of Black Canadians to the country’s rich cultural, social, and historical landscape. From artists and activists to scientists and community leaders, Black Canadians have played a vital role in shaping the diverse and inclusive society we value today. Learning about their contributions as well as the challenges they faced, deepens our understanding of history, equity, and social justice. We are hoping that by exploring their stories, our students gain a deeper appreciation for resilience, courage and hope.
Guided by our values of changemaking and belonging, UA educators plan holistic and pluralistic learning experiences to enrich our academic program. Week of Belonging thoughtfully and intentionally planned activities are a perfect example of this; to amplify the message that ‘we recognize the unique lived experiences, identities, and perspectives of our community, where everyone feels respected, included, safe and supported to be their authentic self.’
We appreciate that these topics might be sensitive to some. It is important to note that the content and what is being discussed are vastly different based on students’ age and stage and development. In Junior school, for example, we believe the power of stories is an incredible tool for learning and dialogue and that is usually how we begin these conversations. If you would like to explore any of these topics further, UA library is a wonderful place to start, thanks to the efforts of Ms. Twaites, our amazing teacher-librarian, who has been tirelessly sourcing an excellent collection of books and resources and has transformed the library into a living learning hub.
Respectfully yours,
Khatereh Dadar
Associate Principal