It is hard to believe that it’s the beginning of June next week. I am always amazed at how fast the year seems to go at this time of year.
Last night we had a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our grads at UA’s 2026 Grad Dinner & Dance at the Riverway Golf Club. The evening saw our grads, parents, friends, family, and UA staff join together for an evening that took us down memory lane. The speeches touched on stories of our grads from their earliest years at UA through to their exciting graduation year. There was also a tribute to our parents, as many of them are graduating from this chapter of their involvement in the UA community, too. This particular group of parents includes several key volunteer leaders in the school’s history who helped to build the physical school and build the culture that we all enjoy today. It really was a fantastic night, and we are now looking forward to Commencement on June 17.
It has become tradition at this time of year that I share with the community some of the staffing changes you will see at UA in the 2026-2027 school year.
Administration Updates for 2026-2027
First off, I would like to congratulate Ms. Clare Manifold, who has been appointed Principal of the Middle and Senior School. Ms. Manifold has demonstrated excellent leadership this year in her role as Acting Principal and will now move forward in the role on a permanent basis. This also means that Ms. Ball will remain with UA in her part-time role (2 days/wk) as Director of Teaching and Learning on a permanent basis moving forward. We are also excited to welcome back Ms. Dumortier in September, returning to her role as Associate Principal of the Senior School.
Faculty Updates for 2026-2027
I am excited to announce that we will be adding two new teachers to our faculty for next year. These teachers will bring an incredible amount of experience and expertise to these now full-time roles at Urban Academy starting in the fall.
- Ms. Sarah Scali – University Counsellor & AP Coordinator
- Mr. Scott Barker – Outdoor Education Teacher
We will also see the return of two teachers, Ms. Szeto (who has recently returned) and Ms. Lofstrom, to the classroom as they return.
With June approaching quickly, I encourage all parents and families to be attentive to communications from the school, especially as it relates to dates and upcoming events. June starts quickly with Outdoor Ed Camps for Grade 3’s and Middle School and Grade 8 students next week, and Senior Assessment beginning in the second week for our senior students.
Yours in education,
Mr. Slinger