All Parents & Host Families

2025–2026 Appleby College Calendar

Please click here to view the 2025-2026 Appleby College school year calendar.

Notices from School Directors

Please read the School Directors' notices from Janay Eccles, director of Middle School; Christopher Patterson, director of Upper School; and Michael Moores, director of Senior School.

Laptop Rollout for New Students

New students can look forward to receiving a Microsoft Surface Pro 9 tablet (in platinum) in August. Details regarding device pick-up were e-mailed to families on July 30, 2025. Please click here to view. New boarding students will receive their Surface Pro 9 tablet upon their arrival to campus, as part of the new boarder orientation program. Should you have any questions regarding the Surface Pro 9 tablet, please contact Elaine Duggan, director, IT services at eduggan@appleby.on.ca.

Top Marks - Appleby's Official Uniform Provider

A reminder that Top Marks (www.topmarks.ca) is Appleby’s official school uniform provider. As previously communicated in Appleby This Week, the deadline to ensure delivery of your child's Appleby College uniform before the start of school was Sunday, June 15, 2025. If you still need to order your child's uniform, please do so as soon as possible via Top Marks' website at www.topmarksorders.ca (Appleby's school code is APP01). Orders will be processed as quickly as possible. The earlier you order the more likely Top Marks will be able to deliver your order, however delivery prior to Monday, September 8, 2025 is not guaranteed. To prepare for the new year, please also review the Standards of School Dress and Appearance. Should you have any questions, please contact Top Marks' helpful Customer Service Department at 1-800-667-7105 (Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT) or at info@topmarks.ca.

Physical Education Uniform Policy

All Appleby students participating in physical education are expected to wear Appleby College crested athletic wear to all active-based physical education classes from Middle One to Senior Two. The physical education department has partnered with the Appleby College Parents' Association (ACPA) to provide students with a wide-range of athletic clothing options. Students are also required to have one pair of both indoor and outdoor athletic shoes. Please visit the online College Shop for all Appleby blue and white athletic attire. Contact Anthony Schembri, department head, health and physical education with any questions. Online orders can be picked up from The College Shop (you will receive an e-mail once it is ready) or select the shipping option to have an order delivered to your home. Online orders will be processed within 3-5 business days. Alternatively, you can visit Appleby's College Shop on the dates and times listed below.  

College Shop Summer Hours

The College Shop, located in the A.W.B. Alumni Centre for Athletics and Student Life, sells all approved gymwear, team windsuits, school ties, stationery supplies and Appleby logo gift items. During the back-to-school period, it will be open the following dates and times:

-Monday, August 25 to Friday, August 29 - 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
-Tuesday, September 2 to Friday, September 5 - 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Shop early to avoid the back to school rush! If you are unable to come to the College Shop for your back-to-school shopping, please visit us online. All required athletic clothing and school supplies are available and the online College Shop offers shipping for your convenience. To book an appointment in August please e-mail Lori Latter, manager, College Shop.

New Boarder Orientation

On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, we are looking forward to welcoming all new boarders for the New Boarder Orientation Program. Check-in will take place at 10:00 a.m. To view additional details, please click here to login to Appleby's education management system - BBK12. Once logged in, under the "Groups" tab at the top of the screen, click "Boarder Orientation", the "Orientation Week" tile, then the "Orientation Week Schedule" button to access key dates and information.

Returning Boarder Move-in

All returning Upper Two (Grade 10) and Senior One (Grade 11) boarding students will move in on Thursday, September 4, 2025 between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. 

Senior Two (Grade 12) Boarder Move-in: Saturday, September 6, 2025 

RETURNING Senior Two (Grade 12) students will move in on Saturday, September 6, 2025. Students are expected to move-in to their boarding room at 9:00 a.m. and will be required to remain in boarding for the full duration of the weekend (this does not include House Council and Prefects who move into boarding on Tuesday, September 2, 2025).

Middle School Student Orientation (Grades 7 & 8): Thursday, September 4, 2025

All NEW and RETURNING Middle School students are required to attend the Orientation Day on Thursday, September 4, 2025 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Students should come dressed in athletic attire, prepared for the weather, and prepared to participate in active indoor and outdoor activities. As well, they should bring a water bottle that can be refilled throughout the day. Students will not need their laptop on Orientation Day. Please note that there will be no buses in the morning. The afternoon bus will leave campus at 4:00 p.m. If you have any questions over the summer leading up to this exciting day, please do not hesitate to contact the Admissions team at admissions@appleby.on.ca. 

Upper School Student Orientation (Grades 9 & 10): Thursday, September 4, 2025

All NEW and RETURNING Upper School students will participate in the Orientation Day on Thursday, September 4, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. All Upper One (Grade 9) and Upper Two (Grade 10) students will be on campus for orientation activities with their advisors. Students need to dress for the weather as there will be activities taking place outside. School-appropriate active wear with running shoes are recommended, as well as a refillable water bottle. Please note that there will be no buses in the morning and the afternoon bus will leave campus at 4:00 p.m.

Senior One (Grade 11) Student Orientation: Thursday, September 4, 2025

All NEW and RETURNING Senior One (Grade 11) students are required to attend the Orientation Day on Thursday, September 4, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Students are to come dressed in casual, comfortable attire prepared to participate in active and fun indoor/outdoor sessions. Day students are expected to find their own way to campus for 10:00 a.m. There will be a bus leaving campus for all day students at 4:00 p.m.

New Boarder Parent Orientation and Luncheon – Tuesday, September 2, 2025 

On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, parents of new Boarders attending orientation are invited to attend a parent lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at McLean House (Principal’s Residence) where they will have the opportunity to enjoy lunch with their child's advisor. An invitation was sent via e-mail on July 31, 2025. A reminder to please complete the RSVP form here (parents only) by Tuesday, August 19, 2025. Dress code is casual as the event is taking place outdoors.

Following the luncheon, while students are participating in their own orientation programming until 2:45 p.m., parents are also invited at 1:45 p.m. to the A.W.B. Alumni Centre for Athletics and Student Life Campus Room foyer for Sweet Connections - a relaxed gathering featuring coffee and dessert. During this time, parents will have the opportunity to connect with various Appleby departments, explore Boarder Corner, take optional Campus tours, purchase school uniforms, and visit the College Shop, which will be open for additional school supplies and spirit wear. The day's activities will end at 4:00 p.m. To view the schedule, please click here to login to Appleby's education management system - BBK12. Once logged in, under the "Groups" tab at the top of the screen, click "Boarder Orientation", the "Orientation Week" tile, then the "Orientation Week Schedule" button.

New to Appleby Parent Orientation Evening - Wednesday, September 3, 2025

On Wednesday, September 3, 2025, all new to the school parents are invited to attend the New Parent Orientation Evening from 6:45 to 9:00 p.m. Come meet the Appleby school administration, faculty, and your child’s advisor. Parents have the opportunity to mingle with their new parent buddies and other Appleby parents. Please register for the event here. Please note that this event is for new parents only and does not include students. 

Reminder: Final Math Diagnostic Testing Session for New Students – Wednesday, September 3, 2025

In preparation for the 2025-2026 school year, new long distance boarders will write the math diagnostic test on Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at 8:45 a.m. New Middle Two to Senior One day students who are coming from a school outside of Ontario and who have not yet written the diagnostic test should also write the test on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. The diagnostic test is optional for students coming from schools in Ontario.

Students are asked to arrive 15 minutes early. Please bring pencils, an eraser and a calculator. Water bottles are also permitted. Please note that this test helps us understand the curriculum new students have already completed and there is no need to study or stress! Please make your way to the Nicholas Arts Centre front reception where you will be greeted and brought to the appropriate classroom.

Textbooks & Course Materials for the 2025-2026 School Year

Appleby has partnered with the University of Toronto (“UofT”) Bookstore to provide textbooks and course materials for the 2025-2026 academic year. Books for Fall 2025 are available for purchase online and in-store at the St. George (downtown) Campus located at 214 College Street, Toronto (on the second floor). To find and purchase your child’s course materials from the UofT Bookstore, follow these steps:

Step 1. Select the appropriate grade
Step 2. Select the appropriate book (options include new, used, digital) and specify quantity
Step 3: Add the book to the cart, view cart and check-out

Online orders can be shipped directly to your home or picked up at any of the other UofT Campus Bookstores including UofT Mississauga (UTM) and UofT Scarbrough (UTSC). For hours and locations please visit www.uoftbookstore.com/locations. The UofT Bookstore team is happy to support the Appleby community in any way they can. Please note, some titles are currently on back-order due to publisher delays. These books can still be ordered and they will ship as soon as they arrive. If you have any questions, please e-mail them at ApplebyCollege@uoftbookstore.com.

Used Book Donations for Centennial Scholars

Appleby's Centennial Scholars Programme is looking for textbook donations for use by our students next year. Texts that are required for common courses (unused or gently used Science or French workbooks, Math and Science textbooks, etc.) are needed. Heavily annotated English texts or largely filled-in workbooks cannot be reused. If in doubt about whether a text would be useful or not, please e-mail Clayton Dion, and/or Janet Kurusanather, coordinators, Centennial Scholars Programme. Please drop-off any book donations to Nicholas Arts Centre front reception marked to the attention of Clayton Dion/Janet Kurusanather (reception hours during the summer are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays, except statutory holidays). Thank you for your support!

Save the Date - Outdoor Education Information Night

An Outdoor Education Information Night will be held on Wednesday, September 3, 2025 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for Middle School and Upper One parents. This session will cover all areas within the Temagami and Kandalore programs at Appleby this fall. The Upper One session will be led by Doug Stamper, outdoor education director, in the Schlesinger Dining Hall, while the Middle One and Middle Two session will be led by Justin Pfluegl, assistant director of outdoor education in Willis Hall.

Outdoor Education Information and Key Dates

Upper One students will be visiting the S. Bruce McLaughlin Northern Campus with the class divided into four groups: Trip 1 – Friday, September 12 to Wednesday, September 17, Trip 2 – Wednesday, September 17 to Monday, September 22, Trip 3 - Wednesday, September 24 to Monday, September 29, Trip 4 - Monday, September 29 to Saturday, October 4. Students will travel with their advisor groups and the schedule will be available in September.

All new Senior One and Senior Two students as well as any returning Senior One or Senior Two students that have not completed their required trip (these individuals will be contacted by Outdoor Education faculty directly), along with the Senior One Outdoor Leaders will visit the S. Bruce McLaughlin Northern Campus from Saturday, October 4 to Thursday, October 9. Trip lists including an overview of the personal equipment students will need to bring with them on their respective trip will be provided on BBK12 in the Outdoor Education section in the Fall.

Students are required to attend a swim assessment between Tuesday, September 2 and Thursday, September 4. A sign-up link will be shared with students directly via e-mail by Justin Pfluegl, assistant director, outdoor education before the end of the summer.

Middle School Compulsory Programs

Outdoor Education Program
All Middle School students will be attending a camping excursion to Camp Kandalore in Algonquin Highlands, Ontario. Middle One students will be attending Wednesday, September 17 to Friday, September 19 and Middle Two students will be attending Tuesday, September 16 to Friday, September 19. 

Grade Trips
Next spring, all Middle Two students will be attending an overnight experiential trip to Ottawa, Ontario while Middle One students will be attending a series of experiential day trips in the local and surrounding community. Please look out for the trip dates in Appleby This Week and on our Middle School Experiential page in September.

Save the Date - Global & Experiential Education Information Session 

The Global Education department will be holding a general information session on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. This session will cover all areas within the Global & Experiential Education program at Appleby, including the brand new Immersive Program which will run in June 2026. We will begin in the A.W.B. Alumni Centre for Athletics and Student Life with an overview of the Global & Experiential Education program and its objectives. Afterwards, the session will move to various breakout rooms which will each focus on an individual area of the department. The breakout session topics include: The Global Leadership Diploma program and course; Global Experiential Programs in March and June; Round Square Exchanges and Conferences; The Duke of Edinburgh Award; Middle School Experiential Education and the June Immersive programming. This will be an opportunity to learn more about the Global Education department and its individual areas, as well as a chance to ask questions. More information on this event and other Global Education announcements can be found here.  

2025-2026 Global Experiential Programs 

For over 20 years, Appleby has proudly offered global experiential programs that enrich student learning beyond the classroom. We’re excited to continue this tradition in the 2025–2026 school year. These experiences are designed to help students grow by building strong community connections, developing cross-cultural understanding, and encouraging personal leadership. Through these programs, students also enhance their teamwork skills, engage in thoughtful reflection, and deepen their awareness of global perspectives.

As you prepare for the upcoming programming outlined below, we kindly ask that you check your passport and any other travel documents to ensure they are current and not close to expiring. Please note that many countries require passports to be valid for at least six months beyond the return date of travel.
 
March 2026 (anticipated, with applications open in September 2025):

• Azores, Portugal (Middle School, with Senior Leader positions) - Environment and Conservation
• Costa Rica (Upper One - Senior Two) - Sustainability and Climate Justice
• France (Upper Two - Senior Two Boys) - Rugby and Culture
• Germany (Upper Two - Senior Two) - German Language, History and Culture
• Ireland (Upper One - Senior Two) - Conflict Resolution, Peace Building and Gaelic Revival
• Martinique (Upper One - Senior Two) - French Colonial Culture in the Caribbean
• Morocco (Upper One - Senior Two) - Math and Culture
• Spain (Upper One - Senior Two) - Tennis and Culture
• Vietnam (Upper Two - Senior Two) - History, Culture and Wellbeing

June 2026 (anticipated, with applications open in September 2025):

• Belize (Upper Two - Senior One) - Scientific Research, Climate Action and Conservation
• Bosnia and Croatia (Upper Two - Senior One) - Reconciliation and Peacebuilding
• Yukon, Canada (Upper One - Senior One) - Northern Indigenous Identities, Environment and Climate Change
• Thailand (Upper Two - Senior One) - Social Innovation, History and Culture

To learn more, please visit the Global Experiential Programs page on BBK12, or contact globaled@appleby.on.ca.  

How to Keep Up-to-Date

As an Appleby parent, you receive information on school activities and events through Appleby This Week (ATW). In the fall, be sure to take a few minutes every Sunday evening to review the newsletter as it contains important school news and updates. The first issue of ATW for the 2025-2026 school year will be distributed on Sunday, August 31, 2025.

Current E-mail Addresses

Appleby This Week (ATW) is sent to all e-mail addresses the school has on file. If your contact information changes, or if you prefer to have ATW sent to a particular address, please e-mail Bioupdates.

Appleby Parent "Buddies"

All parents who are new to Appleby are assigned an Appleby parent "buddy" (who is a current Appleby parent) after they have completed the registration process. An excellent source of information, buddies keep in touch regarding important school dates and are there to help parents feel welcomed into the community. Parents new to the school were contacted by their new parent buddies in July. If you are a new parent, and were not contacted yet, or have any questions, please contact Gabrielle Duffy, coordinator, events & parent relations.

New Family Information Booklet

Appleby's New Family Information Booklet contains a wealth of information regarding the Appleby experience - from important school year dates, to volunteer opportunities, and standards of dress for your students. Please click here to access it on Appleby's education management system - BBK12.

Appleby College Parents' Association – ACPA Monthly Meeting

The Appleby College Parents’ Association (ACPA) was established in 1928 and all Appleby parents are members of the association. The ACPA hosts many events throughout the year that allow opportunities to volunteer and connect with other families. The ACPA is an integral part of the Appleby community, and we would love for you to join us. The first ACPA meeting of the 2025-2026 school year will take place on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the LEC (Barr Commons). All are welcome. Additional details will be shared in a future issue of Appleby This Week. 

Summer Tennis Court Availability

Tennis courts 1 and 2 are available for drop-in use for members of the Appleby community until Sunday, August 31, 2025. The schedule is as follows:

-Monday to Friday: 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., Saturday: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Courts are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please provide your own racquets and tennis balls. Please note, courts will not be available on Saturday, August 16 and Sunday, August 17, 2025.

Boarders

Residency Status Form for Non-Canadian Citizens

In preparation for the 2025-2026 school year, parents whose child(ren) are non-Canadian Citizens are asked to provide the school with up-to-date information on their child's Visa/Permit or Permanent Resident status by completing the Residency Status form in Appleby's education management system - BBK12. To access BBK12 please click here. Once you have clicked on the link you will need to enter your Blackbaud ID (BBID). To complete the form, please click on the yellow banner appearing at the top of the page indicating that you have a form(s) to review.

Foundations of Community Course

All Senior Two students must complete the online Foundations of Community course over the summer prior to moving into boarding in September. The modules are based in Canvas, are self-paced, and should take no more than three hours to complete. Instructions were e-mailed to students directly and the course can be found on the Boarding Life site on Appleby's education management system – BBK12.

Returning Students - Welcome to Appleby Boarding 

We are thrilled to welcome RETURNING Appleby boarding students and previous day students to the 2025-2026 boarding program! While it is not the start of your Appleby journey, it is the beginning of an immensely impactful year for students. Please click here to view a letter to parents from Luke van der Hulst, director, boarding life which includes important details such as the packing list, move-in dates and times, and other helpful resources.

2025 New Boarder Orientation Group in BBK12

For new students to Appleby who are also new to boarding:
Over the past several months the Boarder Orientation team has been working to pull together an orientation program that will provide lots of great information to help with the transition to life as a Blue Dog. To make it easier to access and review this information a special group has been set up in Appleby's education management system – BBK12 called 'Boarder Orientation'. Instructions on how to access this group and the boarder orientation information are outlined here. Included are a number of welcome videos, some interesting facts on Oh Canada, Eh!, some tips on life at Appleby from our Student Ambassadors and the summer reading list for English.

New Boarder Orientation

For new students to Appleby who are also new to boarding:
On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, we are looking forward to welcoming all new boarders for the New Boarder Orientation Program. Check-in will take place at 10:00 a.m. To view additional details, please click here to login to Appleby's education management system - BBK12. Once logged in, under the "Groups" tab at the top of the screen, click "Boarder Orientation", the "Orientation Week" tile, then the "Orientation Week Schedule" button to access key dates and information.

Boarding Student Long Weekend Programme

Appleby is excited to continue offering boarding students the option of staying for long weekends throughout the 2025-2026 school year. Appleby's Boarding Life team put together an exciting Long Weekend Programme designed for students who will be staying on campus. During long weekends, there will be a variety of engaging themed activities and excursions for boarders of their choosing, taking place both on and off campus. Some of those activities may include a professional sports game, trips to downtown Toronto, Tree-top Trekking, go-karting, indoor skydiving, clay spinning, Canada’s Wonderland and shopping trips. All meals are included, including some off-campus meals. Some of the outings are optional, while at least one outing each weekend will be an all-boarder outing. Pricing for the long weekend activities is typically $500 but can vary based on the itinerary. Pricing will be shared in advance of the weekend sign-up and charged to the student account. 
 
Details and an opportunity to sign-up will be shared with students in advance of each long weekend throughout the school year. If you would like more information regarding the Boarding Life Long Weekend Programme, please contact Laura Boyd, coordinator, boarding life and orientation, at lboyd@appleby.on.ca.

ACPA "Boarder’s Corner" for New Appleby Boarders 

A warm welcome to our new Appleby boarders! We are excited to meet you and get to know you. There is so much to consider and prepare when moving into a boarding house. While some of the necessities may seem like common sense, it is always useful to make sure you have all the essential items to help organize and create your boarding room spaces – these items will help to make you feel more at home. To help in this process, the Appleby College Parents' Association (ACPA) Sustainability team has created a “Boarder’s Corner” to sell used items from former Appleby boarders for your room such as a study lamp, extension cord, clothing hangers, bedding, mirror, storage boxes, or laundry basket, etc. – these items are all in good condition, and suitable to reuse and recycle to maximize their value. Please visit the Appleby College Shop in the A.W.B. Alumni Centre for Athletics and Student Life and visit the “Boarder’s Corner” section. Shop early to make your new boarding life easier. The sale will take place during the New Boarder Orientation on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.  

Guardian Information for New International Boarders

Every international boarding student (a student whose primary residence is outside of Canada regardless of citizenship) must complete the Guardian registration annually as part of a Federal Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) requirement. Appleby requires that each international boarding student has a Guardian. The Guardian is the legal custodian of the student and as such has the legal authority and the corresponding duty to provide care and wellbeing for the student while in Canada. If you have any questions about the Guardianship Program or if you do not have a Guardian who can commit to the duty of care outlined above, please contact the Admissions Office.

Travel Assistance From Corporate Traveller

To assist families in booking in-bound travel arrangements we have enlisted the assistance of our corporate travel partner Corporate Traveller, one of Canada’s most respected travel management companies. Corporate Traveller provides Appleby with a full service travel solution that includes travel consultation, travel booking and pre and post travel emergency care at any time of the day, from anywhere in the world. Families are encouraged to contact Jasmine Deweerd at Jasmine.Deweerd@corporatetraveller.ca or toll-free at 1-877-573-7958. Please note that there will be a one-time service fee of $35 +HST to the cost of the booking. For additional information on travel please visit Corporate Traveller’s Travel Resource Hub at www.corporatetraveller.ca/traveller-resource-hub. For information on Corporate Traveller’s Emergency Care Services please visit www.corporatetraveller.ca/24-7-emergency-assistance.