It's Good to Be Back

The first week of classes has already come and gone - and what a great week we had! The energy on campus and the enthusiasm of both students and faculty as they returned for a new school year was wonderful to see – from the first all-school assembly and annual Tie Ceremonies for our new Appleby students, to the fall trips to the McLaughlin Northern Campus and Camp Kandalore, as well as the always enjoyable Grade Parties. We also wish safe travels to those students and faculty who are currently attending the 2025 Round Square International Conference in Dubai, UAE and look forward to hearing about their experiences upon their return! Thank you to everyone who helped make last week’s special school year milestones possible. We're looking forward welcoming parents to the Middle One and Middle Two Grade Party on Monday, September 15 (tomorrow) at 6:30 p.m., and to the Global & Experiential Education information session on Wednesday, October 1 at 7:00 p.m. The first Spirit Day of the school year for students and faculty takes place on Friday, October 3, and don't forget to mark your calendars for Homecoming on Saturday, October 4 as well as Walkathon on Thursday, October 16. Here’s to an exciting fall! Sincerely,    Fraser Grant '87 Head of School & Deputy Principal

Middle One and Middle Two Grade Party - September 15 Experiential Learning Day - September 17 International Universities Fair - September 23 Course request changes close - September 26 Global & Experiential Education information session - October 1 Spirit Day - October 3 Homecoming Day - October 4  Walkathon - October 16

20% of Tickets Sold!

Mark your calendars for Saturday​, April​ 25​, 2026​ for Appleby College's In the Night Garden Gala – an extraordinary celebration that will unite our community in support of meaningful change.

Taking place in Appleby's A.W.B. Alumni Centre for Athletics & Student Life, guests will enjoy an evening filled with gourmet cuisine and signature cocktails, live entertainment, and the thrill of live and silent auctions featuring exclusive experiences, luxury items, and dream getaways. Raise a glass with friends, dance the night away, and bid on exceptional items—all in support of three critical Appleby College priorities: Financial Assistance, the Wellbeing Programme, and the development of Cockwell Hall, our newest state-of-the-art building on campus.

Early bird tickets are $595 each, and VIP tables of 10 are also available. Be part of a night that will make a lasting impact. Purchase your tickets today by clicking here.

Reminder - Appleby College Uniform Expectations

Up until the Thanksgiving long weekend, students have the option to wear the first dress uniform, or the white or navy blue Appleby crested polo shirt with or without the Appleby ¼ zip crested sweater as a warmer weather uniform. Following the Thanksgiving long weekend, and until the May long weekend, students are required to wear the first dress uniform. Following the May long weekend, students again may choose to wear the warmer weather uniform.

Students should be leaving the house in proper uniform and arriving to school in proper uniform. Hooded sweatshirts (even one with an Appleby logo), jeans, and athletic wear are not permitted during the school day unless there is a very special circumstance involving a travelling team or another specific event. For more information on Appleby’s dress code please review the Standards of School Dress and Appearance. 

How to Make Drop-Off and Pick-Up Run Smoothly

To help everyone get in and out of campus quickly and safely, please follow these guidelines during morning drop-off and dismissal:

• Eastbound drivers should let westbound vehicles turning left into campus go through one at a time when possible and safe.

• When the campus entrance light is red, westbound drivers turning left should first check for pedestrians, then proceed into campus. Eastbound drivers should stop and wait for the green light to let them through safely.

• Please use your turn signals and slow down before turning into campus to keep traffic predictable and safe for everyone.

• If you are waiting for your child upon arrival to campus, move forward when the car in front of you does. This keeps traffic flowing and prevents backups.

• If you arrive early, when possible, park in the lot and meet your child there rather than waiting at the front.

• When the front pick-up lanes are full, continue lining up in the lot to keep traffic moving and avoid backups.

Preliminary Bus Routes for 2025-2026

Preliminary bus routes for the 2025-2026 school year are available on the Transportation site via Appleby's education management system - BBK12. To access the Transportation site please click here. You will need to enter your Blackbaud ID (BBID) to login. After you have logged-in, you will be taken to the Resources landing page which will show a series of posts. Click on the ‘Transportation’ button to access the preliminary bus routes. If you have any questions, please e-mail bus@appleby.on.ca. 

Service Learning Information and Key Dates

At Appleby, Service Learning is more than volunteering—it's about empowering students to take meaningful action, reflect on their experiences, and grow as compassionate leaders. There are many exciting ways for students to participate in Service Learning throughout the school year including community action days, joining the Service Council, a co-curricular or advocacy club, or volunteer with our community partners. 

Outlined below are important upcoming Service Learning events requiring student participation:

• Wednesday, September 17, 2025 – Upper One Day of Community Action (for students not in Temagami)

• Monday, September 29, 2025 – Upper One Day of Community Action (for students not in Temagami)

To learn more, please visit the Service Learning page on BBK12 by clicking here.

Outdoor Education Information and Key Dates

Upper One students are visiting the S. Bruce McLaughlin Northern Campus with the class divided into four groups: Trip 1 departed on Friday, September 12 and will return on 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 is available on BBK12 in the Outdoor Education section.

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) will visit the S. Bruce McLaughlin Northern Campus from Saturday, October 4 to Thursday, October 9. The Senior One Outdoor Leaders will complete their trip from Wednesday, October 15 to Monday, October 20. Trip lists including an overview of the personal equipment students will need to bring with them on their respective trip are available on BBK12 in the Outdoor Education section.

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.

Special Schedule - Wednesday, September 17

On Wednesday, September 17, 2025 there will be a special school schedule for a Fall Experiential Day, due to the many trips taking place off campus that day. Students who are not attending these trips are expected to be on campus. The Upper and Senior School directors sent specific details to students via e-mail on Friday, September 12. There will be only one bus departure on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. and no late bus. Regular bus service will resume on Thursday, September 18, 2025.   

Universities Coming to Appleby This Fall – Mark Your Calendars! 

Learn more about post-secondary opportunities directly from admissions representatives at the International Universities Fair and Canadian Universities Fair. Please note that the first hour of each fair will be reserved for Appleby students and families before opening to the public at 7:00 p.m. 

International Universities Fair – Tuesday, September 23, 2025, 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., A.W.B. Alumni Centre for Athletics and Student Life Double Gym
Representatives from over 55 institutions in the United States, UK, and other international destinations will be at Appleby to speak with students and parents. Click here to view the poster.

Canadian Universities Fair – Tuesday, October 7, 2025, 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., A.W.B. Alumni Centre for Athletics and Student Life Double Gym
Admissions representatives from over 25 universities across Canada will be in attendance to speak with students and parents. From the west coast to the east coast and many more in between! Click here to view the poster. 

Course Changes

Course request changes will remain open until the last date to add a new course on Friday, September 26, 2025. Students must continue attending their scheduled classes until they receive official confirmation from Guidance that a course change has been approved, even if they plan to submit a request once the form opens. Please note: course change requests by e-mail will not be processed.

Advanced Placement (AP) Exams 2025-2026

Appleby College offers 21 AP courses in a variety of disciplines and are taught by trained and experienced AP teachers. In addition, Appleby hosts AP exams in subjects not offered as AP courses to interested students. The complete list can be found at AP Courses and Exams.  

AP exam registration is now live. All students interested in writing AP exams must sign in to MyAP with their College Board account (or create one first) and add Join Codes for their respective AP exams. Students enrolled in an AP course will receive a Join Code from their AP teacher. 

Beginning Monday, September 29, 2025, those students who are not enrolled in an AP course may request permission to receive Join Codes for the exams they are interested in writing. A link will be sent out via email to contact Guidance counsellors for this permission. In recent years, Upper One and Upper Two students have expressed interest in writing AP exams in a wide variety of subjects. They are required to use the link, when available, and discuss the request with their Guidance counsellor.  

AP Exam Registration Deadlines
Whether enrolled in an AP course or choosing to self-study for the exam, all students interested in taking an AP exam must register for the AP exam by the Final Ordering Deadline to avoid a late fee.

• Final Ordering Deadline without late fee – Friday, November 14, 2025

AP Exam Fees
AP exam fees are paid through Appleby student accounts. Charges will appear on student accounts at the end of November reflecting the fee structure below. AP exams ordered prior to Friday, November 14, 2025 are $175 CDN. AP exams ordered after Friday, November 14, 2025 are $240 CDN ($175 + $65).

• AP Exam Fee – $175 CDN per exam (ordered before Friday, November 14, 2025)

• Late Fee – additional $65 CDN per exam (ordered after Friday, November 14, 2025)

• Cancellation Fee – $100 CDN per exam (for all exams cancelled after Friday, November 14, 2025)

AP Exam Dates
AP exams are written during the Regular AP Exam Schedule. Any conflicts during the Regular AP Exam Schedule will result in students writing during the Late-Testing AP Exam Schedule.

• Regular AP Exam Schedule – Monday, May 4 to Friday, May 15, 2026 

• Late-Testing AP Exam Schedule – Tuesday, May 19 to Friday, May 22, 2026

Please contact Maggie Hanrahan, director, external programs, with any questions.  

Ontario Student Leadership Conference Application

From Sunday, November 2 to Tuesday, November 4, 2025, eight Upper One to Senior Two students have the opportunity to attend the Ontario Student Leadership Conference (OSLC) in Niagara Falls. Participants will meet new friends from across the province, learn from experienced mentors, and bring fresh ideas back to our school. An e-mail with a Microsoft Forms application was shared with students directly by faculty member Lori Angelow on Monday, September 8 and is due on Monday, September 29, 2025 at 9:00 p.m.

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 October 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 October 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.  

Thrive Student Leadership Conference Application

Ridley College in St. Catharines will be hosting the Thrive Student Leaders Conference for Middle One to Senior Two students on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. Thrive is a student-led conference designed to inspire, empower and equip students with the tools to lead confidently and effectively. Faculty member Lori Angelow sent a link to the application along with additional information directly to students on Monday, September 8. There are eight spots available and a fee of $100 to attend. The application closes on Monday, October 6, 2025 at 9:00 p.m. 

Interested in Joining the Appleby College Board of Governors or the Appleby College Foundation Board of Trustees?

Annually, the school looks to build a strong pool of candidates for both the Appleby College Board of Governors and the Appleby College Foundation Board of Trustees. Members of the Appleby community who have suggestions for candidates or who themselves are interested in serving are encouraged to submit expressions of interest for consideration by e-mailing governance@appleby.on.ca.

Appleby's Schlesinger Dining Hall Menu

Each week, the Sodexo team at Appleby prepares a range of menu options for students and employees at the school. Please click here for this week's menu. Students are encouraged to share their feedback, suggestions, and/or comments about the food, menus, their lunch experience, etc. Please send an e-mail to menufeedback@appleby.on.ca and let us know what you think!

2025–2026 Appleby College Calendar

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

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.

Chapel News On Thursday, September 18, Senior Two student and Chapel Prefect Sarah Amm will present her chapel speech. A link will be shared in the Sunday, September 28 issue of Appleby This Week.

Opening Day On September 8, the first all-school assembly of 2025-2026 was held and we welcomed Appleby's newest students to the community at Tie Ceremonies in the John Bell Chapel. Thank you to everyone who helped make the day special! To view photos from the day, please click here.

Thank You for a Great Welcome Back BBQ! On September 7, the Appleby College Parents' Association (ACPA) hosted Appleby’s annual Welcome Back BBQ. It was amazing to see so many new and returning families. Thank you for coming and celebrating with us! To view pictures from the event, please click here.

2025 WLSA Global Leadership Conference The World Leading Schools Association (WLSA) hosted a dozen member schools at Barker College in Sydney, Australia for a conference on the theme "Voices of Tomorrow: Intercultural Leaders in the Age of Innovation" between June 26 and July 8, 2025. Students Sophie Dooner, Inaya Kazi, Mariana Vivas Leon and Isabella Zhou attended as delegates. The group engaged in team-building exercises, leadership workshops and attended a series of dynamic speakers, as well as toured the Blue Mountains, Sydney harbour, Kiama and The Grand Pacific Drive. Students were joined by Simon Beatty, director, global partnerships and Sarah Chadee, coordinator, global education. To learn more, please visit the Global Student Exchanges & Conferences page on BBK12, or contact Simon Beatty, director, global partnerships.