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, as well as the always enjoyable Grade Parties. We wish safe travels to those students and faculty who are attending the 2026 Round Square International Conference in Sydney, Australia and Middle School students who will be attending a camping excursion to Camp Kandalore in Algonquin Highlands, Ontario. We look forward to hearing about their experiences! Thank you to everyone who helped make last week’s special school year milestones possible. We're looking forward welcoming parents to the Upper Two and Senior One Grade Party on Monday, September 21 (tomorrow) at 6:30 p.m., and to the Global & Experiential Education information session on Wednesday, September 30 at 7:00 p.m. The first Spirit Day of the school year for students and faculty takes place on Friday, October 2, and don't forget to mark your calendars for Homecoming on Saturday, October 3 as well as Walkathon on Thursday, October 15. Here’s to an exciting fall! Sincerely,   Innes van Nostrand Principal       Fraser Grant '87 Head of School & Deputy Principal

Upper Two and Senior One Grade Party - September 21 International Universities Fair - September 24 Global & Experiential Education Information Session - September 30 Course request changes close - October 2 Spirit Day - October 2 Homecoming Day - October 3 Fran Richardson Volunteer Awards and Legends Lane Unveiling - October 3 Appleby Pie Day - October 7 Canadian Universities Fair - October 13 Walkathon - October 15

Fran Richardson Volunteer Awards and Legends Lane Unveiling

We’re excited to welcome the Appleby community back to campus for Homecoming Weekend! Join us for three days of celebration, connection, and Blue Dog spirit as the Appleby community comes together to reconnect, revisit favourite traditions, and create new memories. This year’s Homecoming Day features two exciting new additions. We are pleased to honour former faculty member and longtime community connector Fran Richardson with the presentation of the inaugural Fran Richardson Volunteer Awards. These awards will recognize individuals whose exceptional volunteerism has made a meaningful and lasting contribution to the Appleby community. This year's honourees are: Alix Blum, Elena Dannikova, David Gibson '77, Jennifer Latimer, Vik Sachdev, and Vera Zhao.

We will also proudly unveil Legends Lane, a special space dedicated to recognizing and celebrating employees with 35 years or more of service, whose commitment and contributions have helped shape Appleby College. These ceremonies will take place on Homecoming Day, Saturday October 3, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. at Topher Point. Golf carts will be available to assist guests with mobility needs. To register, please click here, or email Kristy Marasco, manager, alumni relations at kmarasco@appleby.on.ca.

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 or V-neck 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. 

Appleby’s New Student Attendance System - Orah

Parents are encouraged to use Orah – Appleby’s online student attendance and scheduling system, to notify the school of their child’s absences. This includes reporting a student lateness (for any reason, including appointments), reporting an early leave, and student absence reporting. To access Orah please click here. Parents can also access the system via the ‘Student Attendance’ button on the homepage of www.appleby.on.ca. When accessing Orah parents will need to enter their Blackbaud ID login (email address) to log on. This is the same email address used for registration and when accessing your child’s report card. Once logged in, you will be asked to enter your email address to receive a one-time password when, once entered, your student’s profile will appear along with step-by-step instructions. Should you have any questions or require assistance when using Orah please contact Appleby’s Reception and Office Services team at 905-845-4681 ext. 0 or attendance@appleby.on.ca.

Reminder - Cell Phone Policy Middle and Upper School

As we seek to enhance academic performance, limit distractions, encourage prosocial behaviours, support wellbeing, and maintain a respectful and productive community, Appleby's cell phone policies are in place to promote a positive and focused learning environment. 

Middle School Cell Phone Policy
Middle School students are prohibited from carrying cell phones, smartphones, or any other device capable of texting, calling, and/or accessing the Internet during the school day. Any cell phones brought to school must be stored in students’ lockers for the duration of the school day. Cell phone use will not be permitted during breaks, lunchtime, and co-curriculars. A phone is available near Main Reception for local, outgoing calls, should students need to reach their families during the school day. The Middle School Cell Phone Policy in its entirety can be viewed by clicking here. 

Upper School Cell Phone Policy
Upper School students are prohibited from carrying cell phones, smartphones, or any other device capable of texting, calling, and/or accessing the Internet during the school day. Any cell phones brought to school must be stored in students’ lockers for the duration of the school day. Upper School boarding students will leave their phones in their rooms. Cell phone use will not be permitted during breaks, lunchtime, and co-curriculars. A phone is available near Main Reception for local, outgoing calls, should students need to reach their families during the school day. Details regarding the Upper School Cell Phone Policy were shared with new and returning Upper School families on Friday, April 17, 2026; please click here to view the communication and policy.

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 2026-2027

Preliminary bus routes for the 2026-2027 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. 

Reminder - Ready-Set-9 for Upper One Students

Ready-Set-9, a new three-day program designed to give Upper One students a strong start to their high school experience, launched this September. By dedicating time early in the year to community-building, skill development, and exploration of the many opportunities available at Appleby, the goal of the program is to help students feel connected, engaged, and successfully prepared as they begin their high school journey. To view a communication sent to Upper One parents on September 10, please click here. 

August Schools: Student Medical Information

A reminder that if any aspect of a student's health changes during the school year—including new diagnoses, allergies, medications, injuries, or other relevant medical information—this information should be updated in August Schools as soon as possible. Keeping health records current helps ensure that students receive appropriate care and support while at school and during school activities. To access the August Schools portal via Appleby's education management system - BBK12, please click here. Once logged in, you will be taken to the Resources landing page which will show a series of posts. Please click on the ‘August Schools’ button to open the August Schools portal. 

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 departed on Wednesday, September 16 and will return on Monday, September 21, Trip 2 – Monday, September 21 to Saturday, September 26, Trip 3 - Sunday, September 27 to Friday, October 2, Trip 4 - Friday, October 2 to Wednesday, October 7. Students will travel with their advisor groups and the schedule, as well as recordings from the Outdoor Education information night, are posted 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 who have not completed their required trip (these individuals will be contacted by Outdoor Education faculty directly) will travel from Wednesday, October 14 to Monday, October 19. Senior One Outdoor Leaders will attend on Monday, October 19 to Saturday, October 24. 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.

Reminder: Middle School Immunization Program

On Monday, May 3, 2027 Halton Public Health will be visiting Appleby College to offer vaccines to eligible Middle One (grade 7) students who have a consent form signed by a parent or legal guardian. Additional doses will be provided to Middle Two (grade 8) students who have not yet completed their vaccine series. Please click here to view the communication sent to parents on Friday, September 11. Completed school vaccination consent forms must be e-mailed to healthcentre@appleby.on.ca, or dropped off to the Health Centre by Monday, September 21, 2026 for your child to be eligible to receive their vaccines. Only students with a signed consent form will be immunized on the day of the clinic.

Clubs at Appleby!

Appleby’s clubs are a great way for students to explore passions, build new skills, and make a difference in the school and wider community. From arts, global citizenship, leadership, and service, there's something for everyone. Clubs go beyond the classroom, offering real-world experiences, meaningful partnerships, and opportunities to lead, create, and grow. Clubs meet once a week during the Club and Council blocks with a few exceptions beyond classroom time for those such as Boarding Life Councils. The first day of clubs is Wednesday, September 23 and club placements will be communicated on Tuesday, September 22. Information can be found on the Appleby website:

Club options: www.appleby.on.ca/clubs
Club descriptions: www.appleby.on.ca/course-descriptions

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 23 to Friday, September 25 and Middle Two students will be attending Tuesday, September 22 to Friday, September 25. Recordings from the Outdoor Education information night about the Middle School Kandalore trips are posted on BBK12 in the Outdoor Education section.

Grade Trips
Next spring, all Middle Two students will be attending an overnight experiential trip to Ottawa, Ontario from Thursday, June 17 to Saturday, June 19, while Middle One students will be attending a series of experiential day trips in the local and surrounding community on Thursday, June 17, Friday, June 18 and Monday, June 21. Please look out for the trip details on our Middle School Experiential page later this month.

Connect-Ed Sports

Registration for Connect-Ed will open on Thursday, September 24, 2026. Check your email to register for hockey, basketball, squash, soccer, or pickleball. The Connect-Ed programme is for adult members of the Appleby community. This includes alumni, parents, parents of alumni, and current and former employees. Register early as spots fill quickly! Please note, new this year, pickleball will run in two sessions: October 2026 to January 2027 and February to May 2027. Registration for session 1 will open this week, and registration for session 2 will open in December 2026.

Advanced Placement (AP) Exams 2026-2027

Appleby College offers 20 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 for students enrolled in an AP course. 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 28, 2026, 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 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 13, 2026

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 13, 2026 are $175 CDN. AP exams ordered after Friday, November 13, 2026 are $240 CDN ($175 + $65).

-AP Exam Fee – $175 CDN per exam (ordered before Friday, November 13, 2026)
-Late Fee – additional $65 CDN per exam (ordered after Friday, November 13, 2026)
-Cancellation Fee – $100 CDN per exam (for all exams cancelled after Friday, November 13, 2026)

AP Exam Dates
AP exams are written during the Regular AP Exam Schedule Monday, May 3 to Friday, May 14, 2027.

Please contact Jonathon Peever, director, external academic programs, with any questions.  

Save the Date: Global & Experiential Education Information Session 

The Global Education department will be holding a general information session on Wednesday, September 30, 2026 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. This session will cover all areas within the Global & Experiential Education program at Appleby, including the Immersive Program. 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. 

Save the Date: Parent Zoom Call – Tuesday, October 6

Appleby will host a parent Zoom call on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 to provide further information about Bill 101: Putting Student Achievement First Act and the Ontario Ministry of Education’s new assessment, evaluation, attendance, and graduation requirements, including what these changes mean for Appleby students. An invitation with the time, Zoom link, and further details will be shared via email later this month. 

2026-2027 Global Experiential Programs 

Each year Appleby College proudly offers global experiential programs that enrich student learning beyond the classroom. We’re excited to continue this tradition in the 2026–2027 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.

Based on current plans, we hope to offer the following trips in the coming year. Eligibility is indicated in brackets for each destination.

March 2027 (Anticipated with applications open in September 2026):
-Chile (Upper Two – Senior Two) – History, Resource Management and Culture
-Japan (Senior One – Senior Two Outdoor Leaders) – Outdoor Education and Culture
-Morocco (Upper Two – Senior Two) – History, Arts and Culture 
-Peru (Upper Two – Senior Two) – Economics and Culture
-Poland (Upper One – Senior One) – History, Identity and Culture
-Vietnam (Upper Two – Senior Two) – History, Water and Community  
-Panama (Middle School with Senior One/Two Student Leaders) – Theme TBD

June 2027 (Anticipated with applications open in September 2026):
-Argentina (Upper One – Senior One Girls' Soccer) – Soccer and Culture
-England (Upper One - Senior One) - Theatre, Arts, and Culture
-Guatemala (Upper One – Senior One) – Mayan Identity, Language and Sustainable Agriculture
-Norway (Upper One – Senior One) – Sustainable Cities and Culture
-Scotland (Upper One – Senior One) – Culture
-Thailand (Upper One – Senior One) – Social Innovation, History and Culture

To prepare for participation in the upcoming year’s programming, please ensure that you check passports 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. Applications for Global Experiential programs will be posted on the BBK12 Global Experiential Programs page on Thursday, October 1, 2026 after the Global Education Information Night. 
 
All completed and signed application forms, along with supporting documents, are due on, or before, Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. to the Global Ed office (MB205). Incomplete applications will not be accepted. If you have any questions, please email globaled@appleby.on.ca.

GO Transit Shuttle Pilot Returns for 2026–2027

We’re excited to welcome back Appleby’s GO Transit Shuttle Pilot Program for the 2026–2027 school year! Following its launch last year, the shuttle will once again provide transportation between Oakville GO Station and campus on school days. Located on the Lakeshore West line, Oakville GO Station offers convenient connections for students travelling from communities west of Oakville, including Hamilton and beyond, as well as from Toronto and communities east of Union Station.

Student pricing is $1,550 for an annual round-trip pass, $1,085 for morning- or afternoon-only service, or $8 for a single ride. Annual passes will be billed to student accounts in October. To begin the registration process and explore program options, please email Andrew Labow, administrative coordinator, transportation & travel, at alabow@appleby.on.ca. A waiver will be provided, and once it has been signed, a link to Appleby’s SimplyBook.me calendar will be shared. Students who participated last year must complete a new waiver for 2026–2027. Please click here to review the FAQ for additional program information and schedule details.

Brock Research Team Seeking Youth for Adolescent’s Perceptions of Kindness and Kind Mindset Study

A Brock University research team, the Theory of Mind in Education Lab, is looking for youths (ages 11-16) to participate in a study on kindness and kind mindset. A 45–60-minute interview will be completed through an interactive, online meeting scheduled at your family's convenience. What do they think about kindness – how are adolescents' kind to self and others and why? What do they think and feel about being kind to themselves, and how does this help them manage their emotions and to function in school? Compensation is provided. Visit the ToME Lab webpage, click here to view a poster, or e-mail tomelab@brocku.ca to learn more.

2026–2027 Appleby College Calendar 

Please click here to view the 2026-2027 Appleby College school year calendar.

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!

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 24, Senior Two student and Chapel Prefect James Babel will present his chapel speech. A link will be shared in the Sunday, October 4 issue of Appleby This Week.	Festivals and Remembrances We would like to acknowledge those members of our community who will commemorate the following festivals and remembrances: September 20 to 21 – Yom Kippur September 23 – Mabon/Harvest Moon/Fall Equinox September 25 – start of Sukkot
Opening Day On September 14, the first all-school assembly of 2026-2027 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 13, 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.