Season's Greetings from Appleby College

Please click here to view the 2023 holiday season video. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

2024-2025 Appleby College Calendar Now Available

Please click here to view the 2024-2025 Appleby College school year calendar.

Adjacent Property Acquired

Late last month, the School was presented with the rare opportunity to purchase a residential property located immediately adjacent to the School, which has been identified for many years as a priority acquisition. After assessing the merits of the opportunity and with donor support being negotiated, the Appleby College Board of Governors approved the conditional purchase of the property. We anticipate the closing date will be towards the end of the first quarter of the New Year and we look forward to sharing additional information with the community at that time.

Holiday Sweater Days - Today & Tomorrow!

On Monday, December 18 and Tuesday, December 19, 2023 students are invited to wear their holiday sweaters over their uniform shirt and tie. If wearing a holiday sweater no school blazer is required. Standard Appleby sweatshirts or non-holiday sweatshirts are not permitted. Please click here for examples of what to wear. We look forward to seeing everyone's festive holiday sweaters (and there is no cost to participate)! 

Co-curricular Programming and Bussing

Co-curricular programming for Upper One through Senior Two students concluded on Thursday, December 14, 2023. Today, Monday, December 18, 2023 there will be one bus departure at 4:10 p.m., and on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 there will be one bus departure at 4:00 p.m. No late buses will be running. Middle One and Middle Two students will finish co-curriculars after the D2 block on Tuesday, December 19, 2023. 

Winter Holiday Break

Appleby College’s Winter Holiday break will run from Tuesday, December 19, 2023 (as of 3:50 p.m.) with boarders returning to campus on Monday, January 8, 2024, and classes resuming on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. A reminder that boarding houses will be closed to students throughout the Winter Holiday.

Boarder Winter Holiday Move-Out 

The Winter Holiday is nearly here! Local and international boarding students are required to move out of their Boarding House by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 19, 2023. No overnight stays will be accommodated on Tuesday, December 19, 2023. Boarding students return to campus on Monday, January 8, 2024 at 9:00 p.m. Early return for distance boarders is available as of 1:00 p.m. with a request to the House director.

Appleby Community Chapel Services 
 
Appleby community members including students, parents, alumni, parents of alumni, and past and present employees are welcome to attend the following Community Chapel Services. Services take place in the John Bell Chapel and are also livestreamed. 

• Christmas Eve Service: Sunday, December 24, 2023 - 10:30 p.m.
• Ash Wednesday Service: Wednesday, February 14, 2024 - 7:00 p.m. 
• Easter Vigil: Saturday, March 30, 2024 - 7:00 p.m. 
• Sunday, May 26, 2024 - 10:00 a.m.

Service topics will vary and range from traditional Anglican Communion services to more contemporary services with a broader Interfaith focus. If you have any questions please contact Rev. Craig Luccock at cluccock@appleby.on.ca or 905-845-4681 ext. 237.

Appleby's Breakfast Program Needs Your Help

Appleby's Breakfast Program, aimed at supporting young people in need within the Oakville community, will launch an initiative following the Winter Holiday (Monday, January 15 to Friday, January 19, 2024) to collect school and winter supplies. New or gently used (clean), mitts, toques, scarves and similar items to aid the Kerr St. Mission are needed. As winter sets in, there's a heightened need for these supplies to keep our young community members warm and secure. Additionally, providing school supplies will significantly assist those in need to start the new year positively. 
 
Further details will be shared in an upcoming issue of Appleby This Week and through Appleby's advisory program after the Winter Holiday. In the meantime, if you come across items suitable for this cause, whether at home or in stores, please consider setting them aside.

Upper School & Senior One Parent/Guardian Post-Secondary Information Evening

Please join Appleby's Guidance department for the Upper School and Senior One Parent/Guardian Post-Secondary Information Evening on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 in the A.W.B. Alumni Centre for Athletics and Student Life single gym. At 6:30 p.m. we will begin with a general overview of the post-secondary education systems and application processes in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, and review ways students can prepare. For Senior One parents, a more in-depth look into the application process will be provided during the latter portion of the presentation beginning at 7:30 p.m. Attendees will learn about the timeline and supports offered by Appleby’s guidance department as students prepare and ultimately apply for post-secondary education. Please join us and bring your questions, a registration link will be shared in a future issue of Appleby This Week. If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Frigo, director, guidance, university counselling.

Walker House Thrift Shop: January 29 to February 2 

Walker House will be hosting a Thrift Shop during United Way Week from Monday, January 29 to Friday, February 2, 2024 in support of local charity SafetyNet Children and Youth Charities. Please bring in gently used clothing items during the weeks of December 18, January 8 and January 15 (the earlier the better!). There will be bins in Nicholas Arts Centre and the Walker House common room to drop-off your donations. Thank you in advance for your contributions to this amazing cause!

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!

Wellbeing Video

Powell's House released its Wellbeing video for the 2023-2024 school year. Please click the image to the left to view it. 
 

'Tis the Season - Appleby's Holiday Concert

Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate the season and enjoy the Orchestra as they played holiday and other fun favourites in Willis Hall on December 13. It was a great show! Also, thank you to the Appleby College Parents' Association for the reception after the concert!
 

Middle School Robotics 

On December 9, members of Appleby's Middle School Robotics co-curricular competed in the First Lego League Challenge in Toronto. The event showcased 30 teams and Appleby garnered the respect of organizers by showing great teamwork through recognizing each others' strengths. The group robot completed many challenges and scored 180 points - for a young team, the day was a success! Congratulations to the attending members of the Middle School Blue Dogs Robotics team: Yinka Adeyemo, Yaman Akalp, Emre Beceren, Charlie Bibeau, Charles Liu, Rhythm Sharma, Leo St. George and Doris Zhu.  
 

Appleby Design Initiative Club Attends Hackathon

Representatives from Appleby's Design Initiative club recently attended a two-day hackathon on neuro-inclusivity at Holy Trinity School in Oakville. Congratulations to Upper Two students Jackson Bigler, Ved Hardas, Dyanne Jiang and Mars Lu on their first-prize winning solution and pitch! Their vision, "APPLE LMS" aimed to help students identify their preferred learning styles and classroom environments, increase communication among students' circles of care, and support students in managing their day-to-day tasks. 
 

Appleby Online Chess Tournament 

Appleby orchestrated an online chess tournament on December 6 against opponents from Ashbury College in Ottawa. Senior One student Sid Wang and Senior Two student Ben Fallahy engaged in a duel of wits in the tournament's climactic finals. Ultimately, it was Sid who emerged victorious, the chess champion!
 

Global Experiential Trip to Costa Rica

From November 24 to December 5, a group of 14 students and faculty members Stephanie Seagram, Ellen Palmer and Braden Walker, travelled to the rain forest at the south end of Costa Rica to live alongside the Bribri people, an Indigenous community of about 350 located on the Yorkín River. They leaned into agriculture and sustainable living-focused activities, as the Bribri taught them how they plant and harvest the land around them. Community members also shared a wealth of knowledge on how to live in the forest, and plant and harvest valuable crops essential to Bribri culture and way of life. There was also time for connecting both as a group and with the Bribri through meals, evening programs, craft-making and soccer playing. The group learned to live more closely, more respectfully and in balance with nature.
 

French Walking Tour 

Middle Two students recently participated in a French walking tour of downtown Toronto. The group had an opportunity to practice giving directions, describing buildings and applying learning from Core French (FSF 8J) in a real-world setting. Students also enjoyed seeing works of art by Henry Moore and Metropolis (the nail mural featured in the photo).  

Students Attend Conference of Independent School Visual Arts Festival

On November 24, 11 Senior One and Senior Two Visual Arts students represented Appleby at the Conference of Independent School Visual Arts Festival (CISVAF) held at the McMichael Art Gallery in Kleinburg, Ontario. This year’s theme was Reconnecting: Weaving Threads of Indigenous Heritage, Human Connection, Nature, and Artistry. Students enjoyed a keynote from an Indigenous elder, a museum tour, art workshops and a student art battle competition. 

The College Shop is Full of Things Merry & Bright!
 
It’s time to trim the tree and the College Shop has everything you and your family need to make it a memorable one! Our latest collections of ornaments are in and perfect for decorating and/or gifting. We have sparkly handmade glass snowmen, Christmas trees and stars. For the alumni and students on your list, we have a selection of Temagami ornaments honouring the 50th anniversary of this uniquely Appleby tradition. We also have a new set of customized metal Appleby ornaments in a variety of styles - from colourful candy canes to intricate wreaths - as well as our traditional wooden Appleby baubles. While you’re choosing some trimmings, don’t miss our adorable holiday-themed mugs, straws, and fun socks! We even have handmade Appleby stockings to hang by the fire. The College Shop is open daily, Monday through Friday (while students are in classes), from 11:20 a.m. to 1:10 p.m., in the A.W.B. Alumni Centre for Athletics and Student Life. You may also shop 24/7 online; items can be picked up at school or shipped to your home. Additionally, should you wish to visit the store outside of lunch, please contact Lori Latter, manager, College Shop at llatter@appleby.on.ca to arrange for a mutually convenient time. We look forward to seeing you!
 

Un-Decking the Halls at Appleby - January 9, 2024, 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

They say what goes up, must come down! The ACPA is looking for volunteers to help take down the holiday decorations around campus. If you are able to help out after the Winter Break, please click here to sign up. If you have any questions, please reach out to Jennifer Latimer, ACPA past president. The morning session will remove decorations and pack-up for next year, and the afternoon session will take down trees and label for next year (this immediately follows the "DAD’s" College Shop shift).

As a reminder, all Appleby volunteers are required to have a Criminal Record Check (CRC) with Vulnerable Sector Screening completed and a Declaration of Criminal Record (DRC) must also be filled out. 
 

Blue Dog Spirit

The ACPA Spirit committee is wrapping up the year on a high note after spreading festive cheer at Appleby's Holiday Concert complete with sweet treats and a pop-up photo booth. Click here to see some of our favourite photos. Best wishes for a happy holiday and cheerful new year!