Appleby This Week Template

In conjunction with Appleby College’s new website design, next week we’re excited to unveil an updated template for Appleby This Week (ATW). In addition to a fresh new design, to help minimize the overall length of ATW, content for each article will be shortened whenever possible with more detailed messages provided via links to PDFs, the school’s website or BBK12. For those individuals who are using Microsoft's Outlook mail, we encourage you to update to the latest version of Outlook for Windows or Outlook 365 as this will give you the best viewer/reader experience. If you cannot update your version you will also have the option to view ATW via your web browser.

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. For more information on Appleby’s dress code please review the Standards of School Dress and Appearance. 

Cell Phone Policy 

For the 2024-2025 school year, cell phones will be collected by teachers at the beginning of each class, club, and co-curricular and will be stored safely for students, to minimize distractions and the use of phones during washroom breaks. Students will collect their phones at the end of each class as they leave and head to their next school activity. The purpose behind this rule is to limit distractions from the learning experience and promote a respectful learning environment. Should parents need to contact their child immediately for an emergency, they are to call main reception at 905-845-4681 ext. 200 and the administration team will contact the child and have them call home. Thank you for your support.

After-Hours Technology Usage Policy for Upper One, Upper Two and Senior One Boarding Students

Appleby’s Boarding Life team, in conjunction with the Wellbeing Team, and, in keeping with Appleby’s cell phone policy, are implementing a new after-hours technology use policy for our Upper One, Upper Two and Senior One boarding students. To read the communication sent to parents on Wednesday, September 4, click here.  

Appleby College's AI Principles
 
As emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) become more prevalent, Appleby College is proactively developing strategies to guide the safe, effective, and ethical use of these tools for student learning. As part of this commitment, we are incorporating AI tools to enhance personalized learning, streamline administrative tasks, and support our faculty in delivering high-quality educational experience. This past summer's edition of the Quarterly included a feature article on how AI is changing the landscape of education. The article entitled Inside the Classroom with Gen AI and The Teacher highlighted some of the applications our faculty and students have begun to explore and adapt. If you haven't had a chance to read the article, please click here. 
 
As we continue to adapt to AI and the ever-changing and evolving technology landscape, the following are the current set of working principles that we will use to guide our approach to addressing its safe use and our current and future educational goals, faculty and student agency, academic integrity, and security. We will continue to assess these principles and refine them based on our experiences and the learning and feedback we receive from students, faculty, parents and the broader Appleby community. 

1. People First, By Design - Technology has the potential to enhance experiences, reduce administrative burdens and introduce networking opportunities. However, such advantages do not take precedence over any potential impact on people. Subsequently, our application of AI technologies – in teaching and learning and administration – must begin with the wellbeing, safety, privacy, and security of members of the Appleby Community.
2. Mission Aligned - AI technologies can assist in our efforts to educate and enable our students to become leaders of character, major contributors to, and valued representatives of their local, national, and global communities. Tomorrow’s leaders need to harness the power of technology to communicate, collaborate, and build community. Understanding AI (AI Literacy), creating with AI (AI Augmentation) and enhancing wellbeing with AI (AI Wellness) may be foundational elements for future learning experiences.
3. Augmentation over Automation - AI tools and services should empower all members of the Appleby learning community, ensuring a safe, secure, and equitable environment. AI should augment interactions and not replace human connections. AI should never compromise personal privacy, and people should maintain a primary role in the evaluation of learning, outcomes, and communications. Further, accountability for the responsible use of AI lies with the person, not the technology.
4. Transparency & Fairness - Where AI technologies have been used to significantly influence a teaching experience, learning, product, or administrative function, consideration should be given to citing the tools used and enhancements. Transparency will help community members understand the role of AI in learning and work and serve to build trust and integrity.
5. Balancing Responsibility & Innovation - To determine the suitability of a tool/service, AI technologies need to be investigated/piloted. However, such investigations still need to comply with privacy and security expectations. Sharing intended AI usage with peers (faculty and staff) and seeking approval is a required component of responsible AI usage. 

We remind parents and guardians that AI tools may have age restrictions. For example, Microsoft Co-Pilot currently requires users to be at least 13 years old and requires parental or legal guardian consent for students between the ages of 13 and 18. We will assume consent from parents for their child to use Microsoft Co-Pilot and other AI tools, unless you would like to contact us to opt out by contacting Dr. Carlos Heleno, assistant head of school, academics at cheleno@appleby.on.ca. For parents with children in Middle School, an e-mail was sent to parents on Monday, September 9 outlining how we will be introducing and using Microsoft Co-Pilot and other AI tools in your child's learning this year. Click here to view the communication. 

Our goal is to create a learning environment where AI technologies enhance learning and to prepare students for the future. We believe that collaboration with parents and guardians is crucial for the successful implementation of AI in our school. In October we will be hosting an information session for parents and guardians with details being included in upcoming editions of Appleby This Week. We would also like to encourage you to set aside 10 minutes either this evening or at some point next week to watch the following video from Ethan Mollick, Co-Director, Generative AI Labs at the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania whose academic research has been published in leading journals, and his work on AI is widely applied, leading him to be named one of TIME Magazine’s Most Influential People in Artificial Intelligence. Please click the link to view the video: https://youtu.be/d4f1jqb3Yis. 
 
If you have any concerns or questions regarding the use of AI, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Dr. Carlos Heleno, assistant head of school, academics at cheleno@appleby.on.ca.

Preliminary Bus Routes for 2024-2025

Preliminary bus routes for the 2024-2025 school year are available on the Transportation site via Appleby's education management system. 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. 

Middle One (Grade 7) Immunization Program

On Thursday, October 10, 2024 Halton Region Public Health nurses 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. Please click here to view the communication sent to parents on Friday, September 13.

Completed school vaccination consent forms must be e-mailed to Amy Cronin, Health Centre coordinator/nurse at acronin@appleby.on.ca, or dropped off to the Health Centre by Friday, September 20, 2024 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.

Course Request Changes

Course request changes will remain open until the last date to add a new course on Friday, September 27, 2024. Students will be required to attend their classes in September even if they intend to put in a request to change. Please note: course change requests by e-mail will not be processed.

Health and Physical Education Equipment Needed

Do you have gently used hockey skates, roller blades, roller blading safety equipment (elbow pads, knee pads and wrist guards), or golf clubs (irons, drivers or putters) that need a new home? Appleby's health and physical education department is looking to collect these items for students to use in their classes. Various sizes are welcome. Donations can be dropped of at Nicholas Arts Centre main reception. If you have any questions, please contact Anthony Schembri, department head, health and physical education.

Outdoor Education Information and Key Dates

Upper One students are visiting the S. Bruce McLaughlin Northern Campus with the class divided into three groups: Trip 1 departed on Sunday, September 15 and will return on Friday, September 20, Trip 2 is Sunday, September 22 to Friday, September 27 and Trip 3 is Friday, September 27 to Wednesday, October 2. Students will travel with their advisor groups and the schedule is available on BBK12 in the Outdoor Education section. The Senior One Outdoor Leader Trip will run from Wednesday, October 2 to Monday, October 7. 
 
Trip lists including an overview of the personal equipment students will need to bring with them on their respective trip is 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 18 to Friday, September 20 and Middle Two students will be attending Tuesday, September 17 to Friday, September 20. 
 
Grade Trips
All Middle Two students will be attending an overnight experiential trip to Ottawa, Ontario from Wednesday, April 30 to Friday, May 2, 2025. Middle One students will be attending a series of experiential day trips in the local and surrounding community from Wednesday, April 30 to Friday, May 2, 2025. 

Global Education Information Session 

The Global Education department will be holding a general information session on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. This session will cover all areas within the Global Education program at Appleby. We will begin in the A.W.B. Alumni Centre for Athletics and Student Life with an overview of the Global 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 April; Round Square and Global Partnerships; The Duke of Edinburgh Award and Middle School Experiential Education. 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. 

2024-2025 Global Experiential Programs 
 
Appleby has offered global experiential programming for over 20 years and the 2024-2025 school year will continue this legacy. These programs contribute to student learning by fostering community, providing intercultural education, granting opportunities for personal growth and leadership, as well as chances for building teamwork skills, reflective practices and furthering global understanding. December 2024 applications are now closed, and the 2025 trips are listed below. 

March 2025:

• Bali, Indonesia (Upper One to Senior One) - Environment, Sustainability, and Intercultural Understanding
• Cambodia (Upper Two to Senior Two) - Reconciliation and Community Engagement
• Croatia (Upper Two to Senior Two) - Legacy of Conflict and Mediaeval Culture
• Cuba (Upper One to Senior Two) - Vocal and Instrumental Music and Culture
• Greece (Upper Two to Senior One) - Food Systems, Agriculture and History
• Vietnam (Upper Two to Senior Two) - History and the Environment

April 2025:

• Morocco (Upper One to Upper Two) - Culture, Heritage and Identity
• Netherlands, Belgium and France (Upper Two) - History
• Sweden and Finland (Upper One to Senior Two) - Girls' Hockey
• Iceland (Middle School, April) - Sustainability, Climate and Folklore 

Applications open for these programs open on Thursday, September 26, 2024. To learn more, please visit the Global Experiential Programs page on BBK12, or email globaled@appleby.on.ca. 

AP Exams 2024-2025

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 30, 2024 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 advised 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 – Friday, November 15, 2024

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 15, 2024 are $175 CDN. AP exams ordered after Friday, November 15, 2024 are $240 CDN ($175 + $65).

• AP Exam Fee – $175 CDN per exam (ordered before Friday, November 15, 2024)
• Late Fee – additional $65 CDN per exam (ordered after Friday, November 15, 2024)
• Cancellation Fee – $65 CDN per exam (for all exams cancelled after Friday, November 15, 2024)

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 5 to Friday, May 16, 2025 
• Late-Testing AP Exam Schedule – Tuesday, May 20 to Friday, May 23, 2025

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

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!

2024-2025 Appleby College Calendar 

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

Current E-mail Addresses

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 19, Senior Two student and Chapel Prefect Selina Li will present her chapel speech. A link will be shared in the Sunday, September 29 issue of Appleby This Week (ATW). 

On September 12, Senior Two student and Head Prefect Charlie Kray presented his chapel speech. A link will the shared in the Sunday, September 22 issue of ATW. 

Festivals and Remembrances

We would like to acknowledge those members of our community who have commemorated or will commemorate the following festivals and remembrances:

• Friday, September 6 – Ganesh Chaturthi (Hinduism)
• Sunday, September 15 to Monday, September 16 - Mawlid al-Nabi (Islam)
• Tuesday, September 17 - Mid-Autumn Festival
• Saturday, September 21 – Fall Equinox
   

Opening Day

On September 9, the first all-school assembly of 2024-2025 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 see additional photos, please click the image to the left.
 

Appleby House Council Introductions

Throughout the past few weeks, Appleby's Boarding Houses - Baillie House, Colley House, Powell's House and Walker House - have posted introductions to their student leaders as well as photos from move-in days on their individual Instagram accounts. Click each House name above to visit their accounts and get to know this year’s House Council members!

Thank You for a Great Welcome Back BBQ!

On September 8, 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 the image to the left.
 

Upper Two Student Featured on TEDx YouTube Channel

Upper Two student Ellena Li, who won Appleby's TEDx Competition in April 2024, was recently selected by TEDx to be featured on their website/YouTube! Congratulations Ellena! Click here to watch Ellena’s speech on Women In the Music Industry. 
 

Ontario Summer Games

This summer, Upper Two student Crystal Akerele competed at the Ontario Summer Games in London, Ontario. She placed first in the Girls' 200 Meter Dash U16 (time: 25.13) and Girls' 100 Meter Dash U16 (time: 12.03), and third with her team in the Girls' 1600 Sprint Medley 4-2-2-8 U16. Congratulations Crystal!

ACPA Trail Hike at 16 Mile Creek 

Do you want to meet and have fun with other parents/guardians while getting outside and seeing the fall colours? Join Kathleen Kirkpatrick, director, parent relations, and members of the ACPA for a local trail hike to 16 Mile Creek, Lions Valley, in Oakville on Saturday, September 28, 2024. The walk will be approximately 8.5 km and followed by lunch (10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.). It will be a great time to meet, catch-up, form new connections, share stories, laugh, and enjoy all that the beautiful nature trails have to offer. The group will also be able to explore the history of the lands in the Oakville area from an Indigenous perspective through the 16 Mile Moccasin Trail information posts located along the hiking paths. Please click here to register. Attendance is limited to a maximum of 20 people. The deadline to RSVP is Wednesday, September 25, 2024.  
 

ACPA Appleby Pie Day is Here Again!

Get ready to indulge in a delicious tradition that supports our school. On Wednesday, October 9, 2024 the ACPA will be repeating Apple Pie Day which was a fun and successful event last year.
 
The Old Gym will be transformed into a workshop bustling with new and returning parent volunteers and we are looking for help on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 for set-up and Wednesday, October 9, 2024 for preparation day. Please click here to sign-up for the volunteer opportunities. 
 
The apple pies are $20.00 each (HST included) and orders can be placed online by clicking here. Pies will be ready to bake and they freeze well too! The order deadline is Thursday, October 3, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. Only 700 pies are available! Please note that the pies are made with a vegetarian base, but are not gluten or dairy free. 
 

Boarder Break  

On Wednesday, October 16 at 9:00 p.m. ACPA Community Campus Life Representatives will treat Appleby boarders to a well-deserved study break in the Schlesinger Dining Hall. We’d love any homemade or store-bought goodies you can provide, as well as cash donations if that’s easier. To help us plan, please click here to sign-up for either cash or food donations. Please make sure all food is nut-free to keep everyone safe. Cold food can be dropped off at the College Shop between 11:20 a.m. and 1:10 p.m. on Tuesday, October 15 or Wednesday, October 16. Hot food and restaurant donations should be delivered to the Schlesinger Dining Hall by 8:45 p.m. on Wednesday, October 16. 

If you’re available, we’d love to have you join us at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 16 to help pass out food and give a warm welcome to boarders. The event will run from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m. and the dress code is Blue Spirit. Parents are welcome to pitch in, but don’t forget to have a valid Criminal Record Check on file and sign up with our ACPA Volunteer Coordinator, Tamara Seales-Knight. If you have any questions, please e-mail ACPA Community Campus Life Representatives Lillian Yang or Lillian Mi.
 

Appleby College Parents' Association Executive Meeting – Tuesday, September 17

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, connect with other families, and help fundraise for the school. The ACPA is an integral part of the Appleby community, and we would love for you to join us at the first ACPA Executive Meeting of the 2024-2025 school year on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the LEC (Barr Commons). All are welcome to attend! Click here to meet the amazing ACPA team! For any questions, please contact Kathy Vucic, ACPA President. 
 

Get Cozy at the College Shop 

New year, new merch! Cozy fleece Appleby branded sweaters are available now, the perfect fit for fall weather and Middle School excursions Camp Kandalore. The College Shop is open Monday to Friday from 11:20 a.m. to 1:10 p.m. in the A.W.B. Alumni Centre for Athletics and Student Life. If you are unable to visit us in-store, you can shop online at www.applebycollegeshop.ca. 
 

ACPA Sustainability Boarder's Corner Event

Boarder's Corner, the ACPA Sustainability team's sale of items donated by former Appleby boarders was a great success! Many previously loved bedding, lamps, and dorm items found new homes within the Appleby community. Thank you to everyone who took part in the event and supported Appleby's commitment to building a green and sustainable campus!
 

Tuck Shop is Open for Business!

The Appleby Tuck Shop is officially open for the school year! Students may bring cash or tap their student account to purchase their treats. The Tuck Team will be introducing some nutritional infographic posters to help support students making balanced choices. We are always looking for nut-free snacks and welcome suggestions shared via the Tuck Shop’s suggestion box.      

ACPA Book Return and Sale
 
Donating used books in good condition is a great way to support the school! Please mark books “Donated to ACPA” and feel free to drop them off at the College Shop or Nicholas Arts Centre front reception. We hold two events during the school year, a book sale in September and a book return and sale in June. We sell books throughout the school year and we will post a list of books for search as soon as we have cleared our warehouse. If you have any questions about the book sales, returns and donations, please contact ACPA book return representatives Bal Chahal, Yan Peng and Emma Zhang.

Sustainability Shop - Request for Gently Used School Wear

Have your kids outgrown their school uniform items? It's time to go through your closets and donate any gently used Appleby approved school wear. The Sustainability Shop (formerly the Turnover Shop) is accepting all uniform and approved gym and spirit wear. Please drop-off donations at the Nicholas Arts Centre front reception or during regular College Shop hours, Monday to Friday from 11:20 a.m. to 1:10 p.m.  We welcome donations throughout the school year. 

Still in need of uniform items? Drop by the Sustainability Shop to check out our selection of very reasonably priced clothing. The Sustainability Shop is located in the A.W.B. Alumni Centre for Athletics and Student Life, next to the College Shop, and sells a range of gently used, clean, Appleby-approved school wear at extremely discounted prices. A selection of blazers, kilts, ties, dress shirts and approved gym and spirit wear are available. 

Lost and Found

The Lost and Found is located near the College Shop and is open from Monday to Friday, 11:20 a.m. to 1:10 p.m. Lost an item? Email lostandfound@appleby.on.ca to ask about items you may have left behind. Please consider labelling all your items as this increases the likelihood of lost items being reunited with their rightful owners.