UTS is Open to All

Last Saturday’s Open House was another “first” for me in my inaugural year of discovery as the wonders of UTS continue to unfold before my very eyes. Watching more than 2,200 parents and prospective students explore our space, seeing the skill, passion and achievement of our students and staff on full display – it was truly a sight to behold. 

As Principal, I think it’s important to ensure prospective families understand who we are, as a school, what we stand for and what we hope prospective families will bring to our community, should they choose to join us. I always like to remind families that the Admissions process is a two-way conversation: we are getting to know them, and they are getting to know us. There is no one school that is right for every student, and it is incumbent upon families to do their homework, determine the “goodness of fit” between their child and each prospective school, and perhaps most importantly, their family’s comfort with a school’s values.

My message to prospective families was clear. UTS is a school for students who have a passion for knowledge, who can manage an accelerated pace, who thrive in a busy school environment and who often self-extend their learning. This doesn’t mean all our students are the same. Far from it. Our students are diverse in who they are but share this hard to describe but you know it when you see it ‘spark’ that ignites curiosity wherever they go. 

I also reminded prospective families and particularly prospective students that we don’t want them to be perfect. In fact, the pressure of perfectionism ultimately detracts from high performance and is often born out of an internal anxious voice that says, “You’re not good enough. Soon, everyone will know.” Perfectionism needs to be replaced with a growth mindset – the compassionate voice that says, “You didn’t achieve your goal….yet. Keep trying. Keep growing. Be patient.” Parents need to model and encourage this in their children because the voice of failure and shame does incredible damage in the long run. Parents need to partner with us to help manage the incredible pressure exceptionally bright students often place on themselves because of the negative impact of this pressure on the individual student but also the school culture, which undermines achievement and mental wellness for all. 

Finally, I explained to prospective families that our school is deeply committed to AEDI, the work we do around anti-racism, equity, diversity and inclusion. These are non-negotiables for our community. There is no opting out of compassion, kindness and our desire to foster a sense of belonging for all. There is a requirement that we all engage in our school’s work on Truth and Reconciliation, on homophobia, transphobia, antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Black racism, anti-Asian racism, class discrimination – sadly the list of what we must educate about and fight against is long but it is work that is required. Families who want to join our community need to understand that individual academic success at all costs or believing that academics alone are the focus of our program is not the model we support. 

We are a community that encourages and teaches our students to be leaders to have brave conversations that allow for an exploration of difference within a relationship of deep respect. The world is an increasingly divided place, and our message to prospective families is clear: UTS must be a refuge from a world of increasing division, a home where students can strengthen their voice and develop the resilience, knowledge and skills to lead in a more just society. For prospective families who are like-minded, we say welcome. 

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