Character Trait of the Month: Safety
This month at The Hill Academy, we are focusing on Safety as our character trait. Safety is about making smart choices to protect ourselves and others, whether in the classroom, on the playground, or during sports. We are teaching our students the importance of being aware of their surroundings, using equipment properly, and looking out for their peers.
By practicing safety, students build responsibility, teamwork, and confidence in their daily routines. Let's continue to encourage safe habits at school and at home to create a caring and secure environment for everyone!
Casey Kirkpatrick
Director- Early Years & Junior School Vice Principal
The Hill
Primary Monthly Awards – Celebrating Self-Regulation!
Congratulations to our Primary Award winners this month! Our focus character trait was Self-Regulation, an essential skill that helps students manage their emotions, behaviour, and actions in a positive way. Throughout the month, we recognized students who demonstrated self-control, made thoughtful choices, and showed perseverance in challenging situations.
We are so proud of our students for their efforts in developing this important life skill! Keep up the great work!
Kindergarten- Oscar & Omkar
Grade 1/2 - Luna & Lukas
Grade 3/4 - Jace & Veer
Physical Education- Evan
In this week's Newsletter:
March Break
We are hoping that you have a restful and re-energizing March Break, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday March 24.
Primary Sport Period at The Hill Academy
At The Hill Academy, our Primary Sport Period is designed to keep students active, engaged, and developing fundamental movement skills. We continuously adapt and refine the program to ensure it meets the needs of our students, fostering a love for sport and physical activity while building confidence and teamwork.
If you have any inquiries regarding the Sport Period, please reach out to Drazen Glisic (Director of Athlete Development) at DGlisic@thehillacademy.com. We appreciate your support in helping us create a dynamic and enjoyable experience for our students!
Stay Connected: Check the Classroom Newsletter & Calendar!
In a primary classroom, there’s always something exciting happening! From special events and theme days to important reminders and learning updates, staying informed is key. We encourage families to regularly check the classroom newsletter and calendar to ensure you don’t miss out on important dates and activities.
Your engagement helps support your child’s learning journey and keeps you connected to what’s happening in the classroom. Thank you for your ongoing support—we appreciate your partnership in making this a great year!
Kindergarten/Primary Kiss & Ride
For the smooth operation of our Kiss and Ride, it’s essential that students are dressed and ready to exit the vehicle upon arrival. This helps keep the line moving efficiently, minimizing wait times for everyone. We also encourage parents to help their child get in and out of the car quickly and safely, allowing the process to flow more smoothly for all. Your cooperation ensures that all families can drop off and pick up in a timely manner. Thank you for your support!
Summer Camps At The Hill
The Hill is excited announce the following upcoming camps:
Multi-Sport Summer Camp - June 30-July 4
Boys Lacrosse Camp - July 14-18
Girls Lacrosse Camp - July 21-25
Multi-Sport Summer Camp - July 28-Aug 1
Hill Student-Athletes can use the code "COACHCAM" for 15% off Summer Camps. Stay tuned for more Summer Camp announcements!
Cold Weather Policy
As the winter season is now upon us, we want to remind everyone of our cold weather policy to ensure the safety and well-being of our students while they are outdoors. Please review the guidelines below, which outline how we manage outdoor recess and activities during periods of extreme cold and wind chill:
Dress for the Weather
Students should wear warm, layered clothing, including hats and gloves, when outdoors. Proper attire is essential for staying comfortable and safe during colder temperatures.
Temperature Guidelines for Outdoor Recess
- When the wind chill or extreme cold is between **-20°C and -24°C**, outdoor recess will be limited to a maximum of 20 minutes (or less based on our professional discretion, if it is extremely windy)
- When the wind chill or extreme cold is **below -25°C**students will remain indoors for recess and other activities.
We kindly ask parents to ensure their children are dressed appropriately for the weather each day. Layers, insulated outerwear, and waterproof boots are strongly recommended during this season.
Thank you for your support in keeping our students safe and comfortable during the colder months.
Inclement Weather Procedure
Depending on the weather and the conditions, one of two decisions will be made:
1. School closure- remote learning
All buses cancelled; students are to perform their schoolwork remotely. This includes before and after care.
2. School Bus Cancellation
Either specific buses or all buses are canceled, and the school remains open for staff and students that can safely travel. Before and After care will still be operating.
We will do our best to communicate our decision by 6am, utilizing email and social media channels. Decisions will be made considering the safety of students and staff on both the way to and from campus.
School Uniforms
Please ensure your student-athlete has the appropriate uniform items.
Students are expected to wear Hill athletic shorts or sweatpants, a tech tee or long-sleeve shirt, and a sweatshirt. It is strongly recommended that your child also wear Hill-branded shorts or sweatpants. If not wearing Hill attire, shorts or pants must be black or beige.
Lunch Program
All invoices have been sent, please pay as soon as possible.
Lunch Lady: Offered Tuesday and Thursdays, please sign up using this link found here.
Pizza Days: March 7th
**Important Notice: Lunch Lady and Bus Cancellations**
Please be advised that in the event of bus cancellations, Lunch Lady will not deliver lunches to the school. Parents will be notified by Lunch Lady, early in the morning on such days. Additionally, if a storm is forecasted, Lunch Lady will send an email the night before to inform parents that lunch deliveries will be canceled if buses are not running.
Foundations of Sport Schedule
Monday: Lacrosse
Tuesday: Hockey
Wednesday: Basketball
Thursday: Road Hockey
Friday: Basketball
Below is the Foundations of Sport Schedule for the weeks up to March Break.
Daily Timetables
Daily timetables are available in the Hill Families > Parent Resources section of our website, alongside other helpful links for parents.
School Calendars
School Calendars are available and can be viewed in the Parent Resources section of the website. Updates will be made periodically, so continue to check the website for the most up to date details.
Teachers/Coaches
Kindergarten: Ms. Hill (katelyn.hill@thehillacademy.com)
Kindergarten: Ms. Diefenbacher (megan.diefenbacher@thehillacademy.com)
Grade 1/2 : Mrs. Goverde (jodi.goverde@thehillacademy.com)
Grade 3/4 : Ms. Kennedy (haley.kennedy@thehillacademy.com)
Kindergarten Physical Education: Ms. Champagne (amber.champagne@thehillacademy.com)
Coach 1-4: Mr. Cosmo (anthony.cosmo@thehillacademy.com)
Director, Sports Science & Athlete Performance: Drazen Glisic (dglisic@thehillacademy.com)
Director of Early Years & Vice Principal: Casey Kirkpatrick (casey.kirkpatrick@thehillacademy.com)
Labeling Items
With so many activities and practices happening daily, it's easy for items to get misplaced. To help keep track of uniforms, equipment, and personal items, we kindly ask that all student-athletes have their belongings clearly labeled with their name. This simple step ensures that lost items can be quickly returned and helps maintain organization throughout the day. Thank you for helping us keep our athletes focused and prepared!
Safety and Security
In preparing for your student-athlete for the school year, we want to remind everyone about the safety and security considerations of arriving and leaving the campus.
For all:
Please follow the posted speed limits
Please note and follow the one-way driveway and the stop signs
Please follow the directions of the staff who are supervising pick-up and drop-off times.
Parking lots are to be used for anyone waiting to pick up students. There is no parking in the fire routes, crosswalks or kiss and ride areas. If you arrive before the designated pick-up times, you will be directed to park in the lots.
Fire routes are allocated to help Fire and Emergency Services access buildings quickly in the event of an emergency. Blocking these routes, even to drop off or pick up students, can be dangerous for everyone.
Accessible parking spaces are for the exclusive use for individuals holding valid accessible parking permits. Please do not use or block any accessible spaces without a valid permit.
Absences and Late Arrivals
School success is closely tied to good attendance. When students miss learning time, they often struggle with understanding concepts, completing assignments, and performing well on assessments. Consistent attendance helps your child(ren) stay connected both academically and socially. We encourage you to commit to having your child(ren) attend school every day and arrive on time. Regular attendance builds positive habits that will last a lifetime. If your child is absent from school, please remember to email attendance@thehillacademy.com to report the absence.
If your student athlete is going to miss their Phys. Ed or sport period for any reason, please remember to email DGlisic@thehillacademy.com.
Late Arrivals
If your child arrives late to school, please park in the designated parking areas and walk them into the main office to receive a late slip. The students will need to provide their educator with the slip upon arrival to class.
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