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K-4 Newsletter 04.20.25

The Importance of Risky Play in Primary Years


At The Hill Academy, we recognize the value of risky play in the healthy development of our Kindergarten to Grade 4 students. Risky play refers to activities that allow children to explore uncertainty and challenge themselves in a controlled and supervised environment, such as climbing, balancing, rough-and-tumble play, or exploring natural outdoor spaces.


Engaging in this type of play encourages children to build confidence, resilience, problem-solving skills, and risk assessment abilities. It also supports their physical development and promotes independence as they learn to navigate challenges and trust their own judgment.


Our educators ensure that these experiences are thoughtfully supervised, providing students with the freedom to explore within safe boundaries. We believe that supporting risky play helps our young learners grow into capable, confident, and curious individuals.


Casey Kirkpatrick

Director- Early Years & Junior School Vice Principal

The Hill


In this week's Newsletter:

 
Easter Monday Reminder - Monday

A reminder that this Monday is a Easter Monday. We look forward to seeing everyone refreshed and ready for school on Tuesday!


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.


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!


Lunch Program

The Hill Eats - Early Years Hot Lunch (for those who signed up): Began March 24th

  • Monday April 21: Easter Monday

  • Tuesday April 22: Pulled Pork

  • Wednesday April 23: Chicken Caesar & Rice

  • Thursday April 24: Grilled Cheese

  • Friday April 25: Mediterranean Lamb with Pita

*Meals are subject to change and will be delivered to the classrooms by The Hill Eats staff during the lunch period


Lunch Lady: Offered Tuesday and Thursdays, please sign up using this link found here.

Pizza Days: (April 25th, May 9th, May 30th)

Pita Days: (May 2nd, May 23rd, June 6th)


**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.


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:


Hill Student-Athletes can use the code "COACHCAM" for 15% off Summer Camps. Stay tuned for more Summer Camp announcements!


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.



Foundations of Sport Schedule

Monday: Easter Monday

Tuesday: Lacrosse

Wednesday: Track and Field

Thursday: Hockey

Friday: Basketball


Below is the Foundations of Sport Schedule for the remainder of the school year.

Click Image to Enlarge
Click Image to Enlarge
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

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:


  1. 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.

  2. 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.


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.





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