Weekly Newsletters

Grade K-3 Weekly Newsletter 2026.10.09

October 9, 2026 Hello Hill Families, I’m going to let you in on a little secret: fall is my favourite season. It always has been. As I get older, I find myself appreciating the little things that make each season special, but fall continues to fill me with joy. Maybe it’s the vibrant changes around us; in the trees, in the animals (I will always laugh at the squirrels getting ready for winter), and even, already, in our students. There is something about this time of year tha

Grade 4-8 Weekly Newsletter 2026.10.09

October 9, 2026 Dear Hill Families, Last year I discovered ChatGPT. Like most, I had the honeymoon phase, "this is amazing!" It was clear that AI was making my life much easier in areas. For example, say...writing a newsletter. Type in a few descriptions and boom, you have a polished, articulate, well written newsletter—and it's done in seconds, which allowed me to go back to doing productive things on my Sunday, like watching NFL football. But re-reading it after the newslet

Grade 9-12 Weekly Newsletter 2026.10.09

K-6 Newsletter Year End 2025-26

June 15, 2026 Hello Hill Families, With the end of the school year, I will continue the trend of the last few years and provide some reading recommendations for The Hill community. There’s a little bit of everything that should appeal to anyone looking for a good read this summer. If you have one of your own, let me know your recommendations. 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People - A recommendation from Coach Dre, this book describes what I think The Hill tries to

K-6 Newsletter 06.05.26

June 5, 2026 Hello Hill Families, As we enter the final week of the school year, we want to thank our students, families, and staff for a wonderful year of learning, growth, and community. The last week will be filled with opportunities to celebrate accomplishments, reflect on successes, and enjoy time together as a school community. Today, we were delighted to celebrate our Kindergarten Graduation. Our youngest learners did an outstanding job sharing songs, smiles, and speci

K-6 Newsletter 05.29.26

May 29, 2026 Hello Hill Families, “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” — C. S. Lewis At The Hill Academy, we believe that character development is just as important as academic achievement and athletic success. One of the most important qualities we can help develop in young people is integrity, the ability to make positive choices, demonstrate respect, and act with honesty even when there is no recognition or supervision. Often, the moments tha

K-6 Newsletter 05.22.26

May 22, 2026 Hello Hill Families, We have officially passed the threshold into the last month of school for this year. It means that there are lots of things going on at the school. There will be galas, games, community building, exams, assignments and lots more. For some this is a time of farewells, seasons beginning, seasons ending, daily life, and life unexpected. It takes a lot of focus, determination, resilience and commitment, from all parties involved, to embrace expe

K-6 Newsletter 05.15.26

May 15, 2026 Hello Hill Families, Congratulations to our April Character Award recipients for demonstrating the trait of Self-Control! Throughout the month, these students showed great maturity by managing their emotions, making thoughtful choices, staying focused during learning, and demonstrating respect toward others, even during challenging moments. We are very proud of the positive example they set within our school community. As we move into May, our new character trait

K-6 Newsletter 05.08.26

May 8, 2026 Hello Hill Families, With the warmer weather here, our students are spending more time outdoors enjoying recess, physical education, and outdoor learning. This is a wonderful part of the school day, and we want to ensure everyone stays safe and informed about ticks. What are ticks? Ticks are very small insects that live in grassy, wooded, and bushy areas. While most tick bites are harmless, some ticks can carry bacteria that may lead to illness, including Lyme dis

K-6 Newsletter 05.01.26

May 1, 2026 Hello Hill Families, Theme Basket Raffle - In Full Swing! Our K–8 Theme Basket Raffle is now in full swing! Thank you to all families who have already begun contributing, your support is helping make this a fun and successful end-of-year initiative for our school community. Funds raised through this raffle will go toward school improvements, helping us continue to enhance our students’ learning environment. A Quick Overview: Donations: Each student is asked to bri

K-6 Newsletter 04.24.26

April 24, 2026 Hello Hill Families, “The expert in anything was once a beginner.” — Helen Hayes As we move through the school year, this quote serves as a powerful reminder that growth, learning, and achievement are all built on effort, patience, and persistence. We deeply value curiosity, perseverance, and the courage to take on new challenges, even when the path feels difficult or unfamiliar. Every student, whether in the classroom, on the ice, on the field or at the course

K-6 Newsletter 04.17.26

April 17, 2026 Hello Hill Families, We are very proud to celebrate our K–3 Character Award winners for this month! These students have been recognized for consistently demonstrating strong problem-solving skills in their learning and daily interactions. Congratulations to all of our recipients, you are wonderful role models for perseverance, critical thinking, and a positive attitude when facing challenges! As we move into a new month, our K–6 character focus is Self-Control.

K-6 Newsletter 04.10.26

April 10, 2026 Hello Hill Families, We look forward to connecting with families during our upcoming Parent-Teacher Interviews on the evening of Thursday, April 16 and the morning of Friday, April 17 . These meetings are a valuable opportunity to discuss your child’s progress, celebrate their successes, and set goals for continued growth. Parent interviews play an important role in supporting student learning. When families and teachers work together, we can better understand

K-6 Newsletter 04.03.26

April 3, 2026 Hello Hill Families, We have now entered spring (even if it doesn’t quite feel like it yet) which is a season of growth, change and (hopefully) warmth. This is the time of year that we see truly begin to see the growth in our students. When you see their student photos from the fall compared to them now, or the growth in the work they are able to do in the classroom, the relationships they have spent time building over the past seven months. Their progress is e

K-6 Newsletter 03.27.26

March 27, 2026 Hello Hill Families, I hope everyone was able to have a relaxing break. Although the academic side of the school was closed, it did not mean the institution was at rest. The lacrosse program started its seasons and the hockey program received news that was years in the making. All three boys lacrosse teams travelled to Baltimore and demonstrated resilience while there. The day they arrived, there was a weather warning that cancelled all games scheduled. The te

K-6 Newsletter 03.13.26

March 13, 2026 Hello Hill Families, As we now enter March Break, we would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our families a wonderful, restful, and enjoyable break. The past several weeks have been busy with learning, activities, and many wonderful moments, and this break provides students with a well-deserved opportunity to recharge. March Break is a great time for students to relax and spend quality time with family and friends. Whether your plans include travelin

K-6 Newsletter 03.06.26

March 6, 2026 Hello Hill Families, At our recent K–3 assembly, we proudly celebrated our Helpfulness Award winners ! These students went above and beyond to demonstrate kindness, responsibility, and a willingness to support others in our school community. Whether helping a classmate with a task, including others in play, or offering assistance without being asked, they model what it means to contribute positively to our school. We are so proud of the way they lead by example!

K-6 Newsletter 02.27.26

February 27, 2026 Hello Hill Families, On Wednesday, February 25th, we proudly participated in Pink Shirt Day , a national movement dedicated to promoting kindness, inclusion, and taking a stand against bullying. Pink Shirt Day began in 2007 in Nova Scotia when two students organized a show of support for a peer who had been bullied for wearing a pink shirt. What started as a simple act of kindness has grown into a nationwide (and global) reminder that we all have a role to p

K-6 Newsletter 02.20.26

February 20, 2026 Hello Hill Families, I have the privilege of interacting with K-PG students. I see them learning, problem-solving, competing, and supporting one another; whether it’s at recess, in the classroom, during assessments, or playing the sports they love. There are transferable and emotional skills that can be applied to all of these moments, at any age. Two that stand out, especially this time of year, are resilience and perseverance. During a Hill session with o

K-6 Newsletter 02.13.26

February 13, 2026 Dear Hill Families, "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." – Aesop This February, our focus is on the character trait of helpfulness! Being helpful means looking for ways to support others, sharing our skills, and contributing positively to our community. In the classroom, helpfulness can look like assisting a classmate with a tricky problem, sharing materials, or offering to help tidy up after an activity. During sports, students demons

K-6 Newsletter 02.06.26

February 6, 2026 Dear Hill Families, February may be the shortest month of the year, but in the Kinder Cabin and across our campus it will be a month full of learning, wonder, and meaningful moments of connection. This month, our conversations will help us look more closely at one another and at the world around us. As we explore Black History Month, we will share stories of excellence, ask thoughtful questions, and reflect on how our differences make our community brighter a

K-6 Newsletter 01.30.26

January 30, 2026 Dear Hill Families, This week at the Hill encapsulates the diversity and vibrancy of a school that offers grades K-12. While our high schoolers embarked on new courses and preparing for this second semester, our early years, primary and middle school students are getting organized, beginning new units and continuing to expand their learning, as their classes and teachers wrap up semester one. Cold winter days often bring quick changes to schedules and plans;

K-6 Newsletter 01.23.26

January 23, 2026 Dear Families, This month, our K–6 students are focusing on Responsibility , a key character trait that helps students take ownership of their actions and learning. In the classroom, responsibility looks like completing tasks on time, following instructions, keeping materials organized, and contributing thoughtfully to group work. Students show responsibility by staying on task, asking for help when needed, and taking pride in their work. During Physical Educ