
Hello Hill Family,
As we complete exams and culminating tasks in the high school, we are ready to start second semester. It is always a good reset for our students to get into new classes, with new teachers, and a new group of students. Like our students, I am also beginning a new semester in my doctoral studies in educational leadership.
The first assignment of my semester forced me to start narrowing down the question I hope to explore for my dissertation. It is supposed to relate back to my work at The Hill since it is a professional program. Because culture and community is so important here, I gravitated towards exploring those two ideas.
Reading Organizational Culture and Leadership by Edgar Schein left a strong impression on me. In one of his chapters he explores how organizations are able to maintain their core cultural identities as they move from a small organization into, sometimes, international organizations. With our growth in recent years, it is important that we are able to maintain our cultural identity.
The founding principles of The Hill acronym, as well as our non-negotiables are key components to our cultural identity. We are always going to encourage our students to reach their Highest level of achievement, be Independent, be Leaders, and to leave a strong Legacy. Holding our students accountable to these expectations stems from a stance of care, which will help them beyond these walls. As we grow, we will continue to revert back to these core values and ask all members of our community to embrace the expectations of them.
Jon Moore
Secondary School Vice Principal
Please find Exams FAQs here
In this week's newsletter:
Secondary School Exams
Secondary exams are scheduled for January 16, 2025 to January 22, 2025. You can see the exam schedule here. These are formal assessments that must be written on the scheduled date. Any missed exams will require a doctor's note to write on a new date. Students also need to be available on Tuesday, January 21 and Wednesday, January 22 in case of an exam being cancelled for inclement weather. For example, if there is an inclement weather day on Thursday, January 16, those exams will be rescheduled to Tuesday, January 21. Any conflicts should be communicated to Mr. Moore in order to write on a different date.
Chef Michael and the New Meal Plan
We are excited to welcome Chef Michael as he introduces the new Meal Plan, beginning day one of the second semester. Day students can join the meal plan for just second semester if they would like. For more information and to sign up, please fill out this form.
PowerSchool Parent and Student Portal
Please note that the parent and student portal for Power School will be disabled on January 16 until Semester 1 reports are sent home. Students will receive copies of their semester 2 schedules this week.
Guidance Appointments: Grade 11
Students in grade 11 are encouraged to book meetings with Mrs. Flynn in the coming weeks to discuss NCAA eligibility, university applications and course selection. Please use this link to book an appointment with Mrs. Flynn.
Community Involvement Hours
Students who plan to graduate with an Ontario Secondary School Diploma are required to collect at least 40 community involvement hours before graduation. Mrs. Flynn has posted a list outside of her office for 2025 graduates and the number of community involvement hours currently recorded. Please check the list.
There are many opportunities to collect these hours. Below you will find links to some of the events upcoming in certain communities, and students should connect with Mrs. Flynn about finding ways to complete the required hours:
Ontario University Application Centre
Ontario University Application deadline was JANUARY 15th, 2025
January 15th was the deadline for applicants to submit their completed applications to the OUAC. The OUAC will continue to process applications received after this date and distribute them to the Ontario universities; however, specific university deadlines will apply. You must let Mrs. Flynn know if you have, or plan to submit an application through the OUAC.
Encouraging Student Independence
At Hill, the "I" in H.I.L.L. stands for Independent Thought, and we encourage our Student-Athletes to advocate for themselves. Whenever possible, please have your child reach out directly to their teacher or coach regarding any questions related to their classwork or sport. If an issue remains unresolved and requires further discussion, parents are welcome to contact staff by email during the week (8:00 am - 4:00 pm) to arrange a meeting.
Respecting Teacher/Coach Focus
Continuing with the theme of encouraging independence, we want to ensure that the expectations of teacher/coach communication remains in the best possible position moving forward. Please ensure that meetings/communication is guided toward the weekday (8:00 am - 4:00 pm) timeframe unless otherwise advised.
Additionally, during busy tournament and game weekends (or evenings), we kindly ask that parents avoid contacting coaches with questions related to the games (such as playing time, tactical decisions, etc.) or requesting meetings. Coaches are fully focused on supporting our athletes through games, reflecting, and planning for upcoming events during these times. Please know that coaches are always available to address health and safety concerns if they arise, as is our on-site athletic therapy team.
Phys Ed This Week
Below is an overview of what the focus was this past week in Phys Ed with through their journalling, the Player Development Program, Social Emotional Learning and Health.

(click on image to enlarge)

(click on image to enlarge)
Missing Item Check
We kindly ask if you could take a moment to check with your child to see if they may have any items that don’t belong to them. Sometimes, items like clothing, water bottles, boots or sports equipment can get mixed up during the busy school day.
If you come across anything that might not belong to your child, please feel free to send it back to school, and we’ll ensure it’s returned to its rightful owner.
Thank you so much for your help and support!
The Hill Partners with Atiba Hutchinson
We are excited to let you know that we have partnered with Canadian Soccer Legend Atiba Hutchinson in creating a March Break Soccer Camp (March 10-14). The camp will be specific to 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 born rep soccer athletes. For more information, read here. * IMPROVED PRICING *
March Break and Summer Camps
The Hill is excited announce the following upcoming camps:
March Break Soccer Camp - March 10-14
March Break Hockey Camp - March 11-13
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!

Sports schedules can be found in the image below for the week of December 16-20. Stay up to date by checking TeamSnap for your individual team's calendar.

(click on image to enlarge)
Exam FAQs
When are exams scheduled?
Thursday, January 16
Friday, January 17
Monday, January 20
Tuesday, January 21 (make up day)
Wednesday, January 22 (PD day that may become a make up day, if necessary)
What time are exams?
All exams are scheduled from 9:00-12:00. Students should arrive 15 minutes early so they have the full three hours to write. Students must remain in the room until 10:00. Any students who arrive after 10:00 will not be permitted to write.
What happens if there is inclement weather?
If there is weather preventing students from attending an exam, that exam will be rescheduled to Tuesday, January 21. For example, if there is a snow day on Thursday, January 16, the exams scheduled for that day will move to Tuesday, January 21.
How will I know if an exam is rescheduled?
Exams will proceed as planned unless you receive communication directly from the school.
Will the bus run during exams?
Yes, our K-8 students have regularly scheduled programming during exams. Buses will follow regular arrival and departure times. If you normally take the bus but will leave after your exam, you need to sign out and communicate that to attendance and your bus driver.
What do I need to bring to my exam?
Students should bring a writing utensil, calculator (if needed), and a water bottle. A phone cannot be used in place of a calculator.
Will the meal plan be offered during exams?
Yes.
What do students wear during exams?
Students are expected to be in uniform for exams. They are welcome to wear their Friday uniform.
When can students leave?
Students are welcome to go home when they have completed their exam.
Are non-residence students allowed in dorm rooms while they wait for their ride or bus?
Non-residence students are never allowed in dorm rooms. Students are welcome to wait in flex spaces while they are waiting for the bus or a ride.
Will the gym be open during exams?
Students are welcome to workout between 8:00 and 1:00. If they have no exam scheduled on a day, they are welcome at the school to exercise at these times.
What do students do between 12-4?
If they are able to, students are welcome to go home after their exam. If they plan on staying on campus, there are spaces available to complete final tasks and study for exams.
What if a student is sick and unable to attend an exam?
Students are expected to write their exams on their scheduled date. If they are unable to attend due to illness, a doctor’s note will need to be submitted to the vice principal in order to reschedule it.
Daily Timetables
Daily timetables are available in the Hill Families > Parent Resources section of our website, alongside other helpful links for parents.Â
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.
Code of Conduct Forms
Code of Conduct Forms are past due if they have not been handed in! Please ensure your student-athletes has complete this.
Junior School received a paper copy from their homeroom teacher and can access a digital copy to print on their homeroom Google Classroom.
High School can assess a copy of their period 6 Google Classroom.
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.

Comments