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5-12 Newsletter 03.30.25

Hello Hill Families,


Time outside is extra special this time of year at The Hill. We’ve earned it after a snowy winter.


On campus, you can see, feel, and hear all the signs of spring like more daylight, warmer weather, and Canadian geese returning home. Perhaps because the winters are so long, you feel these refreshing spring elements distinctly. There is a sports metaphor somewhere in that!


Travelling with the lacrosse teams, spending time on the road, you understand these adventures are more about the journey than the destination. The trips are a unique blend of experiences.


You’re seeing different parts of the US, cool facilities, landmarks, etc. You are experiencing all the “joys” of travel, from bus breakdowns, to bad weather, traffic…to a turkey flying through your windshield (yes this did happen once on one of our girls trips years ago).


There is also the intensity of competition, that brings challenges, breakthroughs, set backs, excitement, disappointment. There is a lot of time to think, reflect, ruminate. There is also a lot of time with others, being around each other in different settings than we are used to.


You always return with new perspectives.


Throughout my travels this spring, there is a quote that has been sticking with me that I recently heard from the father of a former Hill student athlete by the name of Cooper Charlton. Cooper died tragically in a car accident in 2022 at the age of 29. Still feels surreal to say. He was a special person that left a profound legacy at The Hill.


We have named a rock after Cooper that all students touch for good luck prior to going on the field.


We are commemorating the rock with a plate with a quote that will be mounted to the rock. We asked Cooper’s dad what Cooper’s favourite quote was and his response:


“What are you being in the doing?”


I had to read the quote a few times before it sunk in.


What a perfect question to consider before stepping on the field to practice. There can be a tendency as times throughout the year to do things for the sake of doing it, or go through the motions, or be distracted by trivial things.


The question for me makes me ask myself:

Am I present?

Am I practicing/coaching with purpose?

Am I interacting with players and coaches?

Am I taking in my surroundings?

Am I grateful for the opportunities of the day and all that I have?


I hope the quote makes you ponder similar questions and I want to thank Cooper for continuing to provide inspiration to this day and for many days to come for many student athletes.


Brodie Merrill

Director, Athletics

The Hill


In this week's newsletter:

Early Dismissal - Friday, April 11th

Please be advised that Friday, April 11th, will be an early dismissal day due to the Lacrosse game. Buses will depart campus at 3:05 PM, and all other students must be picked up by 3:00 PM. There will be no supervision on campus past 3:15 PM.


If students plan to attend the game, they must be picked up by 3:00 PM and supervised by an adult at the field. Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring a smooth and safe dismissal.


Welcome to our Student Teachers!

Please join us in welcoming Ms. Krista Gott and Ms. Kayla Jackson to The Hill Academy community. They are Teacher Candidates from Nipissing University and will be working in our Junior School classrooms for the next six weeks.


We also extend a warm welcome to Mr. Jasveer Dhindsa, a Teacher Candidate from Nipissing University, who will be joining our high school science classes.


We are excited to have them with us and look forward to their contributions to our school!


Ontario Literacy Test, March 2025

Students will continue writing the Literacy Test this coming week. Students who have yet to complete the literacy test successfully will be registered for one of the following dates:

Week 2: Tuesday April 1 & Thursday April 3


Practice test materials have been provided and Mr. Collins is available for practice and test support.


Power School Parent and Student Portal

Please note that the Power School parent and student portal will be closed on Friday, April 4 while teachers enter midterm reports. The portal will be active again once reports are given to the students.


Tamaras Warriors Fundraiser Game - Sunday April 6

Our Hill Academy community is built on strength, resilience, and support for one another. We are all coming together in solidarity for our beloved Director of Hockey, Ryan Toomey, and his family during an unimaginably challenging time.


Recently, Ryan’s wife, Tamara, was diagnosed with brain cancer—a battle no family should have to face. As Ryan prioritizes his family and Tamara’s recovery, the Hill Academy stands firmly behind him, offering our love, strength, and unwavering support. While Ryan remains dedicated to his family during this time, he looks forward to returning to the Hill Academy as Tamara heals and will continue to be at the school intermittently. Ryan's steadfast support for the students, the hockey program, and next season's U16 AAA team remains unwavering. The family sincerely appreciates those who have reached out and is also grateful for the privacy they have been given during this time.


In an effort to rally around the Toomey family, there has been a gofundme set up and a fundraiser hockey game featuring coaches from the Caledon Hawks organization in their honour:


📅 Date: Sunday, April 6

⏰ Time: 6:00 PM

📍 Location: Caledon East Arena


This event is an opportunity to come together, show our support, and make a meaningful difference for a family that means so much to our community. We encourage families to contribute in any way they can, whether attending, spreading the word, or sending their love and positive thoughts.


Several Hill Academy families and staff will be involved in the event and look forward to seeing the stands filled, lifting the Toomey family with our collective strength, and reminding them that they are never alone in this fight.


For more information, please contact instagram.com/tamaras_warriors


Join us at Legacy Field for Prep Lacrosse vs. Culver and WRA

The Prep Lacrosse team will be hosting two games in early April: Friday April 11th at 4pm vs. Culver Academy and Sunday April 13th at 12pm vs. WRA. Details are being finalized, but we look forward to welcoming families, friends and lacrosse fans for these important home games! More details to follow.


Junior School Sport Period – Attendance Reminder

If your child plans to stay back from their scheduled sport period, an email must be sent in the morning to both their specific coach and the Vice Principal. This ensures proper supervision and helps us keep track of all students during this time.


Thank you for your cooperation!



Vice Principal: Casey Kirkpatrick- casey.kirkpatrick@thehillacademy.com

Hockey: Brett Robinson- brobinson@thehillacademy.com

Lacrosse: Graydon Hogg- graydon.hogg@thehillacademy.com

Foundation of Sport: Tanner Poole- tanner.poole@thehillacademy.com


Grade 8 and Grade 12 Grad Photos

We have received the revised date for Grade 8 and Grade 12 Grad Photos: April 14th. A schedule of times will be released closer to the day, but please mark your calendars.


Save The Date! Junior Athletic Banquet and Senior Athletic Gala

Stay tuned for more details to follow, but we wanted to ensure everyone had the dates of the Grade 5-8 Junior School Athletic Banquet and the the Grade 9-12+PG Senior School Athletic Gala.


Junior School Athletic Banquet: Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Senior School Athletic Gala: Wednesday, June 11, 2025



The Hill Eats

Below is the menu for next week.

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Phys Ed This Past Week

Here is an overview of what was covered in Phys Ed this past week:



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Grade 8 Transition Meetings

In the coming weeks, Grade 8 students will be meeting with Guidance to discuss the transition from Grade 8 to 9. They will have a chance to ask questions about the Secondary Program, Pathway, Planning and more. Students are encouraged to come with questions!


Mental Health Champions in Elite Youth Sport – Project Overview

This year, athletes and parents at The Hill Academy are invited to participate in a research study on the role of Mental Health Champions in elite youth sport organizations. This is a pilot project in partnership with researchers at the University of Toronto. Young athletes often have stressful experiences in sport, and some athletes experience concerns related to their mental health. For this project, the researchers want to learn about how parents and elite youth athletes may benefit from having Mental Health Champions within a team/sport-related organization. Mental Health Champions are people who will be selected to receive training on mental health in sport, and they will provide information and resources this year for parents and athletes around the topic of mental health among elite youth athletes. For more information about the project, please see the information booklet.


Parents and athletes are invited to complete one survey now and another survey at the end of the year. Parents and athletes will also be invited to participate in focus group interviews at the end of the year to share their experiences during the project.

If you are interested in taking part in this research project, please see the following links for more information and to complete the first survey for the study:

If you have any questions about this project, please feel free to contact the primary researcher, Dr. Katherine Tamminen (katherine.tamminen@utoronto.ca)


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:


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.


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!



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


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Daily Timetables

Daily timetables are available in the Hill Families > Parent Resources section of our website, alongside other helpful links for parents. 



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.


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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