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5-12 Newsletter 05.18.25

On a walk back from a practice with our primary-aged Foundations of Sport group, I was having a conversation with a couple young Grade 3 student-athletes. I’m always amazed to sit back and listen to our young student-athletes, as they surprise me with how much they know and how in-tune they are with things.


There was one in particular who was describing a dispute that had been lingering throughout the day. He felt another student was picking on him and had asked for help.


It is an age old “school yard” dilemma.


It had me thinking of a conversation that Coach Riley Thompson had with our boys Prep lacrosse team. He talked about our relationship with the game. He encouraged the players to think about our relationship with the game like any other relationship we have in life - ie friend, sibling, parents, etc. If the relationship isn’t going well, we have to identity our role in this.


In the game of lacrosse, if we are not playing well, the coaches are on you, you’re not getting any calls, you can’t score or make plays. The question should be asked; am I giving enough to the game? Am I in good condition? Am I a good teammate? Am I shooting extra shots after school? Etc, etc


Sometimes we can’t control the behaviours of others, how we are treated (or the breaks of the game), but what we can control, is the energy we are putting out into the world. Usually (but, unfortunately not always) that positive energy and spirit you put out into the world will be reciprocated in some way.


One of the students jump in and said “kind of like karma?” I responded, yes exactly like karma. I think it was a good reminder of how to look at life at The Hill…in simple terms: "you get what you give."


Brodie Merrill

Athletic Director

The Hill


UPCOMING EVENTS:

Junior School Athletic Banquet Tickets: Order Yours Here


Senior School Athletic Gala Tickets are going fast. The event will be held at the breathtaking Hockley Valley Resort this year, and is something you don't want to miss! Get your tickets now!


In this week's newsletter:

Grade 10 Field Trip - Tuesday

On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, our Grade 10 students will be attending a field trip to the Royal Ontario Museum. Students are expected to arrive promptly and meet in the Lower Flex area by 8:00 AM. All students must be in full school uniform. Those who participate in the school lunch program will be provided with a lunch; all other students should bring a packed lunch, as we will be eating in the museum’s designated lunchroom. To help keep the day organized and worry-free, we kindly ask that students avoid bringing valuables and limit what they carry to essentials only. Large backpacks are discouraged—smaller bags are preferred. We look forward to providing our Grade 10 students with a meaningful and enriching educational experience.


Junior School Athletic Banquet Tickets On Sale!

Junior School Athletic Banquet tickets are now available. We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday June 10 at 5:30pm for the festivities. All Student-Athletes in Grades 5 to 8 are expected to attend.


Hill Families are encouraged to attend and celebrate the accomplishments of our amazing Student-Athletes during this unforgettable event! Guest tickets are limited to 2 per student in Junior School.




Senior School Athletic Gala Tickets On Sale!

The Senior School Athletic Gala will once again return to Hockley Valley Resort. All Student-Athletes in Grades 9 to PG are expected to attend.


Hill Families are encouraged to attend and celebrate the accomplishments of our amazing Student-Athletes during this unforgettable event!



Exam Schedule

The exam schedule can be found here.


Exam Frequently Asked Questions

  • When are exams scheduled?

    • Monday, June 9

    • Tuesday, June 10

    • Wednesday, June 11


  • 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.


  • 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.


Class Basket Raffle – Reminder for K–8 Families

As we prepare for our upcoming year-end celebrations, we’d like to remind all K–8 families to please send in their raffle item contributions for the class baskets.


Thank you in advance for your generosity and support, it is always appreciated by our students and community!


In Search of Silent Auction Items

Your generous support can help turn a bold vision into reality—The Hill Canteen/Tuck Shop is coming, and we need your help to bring it to life!


Imagine a vibrant, welcoming space where students can grab healthy snacks and smoothies to fuel their day. And starting next year, parents will enjoy the convenience of fresh, wholesome takeout meals—right from our very own school.


With your contribution, you're not just funding a canteen—you're investing in a healthier, happier, and more connected school community.



EPIC Games on campus - May 20-22

On May 20, 21 and 22 – The Hill will be hosting the EPIC games in partnership with the Ontario Lacrosse Association. 

 

Player invites are the responsibility of the OLA and are sent directly from the OLA to players chosen by their home centre coaches in the OMFLL U13/15/17 Divisions. 

 

We’d like to take this time to remind students who choose to participate in this event, that you must register as ABSENT from school by following The Hill protocol (as a reminder, that is to email your teachers/coaches, attendance@thehillacademy.com and CC parents/guardians). 

 

Students who are invited and choose to participate in this event should remain at the field for the duration of the event and are not use the school facilities, visit classrooms, or use spaces not designated for this event. 

 

Other students are not to be at the field, unless they are a) registered as absent; b) registered as helping with the event; or c) with their teacher and class.

 

For any questions regarding this event, please contact Julie Packard – jpackard@thehillacademy.com


Jump Rope For Heart - May 28

This year staff and students at The Hill are participating in Jump Rope for Heart on May 28 to raise awareness and funds for heart health.


The Junior School (Grades K-8) is competing against the Senior School (Grades 9-12+PG) to raise the most money for Heart & Stroke to fund important research that affects us all. Please consider donating and supporting either the Junior School or Senior School in this heart-healthy competition by clicking the button below to reach our goal! We appreciate donations of any sizes and in the end, we ALL benefit from this life saving research.




Tick Season Awareness

As the warmer weather approaches, we are entering tick season. We encourage families to be mindful during this time, especially when children are playing in grassy or wooded areas. Thank you for partnering with us in keeping our students safe and healthy during outdoor activities.


Here is a link to Ontario Public Health, which provides further information about ticks: https://www.ontario.ca/page/tick-borne-diseases


Reminder: Sign-Out Protocol

A reminder that all high school students must be signed out by a parent or guardian if they are leaving campus during the school day—for any reason, including appointments or lunch. Please email attendance@thehillacademy.com. Thank you for your support in keeping our students safe and accounted for!


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


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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Summer Performance Training

Contact Coach Dre for more details or to sign up: dglisic@thehillacademy.com 


Grade 10 Guidance Meetings

Starting next week, Grade 10 students are encouraged to sign up for Guidance meetings with Mrs. Flynn to go through graduation requirements, course selection, NCAA eligibility and more. Sign-ups for meetings are outside the Academic Administration office. Please 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. 



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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