September 29, 2024
Hello Hill Community,
Tomorrow is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It is a day meant to honour the Survivors and others impacted by residential schools. While the provincial government of Ontario has neglected to identify it as a provincial holiday, we as an institution believe it is important to respect the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action No. 80:
We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish, as a statutory holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour Survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.
As a result, The Hill will close on September 30th each year to respect this call to action. On this day of commemoration we encourage our community to spend time educating themselves on the impact of residential schools and see what you can do to help with the process of reconciliation. Attend an event in your community. Read books such as 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act: Helping Canadians Make Reconciliation With Indigenous Peoples A Reality by Bob Joseph. Tune into A Day to Listen by the Downie & Wenjack Fund. Consult the Calls To Action to see how you can contribute to reconciliation. While we will pause on Monday in respect, reconciliation is an ongoing process Canadians must work towards on a consistent basis.
Jon Moore
Secondary School Vice Principal
In this week's newsletter:
Orange Shirt Day is Tuesday October 1, 2024
At The Hill Academy, we will be recognizing Truth and Reconciliation Day on Tuesday, October 1, by wearing orange shirts. This day honors the Indigenous children who were forcibly taken from their families and sent to residential schools, where many experienced the loss of their identity, culture, and community. The orange shirt serves as a symbol of this painful history.
By participating, we stand in solidarity with survivors and their families, raising awareness of the lasting impact of the residential school system and supporting the ongoing journey of reconciliation. Let’s come together to reflect, learn, and show our support by wearing orange on this important day.
The Hill Academy supports the Downie & Wenjack Fund in their efforts to build cultural understanding and creating a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. For more information please visit the Downie Wenjack Fund website.
Picture Day will be Monday, October 7
Please ensure all students wear their Hill polo on Monday, October 7 for Picture Day.
Opportunity to Travel Abroad for Gr. 9-12 DEADLINE
The deadline for deposits is October 1, and we are in jeopardy of cancelling the trip due to lack of interest. If you are interested, please visit this link to express your interest.
Ontario Universities' Fair (OUF)
The Ontario Universities Fair is October 5-6, 9:30 am-5 pm, daily at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. This event is fair style with booths from Ontario universities and offers an opportunity to gather information and chat with representatives one on one.
Power School Student and Parent Portal
Students and parents can access the Power School Portal using login information provided. If you need a letter providing access, please email christy.flynn@thehillacademy.com
The Hill Academy Camps team will be hosting a PD Day Multi-Sport Camp on Friday, October 11 for K-8 aged students. Hours of the camp will run from 9-3:30.
More information and registration can be found here.
We are so grateful to have such an amazing community within our Hill Family! With a goal of $5,000 (10% more than last year), you helped us smash our previous total! Thank you for helping us make this donation to the Terry Fox Foundation to carry on Terry's legacy.
Sports schedules can be found in the image below for the week of Sept 30 - Oct 4.
(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.
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!
Drop off/Pick up
For Junior School (5-8):
Junior school drop-off will be at the main building, kiss-and-ride no earlier than 7:55 am
Junior school pick-up will be at main building, kiss-and-ride at 3:50pm
Students attending before and/or after school care will be dropped off/picked up through the primary door and into the ½ Classroom, no earlier than 7:30 am and picked up no later than 5:00pm. You must register for this service.
For Secondary School (9-PG):
Secondary school drop-off will be at the main building, kiss-and-ride no earlier than 7:55 am
Secondary school pick-up will be at main building, kiss-and-ride at 3:50pm
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.
Allergy Aware School
Hill Families, please be aware that we have several anaphylactic allergies within our school community. These include but are not limited to peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish. We do not exclude nuts, tree nuts or other big ten foods packed in lunches and for snacks but ask for awareness of these allergies. We ask that parents please help educate their students on what it means to be allergy aware.
Ways that we can all keep our school safe are:
Be aware of specific allergies within your class
Please avoid sending in these foods as part of classroom celebrations to minimize exposure to those with allergies.
Placing food on paper towel or napkin and not directly on the table
Wiping down your area after eating
If using the microwave, wiping down any splatter
Hand washing before and after eating
Being mindful of those with allergies and not eating near them if consuming food that contains an allergen
All nuts are not permitted on any of the buses.
Please see https://foodallergycanada.ca/ for additional resources to help educate on food allergies. We thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students with allergies safe.
Prevalent Medical Conditions
If your child has a prevalent medical condition (asthma, anaphylaxis, diabetes or epilepsy) please ensure that you complete the plan of care as soon as possible so that we can ensure our staff are aware.
Cell Phone Policy
In April of 2024, Ontario's Ministry of Education introduced guidelines and restrictions for cell phone use by students in schools. Following suit, students in Kindergarten to Grade Eight will need to keep cell phones on silent and out of sight for the entire school day (including breaks). Students in Grades Nine to Twelve will not be permitted to use cell phones during class time unless explicitly instructed by their educator.
For more information on the Ministry of Education's announcement, visit here.
i want to use my phone!!!
this school is
horrible