Hello Hill Community,
I can’t believe it is already December. The school year has flown by so far and we have hit a pivotal point. Our lacrosse teams have completed their fall seasons. Our hockey teams are about to head into extended breaks. With a reduction in sports commitments for so many of our students, it is the perfect time to buckle down academically.
At the high school level, we have about twenty classes left in our courses. In that time, students will complete at least thirty percent of their grade through their culminating tasks and exams. This month they are also finishing their final unit for the course. With the reduction in sports commitments, I highly encourage our students to use that extra time to get organized in anticipation of the final month of their courses.
Using a calendar or a checklist, create a summary of due dates for all of your classes. Plan out how you are going to meet those deadlines. Prioritize assignments you know will be more challenging for you or require more time. The initial effort you spend organizing yourself will save you much more time in the long run and increase your productivity. If you need help, your teachers, coaches, and Mr. Collins are happy to do so. Support is available to assist you to reach your highest level of achievement.
Have a great week,
Jon Moore
Secondary School Vice Principal
In this week's newsletter:
Grade 9 Guidance/Transition Meetings
Current Grade 9's are encouraged to sign up for meetings with Mrs. Flynn to update their Individual Pathway Plan.
Students should select a time using THIS LINK. If alternate times are required, students should schedule with Mrs. Flynn.
Grandparents Day
We are thrilled to welcome grandparents of our Grades 5-8 student-athletes to celebrate the start of the holiday season with a morning of arts and crafts with their grandchild(ren) this Thursday, December 5.
Grades 5-6 : 8:30am-9:30am
Grades 7-8 : 9:45am-10:45am
To RSVP, please follow this link.
Photo Retake Day
Photo retake day has been scheduled for Wednesday, December 4. If you missed photo day, please be prepared for retake day.
Kitchen Renovations
We are excited to announce that this week our kitchen will begin a renovation, with the plan to bring our food program in house beginning second semester.
We are grateful for the wonderful service Absolute Catering has provided us over the past three years.
Our new chef comes with a strong background in culinary arts, and we are looking forward to focusing on creating healthy home style meals for our student-athletes.
The cafeteria will be slightly reconfigured to ensure there is no disruption to the current-meal plan while the renovations are taking place.
More details to follow in the coming weeks.
Guidance Appointments
Students are welcome to book guidance appointments with Mrs. Flynn on the schedule posted outside the Admin office. Please note that grade 12s should be scheduling these meetings as soon as possible as University applications and other post-secondary options are now opening their portals.
OUAC
The Ontario University Application Center is open for graduating students. Please visit the site for information on applications, deadlines and other key details.
Toys for Tots
We will be accepting donations for Toys for Tots through Friday December 6. Donations of new, unwrapped toys will be accepted under The Hill Christmas Tree, located in the lower flex area of the Main Building. Monetary donations will be totalled and our on-campus residence students will shop for toys in nearby Orangeville to place under our gifting tree! Contributions can be sent to accounting@thehillacademy.com with a note "Toys For Tots".
(Click image to enlarge)
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 and 2013 born rep soccer athletes. For more information, read here.
Sports schedules can be found in the image below for the week of December 2-6. Stay up to date by checking TeamSnap for your individual team's calendar.
(click on 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!
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.
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.
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