Hello Hill Family,
With the first snowfall of the season, I am immediately transported back to my chilly, snowy days at Mercyhurst University. Located on the shores of Lake Erie in Pennsylvania, Erie is known as one of the snowiest places in the US. I can't help but smile when I think about what it was to be a Laker, and one of the things that stuck with me the most was the school motto; Carpe Diem.
On the surface the latin phrase meaning "seize the day" can be taken quite literally as an inspiration that with each new day you are offered a new opportunity to do your best. To me, the phrase has always stayed with me and would present itself in ways that reminded me that my motivation can be summoned at any time.
There are many sayings and mottos that can be found around the school:
Embrace Expectations
Well Done Over Well Said
We Before Me
Sweep the Sheds
And these school non-negotiables offer gentle, daily reminders to our student-athletes what is expected of them when they walk through the front doors and into class, or pull a Hill jersey on to represent their school.
Now that we are three months into the school year and are putting more school days in our rearview mirror than on the road ahead of us this year, we hope that you are seeing your child draw strength and motivation from some of these sayings. As we approach a slower time for our teams and some time to recharge with family and friends, I encourage you to take a moment to chat about what quotes and phrases are helping to inspire your child in the classroom and on their playing surface. There's no time like the present.
Carpe Diem,
Ryan Toomey Director of Hockey
NOTE: Grandparents Day (grades 5-8) rescheduled for Tuesday December 10, please RSVP again here.
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 - This Tuesday
With the inclement weather last Thursday, we rescheduled Grandparents Day to ensure everyone could enjoy it safely. The rescheduled Grandparents Day will be Tuesday December 10. To ensure we have an accurate count of those attending, we ask that you kindly RSVP again to this rescheduled event and apologize for any inconvenience.
Grades 5-6 : 8:30am-9:30am
Grades 7-8 : 9:45am-10:45am
Orangeville Food Bank Donations
This year, the PG class will be collecting items to donate to Orangeville Food Bank for those in need this holiday season. We had such amazing support while working with the Terry Fox Foundation and are looking forward to another successful charitable drive.
Below are some key items that the Food Bank would greatly appreciate:
Fruits (apples, oranges, pears, bananas, any seasonal fruits)
Vegetables (potatoes, carrots, onions, any seasonal vegetables)
Toilet Paper
Crackers
Dry Soup
Canned Meats/Canned Salmon
Cookies
Pudding and Fruit Cups
Dry Pasta
Canned Soup
Condiments
Large Juice/Juice Boxes
School friendly granola bars
Dish Soap
Peanut Butter
Tampons
Shampoo
Sugar
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.
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.
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 *
Sports schedules can be found in the image below for the week of December 9-13. 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.Â
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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