7-12 Newsletter 03.27.26

March 27, 2026

Hello Hill Families,

I hope everyone was able to have a relaxing break. Although the academic side of the school was closed, it did not mean the institution was at rest. The lacrosse program started its seasons and the hockey program received news that was years in the making. 

All three boys lacrosse teams travelled to Baltimore and demonstrated resilience while there. The day they arrived, there was a weather warning that cancelled all games scheduled. The teams demonstrated flexibility in rescheduling the games and being prepared to play in less than ideal situations. This included Prep playing two games in a single day, winning both and earning Coach Teat his first wins as head coach of the program. It is believed to be the first time a team has performed this feat in varsity lacrosse history.

The girls travelled to Philadelphia and had their most successful spring trip in program history. Despite having a shorter bench than normal and also dealing with weather warnings, the girls managed to go 3-0. Impressively, several girls played every minute of every game, including three at midfield, to help secure these wins. This included a 5-4 win over #4 ranked Episcopal Academy, which helped the girls become nationally ranked for the first time in program history. This achievement has been a long-time goal for Coach Merrill and the program.

Finally, the U16 hockey team earned a wild card berth into the OHL Cup. This has been a goal of Coach Toomey since the school was awarded a U14 program in 2023. Several players on the current team were original members of that U14 program and have spoken about their desire to represent the school at the OHL Cup. They have been preparing for years for the opportunity to bring the school such a prestigious championship.

Ultimately, the achievements of these programs were not by accident. All of them are the result of hard work put in behind the scenes for years. While other programs are resting, we continue to grind. These successes are the result of the years-long commitment our coaches have dedicated to their programs. With these coaches guiding our students, the students see what it takes to achieve greatness and reach new heights. It is going to be a memorable spring season.

Have a great week back,

Jon Moore

Vice Principal

jon.moore@thehillacademy.com

In this week's Newsletter:

• Easter Holiday

• The Hill and a Walk Down Memory Lane with Inside Lacrosse

• Grade Robe Order Form

• Spring Literacy Tests

• Allergy Safe Microwave

• Trees Being Removed On Campus

• Semester Two Culminating Tasks and Exam Schedule

• Power School

• The Hill Summer Camps

• The Nest

• TPC Toronto Special Offer

• The Hill Eats

• Middle School Sports Schedule

• Upcoming Events

• Blueprint Nutrition

• Airbnb Offer

• Uniforms

• Community Involvement Hours

• Interested in Contacting a Tutor

• Student-Dedicated Resource

• Safety and Security

• School Hours/Information

• Annual Calendars

• Attendance Protocol

Easter Holiday

A reminder that The Hill Academy will recognize Good Friday and Easter Monday by closing. Enjoy this time of reflection with family and friends.

The Hill and a Walk Down Memory Lane with Inside Lacrosse

The excellent writers at Inside Lacrosse recently featured an article in celebration of our upcoming 20th year. Through thoughtful conversations with our founder Peter Merrill, as well as Jeff Teat and Brodie Merrill, the article discusses the origin of the school and the meaning behind the blue feather. In the opinion of our Director of Marketing, this is a fantastic article and definitely worth a read ;) . Have a great week - Kevin.

insidelacrosse.com/article/a-belief-in-the-blend-and-the-meaning-of-the-feather-20-years-of-the-hill-academy-ont/2504fc9f-63ed-4309-b929-813e846a331e

Grade Robe Order Form

Grade 8 and Grade 12 graduates will need to confirm their robe size prior to Thursday, April 2nd. Robe sizes can be ordered through the forms below.

Grade 8 Grad Robe Order

Grade 12 Grad Robe Order

Spring Literacy Tests

We are now in the OSSLT (Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test) season again. The OSSLT is a Ministry-required assessment and a graduation requirement for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma. All Grade 10 students, as well as those who are new to Ontario or who have not yet successfully completed the test, will write.

Semester 2 testing runs from March 30 – April 20. Students who are writing have been notified and added to a Google Classroom with information, a short video, and a practice test link. The writing schedule with assigned dates will also be posted there. The practice test is a very strong tool to be well prepared for official writing and can be completed online at any time..

Students with IEPs or required accommodations are being met with individually, and families will receive details by email.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Walko at emily.walko@thehillacademy.com  

Allergy Safe Microwave

Student-athletes are to be aware that there is a labeled microwave in the cafeteria area away from the other microwaves that is dedicated to those with allergies. Staff and student-athletes who do not have allergy concerns should not use this microwave.

Trees Being Removed on Campus

The Hill Community may have noticed trees coming down between the main building and the roadway. An Arborist Report had determined that the trees in that area were dying or dead and should be removed before becoming a safety hazard. We applied for and were provided a permit to remove them.

We plan to repurpose the space into additional features that student-athletes and The Hill community will continue to enjoy on campus for many years to come.

Semester Two Culminating Tasks and Exam Schedule

Absences (excused or unexcused) will result in a grade of a zero for culminating tasks and/or exams. If an absence is caused by injury or illness, a doctor’s note which identifies the date and cause of the absence is required on the day of the scheduled assessment.

Vacation, appointments and games/tournaments are not considered valid reasons for absences. If there is a valid reason for a student needing to miss or reschedule an exam, the student must submit an  exam/culminating task consideration request to the vice principal. The due date for these requests was February 20, 2026.

Exam Schedule

Power School

Please note that high school report cards have been sent home and the Power School Student and Parent Portal has been enabled. Please contact christy.flynn@thehillacademy.com if you have any issues accessing your student’s account.

The Hill Summer Camps

Although the weather doesn't think so, summer is right around the corner. We're thrilled to host a selection of camps again this summer at The Hill. As a bonus, Hill student-athletes can use the code: COACHMATT to save 10% on their registration. Stay tuned as we look to announce more even more camps!

• June 29 - July 3 - Multi-Sport Camp

• July 6 - July 10 - Golf/Multi-Sport Camp

• July 13 - July 17 - Lacrosse Camp (boys and girls)

• July 20 - July 24 - Multi-Sport Camp

• July 27 - July 31 - Multi-Sport Camp

The Nest

At The Nest, we've been delighted by the excitement, conversations, decision-making, and laughter that continue to fill our space. It’s been a joy to interact with the students each day as they seek to fuel their growing bodies and find comfort in a place they can call their hub.

A reminder that cellphones cannot be used as payment at The Nest Canteen as it is against our school cellphone policy.

Students may pay using a debit/credit card, or, purchase a canteen card online.

https://www.thehillacademy.com/product-page/25-canteen-cash-card LINK FOR $25

https://www.thehillacademy.com/product-page/55-canteen-cash-card LINK FOR $55

TPC Toronto Special Offer

Our partners at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley would like to extend our relationship by offering the following discounts to the Hill Family:

• 20% off indoor simulators and lessons

• 20% off rooms

• 20% off dining (food only)

To take advantage of these discounts, simply follow the link, using the password: hillacademy to access.

TPC Toronto at Osprey requirement for proof of enrolment is a student card. To request your student card, please see Mrs. Bush.

Hill Academy Partner Benefits - TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley

Inclement Weather Protocol

We want to ensure everyone is kept up to date with the inclement weather protocol and procedures.

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.

The Hill Eats

Discover this week's menu, bon appétit! 

Daily Lunch

Monday: Portuguese Style Roasted Chicken Sauteed Vegetable Medley Savoury Rice & Beans

Tuesday: Roasted Pork Loin Brussel Sprouts Mashed Potatoes

Wednesday: Turkey Avocado Club Wrap Creamy Green Pea Salad

Thursday: Sloppy Joe Dogs Brioche Bun Broccoli Slaw

Friday: Grilled Chicken Breast Caesar Salad Steak Fries

Please be advised any feedback or special requests can be sent to lunch@thehillacademy.com 

Residence Meal Plan (Breakfast / Dinner)

Monday: Continental Breakfast / Cajun Jambalaya New Orleans Style White beans Green Beans Crispy Baguette Simple Green Salad

Tuesday: Continental Breakfast / British Style Fish N’ Chips Mushy Peas Corn on the Cob Chickpea Salad with Feta

Wednesday: Continental Breakfast / Braised Beef Chuck Roast Tagliatelle Broccolini Sauteed Mushrooms Garlic Bread Greek Salad

Thursday: Continental Breakfast / BBQ Chicken Tostadas Baked Beans Fiesta Corn Salad Lime Rice Roasted Potatoes

Friday: Continental Breakfast / Mediterranean Falafel served with Fixings

Saturday: Breakfast à la carte / Canadian Burger French Fries House Salad Asparagus

Sunday: Breakfast à la carte / New York Striploin Creamed Spinach Baked Potato Ceaser Salad

Middle School Sports Schedule

For Grade 9-12+PG, check your individual team's TeamSnap for the most up to date schedule.

Foundations of Sport (7-8)

Monday: Golf

Tuesday: Lacrosse

Wednesday: Swimming/Pickleball

Thursday: Free Play

Friday: Good Friday

Hockey (7-8)

Monday: Hockey

Tuesday: Hockey

Wednesday: Pickleball

Thursday: Hockey

Friday: Good Friday

Hybrid Lacrosse Hockey (7-8)

Monday: Lacrosse

Tuesday: Lacrosse

Wednesday: Lacrosse

Thursday: Free Play

Friday: Good Friday

Middle School Boys Lacrosse (7-8)

Monday: Lacrosse

Tuesday: Lacrosse

Wednesday: Lacrosse

Thursday: Free Play

Friday: Good Friday

Middle School Girls Lacrosse (7-8)

Monday: Lacrosse

Tuesday: Lacrosse

Wednesday: Lacrosse

Thursday: Free Play

Friday: Good Friday

View a comprehensive calendar of events by visiting www.thehillacademy.com/calendar

• Monday, March 30 - U16AAA OHL Cup - Wildcard vs Biosteel - 8:15AM - Scotiabank Pond Rink 2

• Thursday, April 2 - Middle School Boys Lacrosse vs. Synergy - 2PM - Legacy Field

• Friday, April 3 - Good Friday

• Monday, April 6 - Easter Monday

• Thursday, April 9 - JV/Varsity Lacrosse vs. SMCS - 1PM - Legacy Field

• Thursday, April 16 - Girls Lacrosse vs Worthington Kilbourne - 5PM - Columbus, OH

• Thursday, April 16 - Prep Lacrosse vs Culver - Culver, IN

• Friday, April 17 - Girls Lacrosse vs Upper Arlington - Upper Arlington, OH

• Friday, April 17 - Prep Lacrosse vs WRA - Culver, IN

• Saturday, April 18 - Girls Lacrosse - Galipault Wolford Classic - Worthington, OH

• Tuesday, April 21 - Prep Lacrosse vs Brunswick - 5PM - Brunswick, CT

• Wednesday, April 22 - Prep Lacrosse vs Salisbury - 4PM - Salisbury, CT

• Wednesday, April 29 - Prep Lacrosse vs Lawrenceville - Lawrenceville, NJ

• Thursday, April 30 - Prep Lacrosse vs Hill School - Philadelphia, PA

• Tuesday, May 26 - Senior Athletic Gala - Details TBD

• Wednesday, June 10 - Junior Athletic Banquet - Details TBD

• Thursday, June 11 - Grade 8 Grad

• Friday, June 12 - Grade 12 Grad

Blueprint Nutrition

This school year, the Hill Academy has partnered with Blueprint Nutrition to provide sport nutrition education and support. Blueprint is co-owned by Registered Dietitians, Cara Kasdorf and Rosanne Robinson, and along with their team of Sport Dietitians, they work with athletes across Canada. Their team of Registered Dietitians have worked with all levels and ages of athletes - from local and rep leagues to Olympic athletes, NHL and OHL players, and professional triathletes and endurance athletes. They have expertise in working with both student-athletes and adult athletes to fuel for performance, growth and development, and long-term health. They have expertise to support your athlete, whether the goal is to hit a personal best, navigate busy tournament weekends, or just eat enough to keep up with their sport and academics.

Cara and Rosanne will be providing 4 sport nutrition specific sessions to grades 4-12 throughout the school year. If you would like to seek out additional and more individualized support, Blueprint offers different options to work together.

Two of their most popular packages for student-athletes include:

Eat to Compete Program – $710 for 4 sessions

A high-impact coaching package designed to build strong fuelling habits across training, game day, recovery, and more. Ideal for athletes who want to level up their performance with a comprehensive strategy.

Performance Meal Planning Strategy Session – $295 for a 90-minute session

A focused, one-time consult to help you map out exactly what, when, and how much your athlete should be eating - with a personalized meal plan and timeline tailored to their sport, schedule, and needs.

*Note: all sessions are held virtually via video sessions

*They offer additional packages and sessions based on the athlete’s individual needs

To get started, schedule a free 20-minute clarity call by emailing: sport@blueprintnutrition.ca or booking directly at: www.blueprintnutrition.ca. They have also put together an online Sport Nutrition resource for students. Information about how to access the resource library can be found in their Physical Education and Health Google Classroom.

Airbnb Offer

Looking for a great place to stay right in town while visiting your kids at The Hill Academy? Just 5 minutes from the school right on the main street of Alton village is a cozy 3 bedroom 2 bathroom house that can comfortably sleep 8 people. The perfect place to unwind and hang with your kids and friends for a few nights. The house also offers a summer pool and all year round hot tub as well as backs directly onto the shallow waters of the credit river making for the perfect tranquil setting. Pets are also welcome! 

Below you can find the airbnb listing to view all 120+ 5 star reviews. If you'd like to book a stay at the house please reach out through the Cottages In Canada link below to save on some fees airbnb would normally charge, or better yet... reach directly out to the host at her personal email or cell phone number. Don't forget to let her know you're staying at the house because you're visiting someone at The Hill. She'd be happy to provide a discounted rate of 10% off your total stay. 

Airbnb Link:

airbnb.ca/h/paigedanforthalton

Cottages In Canada Link: 

https://www.cottagesincanada.com/36113

Direct Contact:

Paige Danforth 

519-216-6659

Uniforms

Please ensure your student-athlete is wearing the appropriate uniform for their division. Please note there are NO TIGHTS or BIKE SHORTS PERMITTED. If you have questions regarding apparel please refer to the Gr. 4-12 uniform guide. Any questions, concerns or questions apparel@thehillacademy.com.

Community Involvement Hours

To graduate in Ontario, students need to demonstrate at least 40 hours of community involvement. Forms for tracking these hours can be found on our website.

If you are looking for ways to volunteer this year, try the following local resources:

Town of Orangeville Recreation 

Theatre Orangeville

Orangeville Foodbank

Orangeville OSPCA

Interested in Contacting a Tutor?

We have partnered with Jessica’s Tailored Tutoring to provide tutoring going forward. Parents can contact her directly at 705-717-4213.

Student-Dedicated Resource

This year, Ms. Walko will be working as student support. She will be working with students from Kindergarten through Post-Grad to help them achieve academic success. If you, as a student, or your child as a parent, require classroom support, accommodations, or have an IEP in place, please reach out to Ms. Walko directly so we can ensure supports are in place as quickly as possible.

Students are also welcome to stop by the Resource Room (Room 104) to check in or ask questions. Please contact Ms. Walko with any questions at emily.walko@thehillacademy.com.

Safety and Security

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 come to a complete stop at all stop signs (there are new ones on campus)

• 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.

• 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.

School Hours/Information

Middle School (Grade 7/8) & High School: 8:10 - 3:50

Middle School (Grades 7/8) supervision begins at 8:00 a.m. in your child’s homeroom portable. Students who are dropped off between 7:45 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. may wait in the caf.

If you need to drop off your student-athlete before 7:45 a.m., please ensure they are registered in our Before Care program.

Annual School Calendar 2025-26

Annual school calendars are available on the website:

Calendar for Grades 9-12/PG

Calendar for Kindergarten - Grade 8

Attendance Protocol K-PG

ALL STUDENTS:

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 (K-8). The students will need to provide their educator with the slip upon arrival to class. High School students must sign-in at the main office.

No Sign-Out Privileges

Students do not of have sign-out privileges at The Hill Academy, regardless of age. If a student is to leave campus during the school day, attendance@thehillacademy.com must receive an email from parents/guardians indicating that the student is permitted to leave campus, with whom, at what time and for what reason. Student drivers are not permitted to have passengers unless the families have provided written consent in advance.