7-12 Newsletter 09.19.25
- kevinhayashi
- Sep 18
- 11 min read
September 19, 2025
Hello Hill Families,
As we complete the third week of school, approaching the end of our first month, the honeymoon phase has lapsed, as Coach Dre alluded to last week. Reading about the importance of the non-negotiables and the HILL values for success reminded me of a conversation on a trip last spring. One of the nights at the hotel, the coaches were discussing the concept of commitment versus sacrifice.
Hill students often have lofty goals, aspiring to attend dream schools and one day play professional sports. Achieving those goals are framed around the idea that you must sacrifice much to do it. You will potentially miss out on vacations or other social experiences with friends and family. For a long time, the perspective was you sacrifice those experiences for your dreams. Instead, I encourage our students to change their perspective and view it as a commitment.
You commit to prioritizing sleep rather than sacrificing extra hours awake. You commit to proper eating rather than sacrificing unhealthy food. You commit to daily studying rather than sacrificing socializing with friends. You commit to your team rather than sacrificing that vacation. When you frame it as commitment, you move your mentality from the negative to the positive. You are emphasizing what you hope to achieve rather than what you have given up to achieve it.
The HILL values and non-negotiables are in place to make commitment easier for you. They emphasize ideals that will help you be successful and achieve those goals. Commit to those ideas, and commit to your goals. Look at them as positives rather than worrying about what you are missing. Commitment will help shape your mindset and provide you with the drive necessary to reach them.
Have a great weekend,
Jon Moore
Secondary School Vice Principal
In this week's Newsletter:
Terry Fox Run
In 1980, Terry had a dream of a world without cancer. Forty-five years later, Terry's Marathon of Hope lives on. If we work together, we can make such a difference in the lives of so many. Please help fund critical cancer research in Canada by supporting our participation in the 2025 Terry Fox School Run.
Crossing the finish line means hope for everyone with cancer. Together, we can Finish It.
We will be hosting our K-3 Terry Fox Run on Friday September 26, and our Gr. 4-12 Terry Fox Run on Friday October 3. Donations can be made directly to the Terry Fox Foundation here.
The Hill Eats
The Hill Academy is pleased to offer a hot lunch program crafted by The Hill Eats team to include a balanced, macro-friendly nutritional meal that is designed to fuel The Hill Academy's student-athletes.
Daily Lunch
Monday: Lemon Dill Tilapia Roasted Cauliflower Rice
Tuesday: Lamb Patty Vegetable Medley Roasted Couscous
Wednesday: Pulled Pork Roasted Green Beans and Buttered Egg Noodles
Thursday: Turkey Burger on a Whole Wheat Bun, Steamed Broccoli, garlic Roasted Potato Wedges
Friday: Rosemary Grilled Chicken, Steamed Corn and Spanish Rice
If your day student would like to be on the lunch plan, please register now!
Please be advised any feedback or special requests can be sent to lunch@thehillacademy.com
Residence Meal Plan (Breakfast / Dinner)
Monday: Continental Breakfast / Veal & Jollof Rice
Tuesday: Breakfast Pizza / Chicken Wings with Caesar Salad
Wednesday: Continental Breakfast / Panko Breaded Fish Sticks with grilled Asparagus and House Salad
Thursday: Egg toast with Chicken Sausages / Rocky Mountain Elk on Mashed Potatoes
Friday: Continental Breakfast / Salmon with Peas and Carrots
Saturday: Continental Breakfast / Breakfast Quiche / Lasagna
Sunday: Continental Breakfast / Bacon, egg and Cheese Pastry / Dinner Roast with Potato Wedges and Salad
Power School Student and Parent Portal 9-12
Letters providing access to the student and parent portals were distributed to students in grade 9-12. Please ask your student for the letter so that you can create or update your Power School account. Contact christy.flynn@thehillacademy.com with any questions.
School Hours
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 cafeteria.
If you need to drop off your student-athlete before 7:45 a.m., please ensure they are registered in our Before Care program.
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: Soccer
Tuesday: Soccer
Wednesday: Golf
Thursday: Soccer
Friday: Lacrosse
Hockey (7-8)
Monday: Hockey
Tuesday: Hockey
Wednesday: Golf
Thursday: Hockey
Friday: Lacrosse
Hybrid Lacrosse Hockey (7-8)
Monday: Lacrosse
Tuesday: Hockey
Wednesday: Lacrosse
Thursday: Hockey
Friday: Lacrosse
Middle School Boys Lacrosse (7-8)
Monday: Lacrosse
Tuesday: Soccer
Wednesday: Lacrosse
Thursday: Soccer
Friday: Lacrosse
Middle School Girls Lacrosse (7-8)
Monday: Lacrosse
Tuesday: Soccer
Wednesday: Lacrosse
Thursday: Soccer
Friday: Lacrosse
View a comprehensive calendar of events by visiting www.thehillacademy.com/calendar
Sunday, September 21 - Prep Hockey vs. St. Mike's - Alder Arena (9:30AM)
September 25-26 - U15AAA - Summit Series Tournament - Rochester, NY
Saturday, September 27 - U15AAA vs. Philadelphia Jr. Flyers - Brockport, NY (8:30AM)
Saturday, September 27 - U16AAA vs. London Jr. Knights - Teen Ranch (5:30PM)
Sunday, September 29 - U16AAA vs. London Jr. Knights - London, ON (8:00PM)
Tuesday, September 30 - Truth and Reconciliation Day (School is Closed)
Culminating Tasks and/or Exams
In grades 9-12, 30% of the student’s final grade will be based on a final evaluation administered at or towards the end of the course. This evaluation will be based on evidence from one or a combination of the following: an examination, a performance, an essay, and/or another method of evaluation suitable to the course content. The final evaluation allows the student an opportunity to demonstrate comprehensive achievement of the overall expectations for the course. Students must complete this evaluation as scheduled. Please note that uniform is required on exam days.
Semester 1 exams are scheduled for January 15th, 16th, and 19th this year. If there is inclement weather (e.g. a snow day on January 16th), that exam will run on January 20th. Students need to be available to write on January 20th and January 21st in the case of inclement weather. You can find the detailed exam schedule here and below, as well as our policy on missed or rescheduled exams.
Missing or Rescheduling an Exam/Culminating Task
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.
The due date for these requests are as follows:
September 26, 2025 for first semester
February 20, 2026 for second semester
Student and Parent Code of Conduct
Please ensure that both you and your student-athlete have signed the codes of conduct before Monday September 29th. Students and parents who have not signed the codes of conduct will be contacted.
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.
This Week's Store Feature:
Women's Under Armour Tech Tee is now in stock.
-UA Tech™ fabric is quick-drying, ultra-soft & has a more natural feel
-Material wicks sweat & dries really fast
-Available: Women's XS to XL
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!
Costa Rica - March Break Trip
We are excited to announce that we are taking the information of interested high school students for a March Break (March 22-29) science and service trip to Costa Rica.
Interested students or those with questions, should contact Mrs. Briggs caity.briggs@thehillacademy.com.
Detailed itinerary for the trip can be found here.
Ontario University Applications
For Grade 12 students or Post-Graduates who plan to apply to Ontario Universities - please create an account using the OUAC website. The Portal for students is now open, so please speak to Mrs. Flynn once you create your account.
Please also note that the Ontario University Fair takes place in Toronto on September 27-28.
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.
Kiss and Ride Protocol Grades 1-PG
For the smooth operation of our Kiss and Ride, it’s essential that students are dressed and ready to exit the vehicle upon arrival.
This helps keep the line moving efficiently, minimizing wait times for everyone. We also encourage parents to help their child get in and out of the car quickly and safely, allowing the process to flow more smoothly for all.
The drop-off area is marked with pylons for drop-off on the right and thru-traffic on the left. The drive past the main school is one-way, and we encourage attentive driving once past the main building allowing other vehicles to turn into designated areas.
Your cooperation ensures that all families can drop off and pick up in a timely manner. Thank you for your support!
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.
Cell Phone Policy:
To maintain a focused, respectful, and productive learning environment, our policy prohibits the use of cell phones by students during the entire school day. This applies to all students from the time they enter the school building until dismissal at the end of the day.
It is recommended that cell phones be kept at home, but if they are brought to school, they will be collected by teachers/coaches and redistributed at the end of the day. They may not be used during class, between periods, lunch, or on breaks.
If your student-athlete brings their cell phone to school, please note that The Hill Academy is not responsible for any loss or damage to cell phones.
Before and After Care Available
We are proud to offer an exceptional before and after school program for the 2025/26 school year. Our program is designed to provide a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment that supports children’s physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development.
Our before and after school program is available for students from Kindergarten through 8th grade, and is designed to complement their school day.
If you are interested in learning more about the Before and After Care available please visit this link.
Transportation
If you require transportation, please submit this form immediately.
Annual School Calendar 2025-26
Annual school calendars are available on the website:
Attendance Protocol K-PG
ALL STUDENTS:
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 (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.
We want to thank you for entrusting The Hill Academy with your child's academic and athletic journey. We believe we can achieve great things together, and we can't wait for to get started!
Our Newsletter emails are to keep you informed as to what is happening on campus and upcoming dates and details. The Hill Academy Newsletter will be sent out every Friday at 6pm with information and messages for the upcoming week.
If there is a different or additional email address that you would prefer to be on our distribution list, please email info@thehillacademy.com.
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.
2026-27 Admissions
Applications are now being accepted for the 2026-27 school year for SIBLINGS of current students or referrals. Please visit the application portal HERE to apply. Contact Julie Packard jpackard@thehillacademy.com with questions.
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.
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