7-12 Newsletter 10.10.25
- kevinhayashi
- Oct 9
- 10 min read
October 10, 2025
Hello Hill Families,
What a great story the Toronto Blue Jays are right now. I have never been a huge baseball guy, but have found this team so much fun to watch. Watching them fight through this postseason run, I see a powerful example of perseverance. I see a team that is refusing to quit, even with their modest preseason expectations and odds that have felt stacked against them. They didn’t always dominate from start to finish, but game by game (what a grind a baseball season is), inning by inning, they leaned on discipline, resilience, and unwavering belief in one another. Watching some of the role players like Ernie Clement, Nathan Lukes, Mason Fluharty and Eric Lauer (just to name a few) step up alongside the superstars, you could really see them come back to their mindset of playing “together”. Their journey reminds us that success is rarely about avoiding challenges, it’s about how you respond when adversity inevitably shows up.
In many ways, that’s exactly the kind of mindset we want to build here at The Hill Academy. Our student-athletes don’t always get the perfect path: injuries, slumps, travel fatigue, and unexpected setbacks are all part of the story. But what separates good teams from great ones is not who avoids adversity, it’s who leans into it. Who holds each other accountable. Who shows up again and again. Who trusts the process when the scoreboard doesn’t always reflect all of this hard work. The Blue Jays didn’t rely solely on big moments, they built those moments through consistent preparation, mental toughness, and by refusing to let one mistake define them.
This weekend, as I join our U15AAA and U16AAA teams in London at the Wendy Dufton Memorial Tournament, I see that same spirit alive in our players. I’ve watched them train, push, recover, support each other, and grow. Their resilience, commitment, and drive gives me immense hope of their belief in the process. Its refreshing to see this drive in many of our student-athletes across the school every single day. So, with Thanksgiving this weekend, I'll offer my first thanks to the Toronto Blue Jays for inspiring me and my team to keep pushing our student-athletes through the high times and the low.
Go Jays Go!
Ryan Toomey
Director of Hockey
Reminder: The school will be closed on Monday, October 13 for Thanksgiving.
In this week's Newsletter:
Winter Jacket Pre-Order
Pre-orders are now open. Click here to place your order. Last day to order is Friday, October 24.
The Hill Eats
The meal plan at The Hill Academy offers students a unique opportunity to embrace "independent thought" by engaging in a diverse culinary experience. Fuelling our bodies with the right nutrition requires thoughtful decision-making. Although we may not always be thrilled by the idea of unfamiliar dishes, trying new and healthy foods can be transformative. Chef Michael introduces dynamic flavours and nutrition through dishes that feature elk, tilapia, and lentils, perfectly designed to meet the athletes' physical and nutritional needs. While these options may not be our first choice, understanding their nutritional benefits are essential. Embracing these opportunities means stepping out of our comfort zones and welcoming new expectations. Discover this week's menu, bon appétit!
Daily Lunch
Monday: Happy Thanksgiving
Tuesday: Turkey Sausage, Lentil, Dal Rice
Wednesday: Roasted Chicken Leg, Corn Succotash, Potato Wedges
Thursday: Pulled Pork, Roasted Cauliflower, Quinoa
Friday: Chilli Vegetable Medley and Cornbread
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 / Thanksgiving Breakfast / Thanksgiving Dinner
Tuesday: Pancakes with Chocolate Chips / Chicken Breast, Penne a la Vodka, Greek Salad
Wednesday: Continental Breakfast / Cheese Burgers and Onion Rings and Balsamic Salad
Thursday: Kale, Feta and Breakfast Sausage on a Sweet Potato / Spaghetti & Meatballs
Friday: Continental Breakfast / Brochette served with Roasted Potatoes and Side Salad
Saturday: Continental Breakfast / Breakfast Quiche / Lasagna
Sunday: Continental Breakfast / English Breakfast / Baked Salmon, Grilled Asparagus and Spanish Rice
Picture Re-Take Day - October 28
Picture Re-Take Day for students has been scheduled for Tuesday, October 28. Please have your student-athlete wearing their proper uniform, including their Hill polo shirt that day.
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.
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: Thanksgiving - school is closed
Tuesday: Golf
Wednesday: Cross Country
Thursday: Soccer
Friday: Multi-Sport
Hockey (7-8)
Monday: Thanksgiving - school is closed
Tuesday: Hockey
Wednesday: Cross Country
Thursday: Hockey
Friday: Multi-Sport
Hybrid Lacrosse Hockey (7-8)
Monday: Thanksgiving - school is closed
Tuesday: Hockey
Wednesday: Lacrosse
Thursday: Hockey
Friday: Lacrosse
Middle School Boys Lacrosse (7-8)
Monday: Thanksgiving - school is closed
Tuesday: Golf
Wednesday: Lacrosse
Thursday: Soccer
Friday: Lacrosse
Middle School Girls Lacrosse (7-8)
Monday: Thanksgiving - school is closed
Tuesday: Golf
Wednesday: Lacrosse
Thursday: Soccer
Friday: Lacrosse
View a comprehensive calendar of events by visiting www.thehillacademy.com/calendar
Saturday, October 11 - Prep Lacrosse vs. The Ohio State University - Columbus, OH
Sunday, October 12 - Prep Lacrosse vs. Culver Academy - Culver, IN
Monday, October 13 - Thanksgiving (School is Closed)
Tuesday, October 21 - The Hill Golf exhibition match vs. Shelburne G&CC
Thursday, October 23 - Sunday, October 26 - U18 Prep Hockey at Kingston Fall Bash
Thursday, October 23 - Sunday, October 26 - U15AAA at Eastern Exposure Cup in Boston, MA
Saturday, October 25 - U16AAA vs. Buffalo Jr. Sabres - Teen Ranch - 4:30PM
Sunday, October 26 - Middle School Boys and Middle School Girls at the 3Nation Lacrosse Classic in Elmira, NY
Tuesday, October 28 - Picture Re-take Day
Culminating Tasks and/or Exams
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.
OSU Study Project
One of the staff athletic therapists, Josh Belletti, is looking for participants for his master’s thesis project through The Ohio State University. The purpose of this study is to investigate how baseline mTBI/concussion testing scores vary from in person administration of tests to virtual or Telehealth administration of tests. The testing battery for both conditions includes the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT6) in its entirety as well as the Vestibular Ocular-Motor Screening (VOMS). These tests are the same tests done for the baseline concussion testing with all Hill Academy teams. There will also be including depression, sleep and anxiety screens. Testing for the two conditions will occur throughout the school year separated by one week between each test session.
Participation in the study is completely voluntary and can be withdrawn at any point throughout the duration of the study. Interested participants will be required to complete informed consent and parental assent for those under the age of 18. We will be looking to pull study participants from the competitive programs in the senior school.
If there are any further questions, concerns or if you are interested in participating in the study feel free to reach out to him (Joshua.Belletti@osumc.edu).
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:
The Pride of Lions fan wear hoodie has arrived! Stay warm while showing your pride in The Hill Pride and order your customized hoodie today! Fan wear supporting other Hill sports will be released throughout the year, so stay tuned. Don't forget to personalize your hoodie with your very own sleeve number!
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!
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.
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:
Interested in Contacting a Tutor?
We have a long-time partnership with Jessica’s Tailored Tutoring. This is not a requirement, but we recommend reaching out to this service if you are exploring using a tutor outside of school.
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.
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.
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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