7-12 Newsletter 10.24.25
- kevinhayashi
- 3 days ago
- 12 min read
October 24, 2025
Hello Hill Families,
This week we were fortunate to have Andy Corno speak to our students about his journey in sport and beyond. Andy was a teammate of Coach Brodie at Georgetown University, and this past year he experienced unimaginable loss with the passing of his daughter, Cameron, to cancer.
Andy’s story was powerful and full of perspective. He shared two key messages that resonated deeply with our student-athletes:
The Power of Sport: When Andy received the heartbreaking news about his daughter, the people who were there for him were his former Georgetown teammates. Sport created a special bond between them, one built on shared experience, trust, and lifelong connection.
Perspective: We all face long days, tough practices, mistakes, and challenges in sport. But as we often remind our students at The Hill, we don’t have to do these things, we get to.
We’re grateful to Andy for taking the time to visit and share his story with our community. His message was an important reminder of gratitude, connection, and the true meaning of team.
“Every day is a holiday.” – Dave Urick
Drazen Glisic,
Director of Athlete Development
In this week's Newsletter:
Coming Soon
🤫 The Canteen is launching in the coming weeks! We’re excited to introduce this new space for our student-athletes and staff. It will be a place to enjoy a quick snack, a fresh coffee, a sweet treat (pending Coach Dre’s approval), and so much more.
Take a sneak peek at our rendering! Soon, you can look forward to wholesome snacks, freshly prepared meals for our Hill Families, and a variety of other novelties. Stay tuned for updates—exciting things are on the way!
Parent-Teacher Interviews
Parent-Teacher and Parent-Interviews are scheduled for November 20th and 21st. Grade 1-12 parents will have an opportunity to book a virtual appointment using Pick-A-Time. We look forward to meeting with you soon!
The Hill Eats
Discover this week's menu, bon appétit!
Daily Lunch
Monday: European Sausage, Roasted Beets, Caramelized Sweet Potato
Tuesday: Chicken Caesar, Potato Wedges, Caesar Salad
Wednesday: Cheese Burger Grilled Corn on the Cob
Thursday: Beef Meatballs, Sautéed Cabbage Soybean & Carrots, Basmati Rice
Friday: Halloween Special
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 / Roast Chicken Leg on a bed of Rice with corn succotash and Squash
Tuesday: Farmer's Wrap with Chorizo, Egg, Hashbrown and chipotle / Gochujang Ramen
Wednesday: Continental Breakfast / Chicken Parm with Tomato Spaghetti
Thursday: Pancake with Chocolate Chips / Lamb Shank with mash potatoes and Grilled Vegetables
Friday: Continental Breakfast / Ribeye Steak with Caesar Salad & Penne Rose
Saturday: Continental Breakfast / Breakfast a la carte / Taco Saturday
Sunday: Continental Breakfast / Breakfast Wrap / Chicken Stir Fry
What do you know about Lentils?
Lentils, a humble yet nutritionally dense legume, are becoming a star ingredient in many of our school's daily lunch and dinner offerings. Here’s why these tiny power-packed pulses are worth celebrating:
Protein Power: Lentils are an excellent source of plant-based protein, making them an ideal choice for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. Just one cup of cooked lentils provides about 18 grams of protein, helping to build and repair tissues, and supporting day-to-day bodily functions.
Rich in Fibre: Fibre is essential for maintaining a healthy digestive system, and lentils come loaded with it. A single serving of lentils contains more than 15 grams of dietary fibre, which aids digestion and helps keep children feeling full and satisfied longer.
Packed with Essential Nutrients: Lentils are rich in vital vitamins and minerals such as folate, iron, phosphorus, potassium, and B vitamins. These nutrients support a variety of bodily functions, from improving heart health to boosting energy levels essential for active school days.
Low in Fat: Lentils are naturally low in fat, which makes them a heart-healthy addition to meals. They help in reducing cholesterol levels and maintaining healthy blood pressure, contributing to overall cardiovascular health.
Stabilizing Blood Sugar: The fibre and complex carbohydrates in lentils ensure a slow and steady release of glucose into the bloodstream, which helps in maintaining consistent energy levels throughout the day.
Antioxidant Benefits: Lentils contain beneficial plant compounds like polyphenols, which have antioxidant properties that may reduce the risk of chronic diseases by combating free radicals in the body.
By incorporating lentils into our school meals, we are not only adding a versatile and flavourful ingredient but also promoting a nutritious diet that supports the growth and well-being of our young learners. Encourage your children to enjoy the variety of lentil dishes creatively crafted by Chef Michael knowing that they are both delicious and nutritious.
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: Soccer
Tuesday: Soccer
Wednesday: Golf
Thursday: Soccer
Friday: Multi-Sport
Hockey (7-8)
Monday: Hockey
Tuesday: Hockey
Wednesday: Golf
Thursday: Hockey
Friday: Multi-Sport
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
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 at the 3Nation Lacrosse Classic in Elmira, NY
Tuesday, October 28 - Picture Re-take Day
Tuesday, October 28 - Prep Lacrosse vs. Canisius University - Buffalo, NY
Wednesday, October 29 - Halloween Bake Sale
Friday, October 31 - Halloween Trail Walk, Costume Contest, Assembly
Friday, October 31 - Sunday, November 2 - Prep Lacrosse at Fall Terp Classic - Annapolis, MD
Friday, October 31 - Saturday, November 1 - Junior Varsity/Varsity at Tully Cornfield Classic - Tully, NY
Thursday, November 20 - Parent-Teacher and Parent-Coach Interviews
Friday, November 21 - Parent-Teacher and Parent-Coach Interviews - School Closed
Thursday, November 27 - American Thanksgiving - School Closed
Friday, November 28 - American Thanksgiving - School Closed
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.
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.
For those who are interested can follow the link provided for the web interest form for the study. Once completed you and your child will be contacted.
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:
Stay warm under your gear during outdoor sports periods and practice, on the ice or even on the side lines. Grab them before they are gone. Sizes in women’s and men’s. Snug fit because they are designed to keep you warm and dry.
Dual-layer fabric with an ultra-warm, brushed interior & a smooth, fast-drying exterior
Material wicks sweat & dries really fast
Mesh underarm panels for added ventilation where you need it
Raglan sleeves
Fitted: Streamlined fit that’s not too tight or too loose.
87% Polyester/13% Elastane
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 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.
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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