Grade 4-8 Weekly Newsletter 2026.09.111
September 11, 2026
Dear Hill Academy Families,
Week 1 of the 2026–27 school year is officially in the books! There's an energy to the first week of school that is hard to replicate: a blend of nervous anticipation and genuine excitement. This year, that energy felt particularly special. We're thrilled to share that this is a record year for enrolment, with our student population growing by just under 50 students and 114 new faces joining our campus community.
The week opened with two days of orientation; time to have fun, break the ice, and help new students connect with their peers, our staff, and the campus itself. It was great to watch the nervous energy melt away as the first day unfolded. Equally great was seeing our returning students rise to the occasion, stepping into leadership roles to welcome newcomers and set the tone for the year ahead.
On Wednesday, we held our first assembly of the year. Each week, students from Grades 4 through PG gather together in the gym. This is something that is really important to us, to foster community, share important messages, and reinforce the values that define life at The Hill. I opened this week’s assembly by commending the courage of Hill student-athletes. Whether a student has traveled far from home, navigates a long daily commute, or simply made the courageous choice to leave a familiar school in pursuit of something greater; that decision takes real courage. Committing to your goals, showing up, and taking that first step is something worth recognizing and celebrating.
There will be highs and lows ahead. That is part of the process and we will be here to support every student through it.
"Growth comes at the point of resistance. Skills come from struggle."
— Steve Magness
Excited for an amazing year ahead!
Sincerely,
Tory Merrill
Principal
In this week's Newsletter:
The Nest
The Nest, has reopened for the year, and will be open daily during lunch hours from 11am-1:15pm. At The Nest, student-athletes can purchase various pastries, baked good, snacks and refreshments.
Stop by and spark up a conversation with our friendly Nest team next week and your student-athlete can fuel their growing bodies, while finding 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.
Open House - September 22
Mark Your Calendars for The Hill Academy Open House and Showcase Games!
Join us on Tuesday, September 22 for our fall Open House! This is a fantastic opportunity to step inside the classrooms, connect with your student-athlete’s teachers, and hear directly from our academic team.
Kindergarten–Grade 3: Classroom visits begin at 3:30 PM
Grades 4–8: Classroom & gym sessions run from 3:50 PM – 4:25 PM
Grades 9–PG: High school parent drop-in in the Caf from 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Stick around after the classroom sessions to head out to Legacy Field for an exciting evening of Hill Lacrosse showcase games starting at 4:30 PM (JV/JS 6s, Girls Red/White, and Varsity vs. Prep)! Full detailed schedules will be shared ahead of the event. We can’t wait to see you there!
Looking for Lunch?
Chef Michael and The Hill Eats team had a great week! We look forward to fueling your student-athletes with hot, essential lunches to keep them going.
The Lunch Plan is still available for sign up or to learn more information, visit www.thehillacademy.com/lunch-plan.
Student Success and Accommodations
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. As our Director of Student Success; she works with our entire school community from Kindergarten through our post-graduates.
Students are also welcome to stop by her workspace to check in or ask questions. Please contact Ms. Walko with any questions at emily.walko@thehillacademy.com.
Before/After Care
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.
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.
Kiss and Ride Protocol
A smooth and efficient Kiss & Ride starts with everyone being prepared. Please have students dressed, organized, and ready to exit the vehicle when you arrive.
To help keep traffic moving, we ask parents to assist their children in getting out of the vehicle quickly and safely. A little preparation goes a long way in keeping the line moving and reducing wait times for everyone.
Please keep the following in mind:
The right side is designated for student drop-off.
The left side is for through traffic.
The roadway past the main school is one-way.
Please drive slowly and remain alert, particularly around the main building and designated turning areas.
Thank you for helping us make Kiss & Ride a safe, smooth, and efficient experience for all Hill families!
Uniform
For Student-Athletes in Grades 4-8
All Hill branded uniform items must be purchased from The Hill Store
In Class:
Hill polo shirt
Black or khaki pants, shorts or skort
Students are permitted to wear a Hill hoodie, Hill crewneck sweatshirt, or Hill track jacket over their polo
Male student-athletes' shirts must be tucked into their pants with a belt
Pants/shorts/skort cannot; be plaid, have cargo pockets, or be made of sweat suit material
Tights/leggings are NOT permitted
All shoes must be presentable, clean and professional looking
Crocs and sandals/slides are NOT permitted
Student-athletes are only permitted to wear their Hill track suit in class on Fridays. Both the pants and jacket must be in The Hill Academy uniform and worn with a Hill shirt.
In Physical Education:
Hill work-out shirt and shorts must be worn
Hill hoodie, Hill crewneck sweatshirt or Hill track jacket and track pants can be worn over top
Other:
Hats are not permitted at any time within the school buildings
Non-Hill jackets and outerwear are not permitted to be worn in class at any time
A separate order for Hill branded winter jackets will be made available in first semester
Uniform items must be purchased here: The Hill Store
Uniform apparel orders can be picked up in the main office
Absences and Late Arrivals
Parents/guardians are responsible for reporting student absences to The Hill Academy. When a student is absent, please email attendance@thehillacademy.com to report the absence.
If a student-athlete will miss a Physical Education or sport period for any reason, please also email your physical education lead, Grades 1-3 Krista Gott, Grades 4-6 Anthony Cosmo, and Grades 7-8 George Debenham, copying Kyle Piper.
Privit
Returning Students:
You MUST update your PRIVIT profile forms immediately.
New Students:
You are required to create a profile and fill out all information
Please note that you will need to upload a Physicians note stating that you are fit to participate in sport that is within 6 months of the start of school
*** Please note that student-athletes without completed PRIVIT Forms may not be allowed to participate in their sport period. ***
Click HERE for registration instructions.
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!
TeamSnap
Sports Schedules are available through your student-athlete's specific program's TeamSnap. You should have already received an invitation to TeamSnap for your child's designated sport program.
If you have any questions please contact your student-athlete's sport coach, Grades 1-3 Krista Gott, Grades 4-6 Anthony Cosmo, and Grades 7-8 George Debenham, copying Kyle Piper.
To subscribe directly to your TeamSnap calendar (add to your personal calendar), please click below:
Grade 4-6 Sport Programs: http://ical-cdn.teamsnap.com/team_schedule/f01ceefc-88a6-4ae9-874f-785cd5ff816f.ics
Grade 7-8 Sport Programs: http://ical-cdn.teamsnap.com/team_schedule/0b41aa0f-966c-4fa9-ae58-052548e17b86.ics
Upcoming Events
Saturday September 12 - 2:00PM - U15AAA vs. Barrie Jr. Colts - Teen Ranch, Caledon
Saturday September 12 - 5:30PM - U16AAA vs. Toronto Reps - Teen Ranch, Caledon
Sunday September 13 - 2:30PM - U16AAA vs. Guelph Gryphons - Teen Ranch, Caledon
Sunday September 13 - 4:00PM - U15AAA vs. Barrie Jr. Colts - Peggy Hill Arena, Barrie
Thursday September 17 - Sunday September 20 - U15AAA at USHL Fall Classic, Chicago, IL
Friday September 18 - Saturday September 19 - U16AAA at USHL Fall Classic, Chicago, IL
Tuesday September 22 - 1:00PM - U16AAA vs. UCC - Alder Arena, Orangeville
Tuesday September 22 - The Hill Open House - Curriculum Night - The Hill Academy Campus/Legacy Field
Tuesday September 22 - 4:30PM - Red vs. White Lacrosse Games - Legacy Field
Thursday September 24 - 2:00PM - U16AAA vs. UCC - Wilder Arena, Toronto
Friday September 25 - 1:00PM - Prep Hockey vs. OHO - Teen Ranch, Caledon
Saturday September 26 - 5:00PM - Prep Hockey vs. OHO - Iroquois Park Sports Centre, Whitby
Monday September 28 - TBD - U15AAA vs. Guelph Gryphons - TBD
Tuesday September 29 - Orange Shirt Day at The Hill Academy
Tuesday September 29 - 2:00PM - U16AAA vs. UCC - Wilder Arena, Toronto *if necessary *
Wednesday September 30 - National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (School Closed)
The Hill Eats
The Hill Eats, led by Chef Michael, provides delicious, nutritious hot lunch for student-athletes at The Hill Academy.
To add The Hill Eats TeamSnap calendar to your personal calendar, click here, or copy this subscription link: http://ical-cdn.teamsnap.com/team_schedule/e002921d-f099-49aa-8200-4a3c85a8b827.ics
Chef Michael's upcoming menu can be found below (Breakfast and Dinner have been listed for Residence Student-Athletes):
If your day student-athlete would like to join the lunch plan, please register now.
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.
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.
Transportation
If your Grade 4-8 student-athlete requires transportation, please submit this form immediately.
School Hours/Information
Grades 4-12 School Hours: 8:10am - 3:50pm
Junior School 4-8 supervision begins at 8:00 a.m. in your child’s homeroom. Students who are dropped off between 7:45 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. may wait in the cafe.
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 2026-2027
Annual school calendars are available on the website:
