Grade 4-8 Weekly Newsletter 2026.10.09
October 9, 2026
Dear Hill Families,
Last year I discovered ChatGPT. Like most, I had the honeymoon phase, "this is amazing!" It was clear that AI was making my life much easier in areas. For example, say...writing a newsletter. Type in a few descriptions and boom, you have a polished, articulate, well written newsletter—and it's done in seconds, which allowed me to go back to doing productive things on my Sunday, like watching NFL football. But re-reading it after the newsletter was published felt different than life before when I would write without the help of AI. Yes, it was much more clean, articulate, grammatically correct, but it didn't provide me with the same genuine satisfaction and pride than writing the newsletter myself did.
It especially clicked when my mom wrote me a text saying that she enjoyed reading my newsletter. I said thanks, but I was saying it on behalf of ChatGPT, which made me feel guilty.
We all know that stage in writing where there is struggle and frustration. The stress of writing can loom over your head, it can be time consuming--but on the other side of the struggle, it can take you to a world that you didn't know existed.
One of the messages I passed along to the students on the first day of school came from the idea of the "bumpy ground theory." The bumpy road theory states that high performers typically travel along a bumpy road to get where they are. The bumps in the road made them stronger and well equipped for all the challenges. Just like in writing, the struggle can uncover some things you didn't know about yourself and a reality of learning and growing. The message to the students was to not hide from the adversity, or use AI to problem solve for EVERYTHING.
With that said, this was written without any help from AI.
I guess outside of my sketchy grammar, how would you ever know? What I'm coming to understand, it's less important that you know and more important that I know!
Brodie Merrill,
Director of Athletics
In this week's Newsletter:
Prep Lacrosse at Legacy Field this Weekend!
Looking to catch some exciting lacrosse this weekend? Our Boys Prep Lacrosse team will be hosting the Wittenberg University Tigers at Legacy Field this weekend! We are thankful for the Tigers travelling all the way from Springfield, Ohio!
Saturday October 10
10:00AM
Legacy Field - 20490 Porterfield Rd., Caledon, ON
Public Welcome
Picture Retake Day - October 28
For our student-athletes who missed Picture Day this week, a retake day has been scheduled for Wednesday, October 28.
Terry Fox Fundraiser - Congrats!
A huge shout out to you, our fantastic Hill Family, as we collectively raised $6,050 for the Terry Fox Foundation.
🪺 Step Up to The Nest!
We’re excited to welcome our Grade 1–3 students to The Nest during lunch for a chance to step up to the counter, make a choice, and purchase a snack to fuel their body and mind!
This is a great opportunity to put the “I” in HILL — Independent Thought into action.
Students will be encouraged to think critically about what their body needs, make their own snack choice, and take responsibility for their purchase.
There’s no cash at The Nest. Parents can use the links provided to purchase a $25, $55 or other available snack card, and we’ll work with each student to help them understand and keep track of their revolving balance.
Beyond the snack, The Nest is a fun opportunity for students to build independence, confidence and social skills — practicing ordering, using manners, making choices, interacting with others and enjoying the experience of stepping up to the counter!
We look forward to interacting with your child — they are the highlight of our day! 🪺
The Nest Team @The Hill Academy
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 the her workspace to check in or ask questions. Please contact Ms. Walko with any questions at emily.walko@thehillacademy.com
Student Health and Well-Being
To help protect the health and well-being of our students, staff, and families, we ask parents and caregivers to keep children home when they are unwell.
Students should stay home when:
They have a fever or are feeling significantly unwell.
They have vomiting or diarrhea.
They have a rash that has not been assessed or is accompanied by other symptoms.
They have a sore throat or other symptoms that prevent them from comfortably participating in the school day.
They are experiencing symptoms of a contagious illness and may spread infection to others.
Peel Public Health specifically recommends that students with symptoms such as fever, rash, sore throat, vomiting, or diarrhea stay home when sick.
Returning to school
Students should return when they are feeling well enough to participate fully in regular school activities and are able to manage their symptoms at school. For vomiting or diarrhea, Peel Public Health recommends remaining away from school until the student has been symptom-free for 48 hours.
Helping prevent the spread of illness
Families are encouraged to remind children to wash their hands regularly, cover coughs and sneezes with their elbow or upper sleeve and avoid sharing food or drinks. Staying home when sick is an important way we can work together to maintain a healthy school community.
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, Grades 7-8 George Debenham, and High School Drazen Glisic copying Kyle Piper.
Privit
A reminder that as documents related to Privit (ie. passport, health card, insurance, etc.) expire and new ones are issued, you must update your Privit
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
You will receive an invitation to TeamSnap for your child's designated sport program.
Through TeamSnap you will receive all communication with relevant information, events, equipment needs. Individual TeamSnap teams have been set up by grade or sport program.
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
Thursday October 8 - Sunday October 11 - U16AAA at Wendy Dufton Memorial Tournament - London, ON
Thursday October 8 - 1:00PM - U18 Prep Hockey vs. Appleby College - Teen Ranch, Caledon, ON
Friday October 9 - PD Day for Grades K-8
Saturday October 10 - 8:00AM - Junior Varsity Lacrosse vs. MARS - Grove City, PA
Saturday October 10 - 9:00AM - Varsity Lacrosse vs. Pine Richland - Grove City, PA
Saturday October 10 - 10:00AM - Prep Lacrosse vs. Wittenberg University - Legacy Field
Saturday October 10 - 10:00AM - Varsity Lacrosse vs. Shadyside - Grove City, PA
Saturday October 10 - 12:00PM - Varsity Lacrosse vs. Seneca Valley - Grove City, PA
Saturday October 10 - 12:00PM - Junior Varsity Lacrosse vs. Seneca Valley - Grove City, PA
Monday October 12 - Thanksgiving (school is closed)
Thursday October 15 - Sunday October 18 - U15AAA - Peterborough IceFest, Peterborough, ON
Friday October 16 - Sunday October 18 - U18 Prep Hockey - Ottawa Senators U18AAA Showcase, Ottawa, ON
Thursday October 22 - 1:00PM - U18 Prep Hockey vs. King Heights - Teen Ranch, Caledon, ON
Friday October 23 - 1:00PM - U15AAA vs. UCC - Alder Arena, Orangeville, ON
Friday October 23 - U18 Prep Hockey vs. UCC - Wilder Arena, Toronto, ON
Saturday October 24 - 3:00PM - U16AAA vs. Buffalo Jr. Sabres - Teen Ranch, Caledon, ON
Sunday October 25 - 12:30PM - U16AAA vs. Buffalo Jr. Sabres - Bakewell Rink, Buffalo, NY
Wednesday October 28 - Student Photo Retake Day
Friday October 30 - Sunday November 1 - U16AAA at Fromen Injury Law Showcase
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:
