Grade K-3 Weekly Newsletter 2026.09.11
September 11, 2026
Dear Hill Families,
What a wonderful first week of school it has been! Our classrooms and campus have been filled with excitement, new friendships, lots of learning, and plenty of smiles. It has been so wonderful to see our students settling into routines, getting to know their teachers, and becoming comfortable in their new classrooms. We are off to a fantastic start!
Each month, we will be focusing on a different Character Trait that helps our students grow not only as learners, but also as kind, responsible, and caring members of our community.
Our Character Trait for September is SAFETY.
What does Safety look like:
🏫 In the classroom:Students are learning to follow classroom routines and expectations, use materials and equipment appropriately, keep their hands and bodies to themselves, and make choices that help themselves and others feel safe and comfortable.
🌳 Around campus:Safety means walking when and where we are expected to, listening to adults, using playground and sport equipment appropriately, staying with our groups, and being aware of the people and spaces around us. We are also learning that being safe means speaking up and asking for help when we need it.
🏠 At home:Families can support this month’s learning by talking about what safety looks like at home and in the community. Encourage your child to think about safe choices, following directions, being aware of their surroundings, and knowing when to ask a trusted adult for help. Simple conversations about things like road safety, online safety, playing safely, and caring for others can help reinforce what we are learning at school.
Our goal is to help students understand that safety is everyone’s responsibility. When we make safe choices, we create a school environment where everyone can learn, play, take risks in their learning, and feel confident and cared for.
We are so proud of the way our students have started the school year and can’t wait to see all that they accomplish this year!
Best wishes,
Casey Kirkpatrick
Director- Early Years & Vice Principal (K-3)
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 available on Tuesdays and Thursdays for Kindergarten, and Monday through Friday for Grades 1–3. To sign up or learn more, visit www.thehillacademy.com/lunch-plan.
Introducing Pizza Fridays!
Pizza Friday is available to all student-athletes in Kindergarten - Grade 3. If you are already enrolled in the Lunch Plan, please complete the order form to submit your student-athlete's preferences. Those interested that are not on the Lunch Plan, can also complete the order form.
Regular School Information
School Hours:
8:30-3:30- Kindergarten and Primary (K-3)
Pick Up (K-3): To ensure the safety and supervision of all students, any child who has not been picked up within 10 minutes of their dismissal time will be sent to Aftercare and charged accordingly.
This policy helps ensure that every student is accounted for and supervised at all times. It also allows staff to focus on the safe and efficient dismissal of all students. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a smooth end-of-day routine.
Before/After Care (Siblings of Older Student-Athletes)
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.
Siblings of older students who will be utilizing the free before and aftercare please note:
Siblings should only attend before or after care when their older sibling is present at school. If the older sibling is absent for the day, younger siblings should be picked up at their regular dismissal time, unless you have contacted us for needing extended care.
This practice is important to ensure appropriate supervision, accurate staffing, and the safety of all students during extended care hours. It also helps us maintain consistency and fairness for all families using the program.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Message from the Nadarajah/Ramthahal Family
A Hill Student Helping Give Babies the Best Start 💚
Aarya has been part of The Hill Academy community since Junior Kindergarten. Now in Grade 2, she is partnering with Headwaters Health Care Foundation on her “Here for Headwaters Babies” campaign to help fund two important pieces of equipment: a Panda Warmer, which provides immediate warmth and care for newborns after delivery, and an infant transport unit to help safely transport babies requiring additional care. Help Aarya raise 80k!
💚 Donate to Aarya’s campaign:
Thank you to the Hill community for supporting one of our young athletes as she learns that you’re never too young to make a difference.
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 Grades 1-PG
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!
Teacher Contact Information
Kindergarten: Ms. Hill (katelyn.hill@thehillacademy.com)
Mrs.Kieswetter: (megan.kieswetter@thehillacademy.com)
Grade 1: Mrs. Goverde (jodi.goverde@thehillacademy.com)
Grade 2: Ms. Manser (grace.manser@thehillacademy.com)
Grade 3 : Mrs. Cosmo (erin.cosmo@thehillacademy.com)
Student Support: Ms. Walko (emily.walko@thehillacademy.com)
Primary Support/Kindergarten Physical Education: Ms. Baird (hailey.baird@thehillacademy.com)
Grade 2 Physical Education/Kindergarten Physical Education: Mr. Debenham (george.debenham@thehillacademy.com)
Primary Foundation of Sport: Coach Dre (DGlisic@thehillacademy.com)
Coach Krista (krista.gott@thehillacademy.com)
Director of Early Years & Vice Principal (K-3): Casey Kirkpatrick (casey.kirkpatrick@thehillacademy.com)
Uniform
For Student-Athletes in Kindergarten - Grade 3
All Hill branded uniform items must be purchased from The Hill Store
All Day:
Hill shirt
Hill branded polo shirt for special events
Hill branded jogging pants or shorts (or athletic black skort)
Tights, leggings or bicycle shorts are NOT permitted
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 prior to the first day of school (or training camp).
New Students:
You will be 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 PRIVIT Forms must be completed prior to the start of school. Failure to complete will result in the student being sent home.***
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.
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.
Transportation
If your Grade 1-3 student-athlete requires transportation, please submit this form immediately.
Annual School Calendar 2026-2027
Annual school calendars are available on the website:
