September 29, 2024
Dear Hill Community,
Our Kindergarten to Grade 4 students have been focusing this month on the important value of Respect. Through class discussions, books, activities, and role-playing, they are learning how to show respect to their peers, teachers, and the environment around them. By understanding the importance of kindness, listening, and treating others with care, students are building the foundation for strong, positive relationships. At The Hill Academy, we believe that fostering respect early on helps create a supportive and inclusive community where everyone can thrive.
Casey Kirkpatrick
In this week's Newsletter:
Friendly Reminders
Students should have a labeled reusable water bottle with them each day
Label all uniform items with your students name
Sporting equipment should be labeled with your student’s name
Your student requires both indoor and outdoor running shoes each day
School Uniforms
Youth Uniforms Now Restocked!
We are pleased to inform you that all youth sizes have been restocked. Please ensure your student-athlete has the appropriate uniform items. Uniform enforcement will begin Monday October 7, 2024.
Students are expected to wear Hill athletic shorts or sweatpants, a tech tee or long-sleeve shirt, and a sweatshirt. Additionally, a polo shirt is required for Photo Day and special events.
If you already have the required uniform items, please make sure your student-athlete is dressed in full Hill attire each day.
Lunch Program
Lunch Lady: Offered Tuesday and Thursdays, please sign up using this link found here.
Pizza: Will be the following dates:
Oct. 25/Nov. 8/Dec.6/Dec. 20
Pita: Will be the following dates:
Oct. 4/Oct. 18/Nov. 1/Nov. 15/ Dec. 13
Orange Shirt Day is Tuesday October 1, 2024
At The Hill Academy, we will be recognizing Truth and Reconciliation Day on Tuesday, October 1, by wearing orange shirts. This day honors the Indigenous children who were forcibly taken from their families and sent to residential schools, where many experienced the loss of their identity, culture, and community. The orange shirt serves as a symbol of this painful history.
By participating, we stand in solidarity with survivors and their families, raising awareness of the lasting impact of the residential school system and supporting the ongoing journey of reconciliation. Let’s come together to reflect, learn, and show our support by wearing orange on this important day.
The Hill Academy supports the Downie & Wenjack Fund in their efforts to build cultural understanding and creating a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. For more information please visit the Downie Wenjack Fund website.
Picture Day will be Monday, October 7
Please ensure all students wear their Hill polo on Monday, October 7 for Picture Day.
The Hill Academy Camps team will be hosting a PD Day Multi-Sport Camp on Friday, October 11 for K-8 aged students. Hours of the camp will run from 9-3:30.
More information and registration can be found here.
We are so grateful to have such an amazing community within our Hill Family! With a goal of $5,000 (10% more than last year), you helped us smash our previous total! Thank you for helping us make this donation to the Terry Fox Foundation to carry on Terry's legacy.
Foundations of Sport Schedule
Monday:Â Truth and Reconciliation Day
Tuesday: Soccer
Wednesday:Â Soccer
Thursday:Â Hockey
Friday:Â Soccer
The first semester Foundations of Sport Schedule can be found here:
(Click to enlarge)
School Hours
School Hours for our Early Years and Primary students are 8:30am-3:30pm.
Kindergarten: Pick up and drop off with be in the cul-de-sac by the gravel road to the cabin. Supervision begins at 8:25am each morning.
Primary (Grade 1-4): Pick up and drop off will be at the front of the school in the designated areas. The primary teachers or Mrs. Kirkpatrick will meet the students upon arrival and walk them into the school. If you are a late arrival, please park in the designated parking area and walk your student into the main building to receive a late slip from Ms. Bush.
Supervision begins at 8:20am each morning.
Daily Timetables
Daily timetables are available in the Hill Families > Parent Resources section of our website, alongside other helpful links for parents.Â
Safety and Security
In preparing for your student-athlete for the school year, 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 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. There is no parking in the fire routes, crosswalks or kiss and ride areas. If you arrive before the designated pick-up times, you will be directed to park in the lots.
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.
Kindergarten Kiss & Ride
Please take a moment to review and follow our Kiss & Ride procedures to help reduce congestion during drop off and pick up, and most importantly, to increase safety for our students.
All families should be utilizing the cul-de-sac as a designated Kiss & Ride zone. When you are the first car at the gravel road, please assist your child out of the car (if needed) as quickly as possible and then move along to keep the line flowing smoothly for others.Â
Please note, no families should park and walk their children to the educators. This procedure is designed to ensure the safety of all students, and we appreciate your cooperation and patience as we all adjust to this routine.
In the event of unsafe weather conditions, such as heavy rain or extreme cold, we will notify you with alternative drop off/pick up instructions at the cabin.
Thank you for your understanding and support.Â
Absences and Late Arrivals
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. The students will need to provide their educator with the slip upon arrival to class.
Teachers
Kindergarten: Ms. Hill (katelyn.hill@thehillacademy.com)
Kindergarten: Ms. Diefenbacher (megan.diefenbacher@thehillacademy.com)
Grade 1/2 : Mrs. Goverde (jodi.goverde@thehillacademy.com)
Grade 3/4 : Ms. Kennedy (haley.kennedy@thehillacademy.com)
Director of Early Years & Vice Principal: Casey Kirkpatrick (casey.kirkpatrick@thehillacademy.com)
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.
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Please see https://foodallergycanada.ca/Â 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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