Hello Hill Family,
This week, I want to touch on a few areas of focus as we zoom past the time change and begin to look forward to the long winter months.
Rest and Recovery for Student-Athletes
A couple of weeks ago, I led a lesson on Rest and Recovery for our high school student-athletes. We covered various recovery methods, evaluated their effectiveness, and ended with a focus on sleep. Despite the constant promotion of new recovery products and techniques, three of the most effective approaches are straightforward and accessible: nutrition/hydration, sleep, and taking days off.
Nutrition
It’s easy to be drawn to supplements, new recovery drinks, and quick fixes. However, before reaching for these, it’s important to establish a balanced diet and ensure you're eating enough. Canada’s Food Guide Eat-Well Plate is a simple tool to help ensure meals and snacks are balanced (Canada Food Guide). They also provide some additional tips for healthy eating:
Make water your primary drink.
Limit processed foods.
Eat at home as often as possible.
Sleep
Teenagers are recommended to get 8–10 hours of sleep per night. This is crucial because the adolescent brain is in a major developmental phase, with much of the learning process and the release of essential growth and recovery hormones occurring during sleep. Although student-athletes may find it challenging to meet these sleep needs due to late games, early school start times, etc., several strategies can help improve sleep quality:
Create a cool, dark sleeping environment, with a comfortable pillow and mattress.
Limit screen time 30–60 minutes before bed.
Keep a consistent sleep schedule whenever possible, with regular bed and wake times.
Rest (Days Off)
There’s a common belief in youth (and adult) athletic development that “more is better.” Athletes often think that stacking workouts, practices, and individual sessions will give them an edge. However, the body and mind need rest to recover and perform at high intensity. Without sufficient rest, you’re likely to only build endurance for medium-intensity work, rather than developing the speed, explosiveness, and power that many aspire to achieve. Before adding more activities, consider how well you’re performing in your current practices and workouts. Can you push yourself to higher intensity in those sessions?
Stay healthy, stay focused and stay strong,
Coach Dre
In this week's newsletter:
Apparel and Equipment Flash Sale
On Tuesday we will be hosting an apparel and equipment flash sale throughout the day in the lower flex. We will also continue to offer numbering on apparel items.
Primary Holiday Concert
** SAVE THE DATE **
We are excited to announce our upcoming Primary Holiday Concert on December 10th at 4:30PM. We look forward to seeing you there for an afternoon of fun, music and festive spirit!
Photo Retake Day
Photo retake day has been scheduled for Wednesday, December 4. If you missed photo day, please be prepared for retake day.
Respecting Student Privacy
We kindly remind all parents and guardians that photos or videos of students other than your own should not be taken during school events, games, or activities. This helps ensure the privacy and safety of all students and respects the personal boundaries of other families. Thank you for your cooperation and support in creating a secure environment for everyone!
School Uniforms
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 began on Monday October 7, 2024
Students are expected to wear Hill athletic shorts or sweatpants, a tech tee or long-sleeve shirt, and a sweatshirt. It is strongly recommended that your child also wear Hill-branded shorts or sweatpants. If not wearing Hill attire, shorts or pants must be black or beige.
Lunch Program
Lunch Lady: Offered Tuesday and Thursdays, please sign up using this link.
Pizza: Will be the following dates:
Dec.6/Dec. 20
Pita: Will be the following dates:
Nov. 15/ Dec. 13
Kindergarten/Primary Kiss & Ride
For the smooth operation of our Kiss and Ride, it’s essential that students are dressed and ready to exit the vehicle upon arrival. This helps keep the line moving efficiently, minimizing wait times for everyone. We also encourage parents to help their child get in and out of the car quickly and safely, allowing the process to flow more smoothly for all. Your cooperation ensures that all families can drop off and pick up in a timely manner. Thank you for your support!
Foundations of Sport Schedule
Monday: Basketball
Tuesday: Lacrosse
Wednesday: Basketball
Thursday: Cross-Country
Friday: Basketball
(Click image to enlarge)
Daily Timetables
Daily timetables are available in the Hill Families > Parent Resources section of our website, alongside other helpful links for parents.
School Calendars
School Calendars are available and can be viewed in the Parent Resources section of the website. Updates will be made periodically, so continue to check the website for the most up to date details.
Teachers/Coaches
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)
Kindergarten Physical Education: Ms. Champagne (amber.champagne@thehillacademy.com)
Coach 1-4: Mr. Cosmo (anthony.cosmo@thehillacademy.com)
Director, Sports Science & Athlete Performance: Drazen Glisic (dglisic@thehillacademy.com)
Director of Early Years & Vice Principal: Casey Kirkpatrick (casey.kirkpatrick@thehillacademy.com)
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!
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.
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.
Cell Phone Policy
In April of 2024, Ontario's Ministry of Education introduced guidelines and restrictions for cell phone use by students in schools. Following suit, students in Kindergarten to Grade Eight will need to keep cell phones on silent and out of sight for the entire school day (including breaks). Students in Grades Nine to Twelve will not be permitted to use cell phones during class time unless explicitly instructed by their educator.
For more information on the Ministry of Education's announcement, visit here.
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