Hello Hill Community,
The winter holiday is fast approaching, and the excitement on campus is palpable. This past week, our Hill community truly shone as we celebrated some special events together. On Tuesday, our Primary School hosted its inaugural Holiday Concert, and our Junior School welcomed families for a heartwarming Grandparents Day.
Attending the Holiday Concert as an audience member was an emotional experience. Expanding our school to include the primary grades has been a long-standing dream, and seeing it come to life has been very special. To see all the excited kindergarten to grade 4 students and their amazing performances (and costumes!), their caring teachers that truly have so much pride in what they are doing, and the gym full of proud and supportive family members, was a true milestone for our school —one that made it hard to imagine a time before our primary grades existed. A special thanks goes to Casey Kirkpatrick, whose genuine passion and care have been instrumental in bringing this vision to life.
For our secondary school students and teachers, the upcoming break couldn’t come at a better time. With the end of Semester 1 arriving quickly after the holiday, this break offers a much-needed pause before the busy final stretch. During Wednesday’s assembly, we reflected on the school year so far, hearing from students from various grades and programs, as well as from staff, about the importance of reflection. The three guiding questions shared were: What was the biggest challenge you faced? How did you overcome this challenge? What was your most memorable moment? We encourage everyone to take time during the break to consider these questions and reflect on their own growth and experiences.
To those traveling over the holidays, we wish you safe journeys. I hope everyone has a safe, restful, and joyous holiday season!
Sincerely,
Tory Merrill
Principal
In this week's newsletter:
Happy Hill-iday Festivities This Week:
Kindergarten:
Monday: Holiday Socks
Tuesday: Holiday Accessories
Wednesday: Holiday Sweater
Thursday: Red & Green Day
Friday: Pyjama Day
Grades 1-4:
Monday: Ugly Christmas Sweater - choose an 'Ugly Christmas Sweater' for Monday. The more tinsel and lights, the better!
Tuesday: PJ Day - holiday pyjamas are encouraged, a day to be cozy in class
* APPAREL SALE * in the main lobby on Tuesday to complete all of your last minute holiday shopping.
Wednesday: Dress Like A Teacher Day - pick your favourite teacher or coach to dress like, try to capture their fashion sense
* BAKE SALE * satisfy your holiday sweet tooth in the main lobby.
Thursday: Red and Green Day - red and green from top to bottom, rock any combination of these festive colours!
Friday: S'Winter Day - winter in the heat! Ever wonder how students in warmer climates dress in winter? Think Hawaii, Miami or California Christmas, time to pull out your finest tropical vacation wear to send us off to the holiday break!
Flash Apparel and Equipment Sale - Tuesday
This Tuesday we will be having flash sale during lunch hours. We are clearing out old apparel and equipment at great discounts! We will also be offering some winter staples at regular price. Don’t wait—once it’s gone, it’s gone! Dive in and snag your favorites! 💥
Primary Holiday Concert
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the Primary Hill Academy families who joined us for our first-ever holiday concert. Your presence made the event truly special!
Our students and teachers worked incredibly hard to prepare for this memorable performance, and we are so proud of their dedication and effort. Seeing our school community come together to celebrate the season was a wonderful way to kick off the holidays.
Thank you for your continued support, and we wish you all a joyful and festive holiday season!
Orangeville Food Bank Donations
This year, the PG class will be collecting items to donate to Orangeville Food Bank for those in need this holiday season. We had such amazing support while working with the Terry Fox Foundation and are looking forward to another successful charitable drive.
Food donations will be accepted until Monday December 16th and then delivered to the Food Bank.
Below are some key items that the Food Bank would greatly appreciate:
Fruits (apples, oranges, pears, bananas, any seasonal fruits)
Vegetables (potatoes, carrots, onions, any seasonal vegetables)
Toilet Paper
Crackers
Dry Soup
Canned Meats/Canned Salmon
Cookies
Pudding and Fruit Cups
Dry Pasta
Canned Soup
Condiments
Large Juice/Juice Boxes
School friendly granola bars
Dish Soap
Peanut Butter
Tampons
Shampoo
Sugar
Inclement Weather Procedure
Depending on the weather and the conditions, one of two decisions will be made:
1. School closure- remote learning
All buses cancelled; students are to perform their schoolwork remotely. This includes before and after care.
2. School Bus Cancellation
Either specific buses or all buses are canceled, and the school remains open for staff and students that can safely travel. Before and After care will still be operating.
We will do our best to communicate our decision by 6am, utilizing email and social media channels. Decisions will be made considering the safety of students and staff on both the way to and from campus.
Kitchen Construction
On December 2nd we started some kitchen upgrades in the space adjacent to the cafeteria. The construction will not obstruct any of the day-to-day activities inside the cafeteria area, but students may notice some noise.
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
The January to March food orders have been sent home.
Lunch Lady: Offered Tuesday and Thursdays, please sign up using this link found here.
Pizza: Will be the following dates:
Dec. 20
**Important Notice: Lunch Lady and Bus Cancellations**
Please be advised that in the event of bus cancellations, Lunch Lady will not deliver lunches to the school. Parents will be notified by Lunch Lady, early in the morning on such days. Additionally, if a storm is forecasted, Lunch Lady will send an email the night before to inform parents that lunch deliveries will be canceled if buses are not running.
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: Hockey
Tuesday: Hockey
Wednesday: Multi-Sport
Thursday: Basketball
Friday: Outdoor Ed
(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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