K-6 Newsletter 01.16.26
- kevinhayashi
- Jan 16
- 9 min read
January 16, 2026
Dear Families,
Congratulations to our December Teamwork Award winners! Throughout the month, students across Kindergarten to Grade 6 focused on building strong collaboration skills, supporting one another, and working together as a community.
Classes celebrated teamwork through a variety of engaging activities, including collaborative problem-solving challenges, group art and building projects, partner reading and writing tasks, and classroom games that emphasized communication, patience, and shared responsibility. Students also practiced teamwork during class discussions, peer support activities, and cooperative learning centers.
We are so proud of the way our student's demonstrated kindness, respect, and collaboration both in and out of the classroom. These experiences help build the foundation for positive relationships and lifelong learning.
Well done to all our award recipients and to every student who continues to make teamwork a priority at The Hill Academy!
Casey Kirkpatrick
Director- Early Years & Junior School Vice Principal
The Hill
In this week's Newsletter:
The Hill Volleyball
We're super excited that we not only had the opportunity to re-introduce The Hill Volleyball this week, but also that we had the opportunity to welcome back Alumna Dani Brisebois as the Director of Volleyball.
For the 2026-27 school year, the focus will be on growing the volleyball program in High School, but who better to work with our Foundations of Sport student-athletes with a volleyball unit than Coach Dani. Look for Coach Dani to jump in with the multi-sport crew throughout second semester.
Read all about it here:
The Hill Summer Camps
Although the weather doesn't think so, summer is right around the corner. We're thrilled to host a selection of camps again this summer at The Hill. As a bonus, Hill student-athletes can use the code: COACHMATT to save 10% on their registration. Stay tuned as we look to announce more even more camps!
June 29 - July 3 - Multi-Sport Camp
July 6 - July 10 - Golf/Multi-Sport Camp
July 13 - July 17 - Lacrosse Camp (boys and girls)
July 20 - July 24 - Multi-Sport Camp
July 27 - July 31 - Multi-Sport Camp
The Nest: A New Hub for Our Student-Athletes
We are proud and excited to announce the grand opening of THE NEST, a dynamic new space dedicated to enhancing the lives of our athletes and the broader school community. For two weeks leading up to the Winter break, we celebrated the launch of this special nook, designed to fuel, support, and inspire our student-athletes.
THE NEST serves as a vibrant hub where students can gather, refuel, and find balance in their busy school days. We are proud to offer products that are sourced locally and baked fresh daily. Some of our delicious offerings include our beloved chocolate chip cookies, muffins, vitamin water, sparkling water, protein-based chocolate milks, fruit cups, yogurt parfaits, and veggies with hummus. We are also eager to hear your ideas for new products, so please send any or all of your requests to lunch@thehillacademy.com. Your input is invaluable, and we appreciate your voice and support!
Before the break, we soft-launched some of our products and tested the best hours to serve our athletes. THE NEST is open from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, covering lunch hours for all grades, Monday through Friday. Additionally, it will aim to be open at the end of the day as we introduce new on-the-go items that can easily be picked up on the way home or to evening sports and activities.
We love seeing our most loyal customers daily, who always add a smile to the process! Some canteen cards are running low; we appreciate your continued support. In addition to our food offerings, school merchandise is available, including hats, blankets, and a cross-section of apparel. In the weeks to come, we are working on adding smoothies and essentials like hockey tape and lacrosse stringing kits. Stay tuned as we grow, refine, and listen to your ideas!
We invite all students to visit and make the most of what THE NEST has to offer. It's a place where athletes can find the energy and environment needed to strive for greatness, both on the field and in the classroom.
A special thank you to everyone who contributed to making THE NEST a reality, and to our community for your ongoing support. Together, we're fostering a culture of health, balance, and excellence, one step at a time. Don’t forget to top up your cards…..we are a cashless system!
Winter Weather Reminder
As the temperature fluctuates, we kindly remind parents and guardians that students must come to school dressed appropriately for outdoor conditions each day. Our classes spend a portion of their day outside, and proper winter gear, such as boots, snow pants, a warm coat, hat, and gloves, is essential to ensure students stay comfortable and safe.
Thank you for your support in helping our students enjoy their outdoor time!
TPC Toronto Special Offer
Our partners at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley would like to extend our relationship by offering the following discounts to the Hill Family:
20% off indoor simulators and lessons
20% off rooms
20% off dining (food only)
To take advantage of these discounts, simply follow the link, using the password: hillacademy to access.
Inclement Weather Protocol
We want to ensure everyone is kept up to date with the inclement weather protocol and procedures.
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.
Blueprint Nutrition
This school year, the Hill Academy has partnered with Blueprint Nutrition to provide sport nutrition education and support. Blueprint is co-owned by Registered Dietitians, Cara Kasdorf and Rosanne Robinson, and along with their team of Sport Dietitians, they work with athletes across Canada. Their team of Registered Dietitians have worked with all levels and ages of athletes - from local and rep leagues to Olympic athletes, NHL and OHL players, and professional triathletes and endurance athletes. They have expertise in working with both student-athletes and adult athletes to fuel for performance, growth and development, and long-term health. They have expertise to support your athlete, whether the goal is to hit a personal best, navigate busy tournament weekends, or just eat enough to keep up with their sport and academics.
Cara and Rosanne will be providing 4 sport nutrition specific sessions to grades 4-12 throughout the school year. If you would like to seek out additional and more individualized support, Blueprint offers different options to work together.
Two of their most popular packages for student-athletes include:
Eat to Compete Program – $710 for 4 sessions
A high-impact coaching package designed to build strong fuelling habits across training, game day, recovery, and more. Ideal for athletes who want to level up their performance with a comprehensive strategy.
Performance Meal Planning Strategy Session – $295 for a 90-minute session
A focused, one-time consult to help you map out exactly what, when, and how much your athlete should be eating - with a personalized meal plan and timeline tailored to their sport, schedule, and needs.
*Note: all sessions are held virtually via video sessions
*They offer additional packages and sessions based on the athlete’s individual needs
To get started, schedule a free 20-minute clarity call by emailing: sport@blueprintnutrition.ca or booking directly at: www.blueprintnutrition.ca. They have also put together an online Sport Nutrition resource for students. Information about how to access the resource library can be found in their Physical Education and Health Google Classroom
The Hill Eats
The Hill Academy is pleased to offer a hot lunch program crafted by The Hill Eats team to include a balanced, macro-friendly nutritional meal that is designed to fuel The Hill Academy's student-athletes.
Grades 1-6 Lunch
Monday: Chicken Breast Roasted Vegetable Medley Bizmati Rice
Tuesday: Beef Meatballs Chow Mein Asian Slaw
Wednesday: PD Day
Thursday: Ham & Grilled Cheese Tomato Soup Baked Beans
Friday: Jerk Chicken Jamaican Rice Coconut Jerk Peas with Grilled Pineapple pple
If your day student would like to be on the lunch plan, please register now!
Please be advised any feedback or special requests should be sent to lunch@thehillacademy.com
Sports Schedule
For team based sports (ie. Junior Hockey Development), check your individual team's TeamSnap for the most up to date schedule.
Foundations of Sport (1-3):
Monday: Gymnastics/Snow
Tuesday: Gymnastics/Snow
Wednesday: PD Day
Thursday: Hockey Friday: Multi-sport
Foundations of Sport (4-6)
Monday: Touch Rugby
Tuesday: Hockey
Wednesday: PD Day
Thursday: Tennis/Squash
Friday: Snow Shoeing
Hockey (5-6)
Monday: Hockey
Tuesday: Multi-Sport
Wednesday: PD Day
Thursday: Tennis/Squash
Friday: Snow Shoeing
View a comprehensive calendar of events by visiting www.thehillacademy.com/calendar
Thursday, January 15 - Tuesday, January 20 - Exams
Friday, January 16 - Sunday, January 18 - U16AAA at Oakville Winter Classic, Oakville, ON
Tuesday, January 20 - Final Day of Exams
Wednesday, January 21 - PD Day
Thursday, January 22 - First Day of Second Semester
Friday, January 23 - Sunday, January 25 - U18 Prep Hockey @ PPHL Frozen Frenzy - Rockland, MA
Wednesday, February 4 - Grade 7-8 Ski Trip - Hockley Valley Resort
Wednesday, February 11 - Grade 4-6 Ski trip - Hockley Valley Resort
Monday, February 16 - Family Day (school closed)
School Information
School Hours:
8:10-3:50- Junior School (4-6)
8:30-3:30- Kindergarten and Primary (K-3)
Pick Up (K-6): 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.
Uniforms
Please ensure your student-athlete is wearing the appropriate uniform for their division. Please note there are NO TIGHTS or BIKE SHORTS PERMITTED. If you have questions regarding apparel please refer to the K-3 uniform guide or the Gr. 4-12 uniform guide. Any questions, concerns or questions apparel@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
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.
Annual School Calendar 2025-26
Annual school calendars are available on the website:
Teachers
Kindergarten: Ms. Hill (katelyn.hill@thehillacademy.com)
Mrs.Kieswetter: (megan.kieswetter@thehillacademy.com )
Grade 1/2: Mrs. Goverde (jodi.goverde@thehillacademy.com)
Grade 2/3: Mr. Debenham (george.debenham@thehillacademy.com )
Grade 4/5 : Ms. Kennedy (haley.kennedy@thehillacademy.com)
Grade 6: Ms. Barbe (julie.barbe@thehillacademy.com )
Director of Early Years & Vice Principal: Casey Kirkpatrick (casey.kirkpatrick@thehillacademy.com)
Attendance Protocol K-PG
ALL STUDENTS:
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 (K-8). The students will need to provide their educator with the slip upon arrival to class. High School students must sign-in at the main office.
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.
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