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K-6 Newsletter 05.15.26


May 15, 2026


Hello Hill Families,


Congratulations to our April Character Award recipients for demonstrating the trait of Self-Control! Throughout the month, these students showed great maturity by managing their emotions, making thoughtful choices, staying focused during learning, and demonstrating respect toward others, even during challenging moments. We are very proud of the positive example they set within our school community.


As we move into May, our new character trait focus is Coping Skills.


Coping skills are the strategies we use to manage big emotions, challenges, disappointment, frustration, stress, or conflict in healthy and productive ways. In a K–6 environment, coping skills are essential for helping students build resilience, confidence, and emotional awareness.


What coping skills can look like at school:

  • Taking a deep breath before reacting

  • Asking an adult for help

  • Using positive self-talk

  • Taking a short break to regulate emotions

  • Solving problems calmly with peers

  • Persevering through difficult tasks

  • Managing disappointment appropriately


Teachers will be supporting students in recognizing emotions, learning calming strategies, and practicing healthy ways to respond when things feel difficult or overwhelming.


How families can support coping skills at home:


Parents can help reinforce coping skills by:

  • Talking openly about emotions

  • Modelling calm problem-solving strategies

  • Encouraging children to pause and think before reacting

  • Helping children identify strategies that work for them (deep breathing, movement, talking it through, drawing, quiet time, etc.)

  • Praising effort, resilience, and flexibility during challenges


Some great conversation starters at home may include:

  • “What helps you calm down when you are frustrated?”

  • “What is something challenging you worked through this week?”

  • “What strategy could you use next time something feels difficult?”


Building strong coping skills helps children develop confidence, resilience, and emotional regulation skills that support both learning and positive relationships. We look forward to seeing our students continue to grow in this important area throughout the month!


Mrs.Casey Kirkpatrick

Director- Early Years & Vice Principal (K-6)


In this week's Newsletter:


Basket Raffle & Legacy Fund Draw Tickets

Our year-end raffles are back! Baskets and Legacy Fund Items will be displayed in the main building. To purchase tickets visit the store.



Apparel Sale

We currently have a number of items on our school website marked down by 40% off. These styles will not be continuing in future collections; however, they will still be permitted as part of the school uniform next year. This is a great opportunity to take advantage of the savings and begin purchasing items for the upcoming school year.



Introducing After School Multi-Sport and Cricket!


We are extremely excited to introduce two new after-school programs that are open to Hill students and to the community.


First, a weekly Multi-Sport program for kids aged 5-10 years old offering a fun mix of sports, similar to our Foundations of Sport program.


Secondly, we are thrilled to "test" the waters with Cricket. Under the guidance of our very own Coach Kyle Piper, kids aged 7-12 will be able to experience highly sought after coaching in one of North America's quickest growing sports. All skill and interest levels welcome!


Sessions will run on Tuesdays after school:

  • May 26th (Multi-Sport: 4:15-5:00/Cricket 5:00-6:00)

  • June 2nd (Multi-Sport: 4:15-5:00/Cricket 5:00-6:00)

  • June 9th (Multi-Sport: 4:15-5:00/Cricket 5:00-6:00)

  • June 16th (Multi-Sport: 4:15-5:00/Cricket 5:00-6:00)

  • June 23rd (Multi-Sport: 4:15-5:00/Cricket 5:00-6:00)


Follow the link to learn more about Multi-Sport Training or Cricket Training


Tick Awareness

As we have entered the outdoor season, it's important to be mindful of tick encounters. We have had a couple of sightings, which is not uncommon at this time of year. To learn more about ticks and tick bites, please visit the following link: https://wdgpublichealth.ca/your-community/ticks-lyme-disease Stay informed and take necessary precautions to protect yourself/ your child from ticks.


Junior School Athletic Banquet

The Junior School Athletic Banquet will be held on Wednesday, June 10th. Student-athletes in grades 4-8 are at no cost, and tickets for friends/family are available here: https://www.thehillacademy.com/events/junior-school-athletic-banquet-2026


Tickets are first come, first served, and we will be limiting guests to two per student-athlete.




Allergy Safe Microwave

Student-athletes are to be aware that there is a labeled microwave in the cafeteria area away from the other microwaves that is dedicated to those with allergies. Staff and student-athletes who do not have allergy concerns should not use this microwave.


Kindergarten Graduation

The kindergarten graduation ceremony will be held on Friday June 5th at 2PM at the Kindie Cabin.


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!


The Nest

At The Nest, we've been delighted by the excitement, conversations, decision-making, and laughter that continue to fill our space. It’s been a joy to interact with the students each day as they seek to fuel their growing bodies and find 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.



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.


TPC Toronto at Osprey requirement for proof of enrolment is a student card. To request your student card, please see Mrs. Bush.



The Hill Eats

Discover this week's menu, bon appétit! 


Daily Lunch

Monday: Victoria Day

Tuesday: Garlic beef stir fry Egg Noodles Red Pepper & Veggie Mix

Wednesday: Grilled Chicken Breast Caesar Salad Potato Wedges

Thursday: Mexican Burrito Tortilla Chips Corn

Friday: Sheperds Pie Roasted Root Vegetables


Please be advised any feedback or special requests can be sent to lunch@thehillacademy.com 


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


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: Victoria Day

Tuesday: Golf/Soccer

Wednesday: Quarry

Thursday: Golf/Soccer

Friday: Free Play


Foundations of Sport (4-6)

Monday: Victoria Day

Tuesday: Track and Field

Wednesday: Golf

Thursday: Netball

Friday: Quarry


Hockey (5-6)

Monday: Victoria Day

Tuesday: Track and Field

Wednesday: Hockey

Thursday: Lacrosse

Friday: Hockey


View a comprehensive calendar of events by visiting www.thehillacademy.com/calendar


  • Monday, May 18 - Victoria Day

  • Thursday, May 21 - Girls Junior School Lacrosse Game - Legacy Field

  • Tuesday, May 26 - Senior Athletic Gala

  • Saturday, May 30 - The Hill Volleyball Open House

  • Friday, June 5 - Last day of class for High School

  • Monday, June 8 - First Day of Exams

  • Wednesday, June 10 - Last Day of Exams

  • Wednesday, June 10 - Junior Athletic Banquet

  • Thursday, June 11 - Last day of class for K-8

  • Thursday, June 11 - Grade 8 Grad

  • Friday, June 12 - Grade 12 Grad

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.


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)

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.




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