K-6 Newsletter 09.26.25
- kevinhayashi
- Sep 26
- 10 min read
September 26, 2025
Hello Hill Families,
This week, our Kindergarten to Grade 3 students took part in the annual Terry Fox Run, joining thousands of schools across Canada in keeping Terry’s dream alive. On our beautiful campus, students laced up their running shoes and participated in a walk to raise awareness and show support for cancer research.
Before the run, teachers shared Terry’s story, how, at just 21 years old, he began the Marathon of Hope to raise money and awareness for cancer research after losing his leg to cancer. His courage, determination, and belief in making a difference continue to inspire Canadians 45 years later.
It was wonderful to see our students embrace Terry’s values of perseverance, resilience, and community. They encouraged each other along the way and showed great school spirit as they completed their walk. The energy and enthusiasm on campus truly reflected Terry’s famous words: “Even if I don’t finish, we need others to continue. It’s got to keep going.”
We are so proud of our students for taking part in this important tradition and grateful to our school community for supporting such a meaningful cause.
Casey Kirkpatrick
Director of Early Years & Vice Principal (K-6)
Reminder: the school will be closed on Tuesday, September 30 to recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
In this week's Newsletter:
Terry Fox Run
In 1980, Terry had a dream of a world without cancer. Forty-five years later, Terry's Marathon of Hope lives on. If we work together, we can make such a difference in the lives of so many. Please help fund critical cancer research in Canada by supporting our participation in the 2025 Terry Fox School Run.
Crossing the finish line means hope for everyone with cancer. Together, we can Finish It.
We hosted our K-3 Terry Fox Run today on Friday September 26, and will be hosting our Gr. 4-12 Terry Fox Run on Friday October 3. Donations can be made directly to the Terry Fox Foundation here.
Truth and Reconciliation Day
Tuesday, September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. In observance, The Hill Academy will be closed. Truth and Reconciliation is the process by which Canada is confronting the harmful effects and legacies of the Residential School System, which caused a cultural genocide, and is still causing harm to Indigenous communities across our nation.
The Hill Academy has worked with Akwesasne artist Joe King in the creation of an image to assist in furthering the conversation about Truth and Reconciliation and our Hill Academy Community. Students are to wear the orange shirt with Joe King's design on it, on Monday, September 29 in recognition of Truth and Reconciliation. This is a regular uniform day, therefore standard pants/shorts and shoes are required with the orange shirt. On September 30, we encourage everyone to pause, reflect, and continue the conversation on how we can move forward together.
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: Turkey Shepherds Pie, Steamed Broccoli, Carrots & Gravy
Tuesday: Brunch Breakfast
Wednesday: Baked Ham and Cheese Melt, Steamed Carrot, Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Thursday: Lemon Herb Baked Tilapia, Roasted Cauliflower, Penne Pasta with Olive Oil
Friday: BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwich on a whole wheat bun served with coleslaw 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
Picture Day - October 6
Picture Day for students will be held on Monday, October 6. Please have your student-athlete wearing their proper uniform, including their Hill polo shirt that day. Additionally, a photo retake day has been scheduled for Tuesday, October 28.
School Hours
8:10-3:50- Junior School (4-6)
8:30-3:30- Kindergarten and Primary (K-3)
Kindergarten: Pick up and drop off will be at the cabin. Educators will be on duty starting at 8:20.
Primary (Grade 1-3): Pick up and drop off will be at the front of the school in the designated areas. The primary teachers or Mrs. Kirkpatrick will be on duty starting at 8:20. We 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.
Junior School (Grade 4-6): Supervision begins at 8:00 a.m. in your child’s homeroom portable. Students who are dropped off between 7:45 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. may wait in the cafe.
If you need to drop off your student-athlete before 7:45 a.m., please ensure they are registered in our Before Care program.
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 - Soccer
Tuesday - School Closed to recognize Truth and Reconciliation Day
Wednesday - Half at Golf/Half at Basketball (for the golfers if you have golf clubs, feel free to bring if you want)
Thursday - Switch from Wedneday: Half at Golf/Half at Basketball (for the golfers if you have golf clubs, feel free to bring if you want)
Friday - Soccer
Foundations of Sport (4-6)
Monday: Lacrosse
Tuesday: School Closed to recognize Truth and Reconciliation Day
Wednesday: Soccer
Thursday: Triathlon
Friday: Lacrosse
Hockey (5-6)
Monday: Hockey
Tuesday: School Closed to recognize Truth and Reconciliation Day
Wednesday: Hockey
Thursday: Hockey
Friday: Lacrosse
View a comprehensive calendar of events by visiting www.thehillacademy.com/calendar
Monday, September 29 - Orange Shirt Day at The Hill
Tuesday, September 30 - Truth and Reconciliation Day (School is Closed)
Thursday, October 2 - Sunday, October 5 - U15AAA at NE Pack Showcase in Utica, NY
Sunday, October 5 - U18 Prep Hockey host Appleby College at Teen Ranch 11:30AM
Monday, October 6 - Picture Day
Thursday, October 9 - U18 Prep Hockey at Everest - Vaughan Sports Village - 12:50PM
Friday, October 10 - Sunday, October 12 - U15AAA/U16AAA at The Wendy Dufton Tournament - London, ON
Friday, October 10 - PD Day (K-8)
Friday, October 10 - U18 Prep Hockey vs. Everest - Teen Ranch - 2:00PM
Monday, October 13 - Thanksgiving (School is Closed)
Tuesday, October 28 - Picture Re-take Day
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.
This Week's Store Feature:
As the temperature drops and many of us find ourselves back in the rinks (or on the cold sidelines), why not stay warm in style with The Hill Pride Sherpa Faux Lined Mink Throw
• 50” x 60” faux sherpa and mink lined throw
• Great for the rink or field
• Represent The Hill Pride... with pride!
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!
Student and Parent Code of Conduct
The student and parent codes of conduct were sent home via Adobe e-sign this week. Please ensure that both you and your student-athlete have signed the codes of conduct before Monday September 29th
Student-Dedicated Resource
This year, Ms. Walko will be working as student support. She will be working with students from Kindergarten through Post-Grad to help them achieve academic success. If you, as a student, or your child as a parent, require classroom support, accommodations, or have an IEP in place, please reach out to Ms. Walko directly so we can ensure supports are in place as quickly as possible.
Students are also welcome to stop by the Resource Room (Room 104) to check in or ask questions. Please contact Ms. Walko with any questions at emily.walko@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.
Kiss and Ride Protocol Grades 1-PG
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.
The drop-off area is marked with pylons for drop-off on the right and thru-traffic on the left. The drive past the main school is one-way, and we encourage attentive driving once past the main building allowing other vehicles to turn into designated areas.
Your cooperation ensures that all families can drop off and pick up in a timely manner. Thank you for your support!
Cell Phone Policy
To maintain a focused, respectful, and productive learning environment, our policy prohibits the use of cell phones by students during the entire school day. This applies to all students from the time they enter the school building until dismissal at the end of the day.
It is recommended that cell phones be kept at home, but if they are brought to school, they will be collected by teachers/coaches and redistributed at the end of the day. They may not be used during class, between periods, lunch, or on breaks.
If your student-athlete brings their cell phone to school, please note that The Hill Academy is not responsible for any loss or damage to cell phones.
Before and After Care Available
We are proud to offer an exceptional before and after school program for the 2025/26 school year. Our program is designed to provide a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment that supports children’s physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development.
Our before and after school program is available for students from Kindergarten through 8th grade, and is designed to complement their school day.
If you are interested in learning more about the Before and After Care available please visit this link.
Transportation
If you require transportation, please submit this form immediately.
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:
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 (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.
We want to thank you for entrusting The Hill Academy with your child's academic and athletic journey. We believe we can achieve great things together, and we can't wait for to get started!
Our Newsletter emails are to keep you informed as to what is happening on campus and upcoming dates and details. The Hill Academy Newsletter will be sent out every Friday at 6pm with information and messages for the upcoming week.
If there is a different or additional email address that you would prefer to be on our distribution list, please email info@thehillacademy.com.
No Sign-Out Privileges
Students do not of have sign-out privileges at The Hill Academy, regardless of age. If a student is to leave campus during the school day, attendance@thehillacademy.com must receive an email from parents/guardians indicating that the student is permitted to leave campus, with whom, at what time and for what reason. Student drivers are not permitted to have passengers unless the families have provided written consent in advance.
2026-27 Admissions
Applications are now being accepted for the 2026-27 school year for SIBLINGS of current students or referrals. Please visit the application portal HERE to apply. Contact Julie Packard jpackard@thehillacademy.com with questions.
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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