The Hill Academy 2020-2021: Return to Campus

Dear Hill Academy Students and Families,

The faculty, staff and coaches have had a wonderful week preparing for the opening of the new campus. We are all very excited to have students fill the building with the energy that they bring every day. Of course, one of the main topics of discussion is how we are going to do this as safely as possible for all students.

There are a few challenges that we face as we attempt to keep the students isolated in their cohort and limit any possible interactions. This includes our morning arrival routine, transition times, washroom breaks, lunch time and access to change rooms. Of course, we have planned all of this in theory, but until we have students in the building it is difficult to finalize any of these plans.

An additional challenge in the Senior school is student course selection and timetable adjustments that will need to be made. In order to ensure that this process is done as safely as possible, we will be following an online process that is outlined below. Typically, in the first couple of days within a semester, there are about 50 timetable changes, and this will impact classroom assignments and transition plans.

Transitioning to athletics also presents a set of challenges as we must get students into change rooms, storage areas, and on and off buses with as little interaction with other cohorts as possible.

Taking all of this into consideration, we have decided on the following schedule as a progressive return to school and athletics:

Tuesday, September 8th:

Junior School only. Orientation, meeting teachers and coaches and small group, mostly outdoor activities.

Wednesday, September 9th:

Secondary School only. Orientation, meeting teachers and coaches and small group, mostly outdoor activities.

Thursday, September 10th:

All students on campus. Practicing transitions, time with coaches and course introduction.

Friday, September 11th:

No students at school. Staff and faculty will review protocols and transitions.

Monday, September 14th:

Junior School students are on campus; finalizing routines and transitions.

Secondary School students; completely remote, synchronous classes, following the non-athletic day schedule.

ALL SECONDARY SCHOOL TIMETABLE CHANGE REQUESTS MUST BE COMPLETED BY 4:00pm

Tuesday, September 15th:

Junior School students are on campus; finalizing routines and transitions.

Secondary School students; completely remote, synchronous classes, following the Non-Athletic Day Schedule.

Wednesday, September 16th:

All students on-campus.

Secondary students: Non- athletic day schedule; room assignments and transition plans are finalized.

Thursday, September 17th:

All students on-campus.

Secondary students: Non- athletic day schedule; room assignments and transition plans are finalized.

Friday, September 18th:

PD Day

Monday, September 21st:

Full return of Athletic and Academic program

As we have learned since March, this is an ever-evolving situation and plans may again need to change. These are difficult times, however we believe a well planned and well executed progressive return to school and athletics will provide us with the best opportunity to keep our students safe, and have a successful beginning to the school year.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Senior Leadership Team

________________________________________________________________________________

Daily Screen:

The Daily Screen is to be completed prior to arriving on campus. Please complete and submit the following Google Form by Sunday, September 6th, 2020. COVID-19 Daily Screen: Contact Information. (It will only take a couple of minutes).

Our screening app will text the numbers submitted on the Google Form at 6:15am with the screening survey to complete. In the screen, it will ask for temperature; so you will require a thermometer. 

COVID-19 Testing:

A reminder to send proof of a negative test result to Kyle Kallay (KKallay@thehillacademy.com) prior to the first day of school. If the negative test result has not been sent to Kyle Kallay, the student is not permitted on campus.