October 9, 2025
HERITAGE U | October 13
BAKE SALE (BOTH CAMPUSES) | October 14–15
ANNUAL PUMPKIN DECORATING CONTEST | October 20–22
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES | October 22–23
FALL BREAK | October 23–24
ADMISSIONS APPLICATIONS OPEN
Applications for the 2026/2027 school year are open! Due to continued high demand, several classes maintained waiting pools last year, and we anticipate another strong enrollment cycle. Priority Enrollment for current families is available through January 9.
Please note: Current students are automatically re-enrolled for the next school year; no action is required to maintain their enrollment.
If you wish to apply for a sibling who is not currently enrolled, please log in to your existing FACTS Family Portal account. (Do not create a new account). From there, go to “Apply/Enroll,” choose “Application,” and then select “Click Here to Add an Application” on the main screen.
For any questions, contact our Admissions Director, Laura Calo, at laura.calo@heritageclassicalacademy.org.
SAVE THE DATE: CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Join us for our annual Christmas Concert on Wednesday, December 10 at Parkside Church.
Peninsula Campus performance begins at 5:30 p.m.
Pepper Pike Campus performance begins at 7:00 p.m.
The concert will feature Academy students from Kindergarten through 12th grade, along with Study Center choir students. Please note: Early Childhood students do not participate.
All students will be dismissed at 2:00 p.m. on December 10 to allow time for preparation and travel.
More information will follow. We look forward to celebrating the season together.
BAKE SALE
On Tuesday and Wednesday, October 14 and 15, both campuses will host a Bake Sale to support 7th–10th grade students attending out-of-state field trips in the spring. All items will be priced between $1 and $2, giving students a fun way to support their classmates while enjoying some delicious treats. Thank you for helping us make these enriching experiences possible!
HCA ANNUAL DINNER
We are pleased to invite you to our Annual Dinner on Friday, November 7—an evening to reflect on God’s faithfulness, celebrate the impact of your generosity, and be inspired to continue partnering in the mission of cultivating lifelong learners who think and live for Christ.
For additional details, please visit our Annual Dinner webpage, or click here to reserve your tickets or sponsor a table.
Please note: The deadline to purchase tickets is Friday, October 17.
We look forward to sharing this meaningful evening with you.
ANNUAL DINNER SPONSORS
We extend our sincere thanks to MAI Capital for generously sponsoring the dessert reception, and to Truth For Life for serving as our Mission Partner at this year’s Annual Dinner. Your partnership makes this special evening possible.
PUMPKIN DECORATING CONTEST
The Annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest is here! A beloved tradition among our students, the Pumpkin Decorating Contest will be held on October 20–22. We invite all participants to showcase their creativity and school spirit. Click here for full details, including contest categories and the entry form. We look forward to seeing your festive creations.
THE GRIFFIN RUNDOWN
We invite you to listen to this week’s episode of The Griffin Rundown. We are pleased to feature Mike Swiger, ministry leader at True Freedom Ministries, in this week’s episode of The Griffin Rundown. Mike joins Mr. Nees for a thoughtful conversation about the mission and impact of True Freedom, including a recent service project in which HCA students partnered with the ministry. It is an inspiring look at faith in action and the power of community engagement. Click here to listen to this week’s episode.
HERITAGE U
Join us on Monday, October 13, at 6:45 p.m. at the Pepper Pike campus for an enriching evening with guest speaker Alistair Begg, as he shares biblical wisdom on Parenting In A Broken World. Heritage U is a special series designed for HCA parents, recognizing the unique challenges of raising families in today’s world. Through these gatherings, we aim to equip and encourage parents with guidance rooted in God’s Word. Throughout the school year, HCA will host several evenings featuring respected pastors and teachers speaking on topics relevant to Christian parenting. Please click here to register as seats are limited. We look forward to seeing you there.
HCA APP
Click here to download the HCA app for easy access to class details, lunch orders, directories, the Griffin Rundown podcast, and more.
ATTENDANCE REPORTING POLICY
For all attendance related communications—including absences, tardies, midday appointments, and early pick-ups—please do one of the following:
1) Call the appropriate Attendance Line and leave a message. You will still need to contact your child’s teacher and the nurse (when medical).
Peninsula: (330) 548-1738, Ext 1, Ext 1
Pepper Pike Upper School: (330) 548-1738, Ext 2, Ext 1
Pepper Pike Lower School: (330) 548-1738, Ext 2, Ext 2
2) Send an email to the appropriate Attendance Email address, your child’s teacher, and the nurse (when medical).
All absences, tardies, and midday appointments should be communicated by 9:00 a.m. Any end-of-day pick-up changes should be communicated by 1:00 p.m. Please do not contact the Campus Coordinator by email or by phone regarding attendance related issues. Please continue to share attendance information with your student’s teacher, nurse (when medical), and the Attendance Line or Email.
EARLY CHILDHOOD PLAYGROUND
Due to state regulations, the Early Childhood playground may only be used by HCA Early Childhood classes during school hours. To help us remain in compliance, we kindly ask that families use the main playground only when visiting the school with their children after hours. Thank you for your cooperation and support.
MOMS AND MUFFINS
Early Childhood students will enjoy a special morning with their moms on October 13 and 14. Further information to follow from your child’s teacher.
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Conference registration is now open. Please watch for a teacher’s invite, then select a 15-minute time slot in the Renweb Family Portal calendar. These conferences are a valuable opportunity to partner with your child’s teacher to support academic success.
LUNCH & RECESS VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP
We are grateful for our Special Lunch volunteers! Volunteers serve Chick-fil-A and Gionino’s and assist with delivery, set up, distribution, and clean up, and will receive a list of student orders. A consistent weekly volunteer is especially helpful for both routine and relationships with students. If you would like to serve, please click on the link located below. Emily Thompson, our Campus Coordinator, will follow up regarding a quick background check. Thank you for considering this opportunity to bless our school community!
HOT LUNCH
The hot lunch schedule can be viewed here, and ordering instructions can be viewed on the Orientation Page. Orders must be placed by Sunday night. We kindly ask that you note the dates on which you order lunch for your child, as this service is not available every week.
PRAYING DADS
Join other Heritage dads for prayer every second Friday of the month, beginning tomorrow, October 10, at 6:30 a.m. in the library. This is a meaningful opportunity to come together in prayer for our students, families, and school community.
AFTERCARE REGISTRATION
Aftercare registration is required for each student who will remain on campus after school hours. This includes students staying due to a sibling’s participation in after-school clubs, lessons, or athletics. Please register by 2:00 p.m. daily to ensure proper supervision and planning. Please note, students who ride the HCA Shuttle do not need to register for aftercare if they will be picked up by 3:45 p.m.
DISTRICT BUSSING SIGN-UP
Please complete daily registration for students who will be riding district buses after school. Registration must be submitted by 2:00 p.m. each day, using the appropriate district form linked below. Please do not email your campus coordinator or attendance line with bus changes. All updates must be made through the form by the daily deadline. Any students not listed on the form will not be placed on the bus after school.
MORNING DROP-OFF
Please note that student drop-off begins at 8:10 AM, or 9:10 AM on Thursdays. For safety reasons, students should not exit vehicles until HCA staff are present outside at the designated time. Teachers are not in their classes for supervision of students until 8:10/9:10.
Drop-off ends promptly at 8:25 AM. Students arriving after this time must be accompanied into the building and signed in at the Front Desk by a parent.
As a courtesy to others and to help maintain traffic flow, we ask all vehicles to turn right only onto Lander Road when exiting campus. Left turns are causing significant delays and congestion.
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our campus safe and efficient.
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Conference registration is now open. Please watch for a teacher’s invite and then select a 15-minute time slot using the calendar in the Renweb Family Portal. These conferences are a valuable opportunity to partner with your child’s teacher to support academic success.
LOST & FOUND
Any items in the Lost and Found that are not labeled with a name will be donated at the end of each month. There are many HCA fleeces and jackets among the unclaimed items. If you believe your child may be missing an item, stop by the front desk as soon as possible.
MOMS & MUFFINS
Save the date for Moms and Muffins! Early Childhood students will enjoy a special morning with their Mom on October 22. Further information to follow from your child’s teacher.
PICTURE DAY
Picture Day for Pepper Pike is on Wednesday, October 15. To order your pictures, please use the new pre-order link below. Further instructions are included in the graphic below.
PRAYING MOMS AND DADS
Heritage moms and dads, you are invited to join together for prayer every month. Praying Dads meets at Heritage Coffee in Solon from 6:30–7:30 a.m. Mark your calendar for future dates: October 10, November 11, December 12, January 9, February 13, March 13, April 10, and May 8. Reach out to HCA dad, Jason Fruh, with questions at fruhjm1@gmail.com. Praying Moms meets Mondays at the Pepper Pike campus Chapel from 8:30–9:30 a.m. Mark your calendar for future dates: October 20, November 17, December 15. Reach out to HCA mom, Julie Johnson, with questions at prayingparents@heritageclassicalacademy.org
HOT LUNCH
Hot Lunches are back! The hot lunch schedule can be viewed here, and ordering instructions are available on the Orientation Page. Orders must be placed by Sunday night. We kindly ask that you note the dates on which you order lunch for your child, as this service is not available every week.
LUNCH VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP
HCA is grateful for the faithful partnership of parents and grandparents who generously volunteer to help supervise lunch and recess. Your presence not only supports our daily routines but also offers a meaningful opportunity to connect with students and be part of their school experience. To ensure these days run smoothly, we are in need of volunteers to assist with serving. Would you consider helping us on Pizza Thursdays? Thank you for prayerfully considering this opportunity to serve our school community.
TRANSPORTATION UPDATES
If there is a change to your child’s regular transportation plan for dismissal, please notify the Pepper Pike Attendance Coordinator at pepperpikeattendance@heritageclassicalacademy.org by 1:00 p.m. For students riding to or from school on a local school district bus, please contact the Campus Coordinator immediately to ensure proper arrangements are made.
BAKE SALE (BOTH CAMPUSES) | October 14-15
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Parent-Teacher Conferences for the Upper School will be held on an as-needed basis during the following times:
Wednesday, October 22 from 4:00–7:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 23 from 9:00–10:30 a.m.
Due to limited availability, teachers are unable to meet with every parent. If you have a specific academic or behavioral concern and would like to request a conference, please email the appropriate teacher directly to receive a sign-up link.
Teachers have already contacted parents with whom they need to meet. If you did not receive a message, no conference is necessary at this time.
SPIRIT DAYS
Students are invited to participate in the upcoming Spirit Days with creativity and enthusiasm:
Monday, October 20 – House Color Day
Show your house pride by wearing your designated color:Fortis – Burgundy or Red
Temperans – Green
Prudens – Blue
Iustus – Purple
Tuesday, October 21 – Alphabet Dress-Up Day
Dress as something that begins with the first letter of your name.
(Example: Bob – Baker)Wednesday, October 22 – Western Day
Celebrate the spirit of the West with western-themed attire.
We cannot wait to see students show off their creativity and school spirit in fun and imaginative ways!
PICTURE DAY
Picture Day for Pepper Pike is on Wednesday, October 15. To order your pictures, please use the new pre-order link below. Further instructions are included in the graphic below!
BAKE SALE FUNDRAISER SIGN-UP
On Tuesday and Wednesday, October 14 and 15, both campuses will host a Bake Sale to benefit the 7th–10th grade spring field trips. Sign up to bake for these events using the links below. All proceeds will be pooled and applied to students’ Nowak Tours accounts to help offset trip costs.
RHETORIC FALL DANCE
Mark your calendars for the Rhetoric Fall Dance on Saturday, October 18, from 6:45–9:00 p.m. This special evening will be full of fun, friends, and dancing! Permission forms are due by next Wednesday, October 15. Click here for a copy of the email sent about this event.
HOT LUNCH
The hot lunch schedule can be viewed here and ordering instructions can be viewed on the Orientation Page. Orders must be placed by Sunday night. We ask that you please note the dates on which you order lunch for your child as this service is not available every week.
ARRIVAL TIME
We kindly remind Upper School families that drop-off takes place between 7:45 and 8:00 a.m, with a later window from 8:45 to 9:00 a.m. on Thursdays, our late start days. Families are encouraged to plan accordingly to ensure a smooth and timely arrival.
TRANSPORTATION UPDATES
If there is a change to your child’s regular transportation plan for dismissal, please notify the Pepper Pike Attendance Coordinator at pepperpikeattendance@heritageclassicalacademy.org by 1:00 p.m. For students riding to or from school on a local school district bus, please contact the Campus Coordinator immediately to ensure proper arrangements are made.
BASKETBALL
Registration is now open for winter basketball programs. Click below for more information and to register for the upcoming season.
SKI CLUB
Details for Ski Club are now available. Please click here to view the full email with all the details.
FALL SPORTS BANQUET
Join us at Tanglewood Golf Club for an evening of celebration and reflection on the fall sports season. Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 30, from 5:30–7:00 p.m.
POWER OF THE PEN & MOCK TRIAL TEAM
We are excited to introduce two new programs at HCA this fall! Power of the Pen, open to 7th and 8th grade students, provides an opportunity to strengthen creative writing and critical thinking skills while representing HCA in a statewide competition. In addition, our inaugural Mock Trial Team, for students in grades 9–12, will be led by Mrs. Danyella Johnson—Kindergarten teacher, Ohio Bar member, and former Mock Trial team vice president at Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Participants will gain valuable experience in public speaking, legal reasoning, and courtroom advocacy within a framework that reflects HCA’s commitment to excellence and character formation.
To learn more and register, click here for Power of the Pen and here for the Mock Trial Team. Registration closes on Friday, October 17.
CROSS COUNTRY
Our runners wrapped up a strong season at the Stow Bulldog Invitational. The team competed with passion, purpose, and perseverance—consistently reflecting Christ through their conduct and character on and off the course. Way to go, Griffins!
SOCCER
The Griffins’ final game is tonight, Thursday, October 9, at 4:30 p.m. vs. First Baptist Elyria. Join us at Fellowship City Church–Orange Campus to cheer them on at their final match!
STAFF VS. STUDENTS SOCCER MATCH
Cheer on your favorites at our inaugural Staff vs. Students Soccer Match! Join us on Wednesday, October 16, at 4:15 p.m. at Fellowship City Church – Orange Campus for an afternoon of friendly competition and fun.
GOLF
This week’s match was rained out, but we previously honored senior golfer Logan Valenti in a special recognition ceremony. Thank you, Logan, for your leadership and commitment.
VOLLEYBALL
We invite you to support our teams in the upcoming OCSAA Playoff Games:
Middle School vs. Mansfield Christian
Monday, October 13 at 5:00 p.m.
Location: The Edge, TwinsburgHigh School vs. Agape
Friday, October 17 at 6:00 p.m.
Location: Agape
Come cheer on our student-athletes as they compete with excellence and sportsmanship. Go Griffin Nation!
STAY CONNECTED
Join your child’s after-school club on the Band app to receive updates. Didn’t receive an invite? Please email mitchell.monas@heritageclassicalacademy.org.