October 30, 2025

PICTURE RETAKE DAY - PENINSULA | November 4

ANNUAL DINNER | November 7

VETERANS DAY CELEBRATIONS | November 11

SPELLING BEE (1st-8th Grade) | November 18 (Please note: This has been changed from the original date)

CURRENT FAMILIES WEBPAGE UPDATE

We are making a few updates to our school website to enhance accessibility and improve the user experience—particularly on the Current Families page. Beginning November 1, the new password to access this section will be Heritage2526. Please feel free to share this password with family members who may need access. Thank you for your continued partnership and understanding as we work to improve our online resources.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

Heritage will participate in Operation Christmas Child again this year. HCA families are invited to pack a shoebox at home and return it school November 17–19. Click here to view detailed instructions about this beloved service project.

ADMISSIONS APPLICATIONS OPEN

Admissions season is in full swing, and we are accepting applications for the 2026–2027 school year. Do you know a family whose values align with HCA’s mission? Please direct them to the HCA website where they can learn more about our mission, schedule a tour at one of our campuses, and submit their application.

Please note: Current students are automatically re-enrolled for the next school year; no action is required to maintain their enrollment. 

Priority Enrollment for current families is available through January 9. 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. 

AFTERCARE AT HCA

Aftercare is available until 4:30 p.m. for families who have pre-registered. Please refer to the campus-specific section for registration links.

Parents, when picking up your child from aftercare, it is essential that you make direct contact with one of the aftercare supervisors. This is especially important when aftercare is held outdoors. For the safety and accountability of all children, please do not assume that staff are aware you have left.

Campus Supervisors:

• Peninsula – Sarah Davis, Andrew Doman, Tiffany Doman

• Pepper Pike – Lindsey Andrews, Kathy Lekic

ANNUAL DINNER SPONSORS

We are grateful to our Bronze Sponsors for their generous support of this special evening. Thank you to Tone of Life, Landes Eye Associates, Streetsboro KOA, and Moreland Connect for your partnership and commitment to our school community. Your support helps make this event possible, and we are truly thankful!

THE GRIFFIN RUNDOWN

We invite you to listen to this week’s episode of The Griffin Rundown. On this week’s episode, we continue our Building Sturdy Kids series with an insightful conversation between Mr. Nees and Upper School teacher Mrs. Elizabeth Fleagle. Together, they explore practical ways to support our students in the classroom and at home. Click here to listen to this week’s episode.

HCA APP
Click here to download the HCA App for easy access to class details, lunch orders, directories, the Griffin Rundown podcast, and more.  

PRAYING MOMS

Please join HCA moms to pray for our school, teachers, students, and each other. The next gathering is Tuesday, November 4 at 8:30 a.m. in the cafeteria.

VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION

Veterans are invited to join us at our Peninsula Campus for a special Veterans Day Celebration beginning at 8:40 a.m. on Tuesday, November 11. Our guest speaker, Captain Laura Hawkins, will share reflections on her service to our country and its impact on her faith. Following Convocation, veterans are invited to enjoy a light breakfast in recognition of their service and dedication. Families are encouraged to download and share our Veterans Day graphic to help spread the word, or click here to access the registration form. We look forward to honoring those who have served!

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.

LOWER SCHOOL DRESS CODE UPDATE

Beginning November 1, shorts will no longer be permitted for Lower School students. All students must wear pants or leggings under skirts and dresses. As we continue to take children outside for recess throughout the fall and winter months, it is important that students are dressed appropriately for the weather. Please ensure your child comes to school prepared for outdoor activities. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students safe and comfortable.

PICTURE RETAKE DAY

Picture retake day at Peninsula will take place on Tuesday, November 4. This is an opportunity for students and staff who missed the original photo day, or who would like a retake, to have their pictures taken. Please ensure you are prepared and dressed appropriately for the occasion.

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.

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.

CAROL CHOIR

We are excited to announce the formation of a Carol Choir for students in grades 3–5. This special group will have the opportunity to sing for the residents of Ohman Family Living during their Tree Lighting and Christmas festivities on Saturday, December 6. If your student is interested in participating, you may sign up here. We look forward to sharing the joy of the season with our community!

VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION

VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION

Veterans are invited to join us at our Pepper Pike Campus for a special Veterans Day Celebration beginning at 8:10 a.m. on Tuesday, November 11. Our guest speaker, Lieutenant Commander Mitchell Monas, will share reflections during Convocation on his service to our country and how it has shaped his faith. Following Convocation, veterans are invited to enjoy a light breakfast in recognition of their service and dedication. Families are encouraged to download and share our Veterans Day graphic to help spread the word, or to click here to access the registration form. We look forward to honoring those who have served!

LOWER SCHOOL DRESS CODE UPDATE

Beginning November 1, shorts will no longer be permitted for Lower School students. All students must wear pants or leggings under skirts and dresses. As we continue to take children outside for recess throughout the fall and winter months, it is important that students are dressed appropriately for the weather. Please ensure your child comes to school prepared for outdoor activities. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our students safe and comfortable.

LOST & FOUND

Our Lost and Found is currently holding a number of HCA-branded fleeces, water bottles, and sweaters. To help ensure these items are returned to their rightful owners, we kindly ask families to check for any missing belongings. Items not labeled with a name will be donated at the end of each month. If you believe your child may have misplaced something, please visit the front desk at your earliest convenience.

HOT LUNCH
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.

CHAPEL| October 31

HILLSDALE COLLEGE ADMISSION REPRESENTATIVE VISIT| November 5

BAKE SALE | November 18-19

VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION

VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION

We are honored to invite our Pepper Pike campus community Veterans to join us for our Veterans Day Celebration at 8:10 a.m. on Tuesday, November 11. Guest speaker Lieutenant Commander Mitchell Monas will join us for Convocation, sharing reflections on his service to our country and how it has shaped his faith. Following Convocation, we will host a light breakfast in recognition of your service and dedication. Families are encouraged to download and share the Veterans Day graphic provided to invite others to this meaningful event, or you can click here to register. We look forward to celebrating you.

UPPER SCHOOL DRESS CODE UPDATE

New for this school year: Upper School students may wear shorts and skirts year-round.

ANNUAL DINNER HELP
We need a few more students to complete our team of Upper School students to serve at the Annual Dinner on Friday, November 7, at the Marriott Key Center downtown.

This is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to a meaningful school event. If you are interested in serving, please sign up here.

BAKE SALE FUNDRAISER

We invite all families to sign up for the next round of Fundraising Bake Sales. Students grade 7–10 are asked to bake and/or have parents volunteer to serve, as the proceeds will benefit students traveling on the May field trips.

Bake Sales will be held on November 18 & 19 at both campuses. Sign up here for Pepper Pike and here for Peninsula. We look forward to a fun and beneficial sale!

COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVE VISITS

We are pleased to welcome college admission representatives to campus this fall. These visits offer students in grades 9–12 a valuable opportunity to learn more about each institution and ask questions directly.

• Hillsdale College
  Tuesday, November 5
  During Lunch

Students are encouraged to stop by and take advantage of this informative session.

RHETORIC FALL DANCE HIGHLIGHTS

Experience a glimpse into the joy and fellowship from the Rhetoric Fall Dance. We’ve gathered a selection of photos and videos that capture the spirit of the evening. You can view them here. Thank you to all who helped make this event memorable!

More Winter Clubs Coming Soon!

VIOLIN CLUB

We’re pleased to announce that the second session of the Violin Club at HCA Pepper Pike is now open for November and December. Please note that dates and fees have changed for this session.

For full details and registration, please click here.

CHESS CLUB

We’re excited to announce the launch of our Chess Club! Open to students of all skill levels. The first club meeting is tomorrow, Friday, October 31. Click here to register for Chess Club.

BASKETBALL

Basketball season kicks off next week! We’re looking forward to an exciting season of competition and teamwork as our students take to the court. Go Griffins!

SKI CLUB
Ski Club is back for another exciting season. Ski club is a great way to enjoy the winter months with friends. Please click here to view the full email with additional details.

FALL SPORTS BANQUET

Join us on Tonight at 5:30 p.m. at Tanglewood Golf Club
8745 Tanglewood Trail, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023

This special evening will honor our athletes and reflect on a memorable season. Please note that no food will be served, and there is no fee to attend.

Evening Highlights:

• Welcome & Season Recap

• Honoring Our Five Seniors

• Team Reflections from Each Coach

• New This Year:

  • Six Individual Team Awards

  • Varsity Letters

  • Memorable Gifts

• Photo Opportunities

We look forward to celebrating the dedication and achievements of our teams with you.

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.