January 15, 2026
NO SCHOOL | January 19
UPPER SCHOOL NOON DISMISSAL | January 26
BAKE SALE FUNDRAISER | January 27 (Peninsula and Pepper Pike) & January 28 (Pepper Pike only)
DRESS DOWN DAY ($2) | January 29
LOWER SCHOOL PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES - NO SCHOOL | January 30
SPEECH MEET (1st-6th Grade) | February 10
HERITAGE U WITH TIM CHALLLIES | February 26
NEW GRIFFIN GEAR STORE ITEMS
We are pleased to announce that new House items and Heritage hoodies have been added to our Griffin Gear store. Click here to visit the store and explore these latest options.
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.
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. If you wish to request a campus or track change during priority enrollment, please notify our Admissions Director, Laura Calo, at laura.calo@heritageclassicalacademy.org. For any other questions, contact Laura directly.
SPEECH MEET
Our 1st–6th-grade students are preparing for the upcoming Speech Meet on February 10. To support their preparation, please review this document, which includes Practice Tips and Category Guidelines. Click here to view all information about the Speech Meet.
THE GRIFFIN RUNDOWN
We invite you to join us for this week’s episode of The Griffin Rundown. Mr. Nees welcomes special guest Mr. Jim Parkin for an enriching conversation about some of the great books studied in Heritage’s Upper School. These works exemplify the depth and beauty of a classical Christian education—forming lifelong learners who think deeply and live faithfully for Christ. Click here to listen to this week’s Griffin Rundown.
HCA APP
Click here to download the HCA App for easy access to class details, lunch orders, directories, The Griffin Rundown podcast, and more.
CONVERT YOUR OHIO TAX DOLLARS TO HCA SCHOLARSHIPS
The state of Ohio’s Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) tax credit allows donors who contribute to K–12 student scholarships through a certified SGO to receive a dollar-for-dollar reduction in their state taxes—up to $750 per individual or $1,500 per couple. We encourage families to prayerfully consider a gift to the OCEN SGO to support scholarship funding for HCA students, knowing their contribution will be returned to them through this tax credit. Learn more here.
WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE
Students may withdraw from the 2026–2027 school year prior to February 1, 2026, without penalty. The complete Withdrawal Policy is available here.
If there is a specific section of the Gazette you would like to view, please select it from the menu below.
PENINSULA CAMPUS
PEPPER PIKE CAMPUS - LOWER SCHOOL
PEPPER PIKE CAMPUS - UPPER SCHOOL
ATHLETICS AND CLUBS
HCA CARES
HCA cares deeply about incarcerated youth, and we are partnering again with Suited for Hope in order to serve young people who have completed their sentences and are returning home. Many of these individuals struggle to meet their basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter. Suited for Hope helps to ease this transition by providing Bibles, clothing, and essential toiletries to young people rebuilding their lives.
Parents and students can pick up a tag and return items with the tag attached to show these young people the incredible love of our caring God. This small act of kindness can provide them with the hope they need to move forward.
All items are due by January 28.
Let’s come together to show we care and help these young people make a fresh start! To learn more about this important cause, please click here.
FIFTH GRADE CLUBS
We are thrilled to announce two new opportunities for our fifth-grade students to learn, create, and connect!
Book Club
Mrs. Arlia will lead a Fifth-Grade Book Club during lunch on Thursdays in the library. This is a wonderful chance for students to enjoy engaging books together, explore plots and characters, and discuss major themes. Students will need to bring their own copy of the selected book (from home, borrowed from a library, or purchased).
A flyer will be sent home on Friday—please review it with your student over the weekend. If they would like to participate, return the completed form on Tuesday, January 20. The first meeting will be held on Thursday, January 29. For questions, contact Mrs. Arlia at katie.arlia@heritageclassicalacademy.org.
Journalism Club
Students are also invited to join HCA’s Journalism Club, meeting on Wednesdays during lunch and recess. Participants will collaborate to create a school newspaper by developing ideas, conducting research, writing, and publishing every three weeks. Please note that some work will be required outside of club meetings. Additional details will be included in a flyer sent home on Friday.
END OF SEMESTER
The first semester officially ends tomorrow, Friday, January 16.
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Be on the lookout for conference sign-up information. Parent-Teacher Conferences will take place on Friday, January 30. Please note: There will be no school for Lower School students on this day.
HOT LUNCH
The hot lunch schedule is available here, and ordering instructions can be viewed on the Orientation Page. Orders must be placed by Sunday night. Please note the dates you order lunch for your child, as this service is not available every week.
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.
END OF SEMESTER
The first semester officially ends tomorrow, Friday, January 16.
MORNING DROP-OFF
Please ensure students are unpacked and seated in their classrooms by 8:30 a.m. (or 9:30 a.m. on Thursdays). Drop-off ends at 8:25 a.m. If you arrive near this time and notice a backup in the line, kindly park and walk your children into the front lobby.
Being in the drop-off line at 8:25 does not guarantee timely arrival to class. Students not in their seats by the start time will be marked tardy. Thank you for helping us maintain a smooth and punctual start to the school day.
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Lower School conferences will be held on Friday, January 30, and are scheduled on an as-needed basis. Teachers who wish to meet regarding your child will contact you soon, if they have not already.
If you would like to request a conference, please contact your child’s teacher directly. Please note: There will be no school for Junior Kindergarten through 5th grade students on this day.
HOT LUNCH
Please remember to place your orders by Sunday evening for Chick-fil-A (Wednesdays) and Gionino’s (Thursdays). For your convenience, you may order for the remainder of the school year. Kindly note the specific dates you select, as this lunch service is not available every week.
LUNCH VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP
We invite you to help us begin the new year in the lunchroom. Your support makes a difference, and we would greatly appreciate your assistance!
UPPER SCHOOL NOON DISMISSAL | January 26
DRESS DOWN DAY ($2) | January 29
BAKE SALE FUNDRAISER | January 27 (Peninsula and Pepper Pike) & January 28 (Pepper Pike only)
COURT OF DREAMS
There will be a noon dismissal on Monday, January 26 for the Cleveland Cavaliers Court of Dreams event. Please note that the shuttle bus will not run to Peninsula at noon on this day. Families should plan accordingly for their Upper School child’s transportation and pick-up at noon.
Additionally, there will be no lunch periods for Upper School students prior to dismissal. Thank you for making arrangements to ensure a smooth transition.
PARENT MEETING FOR SPRING TRIPS
We are thrilled to announce that, during the last week of school, 7th and 8th grade students will enjoy a three-day trip to Washington, D.C., while 9th and 10th grade students will embark on a four-day trip to the Williamsburg area.
We invite parents to attend a joint informational meeting for both trips on Wednesday, January 28, at 3:15 p.m. in the Pepper Pike music room. This meeting will be hosted by Nowak Tours and Mr. Hatteberg.
Attendance is not mandatory, as all details—including itineraries, costs, and required paperwork—will be emailed to parents following the meeting.
11TH GRADE ACT TESTING
Our 11th grade students will take the ACT on the morning of Tuesday, February 24. Please avoid scheduling any appointments during this time.
Students will be dismissed at noon and should arrange their own transportation following the exam.
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Please note that Friday, January 30, is a regular school day for all Upper School students. Only Lower School students will be out of school that day due to Parent-Teacher Conferences.
BAKE SALE
Please sign up to help bake and/or serve at our upcoming Fundraiser Bake Sales on January 27 and 28. Items will be sold at Peninsula on January 27 and at Pepper Pike Lower and Upper School on both January 27 and 28. All proceeds will help offset the cost of the May Field Trip for all 7th–10th grade students. Your support is greatly appreciated!
SPEECH MEET
Our 6th grade students are getting ready for the upcoming Speech Meet on February 10. To support their preparation, please review this helpful document featuring Practice Tips and Category Guidelines. Click here to read all information regarding the Speech Meet.
COLLEGE CREDIT PLUS
Parents of students in grades 7–11 are invited to attend an informational College Credit Plus meeting on Thursday, January 22, 2026, from 6:30–7:30 p.m. in the HCA Chapel. This session will provide important details about earning college credit while in high school.
College Credit Plus is Ohio’s dual credit program, allowing students to earn both high school and college credit simultaneously, often at little or no cost to families. This program is designed to encourage rigorous academic pursuits and provide expanded opportunities for college-ready students.
Representatives from Cedarville University, the University of Akron, and Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) will be present to answer questions and provide guidance. For additional information, please contact HCA’s College and Career Counselor, Mrs. Anne Johns, at anne.johns@heritageclassicalacademy.org.
SPECIAL LUNCH VOLUNTEERS
We are in need of additional volunteers to help serve pizza on Thursdays in the new year. Your support is greatly appreciated! If you are willing to help, please click here to sign up.
SPRING MUSICAL
We are excited to announce this year’s Spring Musical: The Wizard of Oz.
Auditions for 6–12th graders will be held in the HCA Pepper Pike Chapel on:
Tuesday, January 27 | 3:30–5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 28 | 3:30–5:30 p.m.
Students should prepare a short song (approximately 30 seconds) in the show's style, be ready to read from the script, and learn a brief dance combination.
Callbacks (by invitation only) will take place on:
Thursday, January 29 | 3:30–5:30 p.m.
Click here to sign up for an audition.
TRACK AND FIELD
The Spring Track and Field team is back! Practices will once again take place at the Tri-C Track, which offers excellent facilities for training and development.
Our experienced coaching staff returns, led by Mrs. Johnson and Mr. Harris for the high school teams, and Mr. Dunay for the middle school team.
Click here to sign-up for the team.
BASKETBALL
High School Senior Night
Join us for Basketball Senior Night on Friday, January 30, at The Edge (9550 Ravenna Road, Twinsburg, OH).
Girls Game: 5:30 p.m.
Boys Game: 7:00 p.m.
Come support our teams and celebrate our seniors!
MOCK TRIAL
Our Mock Trial team will participate in the District Competition later this month. The exact date, time, and location will be announced soon. Stay tuned for details and join us in supporting our team as they prepare for this exciting event.
POWER OF THE PEN
We are thrilled to announce that our students will compete for the first time in the Power of the Pen State Competition on January 31. This is an exciting milestone, and we wish our team the very best.
COURT OF DREAMS T-SHIRT
Purchase your HCA Court of Dreams t-shirt here to support the HCA Basketball Teams.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS COURT OF DREAMS
Ticket sales are now closed.
If you purchased tickets, you will receive an email in January that includes your tickets and parking/entrance information.
The Upper School will be dismissed at noon to attend the games and cheer on their classmates. Students are responsible for their own transportation. Students who do not attend the game will also be dismissed at noon.
Game Schedule – Monday, January 26
First Baptist Christian School vs. HCA
High School Girls: 1:30 p.m.
High School Boys: 2:15 p.m.
These will be exhibition games with modified quarters to fit the event time slot. This is an incredible opportunity for our students to play on the Cleveland Cavaliers court.
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.