August 20, 2026
PENINSULA ORIENTATION & PIZZA SOCIAL | August 26
PEPPER PIKE ORIENTATION & PIZZA SOCIAL | August 27
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL - UPPER SCHOOL | August 31
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL - LOWER SCHOOL | September 1
LABOR DAY - NO SCHOOL | September 7
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL - STUDY CENTER | September 1
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL - 2 DAY AND 5 DAY EARLY CHILDHOOD | September 8
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL - 3 DAY EARLY CHILDHOOD | September 9
CURRICULUM NIGHT - PEPPER PIKE | September 17
CURRENT FAMILIES WEBPAGE
We encourage families to visit the new Current Families webpage (password: griffins2627), where you’ll find key resources such as school supply lists, academic calendars and student appearance standards.
HCA APP & CLASS LISTS
Click here to download the HCA app for easy access to class details, lunch orders, directories, the Griffin Rundown podcast, and more. Class lists will be available in your Renweb Family Portal beginning Tuesday, August 25.
ORIENTATION SCHEDULES
Peninsula Campus: On Wednesday, August 26, parents and students of all grade levels will gather at the Peninsula Campus for orientation in the gym, followed by classroom visits to meet their teachers. Teachers and classrooms will be available during the following orientation sessions only:
9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m. Study Center, Preschool 3’s, & Jr. K 2-day Classes
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Preschool 4’s Jr. K 3-day, Jr. K 5-day, and Academy Classes
1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m. Academy Classes
Pepper Pike Campus: On Thursday, August 27, parents and students of all grade levels will gather in the chapel to begin orientation. Following this, Early Childhood and Lower School families will visit classrooms to meet teachers, while Upper School students will walk through their schedules.
9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m. Lower School and Early Childhood Classes
10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. or 1:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m. Upper School Classes
PIZZA SOCIALS
Families are invited to attend our annual pizza socials on each campus’s respective orientation day, from 5:30 p.m.–7:00 p.m. The cost is $3 per person. Please RSVP below by Monday, August 24, to help ensure enough food is ordered.
FIRST DAY PHOTO BOOTHS
First-day photo booths will be available at each campus prior to the start of school. We encourage you to arrive a few minutes early to capture a few memorable photos.
CONSTRUCTION UPDATES
Peninsula Campus: Construction is currently underway to improve waterproofing around the basement, helping protect the building’s foundation and essential equipment. We are also fortifying portions of the masonry to strengthen the foundation and improve the overall integrity of the building and windows. In addition, parking lot improvements will enhance water drainage and provide additional parking spaces for our families.
As these improvements continue, portions of the building exterior will remain active construction areas. For everyone’s safety, please keep children away from fenced work zones and other construction areas. Families may continue to enter through any school entrance located outside of the restricted areas. We appreciate your patience as this important work is completed!
Pepper Pike Campus: We are excited to welcome families to Providence Cottage, HCA Pepper Pike’s newest addition! The beautiful new building features eight additional classrooms and will be ready to welcome students and families during Orientation next week. We look forward to opening the doors and inviting our community to explore this new space as we prepare for another school year.
PIKMYKID
To make dismissal safer and more efficient, Heritage will begin using PikMyKid this fall. Parents and guardians will use the PikMyKid app to announce their arrival, allowing staff to quickly prepare students for pickup while providing real-time visibility and enhanced security throughout dismissal. Click here to access last week’s email with instructions on downloading the app.
All parent contact information will be imported from FACTS, so please verify that your phone number and email address are up to date. Everyone authorized to pick up a student, including parents, grandparents, and other drivers, should download the PikMyKid app and create an account before Orientation or their first pickup day.
Additional details and campus-specific procedures will be shared at Orientation.
NEW YEARBOOK ELECTIVE
We are pleased to introduce a new Yearbook elective for students in grades 11 and 12 beginning this year. This exciting program will provide students with valuable hands-on experience in photography, design, editing, and publication as they work together to create a lasting record of the school year.
As we launch this elective, we have several equipment needs that will help support student learning and the successful development of the yearbook. If you are interested in contributing or learning more about ways to support the program, please contact Nicole Byrne at nicole.byrne@heritageclassicalacademy.org.
THE HCA CLASSIC GOLF OUTING
We are thrilled to share that all foursomes for the HCA Classic are officially sold out! Thank you to our HCA families, friends, and supporters for making this annual event such a beloved tradition and for your enthusiastic support.
A few sponsorship opportunities are still available for those who would like to support the event. Proceeds from the HCA Classic benefit the Annual Fund, helping provide important support for our teachers and students throughout the school year.
Interested in supporting the HCA Classic? Click here to learn more about the remaining sponsorship opportunities.
SAVE THE DATE FOR THE ANNUAL DINNER
Please save the date for this year’s HCA Annual Dinner on Friday, November 6, at the Marriott Key Tower in downtown Cleveland. This special evening is an opportunity for our HCA community to gather, celebrate the work God is doing through our school, and give thanks for His faithfulness.
Additional details, including registration information, will be shared in the coming weeks. If you are interested in learning more about ways to partner with HCA through the event, please contact our Senior Development Officer, Rick Eimers, at rick.eimers@heritageclassicalacademy.org. We look forward to celebrating together!
ED CHOICE
If you have not already, you will receive your EdChoice acceptance letters soon from the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce. If you completed your acceptance through our Google Form, no further action is required! If you have not completed the Google Form, please submit your acceptance letter using the link below.
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
ORIENTATION & SCHOOL SUPPLIES REMINDER
We look forward to welcoming our families to Orientation next week as we prepare for another wonderful school year.
Construction is currently underway to improve waterproofing around the basement, helping protect the building’s foundation and essential equipment. We are also fortifying portions of the masonry to strengthen the foundation and improve the overall integrity of the building and windows. In addition, parking lot improvements will enhance water drainage and provide additional parking spaces for our families.
As these improvements continue, portions of the building exterior will remain active construction areas. For everyone’s safety, please keep children away from fenced work zones and other construction areas. Families may continue to enter through any school entrance located outside of the restricted areas. We appreciate your patience as this important work is completed!
As you arrive for Orientation, please bring your student's school supplies with you. Supplies may be placed outside your classroom door before proceeding to the gym for the Orientation program.
Peninsula Campus: On Wednesday, August 26, parents and students of all grade levels will gather at the Peninsula Campus for orientation in the gym, followed by classroom visits to meet their teachers. Teachers and classrooms will be available during the following orientation sessions only:
9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m. Study Center, Preschool 3’s, & Jr. K 2-day Classes
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Preschool 4’s Jr. K 3-day, Jr. K 5-day, and Academy Classes
1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m. Academy Classes
Thank you for your cooperation and partnership as we begin the new school year together.
EARLY CHILDHOOD HEALTH FORMS
All Early Childhood families are asked to bring their student's Immunization Form or approved Exemption Form to Orientation. Please submit these documents directly to the school nurses during your visit.
LUNCH & RECESS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
One of the many blessings of our school community is the partnership between families and faculty. We are grateful for parents and grandparents who generously give their time to help supervise lunch and recess, providing valuable support to our students and staff.
If you would like to serve in this meaningful role, we invite you to sign up using the link below. It is a wonderful opportunity to connect with students and be part of daily life at HCA. Once you express interest, Emily Thompson, Campus Coordinator, will contact you with information about updating your background check, a simple process that takes just a few minutes.
Thank you for prayerfully considering how you might partner with us in serving our students this year.
CLINIC MEDICATION PROCEDURES & REQUIREMENTS
As you prepare for the new school year, please ensure that all medications and required health forms are ready for submission. Medication authorization forms for both prescription and over-the-counter medications are available in the school app and on the website under the Orientation section.
Students who require inhalers, EpiPens, or seizure medications must also provide a physician-signed action plan. These forms can be found in the app under Resources, or your healthcare provider's form may be used.
Please note the following requirements:
All forms must be dated for the current school year and signed by both a parent/guardian and healthcare provider.
Forms must include the medication name, dosage, and administration instructions.
All medications must be in their original, properly labeled containers and must not be expired.
The clinic cannot administer medication until both the medication and all completed forms have been received.
A parent or guardian must deliver medications and paperwork at Orientation or on the first day of school. For student safety, medications may not be transported to school in student backpacks.
Questions may be directed to the clinic at nurse@heritageclassicalacademy.org.
ORIENTATION & SCHOOL SUPPLIES REMINDER
We are eager to welcome our students back to campus for a new year. Our teachers have been busy preparing their classrooms, planning engaging lessons and activities, and prayerfully anticipating the year ahead for each student and family.
As you prepare for Orientation, please bring your student's school supplies with you. Supplies may be dropped off in the classroom before proceeding to the Chapel for the Orientation program.
We look forward to seeing you soon and beginning another wonderful year together at HCA!
Thursday, August 27: Lower School Campus Orientation for all Jr. K-5th grade students and parents. Parents and students will meet in the chapel to begin Orientation. Following this, Early Childhood and Lower School families will visit classrooms to meet teachers. Please choose one session:
9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m.
MEDICATIONS AND MEDICAL FORMS
As you prepare for the new school year, please take note of the following important health requirements. If your child requires medication during the school day, a completed medication authorization form signed by both a parent/guardian and healthcare provider must be submitted to the clinic. All medications must be delivered to the school by an adult and remain in their original pharmacy-labeled packaging.
In addition, Early Childhood families should bring their student's Immunization Form or Exemption Letter to Orientation and submit it directly to the nurses.
For your convenience, the clinic will be open during Orientation from 10:00-11:00 a.m. and 1:00-2:00 p.m. to receive medications and required health forms.
SENIOR PARKING SPACE PAINTING | AUGUST 28
RHETORIC SEMINAR | SEPTEMBER 3
HOUSE INITIATION | SEPTEMBER 4
SENIOR SERVICE AND EXPERIENCE | SEPTEMBER 4
RHETORIC SEMINAR| SEPTEMBER 10
ORIENTATION SCHEDULE
Thursday, August 27: Upper School Campus Orientation for all 6-12 grade students and parents:
Choose 1 session:
10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. - Orientation in the chapel followed by a walk-through of your schedule
1:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m. - Orientation in the chapel followed by a walk-through of your schedule
School supplies can be put in your locker on that day.
HOUSE INITIATION DAY
On Friday, September 4, students will celebrate House Initiation Day. Current students should wear their House T-shirt with uniform bottoms. New HCA students and sixth-grade students will be formally welcomed into the House system, receive their House assignments, and be presented with their House T-shirts.
This special tradition marks the beginning of a student's participation in one of HCA's Houses and the friendships, fellowship, and friendly competition that accompany it throughout the year.
RHETORIC FORMAL DAYS
Rhetoric Formal Days will be held on Tuesdays, beginning later in September. Young men should plan to wear the approved Lands’ End tie or bow tie in the classic navy and dark crimson stripe pattern as part of the formal dress uniform. Additional details regarding the start of Formal Days will be shared as the date approaches.
P.E. UNIFORMS
Students who need a P.E. uniform are encouraged to place their order before the first day of school to help ensure compliance with the dress code when P.E. classes begin in September. You can place an order here.
If your uniform has not arrived by your first scheduled P.E. class, students should wear a comparable outfit consisting of a gray T-shirt and navy shorts of appropriate length (at least fingertip length) until they receive the official uniform. Thank you for helping students come prepared and ready to participate in class.
SENIOR PARKING SPOT PAINTING
Members of the Class of 2027 are invited to personalize their senior year by painting a reserved parking space! Seven parking spots behind Maynard will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, with painting scheduled for Friday, August 28 at 12:00 p.m. (Rain Date: Saturday, August 29 at 12:00 p.m.).
Students wishing to participate must submit a design proposal to Mr. Bond by Monday, August 24 at noon for approval. Designs should be creative, Christ-honoring, and in good taste. Participants are responsible for providing their own water-based exterior latex paint and supplies.
For questions or to reserve a spot, please contact Daniel Bond at daniel.bond@heritageclassicalacademy.org. We look forward to seeing our seniors' creativity on display!
HERITAGE ASSOCIATION OF PARENTS
The Heritage Association of Parents (HAP) plays a vital role in supporting our school community and advancing the mission of classical Christian education. In partnership with faculty and staff, parent volunteers generously share their time, talents, and resources to enrich student life and strengthen the Heritage community.
As we look ahead to the 2026-2027 school year, we invite you to prayerfully consider opportunities to serve through HAP. Whether through event support, hospitality, fundraising, or other volunteer efforts, your involvement makes a meaningful difference in the life of our school.
FALL CLUBS
Plans for Fall Clubs are currently being finalized, and club registration information will be announced soon. These opportunities provide students with a wonderful way to explore interests, develop new skills, and build community beyond the classroom.
If you are interested in leading a Fall Club and have not yet signed up, please contact Leah Hooper at leah.hooper@heritageclassicalacademy.org. We are grateful for the parents and community members who help enrich student life through their involvement and expertise.
ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS
All student-athletes should be registered and connected through SportsEngine, our primary platform for team communication, schedules, and updates throughout the season.
If you have not yet joined SportsEngine or are experiencing any difficulties with your account, please contact Leah Hooper for assistance. Ensuring that all athletes are connected before the season begins will help keep families informed and prepared for upcoming athletic activities.
ATHLETE PHYSICALS
Families are reminded to upload all required athletic physical forms as soon as possible if they have not already done so. A current physical must be on file before a student may participate in practices or compete in athletic contests.
Submitting paperwork before the season begins helps ensure a smooth start and prevents delays in participation. Thank you for your prompt attention to this important requirement.
GOLF
The Heritage golf team opened its season with a strong performance, earning a victory over Mentor Christian in its first match on Monday. Congratulations to our golfers on an exciting start to the season!
The team will host its first home match on Friday at Tanglewood. We invite the Heritage community to come out and support our student-athletes as they continue their season.
VOLLEYBALL
The Heritage volleyball team will be in action on Friday, August 21, as they take on First Baptist Elyria. We invite families and friends to come out and support our student-athletes as they compete and represent Heritage with excellence both on and off the court.
Game Location:
First Baptist Elyria
11400 LaGrange Road
Elyria, OH 44035
Go Griffins!
SOCCER
The Heritage soccer team will kick off its season on Friday with a home match against First Baptist. We invite the Heritage community to come out and cheer on our student-athletes as they begin a new season.
Game Location:
Ursuline College
2550 Lander Road
Pepper Pike, OH 44124
CROSS COUNTRY
The Heritage Cross Country team will begin its season at the HOKA Night XC Showcase on Saturday, August 29. This exciting event marks the start of the competitive season and provides our runners with an opportunity to showcase their hard work and dedication.
STAY CONNECTED
Join your child’s after-school sport or club on the SportsEngine App to receive updates. Didn’t receive an invite? Please email leah.hooper@heritageclassicalacademy.org.