April 30, 2026
SPRING CONCERT- PARKSIDE CHURCH (DISMISSAL @ 2:00 P.M. NO AFTERCARE)| April 30
NO SCHOOL - RECORDS DAY | May 1
DRESS DOWN DAY - (SHORTS MUST BE FINGERTIP LENGTH) | May 5
LAST DAY OF STUDY CENTER | May 14
LAST DAYS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD | May 14-15
UPPER SCHOOL DISMISSAL AT NOON - (SHUTTLE FOR LOWER SCHOOL ONLY) | May 15
GIVING DAY 2026
We are excited to share that our 3rd Annual Giving Day will take place next week from noon on May 6 until noon on May 7. We will once again join schools across the country in a nationwide giving event, with the added opportunity to compete for bonus prizes, as we seek to strengthen our Annual Fund.
The Annual Fund provides critical tuition assistance for families and supports the benefits we offer to our faculty and staff. This year alone, Heritage will award just under $500,000 in tuition assistance and continue to provide comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, as well as retirement matching, to our full-time employees.
Our hope is for 100% of HCA families to participate in a meaningful way—through prayer, volunteering, or giving as the Lord leads.
We invite you to join us as we gather in prayer for our community and for God’s provision during Giving Day. Whether you can stay for a few minutes or the full time, we encourage you to join us in submitting this day to the Lord.
Pepper Pike Campus Giving Day Prayer Meeting
Location: Lower School Cafeteria
Entrance: Wade Administration Building
Time: 8:30–9:00 a.m. (following drop-off)
Peninsula Campus Giving Day Prayer Meeting
Location: Room 132 (by the cafeteria)
Entrance: Front Entrance
Time: 8:30–9:00 a.m. (following drop-off)
We are thankful for the generosity of our community, and for the many ways you help strengthen this work. Click here to learn more.
SPRING CONCERT DETAILS
Families are invited to view the email containing important details for tonight’s Spring Concert. Click here to view the email. We look forward to celebrating this joyful event as our students share the fruit of their hard work and musical growth.
FACTS LOGIN MULTI-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION UPDATE
Beginning May 6, 2026, FACTS will require multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all non-student users when logging into the FACTS SIS Family Portal. This added layer of security helps protect your account information. (Please note: MFA will not be required for student logins.)
FACTS recommends using a free authenticator app—such as Authy, Microsoft Authenticator, or Google Authenticator—or receiving a one-time code via email to complete the login process. Click here to watch an instructional video from FACTS regarding the new login process.
To help ensure a smooth transition, we encourage all parents to log into the Family Portal before May 6 and confirm that your email address is up to date. You can do this by navigating to:
School menu
Web Forms
Family Demographics Form
Custodial Parent Form
If you have any questions about MFA or the login process, please contact FACTS directly at 866.441.4637.
SENIOR THESIS PRESENTATIONS
Senior Thesis presentations will be held in the Pepper Pike Chapel from Monday, May 4, through Wednesday, May 6. The schedule is as follows:
Monday, May 4
5:30 – Max McCort – The Framework of a Godly Man
Emma Wilsey – A Biblical Lens for Satan, the Demonic, and Spiritual Darkness
Elli Serafimov – Making Your 29,000 Days Worth It
Tuesday, May 5
5:30 – Ben Arlia – Psychedelics: Satanic or Sanctified?
Logan Valenti – A Train Without Tracks: The Modern World of Work
Sophia Siley – The Cost of Silence: How Profit-Driven Systems Endanger Public Care
Wednesday, May 6
5:30 – Lovie Csontos – World Coming Down: When Modern Success Fails Women
Esme Folia – Why the American Social Security System Necessitates Reform
Grace Ochenjele – Fighting Racism: A Trojan Horse for Marxism
All HCA families are invited to join us in support of our senior class during this first-ever presentation of Senior Theses. Each student will present to a panel of judges who will evaluate their work against established criteria. We look forward to celebrating the culmination of our seniors’ education together!
EDCHOICE
Please remember to submit your EdChoice renewal application for the 2026–2027 school year. Completion and annual processing of the EdChoice application are required for continued scholarship eligibility.
To ensure a smooth and timely process, we ask that all required paperwork be submitted as soon as possible. Additional information can be found here.
2026–2027 ACADEMIC CALENDARS
The 2026–2027 academic calendars are now available. Families may access calendars for the Upper School, Lower School, Study Center, and Early Childhood programs. Please use the buttons below to view or download each calendar.
ADMISSIONS FOR THE 2026–27 SCHOOL YEAR
Admissions for next year are progressing quickly, and many of our classes are already filled, with waiting pools in several grades. Even so, we do have a limited number of openings across multiple grade levels. If you know of a missionally aligned family who may be a good fit for Heritage Classical Academy, we would be grateful if you would direct them to our website to explore current admission opportunities. There, families can learn more about our programs, schedule a campus tour, and begin the application process.
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.
THE GRIFFIN RUNDOWN
This week on the podcast, Mr. Nees sits down with Elizabeth Joyce, Director of Advancement, and Rick Eimers, Senior Development Officer, to talk about this year’s Giving Day. They share what makes this year’s effort especially meaningful, as all funds raised will support the Annual Fund, which helps provide student scholarships and teacher benefits beyond the standard budget. 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.
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
FIELD DAY
Field Day will be held on the last day of school, May 22, with a noon dismissal. Families are invited to join us as we celebrate the close of another wonderful school year.
Please click the link below for additional details and to sign up for volunteer opportunities:
Peninsula Field Day 2026 Volunteer Sign-Up
If you have any questions, please contact Kassie Brooks at kassie.brooks@heritageclassicalacademy.org.
PRAYING MOMS AND DADS
The final Praying Moms gathering of the school year will be held on Tuesday, May 5 at 8:30 a.m. in the library.
The final Praying Dads gathering will take place on Friday, May 8 at 6:30 a.m. in the library.
All are warmly encouraged to attend as we conclude the year together in prayer.
UNIFORM CLOSET
The Uniform Closet welcomes donations of gently used, Student Appearance Standard‑approved uniforms that your child may have outgrown or no longer needs. Parents are also welcome to browse the closet and take items at any time as needed.
LOST AND FOUND
Please encourage your child to check the lost and found before the end of the school year. All items will be donated or disposed of after the last day of school.
LIBRARY REMINDER
Please take a moment to check your home and return any borrowed library books. Thank you for helping us keep our library complete and well cared for.
HOT LUNCH
There will be no Hot Lunch offered in May.
LUNCH & RECESS VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP
We are grateful for our Lunch and Recess Volunteers! 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.
UNIFORM EXCHANGE
As your children outgrow their uniforms, we invite you to make use of the Uniform Exchange. Families are welcome to donate gently worn items and take those they need. The exchange is located in the hallway outside the Music Room.
DRESS CODE REMINDER
Families are encouraged to review the Student Appearance Standards here. As a reminder, HCA crewneck sweatshirts and HCA hoodies are not part of the daily dress code and may be worn on Spirit Fridays only.
HOT LUNCH
There will be no Hot Lunch offered in May.
LUNCH VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP
As we enter the final quarter of the year, we kindly ask for your support in the Lunchroom. Your help makes a meaningful difference! Please use the sign-up link below to volunteer.
NO SCHOOL - RECORDS DAY | May 1
RHETORIC SPRING FORMAL | May 1
SENIOR THESIS PRESENTATIONS | May 4–6
DRESS DOWN DAY - (SHORTS MUST BE FINGERTIP LENGTH) | May 5
COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVE VISIT- GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY | May 6
RHETORIC SEMINAR- DR. DAVID WEST: ASHLAND UNIVERSITY | May 7
CHAPEL- ALISTAIR BEGG | May 8
SEMESTER EXAMS | May 13-14
HOUSE OLYMPICS (NOON DISMISSAL FOR UPPER SCHOOL ONLY) | May 15
COMMENCEMENT AT CUYAHOGA VALLEY CHURCH (CLICK HERE TO RSVP) | May 15
ITALY TRIP- 11TH AND 12TH GRADE | May 17-24
8TH GRADE CAPSTONE PRESENTATIONS | May 18-19
WILLIAMSBURG TRIP- 9TH AND 10TH GRADE | May 19-22
WASHINGTON DC TRIP- 7TH AND 8TH GRADE | May 20-22
LOCAL TRIP- 6TH GRADE | May 21
COLUMBUS TRIP- 6TH GRADE | May 22
HOT LUNCH
There will be no Hot Lunch offered in May.
CONGRATULATIONS MAX MCCORT
Congratulations to HCA senior Max McCort on receiving the NCSAA Servant-Leadership Award. This honor is presented to senior athletes from member schools who exemplify leadership through service to their teammates and opponents, display Christlike character in competition, and interact with others with a deep commitment to building them up. Click here to read the full post on the NCSAA website.
SPRING MUSICAL RECORDING
Relive the magic of our very first musical performance of The Wizard of Oz by purchasing a $20 digital copy of the show here.
SUMMER CLUBS
Summer Clubs for the Pepper Pike and Peninsula campuses are now available. Both HCA and non-HCA students are welcome and may attend camps at either campus. Space is limited, and summer camps fill quickly. Families are encouraged to register soon! Sign up here.
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.