HOCA is a Founders Classical Academy School

Classical Education is an Important Commitment

As a parent who has selected classical education for your child, you have made an important long-term decision. In doing so, you have agreed with us that education is about more than just getting your child ready for college or the workforce. It’s about much more than a vague notion of socialization or critical thinking skills.

Classical education is a commitment to ennobling your child’s heart and mind. Societies live and die according to the quality of its people. When children are raised to know things and to value, seek, and to do good, they tend to do magnificent things. They work tirelessly to improve the lives of others. They raise strong families. They promote moral conduct. They create beauty.

Ennobling your child’s heart and mind starts with a commitment to teaching about the world in a clear, honest, and in-depth manner. It means establishing the values of the school, articulating a set of virtues, and then living by them. It means imagining what good looks like and then seeking to do it. It means studying the best and true ideas unapologetically. All of these things are present in a mature American classical school.

We are on that path here. Our school is small and new. We won’t deliver on every aspect of the program in the first few years, but we will, with dogged determination, offer an education that pursues knowledge, promotes virtue, and prepares your child for a prosperous and meaningful life

By Mike Terry

National Director of Classical Education

ResponsiveEd

For more reading:

Classical Education: The Oldest Ideas for the Youngest Minds

By Jason Caros

Executive Director of Classical Academics

ResponsiveEd

What exactly is a classical education? In a nutshell, it is the same course of study that propelled Western Civilization upward in its civic institutions, personal liberty, philanthropy, economic enterprise, technological innovation, and relative safety and security. Rooted in an approach that goes back to ancient Greece and Rome and developed over a long period of time in the West, it is a way of educating that provides students with the tools of learning necessary to be well-formed human beings who know who they are and understand the world around them.

Message from Headmaster

A Week of Virtue, Eloquence, and Community

What a truly delightful and successful week we have completed! I have been reflecting on the moments of genuine joy and learning that affirm our mission and distinctly American Classical Education approach. Our commitment is not merely to transmit information but to utilize the "lost tools of learning to cultivate wise and virtuous men and women" who can think logically and live nobly.

The highlight of this past week was undoubtedly our morning assemblies. To gather as a school community and hear our students practice their recitations was a truly moving experience. Our third graders engaged in rich, thoughtful Socratic discussions about the factual knowledge they have accumulated. This week, their discussions soared beyond simple facts as they explored the profound connection between topography and history, analyzing how rivers and mountains—natural formations—were the very foundation for the boundaries of many of our American states. This synthesis of geography, history, and logic shows our students making deep, meaningful connections. In fifth grade science, we saw learning leap off the page. Whether it was the transformation of a 2D rendering of a volcano into an erupting 3D model or small dinosaur figurines on the brink of another extinction in a lesson out in the parking lot, these hands-on activities underscore our dedication to the purposeful study of the natural world.

These are the moments that truly set our school apart, they show how we are preparing our students for more than just a job or college, but for a life of virtue and responsible citizenship.

Angel Hennig

Headmaster

It’s a bear necessity kind of day!

HOCA MOVIE DAY – Saturday, October 25th at 1PM

Swing into the jungle with us for our 2nd Annual Movie Day at HOCA!

Bring the whole family and enjoy Disney’s The Jungle Book on the big screen.

The PSO will be selling popcorn and water—every bite supports our school’s general fund!

Mark your calendars, grab your friends, and come celebrate community, cinema, and a little wild fun.

Interested in helping plan the event? Reach out to Liz Darr – lizziedarr@gmail.com

Did You Know the PSO Has Its Own Website?

Consider it our modern-day forum—a place where you’ll find all the latest happenings, updates, and ways to get involved. Check it out here! (www.hocapso.org)

Curious What Events Are in the Works?

Visit the Events tab on our website to see what’s brewing.

For the few noble souls still reading...

The PSO seeks a visionary to help lead the charge on a large-scale event. If you’re ready to step into the spotlight, reach out—we’d be thrilled to join forces.

Contact: kate.koren@outlook.com

Know someone who might be interested in HOCA?

Many families are looking for something different—something better—for their child’s education. Your recommendation could lead them to a joyful, formative experience at HOCA. Let’s grow the Heart of Ohio Classical Academy community—together!