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Letter from the Headmaster
Hello Heart of Ohio Classical Academy Parents,
My family and I are so excited to join the Heart of Ohio community! My husband, Chadwick, three daughters, Elyza, Eliana, and Elyse, and I made the long voyage from Texas to Ohio this past summer, and I'm blessed and thankful to work along side with wonderful teachers, staff, and students to pursue what is true, do what is good, and love what is beautiful.
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Our mission at Heart of Ohio Classical Academy is to provide a content-rich education that stimulates the mind, feeds the hunger for learning, and nourishes the heart through a fully integrated liberal arts and sciences curriculum. We are devoted to forming young men and women who embody the ideals of truth, goodness, and beauty, and who are intellectually curious, morally grounded, and civically engaged. We are not only developing students, but also adults who will have lives of purpose and make contributions to a free and prosperous society.
As we begin this journey together, I want to highlight the three key areas of growth we will be focusing on: knowledge, virtue, and parent culture.
Knowledge
We are committed to helping our teachers develop their classrooms with an intentional sequence of content that builds cultural literacy and intellectual depth. This summer, our teachers received professional development from excellent classical education resources. We will continue to use Hillsdale's Curriculum Guide to the fullest extent possible for our program. We believe strongly in Hillsdale's emphasis on American classical education and are grateful for the academic support they provide through their resources. Our students will encounter the best that has been thought and said across Western civilization, from classic literature and primary sources to science, art, and Latin.
We will also prepare our students for state tests. The tests are not our ultimate goal, but we do have a responsibility to our authorizer and Ohio’s Education Department for our performance. This means we will work on being informed about the various ways students can see vocabulary and understand how to answer questions. Our teachers will look at both the curriculum and the state standards to ensure students are prepared.
Virtue
Our goal is true education, which is more than just intelligence, it's about intelligence plus character. We are not teaching religion, but rather the classical virtues from Greek philosophers, such as wisdom, justice, humility, and courage. We also focus on virtues essential to our country's founding, like self-governance, civility, and perseverance. These virtues will be integrated into instruction, assemblies, and everyday interactions on the playground and in the hallways. We aim for consistency from grade to grade, ensuring that what is right in one room is right everywhere, helping students develop integrity and live by an honor code.
Parent Culture
We want to partner with you to help grow this school and build a culture where our children can truly flourish. We want to give you opportunities to be a part of our school community, and we encourage you to volunteer and get involved. We'll be communicating frequently through our weekly parent newsletters and in-person events.
I want to end with a thought from our recent parent meeting: we are not educating our children for the person they are today, but for the adult they will become tomorrow.
Thank you for being a part of this journey with us. I look forward to working together to make this a wonderful school for our children.
Kind regards,
Angel Hennig
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Fall Mum Sale Results!
Our first fundraiser of the year wrapped up on 9/17, with a portion of the proceeds supporting the rising stars of the HOCA Drama Club. Thanks to your incredible efforts, we raised $1,520.50—just shy of our $2,000 goal!
Classroom Showdown:
Mrs. Logan and Ms. Powell’s classes went head-to-head in a spirited competition, and Mrs. Logan’s crew clinched the Ice Cream Party victory!
Top Sellers:
Five students went above and beyond with their sales hustle! A huge shoutout to Elena K, who took first place, and Clementine L, close behind in second.
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We’re so proud of everyone who pitched in to make this a success. Can’t wait to see what magic unfolds in our next fundraiser!
Mark your calendars:
Mum pick-up is scheduled for October 2nd. Please plan ahead, as we’re unable to store any unclaimed orders.
Be on the lookout for a sign-up to help with delivery day and pick up during carline.
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Campus Beautification
Saturday October 4th
9:00am - 1:00pm
Join us for a morning of teamwork and community as we help clean up our campus!
Your help makes a huge difference.
Projects Include:
- Outdoor Space Cleanup
- Weed pulling
- Library cleanup
- Installing Middle School lockers
- Cleaning teacher workrooms/lounges
- Care Closet Organization
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Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol Production
We are excited to announce the cast list for our upcoming production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.
Our HOCA Drama Club will perform this classic tale, a part of our second-grade and seventh-grade literature curriculum, on December 12th.
The school is also seeking help with costumes, props, and set design.
- Costumes—Do you love thrifting or hunting for unique finds? We’ll need help pulling pieces together. Also, if you have any older-style clothing you’d be open to lending or donating, we’d be so grateful! The play is set in the mid-1800s — a quick Google search will give you an idea of the look we’re going for.
- Set Design—If you’re crafty or creative, we’d love your ideas for how to bring the play to life.
- Stage Building – If you’re handy with tools, we’ll need help building parts of the set and stage.
Please email Ms. Wagamon if you are interested in assisting. hwagamon@ohioclassical.org
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Cast list:
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Scrooge: Benjamin Norris
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Narrator: Clementine Lewis
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Bob Cratchit/Jacob Marley: Feefee Okanglaryea
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Fred/Young Man Scrooge: Damien Perez-Cruz
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Ghost of Christmas Past: Nora Naviello
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Ghost of Christmas Present: Elle Hanna
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Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: Salma Eladrous
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Martha/Belle/Fred's Wife: Lily Bown
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Fan/Young Belle: Jane Bown
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Mrs. Cratchit/Mrs. Fezziwig/Caroline: Melanie Chang-Melo
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Fezziwig/Old Joe: King Gyles
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Caroline's Husband/Belle's Husband: Elijah Brown
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Chairwomen: Naomi Jimenez and Kaylen Batchelder
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Mrs. Dilber: Charlotte Lee
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Business Women: Z'mria Smith and Amelie Sandoval
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Gentlewomen: Penelope Scott
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Caroler: Alaia Lugo
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Poulter: Amelie Sandoval
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Young Scrooge/Tiny Tim: Simon Norris
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Cratchit Kid 1/Ignorance: Emma Perez-Cruz
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Cratchit Kid 2/Want: Dean Norris
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Tech crew: Lincoln Batchelder, Sariah Randolph, and Aubree Mullins.
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Coffee with the Headmaster
You are invited to join our Headmaster for coffee and conversation!
We are excited to announce a new series of informal coffee chats with the Headmaster, Mrs. Hennig. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect, ask questions, and discuss our school community and curriculum in a relaxed setting.
Our first coffee chat will be held next Wednesday, October 1st, at 8:30am. After that, these sessions will take place every other Wednesday. We hope you will join us for our inaugural meeting and for future conversations!
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School Uniforms
A school uniform is crucial to decorum in a successful classical school, accomplishing three key goals. First, it diminishes the burden of fashion’s importance. This removes distractions in the classroom and maintains focus on the task at hand. Second, it helps students take school more seriously by acknowledging that, through dress, we respect classmates, teachers, and the common enterprise of education. Third, it develops school identity and pride. All students are therefore expected to adhere to the School Uniform Policy.
We will begin sending notices home on October 6th for students who are not in dress code. Please review our handbook for a detailed description of our school uniform policy.
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Upcoming Events
9/22-10/3 MAP Testing Reading & Math Grades K-7
10/4 Campus Beautification
10/13-10/15 3rd Grade ELA OST
10/16 End of Grading Quarter 1
10/17 Faculty Professional Development Day (No school for students)
10/20 No School
10/27 Lifetouch Picture Retakes
10/31 Literature Parade (K-1) & Character Museum (2-3)
11/3 Parent Conferences (No school for students)
11/11 Veterans Day Luncheon
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Important PSO Dates
10/2 Mum Pick Up
10/11 Movie Night
10/21 Charleston Wrap Fundraiser Begins
11/3 Parent Teacher Conferences
11/5 Charleston Wrap Fundraiser Ends
11/6 General PSO Meeting @ 5:30PM Art Room – All are welcome!
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Parent Volunteers Needed
We’d love your help on campus!
As a classical school, we believe in the strength of our community and the partnership between our staff, families, and students. Parent volunteers are a vital part of what makes our school special, and we're currently looking for some extra hands to help with daily operations.
We have a number of volunteer opportunities available, including:
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Morning and Dismissal Car Line: Help us ensure a smooth and safe process for students arriving and leaving each day.
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Lunch Volunteers: Assist our staff during lunchtime to keep things running efficiently.
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Receptionist/Office Assistance: Lend your support to our front office with various administrative tasks.
If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out to Mrs. Urbancic. Your support makes a real difference in the lives of our students and the entire school community.
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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. From events to volunteer opportunities, it’s your scroll of knowledge for the year ahead. 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. From festive gatherings to noble fundraisers, we’ve got a calendar worthy of celebration.
Ready to Lend a Hand?
Not sure where to begin? We’ve created a General Sign-Up to make it easy. Whether you wish to dip a toe in or take the reins and chair an event, we welcome all levels of involvement.
As Cicero might say: "Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others." And we are truly grateful for your time. Let’s make this year a triumph—together.
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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
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"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others."
– Cicero
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Parent Info Events
Discover how our tuition-free classical school fosters academic excellence, moral character, and a love of learning. Meet school leaders, explore our curriculum, and learn why families are choosing HOCA.
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Parent Info Events
Schedule a time for an in-person tour of the school to see the school and ask questions about all things Heart of Ohio Classical Academy.
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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!
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