A Day of Firsts

August 31^st marked a momentous occasion at Heritage Classical Academy as we welcomed 29 students in grades two through six to the first day of classes at the full-time Academy. In addition to the students, we are thrilled to welcome to our staff Mrs. Allie Blank, our second and third grade teacher, Miss Alyssa Presley, our fourth and fifth grade teacher, and Miss Rebekah Miller, our teacher’s aide. Next Wednesday, our full-time students will be joined by approximately 100 students enrolled in the Study Center.

As we enter our 14^th year of partnering with families in Northeast Ohio to equip students to think and live for the glory of Jesus Christ, we are grateful for God’s faithful provision in the past and excited to see what lies ahead. We are pleased to have a proven curriculum and a strong record of success, but we know that the need for classical Christian education in Northeast Ohio is great. There is more work to be done, and as God continues to give us favor, we are ready to meet the challenge.

This milestone would not have been possible without the dedication, effort, and faithful prayers of Heritage family and friends. We are humbled and grateful for your support. Please continue to pray that we will know God’s blessing during this school year and that our families, faculty, and students will bear fruit to His glory.

Building a Cloud in a Bottle with Dr. Dippucio

“The second phase of the classical education, the ‘Logic Stage,’ is a time when the child begins to pay attention to cause and effect, to the relationships between different fields of knowledge relate, to the way facts fit together into a logical framework… the logic of science requires that the child learn the scientific method.” (Susan Wise Bauer, “What is Classical Education?”) 

Students at Heritage Classical Academy explore the ‘Logic Stage’ in Dr. Dipuccio’s science class by learning the scientific method and putting it to work as they engage in hands-on experiments and demonstrations. This past week students were able to do just that in a lab that involved building a cloud in a bottle. Having recently completed a unit on weather essentials, students used simple materials such as smoke, alcohol, and a 2-liter bottle to create just the right conditions to see clouds form.

Make your own cloud in a bottle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wagrbfKV5bE

 

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Michelangelo with Mrs. Smith’s Class

Ever wonder what it was like for Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel while lying on his back? Mrs. Beth Smith’s class got to learn about this first hand with an art project this semester inspired by the beloved children’s classic The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg. This story is about a girl and her younger brother who run away to New York City, live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and try to solve the mystery of who sculpted its newest statue. Beautiful work kids!

Upcoming Events… Mark your calendars for HCA’s K-8 Open House on March 12th, from 10am – 12:00pm taking place at the HCA Lower Campus. Bring the whole family out for this fun and interactive event! Click here for details and to register. 

 

Mrs. Praxl’s Class Goes Hunting for Bacteria

Mrs. Praxl’s 6th grade science class had a reminder of how important it is for people to wash their hands as they went on a hunt for bacteria in and around their classroom. While much of the bacteria found on everyday objects is harmless, students were reminded that bacteria can negatively affect your health, so good hygiene practices are very important. Students worked in pairs to collect samples in Petri dishes and then were able to examine their findings over time using microscopes.

Interested in learning more about Heritage Classical Academy? Be sure to come to one of our upcoming events: Coffee Talk on Feb 10th, Informational Meeting on Feb 11th at Parkside Church

Little House in the Big Woods with Mrs. Snyder’s Class

This week, Mrs. Snyder’s 2nd grade class shared papers and projects they’ve been working on related to the classic American novel The Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The class started the book back in October and just finished it this January. While reading the book, the class did fun activities such as learning how butter was made back in the pioneer days. Students shook heavy jars of cream and ice chips until butter formed and then were able to sample the butter they created on bread.

Every month, as the class finished each chapter of the book, students would complete projects to add to a “lapbook” to help them remember what happened. After finishing the novel, the students wrote formal book reports and then illustrated their favorite parts of the book putting them together to create a class quilt made of paper (see below).  The students finished out this unit with a culminating activity which was to create either a log cabin, wagon or delaine (dress). They were allowed to choose what they would like to make and then each student got to present their project to the class.