Heritage Classical Academy

08/23/2026

We love celebrating firsts at Heritage Classical Academy! As we continue building our school one grade at a time, each new opportunity is another exciting milestone and another opportunity to praise God for His faithfulness and provision.

This fall marks our first athletic season—and our first official athletic uniforms! 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ Eleven of our 5th and 6th grade “middle schoolers” are hitting the trails for Cross Country, coached by Pastor Jonathan Jonathan N Rebekah Blaylock, and will compete in about four races this season.

We’re so excited to see our students wear these uniforms for the first time, represent HCA, challenge themselves, and encourage one another along the way. Here’s to another HCA first!

"...let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,..."-Hebrews 12:1

08/21/2026

One of the great joys of these first weeks has been watching our older students begin or continue to step naturally into leadership. During assembly, older students have come to the front—without being asked—to help lead the motions and sing the songs. At dismissal, some of our teachers’ older children have accepted the invitation to walk younger students safely and quickly down the sidewalk to their pickup numbers, allowing teachers to remain with their classes. And with the hot days we've had lately, we think voluntarily making extra trips up and down that sidewalk may qualify as an especially impressive act of service! ;)

Our fifth and sixth graders are also embracing new opportunities to lead and serve as they participate in our growing “middle school” activities, including Cross Country and Worship Band. These may seem like big and small moments, but together they are helping establish the kind of culture we want at HCA—one in which growing older means growing in responsibility, service, and leadership.

Paul encouraged Timothy, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” — 1 Timothy 4:12

We are so pleased to see our older students stepping up and setting an example for those coming behind them.

08/19/2026

Mrs. Covington shared this lovely story yesterday at our staff meeting and so I was thrilled when she agreed to share it with you, too. So good. 🥰

At the beginning of each literature block, we recite Robert Louis Stevenson’s “The Land of Story-Books.” It has become my favorite classroom liturgy—a familiar rhythm where I invite them to leave the ordinary world behind and enter the world of stories.

I have the unique joy of having my son as one of my students. One evening, as we were winding down during our quiet time, the room dim except for my small reading lamp, I began:

“At evening when the lamp is lit…”

Without hesitation, he continued: “Around the fire my parents sit.”

The classroom liturgy had quietly become part of his inner life, then returned home with him! For a moment, we weren’t only teacher and student or parent and child; we were together inside the poem.

It was a beautiful reminder that these daily liturgies do more than begin a lesson. Through repetition, beautiful words take root in our children’s minds and imaginations.

08/11/2026

⏰ Thinking about private school? Don’t miss this window!

If private education has been on your mind—even at the last minute—NC Opportunity Scholarship applications close THIS FRIDAY!

Scholarships can make private education more affordable for North Carolina families. Don’t let the deadline pass and wonder what if?

🎓 Apply by Friday and keep your options open!

⏰ Don’t miss the deadline!

The 2026–27 Opportunity Scholarship application for new students closes at 5 PM this Friday, August 14.

If your family plans to apply, complete and submit your application before the deadline. Have questions or need help? Let us know. We’re here to help you through the process!

Learn more and apply: https://k12.ncseaa.edu/opportunity-scholarship/

08/07/2026

What does a school’s culture sound like?

Walk through the halls of Heritage Classical Academy this year and you may hear something new.

In the morning, the instrumental strains of Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring signal students to clean up and prepare for assembly.

Step into fourth-grade science and you might hear insects chirping as students prepare to study Apologia Zoology: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day.

Elsewhere, students recite reminders that they are capable of difficult things and should persevere. In another room, children close their eyes as their teacher reads poetry, allowing words rather than screens to form the pictures in their imaginations.

And at the end of the day, our school gathers to pray the blessing of Numbers 6 over one another: “The Lord bless you and keep you…”

Following our faculty’s summer reading of Mandi Gerth’s Thoroughness and Charm, we are intentionally introducing more liturgy into our classrooms—not liturgy simply as formal worship, but as meaningful, repeated practices that shape the rhythms and culture of our school, ultimately shaping the hearts and minds of our students.

Music. Poetry. Prayer. Recitation. Wonder. Perseverance.

Small practices, repeated faithfully, become habits. Habits help create culture. And as Gerth reminds us, “culture gives curriculum life.”

We want even the ordinary moments of the school day to remind our students that learning is good, creation is full of wonder, beautiful things deserve our attention, difficult things are worth doing well, and every part of our day belongs to God.

08/02/2026

This year, we are excited to share that we will use the Hillsdale College K–12 Core Virtues framework to cultivate habits of wisdom, justice, courage, moderation, and the many virtues that grow from them. Hillsdale's approach recognizes that great stories, biographies, poetry, and literature shape the moral imagination, helping children not only understand what is good but also learn to love it.

As part of this study—and in keeping with our continuing celebration of America's 250th Anniversary—our students will explore George Washington's Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation as practical expressions of these virtues. Instead of our past years’ manner of the week, we will consider one of Washington's Rules and discover how simple habits of respect, self-control, humility, diligence, and kindness help cultivate the larger virtues we desire to see take root in their lives. Alongside Washington's rules, students will study the lives of remarkable Americans whose character exemplified these same virtues.

As we celebrate America's semiquincentennial, we want our students to recognize that the strength of our nation has always depended not only upon its founding principles but also upon the character of citizens who sought to live lives marked by courage, integrity, justice, perseverance, humility, and faithful service and to empower us all to choose to live the same.

Learn more about the Hillsdale Core Virtues : https://corevirtues.hillsdale.edu/virtues and George Washington's Rules of Civility: https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/rules-of-civility .

08/01/2026

These first staff days have been a whirlwind, and we've been so busy that we haven't even stopped long enough to take a group picture!

Our mornings have been filled with training sessions, discussing our summer read, Thoroughness and Charm: Cultivating the Habits of a Classical Classroom by Mandi Gerth, and preparing our hearts and minds for the year ahead. Our afternoons have been spent unpacking boxes, organizing and decorating classrooms, planning lessons, and taking care of the countless details that will help us welcome students and families at Open House on Tuesday evening.

One of the greatest joys has been watching relationships form and deepen among both our returning and new staff. Every person God has called to HCA brings unique gifts, talents, personalities, and perspectives. Seeing those gifts come together with a shared love for Christ, children, and our mission is a beautiful reminder that God builds His school through His people.

One moment this week especially stood out. NABC Church Secretary Yvette Misenheimer told me that as she pulled into the parking lot Thursday morning and saw all the staff cars filling the lot, she simply said, "Thank You, Lord, for each teacher and for the growth."

That simple prayer brought me back to where it all began.

In August 2020, our very first staff parking lot consisted of just two vehicles—mine and my classroom aide's—as we opened our doors with a single kindergarten class of 13 at The Gathering.

Today, as we prepare to begin our seventh year with 24 full and part-time staff members, that parking lot tells a story of God's faithfulness.

And to Katie Parah Hartsfield, my very first classroom aide: thank you. Thank you for your "yes" when Heritage Classical Academy was little more than a dream. Your willingness to serve helped make a way for every teacher, aide, and staff member who has since answered God's call to this ministry. We miss you, we're grateful for you, and you will always be part of our story. 🧡

The classrooms are almost ready. The supplies are in place. The excitement is building.

Now we can't wait to welcome our students and families for the 2026–27 school year and to see all that the Lord will do.

"Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain." — Psalm 127:1

07/30/2026

We made our annual trip to Albemarle Music Store to pick up this year's instruments, and we're so thankful for Mrs. Carol, who lovingly cleaned, repaired, and prepared last year's violins while helping us add several new ones for our 21 new third-grade violinists. We also love how she shares our excitement each year as another class begins their musical journey.

As excited as we are about the instruments, we know the real work begins when they reach the classroom.

Our violin teacher, Mr. Kurt Varney, says, "It is one of my greatest pleasures to see a student enjoy playing the violin for someone and see the pride they feel." After watching him teach for several years, we can confidently say he has the patience of a saint! Twenty-one beginning violinists don't always make beautiful music on day one—but with knowledge, encouragement, and perseverance, amazing things happen.

At Heritage Classical Academy, every third grader learns violin because music develops far more than musical ability. It teaches perseverance, careful listening, disciplined practice, and the confidence that comes from doing something difficult well, while helping students delight in the beauty of one of God's good gifts.

We're also excited that five fifth- and sixth-grade students will continue with advanced violin this year. After last year's Christmas performance, several parents remarked how much they had improved since their first concert—a wonderful reminder that faithful practice over time bears fruit.

Sometimes the greatest treasures we keep aren't found in perfect performances, but in the quiet journey from squeaks and scratches to songs played with confidence, joy, and gratitude. 🎻

07/27/2026

One of Mrs. Blaylock's favorite memories from this past year began with a phone call.

"One of my favorite moments from this year was experiencing the joy of receiving the news that we had not one, but two America 250 banner competition winners. Participating in our first countywide art competition brought nerves but also opportunity. From the planning stages to the long-awaited announcement of the winners, every student showed enthusiasm and great pride in sharing their skills for America 250."

We certainly celebrated the two winning designs, but what made the experience truly special was watching every student embrace the opportunity to create something meaningful.

At Heritage Classical Academy, every class enjoys art each week. In the classical tradition, art is far more than learning techniques or completing projects. It teaches students to slow down and truly attend to the world around them, to develop the discipline of careful observation, to express ideas with creativity and craftsmanship, and to cultivate a lifelong appreciation for what is true, good, and beautiful.

Congratulations again to our America 250 winners and to Mrs. Blaylock for inspiring our students to pursue excellence in their craft. We have loved seeing their artwork displayed throughout Stanly County during the 250th celebration.

Sometimes the greatest treasures we keep are the moments when children discover the joy of creating something beautiful—not for recognition alone, but as a reflection of the creativity of the God in whose image they were made.