When Parkside’s new children’s building opened in early 2015, the elders began to prayerfully consider how we could best use the facility that God provided as an avenue for Gospel witness in our community. After initially concluding that a preschool operated by Parkside Church would be a good option, the leadership expanded its vision to consider whether reaching into the lives of local children and families beyond the preschool years could be possible as well.

At around the same time, Heritage Classical Academy, which had served homeschooling families at facilities in Stow and Hudson since 2004, also began prayerfully planning for expansion by launching the first full-time classical Christian school in the eastern suburbs of Cleveland.  With God’s help, HCA welcomed its first classes of full-time students in grades 2-6 in September 2016. Like the elders at Parkside, however, HCA had a vision to serve more families throughout Northeast Ohio by equipping students to think and live for the glory of Christ.

After much prayer, the elders of Parkside Church have decided to enter into a partnership with HCA to launch a classical Christian school at our Bainbridge campus beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.  We anticipate that in its first year, HCA will offer classes in Bainbridge for preschool-aged children through grade 2, and in future years, we hope to expand through grade 12. HCA will also continue to operate campuses in both Hudson and Stow.

In all three locations, HCA will continue to provide a curriculum that is distinctly classical and distinctly Christian.  As a classical school, HCA recognizes that the goal of education is to train students to appreciate truth, goodness, and beauty in every discipline. The age-appropriate curriculum is rich in language and history, encourages students to explore science and math with wonder, and introduces students to the rich beauty of art and music. HCA fosters an environment of joyful learning grounded in order and mutual respect. At the same time, HCA is distinctly Christian, affirming that truth, goodness, and beauty find their full and perfect expression in the Lord Jesus.

We are grateful to our Lord for the partnership that He has provided with HCA, and we look forward with anticipation to how God may be pleased to use our facility for His glory through this endeavor. At the same time, we recognize that Parkside is a diverse congregation, and we are committed to encouraging all of our families as they instruct their children in the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom.