PILLARS NEWSLETTER

No.5 - January 2026

Titan Nation, 

 

There is no better way to begin a new quarter than by celebrating the accomplishments reached the past few months. Last quarter, was filled with exciting opportunities that have placed our scholars at the forefront of our communities. From academic awards to athletic milestones, our scholars have demonstrated the importance of being well-rounded students. In classical thought, students are not masters of a single subject; rather, they strive to become well-versed across a range of disciplines. As a result, this quarter, our scholars received distinctions in a variety of areas like chess, debate, marketing, and art.

 

However, in classical education, the purpose of learning goes beyond the classroom. Classical education seeks to create individuals that are rich in virtue and character. We are extremely proud of our scholars because they gave back in remarkable ways. From cleaning-up their local beach to honoring our military members to uniting as a community to spread holiday cheer. Our Titans showed up strong this quarter in more than one way. 

 

Below is your second quarterly newsletter: 

ACADEMICS 

College Acceptance 

We are proud to share that our scholars are starting to receive acceptance letters. To date, more than 40 prestigious institutions have accepted our scholars into their programs. Some of the most notable acceptances include Boston University, Cornell, Harvard, Notre Dame, and Tulane University.  

 

Congratulations! We are excited for what's to come for our graduating scholars. 

Silver Knight Nominees

This year, 13 of our graduating scholars received Silver Knight Nominations. The Silver Knight Awards recognize extraordinary students who excel in the classroom and selflessly use their talents to serve their school and community. This grand total, doubles the number of scholars that received a nomination from our school last year. 

 

This year's Titan nominees are: 

Spelling Bee 

This quarter, our campuses proudly hosted their school-wide spelling bees, bringing together scholars from across grade levels to showcase their language skills.

 

During each competition, participants advanced through multiple rounds of increasingly challenging words, testing their spelling accuracy, focus, and perseverance. After a series of matchups, each campus crowned one scholar with the honor of being their campus spelling bee champion.

Titan Alumni 

True North Classical Academy had the pleasure of welcoming alumni back to campus! During their visit, our alumni were part of a special panel and had a holiday-themed luncheon. 

 

During the alumni-led panel, our graduates had the opportunity to speak with our scholars about life as undergraduate students. They shared words of wisdom, answered questions, and offered guidance on how to make the most of their final days as Titans. Following the panel, alumni gathered for a special luncheon, where they reconnected with classmates and faculty members, and reflected on some of their favorite memories as Titans.

Beyond the classroom

True North Classical Academy’s Historical Festival is one of the most anticipated events of the year. During this celebration, each grade brings a specific historical period to life, creating an immersive experience that allows families to walk through the history of the world.

 

This year, our scholars and their families truly outdid themselves. Across all campuses, attendees enjoyed unique and creative exhibits that were one of a kind.

Titans in Action 

As Titans, our scholars understand the importance of living virtuous lives and helping their communities thrive. This quarter, they put these virtues into practice by engaging in a series of service activities. While each initiative differed in nature, all shared a common mission: supporting their communities and ensuring those around them felt valued and cared for.

 

Our True North Classical Academy Pinecrest scholars spent their Thanksgiving weekend participating in a beach cleanup, with more than ten Kindergarten and VPK scholars joining the Miami Beach Friendsgiving Clean-Up.

 

To help spread holiday cheer, our scholars hosted a toy drive to help spread holiday cheer throughout our communities. They also participated in Greyson Project, an initiative that collects holiday items to decorate hospital rooms in Nicholas Children's Hospital. 

Visits Across our Campuses

Our schools hosted a series of prominent leaders eager to learn more about True North and what makes our model a blueprint for charter schools across our state and nation.

 

In October, True North welcomed a delegation of 12 state legislators from Oklahoma, along with leaders from the American Federation for Children Growth Fund and Step Up for Students. The following month, our schools were part of a historic visit as Kern Foundation hosted its Character Conference in Miami, touring more than 40 higher education and K–12 leaders through our campuses. Most recently, our schools hosted over 40 school leaders from the Charter School Growth Fund and senior leadership from Florida International University (FIU).

 

As a school, it is an honor to welcome leaders from across the country to our campuses. Through these visits, we not only share our success but also inspire others to develop a rich, liberal arts–rooted curriculum that cultivates lifelong learners who seek truth, goodness, and beauty in all they do.

from our visitors…

"Visiting True North was incredibly inspiring. The clarity of instructional vision and the intentionality behind every classroom practice were evident throughout our time there. What stood out most was seeing how the leadership team has built a culture where strong teaching isn't left to chance; it's developed, supported, and celebrated. The students' engagement and the thoughtful way teachers fostered both academic rigor and character development left a lasting impression. True North is doing exceptional work, and we're grateful for the opportunity to learn from your team." - Ambition Prep, Jackson, Mississippi. 

 

"The overarching takeaway for me was that this is an educational organization that understands and values the adherence with fidelity to a vision and mission.  It was astounding!"   -Kern Foundation

Our True North Classical Academy Gateway scholars celebrated Veterans Day with a week of special assemblies led by parents who are veterans. Each day, scholars welcomed a member of the U.S. Armed Forces to campus and learned about the importance of service and commitment to our nation through firsthand accounts of special missions. At the end of each assembly, scholars had the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session.

 

Thank you: Army National Guard Staff Sergeant Cruz, Army Lieutenant Perez, Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Fisher, and Navy Chief Petty Officer Sequeira for your service to our nation and for taking the time to speak with our scholars. 

True North Classical Academy Debate Team Update 

This season our debate scholars embodied the Titan Spirit while participating a series of debate competitions. As a team, they took-on one challenge at a time and used each event as a learning opportunity. 

 

To date, our Debate Team has placed in the following competitions: 

 

10/25/2025 We attended an Online Tournament hosted by FCDI and competed in Impromptu Speaking. 

11/08/2025 We attended an in person tournament at MDC-Kendall campus and competed in Legislative Debate. 

DECA Regional Competitions 

We are proud to share that True North Classical Academy Sunset scholar Nikolay Dobikov was awarded 2nd place in the 2025 Principles of Marketing DECA District Competition! The Principles of Marketing District Competition is a highly competitive event in which hundreds of talented and knowledgeable scholars are tested on core marketing concepts such as communications, research, and sales through a multiple-choice exam and timed business scenarios.

K–12 National Chess Championship

Our scholar, Dario Neshvadian, is the U.S. National Chess Co-Champion! 

Recently, Dario competed in the K–12 National Chess Championship in Spokane, Washington. In this competition, Dario participated in the second grade division where he faced some of the best chess players from across the country in several intense rounds of chess. At the end, Dario became the U.S. National Co-Champion and was awarded a class medal for best U1400 in K-6 section in the blitz tournament of US national. 

Arts

Superintendent’s Holiday Card Art Exhibition

This quarter, our Art Scholars participated in a series of competitions that highlighted their exceptional talents.

 

The Superintendent’s Holiday Card Art Exhibition, a highly selective virtual showcase hosted annually by Miami-Dade County Public Schools, selected artwork from two of our True North art scholars. Abigail Quiñones and Amanda Gonzalez had their pieces chosen for this competitive countywide exhibition.

 

The Impressions in Watercolor Exhibition celebrated its 40th year of partnership between Miami-Dade County Public Schools and the Miami Watercolor Society. This competition highlights the artistry of young watercolorists. This year, True North reached a personal milestone with 9 scholars being selected: Tiffany Igelko, Gia Bruno Agudelo, Gabriela Pitts, Addison Norman, Mia De La Cruz, Zoe Gil, Phoebe Powell, Valentina Franco, and Asher Suarez.

 

Additionally, 21 of our High School and Middle School art scholars were selected for the MIA Fine Arts Exhibition. Congratulations to: Kayli Machin, Max Grabowski, Mandarin Torres, Joseph Fernandez, Brielle Dominguez, Andreina Rondon, Jianni Mercado, Daniela Suarez, Evangelina Perez, Ariana Gomez, Maximo Perez, Samantha Ammon, Ben Santiago, Andon Gonzalez, Bianca Perez, Asher Hall, Lola Lannon, Andrea Gibson, Catalina Esteban, Evie Goldberg, and Zoe Gil.

True North Chorus 

Our chorus program has had an exciting and busy season, with scholars participating in a variety of musical experiences across South Florida.  

 

Our Choir members were invited to the 2025 FIU Honor Choir Invitational, where they met members of the FIU Choir, received expert feedback, took part in conducting and vocal coaching sessions, and performed alongside fellow musicians.

 

To further share the joy of the season, the combined choirs from True North’s Dadeland and Sunset campuses, under the direction of Ms. Padron, Mrs. Carrasco, and Mrs. Wrves, visited Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center on December 2, filling the halls with carols and spreading warmth, hope, and holiday cheer, while members of the Tri-M Music Honor Society delivered handmade cards to patients, families, and staff.

 

Most recently, our Middle and High School scholars showcased their talents at the 2025 Merrick Festival Caroling Competition, delivering beautiful renditions of holiday classics, like O Holy Night and Joy to the World. 

True North Classical Academy Holiday Show 

In December, the highly anticipated True North Classical Academy Holiday show took place over the course of two weeks. The show featured a series of performances, where our scholars were able to perform their renditions of traditional songs that focused on the themes of faith, hope and peace.

True North Classical Academy Strings Program

The True North Strings Ensemble has been using their musical talents to spread joy. 

 

 

To spread the holiday cheer, our scholars performed at the Palace Senior Living and Mustard Seed Academy. Their performances not only served as a momentary escape, but also a means of peace and joy. 

Athletics 

Fall Sports Records 

As our fall sports come to an end, we have plenty of reasons to celebrate as Titans. We have outlined a brief summary per sport below: 

 

Football: This was a historic season for our Titans as our team were District champions, finished with an impressive 11-3 record, and made it to the regional finals in the post season. 

 

Volleyball: The Varsity Volleyball team delivered an outstanding season, competing in multiple invitationals and tournaments while facing strong regional opponents. The Titans captured the 2A District 15 Championship, advanced to the Regional Semifinals, and finished the year as one of the top programs in their classification.

 

Golf: The Titans Golf team had a strong and competitive fall season, earning several victories and performing well in invitationals throughout Miami-Dade County. Their season concluded in a victorious matter after they secured the District Championship title for the first time. 

 

Swimming: The Swim team competed in multiple meets and invitationals. Their hard work and dedication earned qualification into the FHSAA postseason. 

 

Cross Country: Our Titans participated in several competitions and continuously broke their personal records. The season concluded with several placements and high spirits for what is to come next year. 

Pickleball World Cup 

Miss. Shviadok, True North Classical Academy Sunset, participated in the Pickleball World Cup representing the Bahamas Team. During the course of the competition, she played in the singles 5.0 division for combined ages, where she won the gold medal. 

TRUE NORTH CLASSICAL FOUNDATION 

Titan Golf Invitational 

The annual Titan Golf Invitational, presented by UHealth Jackson Children’s Care, took place this quarter, attracting more than 100 attendees to the green for a greater cause. The invitational featured a series of friendly competitions, including the longest drive, closest to the pin, the Gridiron Challenge against our 4-star D-1 commit Zak Katz, and a variety of exciting raffles. The raffle included a series of fun golf items and offered participants the opportunity to hit a hole-in-one for a chance to win $100,000.

 

In addition to the competitions, the silent auction showcased rare sports memorabilia, like a Willie Mays signed baseball and a series of autographed photos of golf legends. Our alumni also played a special role in the event, participating as a foursome.

 

The evening concluded with an award ceremony and a delicious dinner that allowed guests to unwind and reflect on the memorable day. 

Give Miami Day

Give Miami Day (GMD) took place on November 20th, and it was an overwhelming success. This year, our goal was $400,000, and thanks to the incredible support of our families and Titan community, we not only reached our goal, but surpassed it. In total, we raised $415,000! 

 

GMD was filled with energy and excitement as our faculty and cheer team welcomed families to campus. The highly anticipated Power Hour was both fun and engaging, with every donation receiving a matching percentage bonus. All of our campuses went live on social media, showcasing a variety of performances, like a poetry battle in Gateway, our Titanates dancing in Sunset, a True North chant in Pinecrest, and an aerobics class led by Coach Sissy in Dadeland.

 

A special congratulations to our teachers, Mr. Patricio Mendez and Dr. Galopin, who reached their individual goals and are now ready to fulfill their pledges! Mr. Mendez’s highest bidder, Zander Guevarra, got to choose his new hairstyle and cut his hair. Dr. Galopin will be hosting a sodium explosion at our school in the coming months.

 

We are especially grateful to our Power Hour sponsors, Igis Insurance and the Glazer Family, whose support helped make this day even more memorable. Thank you to everyone who donated and helped us reach our goal – your generosity continues to make a lasting impact on the lives of our scholars. 

Give miami Day Competitions & Prizes

As part of the Give Miami-Day competitions, our campuses hold a grade level competition for the highest fundraiser. The grade winners for this year are: 

 

 

To celebrate, our scholars held a donut party with their classmates, where they got to enjoy some purple gourmet donuts from The Hollywood Donut Factory! In January, our ELA in Pinecrest will have a special popsicle party with Titus.

 

Congratulations, scholars! Thank you for helping us reach and surpass our goal. 

Save the date