We are rapidly approaching Thanksgiving Break and the end of the semester! Quite an accomplishment! Thank you all for being supportive and working with us. It is nice to see the growth.
This week please be reminded that we will be having school on Monday, November 10, but not on November 11 in observance of Veterans Day. On Friday, we will be having a Veterans Day Assembly. If you are a Veteran and would like to speak for five to ten minutes about your experience to our students, then please let us know, and we can make that happen. We want our students to learn the importance of service and bettering their community of country; and one of the best examples of that is military service.
This Friday marks the end of the grading period. If your student has a D or F in any of their classes, they will be assigned mandatory tutorial. This Friday we will also be having a school dance at Heritage Elementary. To attend the dance, your student must have a parent completed permission slip and buy a ticket. Please be reminded that all students must have a designated adult pick them up from the dance. Students may not walk home.
Let's have another great week. Go White Tigers!
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Jason Gaylord
Principal
HJHS and HFA students preparing to leave for the recent FIRST Lego League robotics competition.
Members of Team Spartan are anxious to compete.
The Humanities team had a great time organizing a House competition this week.
Students designed paper airplanes to earn points for The Houses of Brutus, Cicero, Douglass, and Lincoln.
Action Items
Fall Junior High Dance
Students will not want to miss our fall junior high dance on Friday, November 14, 2025. Middle school students from both Heritage Junior High and Heritage Flex Academy will be showing off their dance moves from 6:00–8:00 p.m. in the Heritage Elementary MPR (1855 E. Valley Parkway, Escondido). This year's theme is country western, so pull out your cowboy boots and your favorite plaid and denim. Snacks will be available for purchase with all proceeds going to the HJHS Leadership Club. Please bring small bills for your snack purchases! Tickets cost $5 and may ONLY be purchased online in advance of the event. Please click HERE
to access the permission slip and payment portal. The portal will close at 4:00 p.m. on the day of the dance and tickets will NOT be available for purchase at the event. We encourage students to dress their best for this special occasion, but please review the dress and behavior codes
in advance. Questions should be directed to the front office or the Leadership teacher, Carli Stralo, at cstralo@amhcs.org.
Sister Project
Our next event is on Friday, November 14, from 3:35 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the ECHS Student Union. The theme is Giving Back. We will be making hygiene kits to donate and making lip glosses for fun. Bring any hygiene donations that you have that day to our event (trial-size shampoo, toothpaste, lotion, razors etc.) Please bring a snack to share with the group. Pizza and water will be provided as well.
Uniform Items Needed
If your student has outgrown uniform pieces, including outerwear and P.E. clothing, we will gladly take your new or gently used items. We often have students who need a change of clothing while they are at school, so it is helpful to have a supply of extra items on hand. Parents may drop off items at the front office or send them along with your student for drop off. Please contact the front office at 760-294-5599 with any questions.
2025–2026 Yearbooks
The 2025/2026 yearbook is on sale now. It's a lasting way to look back on friends, milestones, and school spirit. Secure your student's copy while supplies last. Go to https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A01121139 to order your copy today.
8th Grade Yearbook Ads
If you are a parent of an 8th grader and would like to purchase a personalized ad in the yearbook to celebrate your student, space is very limited, so act now before all the ad space is sold out. Visit https://www.jostens.com/apps/jcom/router.mvc?affiliateId=2229818
to place your ad. Note: Ads are for 8th grade students only. The price for the ad does not include the cost of the yearbook.
Team Cyclops at the competition table.
Team Spartan takes a turn with their robot.
Announcements
Breakfast & Lunch Meal Program
Heritage Junior is now offering free breakfast and free lunch for ALL students. Breakfast
is available from 7:35–8:00 a.m. each morning and must be picked up BEFORE school. Students may eat their breakfast before class begins or during the morning nutrition break, but eating is not allowed in the classrooms.
Every student may receive a complete, nutritious breakfast and a complete lunch at absolutely no charge. There is no need to sign up, complete any forms or submit income applications; every student is automatically eligible. Finally, we will provide balanced, delicious meals that meet all federal and state nutrition guidelines. A menu will be shared in advance for families to consider for the upcoming week. November's menu is included below.
If your student has any dietary restrictions or allergies, please use the following forms to communicate your child's needs. Please note that it may take up to two weeks to accommodate your request.
Medical Statement Form: This form is for any meal accomodation requests (allergies, intolerance, other medical needs) and it must be signed by a medical professional. The exception to needing a medical professional's signature would be for any religious preferences, such as no pork or no meat.
Fluid Milk Substitution Form: This form can be filled out and signed by the parent or guardian. This form is for when Lactaid milk, soy milk, or oak milk is required or preferred by a student.
We look forward to serving our students healthy and delicious meals each day and welcome you to contact the front office at 760-294-5599 with any questions.
American Heritage Charter Schools 2026-2027 School Lottery Information
Lotteries for the 2026–2027 school year will open on October 14, 2025, for all programs. Applications are not required for currently enrolled students, but new siblings must submit a lottery application.
Escondido Charter High School: Lottery applications for enrollment in the high school programs are available online at https://amhcs.org/echs/echs-admissions/. The Escondido Charter High School lottery closes on January 9, 2026. Please contact the main office at 760-737-3154 if you have any questions.
Heritage Elementary School: Lottery applications are available online at https://amhcs.org/heritage-elementary-school/hes-admissions/. The lottery closes on February 6, 2026. Please contact the Heritage Elementary office at 760-737-3111 if you have any questions.
Heritage Junior High School: Lottery applications are available online at https://amhcs.org/heritage-junior-high-school/hjhs-admissions/. The lottery closes on February 6, 2026. Please contact the Heritage Junior High office at 760-294-5599 if you have any questions.
Heritage Flex Academy: Lottery applications are available online athttps://amhcs.org/hfa/hfa-admissions/. The lottery closes on February 6, 2026. Please contact the Heritage Flex Academy office at 760-466-1166 if you have any questions.
Wooden Wins
Each month we will be focusing on a virtue to develop the hearts and minds of our students. November's virtue is Intentness, which is setting a realistic goal and concentrating on achievement by resisting all temptations and being determined and persistent. Here is a link to the poster. We will recognize our Intentness award recipients at our Wooden Wins Assembly on November 21, 2025, at the EVCC.
Reminders
School Hours
Monday: 8:05 a.m. to 2:10 p.m.
Tuesday-Friday: 8:05 a.m. to 3:05 p.m.
Tutorial is offered Tuesday through Friday 3:10-3:50 p.m.
Punctuality Reminder
We need all of our parents’ support to ensure students arrive at school no later than 7:55 a.m. Students are able to arrive at school as early as 7:35 a.m. The expectation is for all students to be unpacked, seated, and ready to learn when the bell rings at 8:05 a.m. Being on time (or early!) is a sign of respect. Thanks for your support!
Drop-off and Pick-up
Enter at the southwest corner of the parking lot, drive straight to the East Valley Community Center, make a left and drive to the front of HJHS for drop-off/pick-up. See the traffic map here. Please be patient as the first few weeks are very busy.
Parents, please make sure that you are following our traffic pattern for drop-off and pick-up. Most of our families do a great job helping us by following the rules of the road in our drop-off and pick-up areas. Please note that these rules and regulations are in place to keep you, your students, and staff safe. Additionally, these guidelines are in place to keep our neighbors safe and able to use the roadways as designed. Please support us by following the rules and the law. We really appreciate your help!
Dress Code
All students are expected to wear uniforms. Please refer to the Heritage Junior High School Dress Code here for more details. Students may wear American Heritage Charter Schools (AHCS) spirit-wear every Friday. Please feel free to use this link to purchase uniform tops throughout the 2025-26 school year.
Tutorial
On August 26, 2025, HJHS started holding tutorials. Tutorial will be regularly held Tuesday through Friday after school from 3:10-3:50 p.m. Please use this linkfor reference. Students staying for tutorial, must remain on campus. They may not leave and come back to campus. If you would like to know if your student attended, please contact the front desk. We have students sign in every day for tutorial. If you need your student to leave early, then you must sign them out in the front office like a regular school day. Please note that tutorial is a privilege and students attending must be prepared to work on homework or ask for help. Tutorial will not run on modified or minimum days. Please feel encouraged to contact your student's teacher if you would like them to address specific needs.
Mark your calendars!
November 11: Veterans Day (No School)
November 14: Veterans Day Assembly
November 20: Minimum Day (12:15 p.m. Dismissal)
November 21: Wooden Wins Assembly (Intentness)
November 24–28: Thanksgiving Break (No School)
December 5: Reindeer Games
December 16–18: Semester 1 Finals (12:15 p.m. Dismissal)
December 18: Last Day of Semester 1
December 19–January 2: Christmas Break (No School)
We appreciate you taking the time to read this important message. We want to encourage you to check for this email weekly and call the front office if you have any additional questions.
Team Cyclops at the competition table.
Team Spartan takes a turn with their robot.
