Ahoy from Catalina! I hope that everyone had an amazing Labor Day Weekend! If you are reading this after Sunday, then please note that most eighth graders are on a field trip to the beautiful island of Catalina. From Tuesday to Wednesday, seventh graders will rule the school. Eighth graders not attending the field trip still need to come to school like normal. Those students will still participate in math, math lab, physical education, and art. During other class periods, their teachers on the trip have left materials to review and cover.
Since I am on the Catalina Field Trip, your point of contact until I return is Ms. Collins or our front office staff. They will be able to assist you until I return.
Let's have another great week. Go White Tigers!
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Jason Gaylord
Principal
P.E.students practicing their golf swing.
More future golf pros in the making!
Action Items
Parent/Student Handbook Acknowledgment Form
We need all students and parents to sign our Parent/ Student Handbook Acknowledgment Forms, which were due by August 22, 2025, by using this link. If you would like to review the Parent/Student Handbook, then please use this link here. Students were given a hard copy of the handbook to review with their teachers the first week of school.
Announcements
School Picture Proofs
Students who had their school photo taken on Picture Day received a proof sheet of their poses from their P.E. teacher on Friday. Please follow the instructions provided on the proofs to select which pose you would like featured in the 2025/26 school yearbook. Photo packages are also available for purchase online through Gerardy Photography, but please note that the deadline to place an order is Tuesday, September 9.
Fall Sports
The fall sports season is here! Tryouts for Girls Volleyball, Boys Flag Football, and Co-Ed Cross Country will be held on Monday, September 8th from 2:30–4:00pm and Tuesday, September 9th from 3:30–5:00pm. Tryouts for Flag Football and Cross Country will take place at the HJHS Softball Field, and volleyball tryouts will be held on the HJHS Blacktop. All HJHS and HFA 7th and 8th grade students are welcome to try out, provided they maintain a 2.0 GPA, have no Fs, and are in good standing with administration(no detentions or Saturday schools). Once teams are formed, practices will be held on Mondays, with games and competitions taking place mainly on Thursdays and Fridays. The season will run from September through the first week of November—come ready to compete, grow, and represent your school with pride! Please click HERE
for the practice and game schedule.
Sister Project Event
Our first event will be on Friday, September 12, from 3:35–5:00 p.m. at ECHS in the Student Union. To participate, you must be an 8th grade girl who has submitted the parent permission slip as well as filled out the Google Form online. Permission slips and the Google Form must be turned in to the front office by September 5. If you have any questions, please reach out to Jennifer Scaramuzza at jscaramuzza@amhcs.org.
Calling all White Tigerettes. Come out and cheer with our ECHS Cheer team under the Friday Night Lights! Our fall cheer clinic will take place at Heritage Elementary School from Monday, September 15, to Thursday, September 18. Check in at 3:15, the clinic will begin at 3:30 and end at 5 pm. The White Tigerettes will cheer the first and second quarters of the varsity game on Friday, September 19th, at Orange Glen High School. We look forward to seeing you at our Fall Clinic! Sign up at this link.
Back-to-School Night
Join us on Thursday, September 18, 2025, for Back-to-School Night at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will start promptly in the East Valley Community Center located at 2245 E. Valley Parkway, Escondido, California, 92027, next to Heritage Junior High School. The event will conclude at 8:00 p.m.
Back-to-School BBQ and Volunteer Procedures
Following Back-to-School Night, we will be having our Back-to-School BBQ for students and staff on Friday, September 19, 2025. During lunch, students may enjoy grilled hamburgers (vegetarian option available), hot dogs, chips, a dessert, and a water bottle. There is no cost for the BBQ other than a smile and possibly a thank you to the volunteers facilitating lunch.
If you would like to volunteer, we would be more than happy to have you; however, we have a new process in place this year. Please download the application HERE, to be completed and returned to the front office along with some form of current government-issued photo identification (driver's license, passport, military ID, US or other governmental identification), to be scanned for a background check. Additionally, volunteers must read the AHCS Volunteer Handbook, which is the final page of the handbook. Please call the front office at 760-294-5599 with any questions or to express your interest in volunteering for the BBQ.
Wooden Wins
Each month we will be focusing on a virtue to develop the hearts and minds of our students. This month’s virtue is Self-Control, the practice of self-discipline and keeping emotions under control. Good judgment and common sense are also essential. Here is a link to the poster. Please feel free to use this resource to speak to your kids about virtue at home. We will recognize our Self-Control recipients at our Wooden Wins Assembly on October 3, 2025, in the East Valley Community Center (EVCC) Gym, adjacent to the HJHS campus.
P.E. students continue to impress with their golf skills.
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!
September 1: Labor Day (No School)
September 1-3: 8th Grade Catalina Field Trip
September 11: Patriot Day
September 18: Back-to-School Night
September 19: Back-to-School BBQ and End of Grading Period
September 22: Half-Day (12:15 p.m. dismissal)
October 3: Wooden Wins Assembly
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.
