It was a pleasure being able to take the majority of our eighth graders to the Catalina Island Marine Institute (CIMI) for three days. I hope you enjoy a few of the pictures from the trip sprinkled in the Notes. Parents, after speaking to our students, however, there were still quite a few who did not know our state fish, which we saw several during our snorkeling. Please do us a favor and talk to them about our state fish, the Garibaldi! Even if they did not attend the field trip, I think this is something good to know.
It is hard to believe that we are already in Week 6! Things are moving along nicely. That being the case, some important things are happening this week. On Thursday, we will be having our Back-to-School Night, first starting in the EVCC gym at 6:30 p.m. Then on Friday, we will be having our Back-to-School BBQ and Friday marks the End of the Grading Period. Please check the updated grades on Tuesday, September 22 for the most accurate information; and if you would like to volunteer for the BBQ, then please contact our front desk at 760.294.5599.
Thank you and go white tigers!
Sincerely,
Jason Gaylord
Principal
Action Items
Sign Up for Parent/Teacher Conferences
The Heritage Junior High School faculty would like to invite you to attend Parent/Teacher Conferences to discuss any issues or concerns that you may have. Conferences are not required, but we recommend that you schedule a time to meet with your student's teachers if they are earning below a C grade or if clarification is needed for course and teacher expectations. Parent communication between home and school is extremely critical in providing an effective instructional environment for our children. Our teachers truly appreciate the support that you give your child in his/her education while at home.
This year's formal Parent/Teacher Conference schedule is as follows:
Monday, October 19, 2026: 7:40 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday–Friday, October 20–23: 2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
To request a meeting with your student's teachers, please use the link HERE to sign up. If you would like to meet with two teachers, we suggest you schedule back-to-back appointments using each teacher's link. However, if you would like to meet with three or more teachers, please call the front office at 760-294-5599, and we will coordinate a single meeting for the group, if possible. We also offer the option to schedule a telephone call rather than an in-person meeting, if that is more convenient for you. Finally, if you require a different date or time than we have listed, please do not hesitate to call the front office so that we may schedule something more convenient for you.
School Portrait Proofs
Students who had their school photo taken on Picture Day, August 28, received a proof sheet from their P.E. teacher this past week. Photos may be ordered online using the instructions listed at the bottom of the proof sheet. Even if you are not ordering photos, please select your student's yearbook pose online at gerardyphoto.com
by clicking on the orange "Order Portraits" button on the top right of the screen. You will need your student's Online Code to access their photos, which is on the right side of their proof sheet. If no pose is selected, pose one will be used as the default in the yearbook. The order deadline to purchase photos or select a yearbook pose is Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
If your student took their school photo on Makeup Picture Day, September 4, your process is delayed by approximately one week. We will distribute the portrait proofs for makeup photos as soon as they are received.
Critical Forms for the 2026/2027 School Year Still Needed
1. If you have not already done so, please submit your family's 2026/2027 Household Income Verification Form as soon as possible. Click HERE for the form. The form was originally emailed to parents on July 8 with a submission deadline of July 31, 2026.
The data collected from these forms is used to determine eligibility and provide important funding for programs that directly benefit our students, school, and community.
Parents are required to submit one (1) form that includes ALL children attending American Heritage Charter Schools in grades TK-12.
2. We also need all students and parents to sign our Parent/Student Handbook Acknowledgment Forms by using this link. The link will allow parents to review the 2026/2027 Parent/Student Handbook prior to signing the acknowledgment forms. Students reviewed the handbook with their teachers last week and should be familiar with the contents.
If your student requires prescription and/or over-the-counter medication during school hours, it must be stored and administered by the front office. A Medication Authorization Form, signed by both the child's doctor and parent, must accompany the medication. Medication must be provided in the original packaging or in a prescription bottle, including dosage instructions. The form is linked HERE for your convenience. Note: This process may be useful for parents who would like to have basic over-the-counter medications in the office for their student's occasional headache, stomach ache or cramps.
Announcements
Don't Miss Out: Order Your Yearbook Today! Our special 30th Anniversary HJHS Yearbook is now available to purchase! Save money and buy your yearbook before the price goes up! The yearbook is only $30 until September 30, 2026. After that, the price will go up to $35. Last year, we sold out of yearbooks, so ensure your student gets theirs by ordering online HERE.
8th Grade Only — Yearbook Recognition Ads If you are a parent of an HJHS 8th grade student, and you wish to purchase a recognition ad in the yearbook, you may do so using THIS
link.
Please note the following: 1) There is limited space available in the yearbook for recognition ads. Once the space is gone, we will be unable to allow additional ads; 2) Purchasing an ad does NOT include the cost of the yearbook.
Back-to-School Night
Join us on Thursday, September 17, 2026, 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, 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 18, 2026. 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. In order to help with the BBQ or any event during the school year, please download the application HERE. The application must 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 linked HERE. Please call the front office at 760-294-5599 with any questions or to express your interest in volunteering for the BBQ.
Class of 2026 — Eighth Grade Hoodies
We are excited to offer exclusive eighth grade hoodies to our Class of 2027 students for just $25! This will be the only opportunity to place an order this year. Orders can be placed through Friday, September 25th; unfortunately, we will not be able to accept orders after the deadline due to the production process. We hope to have hoodies available for distribution by the beginning of November. Every eighth grade student's name will appear on the back of the hoodie to create a "Class of 2027" image. The front of the hoodie will feature our white tiger logo and school name. Please click HERE
to access the order form and payment portal. We have been told that hoodie sizes run on the smaller side, so you may want to consider the next size up, especially to account for growing. Note: The image shown on the order form is for reference and the year will be updated for production.
Eighth grade students will be allowed to wear their Class of 2027 hoodie any day of the week. This spirit wear exception is being made for the eighth grade students as a way of celebrating the Class of 2027 for the remainder of the school year.
Please contact the front office at 760-294-5599 if you have any questions.
Helpful Links
We have placed a number of helpful links at the top of our Weekly Notes page for quick reference to key documents. Please take a quick look at the options above so that you know where to find information throughout the school year. One of the most used links is our Homework/Home Study Document, which shows the work/assignment covered in each class daily so that absent students can stay on track. ParentVUE and StudentVUE can be accessed through the Grades Portal link, which allows parents and students to stay on top of missing assignments and grades by class. We hope you find these quick access documents helpful!
Breakfast & Lunch Meal Program
Heritage Junior offers 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. September's REVISED 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 accommodation 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.
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 Sincerity, which is being honest, genuine, and truthful in both words and actions, even when it is difficult. 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 Ambition recipients at our Wooden Wins Assembly on October 2, 2026, in the East Valley Community Center (EVCC) Gym, adjacent to the HJHS campus.
Athletics
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.
No Tutorial until Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
Attendance Email Address
We have an electronic means for parents to communicate student absences. If it is more convenient, please feel free to email us at hjhsattendance@amhcs.org
to communicate absences from school. This email may also be used to share dates of extended absences requiring independent study. If you prefer a phone call, we are happy to speak with you at 760-297-5599. We have a voice mail system that will record your message after business hours. We appreciate your continued support in managing attendance at HJHS.
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 2026-27 school year.
Mark your calendars!
September 15: Yearbook Club (3:10–3:50 p.m.)
September 16: Leadership Club Meeting (3:10–3:50 p.m.)
September 17: Back-to-School Night (6:30 p.m.) / Robotics Team Meeting (3:10–4:30) / Guitar Club (3:10–3:50 p.m.)
September 18: Back-to-School BBQ
September 21: Half-Day (12:15 p.m. dismissal)
September 22: Robotics Team Meeting (3:10–4:30) / Yearbook Club Meeting (3:10–3:50 p.m.) / Guitar Club (3:10–3:50 p.m.)
September 23: Leadership Club Meeting (3:10–3:50 p.m.)
September 24: Alternate Evacuation Drill / Robotics Team Meeting (3:10–4:30) / Yearbook Club Meeting (3:10–3:50 p.m.) / Guitar Club (3:10–3:50 p.m.)
September 25: Last Day to Purchase 8th Grade Class of 2027 Hoodie
September 29: Robotics Team Meeting (3:10–4:30 p.m.) / Yearbook Club Meeting (3:10–3:50 p.m.) / Guitar Club (3:10–3:50 p.m.)
September 30: Leadership Club Meeting (3:10–3:50 p.m.) / Last Day to Purchase Discounted Yearbook
October 1: Robotics Team Meeting (3:10–4:30) / Guitar Club (3:10–3:50 p.m.) / Cross Country Meet — San Marcos Middle School
October 2: Roman Day / Gladiator Games House Competition / Wooden Wins Assembly
October 6: Robotics Team Meeting (3:10–4:30) / Yearbook Club Meeting (3:10–3:50 p.m.) / Guitar Club (3:10–3:50 p.m.)
October 7: Leadership Club Meeting (3:10–3:50 p.m.)
October 8: Robotics Team Meeting (3:10–4:30) / Yearbook Club Meeting (3:10–3:50 p.m.) / Guitar Club (3:10–3:50 p.m.)
October 12: Columbus Day (No School)
October 15: Drop/Hold/Cover and Evacuation Drill
October 16: Sister Project
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.
