Excellent work so far! Your students are actively making Heritage a high-performing, classical school! From Socratic seminars to memory work, your students are embracing the challenges. We want deep and critical thinkers! Please continue to encourage your students to be good humans. We have your back!
This week we will be honoring and remembering our veterans. On Wednesday, there will be no school in recognition of Veterans Day. On Thursday, we will be completing a joint lockdown drill with Heritage Flex Academy; and on Friday, we will be holding a Veterans Day Assembly, marking the end of our third grading period, having a house competition and school dance. It should be a lot of fun. I hope the kids enjoy it.
Thank you to our veterans. We need and appreciate your service. Thank you for leading by example and with action.
Go white tigers!
Sincerely,
Jason Gaylord
Principal
Action Items
HJHS/HFA Annual Fall Dance — Last Chance to Purchase a Ticket is Friday at 4:00 p.m.
If you prefer to use a link to access the permission slip, please click HERE. And, if you would prefer to access the dress and behavior code via a link, please click HERE. Questions should be directed to the front office at 760-297-5599.
Announcements
ECHS Program Information Night (Date Change) On Thursday, December 3, at 6:30 p.m. in the American Spirit Theater, ECHS Administration and Student Services will be hosting an informational meeting to share the programs and pathways at Escondido Charter High School. If you are interested in learning more about TCP, CLP, PLP, or what those initials even mean, please join us. This evening is open to currently enrolled families, families in the community, and Heritage Junior High and Heritage Flex Academy families, who may want to learn more about Escondido Charter High School.
American Heritage Charter Schools 2027-2028 School Lottery Information
Lotteries for the 2027–2028 school year are now open 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 15, 2027. 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 5, 2027. 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 5, 2027. Please contact the Heritage Junior High office at 760-294-5599 if you have any questions.
Heritage Flex Academy: Lottery applications are available online at https://amhcs.org/hfa/hfa-admissions/. The lottery closes on February 5, 2027. Please contact the Heritage Flex Academy office at 760-466-1166 if you have any questions.
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.
Wooden Wins
Each month we will be focusing on a virtue to develop the hearts and minds of our students. November’s virtue is Honesty, which is speaking and acting truthfully, even when it is difficult or inconvenient. 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 Honesty recipients at our Wooden Wins Assembly on November 13, 2026, in the East Valley Community Center (EVCC) Gym, adjacent to the HJHS campus.
Breakfast and Lunch Menu
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.
Athletics
Off-Campus Activities
Sister Project
Our next event is on Friday, November 13 and we will be making dog toys! Bring an old pair of jeans, if possible, and a store-bought snack for 5–10 people. Google Classroom Code: jptymjiy. Sister Project participation will be limited to students who have previously attended or are on the Flower Families list on the GC. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Franklin at efranklin@amhcs.org.
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.
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.
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!
7th Grade Safari Park Field Trip
Mark your calendars!
November 10: First Rehearsal for Chorus
November 11: Veterans Day (No School)
November 12: Joint Lockdown Drill
November 13: Veterans Day / Wooden Wins Assembly / Fall Dance
November 19: Minimum Day (12:15 p.m. Dismissal)
November 20: Leadership Field Trip
November 23–27: Thanksgiving Break (No School)
December 3: ECHS Program Information Night (Date Change — 6:30 p.m.)
December 4: Wooden Wins Assembly / Reindeer Games
December 15–17: Fall Final Exams and Minimum Day (12:15 p.m. Dismissal)
December 17: Last Day of Semester One
December 18–January 1: Christmas Break
January 4: First Day of Semester Two
*Please see the tutorial schedule and after-school activities linked at the top of this page.
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.
