Nicely done returning to school and getting back into the routine. Your students did a great job picking up where they left off, learning and working hard.
This coming week I want to bring your attention to a couple of items. Please note that the eighth graders will be going down to the high school on Monday. Lunch will be provided. If they do bring classroom materials, those will be left in their first period classes. Eighth graders will return to HJHS by lunchtime, so there is no need to plan differently. On Wednesday and Thursday, we will be running emergency drills — Alternate Evacuation and Lockdown.
Looking ahead, there will be no school the following Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The rest of the week we will be on a modified schedule with a dismissal of 2:10 p.m. for Parent/Teacher Conferences. Please contact our office if you would like to meet with one of your teachers.
Finally, it is time to re-enroll. Seventh grade parents should refer to the January 8 communication sent last week including the link to complete enrollment. The registration form must be submitted no later than February 5 to secure your spot for the 2026/27 school year. Eighth grade parents will receive an email from the high school with a different enrollment link on Monday, January 12. A form needs to be submitted for every student, regardless of whether your student is returning to any of the American Heritage Charter Schools.
Go White Tigers!
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Jason Gaylord
Principal
Action Items
Spelling Bee
Our students will participate in a grade-level Spelling Bee in their Academic Writing classes on Friday, January 16. The word lists were passed out in class this past week, but are also attached below. Please encourage your student to practice the words. If your student is the top speller for their class period, they will have the opportunity to compete in the all-school Spelling Bee on February 6. Questions may be directed to the Academic Writing teachers for each grade:
7th Grade: Sara Jones (sjones@amhcs.org) - Click HERE for 7th grade word list.
8th Grade: Lisa Young (lyoung@amhcs.org) - Click HERE for 8th grade word list.
7th Grade Field Trip to Medieval Times
Seventh grade students from Heritage Junior High School and Heritage Flex Academy are invited to attend our annual Medieval Times field trip on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. The cost of the field trip is $40 per person, which includes transportation via charter bus, lunch, and the show. To access the permission slip and make your payment, please click HERE. Permission slips and payment must be made no later than Tuesday, February 3, 2026. Due to payment deadlines with the venue, we cannot add reservations after the deadline.
If you are interested in chaperoning, please contact the front office so that we can verify the status of your volunteer packet. The cost for chaperones will also be $40 per person. For more information regarding the venue, please visit the Medieval Times website HERE.
Please contact the HJHS office at 760-294-5599 with any questions. We are here to help!
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.
Announcements
Attendance Reminder
If a student is absent or will be late for school, please contact the front office at 760-294-5599. We have an answering machine, so calls made before or after school hours will be recorded. For the safety of our students, it is important that all students are accounted for by 8:30 a.m. each morning. For absences due to illness, students must be fever free without medication for 24 hours before returning to school. Thank you for your support and assistance.
Sister Project
The next Sister Project meeting is planned for Friday, January 16, from 3:35–5:00 p.m. in the ECHS Student Union. The theme is "Making Vision Boards and Mocktails!" Please bring any crafting supplies you would like to use and a snack to share with the group.
8th Grade Field Trip - Freshman for a Day
On January 12, 2026, all 8th graders will participate in a field trip to Escondido Charter High School to experience a day as a high school freshman. Students will leave their backpacks in their 1st period classrooms and walk to the high school at 8:30 a.m., returning to HJHS around noon. They will receive a T-shirt and Chick-fil-A sandwich lunch at no cost. A vegetarian option will be available for students with a dietary restriction. We look forward to providing students with a fun and informative sneak peek into high school.
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. January'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 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.
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. January's virtue is Skill, which is knowledge of and the ability to properly and quickly execute the fundamentals. It is the ability to be prepared and cover every detail. Here is a link to the poster. We will recognize our Skill award recipients at our Wooden Wins Assembly on January 30, 2026, 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!
January 12: 8th Grade Field Trip to ECHS (Freshman for a Day)
January 14: Alternate Evacuation Drill
January 15: Lockdown Drill
January 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No School)
January 20–23: Parent/Teacher Conferences (2:10 p.m. Dismissal)
January 30: First Semester Academic Awards / Wooden Wins Assembly
February 3: Deadline to Purchase Medieval Times Ticket (7th Grade)
February 6: Lottery Closed for New Applicants
February 13: Lincoln's Birthday (No School)
February 16: President's Day (No School)
March 4: 7th Grade Field Trip to Medieval Times
March 16: Minimum Day (12:15 p.m. Dismissal)
March 27: 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.
