Our mission is to develop the hearts and minds of students with a rigorous core curriculum, with a perspective that cherishes timeless virtues and the American spirit.
Principal's Note
Dear Heritage Junior High School Families,
We had a great week last week and were able to finish up all of our FastBridge Testing! Please keep in mind that these assessments only take about twenty minutes and are essential for understanding how all of our students are progressing. If you would like a copy of your student's scores, please feel free to reach out to me, and I would be happy to share those with you. I also want to shout out all of our award recipients from last semester. You are one of the reasons that Heritage is great.
For this week, it will be business as usual. Make sure that your students are taking advantage of our after-school tutorials and breakfast and lunch program. We want students fed and in class! Thursday marks the deadline for seventh grade parents to complete re-enrollment. Do it now :) Friday marks the end of the grading period. Students with below a 2.0 GPA or D/Fs will be contacted and assigned a mandatory tutorial. After school on Friday, we will be holding our Spelling Bee Championship in the Vineyard Room of the EVCC. Come cheer on our HJHS, HE, and HFA participants. It is one of the cooler things we do during the school year!
Finally, last week was Kindness Week. Please note that we believe that every week students should be treating staff members and classmates with dignity, respect, and kindness. Our mission as a school is to educate the whole child, so that they may be successful in all aspects of life.
Go White Tigers!
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Jason Gaylord
Principal
Action Items
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 this 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!
Order Your Student's Yearbook Before It's Too Late
For the past four years, we have sold out of yearbooks before the last day of school, so get yours while they are still available. You can order your student's 2025/2026 yearbook by clicking HERE.
Announcements
Spring Sports Announcement
We are excited to launch our spring sports season at HJHS! This season students can try out for:
Boys Soccer (7th and 8th Grade): Tryouts at the ECHS soccer field on Monday, February 2, from 2:30–4:00 p.m. AND Tuesday, February 3, from 3:30–4:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball (7th and 8th Grade): Tryouts on the HJHS black top on Monday, February 2, from 2:30–4:00 p.m. AND Tuesday, February 3, from 3:30–4:30 p.m.
All requirements remain the same as in other sports seasons:
Maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher
Be in good behavioral and attendance standing.
All sports clearance forms must be completed prior to the first competition.
Bring your best effort, positive attitude, and come ready to compete! Please reach out to our Athletic Director, Anthony Cozzi at acozzi@amhcs.org with any questions.
2026-2027 AHCS Calendars
Parents and guardians, the 2026–2027 Calendars
are here. Please feel free to download and/or print this calendar, so that you are in the know about what is coming up next year. Things are moving quickly. What better way to get and be prepared? Go White Tigers!!!
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.
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. February'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. February's virtue is Team Spirit, which is a genuine consideration for others. It is an eagerness to sacrifice personal interests of glory for the welfare of all. Here is a link to the poster. We will recognize our Team Spirit award recipients at our Wooden Wins Assembly on February 27, 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!
February 3: Deadline to Purchase Medieval Times Ticket (7th Grade)
February 6: Lottery Closed for New Applicants/ Spelling Bee
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
March 30–April 6: Easter 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.
