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 another good week of school. Your students are doing big things, and we get to see it every day. Please feel free to check in and ask them or their teachers about what is happening on campus. We would love to tell you.
I want to encourage all of you to continue to speak to your students with the help and guidance of focusing on the virtues we teach in our school daily. Things might be coming up at home. This is a challenging time because of the changes this age group is going through. Never hesitate to lean on some of the lessons here at school and continue to help your students through the struggles that come up in life during this time.
Looking ahead, we will be contacting parents and students next week regarding mandatory tutorial for students who earned a D or lower in one or more of their classes. Do not feel like you need an email for your student to attend tutorial, however. We welcome all students. As well, we will be starting two clubs in the near future. Guitar club led by Mr. Ohmann, I do hope to help; and Art club led by Ms. Hart and supported by Ms. Tang.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Go White Tigers!
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Jason Gaylord
Principal
Students in Ms. Volk's 8th grade science class are holding trials to determine whether Pluto is a planet.
Action Items
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
Guitar Club
Thursday, February 19, HJHS will be holding its first guitar club meeting. It is open to all students who complete an application and meet the academic requirements which are outlined in the application. You do not need to know how to play a guitar, however, we will have limited space. So make sure you have your student stops by Mr. Ohmann's room and complete an application to be turned in to him before the first meeting.
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!!!
AI Intensive with Stanford Mentors Inspirit AI is a 25-hour summer research program taught by Stanford academics that allows students to learn and apply AI to build impactful projects such as AI-driven medical research. Applications are due by March 1st.
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.
Sister Project
We will be meeting February 20, 2026 from 3:30-5 p.m. in the ECHS Union. Please bring a snack to share. Our theme this month is Crafts, Letters, and Mocktails!
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.
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 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.
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 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)
April 24: Wooden Wins Assembly
April 28–May 8: State Testing
May 22–May 27: Spring Final Exams and Minimum Day (12:15 Dismissal)
May 25: Memorial Day (No School)
May 28: Last Day of School / Wooden Wins & Awards Assembly / Promotion / Minimum Day (12:15 Dismissal)
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.
