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,
I want to thank all the parents who attended last week's New Parent Meeting and all the students who recited poetry and served as speakers and docents! You demonstrate excellence.
Please be reminded that last Friday was the end of the grading period, and all grades should be up-to-date Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. Please encourage your student to attend tutorial if they are struggling in a particular class. Our office will be reaching out to you if your student is in danger of being promoted to the next grade level.
On Monday, there will be a parents meeting on classical learning. This is for all of our HJHS parents, including those parents whose students are moving into high school. It should be informative and helpful for student success. Throughout the week we will be completing our last round of FastBridge Testing. Please encourage your students to do their best on these benchmarks, so that we can accurately assess their ability and support them. Friday, seventh grade students will be going to Medieval Times. Students may wear jeans (free of rips or holes), but must wear a uniform top. House Douglass will also be rewarded with donuts for winning the Fall Semester House Trophy. Well done.
Thank you.
Go White Tigers!
Sincerely,
Jason Gaylord
Action Items
Parent Meeting on Classical Learning
On Monday, March 16, 2026, the University of Dallas will be presenting to all junior high school families the ins and outs of classical learning. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. in the American Spirit Theater and is a great way to get acquainted with our philosophy at Heritage Junior High School. We want to see a lot of families. This will help you understand your student's experience better and your ability to support them throughout the school year. We look forward to seeing you there.
8th Grade Field Trip to Knott's Berry Farm
On Friday, May 1, our eighth grade Heritage Junior High School and Heritage Flex Academy students will be going on a field trip to Knott's Berry Farm! The cost of the field trip is $50 per person, which includes transportation via charter bus and the entrance fee. To access the permission slip and make your payment, please click HERE. Permission slips and payment must be made online no later than Wednesday, March 25. 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 $50 per person.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at 760-294-5599. We are here to help!
NEW Attendance Email Address
We have launched a new 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.
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
Calling All 8th Graders and Future ECHS Cheerleaders
Do you have school spirit, big energy, and love cheering on your team? Then it's time to get excited for ECHS Cheer Tryouts! If you've ever dreamed about cheering under the Friday night lights, now's your chance to take the first step. Tryout clinics will be April 21–23 from 5:30–7:30 p.m., and the official tryout is April 24 at 5:00 p.m. Be sure to attend the Manadatory Student/Parent Interest Meeting on March 24 at 6:00 p.m. Multi-sport athletes are welcome - grab a friend and come show us your spirit! Questions? Contact Head Coach Jenn Pound at jpound@amhcs.org.
3rd Annual ECHS Casino Night, Silent Auction, and Dinner
You are cordially invited to attend the 2026 ECHS PVO auction featuring a casino night, food, and drinks on Saturday, March 21, at 5:00 p.m. Silent auction items include Disneyland tickets, Padres tickets, themed baskets, massages, and more. Most importantly, proceeds from the evening help fund student scholarships for Grad Night, college scholarships for seniors, teacher appreciation events, and other initiatives not covered by the general school fund. Please click HERE
to sign up for this fun evening or to simply make a donation towards these important fundraising efforts. Questions regarding the event should be directed to echspvo@gmail.com.
AHCS Musical Theater Presents Footloose
Get out your favorite sweat band because Footloose is coming to ECHS! Footloose, set in the '80s, tells the story of Ren, who sets out to prove that "Dancing is Not a Crime" along with the unavoidable adjustment of moving from Chicago to a small farming town (with no cell phones). When we hope "Somebody's Eyes" are watching, we hope they're yours! Footloose tickets
go on sale on March 14th, with shows at the American Spirit Theater on the Escondido Charter High School campus from April 16–19. The cast list is HERE. Ticket cost is $13.
Showtimes and Pre-Show Activities:
Thursday, April 16
5:00 p.m. (Bomont Cast): For this show, all students will be able to buy tickets at the door, $5 cash/Google/Apple Pay, first come, first served while supplies last. Pre-show activity: costume contest!
7:00 p.m. (Bomont Cast): Pre-show activity: learn the Footloose dance with a cast member!
Sunday, April 19
2:00 p.m. (Bomont Cast)
7:00 p.m. (Chicago Cast): Pre-show activity: learn the Footloose dance with a cast member!
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!!!
Wooden Wins
Each month we will be focusing on a virtue to develop the hearts and minds of our students. March's virtue is Poise, which means just being yourself, being at ease in any situation, and never fighting yourself. Here is a link to the poster. We will recognize our Poise award recipients at our Wooden Wins Assembly on March 27, 2026, at the EVCC.
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. March'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.
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!
March 16: Minimum Day (12:15 p.m. Dismissal) / Classical Education Meeting (American Spirit Theater at 6:30 p.m.)
March 20: 7th Grade Field Trip to Medieval Times
March 21: ECHS Casino Night Fundraising Event
March 24: Mandatory Parent/Student Interest Meeting for ECHS Cheer
March 27: Wooden Wins Assembly
March 30–April 6: Easter Break (No School)
April 24: Wooden Wins Assembly / ECHS Cheer Tryouts
April 28–May 8: State Testing
May 22–May 27: Spring Final Exams and Minimum Day (12:15 p.m. Dismissal)
May 25: Memorial Day (No School)
May 28: Last Day of School / Wooden Wins & Awards Assembly / Promotion / Minimum Day (12:15 p.m. 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.
