Thank you for supporting us through our first full week. Your students are already doing amazing things. Some highlights from last week include Picture Day and Second Semester Awards. So many scholars! Keep Heritage White Tigers!
This week we will be starting to hold tutorials after school Tuesday through Friday. Please use this link to reference the tutorial schedule. Students staying for the tutorial must stay on campus and wait on the blacktop. They should not exit campus. Please remember that the tutorial is not childcare or a hangout. Students' focus should be on getting support from their teachers and homework completed. We do not want students to have an overwhelming amount of homework! Additionally, on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, eighth grade girls will be participating in a presentation by the Sister Project from 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m. There is no need to do anything other than show up to school.
Looking ahead, most eighth graders will be heading to Catalina for the eighth grade field trip from September 1-3. Eighth graders not attending the field trip still need to attend school from September 2-3. No excuses. For everyone else, there will be no school on September 1 in honor of Labor Day. Please enjoy the extended weekend.
Let's have another great week. Go White Tigers!
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Jason Gaylord
Principal
Action Items
Parent/Student Handbook Acknowledgment Form
We need all students and parents to sign our Parent/ Student Handbook Acknowledgment Forms, which were due by August 22, 2025, by using this link. If you would like to review the Parent/Student Handbook, then please use this link here. Students will be given a hard copy of the handbook to review with their teachers the first week of school.
Announcements
Sister Project
On Wednesday, August 27, 2025, eighth grade female students will participate in a meeting for the Sister Project during the regular school day. Their teachers have been made aware, and it is a good opportunity for the eighth graders to connect with their peers at the high school. Please contact Jennifer Scaramuzza at jscarramuzza@amhcs.org if you have additional questions.
Make-Up Photos
If your student missed Picture Day last week, we will have a make-up session on campus this Friday, August, 29, 2025. Students may wear free dress
for their photo, but they must come to school in a school uniform and change back into their uniform afterward.
Calling all White Tigerettes. Come out and cheer with our ECHS Cheer team under the Friday Night Lights! Our fall cheer clinic will take place at Heritage Elementary School from Monday, September 15, to Thursday, September 18. Check in at 3:15, the clinic will begin at 3:30 and end at 5 pm. The White Tigerettes will cheer the first and second quarters of the varsity game on Friday, September 19th, at Orange Glen High School. We look forward to seeing you at our Fall Clinic! Sign up at this link.
Back-to-School Night
Join us on Thursday, September 18, 2025, for Back-to-School Night at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will start promptly in the East Valley Community Center located at 2245 E. Valley Parkway, Escondido, California, 92027, next to Heritage Junior High School. The event will conclude at 8:00 p.m.
Back-to-School BBQ and Volunteer Procedures
Following Back-to-School Night, we will be having our Back-to-School BBQ for students and staff on Friday, September 19, 2025. During lunch, students may enjoy grilled hamburgers (vegetarian option available), hot dogs, chips, a dessert, and a water bottle. There is no cost for the BBQ other than a smile and possibly a thank you to the volunteers facilitating lunch.
If you would like to volunteer, we would be more than happy to have you; however, we have a new process in place this year. Please download the application HERE, to be completed and returned to the front office along with some form of current government-issued photo identification (driver's license, passport, military ID, US or other governmental identification), to be scanned for a background check. Additionally, volunteers must read the AHCS Volunteer Handbook, which is the final page of the handbook. Please call the front office at 760-294-5599 with any questions or to express your interest in volunteering for the BBQ.
Wooden Wins
Each month we will be focusing on a virtue to develop the hearts and minds of our students. This month’s virtue is Self-Control, the practice of self-discipline and keeping emotions under control. Good judgment and common sense are also essential. 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 Self-Control recipients at our Wooden Wins Assembly on October 3, 2025, in the East Valley Community Center (EVCC) Gym, adjacent to the HJHS campus.
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.
No Tutorial until Tuesday, August 26, 2025.
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.
Mark your calendars!
August 27: Sister Project
September 1: Labor Day (No School)
September 1-3: 8th Grade Catalina Field Trip
September 11: Patriot Day
September 18: Back-to-School Night
September 19: Back-to-School BBQ and End of Grading Period
September 22: Half-Day (12:15 p.m. dismissal)
October 3: 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.
