Our mission is to develop the hearts and minds of our students through a rigorous core curriculum with a perspective that cherishes timeless virtues and the American Spirit.
This is the last full week of school with a minimum day on Friday, May 22, 2026. Finals will begin this Friday. Please remember that dismissal will be at 12:15 p.m. For your information, we will also be offering students a sack lunch on each day of Finals. Your student may pick one up at the end of each day.
Additionally, please note that it is time to start dusting off those textbooks and bringing them into school, so that they may be checked in by Mrs. Johnson. Fines will be collected for lost, damaged, or unreturned school items. At the very least, each student has one math book that needs to be returned.
For eighth grade families, please save the following dates: Wednesday, May 27, 2026, eighth graders will be rehearsing for promotion. We plan to have the students finish very close to 12:15 p.m., which is normal dismissal. However, we may need twenty to thirty minutes more to finish. Please be patient. If picking up an eighth grader, then please park, walk up to the front and pick up your student. Also, if you are on track to promote, promotion will be on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. on the Escondido Charter soccer field. Please dress nice. We will see you there.
Go White Tigers!
Sincerely,
Jason Gaylord
HJHS Notes
Students writing birthday wishes at the door of Miss Young's Academic Writing 8 classroom.
Action Items
Italy 2028
Current 7th and 8th grade families are invited to attend a virtual informational meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, regarding an opportunity to travel to Italy during the summer of 2028 with our 10th grade European History teacher, Mr. Chase Kemp. Please click HERE
to review the topics covered during this meeting and then click HERE
to register your attendance. Families who book the trip early will be eligible for a $200 discount! If you have any questions prior to the meeting, please contact Mr. Kemp at ckemp@amhcs.org.
Order your yearbook before they sell out! As the end of the school year approaches, we wanted to let you know there is a limited supply of yearbooks left, and we sell out every year. If you have not ordered your student’s yearbook yet, now is the time. Don’t miss out on all the HJHS moments and memories that shaped the 2025-2026 school year!
Reserve your copy now at Jostens. Yearbooks are $35.
Uniform Donations Needed
If you happen to do any spring-cleaning in the coming weeks, please remember that our campus is happy to accept uniform items that your student has outgrown. As long as items are clean and free of holes or stains, we would love to take them off your hands. We have a donation cupboard that is regularly used by students who are out-of-dress code, with clothing mishaps, or for those who just need extra uniform pieces. Items can be dropped off at the front office whenever convenient and your donation will be put to good use.
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.
Our 8th grade students are getting silly, so we know the end of the year is near. These two are certainly ready to move onto ECHS in the fall.
Announcements
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. May's virtue is Competitive Greatness, which means being at your best when your best is needed, as well as having a sense of enjoyment when the challenge is difficult. Here is a link to the poster. We will recognize our Competitive Greatness award recipients at our Wooden Wins Assembly on May 28, 2026, at the EVCC.
8th Grade Catalina Field Trip (for Current 7th Grade Students)
Rising 8th grade students have the opportunity to attend an exciting and educational overnight field trip to Catalina Island on September 7–9, 2026. The all-inclusive cost for this year’s trip is $415/person. Parents are welcome to pay in full when making the initial deposit, however, we have also established a payment plan as follows:
Friday, May 8, 2026: Initial Deposit of $215 Due (We are still accepting deposits!)
Friday, June 12, 2026: First Installment Payment of $100 Due
Friday, July 17, 2026: Final Installment Payment of $100 Due
Click HERE for the link to reserve your student’s spot and make an initial deposit for the 2026 Catalina field trip. If your student needs a prescription medication or an over-the-counter product that is not provided by the camp, please click HERE for the Medication Authorization and Plan. The form must be completed by a physician and returned to the front office no later than September 1st.
If you are in need of financial support, please contact our front office at 760-297-5599, so that we may work with you. The front office team is happy to help with general field trip questions as well, so please reach out.
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. The menu for May 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!
May 21: Interest Meeting for Italy 2028 Trip (6:00 p.m.)
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)
June 12: 2nd Installment Payment Due for Catalina Field Trip
July 17: 3rd Installment Payment Due for Catalina Field Trip
August 13: First Day of 2026/2027 School Year!
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.
