This past week was action-packed at Heritage Elementary! Between Mr. Dustin’s 6th-Grade Camp Presentation, the Welcome Back BBQ, and Class Color Spirit Day, our campus was bright with excitement. A special thank-you goes out to the dedicated parent volunteers who braved the excessive heat and humidity to serve lunch to nearly 650 students at the BBQ. We could not have done it without your support. Friday was especially memorable as our campus filled with vibrant colors for Spirit Day and our first "Wooden Wins!" assembly, where we celebrated August's virtue of ambition through silly jokes, loud chants, and friendly challenges sprinkled with some water fun to help students cool down on the turf.
September Virtue Focus:Sincerity
As we turn the calendar from August to September, our monthly virtue shifts from ambition to sincerity. At Heritage, we define sincerity as being truthful in our words, authentic in our actions, and dependable in our commitments. Throughout September, our team will be celebrating students who practice genuine honesty, show transparency in their choices, and treat others with heartfelt kindness. You can support this virtue at home by discussing what it means to speak with sincere care and stand by one's word, even when no one is watching.
School Picture Day Details (Tuesday)
Our main event this week is School Picture Day on Tuesday. A few key reminders to ensure a seamless morning:
Outfit Selection: Students should wear clean, dress-code-compliant attire. Solid or jewel-toned colors photograph best; please avoid busy patterns, large text, or logos.
Ordering Information: No money is required on picture day; families will receive picture proofs in a couple of weeks with information about how to order.
A Genuine Smile: Connecting nicely with our monthly virtue, please remind your child that his or her best picture reflects an authentic, natural smile.
We hope you enjoyed a restful weekend. We look forward to wrapping up August on a high note and stepping into September grounded in sincerity.
Yours in learning,
Marc Gilbertson
Important Announcements:
School Picture Day This Week: School pictures will take place this Tuesday, September 1. School picture day is a free dress day, but please refer to the “Dress for Success” guidelines.
Back-to-School Night: We look forward to welcoming all parents of students in kindergarten through 6th grade to our Back-to-School Night on Thursday, September 10. Please join us on the turf at 6:30 p.m. before visiting your child’s classroom. Parking will be limited at Heritage Elementary School, so we are encouraging parents to use Lots 1 and 2 of Palomar College’s Escondido Center, located at the corner of Midway Drive and East Valley Parkway.
Soccer After-School Program STARTS this Week: Delanos Soccer Academy is a quality non-competitive after-school enrichment program for students in grades 1-6 that allows young players to learn, improve their skills and enjoy soccer in a positive, fun and safe environment! Soccer training will be held on the turf at Heritage Elementary on Wednesdays from 3:15-4:15 p.m. starting September 2. Registration is now open, so check out the flier
for more information and how to register.
Cheer Clinic: 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 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at Heritage Elementary School on Tuesday, September 15 and Thursday, September 17. White Tigerettes will then cheer during the first and second quarter of the varsity game on Friday, September 18 at Escondido High School. We look forward to seeing you at our Fall Clinic! Sign up at this link, or check out this flier for more information.
On Time, All the Time: All students need to be in their seats and ready to learn each morning before the 8:00 a.m. starting bell.
Student drop-off begins at 7:35 a.m. (note: no supervision for students will be available before 7:35 a.m.).
Breakfast will be available for students in the MPR each school day until 7:50 a.m.
Mondays are modified days with 2:00 p.m. dismissal.
Tuesdays through Fridays are regular days with 2:45 p.m. student dismissal.
Now would be a great time to check out the bell schedule
and enter the scheduled 12:00 noon minimum days on your family calendar.
A Note Regarding School Lunches: To ensure our students have a focused and uninterrupted learning environment, we kindly ask parents to avoid dropping off lunches at the main office. While we know life gets busy, midday deliveries create significant logistical challenges. Due to high office volume, we cannot guarantee that dropped-off meals will reach students before their scheduled lunch period ends. To help your student have a smooth lunch break, please ensure your child arrives at school with a packed lunch in the morning or chooses a lunch provided by our school-lunch program. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our front office efficient and our classrooms free of distractions!
Free Breakfast and Lunch Program: Every Heritage Elementary student is eligible for a nutritious, no-cost breakfast
and lunch, with no application required. The monthly menu will be included each week in the Heritage notes. For questions regarding student allergies or dietary restrictions, please contact our main office at (760) 737-3111.
Walk-off Authorization Forms: If your child is walking home after school, a Walk-off Authorization Form will need to be completed and kept on file in the front office. All authorization forms must be approved by the Principal before students will be permitted to walk off campus, so please submit this form to the front office as soon as possible.
Calling on Volunteers!: There are so many wonderful ways for parents, grandparents, and family members to support our students and school community this year. Whether you have 30 minutes or a few hours, we’d love to have you on board!
Library Support: If you love books, organization, and seeing kids fall in love with reading, Mrs. El-Hayek needs your help in the library! If interested, contact Mrs. El-Hayek at hk6library@amhcs.org.
Campus & Classroom Support: From working with students in classrooms to supervising lunch recess, there are endless ways to make a difference throughout the year. Reach out to the main office at (760) 737-3111.
After-School Programs: There is still space available for our students in the after-school program offered at the Boys and Girls Club; students in this after-school program are bussed after school from our campus to their Escondido location on Woodard Avenue. Parents and guardians interested in the Boys and Girls Club program are requested to call (760) 746-3315 for more information.
Medications on Campus: If your student needs to take medication (prescription or over-the-counter) during school hours, you must submit a completed Medication Authorization Form. This form must be filled out by your healthcare provider, and a parent signature is required. Medication must be in its original container. All medications will be stored in the nurse’s office. Please contact Mrs. Janelle Garcia at nurse@amhcs.org if you have any questions.
YMCA Adventure Clubs: This enriching program offers a unique outdoor bonding opportunity for girls and their dads. Multiple Heritage families participate in this program, and they'd like to share it with you! Meet new friends, learn valuable life skills, and have a great time in a safe, wholesome environment with weekend camping experiences at some of the most amazing southern California outdoor destinations. Clubs are also available for dads & sons, moms & daughters, and moms & sons. Please check out the Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA website
for more information.
Wooden Wins! Pyramid of Success
After launching our school year in August with Ambition, Heritage Elementary School moves into September focused on SINCERITY. Sincerity means being real, honest, and true in what we say and do: speaking and acting genuinely from the heart, without pretending or trying to trick others. As Coach John Wooden famously stated, "Sincerity may not help us make friends, but it will help us keep them."
As September brings our first full month of the semester, classroom expectations expand and academic momentum grows. Sincerity ensures that our ambition is grounded in genuine effort and authentic relationships. It encourages students to move past superficial pretense and focus on true character, honest scholarship, and lasting bonds with classmates and teachers.
In the classroom, sincerity looks like:
Authentic Effort: Giving genuine, wholehearted effort on daily assignments, rather than seeking shortcuts or doing the bare minimum.
Truthful Speech: Expressing oneself in a truthful, genuine way, admitting mistakes, and taking full responsibility for one's actions.
Pure Intentions: Acting out of the goodness of one's heart rather than solely for praise, external recognition, or the promise of a reward.
For our classical education approach, sincerity is directly connected to the pursuit of Truth. In a classical learning environment, we seek knowledge with an open and honest heart. Benjamin Franklin (American Founding Father, scientist, and writer) famously selected sincerity as one of his core virtues for a successful life, writing: "Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly."
Ways Our Students Are Practicing Sincerity
As our daily schedule settles into full gear this month, our students are putting sincerity into action through these specific habits:
Building Lasting Friendships: Following the initial excitement of August, students are focusing on genuine kindness and loyalty, learning Coach Wooden's lesson that sincerity helps us build and keep deep, trusted friendships.
Honest Academic Engagement: As the pace of study increases across all subjects, students practice sincerity by asking genuine questions when confused and submitting work that reflects their true best effort.
Taking Personal Responsibility: When missteps occur on the playground or in class, students practice owning their actions honestly without making excuses or shifting blame.
Authentic Class Discussions: During recitations and Socratic discussions, students express their true thoughts respectfully and speak genuinely from the heart.
Practicing Sincerity at School and Home
We encourage families to nurture this essential virtue at home through these small, meaningful habits:
Speak with Integrity: Practice saying what you mean and meaning what you say, ensuring your words and actions are genuine and free of deceit.
Act Without Expecting Rewards: Encourage your child to serve around the house or help a sibling simply from the goodness of their heart, rather than for a prize or token.
Own Your Mistakes: Model and celebrate the courage it takes to admit mistakes truthfully and take immediate responsibility to make things right.
Family Activities to Build Sincerity
The Heart-to-Heart Check-In: At dinner, invite family members to share a moment from their day where speaking or acting truthfully brought clarity or strengthened a relationship.
Benjamin Franklin Virtue Study: Read about Benjamin Franklin's list of 13 virtues and discuss why he believed sincerity was essential for a healthy community and country.
Sincere Gratitude Notes: Write a handwritten note to a teacher, mentor, or family member expressing specific, heartfelt appreciation without expecting anything in return.
Read Together: Explore stories that highlight truthfulness, integrity, and genuine heart. Recommended titles include: The Empty Pot by Demi, The Honest-to-Goodness Truth by Patricia C. McKissack, and child-friendly biographies of Benjamin Franklin.
Affirmations for SINCERITY and Memory Work for September:
I am sincere.
I express myself in a truthful and genuine way.
I act from the goodness of my heart, not the promise of reward.
I take responsibility for my actions.
Campus Culture:
Homework Stars: Congratulations to this week's Homework Stars: Scarlett in Mrs. Colwell's class, Stella in Ms. Garduno's class, Jameson in Ms. Abed's class, Daylanie in Miss Le Pere's class, Maggie in Mrs. Andrews's class, Nicolas in Ms. Chmara's class, and Katie in Mrs. London's class. These students have consistently completed all of their homework! Keep up the good work, White Tigers!
Little Free Library:Our campus Little Free Library, available exclusively to Heritage staff, students, and families, is in need of books! It’s time to recycle those books your students have outgrown or finished over the summer. Books for grades TK through 6th grade can be placed directly in our Library box, or larger donations can be dropped off in the front office.
Thank you, Parent Volunteers, for the BBQ! The students and staff enjoyed the annual Back-to-School BBQ. It was wonderful seeing everyone enjoy the food and fellowship together. What a great way to start our semester! Big thanks to all the parents who volunteered to help out. We couldn’t have done it without you.
Mark your calendars!
Tuesday, September 1: School Picture Day
Monday, September 7: Labor Day (No School)
Thursday, September 10: Back to School Night, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Friday, September 11: Red, White, and Blue *Spirit Day* & Patriot Day Assembly
Thursday, September 17: Academic Awards (Grades 5-6)
Monday, September 21: Minimum Day (12:00 noon dismissal) AHCS Staff Development
Monday, October 5 through Friday, October 9: 6th Grade Camp at Cuyamaca Outdoor School
Monday, October 12: Columbus Day (No School)
OUR MISSION IS THE FORMATION OF THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, THROUGH A RICH CURRICULUM, WITH A PERSPECTIVE THAT CHERISHES TIMELESS VIRTUE AND THE AMERICAN SPIRIT.
