The students and staff enjoyed a week of beautiful weather and classroom encounters that encouraged wonder, imagination, and curiosity. The staff also had a little fun on Friday, 9/25, as we worked "Nine to Five" and wore extra pink to celebrate the incredible life and works of Dolly Parton.
As we turn the calendar to October, we are prioritizing both student safety and character development across our campus. This week, all classrooms will participate in our H.E.R.O. Training program. Designed to better prepare our students and staff to respond effectively to dangerous situations, this training focuses on key safe-thinking skills and the protective responses of Hide, Escape, Run, and Overcome. We encourage parents to follow up with discussions at home to help reinforce these vital lessons.
Hand-in-hand with our safety preparedness, October also introduces our new monthly character focus: Adaptability.
Adaptability is far more than simply "going with the flow." Classical learning teaches us that while ultimate truth, goodness, and beauty are constant, our immediate circumstances constantly shift. Adaptability is the agility of mind and strength of character that allows a student to face unfamiliar problems, remain composed under pressure, and apply timeless principles to new situations. By learning how to adjust calmly, whether during classroom drills or challenging academic work, students realize that unexpected events are opportunities to grow rather than causes for fear.
As parents, you play a vital role in nurturing this spirit at home. A few practical ways to support your child's progress include:
Reframe Setbacks as Opportunities for Inquiry: When plans change unexpectedly or schoolwork gets tough, guide your child to view the moment as a puzzle. Ask questions such as, "What is another way we could approach this?"
Model Composure in the Face of Change:Children take their emotional cues from adults. Demonstrating patience,flexibility, and good humor when routines break down shows children how to navigate change gracefully.
Reinforce Safety Conversations at Home: Ask your child what they learned during H.E.R.O. week, helping them understand that preparation builds confidence, self-reliance, and security.
Maintain Stable Grounding Rhythms: True adaptability grows from a foundation of security. Keeping core household routines consistent, such as family meals, quiet reading times, and bedtimes, provides the stable anchor children need to adjust smoothly when outside variables shift.
When we model and encourage adaptability, we equip our children not only to respond wisely in any situation and succeed academically, but also to grow as virtuous young people who delight in learning.
Thank you, parents, for your continued partnership in this mission, and thank you to our amazing teachers for their initiative in developing such engaging lessons for our students. Go White Tigers!
Yours in learning,
Marc Gilbertson
Important Announcements:
H.E.R.O. WEEK: Beginning this week, all TK-12th grade AHCS students will participate in a week-long safety training called H.E.R.O. week. During the training, students will learn important safe-thinking skills associated with the protective responses of hide, escape, run, and overcome. During each day of H.E.R.O. training, students will participate in a thirty-minute daily lesson where they learn safe-thinking skills and personal empowerment strategies through age-appropriate activities, stories, and classroom discussions. These lessons will be most effective if they are followed by student-parent discussions at home.
The H.E.R.O. Program has been vetted by numerous focus groups consisting of students, teachers, school administrators, school psychologists, university faculty, law enforcement, and most importantly, parents. The AHCS staff is confident that the curriculum and training is not only age appropriate, but is in alignment with our school’s educational philosophy.
If you would like additional information about the curriculum, we encourage you to visit Safe Kids Inc.’s website. You can also download the free H.E.R.O. Companion Guides for Parents for different age-spans by clicking on the “Resources'' tab located on the top menu bar of the website. Parents may also access additional resources, including a guide for discussing school violence with children, as well as guides for younger and older students to help them think about safety.
October Scheduling Reminders: As we turn the calendar to the month of October, please mark your calendars with the following schedule notes:
School will be closed on Monday, October 12, for Columbus Day.
Monday, October 19 will be a non-student day to allow teachers to meet with parents for conferences.
During Parent-Teacher Conference week (Oct. 20–23), students will be dismissed at 2:00 p.m.
Thanks for planning ahead for these changes and for your flexibility and understanding!
Student Portraits Past Due: We hope you are pleased with the picture proofs that came home with your student. For those interested in purchasing photos, please visit the Gerardy website, and use the ordering information found on your child’s picture proofs.
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.
Free Family Fun: Explore Hands-On Science at Scripps Discovery Day! Join the Scripps Research Outreach team for Discovery Day on Saturday, October 3, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Scripps Research Auditorium Courtyard in La Jolla! This free event invites students and families to explore interactive activity stations, enjoy chemistry demonstrations, and chat with scientists in a fun, casual setting. It is a fantastic opportunity to experience hands-on scientific discovery and learn about the groundbreaking work happening right in our community. Pre-registration is requested—visit scripps.edu/discoveryday or scan the QR code on the linked flyer
to sign up.
October is Cyber Awareness Month || A Note from our Librarian, Mrs. El-Hayek: In our digital world, children are exposed to various online platforms, games, and social media. It's crucial for the children to understand how to navigate these spaces safely and responsibly. This is a great opportunity for parents to talk with their kids about staying safe on the internet. Parents should be involved and know what websites and apps their children are using, establish rules about screen time and create a balance between offline and online activities, discuss privacy and the importance of keeping personal information safe and private, and use parental controls to filter inappropriate content. Your kids look up to you! Be a good digital citizen and let us work together to make the internet a safe and positive place for our students. https://www.commonsense.org/education/family-resources.
Holiday Gift Fair Vendor Applications: Parents or community members interested in having a vendor booth at the Heritage Elementary Holiday Gift Fair and Open House on Thursday, November 19 from 5:00-7:30 p.m. are invited to complete a brief vendor application survey
to request a booth. Spaces are limited.
Wanted! Donated Baskets, Totes, and Containers: We need parents’ help in the month of October to collect items we can use to package the silent auction baskets for the Open House and Holiday Gift Fair. Please bring donated items to the front office or send them to school with your child.
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. For questions regarding student allergies or dietary restrictions, please contact our main office at (760) 737-3111.
Please note that menus are subject to change, but this week's scheduled menu is listed below. For the full month's menu, please visit the "Meal Menu" link, always available in the quick links above.
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 focusing on SINCERITY throughout September, Heritage Elementary School moves into October focused on ADAPTABILITY. Adaptability means the ability to quickly adjust to new or changing situations: recognizing changes around us and growing from them rather than getting upset or giving up. As Coach John Wooden famously stated, "Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out."
As October brings shifting autumn weather, schedule adjustments, and new academic milestones, adaptability keeps our growth steady. While sincerity grounds our intentions in genuine effort and authentic relationships, adaptability empowers students to face unexpected obstacles with poise and resilience. It encourages learners to pivot when plans change, embrace new methods of problem-solving, and treat every challenge as an opportunity to grow.
In the classroom, adaptability looks like:
Flexible Mindsets: Welcoming change and remaining open to new ways of doing things or solving problems.
Positive Resilience: Trying to make the most of any situation rather than getting frustrated when circumstances do not go as planned.
Action-Oriented Focus: Focusing on the things they are able to do rather than dwelling on obstacles or limitations.
For our classical education approach, adaptability reflects the practice of prudence, resourcefulness, and calm strength when navigating an ever-changing world. Clara Barton (1821–1912), a Civil War nurse, humanitarian leader, and founder of the American Red Cross, exemplified this virtue. She constantly adjusted to dangerous battlefield conditions to care for wounded soldiers and adapted international relief models to establish lasting humanitarian care. Clara Barton famously stated: "You must never think of anything except the need, and how to meet it."
Ways Our Students Are Practicing Adaptability
As seasonal routines shift and learning deepens this month, our students are putting adaptability into action through these specific habits:
Navigating Schedule Changes: Transitioning smoothly when weather, assemblies, special projects, or even between lessons require adjustments to the daily routine.
Embracing New Academic Challenges: Approaching unfamiliar concepts or complex assignments with curiosity rather than frustration, recognizing that struggle is part of growth.
Pivoting During Group Work: Listening to classmates' ideas and adjusting their own approach to collaborate effectively on shared goals.
Bouncing Back from Mistakes: Learning from incorrect answers or setbacks on assessments, using feedback to adjust strategies for next time.
Practicing Adaptability at School and Home
We encourage families to nurture this essential virtue at home through these small, meaningful habits:
Model a Positive Outlook: Demonstrate how to make the best of sudden plan changes, such as rainy day cancellations or unexpected errands, with a calm, cheerful attitude.
Focus on Solutions: When challenges arise, prompt your child by asking, "What is something within your control that you can do right now?"
Celebrate Flexibility: Highlight and praise moments when your child willingly adjusts to new rules, schedule shifts, or unexpected outcomes without complaint.
Family Activities to Build Adaptability
The "Pivot" Dinner Discussion: At dinner, invite family members to share one unexpected change from their week and how they successfully adjusted to it.
Clara Barton History Study: Read about Clara Barton’s life during the Civil War and discuss how her ability to adapt under pressure saved lives and helped found the American Red Cross.
Creative Plan-B Challenge: Play a family board game or build a project where rules slightly change mid-activity, encouraging everyone to practice flexible thinking and lighthearted cooperation.
Read Together: Explore stories that feature characters who adapt to change with courage and resourcefulness. Recommended titles include The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires, Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss, and child-friendly biographies of Clara Barton.
Affirmations for ADAPTABILITY and Memory Work for October:
I am adaptable.
I welcome change and am open to new ways of doing things.
I try to make the most of any situation.
I focus on the things I am able to do more than the things I cannot.
Campus Culture:
Homework Stars: Congratulations to this week's Homework Stars: Theresa in Mrs. Colwell's class, Blakely in Ms. Abed's class, Marcos in Miss Le Pere's class, Abigail in Ms. Andrews's class, Alina in Ms. Chmara's class, and Diego in Mrs. London's class. These students have consistently completed all of their homework! Keep up the good work, White Tigers!
Literacy Challenge: We're wrapping up our focus on the character trait of Sincerity! To help bring our monthly traits to life, students can visit the bulletin board by the front playground to solve a mystery word related to the theme using posted clues. Correct guesses will be entered into a drawing to win a prize, so be sure to ask your child about the clues they've spotted and encourage him or her to submit a guess!
Lost and Found: Missing a sweater, jacket, water bottle, or lunch box? Please check our lost and found (located just under the stairwell outside the main office) before or after school. Please take the time to label all of your child’s belongings, as it makes it easier to return the items to the correct owner. Thank you!
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.
Mark your calendars!
Monday, October 5 through Friday, October 9: 6th Grade Camp at Cuyamaca Outdoor School
Monday, October 12: Columbus Day (No School)
Friday, October 16: End of Second (Midterm) Grading Period
Monday, October 19: Non-Student Day for Parent-Teacher Conferences
Tuesday, October 20, through Friday, October 23: Modified School Days (2:00 p.m. Dismissal) for Parent Conferences
Friday, October 30: *Spirit Day* Crazy Hat, Hair, and Socks!
OUR MISSION IS TO FORM THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, THROUGH A RICH CORE CURRICULUM, WITH A PERSPECTIVE THAT CHERISHES TIMELESS VIRTUE AND THE AMERICAN SPIRIT.
