The team at Heritage Elementary School is thrilled to welcome our students and families back to campus for the start of the 2026–2027 school year! With the arrival of our newest kindergartners and new faces joining nearly every grade level, we are excited to see our community grow, flourish, and embark on this new chapter together.
Celebrating 30 Years of Enduring Values
This school year marks an extraordinary milestone: the 30th anniversary of American Heritage Charter Schools (AHCS). Since opening our doors in 1996 with Escondido Charter High School, our organization has stood as a proud beacon of educational choice and academic excellence.
For three decades, we have remained unwavering in our "back-to-basics" approach, a classical posture dedicated to forming both the hearts and minds of our students. We don’t just teach subjects; we inspire students to pursue what is good, true, and beautiful. This rich history provides a powerful backdrop for our White Tigers this year, connecting them to a thirty-year legacy of students who strive for excellence, cherish the things that endure, exemplify outstanding virtue, and embody the American spirit.
Virtue of the Month: Redefining "Ambition"
To kick off this celebratory year, our first Virtue of the Month is Ambition, drawn from Coach John Wooden’s famed Pyramid of Success. Coach Wooden carefully distinguished "proper ambition" from selfish ambition. He taught that true ambition is the deep desire to achieve noble goals through disciplined thinking, intentional action, and hard work—never at the expense of others.
In our classical education framework, this aligns perfectly with the ancient concepts of magnanimity (greatness of soul) and arete (moral excellence). We are teaching our White Tigers that true ambition is not about self-glorification; rather, it is the eager striving to develop one's talents to their highest potential in order to serve the community and honor truth. We will be highlighting and praising this noble ambition in our classrooms, during study, and out on the playground.
Our Vital Partnership: Setting the Tone for Excellence
Our partnership with parents is the cornerstone of our school’s mission. One of the most practical and powerful ways you can help your child cultivate disciplined ambition this year is by prioritizing regular, on-time attendance. Arriving with enough time to be unpacked and seated before the 8:00 a.m. morning bell rings sets an immediate tone of focus, peace, and respect for learning. Consistency in the morning builds the structural foundation our students need to approach their day with confidence and purpose.
Thank you for your continued trust, enthusiasm, and support as we celebrate 30 years of excellence. We are confident this will be a remarkable school year, and we are deeply grateful to share it with you. If I can be of help at any time, please do not hesitate to reach out. Go White Tigers!
Yours in learning,
Marc Gilbertson
Principal, Heritage Elementary School
Important Announcements:
Open House: We would like to encourage students and parents to meet teachers at our upcoming Open House, scheduled from 9:00 a.m.-11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, August 12. Please review the information below for more detailed information.
To help maintain a safe and orderly environment, we ask that families attend according to the following schedule:
Last Names A-L: 9:00-10:15 a.m.
Last Names M-Z: 10:30-11:45 a.m.
Please bring the schedule that was mailed home, or write down the name and room number of your child’s teacher.
Parking: Parents are encouraged to park in Lot 1 of the Escondido Center of Palomar College, located just east of our school. Limited parking will be available at Heritage Elementary School.
All students in kindergarten through 6th grade will visit their classrooms to meet the teacher, drop off school supplies, and pick up any materials or paperwork.
Grades 4-6: BEFORE visiting their classroom, students in grades 4-6 must FIRST visit the library to check out their textbooks.
All children must be accompanied by a parent and closely supervised.
Please bring a large tote bag or backpack to carry student textbooks home.
We will also have a used uniform swap available during the Open House.
First Day of School:We can’t wait to see all the students back on campus this Thursday, August 13, for the first day of school! Students may arrive as early as 7:35 a.m. and student dismissal will be at 2:45 p.m.
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.
Student Drop-off: We’d like to thank you in advance for your PATIENCE as we all get used to the procedures. Please help us with the following:
Student drop-off will occur in the carline or at the Zero-Period gate in front of the school.
Parents MAY NOT park in the parking lots for the shopping center, Yum-Yum Donuts, or Palomar College.
On the first day of school, only kindergarten parents will be permitted on campus in the morning to walk their children to class.
Please refrain from cell phone use while in the drop-off or pick-up lines.
Please stay in your vehicle in the carline; students will be escorted to and from your vehicle by staff.
Dismissal Reminders: We fully anticipate the dismissal process will take MUCH LONGER than usual during the start of the school year. Please help us by reviewing the following reminders:
Please be patient and respectful to staff and other drivers as we all get used to the new procedures.
There is limited parking in the front of campus—we encourage all drivers to use the carline for student pick-up.
Confirm all authorized drivers have been included on the Emergency Information Form.
Please display the PikMyKid placard for the duration of the pick-up time to expedite the pick-up process.
Consider downloading the PikMyKid app onto your mobile phone to help with student dismissal. You can use the app to “announce” your arrival for pick-up, to designate other authorized drivers, and more! Check out the Parent App User Guide for more information.
Important Paperwork: If you have not yet submitted the Household Income Verification Form
and the Student/Parent Handbook Acknowledgment Form
for your child(ren), please complete all documents as soon as possible. Help us reach our goal of 100% completion before the start of school on Thursday. Thank you in advance!
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.
Breakfast Reminder: Breakfast will be available for students to pick up in the multipurpose room (MPR) each morning ONLY between 7:35-7:50 a.m.
A Milk Substitution Form
is available from the main office or linked here for students who require Lactaid milk, soy milk, or oat milk.
Walk-off Authorization Forms: If your child will be 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.
Back-to-School BBQ (Wednesday, August 26): Help us serve up fun and food at our first school BBQ! We need volunteers to help with food service. Stop by or contact Mrs. Robles at the front desk.
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: Both the YMCA and Boys and Girls Club of Escondido are offering after-school programs this year for a limited number of Heritage Elementary students.
Once again, the YMCA Character Builders
program will be offered on the Heritage Elementary campus before and after school. Parents may reach out to their Youth Development Coordinator, Morgan Earle <mearle@ymcasd.org> for space in the program and more information about YMCA Character Builders.
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.
Cuyamaca Outdoor School (COS) Presentation and Open House: Heritage Elementary School is a proud supporter of Cuyamaca Outdoor School (COS), with the goal of sending all 6th-graders each year to this important rite of passage: Sixth Grade Camp! A representative from COS will visit Heritage Elementary School at 9:15 a.m. on Tuesday, August 25, to share information with students and parents about the COS experience. In addition, Cuyamaca Outdoor School will welcome families of 6th grade students to its Open House on September 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Follow this link for more information. We look forward to welcoming you, your students, and the community to COS and showcasing the countless benefits of outdoor education.
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
Virtue of the Month: Ambition
As we launch into a new school year, it’s a wonderful time to help students develop the mindset and habits that will serve them well all year long. While last year began with a look at self-control, this August we are focusing on AMBITION from Coach John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success. Fostering a healthy sense of ambition is a powerful way to start the school year strong, as it inspires students to look at the upcoming year with anticipation, set meaningful goals, and channel their energy into academic and personal growth.
Bringing Ambition to the Classroom
For a focal point in our first weeks of school, let’s encourage ambition by helping our students recognize their potential and embrace each day's unique possibilities. When students channel their ambition toward noble and worthy purposes rather than selfish goals, they build a foundation for true achievement. We can practice ambition from the very first day by arriving ready to learn, tackling new classroom challenges with confidence, and striving to be the best versions of ourselves. Below are some quotes from John Wooden and Abraham Lincoln that can help us better understand how ambition leads to human flourishing.
"I believe we are most likely to succeed when ambition is focused on noble and worthy purposes and outcomes rather than on goals set out of selfishness."
—Coach John Wooden
"Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition. Whether it be true or not, I can say for one that I have no other so great as that of being truly esteemed of my fellow men, by rendering myself worthy of their esteem."
—Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States
Monthly Affirmations & Memory Work
Here are the affirmations for AMBITION and the character-building memory work we will focus on at Heritage Elementary this month:
I am ambitious.
I am honest with myself and know that I am capable of great things.
I do what needs to be done because it is the right thing to do.
I view each day as one with abundant opportunities.
Campus Culture:
Social Media Pictures: We want to see those first day of school smiles! Take a picture with your school uniform and a creative “First Day of School” sign, and send the photos to amorgan@amhcs.org. Then, check out our social media sites for pictures of you and your classmates!
Soccer After-School Program: 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 in mid-September. Please be on the lookout for the flier with more information and how to register in the week to come.
Summer Reading Program: If you enjoyed some great books this summer, remember to fill out this reading log, and bring it to school with you. You could earn a free T-shirt for meeting the goal for your grade level:
1st graders — 60 pages (7 books)
2nd graders — 250 pages (20 books)
3rd graders — 400 pages
4th graders — 500 pages
5th graders — 600 pages
6th graders — 700 pages
Mark your calendars!
Wednesday, August 12: Open House & Book Checkout
Students with Last Names A-L: 9:00-10:15 a.m.
Students with Last Names M-Z: 10:30-11:45 a.m.
Thursday, August 13: First Day of School!
Tuesday, August 25: 6th Grade Camp Presentation, 9:15 a.m.
Wednesday, August 26: Back to School BBQ!
Friday, August 28: Class Color *Spirit Day*
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)
