We want to extend our sincere thanks to all the families who joined us on campus for Parent-Teacher Conferences. Your willingness to partner with our dedicated teachers to discuss your child's success is invaluable. The positive academic and behavioral progress we're seeing is a direct testament to this strong home-school collaboration and the tireless efforts of our amazing teachers and instructional aides.
Please keep an eye out for your child's Progress Notices this week, which were mailed home to parents this week. These reports offer valuable insights into your child's learning journey, highlighting demonstrated strengths and identifying areas for growth in the weeks ahead.
S.T.E.A.M. in Action: Farm-to-Fork
The past week’s highlight was undoubtedly the third-grade "farm-to-fork" experience through our S.T.E.A.M. program! During their second visit to the Deanna Smith Ranch in Escondido, students dove into a hands-on learning experience. They participated in an art project, planted new row crops using seeds they sprouted themselves, and harvested fresh tomatoes. The day culminated in a delicious meal: a fresh salad and spaghetti squash with marinara sauce, all made with local, organic ingredients, many of which came from the farm. We are so fortunate to be surrounded by a vibrant community that provides such memorable, enriching field trips for every grade level.
Looking Ahead: Spirit Day & Assemblies
As we return to our regular schedule, get ready for some fun! This Friday is a spirit day. Let's unleash our inner creativity! Encourage your child to participate by showing off their wackiest hat, wildest hair, or most unique socks. We'll finish the week by celebrating our school's values at our character assemblies, which will feature a special musical performance from our talented second- and fourth-grade students.
We are incredibly grateful for how our Heritage families continue to foster a sense of wonder, curiosity, and commitment to learning in their children. Let's make this week another one where exploration thrives. Go White Tigers!
Yours in learning,
Marc Gilbertson
Important Announcements:
Mid-Semester Progress Notices: Following a successful week of parent-teacher conferences, the staff at Heritage Elementary School mailed copies of student progress reports to all families that should arrive soon if they haven’t already.
Spirit Day on Friday! Crazy Hats, Crazy Hair, and Crazy Socks: This Friday, October 31, is a spirit day. It’s time to dust off your wacky hats, try on your wildest hair-dos, and wear your most unique socks. We can’t wait to see your crazy styles!
No Costumes on Halloween: As a friendly reminder, students are NOT permitted to wear costumes to school on Halloween. We are looking forward to our upcoming Spirit Days: Crazy Hats, Hair, and Socks this Friday, Pajama Day on November 21, and Superhero/Disney Day on December 5.
Free Meals for All Students Starting Monday, November 3:We’re excited to announce that beginning Monday, November 3, all students at Heritage Elementary and Heritage Junior High School may receive free breakfast and lunch each school day—no applications or forms required. Please note that breakfast will only be available for students to pick up in the MPR from 7:35-7:50 a.m. each morning. To help us plan meal service and ordering, we ask every family to complete a brief interest survey for each child enrolled at Heritage Elementary. Your response—whether or not your child plans to participate—will help us prepare for a smooth start.👉 Click here to complete the survey.
Fall Book Fair Presented by Literati: Our online book fair is now open! Use this link to get a head start on finding new favorite books, games, and more. Don't forget to check out your teacher's wishlist while you're there! Then join us at our in-person fair from November 14–November 20.
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. For more family resources, check out the Common Sense website.
Kids Free October! San Diego Museums: All month long, kids 12 and under receive FREE admission with a paid adult to more than 50 of San Diego County’s favorite museums, historic sites, aquariums, gardens and more. Many are even free for the whole family! View a list of all coupons here
or plan your trip today at SanDiego.org
and get ready to explore!
AHCS Musical Theater presents The Wizard of Oz: Ready to see a musical that will give you all the feels? Join us as American Heritage Charter School students of all ages showcase their talents in this year’s production of The Wizard of Oz! This show is guaranteed to make your heart grow three sizes, and you’ll quickly realize there's no place like the theater! Just follow the yellow brick road to a show packed with heart, brains, and courage, incredible songs, and spectacular sights. Tickets are on sale now, with shows at the American Spirit Theater on the Escondido Charter High School campus from November 6-9. Check out the show times below, and click here
to purchase your tickets. It's a gale-force of fun you won't want to miss!
SHOWTIMES
Thursday, November 6*: 4:30 p.m. (EMERALD CAST)
*ECHS Students $6 cash at the door while supplies last
Friday, November 7: 7:00 p.m. (RUBY CAST)
Saturday, November 8
2:00 p.m. (RUBY CAST)
7:00 p.m. (EMERALD CAST)
Sunday, November 9
2:00 p.m. (EMERALD CAST)
7:00 p.m. (RUBY CAST)
Important Calendar Note: We are looking forward to our upcoming fall event–the annual Holiday Gift Fair, Open House, and Book Fair on Thursday, November 20. We hope each family will join us for a night that is sure to be a memorable one. There will be opportunities to visit classrooms, purchase gifts from vendors, explore our book fair, bid on silent auction baskets, enjoy food from a variety of vendors, and participate in fun activities. Looking ahead, students in grades K-3 will perform in two separate Christmas Holiday Concerts scheduled toward the end of the semester. Stay tuned for more information!
Silent Auction Basket Donations: We are excited to host a silent auction at this year’s Holiday Gift Fair, and we could use your help! We are looking for donations for our themed baskets. Check out this flier for the grade level themes. If you are able to contribute any items, you can send them in with your child or bring the item(s) directly to the front office. Thank you in advance for your donations!
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.
Consortio Parent Meeting: Be sure to mark your calendars for November 12 at 8:30 a.m. for our session entitled “Creating a Culture of Joy.” The meeting will be in Room #1 of the TK/Flex Home Learning building located directly in front of the main office of Heritage Elementary School. Any questions? Please reach out to Jill Thomas at jthomas@amhcs.org.
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.
AMERICAN HERITAGE CHARTER SCHOOLS 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR LOTTERY INFORMATION: Lotteries for the 2026-2027 school year are NOW OPEN for all programs. Applications are not required for currently enrolled students, but new siblings must submit a lottery application.
Escondido Charter High School: Lottery applications for enrollment in the high school programs are available online athttps://amhcs.org/echs/echs-admissions/. The Escondido Charter High school lottery closes on January 9, 2026. Please contact the main office at 760-737-3154 if you have any questions.
Heritage Elementary School: Lottery applications are available online athttps://amhcs.org/heritage-elementary-school/hes-admissions/. The lottery closes on February 6, 2026. Please contact the Heritage Elementary office at 760-737-3111 if you have any questions.
Heritage Junior High: Lottery applications are available online at https://amhcs.org/heritage-junior-high-school/hjhs-admissions/. The lottery closes on February 6, 2026. Please contact the Heritage Junior High office at 760-294-5599 if you have any questions.
Heritage Flex Academy: Lottery applications are available online athttps://amhcs.org/hfa/hfa-admissions/. The lottery closes on February 6, 2026. Please contact the Heritage Flex Academy office at 760-466-1166 if you have any questions.
Wooden Wins! Pyramid of Success
Virtue of the Month: Initiative
Throughout October, our school will focus on INITIATIVE, a foundational block in Coach John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success. Initiative is about being proactive, taking the first step, acting with courage, and pursuing what is good without waiting to be prompted. It helps students grow in confidence, develop responsibility, and discover the joy of purposeful effort.
In the classroom, initiative shows up in habits like starting work promptly, asking thoughtful questions, and looking for opportunities to help others. In classical education, this ties directly to the tradition of wonder and inquiry, where true learning begins with the student’s own eagerness to explore truth, goodness, and beauty. Initiative fuels curiosity and empowers students to grow as lifelong learners.
Here are some ways our students have been practicing initiative at school:
Kindergarteners read the book called The Smart Cookie and discussed taking the initiative to try new things in order to discover your own strengths and talents.
Students in fifth grade have been learning about poetry, and several students demonstrated initiative by writing their own poetry.
One of our instructional aides, Mrs. Carr, took initiative in proposing some improvements to our playgrounds and the variety of recess activities available for our students.
Third graders read The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and talked about how we can take initiative to make a difference in our communities.
Practicing Initiative at School and Home
This month, we encourage families and students to nurture initiative through small but meaningful daily actions:
Take the first step: Begin homework without reminders and complete it with care.
Be curious: Ask “why” and “how” questions to deepen your understanding.
Look for ways to serve: Offer to help at home or in class before being asked.
Family Activities to Build Initiative
Independent Project: Encourage your child to choose a topic they’re curious about and share what they learn with the family.
Chore Challenge: Have your child surprise the family by completing a household chore without being asked.
Role Models of Initiative: Read short biographies of historical figures—such as Clara Barton, George Washington, or Helen Keller—and discuss how their initiative shaped history.
"We must not be afraid to act. If we are afraid to do something for fear of making a mistake, we will not do anything at all. That is the worst mistake of all. You learn from adversity. We get stronger through adversity." —Coach John Wooden
Here are some affirmations for INITIATIVE and memory work for October:
I take initiative.
I do the right thing without being told.
I am willing to work hard and take personal responsibility.
I am courageous and learn from my mistakes.
Campus Culture:
Homework Stars: Congratulations to this week's Homework Stars: Dylan in Mrs. Colwell's class, Lyla in Ms. Garduno's class, Avaree in Ms. Abed's class, Micah in Miss Le Pere's class, Nico in Mrs. Andrews's class, David in Ms. Chmara's class, and Aaron in Miss Everett's class. These students have consistently completed all of their homework! Keep up the good work, White Tigers!
Lost and Found: Missing a sweater, jacket, water bottle, or lunch box? Please check our lost and found (located just under the stairwell outside of 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!
Calling on Volunteers!: There are so many ways parents, grandparents, and family members can get involved to support our students and the school. For instance, we would love to have volunteers to participate during school BBQs and events, lead student reading groups during the school day, help supervise during recess or lunch, copy papers or assemble packets for teachers, and so much more. Interested in being a contributing member of our school community? Please contact the main office at (760) 737-3111.
Mark your calendars!
Friday, October 31: *Spirit Day* Crazy Hair, Hat, and Socks (note: Halloween costumes are not permitted)
Thursday, November 6 through Sunday, November 9:The Wizard of Oz Performances
Tuesday, November 11: No School (Veterans Day)
Friday, November 14 through Friday, November 21: Book Fair
Thursday, November 20:
Minimum Day (and no ELO-P)
Open House/Holiday Gift Fair
Friday, November 21: Pajama Spirit Day
Monday-Friday, November 24-28: Thanksgiving Vacation
Our mission is to develop the hearts and minds of students with a rigorous core curriculum, with a perspective that cherishes timeless virtues and the American spirit.
