Dear Heritage Families,

As the semester draws to a close and the joyous holiday season approaches, I want to take a moment to reflect on the remarkable journey we've shared. It has been a privilege to witness the growth, enthusiasm, and incredible accomplishments of our White Tigers. From challenging end-of-semester projects to engaging classroom activities, your children have truly shined!

I am especially proud to share some exceptional news regarding our commitment to safety. This past Monday, we hosted the Escondido Fire Department for the observation of a campus evacuation drill. The fire crew, led by Captain Tebbe, offered a phenomenal compliment: he stated that our Heritage Elementary students were the most well-behaved and organized he has ever encountered during a school drill. This high praise is a direct reflection of our students' maturity and our staff's dedication to preparedness. Congratulations to everyone for upholding such high standards.

With just four school days remaining until Christmas Break, our upper-grade students are wrapping up their final exams. Please help them finish strong by emphasizing the importance of a good night's sleep and a nutritious breakfast each morning.

We have a few important notes to ensure a smooth conclusion to the semester:

• Early Dismissal: On Monday we have our regular 2:00 p.m. dismissal; however, please note the special schedule for our final three days: Students will be dismissed early at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this week.

• Holiday Sweater Day: To celebrate the end of a successful semester, we invite all students and staff to wear their festive Christmas and Holiday sweaters this Thursday!

The upcoming break is the perfect opportunity to relax, recharge, and enjoy quality time together as a family. I encourage you to celebrate your child’s successes and perhaps take a moment to discuss new goals for the second semester.

On behalf of the entire Heritage Elementary staff, I wish you and your family a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season! We look forward to welcoming everyone back in the New Year.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Go White Tigers!

Yours in learning,
Marc Gilbertson

• Monday, December 15: Modified Day with 2:00 p.m. student dismissal
• Tuesday, December 16 through Thursday, December 18: Minimum Days with 12:00 noon student dismissal
  • There will be no after-school tutorials during the final week of school.
  • Thanks in advance for having students picked up on time.
• Thursday, December 18: *SPIRIT DAY* Festive Holiday Sweaters 
• Friday, December 19: NO SCHOOL for students--the first day of Christmas Break!

• Tuesday, December 16: Kindergarten and 2nd Grade Christmas Concert @ 8:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, December 17: 1st Grade and 3rd Grade Christmas Concert @ 8:30 a.m.

• Parking will be available in Lot 1 of the Escondido Center of Palomar College, just a brief walk from our campus. 
• Parents and family members will be able to sign in and out at the 0-Period Gate. The gate will open at approximately 8:05 a.m.

• Leggings or tights can be worn under shorts, skorts, and skirts but must be either solid navy blue, white, or maroon.
• All bottoms must be a uniform type material. No denim, jeans, sweats, leggings (worn as pants), cargo pants, or sweatpants are permitted.
• Sweaters, sweatshirts, and hoodies must be either solid navy blue, white, or maroon.
• On especially cold days, outerwear (in the form of winter jackets, parkas, and rain jackets) can be any color but may only be worn outside.

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.

Spring Softball Registration is OPEN! Get ready for an exciting 2026 season with the Escondido Girls Softball League (EGSL)! All girls, from ages 6U through 14U, are invited to sign up for skill-building, teamwork, and fun.

Key Dates:

Register now at www.egsl.org or check out the softball flier for more details.

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. 

Virtue of the Month: Condition

Throughout December, our school will focus on CONDITION, a foundational block in Coach John Wooden's Pyramid of Success. Condition, in Wooden's philosophy, is not just about physical fitness; it is about being mentally, morally, and physically prepared to perform at your best. It means taking care of your whole self so you can withstand the challenges required for great achievement.

Condition requires us to live with moderation and balance in all areas. It helps students build the stamina and resilience necessary for sustained effort, ensuring they have the energy—and the character—to finish strong and handle success or adversity well.

In the classroom, condition looks like:

• Mental Preparedness: Being alert, focused, and ready to learn when the bell rings.
• Physical Care: Getting sufficient sleep, eating nutritious food, and having regular exercise to ensure the body supports the mind.
• Moral Integrity: Taking responsibility for one's actions and maintaining the self-control necessary for good decisions.

For our classical education approach, condition ties into the tradition of cultivating the whole person, the heart and the mind, to recognize that academic excellence depends on well-ordered habits of life. It emphasizes the virtue of moderation.

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Ways Our Students Are Practicing Condition

This last week, many of our students demonstrated condition by performing during Music in Action, an opportunity for students to display talents in music class. Students displayed a variety of talents and were encouraged by applause and compliments from their classmates!

As we head into the final week of school, with many students taking final exams, preparedness and balanced habits will be especially important. We encourage all students to remember:

• Focus on rest and preparation by ensuring they have their necessary materials (pencils, books, homework) ready the night before school to minimize morning rush and mental stress.
• Practice mindfulness and movement breaks to restore their mental energy during long study or reading sessions.
• Demonstrate mental condition by reviewing materials consistently (e.g., spending 5-10 minutes each night reviewing memory work, spelling words, or notes), rather than waiting until the last minute before a test.
• Consistently take responsibility for your actions and use language that promotes a healthy, supportive, and respectful environment for their peers during collaborative projects.

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Practicing Condition at School and Home

We encourage families and students to embrace moderation and balanced living through these small, meaningful actions, especially during the busy holiday season:

• Prioritize Rest: Establish and stick to a consistent bedtime, even when school is out, as sleep is foundational for mental and physical condition.
• Feed the Mind and Body: Choose nutritious snacks and meals, and balance screen time with time spent reading, playing, or engaging in physical activity.
• Practice Self-Control: Moderate your time and commitments to avoid feeling overwhelmed, ensuring you have the emotional and mental energy needed for daily tasks.

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Family Activities to Build Condition

• The Daily Check-in: Before bedtime, conduct a brief family check-in where you discuss: "What did we do today to take care of our bodies? Our minds? Our character?"
• Structured Breaks: Plan a 30-minute family walk or outdoor activity during study breaks to emphasize the link between physical condition and mental clarity.
• Readiness Routine: Work together to create and follow a simple, consistent morning and evening routine that ensures all necessary items are prepared and everyone is well-rested.
• Read Together: Practice mindfulness by engaging in stories together. Read lengthy texts together, one chapter at a time, or enjoy short stories or nonfiction texts. For some titles that emphasize condition, check out these read alouds: Salt in His Shoes, The Couch Potato, and Flying High.

"Mental, moral, physical. Rest, exercise and diet must be considered. Moderation must be practiced. Dissipation must be eliminated." —Coach John Wooden

Here are some affirmations for CONDITION and memory work for December:

• I am conditioned.
• I make choices that are good for my body and mind.
• I learn new things every day and give my best efforts even during difficult tasks.
• I practice moderation.

Homework Stars: Congratulations to this week's Homework Stars: Sebastian in Ms. Luis's class, Brielle in Mrs. Martineau's class, Daniel in Mrs. Scarpello's class, Huber in Mrs. Seavello's class, Laura in Ms. Hoffman's class, and Josue in Mrs. Lau'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.