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Week 2: August 18-22

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
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Principal's Note:

Dear Heritage Families,

We enjoyed a fantastic start to the new school year at Heritage Elementary School!

It was wonderful to see so many families at the Open House, full of excitement for the year ahead. We are thrilled to have your children back in the classrooms, where our teachers have already begun building strong relationships, establishing routines, and creating a welcoming learning environment. The energy on campus is incredible, and we've already accomplished a great deal in just two days!
Looking Ahead
Our first full week promises even more excitement as students begin their enrichment classes in art, music, and physical education. We know they will love exploring their creative and athletic talents!  This month's spotlight is on Self-Control, a key virtue of the Pyramid of Success. As we dive into a rigorous core curriculum, self-control is essential for a successful academic year. It's the foundation that enables students to stay focused, manage their emotions, and make informed choices, all of which are essential for a productive learning environment. This aligns perfectly with our mission to develop both the hearts and minds of our students by cherishing timeless virtues and building strong character.

Partnering for Success
We are so grateful for your trust and partnership. Together, we can ensure every student feels a sense of belonging and is equipped to thrive. We encourage you to continue showing interest in your child's school day by asking questions and looking through their work. A great way to nurture their natural curiosity and build on what they're learning is to ask:
  • What do you notice?
  • What do you wonder?
  • What does it remind you of?

As we elevate our academic expectations this week, these conversations at home will be more important than ever.

On behalf of the entire Heritage Elementary faculty and staff, thank you for being a vital part of our school community. We look forward to a year of learning, growth, and success.

Yours in learning,
Marc Gilbertson
 
 
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Important Announcements:

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 available before 7:35 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 and Dismissal: As one would expect, getting over 650 students safely on and off campus on one of the busiest streets in Escondido is a challenging feat! We’d like to thank you for your patience as we work toward improving our processes on a daily basis. Here are some tips and guidelines as we head into Week 2:

Drop-off: 
  • Student drop-off will occur in the carline or at the Zero-Period gate in front of the school. With limited parking, we highly recommend the use of our carline when possible. 
  • When using the carline, we ask that parents stay in their vehicles; students will be escorted to and from their vehicles by our carline staff members. 
  • Starting this week, we ask that all parents say their good-byes at the gate or at the car.
  • Parents MAY NOT park in the parking lots for the shopping center, Yum-Yum Donuts, or Palomar College. Please refrain from dropping students off in the shopping center west of the Heritage Elementary campus. There is no crosswalk, so it is not a safe option for students.

Dismissal: 
  • We do not dismiss students before the end of the school day, which means the carline will not move before 2:45 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 2:00 p.m. on Mondays.
  • Pro-Tip: Consider arriving at school after student dismissal has begun.
  • Confirm all authorized drivers have been included on the Emergency Information Card (note: changes may only be made in person by a parent or guardian).
  • Picking up students at the gate:
    • Check the student(s) in at the gate by providing the student number(s). If the parent has “announced” the student on the app, it is still necessary to check in with the staff member at the gate to ensure that the student is put into the “active” line and is therefore dismissed by the teacher. 
    • Wait in the designated area for the student(s). Kindergarten parents may pick up their child at the tables, but please enter the Kindergarten dismissal area through the playground side, not the carline side. 
    • Check out with the gate attendant by providing the child’s name. 
  • Picking up students in the carline: Please display the green or pink  PikMyKid placard for the duration of the pick-up time to expedite the pick-up process.  
    • Pro-Tip: After children have been loaded in the car, place the placard out of view from the staff to communicate that the process is complete.
    • If using the PikMyKid app, please note that students still need to be checked in with our check-in staff in order to be placed into the “Active” line. 
    • For more information about the app, check out the Parent App User Guide or, for our newest PikMyKid users, check out the Parent App Video Registration Video (5:35 min) 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 100% completion! Thank you in advance!   

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. 

Grade Portal Access for Parents (Grades 4-6): ParentVUE is a wonderful tool for parents to monitor their child's education. If you already have an account, you do not need to do anything at this time.  If you are new to any of our schools, please use the link below to create your account.  As a parent, you will be able to register for ParentVUE and access your child(ren)'s information through the parent portal. Please click this link to begin activation of your account. For more detailed step-by-step information, you may access a support document here.

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.

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 at Heritage Elementary School from Monday, September 15 to Thursday, September 18. Check-in will take place at 3:15 p.m., clinic will begin at 3:30 p.m., and it will end at 5 pm. If your student is in ELO-P, we will work with the teacher for them to attend. White Tigerettes will cheer the first and second quarter of the varsity game on Friday, September 19 at Orange Glen 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. 

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 check out the flyers in English or Spanish to register. Parents may reach out to their Youth Development Coordinator, Stephanie Kohler <skohler@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 for the 2025-2026 school year; the forms from the last school year are no longer valid. This medication 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.

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.

Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Library book exchange boxes. Studies have repeatedly shown that books in the hands of children have a meaningful impact on improving literacy. The more books in or near the home, the more likely a child will learn and love to read. Through Little Free Library book exchanges, millions of books are exchanged each year, profoundly increasing access to books for readers of all ages and backgrounds. Heritage Elementary is proud to join the thousands of boxes in the Little Free Library network.

The way it works is simple. If you see something you would like to read, take it! When you're finished, share it with a friend, bring it back here, or leave it in another Little Free Library. It's up to everyone to keep this Library full of good reads! Bring books to share when you can, and continue being a friend of Little Free Libraries everywhere.

Visit littlefreelibrary.org for more information or to learn how to start your own book-exchange box in your neighborhood. You can also download the Little Free Library app for your phone and use the map to find other boxes in our community.

Cuyamaca Outdoor School (COS) 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! This year, Cuyamaca Outdoor School will welcome families of 6th grade students to its Open House on September 13, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (please see the linked flier in English or Spanish). We look forward to welcoming you, your students, and 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, and for details on the upcoming Adventure Clubs Opening Day, a free family fun event on Saturday, August 16. YMCA membership is not required.

 
 

 
 

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Virtue of the Month: Self-Control

August Virtue: As we launch into a new school year, it’s a great time to help students develop the habits that will serve them well all year long. Skills such as attentive listening, respectful behavior, and focused effort in the classroom will form the foundation of student success and academic achievement in the year to come. This month’s virtue is Self-Control, a foundational trait that helps students make wise choices, manage emotions, and approach each day with purpose.

For a focal point in our first weeks of school, let’s encourage SELF-CONTROL by practicing respectful behavior, following school routines, and preparing for each day with calm focus. Arriving on time, being ready to learn, and listening attentively are all ways our students can demonstrate self-control from the very first day.

“Control yourself so others won’t have to.”
—Coach John Wooden

Here are some activities you can do as a family to focus on SELF-CONTROL this month:

  • Read or listen to My Mouth is a Volcano and talk about ways to hold your words in and save them for when it's your turn.
  • Play Simon Says, Red Light/Green Light, or Freeze Dance to practice controlling your body!
  • Take a family walk. Leave all screens/devices at home or in a backpack or pocket, and focus on observing and talking about what you see. 

Here are some affirmations for SELF-CONTROL and memory-work we can focus on this month:

  • I am self-controlled.
  • I take charge of my emotions and actions so that my feelings and moods are under control.
  • I am able to express strong emotions in appropriate ways.
 
 

 
 

Campus Culture:

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 September 10. Check out the soccer flier for more information and how to register.

Summer Reading Program: This is the final week to submit a reading log for our 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:

  • Kindergarten (now 1st grade!)- 60 pages (or 7 books)
  • 1st grade (now 2nd grade!) - 250 pages (or 20 books)
  • 2nd grade (now 3rd grade!) - 400 pages
  • 3rd grade (now 4th grade!) - 500 pages
  • 4th grade (now 5th grade!) - 600 pages
  • 5th grade (now 6th grade!) - 700 pages
  • 6th grade (now 7th grade!) - 800 pages

Class Color Day: We are excited to brighten up the campus a bit at the end of this month with our Class Color Day! We know this may take a bit of planning before August 29, so here are this year’s grade-level colors:
Kindergarten-ORANGE , First Grade-PURPLE , Second Grade-GREEN , 3rd Grade-RED ,
Fourth Grade-BLUE , Fifth Grade-YELLOW , Sixth Grade-WHITE .
 
 

 
 

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Mark your calendars!

 
 
  • Monday, August 25: 6th Grade Camp Presentation, 9:30 a.m.
  • Tuesday, August 26: School Picture Day
  • Thursday, August 28: Back to School BBQ!
  • Friday, August 29: Class Color *Spirit Day*
  • Monday, September 1: Labor Day (No School)
  • Thursday, September 4: Back to School Night, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, September 11: Red, White, and Blue *Spirit Day* & Patriot Day Assembly
  • Friday, September 12: Academic Awards (Grades 5-6)

 
 
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