It has been an action-packed and rewarding week! Our students have demonstrated remarkable intentness as they focus on their studies and adapt to new routines. Below are a few highlights that recognize the dedication shown by our entire school community.
Universal Meal Service: Intentness in Action
The launch of our universal breakfast and lunch service for all students has been a major undertaking. While it presented a steep learning curve (and a few challenges like sticky fingers and tricky whole oranges!), the adaptability of our students and staff has been truly impressive. Everyone focused keenly on developing and learning the new routines quickly. As a wonderful side effect, we've enjoyed seeing more students arriving at school early each morning, showing their intention to start the day right! Check out the updates for more detailed information and important reminders.
Honoring Our Veteran Heroes
Continuing into this week, we will honor our nation’s heroes for Veterans Day. Students across all grades will be encouraged to express their gratitude through heartfelt letters, creative projects, and thoughtful drawings. We especially recognize Miss Everett's students for creating a beautiful class tribute that showed their focused effort and respect.
We are also incredibly proud to recognize Ms. Bresko and Mrs. Carr, two veterans right here on our staff! They will be sharing their experiences with students throughout the week, offering inspiring examples of courage, dedication, and the power of sustained intentness in service. To all the veterans in our Heritage family, thank you for your profound service and sacrifice.
The Wizard of Oz Shines Brightly
The AHCS musical, The Wizard of Oz, production this past weekend was a huge success! The show has been a resounding triumph, showcasing the incredible talent and hard work of students from all AHCS campuses, including Heritage Elementary. If you haven't yet, we hope Heritage families will catch one of the last two performances this afternoon!
Finishing November Strong
Thank you to all our wonderful Heritage families for your continued support. Together, we are creating a positive and nurturing learning environment. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the Open House, Holiday Gift Fair, and Book Fair at 5:00-7:30 p.m. on November 20. More details about this and all the upcoming events are included in the notes below.
As we finish this busy stretch through November, please encourage your child to demonstrate intentness by staying focused and dedicated to their studies. Together, we can celebrate our accomplishments as White Tigers!
Yours in learning,
Marc Gilbertson
Important Announcements:
Veterans Day on Tuesday — No School: Please note that American Heritage Charter Schools will be closed this Tuesday, November 11, as we observe Veterans Day. It is a privilege to honor the extraordinary dedication and courage of the men and women who have served and are currently serving in our Armed Forces. To all veterans, active military personnel, and their families, thank you for your selfless commitment and sacrifice.
Breakfast and Lunch Updates: Our first week of universal meal service was a success. Here are a few reminders as we enter the new week:
Breakfast is only served between 7:35-7:50 a.m. daily.
All students should continue to bring a snack and water from home for recess (school meals are not provided to students during recess).
There is one hot lunch item served daily, with a few alternate meals for vegetarians and students with documented dietary restrictions.
Parents are encouraged to contact the school with any questions about the universal meal program.
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.
AHCS Musical Theater presents The Wizard of Oz: It's your last chance to see 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. Only a handful of seats remain for today's shows, so click here
to purchase your tickets. It's a gale-force of fun you won't want to miss!
SHOWTIMES
Sunday, November 9
2:00 p.m. (EMERALD CAST)
7:00 p.m. (RUBY CAST)
Spring Musical Informational Meeting: Join us from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 13 in the American Spirit Theater at Escondido Charter High School for information about student participation in the spring musical. For more information, please contact Jennifer McCormick at jmccormick@amhcs.org.
Dancing with the Teachers: Please join us for an unforgettable night of dancing, on Tuesday, November 18, at 7:00 p.m. in the theater! Some of the very best of ECHS will be performing with the White Tiger Cheer leaders in “Dancing with the Teachers.” You will not want to miss this super fun evening. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students. You can purchase your tickets here. Watch the ECHS Cheer Instagram in the coming weeks for teacher reveals. Here is a flyer with additional information.
Heritage Elementary Open House and Holiday Gift Fair: 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, listen to our student Chime Choir, 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.
ECHS Program Information Night: On Wednesday, November 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the American Spirit Theater, ECHS Administration and Student Services will be hosting an informational meeting to share the programs and pathways at Escondido Charter High School. If you are interested in learning more about TCP, CLP, PLP, or what those initials even mean, please join us. This evening is open to currently enrolled families, families in the community, and at Heritage Junior High and Heritage Flex Academy, who may want to learn more about Escondido Charter High School.
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: Intentness
Throughout November, our school will focus on INTENTNESS, a vital building block in Coach John Wooden's Pyramid of Success. Intentness is the ability to stay the course, to concentrate on a realistic objective with determination and persistence, resisting distractions and temptations that try to pull us away. It is the unwavering focus that turns long-term goals into real achievement.
Intentness is more than just trying hard; it’s about patient action and a refusal to quit when the path gets difficult. It helps students develop self-discipline, improve their concentration, and experience the deep satisfaction of follow-through.
In the classroom, intentness looks like:
Focusing on a single task until it is completed, even if it's challenging.
Resisting the temptation to check an electronic device, talk to a neighbor, or daydream during a lesson or study time.
Sticking with a difficult math problem or a complex reading assignment until understanding is achieved.
For our classical education approach, intentness ties into the idea of cultivating a disciplined mind. The ability to attend fully to the truth, goodness, and beauty being presented is the foundation of deep learning and wisdom.
Ways Our Students Are Practicing Intentness
This month, students are reinforcing the power of focus and persistence through specific daily habits:
Students in all grades are practicing "deep work" sessions, dedicating a set amount of time to a single task without interruption, to train their focus. In the photo above, students in Ms. Abed's class are intent on completing a puzzle of Van Gogh's Starry Night painting, a part of a class picture study in which students analyzed the painting and shared out their observations and wonderings.
Students in grades 1-6 have demonstrated intentness in their pursuit of reading rich texts and taking AR tests. The point totals to-date far exceed last year's point totals at this same point in the school year. Great work, White Tigers!
In Miss Hoffman's class, students are engaging in a personal challenge in which they attempt to participate in conversations without using words such as, "um," "like," etc. They have been timing themselves and tracking their progress, and many have already passed their 1-minute goal!
Sixth graders have demonstrated intentness by preparing for and participating in their Great Books seminars. This includes concentrating on the assigned reading, resisting the distraction of simply skimming for plot points, and persisting in the task of formulating a well-supported, original seminar question.
Practicing Intentness at School and Home
We encourage families and students to strengthen their focus and determination through these small, meaningful actions:
Stay the Course: Commit to finishing a task, like a household chore or a reading chapter, before moving on to another activity.
Resist Temptation: Identify one distraction (e.g., a screen, a favorite toy) and intentionally keep it out of sight during focused work or study time.
Concentrate: Before starting a project, state your specific goal for that work session (e.g., "I will finish writing my conclusion.") and concentrate fully until it is met.
Family Activities to Build Intentness
The Persistence Puzzle: Work on a challenging family puzzle or game over a few days, modeling for your child the determination required to complete a complex task.
Skill Mastery: Encourage your child to practice a musical instrument, a sport skill, or a drawing technique for a short, dedicated time each day, emphasizing intent (focused effort) over just "putting in time."
Role Models of Intentness: Read about figures in history or literature who overcame great setbacks through sheer determination, such as Thomas Edison, Marie Curie, or Odysseus, and discuss what kept them going.
"The road to real achievement takes time, a long time, but you do not give up. You may have setbacks. You may have to start over. You may have to change your method... But you do not quit. You stay the course."
—Coach John Wooden
Here are some affirmations for INTENTNESS and memory work for November:
I am intent.
I resist temptation, stay the course, and am determined to reach my goals.
I focus my attention on the task at hand.
Campus Culture:
Homework Stars: Congratulations to this week's Homework Stars: Adriel in Ms. Luis's class, Mateo in Mrs. Martineau's class, Brandy in Mrs. Seavello's class, Levi in Ms. Hoffman's class, Joshua in Mrs. Lemus's class, Joaquin in Ms. Hellinger'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!
Yearbook Purchase: You may purchase the 2025-2026 Heritage Elementary yearbook here
for $37. We will have a limited number of copies available this year. Please contact us at (760) 737-3111 with any questions or concerns.
6th Grade Yearbook Dedications: Send your 6th grader into middle school with a warm and encouraging message for them on our dedications page in the yearbook. Dedications only cost $20 for 1/4 of a page in our Heritage Elementary yearbook. Spaces are limited, so get your order in before spaces run out.
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!
Tuesday, November 11: No School (Veterans Day)
Friday, November 14 through Thursday, November 20: Literati 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
Friday, December 5: Superhero/Disney Spirit Day
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.
