Dear Heritage Families,

Our students dove headfirst into their studies, from kindergartners engaging all their senses while exploring the fascinating world of honeybees, to our third-graders discovering the wonders of science through their exploration of light and sound.

We wrapped up the week with a spirited Disney and Superhero Day, culminating in our special Wooden Wins Assembly. This joyous occasion celebrated students who exemplified our November character focus: INTENTNESS. It was an inspiring event featuring musical performances by our talented Chime Choir and recognition of students who demonstrated leadership, great character, and success in our AR reading program.

With the first semester rapidly drawing to a close, we are entering our most crucial period. This is the last full instructional week before final assessments begin! Teachers are diligently working with students to review knowledge, prepare for final exams, and ensure all learning gaps are addressed. Regular attendance and consistent completion of assignments are absolutely vital for success in these final days of the semester.

Parent support plays a key role in student achievement. You can help your child maintain their preparedness at home by reviewing routine math facts and spelling practice to boost confidence, discussing new vocabulary words from their science and social studies lessons, and making time for reading together to discuss the concepts they're learning in class.

As we charge toward the finish line, our focus for December is condition. Condition means maintaining your physical, mental, and moral well-being. It is about preparedness and ensuring you are always at your best when it matters most.

As Coach John Wooden wisely said, "Condition is the preparedness that determines success." Let's work together to ensure our students are at their peak condition to excel this week. The end of the semester is in sight, and with this final effort, we can finish strong and enter the holiday break proud of our achievements.

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Go White Tigers!

Yours in learning,
Marc Gilbertson

Christmas Concerts Grades K-3: Mrs. Brumfield, our fabulous music teacher, has planned two brief Christmas Concerts for students in kindergarten through 3rd grade on the turf field during the last week of school. Parking will be available in Lot 1 of the Escondido Center of Palomar College, just a brief walk from our campus. We welcome the parents of students performing to join us on the turf field at the following times. For planning purposes, we expect the performance each day to last no longer than 45 minutes:

• Tuesday, December 16: Kindergarten and 2nd Grade Christmas Concert at 8:30 a.m.

• Wednesday, December 17: 1st Grade and 3rd Grade Christmas Concert at 8:30 a.m.

Art Supplies Requested: Mrs. Morgan needs your help collecting two things for upcoming projects in her art classes: empty toilet paper rolls and empty 16 oz. plastic water bottles. Parents may send these donations to school with their children or drop off supplies in the main office. Thanks in advance!

• 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.

Breakfast and Lunch Update: Parents, please remember that students still need to bring a healthy snack for recess and water-bottle to school each day. Breakfast is served only between 7:35-7:50 a.m. and snacks will not be provided by the school during recess. The weekly menu will always be available in the links above. Bon appetite!

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. 

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 month, students will be reinforcing the importance of preparedness and balanced habits through specific daily actions:

• Students in all grades will 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.
• Students in all grades will be encouraged to practice mindfulness and movement breaks to restore their mental energy during long study or reading sessions.
• Students in grades 3-6 will 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.
• Sixth graders will practice moral condition by consistently taking responsibility for their actions and using 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.

"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: Kamila in Mrs. Conti's class, Gilbert in Mrs. Greiner's class, Alexander in Mrs. Drum's class, Alexander in Mr. Robertson's class, Ethan in Miss Goodman's class, Selena in Mrs. Folden's class, and Fernanda 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!

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.