Happy New Year, White Tiger Families!

I hope your holiday season was filled with joy, rest, and cherished moments with loved ones. There is a unique energy that comes with the first week of January; it is a season of "fresh starts," and I am thrilled to welcome our students back for the beginning of the second semester.

As we turn the page to 2026, our character focus shifts to a vital tier of Coach John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success: Skill.  Coach Wooden defined Skill as "a knowledge of and the ability to properly and quickly execute the fundamentals. Be prepared and cover every little detail." He understood that true mastery isn't about flashy performance, but about the quiet, disciplined repetition of the basics until they become second nature.

In our classical model, this concept of "Skill" aligns perfectly with the Grammar Stage of learning. Before a student can write a moving persuasive essay or solve complex algebraic equations, they must first master the fundamentals: phonics, math facts, and the rules of logic.

By focusing on Skill this month, we are encouraging our students to:

• Embrace the Basics: Recognizing that there is beauty and dignity in doing the "little things" well.

• Strive for Excellence (Arête): In the classical tradition, Arête is the act of living up to one's full potential. Developing a skill is a moral endeavor; it is how we prepare ourselves to serve our community and appreciate what is Good, True, and Beautiful.

• Practice with Purpose: Moving beyond "good enough" to find the joy that comes from true competence and craftsmanship.

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Important Updates & Reminders

• Report Cards: First-semester report cards were sent home recently. These documents are more than just grades; they are a roadmap for the "Skill" we hope to build this semester. If you have not yet received your child’s report card, please contact the main office on Monday so we can assist you.

• Goal Setting: This week, teachers will be helping students set fresh academic and behavioral goals. We invite you to have a conversation at home about one specific "fundamental" skill your child wants to sharpen this month.

As always, we hold high expectations for our students because we believe in their immense potential. We are committed to educating both the hearts and the minds of our White Tigers, ensuring they have the tools necessary to thrive.

Thank you for your continued partnership as we make 2026 a year of growth, discipline, and excellence at Heritage Elementary School. Go White Tigers!

Yours in learning,
Marc Gilbertson

• 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. Evaluations for older divisions (8U–14U) are on January 10. 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: Skill

As we launch into a new semester this January, Heritage Elementary School will focus on SKILL, the very heart of Coach John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success. Skill is defined as "a knowledge of and the ability to properly and quickly execute the fundamentals." It is not just about having talent; it is about the relentless pursuit of mastery through practice and attention to detail.

Developing skills requires a commitment to "back-to-the-basics." Whether in academics, the arts, or athletics, true excellence is built upon a foundation of well-practiced habits. By focusing on skill, our students learn that greatness is not an accident—it is the result of intentional, repetitive, and high-quality effort.

In the classroom, skill looks like:

• Mastery of Fundamentals: Knowing math facts by heart, utilizing proper grammar, and practicing elegant penmanship.
• Precision and Speed: Being able to perform tasks correctly and efficiently without having to stop and "overthink" every step.
• Refinement: Taking a good piece of work and making it better through careful editing and attention to detail.

For our classical education approach, skill is deeply rooted in the Grammar Stage of the Trivium. This is the season where students master the "tools of learning"—the fundamental rules, facts, and methods that allow them to eventually engage in complex reasoning and beautiful expression.

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Ways Our Students Are Practicing Skill

This month, as we begin the second semester, our students are "sharpening their tools" through these specific actions:

• Setting Semester Goals: Students in all grades are identifying one specific academic skill (such as reading fluency, cursive, or long division) they want to master by the end of the term.
• The "Art of the Start": We are revisiting classroom routines and procedures to ensure we can execute the fundamentals of our school day (like transitions and morning recitations) quickly and with excellence.
• Writing Mastery: In our upper grades, students are focusing on the skill of the "well-developed paragraph" or WDP, ensuring every sentence has a specific purpose and every word is chosen with care.
• Musical and Physical Fundamentals: In PE and Music classes, students are practicing the core movements and notes that serve as the building blocks for more complex performances later this spring.

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Practicing Skill at School and Home

We encourage families to help students build mastery by focusing on the "how" just as much as the "what":

• Focus on Fundamentals: When helping with homework, emphasize the importance of the basics: neat handwriting, correct spelling, and clear margins.
• Quality Over Quantity: It is better to do five math problems perfectly than twenty with careless errors. Encourage your child to take pride in the "craft" of their work.
• Embrace Repetition: Remind your child that "practice makes permanent." Repeating a difficult task correctly builds the "muscle memory" needed for true skill.

Family Activities to Build Skill:

• The "Master Chef" Night: Choose a simple recipe and focus on the skill of cooking, such as measuring precisely, chopping safely, or following instructions in the exact order.
• Skill Exchange: Have each family member teach a "mini-lesson" on a skill they possess (e.g., tying a specific knot, drawing a bird, or a specific soccer move).
• Review the Basics: Spend 10 minutes a night playing "flashcard games" for math or vocabulary to help fundamentals become second nature.
• Read Together: Explore stories of people who spent years mastering their craft. For titles that emphasize skill and mastery, look for: The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (Picture Book Edition), and The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore.

"You must be able to execute the fundamentals properly and quickly. To do this, you must be mastered by them—they must become second nature." —Coach John Wooden

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Affirmations for SKILL and Memory Work for January:

• I am skillful.
• I have an open mind, open ears, and a n eagerness to learn.
• I am willing to put forth hard work and practice in order to reach my goals. 

Homework Stars: Congratulations to our Homework Stars: Emma in Ms. Singleterry's class, Diego in Mrs. Trecha's class, Gael in Miss Ybarra's class, Dominic in Mrs. Velasco's class, Eddy in Mrs. Miller's class, Rayan in Ms. Neptune's class, and Ava in Mr. Reinking's class. These students have consistently completed all of their homework! Keep up the good work, White Tigers!

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.