This past week at Heritage has been a vibrant reflection of our mission: to develop the hearts and minds of our students. Whether it was the heartwarming collaboration of our "Reading Buddy" sessions, our fifth-graders preparing for their musical Destination: America, or our second-graders exploring the vital role of bees in our ecosystem, our students are engaging deeply with the world around them.
These moments are the hallmarks of a classical education, where intellectual rigor and joy go hand in hand. To ensure we continue providing this high level of instruction, several of our teachers and administrators attended the National Symposium for Classical Education last week. We believe that "teacher formation" is the foundation of "student formation" and we remain committed to investing in the professional growth of our team.
As we enter March, we are excited to celebrate Read Across America Day this coming Monday. We will kick off the month with a Dr. Seuss-themed "Mismatched Monday." This beloved tradition encourages students to embrace their creativity and individuality while fostering a lifelong love of reading. As Dr. Seuss wisely said, “Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”
Our character focus for March is poise, a critical tier in Coach John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success. In a world that can often feel fast-paced and unpredictable, teaching our students poise is more important than ever. At American Heritage Charter Schools, we define poise as "just being yourself." It is the ability to remain calm, centered, and true to one’s principles, regardless of the circumstances.
This month, we will encourage students to develop POISE by:
Staying Level-Headed: Learning to navigate both successes and setbacks with a steady spirit.
Authenticity: Having the courage to be oneself without acting or pretending to be something else to impress others.
Grace Under Pressure: Practicing "inner stillness" during challenging academic tasks or social disagreements.
Poise is the bridge between preparation and performance. When students have poise, they aren't fighting themselves; they are free to let their hard work and true character shine through.
Thank you for your continued partnership in fostering a school community where academic excellence and character development thrive in equal measure. Go White Tigers!
Yours in learning, Marc Gilbertson
Important Announcements:
Dr. Seuss Day: In honor of Dr. Seuss Day/Read Across America Day on Monday, March 2, students can come dressed as a whimsical Dr. Seuss character or put together a wacky, mis-matched outfit. We can’t wait to see your creativity!
Breakfast Reminder: Our free breakfast and lunch program has been a blessing to so many families this school year! To help your child start the day right, please ensure he or she arrives at the MPR by 7:50 a.m. We stop serving at this time to give students enough time to reach their classroom and finish their meal before school starts at 8:00 a.m. Thank you for helping us keep our mornings running smoothly.
Read Across the School Challenge: Celebrate National Reading Month with a reading streak! All students who score 100% on three Accelerated Reader quizzes within their reading level during the month of March will earn an exclusive Read Across America brag tag and a Panda Express meal coupon. Let the reading commence!
Lost and Found: Our Lost and Found is overflowing! If you are missing a jacket, water bottle, or lunch box, please come take a look! Near the beginning of February, all Lost and Found jackets will be donated to the Used Uniform Swap. As we begin the new semester, please take the time to label all of your child’s belongings. Labeling items, especially sweatshirts and water bottles, makes it much easier to return to the correct owner.
Final Weeks for School Uniform Donations: As we approach our Used Uniform Swap on March 23, we are asking for your help to stock our shelves. If your student has outgrown their gear, please consider donating it to a fellow Heritage family. Since the weather is still chilly, we are especially looking for pants, sweatshirts, and jackets. Every item donated is given away for free, helping our community stay prepared and sustainable!
Join the Crew!: Parents, we need your help to make our uniform swap a success. We're looking for volunteers to organize donations (sorting by size and gender) and staff the swap table after school on March 23. Whether you have 30 minutes or two hours, we’d love to have you! Please call or stop by the main office to let us know you can help. Thank you!
March Consortio: Please join us on Wednesday, March 18th at 8:30 AM in the 1845/TK Building for a special time of encouragement and insight. Mr. Jon Goodman, our high school football coach, will be sharing on the topic “Helping your Children Flourish: Encouraging Growth with Wisdom.” Coach Goodman is passionate about developing the whole person—not just an athlete or a team focused solely on winning. His heart is to see young people grow in character, resilience, and wisdom both on and off the field. We can't wait to see you there!
Breakfast and Lunch Service: Check out the calendar below for the monthly menu. Please remember to pack a healthy snack and water bottle for each day this week!
Art Supplies Requested: Mrs. Morgan needs your help collecting empty 16 oz. plastic water bottles for upcoming projects in her art classes. Parents may send these donations to school with their children or drop off supplies in the main office. Thanks in advance!
Dress Code Reminder: During the colder months, please be reminded of the following dress code expectations:
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.
Attention Parents of 6th-Graders! It’s time to prepare for seventh grade! Students entering seventh grade in August 2025 are required by California law to submit proof that they have received the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) vaccine booster. Personal beliefs exemptions are no longer accepted. For medical exemptions, you must submit a valid CAIR medical exemption obtained through the State’s medical exemption program. Please bring your child’s updated immunization record to the Heritage office before the start of 7th grade. For more information, you can visit the California Department of Public Health "Shots for Schools" website or the San Diego Health and Human Services Agency" Immunization Requirements for Childcare and Schools.” If you have any questions, please contact Nurse Garcia at nurse@amhcs.org.
Reminder for Parents of Kindergartners: Headed to the doctor or dentist for your student's check-up? State law requires that all kindergartners have an oral health examination (dental exam) and a recommended health checkup from a doctor during their first year in school. When your child goes in for a dental checkup, please have the dentist fill out an Oral Health Assessment Form. When your child sees the doctor for an exam, please have the doctor fill out a School Entry Health Checkup Form. These forms are also available in the Heritage office. Completed dental forms are due by May 28, 2026. Completed health forms are due by November 1, 2026. Please contact Nurse Garcia at nurse@amhcs.org
if you have any questions.
Wooden Wins! Pyramid of SuccessVirtue of the Month: Poise
Throughout March, Heritage Elementary School will focus on POISE, a pinnacle block located at the top of Coach John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success. Coach Wooden defined Poise simply as “Just being yourself.” It is the ability to remain at ease in any situation, never fighting yourself or trying to be something you are not.
Poise is the outward expression of inner self-control. It allows a student to function at their best regardless of the circumstances—whether they are facing a difficult exam, performing on stage, or handling a disagreement on the playground. When we have poise, we don't let outside pressures rattle our internal peace.
In the classroom, Poise looks like:
Grace Under Pressure: Staying calm and focused during a timed assessment or a challenging math problem.
Effective Communication: Standing tall and speaking clearly during a presentation, even if feeling a bit nervous.
Resilience: Handling a mistake or a correction with a steady spirit, learning from it rather than becoming overwhelmed by it.
For our classical education approach, Poise is closely linked to the Greek concept of Sophrosyne: a state of mind characterized by self-control, moderation, and a balanced soul. By practicing poise, our students are learning to govern their emotions and reactions, a key component in the pursuit of a virtuous and well-ordered life.
Ways Our Students Are Practicing Poise
As we move into the spring, our students are "keeping their cool" and staying true to themselves through these specific actions:
Public Speaking and Recitations: Many of our students are practicing poise by delivering poems and narrations in front of their peers, focusing on steady breathing, loud voices, and confident posture.
Assessment Readiness: With mid-semester evaluations and testing often occurring in March, students are practicing the "mental poise" required to approach challenges with a calm, clear mind.
Conflict Resolution: In the hallways and at recess, students are practicing poise by using "I-statements" and remaining calm when navigating social misunderstandings, rather than reacting out of frustration.
Fine Arts Performances: Our 5th-graders preparing for their musical Destination: America are learning that poise means "the show must go on" and how to stay focused and graceful even if a note is missed or something doesn't go according to plan.
Practicing Poise at School and Home
We encourage families to nurture this sense of internal balance through these daily habits:
The "Pause for Poise": Encourage your child to take a deep breath before reacting to a frustrating moment, such as a difficult chore or a lost game.
Focus on the Process: Remind your child that poise comes from being prepared. When we know we have done our best to prepare, we can be at ease with the outcome.
Model Composure: Children learn poise by watching the adults in their lives. Modeling a calm reaction to "life’s little hiccups" (like traffic or a spilled glass of milk) teaches them how to remain poised.
Family Activities to Build Poise:
The "Improvisation" Game: Practice short, silly acting skits where things go "wrong." The goal is to keep a straight face and keep going, building the ability to handle the unexpected.
Practice Performances: Have a "Living Room Recitation" night. Allow your child to stand in the "spotlight" to recite a poem or tell a story, practicing the poise of a public speaker.
Reflective Journaling: Discuss a time during the week when someone felt "rattled." Ask: "What could we do next time to stay at ease and just be ourselves?"
Read Together: Explore stories of characters who maintained their dignity and calm in the face of adversity. Recommended titles include: The Empty Pot
by Demi, Brave Irene
by William Steig, and for older students, A Night to Remember
or biographies of Jackie Robinson.
"Poise is being at ease in any situation. Never fighting yourself. Poise is not a pose. It’s not an act. It’s just being yourself." —Coach John Wooden
Affirmations for POISE and Memory Work for March:
I am full of poise.
I stay true to my deepest self.
I do not allow external forces to control how I act or feel.
I am not thrown off by events in my life.
Campus Culture:
Homework Stars: Congratulations to our Homework Stars: Raphael in Ms. Singleterry's class, Emilia in Mrs. Trecha's class, Bruno in Ms. Ybarra's class, Gael in Mrs. Velasco's class, Aiden in Mrs. Miller's class, Blake C. in Ms. Neptune's class, and Autumn in Mr. Reinking's class. These students have consistently completed all of their homework! Keep up the good work, White Tigers!
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.
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!
Monday, March 2: Dr. Seuss and Mismatch Spirit Day
Friday, March 13: End of Second (Midterm) Grading Period
Monday, March 16: Minimum Day (12:00 noon dismissal)
Friday, March 27: Decades Day (Spirit Day)
Monday, March 30, through Monday, April 6: Easter Break (school closed)
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.
