It has been a remarkable week on campus, filled with high energy, impressive talent, and a healthy dose of that "good tired” that comes from sustained effort (and, perhaps, the time change). While every grade level has been hard at work, I want to shine a spotlight on our fifth-graders, who balanced two very different, yet equally demanding, challenges this week with remarkable grace.
Our fifth-grade students headed to ECHS this week to complete their mile run for the state-mandated Physical Fitness Test (PFT). Watching them pace themselves on the track was a lesson in endurance. Congratulations to Gabriel and Elsa for recording the fastest mile times for their grade! Remarkably, that physical exertion didn't slow the students down; they transitioned seamlessly to the incredible performances of the musical, Destination: America!
Our kindergartners also had a special week with their very first “Kings and Queens Ball” to celebrate the end of their Core Knowledge unit. Special thanks to Ms. Luis for bringing her idea to life and to all the kindergarten teachers for creating such a memorable day. Dressed up in styles fit for royalty, our students enjoyed a day of special activities, including choreographed dances taught by our music teacher, Mrs. Brumfield, and special art projects introduced by Mrs. Morgan, our art teacher.
These events provided a perfect real-world application of our Pyramid of Success virtue of the month: Poise. We define Poise as the ability to remain "just be yourself,” staying calm, collected, and authentic regardless of the pressure or the circumstances. Whether our students were learning some new dance moves, catching their breath during that final lap, or performing in front of a large audience, they demonstrated a level of self-assurance that made us all proud. Our students didn't let the moment rattle them. Instead, they leaned into their preparation and performed beautifully.
As of Friday afternoon, we have officially reached the end of the second grading period and the midway point of the second semester. Time truly flies when you are immersed in deep learning! Please look for progress notices to be mailed home next week. I encourage you to sit down with your child to review this information together. This is a vital moment to:
Celebrate Successes: Acknowledge the specific hard work that led to their growth.
Identify Goals: Pinpoint areas where a little extra focus or "grit" is needed for the home stretch.
As we enter the latter half of the semester, it is important to remember that academic rigor increases substantially as we approach the end of the year, moving from foundational concepts into deeper, more complex applications of knowledge.
Let’s continue to work together to keep our students focused and motivated. We want them to finish the year with the same poise and determination our fifth graders displayed this week. Thank you for your continued partnership and support of our school community. Go White Tigers!
Yours in learning,
Marc Gilbertson
Important Announcements:
12:00 Noon Release this Monday: Please note that tomorrow, Monday, March 16, is a Minimum Day with student dismissal at 12:00 noon. All staff members have meetings and professional development planned, so please be prompt in picking up your child from school. After-school programming will still be available for those who attend ELO-P, the Boys and Girls Club, or the YMCA.
Spring Pictures: Your child should have brought home his/her Spring Portraits. Families who DO wish to purchase photos may pay for the pictures online or return the enclosed order form and payment in a sealed envelope directly to the Heritage Elementary Main Office. Families who DO NOT wish to purchase photos are requested to return all the photos to their child’s teacher. The order and/or photo return deadline is this Monday, March 16. Spring School Pictures are an annual fundraiser for Heritage Elementary provided by Gerardy. We are happy to continue our partnership with a local, family-owned business to provide our students and their families with this opportunity. Please feel free to contact the Main Office (760) 737-3111 with any questions.
Green Day Spirit Day on St. Patrick's Day: To celebrate how hard our students have been working lately, we are hosting an impromptu spirit day on Tuesday, March 17! We are inviting students to "Go Green for Greatness" by wearing their brightest, greenest attire. Please keep in mind that this is not a traditional "free dress" day; students are expected to be in their school uniform unless they are wearing green.
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!
Midterm Progress Notices Mailed: Heritage Elementary School will mail midterm progress toward the end of this week. We request parents carefully review the grade reports, celebrate their children’s successes, set goals for the remainder of the school year, and contact us with any questions or concerns.
Final Week 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!
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!
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.
Breakfast and Lunch Service: Check out the calendar below for the monthly menu. Breakfast is served each morning until 7:50 a.m. Please remember to pack a healthy snack and water bottle for each day this week!
Western Day Spirit Day (March 27): Saddle up and grab your boots because Western Day is coming on March 27. Dust off your denim and flannel to show off your best frontier style and rustle up some school spirit!
Free National Parks Pass for Fourth Graders: Exploring National Parks during Easter Break? The Every Kid Outdoors pass is good for the 4th grade school year, until August 31. Information on obtaining the pass is available by visiting www.everykidoutdoors.gov.
Footloose, the Musical, coming to ECHS: Get out your favorite sweat band because Footloose is coming to ECHS! Footloose, set in the '80s,tells the story of Ren, who sets out to prove that "Dancing is Not a Crime" along with the unavoidable adjustment of moving from Chicago to a small farming town (with no cell phones). When we hope "Somebody's Eyes" are watching, we hope they're yours! Footloose tickets are now on sale for only $13, with shows at the American Spirit Theater on the Escondido Charter High School campus from April 16-19! Check out the ticket website for details about cast lists and show times.
*Please note that Footloose is rated PG and may be best suited for upper elementary and middle school students.
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:
Fine Arts Performances: Our 5th-graders beautifully performed their musical, Destination: America, staying focused and graceful for the entirety of three performances in one day!
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.
Classroom Activities: This week saw our first annual Kings and Queens Day in Kindergarten where students learned to drink tea, eat, and even dance with poise and grace. Miss Le Pere's third graders held a similar extravaganza with a "Poise Banquet," and Mrs. Martineau's first graders practiced the art of rest and relaxation through their "Oceans of Focus Spa Party."
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: Christopher in Mrs. Conti's class, Easton in Mrs. Greiner's class, Nicole in Mrs. Drum's class, Mateo in Mrs. Marler's class, Giddeon in Ms. Goodman's class, Landon in Ms. Stewart's class, and Daniel in Mr. Greiner'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!
Friday, March 13: End of Second (Midterm) Grading Period
Monday, March 16: Minimum Day (12:00 noon dismissal)
Friday, March 27: Western 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.
