We kicked off this week with a productive staff development day, which transitioned seamlessly into a vibrantly green St. Patrick’s Day on campus!
Our fourth-graders enjoyed a captivating presentation from Mr. Shawn Roner this week, bridging their classroom lessons on the American Revolution with real-world insights. Mr. Roner highlighted George Washington’s extraordinary leadership and the enduring impact of his character on the American spirit. It was a poignant tribute to the ideals that shaped our democracy—especially as we look forward to celebrating our nation’s 250th anniversary this July!
Beyond the classroom, we were honored to host two parent meetings for families joining our community next year. These sessions allowed us to dive deep into our core mission: student formation. We shared how every aspect of our school, from our rigorous curriculum to our daily interactions, is designed to form the hearts and minds of our students, ensuring that their academic growth is always anchored by strong character.
On Friday, our second-graders traveled to the San Diego Zoo, bridging their classroom lessons on Insects and Cycles of Nature with real-world observation. For many students, this was their first time visiting this local treasure. We are incredibly fortunate to have such world-class educational destinations right here in our community to bring our Core Knowledge units to life!
With just one week remaining before our break, we have a high-energy schedule planned to finish the month strong:
Wednesday, March 25: 4th Grade Old Town Field Trip. As a culminating experience for their California Missions project, our fourth-graders will immerse themselves in the living history of San Diego’s Historic Old Town.
Friday, March 27: Western Day & Wooden Wins. We will wrap up the week with one of our favorite traditions—Western Day! We will also hold our Wooden Wins Assemblies to celebrate the students who have most consistently demonstrated our recent virtues of team spirit (February) and poise (March).
By intentionally connecting our school activities to both classical virtues and enriching academic experiences, we aim to provide every student with a well-rounded education that stays with them long after they leave our halls.
Thank you for your continued partnership and for being such a vital part of the White Tiger family.
Yours in learning,
Marc Gilbertson
Important Announcements:
Midterm Progress Notices Mailed: Midterm progress notices have been mailed and should arrive soon! 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.
Used Uniform Swap this Monday: We will hold our used uniform swap after school this Monday, March 23, between 2:30-4:30 p.m. on the Heritage Elementary campus.
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!
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.
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!
Save the Date: Spring Scholastic Book Fair: Mark your calendars for April 10-17 when the Scholastic Book Fair returns to Heritage Elementary School! To create an e-wallet, preview books, and more, visit our book fair site.
April Consortio: Please join us on Wednesday, April 15th at 8:30 AM in the 1845/TK Building for a special time of encouragement and insight. Our Curriculum Coordinator, Mrs. Kelly Beck, will be sharing “What Does It Mean For Your Child to be Free?” We hope you will join us for what promises to be an inspiring and practical time together. We look forward to seeing you for our last meeting of the school year! If you have any questions, please contact Jill at jthomas@amhcs.org.
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 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.
Save the Date! Heritage Talent Show and Art Display: Don’t miss "The Stars and Stripes Showcase" on May 7 from 5:30–7:30 p.m. Come support our amazing students as they showcase their unique skills and hard work. It’s going to be the highlight of the spring!
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.
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: Olivia in Ms. Luis's class, Ellie in Mrs. Martineau's class, Giselle in Mrs. Scarpello's class, Tanmeet in Mrs. Seavello's class, Maday in Ms. Hoffman's class, Rosy in Mrs. Lemus's class, Eisen in Ms. Hellinger's class, and Harper in Mrs. Lau'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 23: Used Uniform Swap, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Friday, March 27: Western Day *Spirit Day*
Monday, March 30 through Monday, April 6: Easter Break (school closed)
April 10-17: Scholastic Book Fair
April 17: Decades Day *Spirit Day*
April 16–19:Footloose, the Musical Performances at ECHS Theater
Monday, April 27-Monday, May 4: CAASPP Testing
Thursday, May 7: Heritage Elementary Talent Show || Stars and Stripes Showcase, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
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.
