There is a specific kind of energy that takes over Heritage Elementary this time of year, a blend of quiet, scholarly grit and the unmistakable hum of creative discovery. Walking the halls this week, I was struck by how seamlessly our students pivot between the "big work" of state testing and the pure joy of hands-on learning.
Watching our 3rd-6th graders navigate their state assessments this week was nothing short of inspiring. The focus in our classrooms was palpable. Thanks to your incredible partnership and commitment to attendance, I am thrilled to share that we have already surpassed the 95% completion threshold required by the state for Math and ELA! This achievement is a direct reflection of the stability you provide at home.
We have one final "launch" this coming Monday as our 5th-grade scholars tackle the California Science Test. Let’s keep that momentum strong!
While our upper grades were conquering exams, our first-graders were busy leaving the stratosphere. To celebrate the conclusion of their Astronomy unit, Space Day transformed the campus into a galaxy of inquiry. From student-led solar system galleries to a captivating visit from a local astrophysicist, our "youngest astronauts" explored the mysteries of gravity and rocket propulsion with genuine wonder.
This week is significant as we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week. Our educators are the heartbeat of Heritage, and we have a series of surprises planned to honor their tireless dedication. Please see the details below for ways your family can join in showering them with gratitude.
Mark Your Calendars for a Mid-Week Celebration:
Wednesday: Our annual End-of-Year BBQ! We’ll be firing up the grill for a campus-wide lunch featuring burgers, hot dogs, and veggie options for all students.
Thursday: The spotlight turns to the stage! Join us at the Escondido Charter High School Theater for our annual Talent Show: The Stars and Stripes Showcase.
5:30 p.m.: Doors open for a special Art Exhibition in the foyer, curated by Mrs. Morgan.
6:00 p.m.: The curtain rises! Hosted by the wonderful Mrs. Brumfield, this evening promises to be a spectacular showcase of our students' diverse gifts.
Thank you for being the foundation of this vibrant community. It is a privilege to witness your children grow every single day. Go White Tigers!
Yours in learning,
Marc Gilbertson
Important Announcements:
Teacher Appreciation Week: This week is Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week! Special thanks to all the parents who have generously contributed and graciously offered to coordinate this year’s teacher appreciation events. If you are looking for ways to contribute, please see the most recent email from Mr. Gilbertson and Mrs. Cook sent on April 27. Families who would like to contribute to the week’s events can Venmo Mrs. Osmena using this link
or bring donations to the main office. Thank you in advance for helping us celebrate our teachers and instructional aides!
State Testing (CAASPP) Recap: With only the California Science Test (CAST) remaining for 5th graders on Monday, and makeup testing for students who were absent last week, we are nearly complete with our annual state testing! The students gave their best effort, and we are proud of them for showing how much they have learned this school year.
End-of-the-Year BBQ on Wednesday, May 6: Students and staff will be treated to a school-wide BBQ this Wednesday. We will be serving hamburgers (or veggie burgers) and hot dogs to all students, so there’s no need to pack a lunch! Please ensure your child has a healthy snack for his/her morning recess.
Heritage Elementary Talent Show and Art Gallery Walk this Thursday: Join us this Thursday, May 7, in the ECHS American Spirit Theater for the "Stars and Stripes Showcase." At 5:30 p.m., the doors will open for you to come and view artwork from EVERY student in our school, and then stay for the talent show at 6:00 p.m. Admission is free, so come out to support your friends!
Music and Art in Action Week: Let's keep the talent exhibition going after the "Stars and Stripes Showcase" on Thursday! During your art and music class throughout the week of May 11-15, come share your musical and artistic talents! In music, students will have the opportunity to sing, dance, or play a musical instrument; and in art, students can bring in homemade art to share, including paintings, drawings, origami, and more. Check in with Mrs. Brumfield or Mrs. Morgan with any questions!
Date Change! Tropical Aloha Spirit Day on May 15: Please mark your calendars that our final spirit day of the school year, Tropical Aloha, and our final "Wooden Wins!" character assembly have been moved to Friday, May 15.
Escondido Pop Warner Football and Cheer Sign-ups:Registration for youth football and cheer is now open! Options are available for flag football, tackle football, and cheer. Football season kicks off July 15! Please follow this link for more information and to register.
Free National Parks Pass for Fourth Graders: Planning a trip for Summer 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.
A Note Regarding School Lunches: To ensure our students have a focused and uninterrupted learning environment, we kindly ask parents to avoid dropping off outside lunches at the main office. While we know life gets busy, midday deliveries create significant logistical challenges. Due to high office volume, we cannot guarantee that dropped-off meals will reach students before their scheduled lunch period ends. To help your student have a smooth lunch break, please ensure your child arrives at school with a packed lunch in the morning or chooses a lunch provided by our school-lunch program. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our front office efficient and our classrooms free of distractions!
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!
Minimum Days, May 26-28: Please note that the last three days of school (Tuesday, May 26 through Thursday, May 28) will be minimum days with student dismissal at 12:00 noon.
Free Dress on the Last Day of School: Thursday, May 28 will be a free dress day for all students! Please remember that the Dress for Success
guidelines still apply.
Kindergarten Promotion: On Thursday, May 28 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. we will hold a kindergarten promotion ceremony outside on the turf field. Free parking is available at Lot 1 of the Palomar College Escondido Center and parents will be allowed onto campus beginning at 8:15 a.m.
6th Grade Clap-Out: We’re planning to send our 6th graders out in a celebratory fashion with a “clap-out” at the end of the day on the last day of school. Parents of sixth graders are encouraged to join us on campus at 11:45 a.m. to express our appreciation to our students for a job well done before they head off to Heritage Junior High School!
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: Competitive Greatness
As we reach the month of May, Heritage Elementary School has finally arrived at the very peak of Coach John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success: COMPETITIVE GREATNESS. Coach Wooden defined this crowning virtue as: “A love for a hard battle, knowing it offers the opportunity to be at your best when your best is required.”
Competitive Greatness isn't about "beating" others; it’s about the joy of the challenge itself. It is the ability to rise to the occasion, to give your absolute best when the stakes are highest, and to find a "second wind" when the finish line is in sight. As we conclude our school year, we celebrate the hard work that allows us to perform at our peak.
In the classroom, Competitive Greatness looks like:
Finishing Like a Pro (FLAP): Putting the same level of care into the very last assignment of May as you did the first assignment of August.
Rising to the Occasion: Approaching final presentations and assessments with excitement rather than anxiety, seeing them as a chance to "show what you've got."
The "Clutch" Mindset: Staying focused and positive even when end-of-year schedules get busy and energy is low.
For our classical education approach, Competitive Greatness is the embodiment of Arete—the Greek word for "excellence" or "virtue." It is the culmination of our year-long labor in the pursuit of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. We teach our students that excellence is a habit, and May is the month we let that habit shine in its fullest form.
Ways Our Students Are Practicing Competitive Greatness
As the school year draws to a close, our students are demonstrating their "love for the hard battle" through these significant milestones:
Kindergarten Promotion: Our youngest scholars are showing competitive greatness as they prepare to "step up" to First Grade. They are mastering their final tricky-word lists and math basics, proving they are ready for the greater challenges of the primary years.
Sixth Grade Capstones: Our 6th graders are at a true turning point. As they prepare to transition to Heritage Junior High School, they are demonstrating greatness through their final projects and seminars, showing the leadership and academic maturity required for the Logic stage of their education.
End-of-Semester Projects: Students in all grades are finalizing portfolios, science projects, and history presentations. They are learning that "Greatness" means polishing the final details and presenting their work with pride.
Final Assessments: Instead of fearing final exams, students are practicing the "peak performance" mindset—trusting in the Condition, Skill, Poise, and Confidence they have built all year.
Practicing Competitive Greatness at School and Home
We encourage families to help students finish the year with "championship energy" through these actions:
The "Home Stretch" Mentality: When motivation dips in the final weeks, remind your child that "greatness" is defined by how we finish. Encourage them to give their best effort right up until the final bell.
Celebrate the Struggle: When a final project gets difficult, remind them of Coach Wooden's words: Love the hard battle. The difficulty is what makes the achievement meaningful.
Reflect on Growth: Ask your child, "What is one thing you can do this month to show you are ready for the next grade level?"
Family Activities to Build Competitive Greatness
The "Personal Best" Challenge: Set a family goal (like a certain number of pages read, limits to screen time, or miles walked) and work together to hit a "personal best" for the month of May.
Transition Talks: For our Promoting Kindergartners and Graduating 6th Graders, take time to discuss the "new battle" ahead. Ask: "How has your hard work this year prepared you for the challenges of next year?"
Legacy Letters: Have your child write a letter to their "September Self," describing the challenges they overcame and the greatness they achieved this year.
Read Together: Explore stories of those who performed at their best when it mattered most. Recommended titles include: Wilma Unlimited
by Kathleen Krull, and for our 6th graders, revisit The Children's Homer, which they read in class.
"Competitive Greatness is being at your best when your best is needed. It’s enjoying the challenge when the going gets tough. It’s the love of a hard battle." —Coach John Wooden
Affirmations for COMPETITIVE GREATNESS and Memory Work for May:
I work towards competitive greatness.
I try my very best even when things are difficult and challenging.
I see challenges as an opportunity to grow and become the best I can be.
Campus Culture:
Homework Stars: Congratulations to our Homework Stars: Charlie in Mrs. Trecha's class, Lucy in Ms. Ybarra's class, Parker in Mrs. Velasco's class, Lucas in Mrs. Miller's class, Danna in Ms. Neptune's class, Henry in Mrs. Lau's class, and Johnny in Mr. Reinking's class. These students have consistently completed all of their homework! Keep up the good work, White Tigers!
Yearbook Purchase: Less than 50 copies remain of the 2025-2026 Heritage Elementary yearbook. You may purchase your copy 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, May 4: CAST Test for 5th-Graders
Wednesday, May 6: End-of-Year BBQ!
Thursday, May 7: Heritage Elementary Talent and Art Show || Stars and Stripes Showcase, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 15: Tropical Aloha *Spirit Day* (note: date change!
)
Monday, May 25: Memorial Day (school closed)
Tuesday-Thursday, May 26-28: Minimum Days (12:00 noon student dismissal)
Thursday, May 28: Last Day of School! Kindergarten Promotion, 8:30 a.m.; 6th Grade Clap-Out, 11:45 a.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.
