Dear Heritage Families,
It’s nearly time to shift from the lazy days of summer to the busy buzz of a brand-new school year! We are ready and excited to begin the 2026-27 year on Thursday, Aug.13 at 8am sharp! Dismissal on the first day of school will be at 1:30 which is our usual Thursday Early Out dismissal time.
Our Back to School Night is Wednesday, Aug. 12 from 4:30-6:30pm. We are excited to share that we have several new teachers including an in-person speech program this year with Ms. Markis providing speech services. Our 7th/8th grade history teacher will be Mr. Hernandez. In first grade, we have Mrs. Abbie, in 2nd grade we welcome Ms. Conrad and Mrs. Wilcox, and in TK, Ms. Kelly will be joining us. Watch for our August Newsletter to learn more about our new teachers and staff members and check this website regularly for important information as well.
To respect and abide by student confidentiality guidelines, we are not posting class lists publicly. Instead, you can see your child’s assigned class/teacher when it’s posted in the Aeries Parent Portal by Tuesday, Aug. 11. Teachers will also reach out via email or Class Dojo to welcome your child to their class. Our middle schoolers will receive an email by Tuesday from their Advisory teacher where they will report Thursday morning and will receive their class schedule during their first Advisory class. If you don’t hear from a teacher or are unable to access the portal, there will be staff on hand at Back to School Night prepared to give you class assignment information.
Our VIPA Board will have a table to help take membership dues and will also provide free pizza to our families. They have also invited beverage vendors!
Below are the details regarding drop off and pick up procedures which begin Thursday. As usual, PARENTS ARE ALLOWED TO WALK STUDENTS TO CLASS ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. The Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten Orientation information was emailed to all families, but it’s also attached to this email for your convenience.
Kindergarten and TK Drop off/Pick Up Procedures: (see detailed letter attached regarding orientation)
- Teachers for morning TK and Kindergarten will gather their classes at the lines just inside the main entrance at 7:45am to escort them to their rooms.
- At 11:15am, these teachers will walk their students back to the front gate for dismissal; we ask that parents park and walk up to meet them there.
- For afternoon TK, please meet the teacher at the library gate for drop off and pick up; students will be escorted to and from class from this location.
- Afternoon Kindergarten students will be met at the front gate for their walk to class. At dismissal, please park along the County Loop and meet your child at Gate C.
Morning Drop Off Procedures Grades 1-8: Please do not drop students off earlier than 7:30am as there is no staff supervision until then. Our office doors open at 7:30am.
- Students grades 1st-8th may be dropped off at the front or back of school. Students arriving between 7:30 and 7:40 will enter through the front side gate by the library and proceed to the MPR for breakfast and to the playground to wait for the bell. The back gate (at Acanthus) will open at 7:40am. The front gates next to the office will open at 7:40. If your child is eating breakfast which begins at 7:30, please drop them off in front of school.
Afternoon Pick Up Procedures:
- All 4th-8th grade students with no younger siblings in TK-3rd grade will be dismissed to the Back Parking Lot (Acanthus). This will be a drive-through pick up only. Students will wait near the fence by the field. A proctor will call family names and gate # with a megaphone and students will go to the appropriate gate for pick up. No parking in Acanthus lot except for teachers “parallel” parking against the far south fence. Please be courteous and SAFE by following the proctor’s signals for entering and exiting the driveway. Remind your student to listen for their names and move quickly to the assigned gate #.
- All 1st-3rd graders and their older siblings will be picked up in the front lot. Students will sit on the grass with their older siblings standing on the pavement behind them and wait to be picked up. Parents can park and walk up to the front gate or the grass to meet students. Please use crosswalks to cross the parking lot. Staff will use signs and help families cross. For drive up, a proctor will stand near the west crosswalk and use a megaphone to announce the family name. Students will listen for their names and line up at the curb to enter their car. Staff will assist at the curb for safety. Please encourage your child to listen for their names and line up at the curb quickly and safely. All students should be picked up no later than 3:00.
- We’ll send student name placards home to place on car dashboards to make the front and back lot drive-through process faster and more safe. You can make a copy of the placard for multiple cars.
The first days of school are always exciting and a bit chaotic, so please hang in there with us as we work out the bugs. Please keep in mind that we will be monitoring the system and seeking ways to improve it, so there may be changes along the way. We will keep you informed! Thanks again and we’ll see you soon!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Arbizu, Principal