I hope your students enjoyed their first few days of the new school year! As we begin Week 2, I want to warmly welcome you once again, and thank you for partnering with us in your child’s education.
At HFA, we believe that strong collaboration between educators and families creates the foundation for meaningful learning and student growth. Your involvement is vital to the success of our program, and we are truly grateful for your continued support.
This week brings a few important events to note:
School Pictures: Tuesday (Red Path) & Wednesday (Blue Path)
Middle School Boot Camp
8th Grade Catalina Field Trip Meeting
We’re off to a strong start, and I’m excited for all that’s ahead!
Warmly, Sandi Knapp Principal
New & Time Sensitive Information
FRONT OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Friday, 7:30AM-3:30PM
MANDATORY CATALINA PLANNING MEETING (8th Grade STUDENTS AND CHAPERONES ATTENDING CATALINA ONLY)
We will be having a mandatory meeting for the Eighth Grade Field Trip on Thursday, August 21, 2025, from 6:00–7:30 p.m. at Heritage Elementary in the MPR. All families who paid, or requested assistance, have a spot for their eighth grader. If you are unsure, for whatever reason, please contact the front office. This is going to be a great experience, and we are very excited for your student to participate.
Here are the items we will be covering at the meeting:
Expectations
Departure and Arrival
Where we will be staying
What to bring and how to pack
Activities
Who to contact in case of emergency
If your student takes daily medication or requires an inhaler or EpiPen while on the field trip, your child's physician must complete and sign the Medication Authorization Form also linked HERE. Medications for Catalina must be turned in no later than Friday, August 29.
CLASSROOM INTERRUPTIONS AND HFA sets a high priority on making the most of instructional time. Therefore, the front desk will not interrupt class time to report delivery of forgotten items. Please make plans to drop off forgotten items in the front office and your student can pick them up during break and lunch.
HFA CONSORTIO PARENT MEETINGS: We are excited to announce a special opportunity for our HFA Parents. Consortio: Partnering with Parents to Build Community (formerly known as Coffee Chat) will be a once-per-month gathering where ideas and inspiration are shared to support you on this Classical Educational journey. We have some amazing topics and speakers lined up. This is a great opportunity to get to know and connect with other parents from our school.
Our first Consortio will be held on Wednesday, September 17 @ 8:30 am. This event will be held at our 1845, TK building. Childcare will be offered for those with little ones.
CHEER CLINIC: Calling all White Tiger Cheerleaders. Come out and cheer with our ECHS Cheer team under the Friday Night Lights! Our fall cheer clinic will take place at Heritage Elementary School from Monday, September 15, to Thursday, September 18. Check in at 3:15, the clinic will begin at 3:30 and end at 5 pm. White Tigers Cheerleaders will cheer the first and second quarters of the varsity game on Friday, September 19, at Orange Glen High School. The cost is $125 and will include an entire week of fun, a T-shirt, and two tickets to the football game. We look forward to seeing you at our Fall Clinic! Sign up at this link.
THIS WEEK AT HFA
Monday, August 18:
Middle School Bootcamp, 10:00 a.m. - For our 6th, 7th and 8th grade parents we have an engaging Middle School Boot Camp at 10:00am at the HFA campus at 2269 E. Valley Pkwy. This event will offer team-building activities, orientation to new subjects, and an opportunity for students to connect with their peers and teachers before fully immersing themselves in the academic year. It's a fantastic way to start the year off on the right foot.
Tuesday, August 19:
School Picture Day - Gerardy professional photographers will be on campus to take student portraits. Please ensure your child is dressed in their best school attire for this special occasion and follows the Free Dress Days “LET’S DRESS FOR SUCCESS” policy.
Wednesday, August 20:
School Picture Day - Gerardy professional photographers will be on campus to take student portraits. Please ensure your child is dressed in their best school attire for this special occasion and follows the Free Dress Days “LET’S DRESS FOR SUCCESS” policy.
Thursday, August 21:
8th Grade Catalina Field Trip Meeting: A mandatory meeting on at 6:00 p.m. in the Heritage Elementary Multipurpose Room (MPR), 1855 E. Valley Pkwy. This meeting will provide essential information about the upcoming Catalina Field Trip. Please make sure to attend to ensure a smooth and successful experience for our students.
Friday, August 22:
WOODEN WINS VIRTUES PROGRAM
AUGUST
SELF-CONTROL
I am self-controlled. I take charge of my emotions and actions so that my feelings and moods are under control. I am able to express strong emotions in appropriate ways.
"If you lose self-control, everything will fall" -Coach John Wooden
ACADEMIC ADVISORS CONNECTION
We are off and running. It is so great to see the kids in the classrooms and on the playground. They have grown quite a bit over the summer.
Now is the best time to reach out to your student’s classmates' parents and set up a learning co-op. Sharing the load as a home educator is invaluable, and learning together in a group setting builds many life-long skills that will benefit your kids for the rest of their lives. Make a phone call or send an email to get started, and during the year come on out to Consortio (previously called Coffee Chats) and meet other parents.
Please remember to join us for Middle School Boot Camp on Monday at 10:00 am.
It was wonderful to see so many of you on campus over the past couple of weeks as you picked up your curriculum books for the upcoming school year! We hope you've had a chance to look through the materials, get familiar with the curriculum, and set up a comfortable learning space at home in preparation for the weeks ahead.
Picture Day is coming up! This Tuesday, August 19 and Wednesday, August 20, anytime between 8:30 AM and 12:00 PM. Photos will be taken at our hybrid campus: 2269 E. Valley Pkwy, Escondido, CA 92027. Please ensure your child is dressed in their best school attire for this special occasion and follows the Free Dress Days “LET’S DRESS FOR SUCCESS” policy. Please remember to check in at the front office upon arrival.
Mark your calendar and please join us for our first monthly Meet-Up at the Natural History Museum, FREE museum day at Balboa Park on Tuesday, September 2. More information will be sent via email.
Travel to Belize – Summer 2026 Open to All Families!
Ms. Sanchez and Mrs. Scaramuzza, teachers from Escondido Charter High School, are organizing an all-inclusive trip to Belize in Summer 2026. The trip covers airfare, lodging, meals, activities, and more—featuring visits to historical ruins, boat tours, cave exploration, ziplining, and even the Belize Zoo!
