Heritage Elementary Kicks Off an Exciting 2025-2026 School Year
Welcome back to Heritage Elementary! The 2025-2026 school year is off to an exciting start, and our students, staff, and families have already been busy learning, connecting, and celebrating the values that make our school community so special.
We began the year with a beloved tradition—our Fourth Annual House Con Family Night, held on September 25. More than 250 students, along with their families and friends, joined us for an evening full of energy and community spirit. Families engaged with our school’s house system, which fosters connection and collaboration across grade levels. The event featured a variety of stations, including an inflatable slide, creative activities, food vendors, and community booths. A new highlight this year was the Obstacle Course House Competition, with Ryker Roedenbeck from the House of Altruismo taking the win!
New families were introduced to our house system through an informative presentation covering the sorting process, ROAR 34 expectations, house points, assemblies, and our focus on community and cross-grade-level engagement. We're already looking ahead to our next family event, Camp Read-A-Lot, set for November 4. This exciting night will include games, literacy stations, a bonfire, and educational booths—something for the whole family to enjoy.
Also on September 25, in celebration of World Dream Day, the House of Rêveur hosted a powerful career exploration event. Students came to school dressed as their future selves, teachers, athletes, engineers, and more—sparking meaningful conversations about career aspirations. Guest speakers included parents, family volunteers, and students from Indian Capital Vo-Tech School, all of whom shared valuable insights and inspired our students to dream big and plan for the future.
Community support has been strong this fall, especially during our Second Annual Read-A-Thon Fundraiser. The event not only promoted a love of reading throughout the building but also raised critical funds to support classroom materials, student incentives, and academic resources. Thanks to the generosity of our families, staff, and community partners, we came just shy of our $15,000 goal—a fantastic achievement that will directly benefit our students.
Another highlight of this fall was our book fair, which was a great success thanks to the support of our community and the Innovative Literacy Grant. This grant enabled every student to take home two or more books, promoting reading access and encouraging lifelong literacy habits. Students and staff are already looking forward to our spring book fair in March.
Looking ahead, the Houses of Isibindi and Altruismo will be launching the Bindi-Rismo Canned Food Drive on November 10. All donations will help stock our school district’s food closet. If you would like to contribute, please send non-perishable food items to Heritage Elementary.
Our cross-country team wrapped up an impressive season, participating in three meets and earning a total of 40 medals. Students practiced diligently during their specials time, and their hard work paid off. We’re proud of their achievements and are excited to build on this success next year.
Our students are also shining in the arts. The Fourth Grade Fall Follies Concert will take place on October 28 at 6:00 p.m., featuring patriotic fall-themed music. Additionally, we warmly invite all area veterans to join us for our Veterans Day Program on November 10 at 6:00 p.m., as we honor and celebrate their service.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support Heritage Elementary. Your involvement makes all the difference as we work together to create a joyful, engaging, and enriching school year.
— Amanda Vance, Principal Heritage Elementary