July 25, 2025
Dear Eagle Families:
Welcome to the 2025-26 school year. I hope you have had a relaxing and invigorating summer. Here at Heritage, summer is always a busy time. Throughout the last few months, facilities have been updated, our sports teams have been participating in camps and optional workouts, the marching band has begun working on its performance routines, and the building has been deep cleaned and spruced up for the start of a new school year. All of this activity has made me excited for the start of the upcoming school year for our returning and new, incoming Eagles. I am a firm believer that in order for our students to achieve their highest levels of success, the adults they interact with every day (administrators, teachers, coaches, and parents) need to be on the same page and partnering to meet this shared goal. As we kick off the new school year, I wanted to take this opportunity to discuss Heritage’s continued focus for the upcoming year.
As a member of our HHS Community, we expect all of our Eagles to exhibit kindness, empathy, and help others feel a sense of community and belonging. The teenage developmental years are difficult enough without our students having to be made fun of, called out in person or on social media, or feel like they are not welcomed by their peers. Bullying, name-calling, and the general mistreatment of others will not be tolerated. We ask that, as a family, you talk about the expectations you and the school have for your students as they navigate the hallways, classroom activities, online interactions, and overall behaviors in our community. We expect our Eagles to treat everyone with respect. Students may certainly not agree with others’ perspectives or choices, but the need to respect their right to their choices is key to being a positive member of our community.
More than ever, today’s students must engage positively with the online and technological world. Students need to practice online safety by not sharing passwords or private information with others, including their peers. Additionally, activity on social media platforms can create real challenges for students, not only at Heritage High School, but for years to come as they transition to the post secondary world and life after Heritage. Teenagers can be impulsive at times and not realize that a single moment of poor judgment may follow them moving forward. The things we post today in anger, to be funny, or because we are not thinking clearly, can have real life consequences later on and cost students scholarships, future employment opportunities, legal entanglements, or impact their life choices years from now. I also ask that you please talk as a family about the negative impacts of sharing private information, including pictures and passwords with friends, classmates and others. Once again, HHS will be enforcing the LPS cell phone policy during the school day. We ask that, as a family, you review this policy and its consequences with your student. We also know that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be a part of our children’s lives moving forward into the future. We, as adults, need to stress the importance of using AI as a beneficial tool and not for the purpose of short changing learning or harming others.
Most of our Eagles are involved in and out of the classroom. This type of engagement creates a strong, supportive connection throughout the community. At the high school level, very few of our athletes and activities members will go on to participate at the collegiate level. Sports and activities are meant to be competitive, fun activities that create a passion and connection to the school community. In the last few years we have seen a huge increase in concerning behaviors surrounding student participation in extracurriculars. Please read the letter below from Athletic Director Jill Schrader to review Littleton Public Schools’ and Heritage High School’s expectations for our athletes, club members and their families when participating in extracurriculars.
On a more logistical note, the summer season has brought a great deal of road construction to our Littleton Community. Almost every direction and neighborhood Heritage High School feeds from has been impacted. I ask that you review the attached link to the City of Littleton’s road construction website and review all ongoing and upcoming road projects. Please take the next few weeks to work out an appropriate route to school and please know travel times will need to be increased. Instructional time is of great value and missing extended class time over a period of days, weeks and months will negatively impact student learning. With that in mind, we will not be excusing repeated tardies based on traffic related delays and issues. We appreciate you adapting your routines as these repairs and improvements from the city happen.
Once again, I want to welcome all of our Eagle Families to the 2025-26 school year. I know it is going to be a year full of Pride, Character, and Excellence inside and outside of the classroom. Working together with students, families, and school staff, we will create the strongest foundation for our students to be the very best people they can be, a goal I think we all share for our Eagles. I wish you a wonderful school year full of success, happiness, and joy.
Regards,
