February Newsletter
Class of 2027
Class of 2027 Grade Level Team
(Ms. Bojorquez, Mr. Smith, Mrs. Carbajal, Mr. Watkins, Ms. Castrejon, Ms. Soto)
A Message From Your Grade Level Team
Course Request Updates
Course Request season is well underway! Ms. Soto, Ms. Castrejon, and Mr. Smith have begun meeting individually with students to discuss course requests and their plans for 10th grade. If your student has NOT been met with, rest assured that we will meet with them within the next couple of weeks.
If you would like to review what your student has selected, their 10th grade course request can be found on ParentVue under "Course Request." Only students that have been met with will have this feature available.
Upcoming Events & Important Dates
- Thursday, February 1 - Parent Shadow Day and Mid-High School Reflections
- Thursday, February 1 - On-Site Physicals
- Saturday, February 10 - Winter Formal
- Wednesday, February 14 - Athletic Eligibility Determined
- Friday, February 16 - Lincoln's Day - No School
- Monday, February 19 - President’s Day - No School
- March 15 - 29 - Spring Break - No School
Enrollment for '24-'25 School Year - Applications Due by March 1, 2024
If you have siblings you would like to enroll for next school year, you must submit your application by March 1, 2024. Helix is a charter school, so no one is automatically enrolled and you must apply before March 1 to ensure your incoming student has a spot. The application and all information about enrollment can be found here - helixcharter.net/Enroll. No action is required for students already enrolled at Helix.
Parent Shadow Day & Mid-High School Reflections - Thursday, February 1 from 8:30-1:00pm
We are excited to invite you to our Parent Shadow Day! The purpose of this event is to observe your student’s classrooms and school environment. This year will be an extra special day because we are holding our Mid High School Reflections (MHSR) on the same day! MHSR is a project that all 11th graders must participate in. They present on their high school experience and goals going forward. We love to have parents and community members join us as audience members for these presentations. If you would like to participate as an audience member, please RSVP here. Audience members can check in at the admin building at 1:00pm and head to the library. We will provide a catered meal and give a brief explanation of the project. Please RSVP by 1/31, so we can order the correct amount of food. Right after lunch, we’ll head to classrooms to hear student presentations, which will run from 1:30-3:30.
We will be on the following bell schedule on Thursday, February 1, 2024. If your student is not a junior participating in the MHSR, they may leave after 4th period or lunch.
Refreshments will be served in the Library during Parent Shadow Day, hosted by the Helix Foundation, Alumni Association and PTSA. Information and sign-ups for all three organizations will be available.
The PTSA will hold a quick, informational meeting during Nutrition Break at 10:30 in the library for any interested parents. You can meet the team and they'll share what they've been up to, including some great fundraising initiatives for students.
Winter Formal - Saturday, February 10th
Family First Info Nights
Every Thursday at 6pm, Helix staff or special guests present on different topics applicable to high school parents. These events are held in the Helix Library and are open to the public! See below for our upcoming schedule. Visit helixcharter.net/FamilyFirst for more information and for links to previous recordings.
Business Pathway Info Night - Thursday, February 8 at 6pm
Pathway leaders Amy Hull & Julio Torres will showcase the Business Pathway for 9-11 grade families. They will give an overview of teachers, courses, activities, program, rooms, equipment and scholarship opportunities! This event will be held in person in the Helix Library at 6pm. Students are welcome to attend with parents/guardians. Doors open at 5:45. For translation services, click here bit.ly/46c6iT2
Dual Enrollment Info Night - Monday, February 12 at 6pm
This info night is for parents and guardians looking to learn more about our Dual Enrollment program. We'll cover the pros and cons of dual enrollment, how to enroll, opportunities and expectations. Our College & Career Center Advisor, Gillian Morgan, will present along with Ms. Villegas, grade level principal. This event will be held in person in the Helix Library at 6pm. Please note that this event is on a Monday. Students are welcome to attend with parents/guardians. Doors open at 5:45. For translation services, click here bit.ly/46c6iT2
ASPIRE Program & Performing Arts Info Night - Thursday, Febuary 15 at 6pm
Come learn about ASPIRE offerings and Performing Arts programs. Katie Pipes, Department Chair, will present about the programs, how to get involved, audition dates and more. This event will be held in person in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) at 6pm. Students are welcome to attend with parents/guardians. Doors open at 5:45. For translation services, click here bit.ly/46c6iT2
Screenagers Showing - Thursday, February 29 at 6pm
Join us in our Performing Arts Center for a showing of Screenagers: Next Generation, an important movie about teenagers and technology. Registration is not required. Students and siblings are welcome to come. Refreshments will be provided and doors open at 5:45. The movie is an hour long and we will have a short discussion afterward.
Movie Description: Filmmaker and physician Delaney Ruston uses a personal lens and professional eye to help us all flip the script on stress, anxiety, and depression. We follow Delaney as she finds herself at a loss on how to help her own teens as they struggle with their emotional wellbeing. Ruston sets out to understand these challenges in our current screen-filled society, and how we as parents and schools empower teens to overcome mental health challenges and build emotional agility, communication savvy, and stress resilience. We witness Delaney as she finds her way from ineffective parenting to much-improved strategies. We also observe approaches in schools that provide strategies relevant beyond the classroom setting. Interwoven into the stories are surprising insights from brain researchers, psychologists, and thought-leaders that reveal evidence-based ways to support mental wellness among our youth. The impact of social media and screen time in general is incorporated in topics brought to our attention in Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER, how it may be impacting our teen’s mental health, and what we can do to help support youth in the face of struggles.
Student & Community News
Medical Pathway / Internship Course
If you're interested in the medical field as a career, be sure to check out Medical Pathway classes and the new Medical Internship Course where you will work at Sharp Hospital alongside medical staff! Check with your grade level team if interested.
Winter Play - Twelve Angry Jurors - January 24- February 3
The Highland Players production of Twelve Angry Jurors by Reginald Rose will be shown in the Helix Black Box Theater on the following dates: Feb. 1, 3 ("Fair" Cast), Feb. 2 ("Impartial" Cast). All shows will be at 7pm. Tickets available for purchase here.
Helix Dance Presents Hip Hop Night - February 21, 22, 23 at 7pm
This is a regional event that is hosted by the Helix Dance Program. Schools from across San Diego perform under roof for a night full of Hip Hop dance, music and culture. Tickets can be purchased by going to the Helix Dance Program Website.
Sports Clearance & On-Site Physicals
Interested in participating in a Spring sport? Online clearance is now open. Visit THE HELIX ATHLETICS WEBSITE for instructions. On-campus physicals will be held on Thursday, Feb. 1 at 3pm in the Sports Medicine classroom (1160). Cost is $35 and we only accept cash.
PTSA Board Members Needed!
Parent engagement is a priority at Helix and necessary to keep our community strong. The PTSA plays an important role in this. Helix PTSA is looking for volunteers to serve on the board in the following positions. Serving on the board means committing to attend the meetings when possible which are on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 5:30pm in the Helix Admin Bldg or via Zoom. Please email helixptsapresident@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering.
- VICE PRESIDENT (VP) - Acts as an aide to the President and assumes duties as directed by the President. Direct duties: Preside at PTSA meetings when the president is unavailable. Find speakers for Membership meetings. Work on any special projects as needed.
- SECRETARY - Responsible for keeping accurate records of the proceedings of the association, complete records of members and leaders, as well as sending communications on behalf of the board of directors.
- HISTORIAN - Captures, assembles and preserves record of activities and achievements of a PTA.
30th Annual Helix Instrumental Giving Gala - Thursday, March 14 at 5pm
HIMA's 30th Annual Gala will be held at the Thursday Club on March 14th. Tickets can be purchased here.
Support Helix through Farm Fresh To You
Use promocode: HelixCharter when purchasing Farm Fresh to You products and they will give 10% back to Helix.
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. Across the nation, young people and their loved ones unite to raise awareness about teen dating violence. Please join us in educating our school communities to stop dating abuse before it starts.
The Teen Dating Violence (TDV) Committee of the San Diego Domestic Violence Council is excited to host a Preventing Teen Dating Violence in Schools training on February 7. Please find the attached flyer for training and registration information. If you have any questions, please email the TDV Committee at teendv.sddvc@gmail.com.
SDCOE Computer2Kids Event Feb. 10
The San Diego County Office of Education and Computers2Kids are hosting an event for families to purchase affordable computers on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 from 9 to 12:00 p.m. at Canyon Hills High School, 5156 Santo Rd, San Diego, CA 92124 (Drive Thru Event).
See attached flyer or on this link for details.
Since the beginning of the 2022-23 academic year, the partnership between SDCOE and Computers2Kids has provided refurbished computers to San Diego families. As of July 2023 they have provided approximately 2000 refurbished computers to 900 San Diego families. We hope your families are able to benefit from this event.
Eric Paredes Save A Live Foundation to provide FREE heart screenings
The Eric Paredes Save A Life Foundation is hosting a FREE Heart Month heart screening for youth ages 12 to 25 at Steele Canyon High School on Sunday, February 25 in honor of former SCHS student Eric Paredes who’s life was lost due to sudden cardiac arrest in 2009. Screenings include a cardiac risk assessment, ECG, consultation with a physician, and if indicated, a limited echocardiogram to find the one in 300 youth at risk from an undetected heart condition. Participants also get a hands-on demonstration of what to do in a cardiac emergency by using CPR and an AED.
Attached is a flyer promoting the event, it includes a QR code to register or participants can register at https://epsavealife.org/register/.
Community Service Opportunities
A list of community service opportunities can be found at helixcharter.net/community. We keep it very updated and some interesting new opportunities have just been added!
Winter Formal Eligibility
WINTER FORMAL ACADEMIC & ATTENDANCE EXPECTATIONS
We go back 5 weeks from the date of the dance to check the following:
No truancies
No suspensions
No more than ONE lockout
No more than THREE unexcused absences
No more than FIVE tardies
No more than FIVE excused absences
Must have 2.0 GPA from the December report card
Emails were sent to those students who have unserved detentions. Your dance privileges for Winter Formal have been taken away. If you received one of those emails and want to attend the dance, read the email and follow the directions on the email.
Student Highlight of the Month
Our Student Highlights for the month of January are Audrey Boull't, Alex Gibbs, and Talia Horvath!
All three students have already met their Community Service Requirement in order to graduate from Helix! Audrey has completed 58 hours, Alex has completed 66 hours, and Talia has completed 65 Hours. They are on track to get 100+ hours by the time they reach Senior year. Way to go Scotties!
Every month your GLT will be recognizing students who have gone above and beyond and have shown what it means to be a true Scottie.
Language Placement
Interested in taking Spanish as your Foreign Language?
Placement testing for Spanish will take place 1/15-2/29:
Spanish SPEAKER placement testing: Mondays, 2:54-3:35 in room 400 students should plan on coming two times (once for the written assessment and once for the oral assessment)
Regular Spanish placement testing (non-Spanish speakers, those hoping to enter Spanish 120 or 3/4C): Mondays or Wednesdays, 2:54-3:35 in room 430
Students who have a background in a language are highly encouraged to take these placement exams in order to accurately assess their level.
French/ASL: All students wishing to test into French or ASL please email Mrs. Amanda Dolphin at dolphin@helixcharter.net
If you are a student who has taken an AP Language test, please send the score report to Ms. Soto and Ms. Castrejon in order to update your transcript. Make sure your name is visible on this repo
Honors Biology
Students interested in taking honors biology will need to take a placement exam. Students who do not successfully pass the exam will be placed in either college prep Biology or Biotechnology.
Information on the placement exam is below.
- Feb 26th and 27th
- Room 1360 during tutorials or in students ExL period
- The exam is 30-40 minutes long and students are allowed to use a calculator
Please contact Mrs. Wylie at wylie@helixcharter.net if you have any questions.
Academic Support News
Happenings
- Week 1 (2/5 - 2/9): Continuation of Course Request Season Season + Winter Formal + Phone Calls home on student progress
- Week 2 (2/12 - 2/15): Progress Reports Going out to Families
- No School Friday, 2/16
- Week 3 (2/20 - 2/23):
- No School Monday, 2/19
Announcements
- Course Request Season is UPON US!! The 2027 Team will be stationed in ExL from 1/29 to 2/2, then they will begin their outreach for any students that were not met with.
- If you did NOT complete the Course Request Form, Don’t Fret! You can write down the courses you want to take for next year on a piece of paper and have them ready to discuss with your Team Member!
- Progress Reports are coming up soon, so expect to see a NM in credit, A Conduct Grade, and a Work Habits Grade.
- ASP Coaches will be sending home introductory emails to families to introduce themselves if they have not done so already. Within the next week they will be making phone calls home for students struggling to produce work in order to share resources and update guardians.
Tips and Tricks
- Operating on Limited Time: Every year February is noted to be a very busy and exciting Month of the school year on account of the Course Request Season, Winter Formal, 4-Day Weekend, Weather, and so much more. All this activity is bound to make a wedge into student schedules, so being able to PLAN and PRIORITIZE your time is going to be very important
- PLANNING: take some time each day/week to outline what responsibilities/assignments you have for the week, and write them out to see what kind of intensity your week will have.
- PRIORITIZE: From the list of things you have created, organizing each day for focusing on the MOST IMPORTANT tasks in order to maximize time in the day.
- We always recommend that students use ExL or Tutorial to work on/get help on the subjects that students struggle with the MOST in order to utilize the support resources that Helix has to offer before working on the work that they feel more confident in completing on their own.
- For those students in ExL/SS, Students can use their Academic Support Planner for these purposes! Funny how these things work out huh?
Academic Coach Highlight
Julianna Mullen is in her first year of working as an Academic Coach. She graduated from Helix in 2020. She has joined us with an eagerness that many appreciate. Ms. Mullen enjoys reading and writing (over 8 favorite books). It’s therapeutic. She believes writing builds character. Ms. Mullen is a student as well. Please ask for help with English, her major. In her free time, she likes tap dancing, which she learned at Helix. She wants students to know that she is here to help with whatever they need. Ms. Mullen has been to France and England. One day she hopes to travel to Ireland and Greece. Another thing she enjoys in music, particularly Indie Folk.
If money were no object, what is the first thing you would buy and why?
Answer: A car (no particular brand) and jewelry. She’s like a crow. She sees something shiny, she wants it.
Tutorials
Teacher Tutorial 2:54pm-3:35pm
Monday/Wednesday
Art, English, Helix First, LOTE, PE, Performing Arts, Science
Tuesday/Thursday
Business, Family/Consumer Science, Math, Social Science, Tech
Academic Support Tutorial 3:00pm-4:00pm
Room 1340 Monday-Thursday
*This tutorial offers more one-on-one support from Academic Coaches