Class of 2026 Newsletter
Issue I: August 2022
Welcome to Freshman Year!☺️
Welcome to the Helix Family! 673 freshman started their high school career with us last Thursday, August 4th coming from 60+ different middle schools. We know transitions can sometimes be difficult but your Grade Level Team is here to serve you!
It's only the end of the the first week and so many of them are already settling into their routines on campus! We are very excited to get to know them better and support them through the next four years.
Newsletters: What Are They?
At the beginning of each month these newsletters will be emailed so that you are aware of any upcoming events, important dates, and just general announcements that we believe you should be aware of. Each grade level creates their own newsletter since there are some announcements that are grade specific. We encourage you to take some time each month to look at the newsletter to ensure you're staying in the know. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding any of the content shared.
Welcome our Social Workers!
We are very eager to have Mr. and Ms. Smith join our grade level team this year. Our School Social Worker are trained mental health professionals who provide services related to a student’s social & emotional adjustment to school, family, community, & society.
When and how to visit?
Go to the Wellness Center page on the Helix website and make an appointment with one of the SWs
Walk-in before/after school or during lunch without an appointment
Emergency and need immediate support? (Crying, panic attack, overwhelming emotions, etc.) Go to or ask your teacher to go to your GLT- your counselor/academic advisor will check-in with you first and if you need extra support they will refer you to the WC
Creating a Parent Observer Account
Your student will be receiving their classroom announcements, assignments and grades via Canvas. As a parent, you are able to create what is called a Parent Observer Account to view your student's progress. Here is a video you can watch with your student that will assist you with creating a Helix Canvas Observer account. The second link will help with the understanding of what an Observer account is.
If you have multiple students currently enrolled at Helix, the first link will explain on how to observe multiple students starting at 1:17.
SMART Camp Attendees
S.M.A.R.T. camp was a huge success! Our Academic Support program really enjoyed getting to know your students and we hope that the students came away with some helpful tips and a little less anxiety about starting high school. 40 hours is not much time to change habits so it would be great if the students can continue to work at Khan Academy through the coming school year. It is a great resource for them and practicing math skills is important to their success in high school. Here are the topics they should master as quickly as possible:
- Order of Operations
- Factoring
- Working with Fractions and Decimals
- Working with Positive and Negative numbers
- Rules for Exponents
- Rules for Square Root
- Multiplication Tables
3-5 days a week, 20-30 minute work periods
Links:
https://www.khanacademy.org/math/arithmetic
https://www.khanacademy.org/math/pre-algebra Here is a helpful handout that students were given in camp. During the school year, Academic Coaches are available Monday - Thursday, 3:00 - 4:00 PM, in room 1340 to help with homework and test prep. Your students should plan on completing their math homework in 1340 each day. Coaches will check for accuracy and understanding. Online math resources that provide answers can help your students complete their work but do not help students master a skill or check for understanding. Students who have a habit of using online resources to complete homework packets do not usually pass the test the first time. Most 9th graders do not take advantage of test retakes but your students will need to start doing so early on. Make sure they understand their teachers retake policy and procedures. This can be found on the teacher's canvas page. Academic Support is always here to help. Your 9th grader will have an Academic Coach assigned to them either in Extended Learning (ExL) or Study Skills every other day all year. If you find that your student is struggling at Helix please contact your grade level team as soon as possible. Early intervention is key. Watch for the Helix Family First Algebra 1 Information night coming soon in September and Technology Information Night in August.
Family First: Algebra 1 Information & Resources
Learn more about the course from some of Helix’s Algebra 1 teachers.
Zoom information will be emailed once it's available
Thu, Sep 15, 2022, 06:00 PM
School-Wide Announcements
FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH
GOOD NEWS! Breakfast and lunch will now be made available for all students regardless of income. Breakfast will be served before school from 7:30am-8:30am as well as during nutrition break. Lunch is available both in the cafeteria and the carts around campus. Keep in mind that there are additional items that the carts have that are for sale.
Although meals are free this year, we are asking all our Helix families to fill out meal applications. You can find the APPLICATION HERE.
Free Tutoring for All Students
Helix academic coaches will be in room 1340 after school Monday - Thursday from 2:47-4:00 p.m. and available to help all students in all subjects.
Helix Athletics Rummage Sale
Need some Helix spirit gear or a retro sports jersey? Come shop our rummage sale this Saturday, Aug 13th from 8-11am outside of the gym. All proceeds go towards our teams.
Attendance FAQs
What if I am late, like really late?
- Students arriving more than 20 minutes late for 1st period, must first check in with the Attendance Office. For verification purposes, a note signed by a parent/guardian is preferred, but a phone call to the attendance office is acceptable. Parents/guardians may also clear tardy/absences through Parent Vue.
What if I miss a day of school?
Full-day absences must be verified with the Attendance Office within 24 hours. Failing to clear an absence within 24 hours maymay result in a consequence for the student. A phone call from the parent/guardian to the Attendance Office on the day of the absence is preferred. Verification through ParentVue, parent/guardian signed note or email verification is also acceptable.
What if I need to leave campus early?
If a student needs to leave campus for any reason before their school day is over, they must first obtain an Off-Campus Permit. Off-Campus Permits are issued upon the request of a parent/guardian through the Attendance Office. Requests for an Off-Campus Permit should be presented in writing (preferred) before the start of school or by phone to the Attendance Office. Requests for early release should be made in advance whenever possible to accommodate the timely release of your student.
Students who leave school early without school authorization are considered truant and will be assigned a consequence.
Helix Glossary of Frequently Used Terms
With a new school comes so many things to learn and sometimes we get lost trying to figure out all acronyms, abbreviations and new terms mean. Take a peek at our Helix Glossary to help you sift through it all.
Make-Up Picture Day
If you didn't get an ID Card or missed getting photographed during Summer Conferencing - don't worry. PICTURE MAKE UP DAY is Monday - AUGUST 15TH
Students can walk-in during their specific time slot (listed below) to room 600 (next to the pool).
YEARBOOK CHOICE
When you are in your Photo Gallery, you will see the word "YEARBOOK" in a red box at the lower left corner of the Gallery window. Click the "red" button- the Gallery will REFRESH. Now, select the image you want (click on the image) - then while it is highlighted - click the GREEN "YEARBOOK" button on the lower right corner. That's it! Simple. But...very, very important.
LAST DAY TO SUBMIT A YEARBOOK IMAGE - AUGUST 28TH!
NEW Helix Website!
Our website got a facelift!
From announcements, course catalogs, to an evergrowing staff directory, our new website contains a lot of new information. We invite you to take some time to explore our website. We are always looking to to improve so there is also an option to give feedback. Check it out!
Getting Involved On Campus
ASPIRE Programs have begun!
What is ASPIRE?
ASPIRE are FREE before and after school programs available to students. These programs are adult-led and provide further enrichment opportunities for our students. Individual program descriptions are available on the Helix Aspire website which is linked below.
Auditions are OPEN!
The Highland Players, Helix's theater program, will hold auditions for the 1st show of the year, Almost Maine, next week. Auditions for this romantic comedy are open to any Helix student. To get more information on the show and auditions come to an informational meeting TODAY, Friday, in Room 910 (the Black Box Theater) at LUNCH. If you are unable to attend, please contact Mr. Osborn in the Black Box for email gosborn@helixcharter.net. Hope to see you there!
Club Rush
On Friday, August 26th during lunch ASB will be hosting Club Rush. Club rush is an event where all Helix clubs can promote their club and recruit students to join. Reminder emails will be sent out to students.
Off-campus Opportunities
Community Service
In addition to completing our A-G requirements, students also have to complete 40 hours of community service. It is recommended that students complete 10 hours every grade level to avoid overwhelming an already busy Senior year.
Beyond 40 hours enhances college applications and earns distinctions on their high school transcript.
- Silver Level Service Performer: 50 - 99 hours
- Gold Level Service Performance: 100 - 199 hours
- Platinum Level Service Performance: 200+ hours
Why Volunteering is Important
Volunteering can have a positive impact on your community and can instill in you a sense of pride and accomplishment.
Your volunteer opportunities may provide content for your student resume.
Volunteering gives back to your community in a meaningful way and offers an opportunity to learn valuable networking skills.
Colleges, Universities and employers care about what you do outside of school and prefer students who exhibit personal growth and develop leadership skills.
+ So much more!
Your volunteer experience should reflect quality vs. quantity. Colleges are more impressed with students who volunteer for a few organizations, or causes, over a longer period of time. This shows your growth and commitment as a person and more likely, will provide you with leadership opportunities vs. volunteering for too many short term things that didn’t inspire much personal growth, develop leadership skills or lacked commitment. Experience many volunteer opportunities early and then commit to only the few that you feel most excited about or drawn to.
The off-campus opportunities section will commonly promote ways for students to recieve community service hours. When attending a community service event, make sure to take a community service form to recieve credit. These forms can be found in the front admin building. It can also be found on our Helix website under Documents & Forms.
The City of La Mesa is now accepting applications for its Youth Advisory Commission. The City is looking for students between the ages of 13 and 20 years old who live within the City limits or attend school in the City of La Mesa. Commission meetings are held the second and fourth Monday of each month at 4:30 p.m. in the Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive, La Mesa.
The application deadline is Tuesday, September 20th.
Parent/Guardian Corner
FRIENDS ARE WHERE IT'S AT
For a teenager, friends are everything. They seek acceptance like it's a life-sustaining force, which it is to them. Rejection and isolation are not only the worst feelings but also the horrible ingredients for everything bad imaginable: poor academic performance, substance use, anxiety, depression, and self-harm. They need friends.
But, proximity and time don't necessarily translate into the qualities of friendship they need. Since social skills aren't taught explicitly at school and are often overlooked in youth sports or other activities, we (parents and educators) need to be extra deliberate to help them bolster them. What does that look like?
- Model good social skills: when your kids are around you, whether you're talking to a neighbor, a waiter, or a friend on the phone, be deliberate to model the type of social skills you hope they learn. Ask good questions, make proper eye contact and non-verbal cues, and speak clearly and kindly.
- Correct poor social skills: don't ever correct them in public, but if you notice they failed to do any of the above interactions, point it out to them. But, do it kindly and without shame. It's tempting to project onto them our own embarrassment or shame, but that will only shut them down further. Rather, recognize they're in a learning mode, likely feel anxious in social settings, and be a mirror to them about something they missed.
- Set clear expectations for good social skills: too often parents or educators snap at kids. We say things like, "Don't you know how to say 'please'?" Rather, what would be more helpful is to anticipate the social interaction in advance and script it for them. Tell them how it's important to put their phone in their pocket when you have guests over. Let them know how kind and generous it is to ask questions and show genuine interest in someone. Share your expectations for them in advance, so they know how to act beforehand.
Social skills are a key part of the emotional intelligence everyone needs in order to go through life well. Can you imagine someone living life well without them?
Helix Spotlights
Helix D.A.D.S.
We have been lucky enough to partner with D.A.D.S. (Dads Achieving Daily for Students) for the past couple years who serve as a positive presence during school events. We invite all Helix Fathers, Father-figures, and families to sign up to participate in this volunteer program.
Contact Us
- Mrs. Trevino, Grade Level Principal - trevino@helixcharter.net
- Mr. Gonzalez, Counselor - gonzalez@helixcharter.net
Counselors help you with your academic, college & career goals, but they also help out when life happens too - arguments, family stuff, relationship stuff, etc.
- Ms. Lopez-Barajas, Academic Advisor - lopez-barajas@helixcharter.net
Academic advisors help you with your academic, college & career goals.
Schedule changes, course requirements, college admission requirements, athletic eligibility requirements, etc.
- Mrs. Urich, Administrative Assistant - urich@helixcharter.net
- Mrs. Melendez, Attendance Clerk - amelendez@helixcharter.net
- Mr. Smith, Social Worker- ksmith@helixcharter.net
- Ms. Smith, Social Worker- rsmith@helixcharter.net
- Helix Class of 2026 - @helix.2026
- Helix College Center - @helixcollegecenter
- Helix ASB - @helixasb
- Helix ASPIRE - @helixaspire
- Helix PTSA - @helix.ptsa