Class of 2024
September Newsletter
Grade Level Team
Grade Level Principal: Mr. Damon Chase chase@helixcharter.net x127
Administrative Assistant: Mrs. Vicky Rodriguez rodriguez@helixcharter.net x145
Counselor: Mrs. Monica Olivari olivari@helixcharter.net x147
Academic Advisor: Mr. Frank Theroux theroux@helixcharter.net x136
Attendance: Mrs. Stacy Denison denison@helixcharter.net x231
DISTANCE LEARNING TIPS
Have A Designated Study Area
Whether it’s the kitchen table or the desk in your bedroom, create an area to study that is a designated study zone.
Get up at the same time you would to go to an in person class. Having this daily structure can help manage feelings of anxiety and isolation, and will assist you in staying productive.
Have resources/materials accessible (markers, paper, rulers, etc.) Plan ahead and review due dates to have materials ready.
Keep cellphones away until assignments are completed.
Figure Out How You Learn Best
If you’re a morning person, make time to study first thing. More of a night person? Set aside an hour or two after dinner to study.
Not everyone learns the same way, so think about what types of information help you best grasp new concepts and employ relevant study strategies.
If you’re a visual learner, print out lessons to review. Learn best by listening? Make sure to build time into your schedule to play and replay all audio- and video-based course content.
Time Management
Look at your class syllabus and make note of major assignments. Mark them on a calendar you check regularly so you know what workload is coming in the weeks ahead.
Create a weekly schedule that you follow.
Try time-blocking, allotting yourself a certain amount of time for each task before moving on to the next one and setting a timer to keep you accountable.
- Check in periodically throughout the term, and look at how you’re spending your time. Ask yourself: How much time am I dedicating to course reading and assignments? Am I regularly underestimating the time it’s taking me to get things done, forcing me to cram the nights before the exams?
Use Alarms and Calendars
Utilize alarms and calendars to ensure that you are reaching your goals.
Using alarms can be helpful in completing coursework and minimizing distractions.
For example, setting an alarm for an hour of textbook reading will keep you working until you hear that alarm. Avoiding your phone/tv during the time until you hear the alarm will improve productivity.
Get a Planner and Keep It Updated
Keep lists of what needs to get accomplished on a daily basis.
Each night, before you go to sleep, write a list of things that need to happen the next day. Cross them off as you complete them during the day. If anything on the list does not get completed, it should become an immediate priority for the next day.
It can be helpful to include smaller tasks that you know you’ll accomplish on this list.
If you know that you need to tackle a big task, and you’re not looking forward to it, schedule time specifically devoted to it into your day.
If you have a prolonged assignment and you tend to procrastinate, break it down into smaller pieces and schedule time for each piece. Write your schedule in your planner to make sure that it doesn’t conflict with anything else.
Online EXL Class Planner
Meet your Extended Learning Support (ExL) Coaches
Whats up Class of 2024! My name is Mr. Pross and I will be the Lead Academic Coach in you ExL class this school year! I am beyond excited to get to know as many of you as I can. This is my 4th year as a Lead Academic Coach, but this will be my 8th year working at Helix. I graduated from Grand Canyon University with a B.A in History. My goal is to become a Special Education Teacher and I am currently working towards that goal. Some hobbies that I love to do include, gaming, fishing, music, and I am also a Youth Pastor here in San Diego as well. I am really looking forward to working with each and every one of you! We hope you are just as excited as we all are. Welcome to Helix!
Get Enough Rest
If you can’t focus, take too much time to settle in to a task, or find yourself continually losing yourself in other thoughts, you might be overly tired.
After a full day of studying, your brain needs time to consolidate everything you’ve learned into your memory. That’s where sleep comes in!
The more you learn, the more you need to sleep and the better you retain the information.
Remember, pulling all-nighters deprives your body of the sleep it needs to consolidate everything you’ve learned for the day.
Aim for 7-9 hours a day.
Wellness Center
Suicidal thoughts, much like mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or background. In fact, suicide is often the result of an untreated mental health condition. Suicidal thoughts, although common, should not be considered normal and often indicate more serious issues.
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month—a time to share resources and stories in an effort to shed light on this highly taboo and stigmatized topic. We use this month to reach out to those affected by suicide, raise awareness and connect individuals with suicidal ideation to treatment services.
For more resources please visit the National Alliance on Mental Health NAMI website
Call 1-888-580-8477
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