Class of 2028

• Thursday, November 7 - Minimum Day, School Out at 1:20pm
• Monday, November 11 - No School - Veteran's Day
• Monday, November 18 - Progress Reports
• Wednesday, November 20 - Athletic Eligibility Determined
• November 25 - 29 - No School - Thanksgiving Break

Yearbooks are currently for sale for $75 at the Dawg House and through the student store. The cost will increase to $85 in January and yearbooks SELL OUT, so buy one now if you're interested!

All students must be cleared BEFORE participating. Please click HERE for more information about the athletic clearance process.

Get ready for a night of laughs and thrills at The Highland Players' production of Arsenic and Old Lace! Join the quirky Brewster family for a darkly hilarious evening full of mistaken identities, sinister secrets, and unexpected twists. With a double cast and plenty of mayhem, each performance promises to keep you on the edge of your seat! Be sure to check which cast is performing before you grab your tickets—this is one show you won’t want to miss!

“STRYCHNINE” CAST Nov. 1 @ 7 pm; "CYANIDE” CAST: Nov. 2 @ 2 pm & 7pm

** Read more about the show and cast here and purchase tickets here **

Helix Vocal Music Department presents Fall Cabaret on November 13 & 14 at 7pm in the PAC, showcasing all 5 Helix Choirs and featuring specialty acts from our talented Helix singers! Purchase tickets HERE.

The winter dance concert will be held in the PAC on Thursday & Friday, Nov. 21 & 22 at 7pm. Visit www.helixdancers.com for more information.

Prepare for takeoff on 25/25! Winter Formal will take place on January 25th at the Air & Space Museum. Tickets are on sale now at the Dawg House. All students must be cleared prior to purchasing tickets.

We hope all families will consider joining the Helix PTSA, click here to join. There is no commitment involved, it is just an annual, one-time donation of $13. The funds raised through PTSA memberships go directly back to the school and students, for scholarships, teacher supplies and needs, special programs and anything the students may need! We have student reps from each grade who attend the meetings and share requests and we try to accommodate them as much as possible. We have funds set aside for each grade.

If you want to make more of a commitment, consider joining the PTSA board! This means attending one meeting per month (if you're available) and being on an email distribution that shares information about upcoming volunteer opportunities. The meetings are typically held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 5pm at the school or via Zoom.

And if you just want to be informed about upcoming events and school news, follow us on social media at Facebook and Instagram.

We are excited to announce the Fall Semester 1 achievements for the Class of 2028! Congratulations to our Scotties with Perfect Attendance—showing up every day, on time, with no marks throughout the day—and to those who made the Honor Roll with a GPA of 3.5 or higher this grading period. Keep up the great work! Watch this short clip that celebrates their hard work and dedication!

Recently, the Student Support Department hosted an informative session for Helix students on the criteria for valedictorian eligibility, including key requirements beyond just grades. Check out the slideshow by clicking HERE or on the image below for all the details. Remember, it’s never too early to learn about the process and set yourself up for success!

As we welcome the fall and winter seasons with their festive cheer and traditions, it's also the time of year when colds, flu, and missed school days become more common. To support student wellness and learning, please keep your student home if they show signs of illness, such as a fever or vomiting. If your student is experiencing anxiety or stress please be sure to contact the Grade Level Team for support options. We also encourage families to avoid scheduling trips or vacations during school days, as missing school can create added stress for students.

*Nov 11: Veterans Day (No School)
*Nov 25-29: Thanksgiving Break (No School)
*Dec 19 & 20: Helix Finals
*Dec 23-Jan 7: Winter Break
*Jan 8: Start of Spring Semester 1

1. Students arriving late to school must go directly to the Attendance Office. Even if they arrive between class periods or at lunch.
2. If a student needs to leave campus for any reason before their school day is over, they must first obtain an Off-Campus Pass.
3. If a student becomes ill while at school, the student must report to the School Nurse’s Office with a pass from their teacher. The nurse will then notify the parent/guardian to determine if an early release from school is necessary.
4. Students who leave campus early without authorization before leaving are considered truant and will be assigned a consequence.
5. Parents/Guardians must notify the school of the reason for their student’s absence, as soon as it is known a student will be absent. Absences that are not cleared within three (3) school days will change to a truancy.

Thank you for your support in keeping our school community healthy and engaged!

Every Thursday at 6pm, Helix staff or special guests present on different topics applicable to high school parents. These events are held in ExL 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.

If you've ever struggled to understand your teenager, this Info Night is for you. Julie Damschen, Child Development & Psychology teacher will present the latest information about teenage brain growth and development. With new technology, we better understand why peers have such a big influence on our teens, why substance abuse can be more harmful to teen brains and how parents can best support their teens through this developing brain period. Dinner will be provided, please RSVP here for food ordering purposes. This event will be held in ExL, the 1600 building, and is open to all parents and guardians. Students (and siblings) are welcome to join you! You can park in the staff lot located at 7323 University, above the big H. This is the entrance from University & Yale. For translation services, click here.

You are invited to attend our first ELAC (English Learner Advisory Committee) meeting of the school year with Ms. Burrough, our English Language Coordinator. Your involvement is vital in shaping a successful educational journey for all students. We value diversity and inclusivity and want to work together to support our English Learners and create a nurturing academic environment. Dinner will be provided, please RSVP here for food ordering purposes. This event will be held in ExL, the 1600 building, and is open to all parents and guardians. Students (and siblings) are welcome to join you! You can park in the staff lot located at 7323 University, above the big H. This is the entrance from University & Yale. For translation services, click here.

We invite the class of 2025 students and families to join us to learn about the FAFSA/CADAA and what financial aid options are available to help make college more affordable. The English presentation will be held in ExL (room 1600) and the Spanish presentation will be held in room 1615. Snacks will be provided. Students and siblings can attend with you, registration not required. For translation services, click here.

Come join other students and parents as we learn how to navigate perfectionism and balancing healthy expectations. With finals coming up, this an important topic and we are offering students one community service hour for attending this presentation. This will be presented by Amy Chavez with San Diego Youth Services. This event will be held in ExL, the 1600 building, and is open to all parents and guardians. Registration not required. Students and siblings are welcome to attend with you. Snacks will be provided. You can park in the staff lot located at 7323 University, above the big H. This is the entrance off of University & Yale. Snacks will be provided. For translation services, click here.

Helix students are required to complete at least 40 hours of community service to graduate.

It’s never too early to start! We recommend that 9th graders aim to complete at least 10 hours of community service during their freshman year.

After completing your community service hours, please fill out THIS FORM and submit it to your Academic Advisor, Mrs. Naranjo.

• Go to "Student Info"
• Scroll to the bottom of the page to where it says "service learning hours".
• You will see the number of hours you have logged.

To help students find opportunities, we regularly update the Student Opportunities sheet with information on community service, jobs, internships, college visits, and more! Explore community service opportunities here: helixcharter.net/community Some interesting new opportunities have just been added!

Please see the flyer below for more information.

Ms. Michelle Reed is a Lead Academic Coach for Helix’s nationally recognized Academic Support Program. She plays a key role in Extended Learning (EXL), a welcoming environment designed to support our newest Scotties as they transition from middle school to the ‘Helix Way.’ In EXL, students work in pods, where Ms. Reed and her team of Academic Coaches provide personalized support and one-on-one mentoring, ensuring each student builds the skills and confidence needed to thrive at Helix.

Kindness Month - Take a moment to be kind to someone this month! Whether it be to give them a high five, compliment them, offer your help, or write them a note, a small act of kindness can go a long way!

Ms. Lanier is a first year Academic Coach and graduate of Helix. She graduated in 2020. She really enjoyed her time here and wanted to gain more experience working in education and being an Academic Coach seemed like a great opportunity. Ms. Lanier also coaches water polo here and that has been really fun and rewarding.

What movie do you wish you could watch again for the first time?

I wish I could see The Game again for the first time. I honestly never saw the ending coming.

• Progress Report Week

  Students will receive progress report grades on Week 5 (the week of November 18th). These reports provide a snapshot of students' current performance in class and outline any steps they may need to take to improve before final grades.

• Den Tutorial - Monday through Thursday, 7:15 to 8:15 am and 3:45 to 5:15pm

• Contacting teachers (email etiquette, types of questions to ask depending on need)

• Reflect on Habits - Planner Utilization - how to best use the calendar portion for getting a snapshot of the week, how to use the reflections to discuss goals with you and your students, how fully articulating makes it easier to stay accountable for choices.

• Show up to class!

• Take notes (if not already provided) — Rewrite them afterwards to retain what you learned!

• Create a study plan and break it up over several days - even just 5-10 minutes a night can make a tremendous impact!

• Find a quiet place! Studies show that the brain cannot focus on many things at once, so having a space where your focus is targeted to your work is most productive

• Explain what you’re learning to someone else!

• Find extra practice online or from your teacher!

• Bring Questions to Class!

Friday teacher tutorials provide a valuable opportunity for students to drop in and get help from their teachers. Whether you need assistance with class material, want to review difficult concepts, or need to make up tests or assignments, this time is set aside just for you. Take advantage of this chance to stay on track and improve your understanding! Please see the schedule below for available tutorial times. Tutorial take place on Friday mornings, please see the schedule below.

In addition to tutorial hours on Friday morning, The Den is a place to get academic support before and after school. It is open Monday through Thursday in ExL (room 1600). Students can drop in before and/or after school to receive help in all subjects from academic coaches and credentialed teachers. They provide tutoring, remediation, test prep, test proctoring, timed writings and study groups. See below for the daily schedule.

Monthly Topic: Dual Enrollment

Hello!

Our names are Jalen Davis and Julieta Hernandez; we are the interns of the 11th and 12th grade counselors, Mr. González and Mrs. Street respectively. We will be creating different presentations during each month to keep you informed about different topics that we hope you will find useful.

This month we created a presentation on dual enrollment and the options it provides to your students. If you decide to participate in taking these school classes during your time here at Helix, we will be here to help you in that process.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at:

Jalen Davis: jdavis@helixcharter.net

Julieta Hernandez: jhernandez@helixcharter.net

Thank you!

Tema Mensual: Inscripción Simultánea

¡Hola!

Nuestros nombres son Jalen Davis y Julieta Hernandez, somos pasantes de los consejeros, Mr. González y de Mrs. Street. Estaremos creando diferentes presentaciones durante cada mes para mantenerlos informados sobre diferentes temas que esperemos que encuentren útil.

Este mes creamos una presentación sobre la inscripción simultánea y las opciones que les provee a sus estudiantes. Si deciden participar en tomar clases de colegio durante su tiempo aquí en Helix, estaremos aquí para ayudarles en ese proceso.

Si tiene alguna pregunta o comentarios por favor contáctenos a:

Jalen Davis: jdavis@helixcharter.net

Julieta Hernandez: jhernandez@helixcharter.net

¡Gracias!

Grade Level Principal: Mr. Damon Chase chase@helixcharter.net x127

Administrative Assistant: Mrs. Vicky Rodriguez rodriguez@helixcharter.net x145

Counselor: Mrs. Olivari olivari@helixcharter.net x147

Academic Advisor: Mrs. Deborah Naranjo naranjo@helixcharter.net x136

School Social Worker: Mrs. Lorena Fernandez fernandez@helixcharter.net x395

Attendance Technician: Ms. Bridgette Bojorquez bojorquez@helixcharter.net x231

2028 Grade Level Team Email: glt2028@helixcharter.net

Click the icons to visit our pages!

Email: glt2028@helixcharter.net
Website: www.helixcharter.net
Location: 4200 Lowell Street, La Mesa, CA, USA
Phone: 619-644-1940