Class of 2025 Families,

The first month of the school year went by quickly. This month the Grade Level Team spent time presenting to students about the path toward graduation and necessary steps to reach their goals. Being out in so many classrooms meant we had a chance to see the many activities taking place -- from Socratic seminars to the delivery of white sea bass, every classroom is working hard. Progress reports are around the corner and we are working to support all students and hopefully stave off "senioritis."

Seniors benefit from reminders to attend tutorial and get plenty of rest. Between school, activities and work they are busy individuals and we want to make sure they are taking care of themselves as well. If your student is in need of any support, please let us know.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to the Grade Level Team or your student's teachers with any questions, concerns or good news you would like to share with us. As always, continue to check in with your teenager on a regular basis.

Mark your Calendar:

September 2: No School - Labor Day

September 9: Progress Report Grades Due - Fall Semester 1

September 12: Athletic Eligibility Determined

September 12: Student Minimum Day - Staff PD

September 12: Career Fair

September 12: Mental Health Reminders Night

September 13: Homecoming Football Game

September 14: Homecoming Dance

September 19: College Application Process Night

October 9-10: Fall Semester 1 Finals

October 14: First Day of Fall Semester 2

October 16: Athletic Eligibility Determined

October 24: English 120 Info Night

November 7: Student Minimum Day - Staff PD

November 7: Teen Brain Development

November 11: No School - Veteran's Day

November 14: ELAC Mixer

November 15: Deadline to Submit College Applications for Review

November 18: Progress Reports Due - Fall Semester 2

November 20: Athletic Eligibility Determined

November 21: Financial Aid Info Night

November 25-29: No School - Thanksgiving Break

November 30: CSU and UC Applications Due

Senior, Samantha Luevano was crowned Miss La Mesa in July 2024. To become Miss La Mesa, Samantha had to write an essay, submit her resume and participate in an interview with La Mesa Business Owners and prior La Mesa Pageant program participants and winners.

As Miss La Mesa, Samantha will attend events in La Mesa such as Oktoberfest and Holiday in the Village. She will represent young voices, use her platform for good and plans to involve Helix in toy and food drives for local shelters during the holiday season.

As one of the Varsity Tennis Team Captains, Selina Bilbrey went 5-0 in singles during her birthday week. Way to kick off your Senior Season. Happy Birthday Selina!!

On Tuesday, 8/27/24, 9 - Seniors in the Patient Care Pathway began their Patient Care Internships. From Scripps Ranch to Chula Vista, our students are getting hands on experience in Family Medicine, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Orthopedics, Primary Care, Pulmonology, Senior Helpers, and Urgent Care. Congrats and good luck! We cannot wait to hear all about their experiences.

We have recently become aware of a game called "Senior Assassin" that some students are participating in. This game involves students using water guns to get each other out by squirting them with water as part of a playful, but competitive activity.

While we understand that this game is meant to be lighthearted, we want to remind you that it is not a Helix sanctioned activity and is not permitted on campus under any circumstances. We also encourage you to speak with your student about playing safely and respectfully in the community. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and respectful environment for all students.

The Class of 2025 Grade Level Team spent the last 2 weeks in classrooms reviewing what students can expect Senior Year. The main focus for the Fall Term is Grades, Behavior, Self-Care and College Applications.

Check out the handout below that students received during the presentations.

If students purchased an ASB Card but did not receive a Student ID with the "ASB" label, they can have it reprinted for free at the Library.

In the event of a lost or stolen ID, or if a student wishes to retake their photo, a new ID Card can be obtained in the Library for a $3 fee. For any reprint needs, please see Mrs. Portnaya in the Library.

• General Reminders:

• The home side gate is located on the southern side of the stadium. From the parking lot, you can access this side from the top of the solar parking lot. Follow the fire lane entrance near the Orien Avenue exit.

• The visitor side gate is located on the north side of the stadium, next to the sand volleyball court. From the parking lot, walk onto campus, past the gym toward the west side of campus.

• Helix football games are well-attended and the parking lot gets busy. Please walk or carpool if possible. If driving, please use caution in the parking lot and arrive early if possible.

• Backpacks are not allowed into the stadium.

• Bathrooms are located inside the stadium on both the home and visitor sides. Other bathrooms on campus will not be open.

• Spectators are not allowed on the field before, during, or directly after the game.

• No re-entry into the stadium.

• If you see something, say something. Find a Helix staff member, security guard or use this anonymous tip form.

• Student Seating:

• Students must have a valid (2024-2025) Helix student ID card to enter the home side gate and sit in the home bleachers.

• Non-Helix students are welcome to watch the game from the visitor side bleachers.

• The student spirit section is located at the far end of the bleachers on the west end of the stadium.

• Students must find a seat in the bleachers during games. Students may not congregate or loiter behind the bleachers.

• Student Section Etiquette:

• Backpacks are not allowed into the stadium. Please take backpacks home after school, arrange for them to be picked up, or store them in your locker.

• “Spraying” powder is not allowed.

• If you are seen throwing anything (e.g. powder, water, water bottles, etc.), you will be escorted out of the stadium immediately.

Students are not allowed to use delivery services for lunch, as this disrupts the learning environment and may pose a safety risk. In case of emergencies, only parents or guardians may deliver food to the main office. Services like DoorDash and UberEats are not permitted for any student. Each student has access to one free meal on campus daily.

The Office of Office of Assemblymember Akilah Weber, M.D. has invited the students of Helix to participate in their 2024-2025 Academic Year Perfect Attendance Challenge. The challenge will begin Monday, 9/2/24 and run through Friday, 5/2/25.

To be eligible to receive the Perfect Attendance Award, students must have no full day absences on their record for the 2024-2025 academic year during our attendance challenge time frame. With the support of SeaWorld San Diego and our sponsors, all students with Perfect Attendance will be honored at an event at the end of the academic year, and provided complimentary SeaWorld San Diego tickets. Students with Perfect Attendance will receive a perfect attendance award certificate and a medallion. The date for the Perfect Attendance Celebration and SeaWorld passes is tentatively set for Friday, 6/20/25 at SeaWorld San Diego.

To be included in the Helix 2024-2025 Yearbook, you must take your Senior Portrait with Cherished Memories Photography.

For more information on how to book your in studio session, check out the flyer below.

We are so excited to introduce The DEN, a student-centered space that provides academic support both before school and after school in ExL, Room 1600.

The DEN is staffed by Academic Coaches and Credentialed Teachers in order to provide student support and facilitate achievement. Students can come in before school and/or after school to receive help in all subjects. Here are some of the support systems the DEN will provide: tutoring, remediation, test prep, test proctoring, timed writings, study groups and student-centered support in any academic capacity.

Beginning this Thursday, Helix parents/guardians will receive an automated phone call and email notification, if your student is currently failing one or more classes. The purpose of this call is to ensure that you are aware of your student's academic standing and to encourage timely intervention.

Students who receive this notification should attend tutorial sessions on Friday morning, starting at 8:30am, with their teacher(s). This will provide them with the necessary support to improve their grades and understanding of the subject matter.

Please review the tutorial schedule below.

Student lockers are available for students. There are two types of lockers available:

Free Lockers ($0) are the lower lockers. They are first come first served and buildings are assigned by the front desk. Please visit Ms. Carroll at the front desk in the Administration Building, before school, lunch or after school for more information.

If you plan to drive to school this year and park in the student parking lot (the lot with the solar panels), you must have a Helix Parking Permit.

*Please note that your car is REQUIRED to have a visible Helix Parking Permit.*

To register your car and obtain a permit, please complete the STUDENT PARKING REGISTRATION FORM. Printed forms are also available at the front desk.

Once you submit a completed form, you can pick up your parking permit from the front desk either before school, after school, or during lunch.

WANTED! Singers and Performers for the Helix Award-Winning Show Choirs.

Auditions were last May, but there is still room in our Treble Show Choir for soprano/alto voices!

If you sing in a lower range just ask your Counselor or Academic Advisor to sign you up for our Tenor/Bass Show Choir, no audition required!

Please email tolvo-chan@helixcharter.net for more information, and get ready for a fun and exciting year in CHOIR!

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, special programs and anything the students may need! The more members we have, the greater access we have to grants and programs that will support Helix students.

***Any students interested in applying for PTSA scholarships (we give out $5,000 each year) must be PTSA members.***

If you want to make more of a commitment, consider joining the PTSA board. This means attending one meeting per month (if you are 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 Helix or via Zoom. If you are interested, please email PTSA President Dave Hardenburger at helixptsapresident@gmail.com.

If you just want to be informed about upcoming events and school news, follow Helix PTSA on social media on Facebook and Instagram.

Club College meets every Wednesday from 3:30pm-5:30pm in Room 210. If you do not have a 4th period, you may head over to Room 180 for Club College before moving to Room 210 after school.

If you require a letter of recommendation for a College Application or Scholarship Application, please provide teachers/staff members with at least 10 days to complete. It is a great idea to give letter writers a thorough Brag Sheet to help them write the best letter about you!

Almost every student applying to college has the following traits: hard working, great grades, focused and determined. Your letter of recommendation is an opportunity for us to tell the colleges more about you BEYOND the traits that everyone in college has, how can we tell a more unique story for you? The more thoughtful you are in responding to each of the questions, the better job we can do for you. TELL us about you!!! Remind us of a lesson or conversation that we may have had that was pivotal for you. Admissions officers do not want to read the cover of your book in these letters, they want the heart of the book in them.

***REMEMBER...ONLY REQUEST A LETTER IF YOU TRULY REQUIRE A LETTER.***

Only request a transcript when the college asks for it, not earlier as it may get lost. Please make all requests through Xello.

Student athletes should see Mrs. Street or Ms. Markey for transcript requests for college coaches or the NCAA.

***REMEMBER...ONLY REQUEST A TRANSCRIPT WHEN THE COLLEGE ASKS FOR IT.***

Want FREE money?!?!?!? 💸💰 Apply to the Fine Print Funding Scholarship TODAY!

This is a local scholarship that many Helix students have won each year! It helps with fees that we do not think about when it comes to going to college like application costs, housing deposits, SAT/ACT costs, school materials, etc!

You could win up to $700 for FREE! APPLY HERE!

The Hispanic Heritage Foundation is excited to kick off the 26th year of the Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards! Applications are officially live for their educational grants of up to $4,000 to support the Class of 2025 as they pursue higher education or launch community-focused initiatives.

• Community Service
• Education
• Engineering
• Entrepreneurship & Business
• Green Sustainability
• Healthcare & Science
• Media & Entertainment
• Public Service & Social
• Justice
• Technology

To be considered, students must:

• Be currently enrolled in high school, graduating in the spring of 2025.
• Hold a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or 7.5 on a 10.0 scale.
• Enroll at an accredited higher education institution in 2025 - 2026.
• Be of Hispanic heritage (including Spain, Brazil, Philippines).
• Attend their regional virtual ceremony, if selected.

Youth Awards applicants and recipients will join HHF's extensive network of over 300,000 professionals and be integrated into its cycle of leadership pipeline, where we meet America's priorities in the classroom and workforce.

Applications are open until Sunday, 11/3/24. Interested students can apply online at www.HHFYouthAwards.com.

Every Thursday at 6pm, Helix Staff or special guests present on different topics applicable to high school parents. These events are held in ExL (room 1600) 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.

In honor of Check Your Mood Week, we are collaborating with San Diego Youth Services to present to parents, guardians and students about general mental health reminders as well as suicide prevention.

This will be presented by licensed social workers from our Wellness Center and Marriage & Family Therapists from SD Youth Services. This event will be held in ExL (room 1600) and is open to all parents and guardians. Students and siblings are welcome to attend.

Dinner will be provided! RSVP is required for food ordering purposes. Please 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.

Please join the Class of 2025 Grade Level Team and College Center to learn about the college application process, including important time lines and resources.

This event will be held in ExL (room 1600) and is open to all parents and guardians. Registration not required. Students and siblings are welcome to attend.

Please park in the staff lot located at 7323 University, above the big H. This is the entrance from University & Yale. Snacks will be provided.

For translation services, CLICK HERE.

In this Algebra 2/Financial Algebra Info Night, we will explain the class, how we keep students on track, helpful resources, how to stay up to date with your student's progress and more. Megan Crim, Math Department Chair and Algebra 2/Financial Algebra teachers will present and be available to answer questions.

This event will be held in ExL (room 1600) and is open to all parents and guardians. Registration not required. Students and siblings are welcome to attend.

Please park in the staff lot located at 7323 University, above the big H. This is the entrance from University & Yale. Snacks will be provided.

For translation services, CLICK HERE.

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 our Performing Arts Center (PAC). Students and siblings are welcome to attend with parents/guardians. Registration not required, just show up! Doors open at 5:45pm.

For translation services, CLICK HERE.

We are 5 school days away from progress reports, which are due on Monday, 9/9/24. 📉🤯📈

Please take advantage of Academic Support opportunities this week to make sure you are passing all of your classes! 📚📝

Remember…these grades will be used to determine Athletic Eligibility on Thursday, 9/12/24. If you are playing a fall sport, you must earn at least a 2.0 GPA to remain eligible.🏈⛳️📣🏃🏻‍♀️🏑🎾🤽🏼‍♂️🏐

YOU GOT THIS!!⭐️💚🐾

There will be one minimum day each month to allow for Staff Professional Development and collaboration. School will end at 1:20pm. We understand that minimum days can cause scheduling challenges for parents. Rest assured, students can stay on campus if they cannot be picked up immediately after school. Our campus is supervised from 7:00am-5:15pm, Monday through Friday. Academic Support will be available from 1:30pm-2:30pm in room 1340 on minimum days. Also, the Career Fair will be happening on 9/12/24, so that is a perfect activity for students to attend after dismissal!

Helix's 2nd annual Career Fair will be held in the Gym on Thursday, 9/12/24 from 12:00pm - 3:00pm. We will have exhibitors from a variety of industries, including the Medical Field, IT, Programming, Construction Trades, Engineering, Army, Culinary, Law Enforcement and much more! This is a minimum day, so students are encouraged to go check out the Career Fair after 4th period!

The Homecoming Football Game is on Friday, 9/13/24 at 7pm. Tickets prices are as follows:

• Adults = $11
• Helix Students with ASB Card = FREE
  
• Visiting Students without ASB Card = $11

• Visiting Students with ASB Card = $6

• Senior Citizen (60 and older) = $6
• Children (ages 6-13) = $6
  
• Children Under 5 = FREE

Tickets are digital and must be purchased on GoFan.

The Homecoming Dance is on Saturday, 9/14/24 in the Helix Gym and surrounding area from

7pm-10pm. Attire is Dress to Impress. Tickets are:

• $20 for students with an ASB Card
• $40 for students without an ASB Card (ASB card included with ticket purchase)

To purchase a ticket go to the Attendance Office to get a clearance slip. After clearing with Attendance, take the slip to the Finance Office to complete clearance and purchase your ticket.

*All detentions, truancies and fines MUST BE CLEARED before you may purchase a ticket.*

Do not wait.....buy your tickets early, you do not want to miss this event! Last day to purchase tickets is Thursday, 9/12/24 at 3:30pm.

If you are not able to make it to the Cherished Memories Photography Studio for your Senior Portrait Session, they will have a Pop-Up at Helix, Wednesday, 10/16-24 - Friday, 10/18/24.

Remember, to be included in the Helix 2024-2025 Yearbook, you are required to take your Senior Portrait with Cherished Memories Photography.

Remember that the ACT is still required for some out of state colleges. We encourage students to sign up for the Spring Test Dates.

Remember that the SAT is still required for some out of state colleges. We encourage students to sign up for the Spring Test Dates.

Mrs. Yolanda Street - School Counselor

Ms. Danika Markey - Academic Advisor

Ms. Sara Brown - Administrative Assistant

Ms. Brenda Flores - Attendance Technician

Mrs. Danielle Yee - School Social Worker