Welcome back from Spring Break! We are excited to have students back on campus, rested and ready for strong Spring Semester 2. This week marks the start of state testing. This testing is important for a number of reasons, including earning a platinum cap at graduation. For more information please keep reading further down in this month's newsletter.
This semester of the school year will surely fly by as the Class of 2025 participates in testing...SBAC testing, AP testing and possibly ACT/SAT testing for those gearing up for college applications. In the coming weeks we will also be sending out information about our Online Registration process for the 2024-2025 school year aka Senior Year, and scheduling of summer conferencing appointments (our favorite time of year). Additionally, we will be hosting a "What to Expect and How to Help your Rising Senior Prepare for Senior Year" on April 11th in the Helix Library.
While the days may be full, the year is certainly flying by. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the Grade Level Team or your students 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:
May 1: Spring Fling
May 6: Progress Reports Due - Spring Semester 2
May 8: Athletic Eligibility Determined
May 27: No School - Memorial Day
May 28-29: Minimum Days - Senior Boards
June 5-6: Spring Semester 2 Finals
June 11-July 3: Summer Conference Appointments
June 12- July 3: Helix Summer School
The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress, or CAASPP, is the state's academic testing program. CAASPP is intended to provide information to monitor student progress in an effort to ensure that all students leave high school ready for college and careers.
In April, Juniors will be taking the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment (SBAC) test. The SBAC assessments include computer adaptive tests in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. They will also be taking the California Science Test (CAST), which is aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
***NOTE: In order to earn the Platinum Cap for graduation, students must earn a score of
“Standard Met” or higher for all three tests mentioned above: the SBAC ELA, SBAC MATH, and
CAST tests. For more information see the Golden Seal/Platinum Cap Requirements.
For more information regarding the SBAC and CAST please view the Testing Letter to Parents/Guardians below.
Notifications about Helix's annual Online Enrollment and Summer Conferencing process will be coming soon. At the end of April, more information regarding the required process including dates, times and links will be shared at that time. Grade Level Teams are looking forward to meeting with all students and families to reflect on the school year and review what is coming in the upcoming school year.
10th graders can now qualify for $500 and $40,000 scholarships from BigFuture®! The scholarships are open to all students, with no GPA, test score, essay, income, or citizenship requirements. Every month, they award $500 and $40,000 to students who take steps toward their career and the education they need to reach it.
How to Get Started
To qualify for monthly drawings, you just need to sign in to your BigFuture dashboard and complete steps, beginning with starting a career list and building a college list. Here is a how-to video and another video to see past winners.
Join the Helix Student Support Department on Thursday, 4/4/24 at 6pm via Zoom as they review the requirements to receive the following regalia at Graduation:
- Golden State Seal
- Biliteracy Seal
- Platinum Cap
- Honors Cord
- Valedictorian Recognition
Join the Class of 2025 GLT on Thursday, 4/11/24 at 6pm in the Helix Library as they discuss what to expect and how to help your rising senior prepare for Senior Year.
They will review timelines for things to start on over the summer and steps to plan for each of the four doorways of opportunity after graduation:
- 2-/4-year college
- Trade-Vocational Education
- Military
- Workforce
Also learn more about:
- Internships/Career Exploration/Volunteering
- Checking off graduation requirements
- Supporting your student social emotionally
Dinner will be provided from DaKines Hawaiian, PLEASE RSVP HERE FOR FOOD ORDERING PURPOSES. Students and siblings are welcome to attend with parents/guardians.
For translation services, click here bit.ly/46c6iT2.
Does your student have an IEP or 504 plan? Does your student receive accommodations in their high school classes and plan to take a dual or concurrent enrollment college class? Please come to our Family First Zoom webinar on Thursday, 4/18/24 at 6pm to learn more about "How to Access Accommodations for College Classes".
We will discuss the required steps students must complete in order for Grossmont/Cuyamaca College to potentially honor some accommodations from their IEP or 504 plan. Families and students will learn how they can submit a copy of their IEP or 504 to Grossmont College's Accessibility Resource Center (A.R.C.).
This event will be held via Zoom. Please click here to join the webinar.
For translation services, click here.
The San Diego Bike Coalition & the City of La Mesa are offering FREE bike safety classes for teenagers riding in La Mesa.
Visit www.sdbikecoalition.ord/events to register for one of their free upcoming events.
Join us on Friday, 4/12/24 at 7pm in the Helix Performing Arts Center, as the Helix Jazz Ensemble performs with Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Winning Artist, Pancho Sanchez and his Latin Jazz Band. Hope to see you at this exciting event!
