Class of 2028

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

School starts on Thursday, August 8 at 8:30am. Here is the 2024-2025 School Calendar & A/B Day Schedule and Daily Bell Schedule. This Thursday, Aug. 8 is a B day. Friday, Aug. 9 is an A day.

The 2028 Grade Level Team will be set up in front of the PAC (Performing Arts Center) starting at 7:30am. We will be passing out schedules and answering any questions. It is important that all students review their class schedules before the start of school as some schedules may have been revised. Click here for an instructional video on how to access student schedules via our website. Students should come prepared, knowing where to go for their classes. A campus map can be found here. Staff members wearing bright orange shirts will be available to help point them in the right direction.

Welcome Back Days - Modified Schedules Thursday & Friday

We have some exciting activities planned for the first two days. These "Welcome Back Days" will have a shortened bell schedule (detailed below), with the last two hours of each day dedicated to fun activities for everyone. Our focus will be on connecting students with staff and peers, building a strong community and culture, reigniting school spirit, and ensuring all students feel welcome and safe. Students may leave anytime after 4th period if they choose, but we encourage them to stay and join in the fun! Once they leave, they may not return.

After 4th period, students can explore Helix’s clubs and ASPIRE offerings (before and after school programs) and complete any necessary tasks such as getting their Chromebook, checking in with a teacher or counselor, or anything else they need to do. Please ask your students to review the flyer below so they have an idea of what they'd like to do:

After 4th period, we'll celebrate our ASPIRE program fall lineup with free games, face painting, airbrushing, a photo booth, and more. ASPIRE (before and after school programs) leaders will be available to answer questions and help students register. Food trucks, ice cream, and sno-cones will be available for purchase (lunch will have already been served from the cafeteria, these will be additional food options). We will also have fun activities set up all over campus. Please ask your students to review this activity list so they have an idea of what they'd like to do:

Join us for an info night all about the different systems we use at Helix to keep track of grades, assignments, communication etc. Brian Kick, Chief Information Officer, and Dianne Damschen, Ed Tech TOSA, will walk you through the different platforms, how to log in and stay connected. This event will be held in the 1600 Building (ExL) from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Registration is not required. Your students are welcome to join you. Refreshments will be provided.

We invite you to visit the first term classes of your student on Thursday, August 22 from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. This is your opportunity to meet your student’s new teachers and to acquaint yourselves with the instructional programs. Your presence will also provide you with the tools to help your students be successful in their classes. More info will be sent out as we get closer.

Students who did not get their picture taken during summer registration, or would like to retake their picture, should visit the gym on Monday, August 26. Freshmen can go during their Helix First or ExL class.

We invite you to attend our Parent/Guardian Shadow Day on Wednesday, August 28 from 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. The purpose of this event is to observe your student’s classrooms and school environment. This is not a day for teacher conferences, those can be scheduled individually. (This event was originally scheduled on Thursday, August 29, but has been rescheduled to Wednesday, August 28.)

School will be closed.

If you couldn't attend Chromebook pick-up day last Saturday, don't worry! You can still get your Chromebook this Thursday and Friday from 1:30-3:35 pm at the IT window which can be found on this campus map.

If you are interested in a Preferred Hallway Locker for the 24-25 school year, please see Ms. Yeagle in the Dawg House to make your payment of $10.00 for this school year! If you have already purchased, please check your student email for an email from Ms. Carroll regarding your preferred hallway locker as those emails will start going out today. If you are interested in a Bottom Hallway Locker for the 24-25 school year - please stop by and see Ms. Carroll in the front office (Before school, at Lunch or After school) at the front desk and she will assist you. There is no fee to use a Bottom Hallway Locker. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Carroll for further assistance - acarroll@helixcharter.net.

Students can get two free meals each day on campus - breakfast OR snack and lunch. (No application is required.) Additional meals will be charged to the student’s account. Students must key in their ID number for meals and all food purchases. With the new bell schedule, there is no longer a “nutrition break,” but snack will be served between 1st and 2nd period. Passing periods will be 10 minutes long, which will give students enough time to grab a snack if they are hungry and head to class. If they have food restrictions we should know about, please COMPLETE THIS FORM and send it to your grade level team.

EZ School Pay offers an option for maintaining a credit account for purchasing more than the offered one free meal and snack per day. Prepaid meal accounts help the lunch lines go faster, giving students more time to eat, relax, and play. It also provides peace of mind, as you won’t need to look for lunch money every day or worry about it getting lost, stolen, or used for other things. When registering for your EZSchoolPay account, select Grossmont UHS District as your school district.

About Food Services at Helix:

Good nutrition and learning go hand in hand! Grossmont Union High Nutrition Services provide Helix Food Services. Our Nutrition Services department consists of a dedicated team of food and nutrition professionals committed to students' health, well-being, and learning ability. Helix and GUH Nutrition Services support learning by promoting healthy habits for lifelong nutrition and fitness. Meals, foods, and beverages sold or served at schools meet state and federal requirements based on USDA Dietary Guidelines. We provide students with access to a variety of affordable and appealing foods that meet their health and nutrition needs. For food service questions, please call (619) 644-8183.

Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)

Helix is a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Instead of collecting NSLP applications, we gather the Local Control Funding Formula Alternative Form during student registration. This form determines eligibility for:

- Chromebook Annual Warranty Coverage

- Fee Waivers for AP Tests

- Fee Waivers for ACT & SAT Tests

- Fee Waivers for College Applications

- Reduced Cost Home Internet Access and Other Program Reductions

- Scholarships for College 4 Me

If your circumstances, have changed since your submission of of the LCFF Alternative Form, please complete the following: https://bit.ly/LCFF_FORM_2024_2025

In addition to tutorial hours on Friday morning, we are so excited to bring back The DEN, a student-centered space that provides academic support both before school (7:15-8:15am Monday - Thursday) and after school (3:45-5:15 Monday - Thursday) in ExL room 1600. Students can come in before school and/or after school to receive help in all subjects. The DEN is staffed by academic coaches and credentialed teachers in order to provide student support and facilitate achievement. 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.

The One Book, One Helix book selection this year is When Stars are Scattered. All freshmen were given this graphic novel during summer registration, and while it is only required reading for freshmen, we encourage all Scotties to read this inspirational true story! If you have questions about the "One Book, One Helix" program, please feel free to contact our librarian, Ms. Potter at potter@helixcharter.net.

Helix students need at least 40 hours of community service to graduate. We continuously update the Student Opportunities sheet to help students locate community service opportunities, jobs, internships, college visits, and more! Check it out here - helixcharter.net/community

Once you have completed community service hours, please fill out THIS FORM and submit it to your Academic Advisor, Mrs. Naranjo.

Did you know that missing as few as 1-2 days of school in a month can have a significant negative impact on your student's academic performance? Be sure to look at the Helix School School Year Calendar when scheduling appointments or other family events.

The "When" and "How" of Helix Attendance

When to contact the Helix Attendance Office. Helix is a closed campus which means students must always check in and out of the Attendance Office:

• When your student is late to school
• When your student is absent from school
• When you need to pick up your student early from school
• When your student is returning to school from an appointment
  

How to contact the Helix Attendance Office:

• Email attendance@helixcharter.net
• Phone 619-644-1940 ext. 231
• Send a note with the student name, ID number, reason for the absence, tardy or early release and a parent/guardian signature
• Report absences through the Helix ParentVUE Portal

Questions about your student's attendance?

• Check your student's attendance record through the Helix ParentVUE Portal

At Helix, we prioritize the mental health of our community and know that social and emotional stressors can impact all aspects of one’s life making it difficult to learn or perform at one’s best. In the last few years, we have taken many steps to help increase the well being of our students and staff, including transforming our old administration building into a Wellness Center staffed 4 full time Social Workers and offering a free mental health referral service to all of our students and families. Visit our website to learn more about what we offer.

Located in Room 180, the College & Career Center is here to help you with all of your college applications, financial aid, dual & concurrent enrollment, and career exploration needs! Be sure to visit our page on the Helix website to explore all of our programs and offerings.

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