March Newsletter
Class of 2027
Class of 2027 Grade Level Team
(Ms. Bojorquez, Mr. Smith, Mrs. Carbajal, Mr. Watkins, Ms. Castrejon, Ms. Soto)
A Message From Your Grade Level Team
Course Request Updates
Course Request Season is coming to an end. Ms. Soto, Ms. Castrejon, and Mr. Smith are finishing up the last couple of student meetings. If your student has NOT been met with, rest assured that we will meet with them within the next couple of days.
On March 1st, your student will receive a physical copy of their Course Request in their Advisory class. Students will be reviewing their Course Request and checking to make sure there are no mistakes or changes they want to make. The last day to make changes to Course Requests is March 8th. After March 8th there will be no changes allowed, no exceptions!
If you would like to review what your student has selected, their 10th grade course request can be found on ParentVue under "Course Request." Only students that have been met with will have this feature available.
Any changes must be made with Ms. Soto or Ms. Castrejon.
Q4/ Spring Semester 2 Math Reshuffle
If your student is currently enrolled in COLLEGE PREP Algebra 1, you might notice a change in their schedule for Spring Semester 2.
There are currently 3 potential options your student can be moved to:
1) Honors Prep
2) Algebra 1C-1 Remediation
4) Common Core Review
These schedule changes will be based on teacher recommendation and will occur during Spring Break. It is very important that students double check their schedule on StudentVue on the first day of Spring Semester 2 for the most accurate, up-to-date version of their schedule.
Upcoming Events & Important Dates
Enrollment for Next School Year - Deadline is March 1
The deadline for new students (including siblings) to apply to Helix for next school year is Friday, March 1. Any applications submitted after March 1 will be placed on a waitlist in the order it was recieved. We will notify all families of lottery results on Friday, March 8. You will need to log in to SchoolMint to accpet placement if offered. Instructions on how to do that will be included in your email. The application and all information about enrollment can be found here - helixcharter.net/Enroll. No action is required for students already enrolled at Helix.
Spring Break - March 15 through March 29
Family First Info Nights
Every Thursday at 6pm, Helix staff or special guests present on different topics applicable to high school parents. These events are held in the Helix Library 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.
Movie Screening: Screenagers - Thursday, February 29 at 6pm in the Performing Arts Center
Helix families and community members are invited to join us in our Performing Arts Center for a showing of Screenagers: Next Generation, an important movie about teenagers and technology. Registration is not required, just show up! Students and siblings are welcome and encouraged to come. The movie is an hour-long and appropriate for kids of all ages. We will have pizza in front of the PAC for anyone attending the screening at 5:30. Eating is not allowed in the theater, so come a little early for a quick dinner before the movie starts at 6. After the movie ends at 7pm, we’ll have a short discussion with the audience and a panel of students and Helix staff members on the stage. Parents will take home a Parent Guide: Talking with Tweens and Teens about Mental Wellness. Helix students can attend this event for 1 community service hour. If you’d like to preview the movie, YOU CAN FIND THE TRAILER AND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MOVIE HERE.
Tree Education Event with the City of La Mesa - Wednesday, March 6 at 5:30pm
Helix is excited to collaborate with the City of La Mesa & Tree San Diego on an event open to both the Helix & La Mesa Communities. This will be an interactive class covering tree planting best practices and eco-benefits of trees, followed by a short tree identification walk on campus. We'll discuss the City of La Mesa's urban forestry initiatives and upcoming Arbor Day events provided throughout San Diego County.
This event will be held in the Helix library and is open not just to Helix families but also to community members. RSVP HERE and secure your chance to win a free 5 gl tree! We'll have snacks. You can park in the large solar parking lot at 4200 Lowell St and walk straight back toward the middle of campus (past the admin building, baseball field and pool). The library is just past the lunch tables, on the opposite side of the baseball field. Students can attend this event for community service hours.
Financial Literacy for Parents & Students - Thursday, March 7 at 6pm
Join us for a free catered dinner and presentation with a Helix parent and Wealth Advisor, Alan Grismore, WMCP, Founder and Chief Architect of Alta Private Wealth. Elevate your financial prowess with an evening designed to empower parents of high school students! This interactive session will explore the nuances of budgeting, saving for college, and cultivating savvy money habits in your teens. But here's the kicker—parents can reap the benefits too! Led by a seasoned financial professional, this event is all about unraveling the mysteries of finance, offering practical tips and strategies to confidently navigate the financial terrain. Whether you're charting the course for your child's higher education or fortifying your family's financial resilience, this gathering guarantees valuable insights and a chance to connect with like-minded parents. Seize this opportunity to invest in your family's financial future—because financial savvy knows no age limit!
This event will be held in person in the Helix library from 6-7pm and dinner will be provided. Please register here for food ordering purposes. For translation services, click here bit.ly/46c6iT2
Tough Talks with Teens with the Helix Wellness Center Social Workers - Thursday, March 14 at 6pm
We all know the challenges when it comes to communiticating with our teeanagers. The Helix Wellness Center's licensed social workers and team will present on healthy communication strategies for approaching difficult conversations with students.
Students from our NAMI Club (National Alliance on Mental Illness) will also present on how parents can support their students by seeing things through a student perspective. They will explain helpful hints and share resources.
This event will be held in the Helix library from 6-7pm. Dinner will be provided, please RSVP here for food ordering purposes. Students are welcome to attend with parents/guardians. Doors open at 5:45.
For translation services, click here bit.ly/46c6iT2
Graduation Regalia - Thursday, April 4 at 6pm
Our Student Support team will explain about the requirements to get a Platinum Cap, Golden State Seal, Biliteracy Seal, Honors Cord, and Valedictorian recognitions. Families from all grade levels are invited. For translation services, click here.
Student & Community News
Performing Arts Auditions
See graphic for dance & choir auditions for next year.
30th Annual Helix Instrumental Giving Gala - Thursday, March 14 at 5pm
On Thursday, March 14th, HIMA will celebrate 30 years of giving in support of music education with our annual fundraising gala. This event includes both live and silent auctions and functions as our largest fundraiser of the year. Enjoy an incredible evening at the Thursday Club in Point Loma for dinner, drinks, live music, and live and silent auction in support of the instrumental music program at Helix Charter High School. Tickets can be purchased here.
Helix Foundation Golf Tournament - March 29
The Helix Foundation facilitates fundraising that promotes the growth and improvement of the programs, facilities, and activities at Helix Charter High School as well as funding many scholarships for post secondary education to graduating seniors. Their annual golf tournament is coming up and they are looking for both partipants and sponsors. Visit helixhighschoolfoundation.com/golf for more information and to register!
Pancho Sanchez Concert - Friday, April 12 at 7pm
Join us for this exciting event in our Performing Arts Center. Purchase tickets here.
Support Helix through Farm Fresh To You
Use promocode: HelixCharter when purchasing Farm Fresh to You products and they will give 10% back to Helix.
Bike Safety Classes for Teens Riding in La Mesa
The SD 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.
Middle School Music Showcase
Middle School Nights - March 6th and 7th
Featuring LGA, LMAAC, and Parkway, plus the Helix Orchestra and Bands. March 6th is Orchestra night, March 7th is Band night.
Free Webinar: Cyberbullying and Building Resilience in Teens
In today's digital landscape, cyberbullying remains a significant burden for our youth. Join Valera Health & Care Solace for a FREE webinar to equip you with the knowledge and tools to address cyberbullying and build resilience in teens.
Together, we will discuss:
1. Identifying the signs and impact of cyberbullying on teens
2. Developing effective strategies for intervention and support
3. Exploring valuable resources and fostering emotional resilience
4. Creating a collaborative approach between school counselors and parents
Join us on Friday March 15, at 10am PT / 1pm ET as we explore evidence-based practices and practical solutions to empower both school professionals and parents in addressing cyberbullying and fostering resilience in our teens.
Register now to secure your spot!
Community Service Opportunities
A list of community service opportunities can be found at helixcharter.net/community. We keep it very updated and some interesting new opportunities have just been added!
Student Highlight of the Month
Our Student Highlight for the Month of February is Elijah Gonzalez!
Every month your GLT will be recognizing students who have gone above and beyond and have shown what it means to be a true Scottie.
Summer School 2024
Summer school is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, June 12th- Wednesday, July 3rd. More information regarding whether or not you student will be recommended for summer school will be given within the next couple of months.
Academic Support News
Happenings
Week 1 (3/4 - 3/8): Getting students prepared for Finals
Week 2 (3/11 - 3/15): Finals Wed/Thurs and NO SCHOOL FRIDAY
Week 3 (3/18 - 3/22): SPRING BREAK
Week 4 (3/25 - 3/29): SPRING BREAK
Announcements
New building - With the anticipation of the new EXL building, moving in right away is not clear. For now, we wait to see what the future holds!
Tips and Tricks
Get organized and start early - With only a couple of weeks until finals, hopefully you have been utilizing time wisely. Continue using tutorials and EXL to get help and truly understand what you are doing
Check your syllabus - this is where you can find all important information regarding the policies of your class/teacher. Be mindful of the expectations
Read and review - class notes, personal notes, or any other resources are a good source to review on a daily basis, especially material from weeks ago
Pace yourself - you might get overwhelmed or stressed trying to cram everything in at once. Take 5 minutes a day to study
Use classmates - it's two for one. You get to socialize with friends but also learn. If one person struggles with something maybe the other can help explain it. Learn by teaching each other
Prioritize health - make sure you are getting adequate sleep and food. Sleep enhances the
mind's capacity to concentrate and performs an active role in fortifying memories, making it
simpler to reclaim knowledge
Academic Coach Highlights
Coach Bonde is an Helix alum and has shifted his focus towards supporting students for the past two years. His nonsense aurora mixed with often complex, yet funny questions make for a fun environment in EXL. In his free time, he enjoys baths (with a football bath bomb) to relax his mind so as to better connect with earth and ultimately his purpose in life. One day, Coach Bonde hopes to become President of the United States. He already achieved his dream of becoming a published author
Do you think if anything is possible, it’s still possible for anything to be impossible? It's a paradox. For example, two people couldn’t be president at the same time. There has to be a relative time. So, yes, there are things that are impossible
Is there a limit to how intelligent a single person can be? Yes, but only because you die before you learn everything. You’ll never be able to catch up with all the information in the world. There’s always things to learn as long as you live.
Ms. Watkins is currently in her first year working at Helix. She is not shy of what’s expected as she is also a Helix alumni (still waiting for her sports ring from 2016 Mr. Chase). She enjoyed her time in high school and took advantage of playing a lot of sports and balancing her time with academics. She said, “It’s great to see some of the same teachers” she had while at Helix. Good memories are brought and the cherry on top of the cake is that she gets to work with her dad and sister. Fun fact: she loves Mexican food, especially burritos
If you had the chance to invent a country, what would you name it? Claire - it’s simple, Crystal Claire. The motto would be Long Hair, don’t Claire
Tutorials
Teacher Tutorial 2:54pm-3:35pm
Monday/Wednesday
Art, English, Helix First, LOTE, PE, Performing Arts, Science
Tuesday/Thursday
Business, Family/Consumer Science, Math, Social Science, Tech
Academic Support Tutorial 3:00pm-4:00pm
Room 1340 Monday-Thursday
*This tutorial offers more one-on-one support from Academic Coaches