Class of 2024

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

Counselor substitute (while Mrs. Olivari is on maternity leave):
Ms. Gillian Morgan morgan@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

2024 Grade Level Team Email: GLT2024@helixcharter.net

March 1: Deadline to order cap & gown

March 14: Deadline to submit FAFSA/CADAA for extra grad tickets

March 15: · Grossmont Onboarding Day

· ASVAB Exam 12pm-3pm

March 15 - 29: Spring Break - No School

March 19: Athletic Eligibility Determined

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 accept 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 Semester I Finals will be held on Wednesday, March, 13 & Thursday, March 14. Friday, March 15 is a teacher work day (no school for students). Spring Break will start on Friday, March 15 and students will return on Monday, April 1.

Financial Aid Reminders

Who: All graduating seniors MUST complete either a FAFSA or Dream Act application.

• Student has a Social Security number: they will submit a FAFSA.

• Student does not have a Social Security number: they will submit a California Dream Act application.

When: Student must submit BEFORE March 14th in order to be eligible for two extra graduation tickets.

Where: Students will send a screenshot of their 2024-25 FAFSA or CADAA to glt2024@helixcharter.net.

Why: FREE MONEY! The sooner you submit your form the more money you will be eligible to receive! Plus it is a Helix graduation requirement!

Planning on Attending a 4-year University?

How:

• Continue checking your email and logging into college portals.

• Decisions must be made by May 1st!! (Some universities are extending this deadline due to complications with the FAFSA application.)

• Be sure to update your Xello in College Planning with admissions decisions

• This is how we will know where to send your final transcripts.

• Make sure all the schools you applied to are all listed on the FAFSA including Grossmont College

Attending Community College?

Why: Remember that Community College isn’t just for transfer students! Don’t forget about workforce training, 2-year Associate’s degrees and more!

How do I go for free? → The California Promise waives the tuition and student fees for eligible students. You need to submit a FAFSA/CADAA, complete the waiver, and maintain a 2.0 GPA in at least 12 units.

What’s next: Helix will host onboarding in the Spring to ensure that every student is ready to enroll at Grossmont and eligible for the California Promise on March 15th! This is by appointment only so make sure to check your email for your appointment!

We’ve got your back!

• Club College/Financial Aid Drop In Hours: Thursdays in Room 180 from 3:35 PM to 6PM
• College and Career Center Drop-In Hours: Monday - Friday from 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM
• Family First Recordings: View past recordings and slides at helixcharter.net/FamilyFirst

Graduation will be on June 6th 2024!

Parents without Social Security Numbers

If a student has a social security number but their parent(s) does not, there is currently an error in the FAFSA application that is not letting the student proceed once they designate their parent as a contributor. FAFSA is working on resolving this issue and we will alert you as soon as it is fixed.

As of now, we understand that students in this situation are not able to complete their FAFSA. Once the problem is resolved, we are committed to working closely with students and their families to ensure your FAFSA can be submitted in a timely manner.

Please reach out to your grade level team if you are experiencing issues with completing your financial aid application and need assistance: glt2024@helixcharter.net.

If you would like to track the progress of the known issues with the FAFSA application, they can be viewed here: Open Issues With FAFSA.

If a student has already requested an appointment, they will receive an email on Friday, March 1st with their scheduled appointment time. If they did not receive an email and would like to schedule an appointment, please email the College & Career Advisor, Ms. Morgan at: morgan@helixcharter.net.

The ASVAB is a standardized test that reveals areas of strength and ability in science, math, and language. Taking the test is one of the first steps before you enlist in the military. It helps to match you with a job where your strengths will be best suited.

If students took the ASVAB earlier this school year, they can retake it to improve their score.

Even if you do not plan on entering the military, this is a great career exploration tool!

Click HERE to reserve your spot!

Dress Giveaway Dates Begin March 27th and Continues Through May 4th!

Book Your Appointment Online:

PrincessProjectSD.org

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.

Join us in our Performing Arts Center for a showing of Screenagers: Next Generation, an important movie about teenagers and technology. It is a documentary that goes in depth on the science behind what is causing teens stress, anxiety and depression and ways to help manage it. It is full of relatable questions and concerns, along with solutions and strategies.

Registration is not required. Students and siblings are welcome to come.

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 6pm. 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.

If you’d like to preview the movie or read the full description click here.

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.

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

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

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.

Congratulations to all our winter sports athletes on an exceptional season filled with unforgettable moments and incredible accomplishments. Go Scotties!

Featuring LGA, LMAAC, and Parkway, plus the Helix Orchestra and Bands. March 6th is Orchestra night, March 7th is Band night.

HIMA's 30th Annual Gala will be held at the Thursday Club on March 14th. Tickets can be purchased here.

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!

Join us for this exciting event in our Performing Arts Center. Purchase tickets here.

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.

Use promocode: HelixCharter when purchasing Farm Fresh to You products and they will give 10% back to Helix.

If students need help outside of Club College hours, they are welcome to swing by The College & Career Center in room 180 before school, after school, or during a break!

Please email the College and Career Advisor, Ms. Morgan at morgan@helixcharter.net for more information.

Scholarship for all San Diego high school seniors who qualify for the Government Free and Reduced Lunch Program and can demonstrate excellence achieved in high school academics, athletics, and/or the arts.

Click HERE to apply.

Applications must be submitted by midnight on April 15, 2024.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of East County Foundation is proud to announce they are accepting applications for 2 scholarship opportunities for High School Seniors this year.

1. The Nancy Fazio Memorial Scholarship, four (4) scholarships at $3,000 each will be awarded. APPLICATION: https://forms.gle/9Cx9Eg3smsbq84fG6

1. The Arthur Butler Memorial Scholarship, four (4) $2,500 scholarships will be awarded. APPLICATION: https://forms.gle/5UUSrkYYi1JKGryM9

These are two separate scholarship application processes; students must apply to each scholarship to be considered for that scholarship.

Online applications must be submitted by Friday, March 15th at 4:00pm.

PFLAG San Diego County will be offering scholarships to qualified LGBTQ+ high school seniors.

They are offering a minimum of 18 scholarships, with two specifically designated for community college students and two for registered vocational or trade schools. A minimum of $2,000 will be awarded per scholarship (in 2023, they awarded 21 scholarships for a total of $56,000).

The application, requirements, and other scholarship-related info are on the PFLAG SDC website. Please see the flyer for more information.

For questions, please contact scholarships@pflagsdc.org.

The deadline to apply is March 15, 2024.

The San Diego Chinese Women’s Association invites graduating high school seniors of Chinese descent to apply for merit or need-based scholarships!

The one-time award is $1500 for a student entering a four-year college program, or $1000 for a student entering a two-year community college or vocational program. In 2023 they awarded scholarships to nine San Diego area high school students.

Full eligibility requirements and application forms can be found on their Association website at: https://sdcwa.net/scholarships/.

The deadline to apply is March 31, 2024.

SPRITES is a philanthropic organization of mothers and daughters, grades 7th to 12th, dedicated to volunteering their time and resources to San Diego charities with an emphasis in East County.

In addition to the more than 5,000 hours they contribute to local charities, they raise funds that directly support their adopted philanthropies such as Noah Homes, Meals and Wheels, Sonshine Haven, Alpha Project, and Father Joe's.

The deadline to apply is April 1, 2024.

As a reminder, all Class of 2024 students are required to complete a total of 40 community service hours as part of Helix's graduation requirements. To ensure you meet this graduation requirement, please submit all completed community service hours to your Academic Advisor by April 1, 2024.

Click on the button below for a list of community service opportunities, as well as paid jobs and internships!

Don't forget to complete your community service form to get credit for volunteer hours. Completed forms can be turned in to your Academic Advisor. Click the button below to access the form.

For any questions about community service, please contact your Academic Advisor, Mrs. Naranjo at: naranjo@helixcharter.net.

Help the YMCA's Transitional Age Youth (TAY) support division in Escondido and Oceanside while gaining community service credits. Your involvement will contribute to aiding transitional age foster youth, including those who are currently experiencing homelessness.

They are in urgent need of the following items:

*deodorant (mini or regular size)

*toothpaste (mini or regular size)

*sleeping bags

*diapers

*journals

*hygiene products (mini or regular size)

Items can be dropped off at the Helix Library.

This FREE event provides an incredible experience for attendees with live animals, educational activities, native plant sale, food trucks, butterfly release, and more!

Multiple Volunteer shifts available between 7am-4pm. Choose your time and what you would like to do. Just click HERE and send Ms. Powers an email to receive a full list of options for March 2nd: kpowers@mthelixpark.org.

With your help we will create a beautiful outdoor learning space for the Altadena Head Start Community!

We are inviting you to join us on Saturday, March 2nd, 2024.

Volunteer shifts (4 hours) are available between 9am and 4pm.

Children’s activities and entertainment will be provided!

Sign up HERE

Please email Catalina.Campbell@lmsvsd.net if you're able to help.

The Animal Pad is a non-profit, all breed dog rescue that focuses on saving dogs from high kill shelters and the streets of Mexico.

Click HERE to sign-up.

The La Mesa Branch Library is offering a student volunteer opportunity for students that have at least a 3.0 GPA. They have launched a new program called “Homework Help” for K-8th graders. Email Denise at lamesalibrary@sdcounty.ca.gov for more information.

HandsOn San Diego is a nonprofit on a mission to make volunteering easier and our communities stronger. Our projects are hand selected to ensure our volunteers have a great experience and truly make a difference.

Ready to volunteer for a cause you’re passionate about? Projects that fit your schedule and interests are waiting for you!

Easily search our volunteer calendar based on your age, location, or impact area.

Email: glt2024@helixcharter.net
Website: www.helixcharter.net
Location: 4200 Lowell Street, La Mesa, CA, USA
Phone: 619-644-1940
Instagram: instagram.com/helix.classof2024/