Class of 2025 Newsletter

Class of 2025 Families,

Somehow, we are approaching the halfway point of Senior Year. We have to admit that it is an emotional time for the Grade Level Team. The Fall Term has flown by in a blizzard of college applications, job applications, athletic competitions, performing arts shows, SAT & ACTs, a homecoming dance, projects, papers and so much more! As we pop into classes and walk around at lunch it is a joy to see the once little freshman that have transformed into the young adults they are today.

The Spring Term will somehow fly by even quicker and students will need the support from their trusted adults just as much as ever. The uncertainty that lies ahead will be a topic of discussion. The feelings the students experience are normal and expected. We will work with students to explore and share their post secondary plans along with the emotions attached to them but we encourage you to explore how they are feeling as well.

As we wrap up this term and look forward to the Spring, the same lessons and expectations remain:

• Daily and on time attendance is important - please connect with the Grade Level Team if support is needed
• Staying on top of grades is a must (for graduation and college apps)
• Continue to take advantage of support opportunities like the Den and tutorial.
• Get plenty of rest, stay hydrated and eat healthy.
• Stay focused in the final three weeks of Fall Semester 2
• And don't forget to enjoy Senior Year!

Please continue to check in, offer support and reminders and reach out to the the Grade Level Team for assistance or good news you would like to share with us.

Mark your Calendar:

November 21: FAFSA/CADAA Application Opens (College Financial Aid)

December 2: CSU and UC Applications Due

December 3: Perfectionism and Healthy Expectations Family First Night

December 6: Class of 2025 Aerial Photo

December 12: Student Minimum Day - Staff PD

December 13: I've Applied Party

December 19-20: Fall Semester 2 Finals

December 21-31: Winter Break

December 26: Athletic Eligibility Determined

January 1-7: Winter Break

January 8: First Day of Spring Semester 1

January 20: No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

January 22: Back to School Night (Virtual)

January 25: Winter Formal

January 30: Student Minimum Day - Staff PD

January 30: Parent Shadow Day

February 10: Progress Reports Due - Spring Semester 1

February 12: Athletic Eligibility Determined

February 14: No School - Lincoln's Day

February 17: No School - President's Day

February 20: Student Minimum Day - Staff PD

February 28: Last Day to Submit FAFSA/CADAA for 2 Extra Tickets for Graduation

We are proud to announce that the following 12th graders have been recognized as one of 72,000 students from across the country who earned academic honors from College Board’s National Recognition Programs:

• Omar Arevalo - National Hispanic Recognition Award
• Ilori Baham - National African American Recognition Award
• Eva Carreon Coronel - National Hispanic & First Generation Recognition Award
• Hayley Dunkel - National Indigenous Recognition Award
• Lennon Goldberg - National Hispanic Recognition Award
• Shaylene Mendoza - National Hispanic & First Generation Recognition Award
• Wyatt Robertson - National Hispanic & Indigenous Recognition Award
• Julian Saquic Vasquez - National Hispanic & First Generation Recognition Award
• Aleksander Talamantez - National Hispanic Recognition Award
• Lilette Woldemichael - National African American Recognition Award
• Yao Xiao - National First Generation Recognition Award

The National Recognition Programs honor the strong academic achievements of underrepresented students. They are an easy way for students to showcase their hard work in high school. The programs not only benefit students. They also benefit colleges looking to recruit diverse, talented students.

There is so much that makes students like Omar, Ilori, Eva, Hayley, Lennon, Shaylene, Wyatt, Julian, Aleksander, Lilette, and Yao unique. That is an asset to colleges and programs. The National Recognition Programs help students like them find ways to celebrate that. Eligible students apply on BigFuture. They have a GPA of 3.5 or higher. They are the top 10% of PSAT/NMSQT® or PSAT™ 10 assessment takers in each state for each program or have earned a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP® Exams. They either attend school in a rural area or small town, or identify as African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, or Indigenous/Native. They are invited to apply during their sophomore or junior year. Students who are awarded recognition will be notified at the beginning of the next school year.

Congratulations!

In October, seniors in the Oceanography class went on an unforgettable trip to Catalina. They kayaked, snorkeled, hiked and participated in fish, shark and algae labs. Highlights of the trip included the astronomy hike, sunrise hike, night snorkel and smores around the campfire. Thank you to Mr. Jacoway and Mrs. Elliott for planning an amazing trip.

EJ supports everyone on the Girls Volleyball Team and steps up as a leader and role model. She is a strong setter and had 36 assists at one of our tournaments. Way to go EJ!

Jett had three Touchdowns against Steele Canyon, helping the Highlanders to a victory. Congrats Jett!

Congratulations to the following senior, student-athletes and their families on signing their NLI!

• Kamilah Jones: UC Irvine, Soccer
• Ta'Tiannah Wright: CSU Northridge, Softball
• Kyra Miles: Point Loma Nazarene University, Volleyball
• Lamar McKenzie: Biola University, Soccer

Congratulations to senior, Joel Nickerson and junior, Tyus Joseph. They finished 10th and 12th respectively in the CIF DI Cross Country Championships! They have both qualified for the State Championships in Fresno. Way to go!

FAFSA season is officially here!

The 2025-2026 FAFSA form is now live! Head to fafsa.gov to start your form today.

San Diego Graduate Services is Helix's official supplier of Cap and Gowns for graduation. To order your cap and gown please order online TODAY at SDgrad.com. Select Helix in the drop down menu. Along with cap and gowns they also sell letter jackets, class rings and graduation announcements.

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

Only studio appointments are available at this time. The studio has moved to 7950 University Avenue, Suite 410, La Mesa, CA 91942.

If you previously booked your appointment at the El Cajon studio, that location no longer exists. You will now be taking your Senior Portraits at the new studio in La Mesa.

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

The Helix PTSA is selling Finals Care Packages again! For $15, students will get a Submarina sub sandwich, chips, a cookie and a drink.

You can place your order by clicking here: https://helixptsa.myptezcentral.com/. You must order by Friday, 12/13/24.

Students can pick up their meal during lunch on Wednesday, 12/18/24 in the gym. Please let your student(s) know you have ordered for them so they know to pick them up.

The proceeds go to the Helix PTSA, which helps pay for student enrichment, scholarships and more. To learn more about getting involved in the PTSA, email helixptsapresident@gmail.com.

Yearbooks are currently for sale for $75 at the Dawg House and through the student store.

The cost will increase to $85 in January and yearbooks SELL OUT, so buy one now if you are interested!

As we welcome the fall and winter seasons with their festive cheer and traditions, it is also the time of year when colds, flu, and missed school days become more common. To support student wellness and learning, please keep your student home if they show signs of illness, such as a fever or vomiting. If your student is experiencing anxiety or stress please be sure to contact the Grade Level Team for support options. We also encourage families to avoid scheduling trips or vacations during school days, as missing school can create added stress for students.

Please mark these important dates on your calendar:

• Monday, 11/25/24 - Friday, 11/29/24: Thanksgiving Break (No School)
• Thursday, 12/19/24 & Friday, 12/20/24: Helix Fall Semester 1 Finals
• Monday, 12/23/24 - Tuesday, 1/7/25: Winter Break
• Wednesday, 1/8/25: Start of Spring Semester 1

• Students arriving late to school must go directly to the Attendance Office. Even if they arrive between class periods or at lunch.
• If a student needs to leave campus for any reason before their school day is over, they must first obtain an Off-Campus Pass.
• If a student becomes ill while at school, the student must report to the School Nurse’s Office with a pass from their teacher. The nurse will then notify the parent/guardian to determine if an early release from school is necessary.
• Students who leave campus early without authorization before leaving are considered truant and will be assigned a consequence.
• Parents/Guardians must notify the school of the reason for their student’s absence, as soon as it is known a student will be absent. Absences that are not cleared within three (3) school days will change to a truancy.

Thank you for your support in keeping our school community healthy and engaged!

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.

LivingWorks is committed to equipping students with the skills to support those experiencing a mental health crisis. From now until December 2024, LivingWorks Youth Summit is offering California high school students with a FREE 90 minute suicide prevention training.

Given the importance of this topic, we will award any student who completes the training 3 hours of community service upon submission of their certification of completion. Please submit your certificate to Ms. Markey. Click the link below to access the training.

Access the training here.

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.

On Thursday, 11/21/24 the 2025 GLT and Mrs. Morgan presented to families and students. They discussed the FAFSA and CADAA and the steps to complete the form that is NOW live at fafsa.gov.

To view the presentation, click on the links below.

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.***

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.

We invite you to join other students and parents as we learn how to navigate perfectionism and balancing healthy expectations. With finals coming up, this is an important topic and we are offering students one community service hour for attending this presentation. This will be presented by Amy Chavez with San Diego Youth Services.

This event will be held in ExL (room 1600) at 6pm and is open to all parents and guardians. Registration is not required. Students and siblings are welcome to attend with you. Snacks will be provided.

Please park in the staff lot located at 7323 University, above the big H. This is the entrance off of University & Yale.

For translation services, click here.

Please join us on Thursday, 12/12/24 to get assistance completing your FAFSA/CADAA application.

This event will be held in ExL (room 1600) at 6pm and is open to all senior students, parents and guardians. Registration is not required. Snacks will be provided.

Please park in the staff lot located at 7323 University, above the big H. This is the entrance off of University & Yale.

For translation services, click here.

*****Remember.....submitting the FAFSA or CADAA is a graduation requirement. If you submit by Friday, 2/28/24 you will receive 2 extra tickets for graduation.

Discover the wonders of the ocean and expand your knowledge through exciting presentations and hands-on activities. There will be FREE FOOD for all attendees, ensuring you are fueled up for a night of learning and fun!

Wear your neon colors to light up the event and show your enthusiasm! This event is FREE and open to the public, so bring your family and friends for a night of connection, creativity, and ocean love. We cannot wait to see you there!

Want to learn more about Black in Marine Science (BIMS) and BIMS Week? Visit www.BIMS.org.

We are going to celebrate Duchess' 4th Birthday on Friday, 12/6/24 during lunch in the grass area by the 1300 building. All students are welcome to join us to sign Happy Birthday and show Duchess some love.

Students can earn up to 6 hours of community service by bringing pet toys or supplies to donate to the San Diego Humane Society. 1 item = 2 hours of service. Please drop off items between Monday, 12/2/24 - Friday, 12/6/24 to the Wellness Center, Admin Building, Library or Old Admin Building (next to IT service window).

Students can get community service hours for helping at the Lemon Grove Bonfire. Contact info is on the flyer.

The Helix Instrumental Music Department presents their Winter Snow Jams Concert on Wednesday, 12/11/24 and Thursday, 12/12/27 at 7pm in the Helix PAC Mainstage.

Students who had their college applications reviewed by a member of the Helix Student Support Team and submitted their college applications before the deadline have been invited to the "I've Applied Party" on Friday, 12/13/24 during Advisory and lunch.

In order to access the party, students must show their "I've Applied" button. Students who have misplaced their button or never received it can show their application review email to any member of the Grade Level Team or College Center to receive it.

We are so excited to celebrate this accomplishment with our students!

Helix's 12th Annual Supporters Breakfast will be held on Friday, 12/13/24 from 8am-9am in the Helix Gym. All parents & community members are invited to join us for a special community event featuring a complimentary breakfast and exciting performances by the award-winning Helix Performing Arts Department!

We will celebrate Helix's top performance scores, AP pass rates and the highest graduating class in our history! We will hear from inspiring past and present students and share opportunities to assist us in our mission of preparing ALL STUDENTS to be college-ready and successful after graduating. This event has limited space, registration is required here.

Finals can be a stressful time for students and in your household. To support your student we encourage:

• Plenty of rest: aiming for 8-10 hours per night
• Healthy breakfast and lunch
• Regularly studying: not just completing homework but reviewing notes each evening for understanding, creating notecards where appropriate, brushing up on skills
• Practice breathing to help calm anxiety

The Finals schedule has been revised. The updated schedule can be found below.

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.

The Wellness Center is here to support you and your family with any social-emotional needs.

If students need support during school, they can drop by their Grade Level Team in the Admin Building or the Wellness Center, located at the back of the school by the IT service window. If you would like to get in contact with the Wellness Center, you can reach them at HWC@helixcharter.net or by phone at 619-644-1940 x580.

Here are the different types of support offered by the Wellness Center:

• Individual check-ins

• Support groups

• Consultation/collaboration with families, administration, School Psychologists, teachers, coaches, etc.

• Crisis intervention

• Referrals to therapy/community support services

• Home visits

• Parent workshops

• Homeless/foster care/military liaison

• Project Safe (Human & Labor Trafficking) liaison

Looking for a mental health provider but not sure where to start?

You are not alone, this can be the biggest barrier to getting help. Helix partners with Care Solace to help solve this problem. Care Solace helps individuals find mental health care providers and substance use treatment centers. Their Care Companion™ team is available any time of day to quickly connect you to carefully verified providers in your community. Students, staff, and families may access Care Solace services in two ways:

• Call (888) 515-0595 at any time. Support is available in 200+ languages. A dedicated Care Companion™ will help you every step of the way to research options, secure appointments, and follow up to make sure it is a good fit.

• For an anonymous search, answer a few questions to get matched with an extensive list of care providers at www.caresolace.com/helixcharter

For more information, visit the Wellness Center's website by clicking the button above.

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