Class of 2029 Newsletter

Class of 2029 Families,

Happy Holidays! We hope our Class of 2029 students and families enjoyed a restful break and are recharged for the final three weeks of the semester. As a reminder, finals will take place on 12/18/25 and 12/19/25. Please ensure your student attends on these important days so they can finish the semester strong. If your student is struggling we want to encourage students to take advantage of the final two Friday tutorial opportunities to receive help from their teachers and attend the Den before or after school (Monday-Thursday).

We are proud of the hard work our Class of 2029 students have shown so far, and we look forward to a strong finish to the semester. Thank you for your continued support and for being such an important part of our school community.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Grade Level Team with any questions, concerns or good news you would like to share with us.

Mark your Calendar:

December 5: Helix Supporters' Breakfast

December 10: Staff Development Day - Minimum Day

December 18 & 19: Finals - Fall Semester 2

December 22 - January 6: Winter Break - No School

December 24: Athletic Eligibility Determined

January 7: First Day of Spring Semester 1

January 19: Martin Luther King Day - No School

January 21: Back to School Night (VIRTUAL event)

January 29: Parent Shadow Day/Staff Development Day - Minimum Day

February 9: Progress Reports Due - Spring Semester 1

February 11: Athletic Eligibility Determined

February 13: Lincoln's Day - No School

February 16: President's Day - No School

February 25: Staff Development Day - Minimum Day

Freshman Zoe Krzywicki helped seal the Grossmont Conference title for the first time in 20 years.

Way to go Zoe!

Helix Speech and Debate made a strong showing at the SDIVSL League #1 tournament. This tournament took place over 3 weekends and concluded on 11/15/25.

27 schools from around San Diego competed and both teams, Varsity and Novice, took 1st place in team sweepstakes. All of our speakers and debaters contributed to the wins.

Congrats to the following 9th graders for their success at this tournament!

League #1

• Kavan Cisneros: 11th Place - Novice Student Congress
• Alana Higuera: 3rd Place (4-0) - Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate
• Eva Pike/Lucy Reams: 2nd Place - Novice Duo Interpretation
• Eva Pike/Lucy Reams: 9th Place (3-1) - Novice Public Forum Debate
• Lucy Reams: 4th Place - Novice Original Oratory
• Christian Wikoren: 1st Place (4-0) - Novice Lincoln Douglas Debate
• Christian Wikoren/Faith Jennings (12th): 5th Place (3-1) - Varsity Public Forum Debate

Helix is turning 75! 🎉

Throughout 2026, we will celebrate this incredible milestone with a series of fun events for students, staff, families, alumni and our amazing community. For more information, please visit helixcharter.net/75.

The celebration will kick off at our annual community breakfast on Friday, 12/5/25!

Students can earn up to 6 hours of community service by bringing pet toys or supplies to donate to Frosted Faces Dog Rescue.

• 1 item = 2 hours of service.

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:

• Thursday, 12/18/25 & Friday, 12/19/25: Helix Fall Semester 2 Finals
• Monday, 12/22/25 - Tuesday, 1/6/26: Winter Break (No School)
• Wednesday, 1/7/26: Start of Spring Semester 1

The Helix Attendance Office would also like to share a few reminders:

• 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!

Winter Formal will take place on Saturday, 1/31/26 at Julep. Tickets will go on sale at the Dawg House on Wednesday, 1/14/26. All students must be cleared prior to purchasing tickets.

Here are a few reminders if you want to get cleared to attend the dance.

Please join the Class of 2029 Grade Level Team on Thursday, 1/8/26 at 6:00pm in ExL (room 1600), as we discuss what to expect for the upcoming school year. We will review graduation requirements, course options, four-year plans and everything you need to know about selecting classes for next year.

Learning to Relax Through Mindfulness is a four-part series designed to deepen understanding of stress management, relaxation, and emotional resilience. These sessions explore how living from an open and kind heart can lead to a happier, healthier life. Parents and guardians will gain practical tools and techniques to nurture qualities such as kindness, compassion, and empathy—skills that can be shared with the whole family.

📆 Class Schedule: Thursdays in January, 6pm - 7pm

• January 8: What Tenderness Can Teach Us
• January 15: Developing Harmony
• January 22: Our Dependence on Others
• January 29: Developing Good Values

Register at: http://sdcoe.k12oms.org/918-274472

Click below to check out the before and after school ASPIRE programs that are being offered during the Fall 2025 Term.

The DEN is a student-centered space that provides academic support both before school and after school Monday through Thursday 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 drop in before school and/or after school to receive help in all subjects. The DEN will provide tutoring, remediation, test prep, test proctoring, timed writings, study groups and student-centered support in any academic capacity. See below for the daily schedule.

Every Thursday, Helix parents/guardians will receive an automated 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.

A list of community service opportunities can be found by clicking the button below.

We encourage all Helix students, parents and guardians to join the PTSO! There is no commitment required, although you are welcome to attend the PTSO meetings (4th Wednesday of each month) and help volunteer at school events if you are interested!

The more members they have, the greater access they have to grants and programs that will support Helix students. Any students interested in applying for PTSO scholarships (they give out $5,000 each year) must be PTSA members. If you are interested in getting involved, please email Dave Hardenburger at helixptso@gmail.com.

The Helix PTSO needs your help recognizing some outstanding Helix teachers and staff. Please fill out this link to recognize some Helix All-Stars. They will be recognized in the all-staff monthly meetings.

The Helix Instrumental Music Department presents their Winter Snow Jams Concert on Wednesday, 12/10/25 and Thursday, 12/11/25 from 7pm-9:30pm in the Helix PAC Mainstage.

Tickets can be purchased at helixinstrumental.org.

The Helix PTSO is selling Finals Care Packages. For $15, students will get a Chick-Fil-A chicken sandwich, chips, a cookie and a bottle of water. The deadline to place your order is Saturday, 12/13/25.

CLICK HERE TO PLACE YOUR ORDER.

Students can pick up their meal during lunch on Wednesday, 12/17/25 in the Helix Gym. Please let your students know you have ordered for them so they know to pick them up.

Proceeds go to the Helix PTSO, which helps pay for student enrichment, scholarships and more. To learn more about getting involved in the PTSO, email helixptso@gmail.com.

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

See the Finals Bell Schedule below.

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 www.helixcharter.net/FamilyFirst for more information and for links to previous recordings.

Business Pathway leaders Amy Hull, Alicia Gibson and Julio Torres will showcase the Business Pathway for 9th - 11th grade families. They will give an overview of teachers, courses, activities, program, rooms, equipment and scholarship opportunities. Attendees will get to make their own t-shirts!

This event will be held in person in the Helix Library from 6pm-7pm. Students are welcome to attend with parents/guardians. Registration not required, just show up, there will be snacks. Doors open at 5:45pm. For translation services, please click here.

The ASPIRE program is a federally funded grant awarded through the San Diego County Office of Education. The county selects schools to include in the After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens (ASSETs) grant and Helix has been awarded this grant for over 15 years!

This grant affords before-and-after-school programming for students in the following areas: enrichment, sports, and academics. Our ASPIRE programs are inclusive and comprehensive of so many areas of interest and because of the grant we are given, we are able to purchase special supplies and pay the instructors. Contact us with any questions by email at helixaspire@helixcharter.net.

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

Parent's Guide to Mental Health & Wellness

Guia Para Padres de Salud y Bienestar Mental

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.

Ms. Arica Villegas - Grade Level Principal

Mrs. Yolanda Street - School Counselor

Ms. Danika Markey - Academic Advisor

Ms. Sara Brown - Administrative Assistant

Mrs. Brenda Flores - Attendance Technician

Mrs. Danielle Yee - School Social Worker

Ms. Cynthia Jones - Assistant Manager, Academic Support Program