Class of 2029 Newsletter

Class of 2029 Families,

Our hearts are full as we enter the month of February. The Class of 2029 is shining everywhere we look and we could not be prouder. Whether it is the classroom, an athletic team, the stage or in a club, the Power of '29 is making their impact on Helix every day. Our hearts are happy!

As we move into the month of February, please keep in mind our Spring Semester 2 Progress Report grades are due in one week on February 9th. Please continue to help your student make it to tutorial on Friday mornings with their teachers and the Den before and after school on Mondays - Thursdays. These support opportunities are the best way for your student to receive help with all their courses.

Speaking of courses, the Grade Level Team is meeting with students daily to select their classes for 10th grade. The course selection process takes about a month as the team meets with every student individually. If you have not had an opportunity to discuss classes with your student, please be sure to do so soon. The deadline to make changes to course requests is March 6th.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Grade Level Team with any questions, concerns or good news you would like to share with us, as your student works towards achieving their goals.

Mark your Calendar:

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

March 11-12: Spring Semester 1 Finals

March 13-29: Spring Break - No School

March 18: Athletic Eligibility Determined

March 30: First Day of Spring Semester 2

April 23: Staff Development - Minimum Day

April 23: Spring Fling

April 27: Progress Reports Due - Spring Semester 2

April 29 - Athletic Eligibility Determined

The Helix Dance Programs showed up and showed out at the Sharp International Dance Competition at Sierra Vista High School. With powerhouse performances across the board, our dancers did a full sweep of the competition and walked away as Grand Champions!

Congrats to the following 9th grader for her success at this competition!

• Swell Gallic: 1st Place Jazz Solo

Helix Speech and Debate competed with about 90 other schools this month at the Peninsula Invitational. Helix took 3rd place overall and 1st place in Speech Sweeps.

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

• Alana Higuera/Mateo Pedraza: Quarters (3-2 record) - Novice Public Forum Debate
• Lucy Reams/Alana Lara (10th): Quarters (4-1 record) - Novice Public Forum Debate

If you have siblings you would like to enroll for the 2026-2027 school year, you must submit their application by Sunday, 3/1/26.

Helix is a Charter School, so no one is automatically enrolled and you must apply by Sunday 3/1/26 to secure a spot for your incoming student.

**No action needed for currently enrolled 9th-11th grade Helix students. Online Enrollment will be completed after Spring Break for current students.

The application and all information about enrollment can be found at: www.helixcharter.net/Enroll.

We are currently meeting one on one with students in the Class of 2029 to discuss and finalize their sophomore year classes.

The process of meeting individually with every 9th grader, takes approximately one month to complete. For that reason, we are unable to make individual parent/guardian appointments to review Course Requests. We are happy to respond to any questions you may have via email.

We will email a copy of their final request to parents/guardians on Friday, 2/27/26. Please review the request with your student. You can also find the finalized course selections on your ParentVue or StudentVue portal. Students have until Friday, 3/6/26 to make any changes to their request. Once we go on Spring Break, changes cannot be made to the request.

We look forward to meeting with every family at your student's Mandatory Registration Appointment in June 2026. More information about scheduling your registration appointment will be available after Spring Break

Thank you for your patience and understanding while we are out in classrooms meeting individually with your students to finalize their 10th Grade Course Requests.

For more information about Course Requests please visit our Class of 2029 Course Request Info Website.

We are excited to begin the College Unit in Helix First regarding The Grossmont/Cuyamaca Dual Enrollment process for the 2026-2027 school year! To make sure everything goes smoothly, we will need a little information and action from both students and parents/guardians along the way.

Students will be completing several required forms using their own personal email address if they have one, and parents/guardians will be asked to provide an email address and digitally sign an authorization form at one point in the process. These steps are required and help us ensure your student is ready to participate in dual enrollment courses.

We encourage you to review the Dual Enrollment steps together with your student and keep an eye out for emails requesting parent/guardian input. Completing items in a timely manner will help avoid delays and keep things moving forward.

Thank you for partnering with us to support this exciting college opportunity for our students! Additional guidance and support will be provided if questions come up.

If you are interested in the medical field as a career, be sure to check out the Patient Care Pathway classes and the Medical Internship Course where you will work at Sharp Hospital alongside medical staff! Check with your grade level team if interested.

The Helix Art Gallery is an opportunity for any of Helix's artists to come showcase their work. This is your chance to get your name out there as an aspiring artist or to just showcase the type of work you and/or your club do. We do not discriminate between arts and allow subjects from sculpting to cooking and everything in between. Granted, your art must be at an appropriate level to be shown in a school environment. Spots are first come, first serve. Please sign up today by clicking this link.

The Helix Art Gallery will take place during Spring Fling, on Thursday, 4/23/26.

Yearbooks are currently for sale for $85 at the Dawg House and through the student store.

Yearbooks SELL OUT, so buy one now if you are interested!

Click below to check out the before and after school ASPIRE programs that are being offered during the Spring 2026 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 Highland Players invite you to their Winter Musical - Mean Girls: The Musical. The show opens Wednesday, 1/28/26 with performances until Friday, 2/6/26. All shows start at 7pm in the Mainstage Theater.

Mean Girls: The Musical is a high-energy, funny, and heartfelt Broadway adaptation of the hit movie written by Tina Fey. It follows Cady Heron, a new student navigating the social jungle of high school for the first time. As she becomes entangled with the popular (and intimidating) Plastics. Cady learns powerful lessons about kindness, authenticity, and the impact of our choices. Packed with catchy songs, sharp humor, and relatable moments, the show explores friendship, empathy, and finding your voice. Our students bring this contemporary story to life with talent, creativity, and heart.

Tickets available for purchase here.

Interested in participating in a Spring sport? Online clearance opens Sunday, 12/1/26. Visit THE HELIX ATHLETICS WEBSITE for instructions. On-campus physicals will be held on Thursday, 2/5/26 at 3pm in the Sports Medicine classroom - Room 1160. Cost is $35 - CASH ONLY. All paperwork must be filled out prior to seeing the Doctor.

We are 10 school days away from Spring Semester 1 Progress Reports, which are due on Monday, 2/9/26. 📉🤯📈

Please take advantage of Academic Support opportunities the next 2 weeks to make sure you are passing all of your classes! 📚📝

Remember…these grades will be used to determined Athletic Eligibility on Wednesday, 2/11/26. If you are playing a winter/spring sport, you must earn at least a 2.0 GPA to remain eligible. 🏀⚽🤼🤽🏐🎾🥎⚾⛳👟🏊🥍

YOU GOT THIS!!⭐️💚🐾

This is a regional event that is hosted by the Helix Dance Program. Schools from across San Diego perform under one roof for a night full of Hip Hop dance, music and culture. Tickets can be purchased by going to the Helix Dance Program Website.

HIMA's 32nd Annual Gala will be held at the Thursday Club on March 12th. Tickets can be purchased here.

We are excited to invite you to join us for the 19th Annual Highlander Open Golf Tournament, a longtime Helix tradition and this year is extra special as we celebrate 75 Years of Helix High School!

📍 Riverwalk Golf Course

📆 Saturday, 3/14/26
⏰ 6:45 AM Registration | 8:00 AM Shotgun Start

Your registration includes:
- Green fees & golf cart
- Breakfast & lunch
- Swag bag and more
- Access to raffle prizes, on-course contests, a Bloody Mary bar, and plenty of fun throughout the day

All proceeds directly support graduating seniors of Helix Charter High School, making this a great way to enjoy a day on the course while giving back to our students.

Register here: https://forms.gle/219HJDr325wYDvSt6

We hope to see you out on the course celebrating Helix, supporting our seniors, and enjoying a fantastic day together.

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.

The Dual Enrollment Info Night is for parents and guardians looking to learn more about our Dual Enrollment program. We invite you to join our College & Career Center Advisor, Gillian Morgan, along with Ms. Arica Villegas, Grade Level Principal on Thursday, 2/5/26 at 6pm in ExL (room 1600). They will cover the pros and cons of dual enrollment, how to enroll, opportunities and expectations.

This event will be held in person . Students are welcome to attend with parents/guardians. Doors open at 5:45pm. For translation services, click here.

Presented by the La Mesa Police Department & the San Diego County Bike Coalition. E-bikes are powerful, fast, and often misunderstood. Many riders and parents do not realize that different e-bike classes come with different laws, age limits, and safety requirements. This class breaks down what is legal, what is safe, and what every family needs to know to prevent crashes and protect young riders. They will also cover what drivers need to know, including safe passing laws and how to share the road with e-bike riders, to help keep everyone safer on our streets.

Why Attend?

✔ Learn what is safe and legal

✔ Understand California’s changing e-bike laws

✔ Reduce crash risks and prevent injuries

✔ Keep yourself and your bike safe

This event will be held at 6pm in ExL (room 1600). Students are encouraged to attend with parents/guardians and will earn one hour of community service for attending. Registration not required, just show up! We will have snacks. For translation services, click here.

Please join us to review the progress Helix Charter High School has made since our last WASC accreditation visit in February 2023 and help us prioritize our focus for the next three years.

Topics include:

• Enhancing our student support programs
• Professional learning for staff around supporting all students
• Expanding CTE pathways and real work experiences for students

Attendees can provide feedback on these topics and other efforts to provide students with a world class educational experience.

This event will be held at 6pm in ExL (room 1600). Students are welcome to attend with parents/guardians. Dinner will be provided, registration is required here. For translation services, 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