Class of 2029 Newsletter

Class of 2029 Families,

It is hard to believe but we are rapidly approaching the finish line of the Class of 2029's freshman year. It has been a full year but we are not done yet. We must emphasize the importance of on time daily attendance. Classes will be working all the way to the last day of school, June 4, 2026. We ask that families are diligent about ensuring that your student is here at school on time, daily. Missing school causes stress for many of our students who have worked hard the entire semester, and results in them missing out on valuable instruction and learning opportunities. As always please be mindful of the school calendar when scheduling vacations or trips.

We look forward to another successful semester for the Class of 2029 and seeing you all soon at summer conferencing! Let's finish the school year off strong!!!

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:

May 4-15: AP Testing

May 5-7: Helix Dance Audition Workshops

May 6-7: Summer School Opportunities Parent Meeting

May 7-8: Helix Vocal Music Spring Cabaret

May 9: Helix Dance Auditions

May 9: Helix Vocal Music Auditions

May 10: Mother's Day

May 13: Staff Development - Minimum Day

May 20-21: Senior Boards - Minimum Days

May 25: Memorial Day - No School

June 3-4: Spring Semester 2 Finals

June 4: Last Day of School and Class of 2026 Graduation

June 9-July 1: Summer Conferencing

June 10-July 1: Summer School (remediation only)

June 10-June 30: EDGE Lab Maker Space Summer Programs

June 15-18: Future U Workshop Series

June 19: Juneteenth - No School

June 21: Father's Day

July 2-August 3: Office Closed - Summer Break

August 6: First Day of School

The Scottie freshman sped to a 400-meter time of 53.47 seconds at the Mt. SAC Relays, second in the state. It's the third fastest time in section history. She also won the seeded 200 in 24.05 seconds.

Congratulations to our Helix Show Choirs for once again dominating at the Oceanside Show Choir Competition on Friday, 4/17/26! HLX won 1st place, with the highest music and highest show scores. HD placed 3rd in their division, earning the top music scores.

Way to go Helix Show Choirs and all the 9th grade students who participate in choir!

On Wednesday, 4/15/26 and Thursday, 4/16/26 the College and Career Center took almost all the 9th grade class to explore UCSD and SDSU! Student got to explore their local colleges, get to know staff members and their fellow students, and start to envision what life after high school could look like.

📣 Helix Families - Online Enrollment and Summer Conferences (REQUIRED for Enrollment)

Online Enrollment and Summer Conferences are required steps to secure your student's enrollment for the 206-2027 school year.

Students are not officially enrolled until both steps are completed. Missing your Summer Conference may delay or result in forfeited enrollment.

📆Online Enrollment Opens:

• Monday, April 13, 2026 – Families with 2+ students
• Thursday, April 16, 2026 – All Helix families

Deadlines:

📌 Complete Online Enrollment (ParentVUE): Wednesday, May 20, 2026
📌 Schedule Summer Conference: Sunday, May 24, 2026

✅What You Need to Do:

• Log into ParentVUE and complete Online Enrollment
• Verify all student information
• Schedule your student’s Summer Conference (after enrollment is processed)

• Attend your Summer Conference in June

📆Summer Conference Dates:

June 9–12 | June 15–18 | June 22–26 | June 29–30
⏰ 7:30am - 3:00pm

📌What to Expect at Summer Conferences:

• In-person meeting with your Grade Level Team (GLT)
• Review of class schedule and upcoming school year
• 90-minute student preparation experience
• Student attends with one parent/guardian
• School photo taken for ID cards
• Visit the Finance Office for:
• Class Spirit Pack
• Paying Fines
• Purchasing spirit items and yearbooks
• Completion of Dual/Concurrent Enrollment steps (if applicable)

❗Important Reminders:

• Enrollment is not complete until both Online Enrollment and Summer Conferencing are done
• Student should attend the conference with a parent/guardian
• If your student will not be returning to Helix next year, please notify your Grade Level Team as soon as possible

Need help? Contact your Grade Level Team at 619-644-1940

Senior Boards is a graduation requirement for all Helix Seniors. We are looking for volunteers to serve as judges alongside our teachers and staff on Wednesday, 5/20/26 and Thursday, 5/21/26. As a judge, you will listen to Seniors share their High School experiences and talk about their plans for the future. It is a meaningful way to connect with our students and engage with the Helix community. We are hoping to involve as many parents and community members as possible to bring diverse perspectives to the judging panels.

You are welcome to join us for one or both days, from 12:15pm - 3:30pm. Judges will meet in the library for a catered lunch, followed by a brief orientation explaining the project and the judging rubric. Then, we will head to classrooms around campus to watch the presentations. If you are interested in volunteering, PLEASE RSVP HERE.

Wednesday, 5/20/26 & Thursday, 5/21/26 will be minimum days to accommodate Senior Boards. 9th - 11th graders will be dismissed at 1:20pm.

The Helix PTSA is in need of additional chaperones to assist with Class of 2026 Grad Night. Parents with children attending Grad Night interested in attending free of charge as a group chaperone can contact Katie Smith at katiem_smith@yahoo.com.

Chaperones will be asked to attend the entire event, including riding the buses to and from the event, beginning afternoon Friday, 6/6/26 overnight to the morning of Saturday, 6/7/26.

Yearbooks are currently for sale for 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.

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

Check out some helpful hints and reminders for the upcoming AP Tests.

Most students will be taking their AP Exam through Bluebook (already installed on student Chromebooks).We encourage students to open the Bluebook app and complete a practice exam: https://bluebook.collegeboard.org/students/practice

Before Testing, Students Should:

1. Open Bluebook on their device and click Test Your Device at the top right of the sign-in page to make sure their device meets requirements.
2. Sign in to the app with their College Board account.
3. On the Bluebook homepage, locate their upcoming exam under "Your Tests".
4. Go to the Practice and Prepare section and try a test preview.

What to Bring on Test Day:

• Fully charged device with Bluebook installed. Their device should be able to hold a charge for 4 hours.
• The power cord and/or a portable charger for their device. Note: Students might not have access to an outlet during testing.
• 2 pens (blue or black ink) and 2 pencils with a good eraser. Scratch paper will be provided, students cannot bring their own.
• An external mouse if they use one.
• AP ID Log-on Credentials (memorized)
• An approved photo ID (Helix ID okay).
• Students are welcome to bring water into the testing room, in a closed bottle or flask

Test Day Reminders:

• Check-in early at testing location before exam:

• 7:30am for 8:00am exams

• 11:30am for 12:00pm exams

• All smart devices (watches, cell phones, glasses, etc.) will be collected upon arrival and returned once the exams are complete.

• Students must stay once they complete their exams - everyone will be released at the same time.

• Students are excused from all other classes on their exam day

• Students with accommodations will be emailed with a testing location

If any problems arise as students test their devices, please see Mrs. Skullerud in Room 530.

Click here for information about dance auditions for next year.

Pom Sideline will hold separate tryouts on Friday, 5/8/26. Click here to sign up for Pom Sideline tryouts.

Celebrate the end of the 2025-2026 school year with the award winning Helix Choirs for the Spring Cabaret on Thursday, 5/7/26 at 7pm and Friday, 5/8/26 at 6:30pm. All performances will take place on the Main Stage Theater in the Helix Performing Arts Center.

Friday will include performances with the choirs from LMAAC. See you there!

The Highland Players production of The Crucible will be shown in the Helix Performing Arts Building Blackbox Theater at 7pm

The Crucible is a gripping drama by Arthur Miller set during the Salem witch trials of 1692. As fear and suspicion spread through the town, accusations of witchcraft spiral out of control, exposing the dangers of mass hysteria, injustice, and the abuse of power. At its heart, the play follows John Proctor, a man struggling to protect his integrity and his family in a community turned against itself. Both a historical story and a timeless allegory, The Crucible asks what it costs to stand for truth when everything is at stake.

*** The Crucible is a dramatic play, and contains content and themes that may not be appropriate for children under 13.

Click here to purchase tickets.

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.

🎉 Future U is back at Helix this summer!

Looking to level up your college & career game? Join us for FREE Future U workshops—4 hands-on sessions designed to help you explore your future and build real skills. 💼🎓✨

👉 Rising 10th & 11th graders: Dive into college + career exploration and discover your path early.

📍All sessions held on campus

📆 Spots are limited—RSVP here!

Your future starts now. 🔗 🚀 #FutureU #HelixFutureReady #CollegeAndCareer

Hang with Ms. Morgan, play games, eat snacks, plan for your future!

The EDGE Lab is excited to offer summer programs again, giving students a fun, hands-on way to stay creative and engaged.

From Maker Basics and Mars Rover builds to creative art projects, there is something for everyone to explore. Part of the Helix EDGE and ASPIRE programs, the lab is an extended classroom where students can experiment and create using tools like 3D printers, robotics, and more while building real-world skills. Programs are open to current students and incoming freshmen.

Space is limited. For more information, email: chamberlain@helixcharter.net.

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.

Does your student have an IEP or 504 plan? Does your student receive accommodations in their high school classes and plan to take a dual or concurrent enrollment college class?

Please come to our virtual webinar on "How to Access Accommodations for College Classes" happening on Thursday, 5/7/26 at 6pm. We will discuss the required steps students must complete in order for Grossmont/Cuyamaca College to potentially honor some accommodations from their IEP or 504 plan. Families and students will learn how they can submit a copy of their IEP or 504 to Grossmont College's Accessibility Resource Center (A.R.C.).

This event will be held via Google Meet. Please click here to join the webinar. For translation services, click here.

This event is open to new and existing students to learn about our English Learner program. We will greet our incoming students and celebrate our students who have been reclassified in an RFEP Ceremony! Dinner will be provided, registration is required here.

This event will be held in ExL, room 1600. Students and siblings are encouraged to attend!

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