There is plenty going on over the next few weeks at Helix Charter High School.

Among some of the highlights:

Parent Shadow Day & Mid-High School Reflections – Thursday, Feb. 1 –

All Helix parents / guardians are invited to attend our bi-annual Parent Shadow Day on Thursday, Feb. 1. The purpose of this event is to observe your student’s classrooms and school environment. Refreshments will be served in the Library during Parent Shadow Day, hosted by the Helix Foundation, Alumni Association and PTSA. Information and sign-ups for all three organizations will be available. The PTSA will hold a quick, informational meeting during Nutrition Break at 10:30 in the library for any interested parents. You can meet the team, and they’ll share what they’ve been up to, including some great fundraising initiatives for students.

This year will be an extra special day because we are holding our Mid-High School Reflections (MHSR) on the same day! MHSR is a project that all 11th graders must participate in. They present on their high school experience and goals going forward. We love to have parents and community members join us as audience members for these presentations. If you would like to participate as an audience member, please RSVP using the link on the homepage of helixcharter.net. We will provide a catered meal and give a brief explanation of the project. Please RSVP by 1/31, so we can order the correct amount of food. Right after lunch, we’ll head to classrooms to hear student presentations, which will run from 1:30-3:30.

Sports Clearance & On-Site Physicals – Thursday, Feb. 1

If your student is interested in participating in a spring sport, online clearance is now open. Visit the Helix Athletics website at helixathletics.net for instructions. On-campus physicals will be held on Thursday, Feb. 1 at 3pm in the Sports Medicine classroom (1170). Cost is $35 and we only accept cash.

Winter Play – Twelve Angry Jurors – Jan. 24- Feb. 3

The Highland Players production of Twelve Angry Jurors by Reginald Rose will be shown in the Helix Black Box Theater on the following dates:Jan. 25, 27, Feb. 1, 3 (“Fair” Cast) and Jan. 24, 26, 31, Feb. 2 (“Impartial” Cast). All shows will be at 7pm. Tickets available for purchase here.

Winter Formal – Saturday, Feb. 10

Helix’s 2024 Winter Formal will be held at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center at 1875 El Prado, San Diego from 7-10 p.m. The theme is starry night. Tickets cost $55 but prices will go up to $60 the week prior to the dance. All grade levels can now buy a ticket at the Finance Office.

Charter Board Meeting – Monday, Feb. 12 at 4:30 p.m.

Charter Board meetings are always held in the Helix library. Parents are encouraged to attend if interested! The meeting agendas are posted the Friday prior to the meeting on our homepage at helixcharter.net under the Announcements section.

PTSA Meeting – Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 5:30 p.m.

Parent engagement is a priority at Helix and necessary to keep our community strong. The PTSA plays an important role in this. Helix PTSA is looking for volunteers to serve on the board in the following positions. Serving on the board means committing to attend the meetings when possible which are on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 5:30pm in the Helix Admin Bldg or via Zoom. You will be working with a large team of supportive parents! Email [email protected] if you are interested in volunteering.

• VP – Acts as an aide to the President and assumes duties as directed by the President. Direct duties: Preside at PTSA meetings when the president is unavailable. Find speakers for Membership meetings. Work on any special projects as needed.
• SECRETARY – Responsible for keeping accurate records of the proceedings of the association, complete records of members and leaders, as well as sending communications on behalf of the board of directors.
• HISTORIAN – Captures, assembles and preserves record of activities and achievements of a PTA.

Enrollment for ’24-’25 School Year – Applications Due by March 1, 2024

If you would like to enroll your student(s) for next school year, you must submit your application by March 1, 2024. Helix is a charter school, so no one is automatically enrolled and you must apply before March 1 to ensure your incoming student has a spot. The application and all information about enrollment can be found here – helixcharter.net/Enroll. No action is required for students already enrolled at Helix.

Helix Dance Presents Hip Hop Night – Feb. 21, 22, 23 at 7 p.m. in the PAC

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

Family First Info Nights

Every Thursday at 6 p.m., 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.

Business Pathway Info Night – Thursday, Feb. 8 at 6 p.m.

Pathway leaders Amy Hull & Julio Torres will showcase the Business Pathway for 9-11 grade families. They will give an overview of teachers, courses, activities, program, rooms, equipment and scholarship opportunities! This event will be held in person in the Helix Library at 6pm. Students are welcome to attend with parents/guardians. Refreshments will be provided and doors open at 5:45.

Dual Enrollment Info Night – Monday, Feb. 12 at 6 p.m.

This info night is for parents and guardians looking to learn more about our Dual Enrollment program. We’ll cover the pros and cons of dual enrollment, how to enroll, opportunities and expectations. Our College & Career Center Advisor, Gillian Morgan, will present along with Ms. Villegas, grade level principal. This event will be held in person in the Helix Library at 6 p.m. Note that this event is on a Monday. Students are welcome to attend with parents/guardians. Refreshments will be provided and doors open at 5:45.

ASPIRE Program & Performing Arts Info Night – Thursday, Feb. 15 at 6 p.m.

Come learn about ASPIRE offerings and Performing Arts programs. Katie Pipes, Department Chair, will present about the programs, how to get involved, audition dates and more. This event will be held in person in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) at 6 p.m. Students are welcome to attend with parents/guardians. Refreshments will be provided and doors open at 5:45.

Screenagers Showing – Thursday, Feb. 29 at 6 p.m.

Join us in our Performing Arts Center for a showing of Screenagers: Next Generation, an important movie about teenagers and technology. Registration is not required. Students and siblings are welcome to come. Refreshments will be provided and doors open at 5:45. The movie is an hour long and we will have a short discussion afterward.

Movie Description: Filmmaker and physician Delaney Ruston uses a personal lens and professional eye to help us all flip the script on stress, anxiety, and depression. We follow Delaney as she finds herself at a loss on how to help her own teens as they struggle with their emotional wellbeing. Ruston sets out to understand these challenges in our current screen-filled society, and how we as parents and schools empower teens to overcome mental health challenges and build emotional agility, communication savvy, and stress resilience. We witness Delaney as she finds her way from ineffective parenting to much-improved strategies. We also observe approaches in schools that provide strategies relevant beyond the classroom setting. Interwoven into the stories are surprising insights from brain researchers, psychologists, and thought-leaders that reveal evidence-based ways to support mental wellness among our youth. The impact of social media and screen time in general is incorporated in topics brought to our attention in Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER, how it may be impacting our teen’s mental health, and what we can do to help support youth in the face of struggles.