General School Information
Helix Links
Parent Teacher Conferencing
- Parents are encouraged to call teachers to discuss student work.
- Back to School Nights for both terms provide parents an overview of class content and student performance expectations.
- Saturday Parent Conferences give parents, teachers and students the opportunity to meet and review student progress.
Restructuring Committee
The Restructuring Committee guides changes at the school with teacher, parent, community and student representation. The following faculty focus groups are represented:
- Vision, Culture and Leadership
- Student Support
- Assessment and Accountability
- Curricular Paths
- Powerful Teaching & Learning
Open meetings are generally held the second Tuesday of the month and parents are invited to attend.
Expected Exit Standards
- Informed Decision Makers
- Effective Communicators
- Involved Citizens
- Constructive Thinkers
- Self-Directed Learners
- Functional producers
Career Center
A career counselor is available in room 201 to assist students with career exploration, counseling, college information, financial aid and scholarships. The Career Center is open every school day from 8:00am to 3:00pm. Some of the information available includes:
- College Information / College Catalogs
- Scholarship Information
- PSAT, ACT, and SAT applications
- Career information / Military information
- Work Experience / Youth Employment / Work Permits
Work permits are required by law for all students under 18 who are employed. These permits must be renewed each year. Once a student has a job, he or she needs to apply for a work permit from the Career Center. During the summer, these permits can be obtained from the ROP Center located at 924 E. Main St., El Cajon.
Student Phone Messages
We will not interrupt a class to deliver a phone message to a student except in the case of an emergency. If there is such an emergency, please call the Grade level Principals’ office, state the nature of the emergency, and if approved, we will deliver the message as soon as possible. Please do not call your student's cell phone during class. Making arrangements regarding work, babysitting, rides, celebration (balloon, flowers, etc.) or other activities of this type before school will keep lines open for school business and emergencies.
Books and Equipment
Students are responsible for any books or equipment issued to them. Fines will result from lost or damaged books or equipment. If you locate any library books, textbooks, or equipment belonging to Helix High, please return them to school. If a fine has been paid, it will be refunded.
Helix Foundation
The purpose of the foundation is to raise funds, promote Helix, preserve Helix traditions, and actively solicit the support of the community. You can support the Foundation through the purchase of SCRIP. You can purchase SCRIP to use for your purchases at participating companies. Funds raised from SCRIP can be used toward legitimate school expenses such as the cost of athletics or extra curricular activities. If you are interested in purchasing SCRIP, contact Jim Arnaiz ext. 182.
Helix Charter
Helix Charter High School is dedicated to preparing all students to graduate as highly literate, vocationally aware, life long learners. All graduates will gain confidence and self-worth as a direct result of the Helix learning experience. Graduates will be empowered to take increasing responsibility in their educational direction and academic success. All students will be prepared with the skills necessary for success in college and adulthood.
The Helix Governing Board sets school policy. Notification of meetings is posted in the front office of the school. Meetings are open to the public in accordance with the Brown Act.
The Board consists of the following:
- Cathy Singer, Certificated Staff and Chairman
- Gifford Asimos , Certificated Staff
- Peggy Crabtree, Classified Staff and Board Secretary
- Keith Johnson , Parent-at-large member
- Julie Damschen, Certificated Staff
- Mimi Test, Community Representative
- Dori Zabriskie, PTSA Representative
- Brian Kick, Community Representative
- Ed Aceves , Community Representative
- Nate Howard and Chanelle McNutt, Student Representatives
- Doug Smith, Executive Director
Charter Board Meeting Dates
The Helix Charter Board typically meets on the second Monday of each month unless otherwise indicated. Scheduled public meeting times are from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Helix Library. Agendas are posted and available in the Helix High School office. The following meeting dates are scheduled:
| May12, 2008 | June 23, 2008 | July-no meeting | August 11, 2008 |
Sept. 8, 2008 |
Oct. 13, 2008 | Nov. 17, 2008 | Dec. 8, 2008 |
Jan.12, 2009 |
Feb. 9, 2009 | March 9, 2009 | April TBA |
The Helix Charter Board will reorganize at the April meeting and future meetings dates will be determined.
Graduation Process
Graduation from Helix is completed in a two-step process - Division I and Division II. Students, who are beginning high school, enter Division I. The program of study in Division I will focus on student demonstration of literacy and numeracy. Additionally, every student will develop a statement of educational purpose that will reveal personal responsibility and determination for their own educational direction. Completion of Division I will typically take place at or near the second year at Helix.
Students fulfilling Division I requirements enter Division II. The program of study in Division II will further develop student literacy and numeracy in breadth and depth. Every student will complete as part of Division II requirements, one of the three option programs. The three option programs are Option 1- Career Path completion, Option 2- Focused Elective Program, Option 3- Off Campus or Helix ROP Program. A complete description of the Graduation Options is available in the Counseling Office, Career Center or on the Helix Website at www.helixcharter.net Any student completing all Division I and Division II requirements is entitled to graduate from Helix Charter High School.
Testing
College Admission Testing Information 2008 – 2009
| October 4, 2008 | January 24, 2009 | June 6, 2009 |
|
| November 1, 2008 | March 14, 2009 (SAT Only) |
||
| December 6, 2008 | May 2, 2009 |
Students applying for admission for the fall term to either the University of California or the California State University System must complete all college admission testing by November of their Senior year.
SAT Prep
Classes are sponsored by AVID and PTSA. Two sessions are offered. Classes run each Thursday evening in October and in March.
Financial Aid
A financial aid workshop for Seniors and their families is traditionally held in early January soon after the Free Application for Federal Student aid (FAFSA) is made available. Contact Kris Irving, ext. 147 for more information and useful web sites.
Student/Parent Resource Center
(SPRC) provides our students and their families resources from County/Community Health Services. Those services might include some or all of the following:
- Referrals for medical care
- Family and individual counseling
- Health Insurance Access Through Schools (HATS)
- Substance abuse counseling
- Violence prevention
- Anger management
- A multitude of others
Staff members currently refer students. Our SPRC is a developing program that hopes to expand services and availability in the next school year. For more information on the Parent/Student resource Center, contact your counselor or anyone in the Guidance Center at school.
Health Office
The health office is located in the administration building. Students who are ill are encouraged to go to the health office for assessment. The students who go home due to illness are released only to parents and/or designated people stated on the pink Medical Information Card through the health office only. Students who call their parents outside of the health office (personal cell phones, classroom, etc.) still must present to the health office for release.
Medication (prescription or over the counter) is only dispensed through the health office. There are a few exceptions (inhalers, Epi-pens, etc.). All medications are to be accompanied by a current school year medical form completed by the parents AND the prescribing physician. This is the state law and cannot be amended. Medications found on a students person or in their belongings will be confiscated and their parents notified. For further information call the health office at 644-1940 ext. 271.