Helix High School

Helix Charter High School
Motto Once a Scottie, Always a Scottie
Established 1952
Type Charter public comprehensive secondary
Principal Rani Goyal
Students 2,400
Grades 9-12
Location 7323 University Avenue,
La Mesa, California,
District Grossmont Union High School District
Colors Green & Gray
Mascot Formal: Highlander
Informal: Scottish Terrier
Yearbook Tartan
Newspaper Highland Fling
Nickname Highlanders
Website Helix High School

Helix High School, in La Mesa, California, is a charter high school built in 1952. It received its charter in 1998. Part of the Grossmont Union High School District, it serves a low to mid-level socioeconomic community and has a student body of approximately 2,400 pupils. Helix serves parts of La Mesa, Lemon Grove, and Spring Valley; however, as a charter school, all high school students in the state of California are eligible to attend.

Helix High School is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and is a California Distinguished School in 2001 and 2009.[1][2][3]

Contents

History

Helix Charter High School opened in January 1952 to relieve record enrollment of 3000 at Grossmont High School.In November 1950, the East County voters overwhelmingly approved a local bond issue for $1.9 million that financed “the University Avenue high school.” Compared to West Hills High School built in 1988 at cost of 22 million. Grossmont would remain on double sessions for two more semesters until Helix opened in January 1952. When Helix first opened it received half of Grossmont students due to the double session. 1500 students went to school in the morning and 1500 students went to school in the Afternoon. Through receiving half of Grossmont Students Helix was becoming overcrowded itself and having to build El Cajon Valley High School 4 years later after the opening of Helix High School.

Remodeling

Since Helix Charter H.S. opened up in 1958, majority of the technology and Classrooms were outdated. Proposition H and Proposition U Helix has made a remodel possible, with a new administration, science building (400 BLDG to be converted to Humanities), theater, and performing arts classrooms. The Remodeling of the campus has already started. They include buildings 10, 100, 200, 300, currently remodeling 400, 500, 600, 700, 1000 (Gym), 1100, 1140,1200, 1300, and 1600 (cafeteria). Buildings 800 and 900 will be demo, so a new theater with performing Arts classrooms can be built. Along with all this Modernization all of the landscape will be rehabilitated too.

Mission statement

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.

Traditions

Pipe Band: Helix's Scottish tradition is brought to life by the school's pipe and drum corps. The pipe band includes 12 pipers and 4 snare drummers, 2 tenor drummers, and one bass drummer. The band performs in the fall with the marching band in parades, and also marches the football team onto the field at Helix's home games. In the spring, the band performs frequently at paid as well as volunteer gigs.[2]

Sexual misconduct

Since 2006, four former Helix High School teachers have been convicted of sex crimes. In June 2008, the school hired an ethics consultant to develop a training program for employees to prevent future cases and improve reporting of illegal and questionable conduct around students.[4] Because of controversy over the way the school handled the misconduct cases, the Grossmont Board of Supervisors voted to issue a letter of "Intent to Revoke" the schools charter. In 2010, the Grossmont Charter Board voted, and Helix was able to keep their charter under the agreement that their principal, Dr. Douglas Smith, stepped down after the end of the 2009-2010 school year.[5][6]

Notable alumni

In 2004, two of the five finalists for the most prestigious individual honor in college football, the Heisman Trophy, were Helix graduates, quarterback Alex Smith and running back Reggie Bush. This was the first time ever that two graduates from the same high school achieved this. Bush would then go on to claim the 2005 Heisman—since vacated.[18]

Notable faculty

See also

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ "2009 Distinguished Middle and High Schools - California Distinguished Schools Program (CA Dept of Education)". Cde.ca.gov. 2010-04-02. http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/cs/disting2009.asp. Retrieved 2010-10-07. 
  3. ^ List of California Distinguished Schools in San Diego County
  4. ^ "Helix OKs policy on teacher behavior". http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20081016-9999-1ez16ethics.html. Retrieved 2008-10-30. 
  5. ^ Sanchez, Leonel. Trustees take Helix to task over sex abuse cases. The San Diego Union - Tribune. San Diego, Calif.: Feb 13, 2009. pg. B.3
  6. ^ Sanchez, Leonel. "Helix 's charter on the line after vote by trustees," San Diego Union-Tribune, February 12, 2010
  7. ^ a b c Shanahan, Tom (January 25, 2003). "Allen has legendary stature in San Diego Lincoln High product isn't the only local icon". The San Diego Union-Tribune: p. SPECIAL: SUPER BOWL XXXVII-1. 
  8. ^ Brand, Steve (November 9, 2010). "High school Top 50". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on February 3, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5wEb13ARE. 
  9. ^ "Cecil to join College Football Hall of Fame". The San Diego Union-Tribune. July 15, 2010. Archived from the original on February 3, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5wEbT8DZm. 
  10. ^ Infusino, Divina (February 4, 1990). "Helix High's Hopper rebels without pause". The San Diego Union-Tribune: p. E-1. 
  11. ^ Blair, Tom (October 15, 2010). "The high cost of losing . . .". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on November 18, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/63IH7XFKm. 
  12. ^ Trotter, Jim (December 14, 1998). "From Pacific Bell to NFL: It's a snap". The San Diego Union-Tribune: p. C15. "Marc Raab, a 29-year-old manager with Pacific Bell, thought he was having a pretty good week when his alma mater, Helix High, won its first CIF-San Diego Section football championship in 16 years on Tuesday." 
  13. ^ Sullivan, Tim. "Alex Smith answers call as top choice by San Francisco 49ers". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on December 15, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/63xHHB1KY. 
  14. ^ BasketballReference.com, Bill Walton
  15. ^ "Title IX helps baby brothers, too". San Diego Hall of Champions. Archived from the original on November 18, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/63IJaXKCl. 
  16. ^ "Scouting the Raiders". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on November 18, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/63IFhmmeb. 
  17. ^ "Steven Haynes, founder of Athletes for Education, dies at 56". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on November 18, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/63IF1niNM. 
  18. ^ Article on Heisman trophy winners
  19. ^ "National Teachers of the Year 1952 - 2005". Council of Chief State School Officers. Archived from the original on February 24, 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20060224151944/www.ccsso.org/projects/National_Teacher_of_the_Year/National_Teachers/. Retrieved February 3, 2011. 

External links

Regular: El Cajon Valley • El Capitan • Granite Hills • Grossmont • Monte Vista • Mount Miguel • Santana • Valhalla • West Hills
Charter: Helix • Liberty • Steele Canyon
Continuation: Chaparral
Middle College: Grossmont Middle College