By Jennifer Osborn

As part of the Aspire Student Empowerment Youth Service Day, Helix High School students spent four hours on Saturday, Nov. 21 cleaning the campus and participating in projects to beautify the school. Aspire is a program at Helix that provides opportunities for students after school, including tutoring and remediation for classroom assignments, as well as enrichment and athletic programs. More than 300 students participate in the Aspire program each day.

Students from various Helix clubs and teams will be providing a gift-wrapping service at Grossmont Center this holiday season. On odd-numbered dates, visit the gift wrapping station near Santa’s gazebo and Helix students will wrap your gifts. There is no set fee for this service – donations are accepted. Hours are 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Saturdays, and 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Sundays. Hours will be extended on Black Friday, and Dec. 21 and 23.

The Helix Boys and Girls Golf Programs will be selling discount tickets to the upcoming Farmer’s Insurance Open golf tournament being played at Torrey Pines Golf Course, Jan. 28–31. Tickets are $35 each for single day admission. The tickets will be available starting Dec. 2. Contact Frank Theroux at [email protected] or 619-644-1940, ext. 136 for more information.

Although seniors only just completed the rigorous process of college applications, students are already starting to receive admissions offers from colleges and universities. While the bulk of the offers will come later in the school year, the following universities have already extended offers to Helix students: University of Arizona; California State University, Chico; CSU, Stanislaus; Fort Lewis College; Grand Canyon University; Indiana Tech; Northern Arizona University.

This past summer, all incoming freshmen were provided with the book, “I am Malala” to read over the summer. The book is the story of an Afghani girl who was shot by the Taliban for attempting to receive an education. Students were assigned projects on and had discussions about the book.

This term, all ninth graders went to see the film “He Named Me Malala.” Over the course of two days, 650 Helix students saw the film at the Landmark Theater in Hillcrest. All field trip costs (buses and movie tickets) were paid for by the Malala Fund. Now, Helix First students are gathering used clothing that will be sold to benefit the Malala Fund, which supports girls’ education projects around the world.

Helix staff kicked off the Helix Helping Helix program this month. Non-perishable food items and gift cards will be donated to selected Helix students and their families the last week of school in December. We have a goal of helping out 15 families this year. Staff and Students contribute to this drive by bringing in non-perishable food items into the class, which are then sorted and distributed to our selected families.

Ways to help: buying food items that are listed on the wish list (bit.ly/1MPdPHz); buying gift cards from popular stores; or writing a check payable to Helix Foundation (attention: Mark Demers, Holiday Drive).  The monies will be used to buy gift cards. Checks and donations can be dropped off in the front office.

Helix will be closed for the winter holidays Dec. 21 – Jan. 5.

– Jennifer Osborn Writes on behalf of Helix Charter High School. Reach her at [email protected].