Good morning. As of Monday, June 21st, the Helix SD has received signed inter-district transfer forms from the Pendleton SD. If I have not contacted you, and you are in the Pendleton SD, we do not have a transfer form for your student. Please go to the Pendleton District office and complete an inter-district transfer form, if you intend to enroll your student in the Helix SD for the 2021-22 school year. Thanks, Darrick Cope, Superintendent, Helix SD
Good afternoon. Just a couple things ~ Interdistrict transfers must start in the release (home) district for both continuing and new students. Mandatory registration is Aug. 10th and 11th. Since this will be my final text, I wanted to thank you for all your flexibility, patience and understanding this past school year. Without your support the Helix SD would not have had the success we did. Thanks for everything, Darrick Cope
Good evening. Just a reminder, tomorrow is an early release. Students will be dismissed at 12:23pm. Also, 8th grade graduation starts at 6:30pm and doors open at 6:00pm. Due to COVID restrictions, each 8th grader is only allowed two attendees. Thanks, Darrick Cope
Wheel-A-Thon 2021
As a result of the new ODE guidance, Helix students in grades K-12 will no longer be required to wear their masks at outdoor recess, PE or at events like the Wheel-a-thon.
Happy Mother’s Day from the Helix School District.
Spirit Week Fundraiser
Student pick-up today will be at the front of the school. The bus lane is closed because of the track meet. Teachers will bring the K-5 students to the front lawn area by the flag pole to be picked up. Sorry for the inconvenience. Thanks, Darrick Cope
Good afternoon and Happy Friday!!! Just a reminder, all spectators (parents, etc.) at the MS Track meet today must stay outside of the chain-link fence to watch, unless you have signed up with Mr. Simpson and are assisting with the events. Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day. Thanks, Darrick Cope
Parents,
Good afternoon. The 2021/2022 school calendar is now published. It can be found by going to the school webpage, click on the Parent Resources link in the upper right side of the page and opening the School Calendar folder. Thanks, Darrick Cope, Superintendent, Helix School District
NOTICE OF BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING
HELIX SCHOOL DISTRICT #1-R
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to ORS 294.426, that a meeting of the budget committee of the Helix School District #1-R will be held on the 5th day of May 2021 at 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of receiving the budget message and budget document of the district for the fiscal year 2021-2022. The meeting will be held at the Helix Schools, 120 Main, Helix, Oregon.
This is a public meeting where deliberations of the budget committee will take place and any person may appear and comment on proposed programs with the budget committee at that time. A copy of the budget document will be available at Helix Schools at the time of the meeting.
Darrick Cope, Budget Officer
Publish: April 13, 2021
District Web Page: April 13th – May 5th
www.helix.k12.or.us
HELIX KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
Helix Kindergarten Registration for the 2020-2021 school year will be held on Wednesday, April 14th from 2:30 - 4:30 PM in the kindergarten classroom. At this mandatory registration, your student will be assessed on kindergarten entrance skills and be able to explore their new classroom. Your incoming kindergarten student needs to be 5 years old before September 1st. Please bring your child’s birth certificate and immunization records with you at this time. We are looking forward to meeting the class of 2034! If you have any questions or are unable to attend, please contact Cindy at 457-2175.
The GHS volleyball team is playing Umatilla at 1 pm this afternoon!. The match will be live streamed! Please go to www.nfhsnetwork.com and register, then search for Griswold. There will be a fee associated to watch the match! Go Grizzlies!
Superintendent Candidates Interview Update:
Due to scheduling conflicts we have moved the on-site interview for McKennon McDonald to early next week. Because of this change, we will not be including McKennon in the staff or community Zoom sessions on Friday, April 2. As McKennon is currently a teacher in the district, we would encourage both staff and community members to still provide the district with input on McKennon as a candidate for the position of Superintendent/Principal for the Helix School District. Please provide your input by email to Cindy Wood, Administrative Assistant at cindy.wood@helix.k12.or.us
HELIX SCHOOL BOARD SELECTS
SUPERINTENDENT CANDIDATES
At a work session prior to the March School Board meeting, a hiring committee made a recommendation to the board to interview three of the Superintendent applicants. The three applicants have been contacted and have agreed to an interview. The candidates are Brad Bixler, Human Resources Director in the North Bend School District, McKennon McDonald, Special Education Director in the Helix School District and Tim Sprenger, Principal at Central Middle School in the Milton-Freewater School District.
On Friday, April 2 at 1:00pm, the Helix School Board will begin interviewing each of the candidates. At this same time, there will be a Zoom meeting set up for the staff to meet and ask questions of the candidates. In addition, there will also be a Zoom set up for parents and community members to meet the candidates. Rory Simpson will host the staff Zoom meeting and an IMESD HR employee will host the parent/community Zoom meetings. After the interviews are completed, the school board will select one of the candidates as their choice for Superintendent for the 2021/22 school year. This person will begin their tenure as Superintendent on July 1st, 2021. More info and Zoom links will be provided after Spring Break. Please call the office at (541) 457-2175 for more information.
SCHOOL CALENDAR CHANGE
Friday, March 5th will be changed from a full-day of school to an early release day (12:23PM). This calendar change will allow staff members to receive their second dose of COVID vaccine without the school district having to bring in a large number substitute of teachers to cover. Sorry for the inconvenience, but it is a necessary change to provide a safe learning environment for both the students and staff.
Parents,
Roads to Helix are in great shape. Helix to Athena is decent, but one lane in some areas. We will run a two-hour late start tomorrow, which will allow the school parking lot and sidewalks to be cleaned. Hopefully, this will be the last inclement weather delay of the school year. Thanks, Darrick Cope
Want to recognize an amazing staff member at your school? Nominate them for a 2021 Crystal Apple Award at: https://forms.imesd.k12.or.us/crystal_apple_nomination_form. Nomination Deadline is April 2, 2021. Those eligible to win a Crystal Apple are principals, assistant principals, teachers, paraeducators, office staff, maintenance staff and other district staff. Anyone can nominate.
For more information, visit the Crystal Apple page on the IMESD website at: https://www.imesd.k12.or.us/page/crystal-apple-awards
Parents,
Based on the current conditions, I feel a two-hour late start is prudent for Friday, Feb. 12th for the Helix School District. This extra two hours will let the road crews improve driving conditions. Please read the School Closure Protocol letter on the school Facebook or webpage for more specific info. Thanks, Darrick Cope
School Closure Protocol
