Mt. Helix Academy 4th graders were super excited about spending a "working" night aboard the famous tall ship, Star of India

On February 16^th, as part of their study of California state history, Mt. Helix Academy’s fourth graders participated on an overnight adventure aboard the “Star of India,” located at the San Diego Maritime Museum.

Students embarked back into time to the Gold Rush period. Their adventure began in 1851 in San Diego, as California had just become the 31st state in the Union.

Amongst hidden agendas, well-trained staff of the Star of India guided the students in moving cargo and preparing the vessel to set sail. Students worked collaboratively in swabbing decks and raising sails all while singing fun Sea Chanteys.

At the end of their voyage, The “Greenhands” had to decide if they should stay on board as sailors or try their luck in the gold fields. 

What a fun, exciting, and lesson-filled night 4th graders had on the Star of India!

Ms. Gloria Rodriguez, a member of the Kumeyaay tribe, enthralls Mt. Helix Academy 3rd graders with her knowledge of the tribe's customs and some very interesting artifacts.

As part of their multicultural unit, Mt. Helix Academy third graders attended a presentation on Kumeyaay culture given by Miss Ana Gloria Rodriguez from the Sycuan Education Department. The students were exposed to the Kumeyaay language, their food, activities, games, and geographic location.

After her presentation, Ms. Rodriguez invited the students to touch the deer and rabbit skins she brought with her, and to take a closer look at the beautiful hand made baskets, pottery, sandals, necklace, and hair tie. 

Mt. Helix Academy 3rd graders eagerly explore Kumeyaay tribal artifacts following Ms. Rodriguez' presentation.

Ms. Sophia Frost being honored by Mike Collins, Director, for her 20 years of service to TIEE

Ms. Sophia Frost was among a group of TIEE employees honored for longevity of service at the celebration of TIEE’s 40th year on Friday, March 11. In honoring Ms. Frost, Mike Collins, Director of Mt. Helix Academy said the following:

Many of us have known Sophia for a long time, and there are some things about her that some of you may not know. Sophia has worn many hats before joining TIEE in 1991. Prior to her career at TIEE, she was a TV news reporter for a CBS news affiliate in El Centro, CA; a news writer for KFMB Channel 8 in San Diego; a reserve police officer for the San Diego Police Department, an Interior Design Assistant (now we know what her classroom always looks so nice!), and she was one of seven children in her family and grew up in Mexico, Spain, and England.

Sophia began her career here at TIEE in 1991 and was hired as assistant to the School Director, which at the time was Suzy. She then assumed the role of executive assistant to Ken and Suzy in 1999. In 2006, Sophia then worked at the Urban Skills Center as a social skills counselor, and finally in 2009, she came to Mt. Helix Academy as a Spanish Teacher. Sophia also leads a Girl Scout group at Mt. Helix Academy. As you can see, Sophia is truly a “Jill of All Trades”.

Sophia has grown a great deal professionally during her time with TIEE. In 1996, Sophia earned her Masters in Counseling Psychology, interning at both TIEE and Children’s Hospital. In 2004, Sophia became a licensed Marriage Family Therapist, and in 2009, she passed her BCBA exam and was certified as a Behavior Analyst. She has also been the recipient of TIEE’s Directors’ Award.

In preparing to talk about Sophia, I asked her students and colleagues to share their thoughts with me. Here are some of the quotes from her students:

• “She Rocks”
• Miss Frost really wanted us to learn, and she always challenges us!
• She makes learning Spanish fun.
• She is a perseverant person
• She is very patient
• Miss Frost prepares us well for high school Spanish
• She is informative
• She is knowledgeable
• She is funny
• Miss Frost knows a lot about Spanish culture, and I love her stories about growing up in Mexico.
• She is a great Spanish and Health ed teacher
• I love the activities and discussions she has us do in class
• She is strict, but I know she wants me to succeed and being strict will help me be more successful.
• She’s like a second mom!

Sophia’s colleagues remarked:
• She always has a wonderful smile every morning!
• Sophia is a great person to work with!
• She is easy going and works well with a team.
• I am amazed at how easily she facilitates conversations with her students
• She is a wonderful co-worker and a great friend.
• Sophia always looks on the bright side of things
• She is a very giving and generous person.
• Her dedication to her students is impressive; she works hard to make sure her students are successful in her classes.
• Sophia is easy to talk to.
• She is a great “work out partner”

I am sure each of us have can recall many of the wonderful times we have shared with Sophia, both professionally and personally. I can personally say that she has always been a help to me in her various roles, and I am so grateful to have her not only as a friend, but also as a colleague!

Congratulations, Sophia on your 20 years of service to the staff and students of the Institute for Effective Education!

Ms. Palkoner's serves salad to her 1st graders in culmination of their gardening science project

As a culmination celebration of their successful science project, 1st grade students ate their unit of study!  Leaves, stems, roots, flowers, and seeds were savored in the form of lettuce, celery, carrots, broccoli, and sunflower seeds.  Ms. Graves and Ms. Palkoner were salad servers as the students kindly named the parts they preferred! Watch out veggies, our first graders are hungry herbivores!

Growing cucumbers can be a terrific science experiment; just vary the amount of water and the amount of light and, voila! growth differences emerge.

Students in first grade have been conducting a science experiment about the needs of plants in their very own garden. Students have been making predictions, collecting observational data, and will soon be sampling delicious, home-grown cucumbers!

Below are some smart quotes from our students

“All of the areas are growing really good because the ‘No Sun’ (cucumbers, that is) doesn’t need that much sun and the plants learn to get the sun they need.” Graysen

See these seeds. They will become really good cucumbers.

“The Garden is growing a lot! It got tons of rain lately. I like that it is growing so well!” Isabella

“The plants that don’t have any sun (covered by a tarp) are leaning out to get some sun and the ‘No Water’ area gets water when it rains.” Julian

“We are growing cucumbers! I like to eat cucumbers when my dad puts salt on them. Then, they taste really good!” Melanie

“In our garden, the ‘No Sun’ is growing the most! We are trying to grow really good cucumbers. They will taste a little sour and a little like nothing.” Victoria

Halloween Carnival participant gets to see the face painting she got from Stephanie Bedwell, Mt. Helix Academy's visual arts teacher.

Nathan G. writes: “Mt. Helix Academy’s 2011 Halloween Carnival was “spooktacular”! I saw all of my friends. The Carnival was on Saturday, October 29 from 3pm until 6pm. I dunked Mr. Wheless in the dunk tank and I am looking forward to going to the carnival next year.”

Zachary G. reports: “I went to the Halloween Carnival with my mom and dad. I played the “cake walk”, played the fun games, volunteered to help out, and I got to dunk Mrs. Palkoner in the dunk tank! You should come next year, the games are great!”

Giana M. exclaims: “Mt. Helix Academy’s 2011 Halloween Carnival was awesome! I went with my dad, mom, and sister. I got to see everyone! I volunteered to help run one of the games, and it was so much fun. I love the carnival and I come to it every year.”

Ava E. notes: “Mt. Helix Academy’s 2011 Halloween Carnival was the best carnival ever! At this year’s carnival, there was a cake walk, games, “dunk the teacher/principal” and great food. Come next year, it’s great.”

Dunk tank was a favorite at Mt. Helix Academy's
annual Halloween Carnival

Ryan S. reports: “Mt. Helix Academy’s 2011 Halloween Carnival was “spooktacular”! It was on Saturday, October 29th from 3:00 to 6:00pm. I went with my mom and dad, and I won the cake walk! I got to dunk all of the teachers first, then I played a lot of the games. It was a lot of fun! I even got my face painted! Mt. Helix Academy’s Carnival is the BEST!”

Cole T. opines: “Breaking News from Mt. Helix Academy….. The Halloween Carnival was spectacular! I saw my friends and teachers at the carnival. I played games, won cupcakes at the cake walk, and got to dunk Mr. Collins, Mrs. Palkoner, Mr. Wheless, and Mrs. Young in the dunk tank. I am definitely coming to the carnival next year!”

Megan J. reflects: “Mt. Helix Academy’s 2011 Halloween Carnival was “cool”! I went to the carnival with my mom and my sister, and saw all of my friends. I played games and played on the play structure. It was the best carnival ever!!”

La Mesa Environmental Sustainability Committee contest
“Our Planet, Our Home” Environmental Literacy & Art Contest-The La Mesa Environmental Sustainability Committee invited students in grades K-12 to submit a poem or work of art in which they reflect upon the environment. Congratulations to Aidan A., Grade 1 who won first place for his art work and to Quinn F. Grade 2, who won first place for her environmental poem. See their website for more information.