Helix Opens Doors
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
A new era in St. Landry Parish School District curriculum history is scheduled to begin Thursday as the Helix Artificial Intelligence and Medical Academy opens the campus for the first time to about 600 students attending classes in kindergarten through fifth grade.
Located several hundred yards off Interstate 49 in Opelousas, the official beginning for the school, says Helix president and CEO Preston Castille, marks the attempt to offer what he describes as “something extraordinary.”
Castille, who presented the Helix charter school concept to District officials several years ago, adds that the parish public school system is showing parents that they are “bold enough to do something different and never seen before.”
The overall operation for the state-approved charter school will be guided by the School District. No District funding, Castille has said, was involved in the construction of the 42,000 square-foot facility, whose completion was celebrated by school officials last month during a ribbon cutting and walk through.
Castille told school board members two weeks ago that the start of the Helix school has captured the attention of state education officials.
“What we are doing with AI and the medical field is exciting to watch. People are reaching out and watching St. Landry,” Castille said.
At this point Helix has hired 41 teachers for the 600 students that will be educated on the campus this year, said Castille.
Faculty members were recruited from the St. Landry district in addition to private and other charter schools, Castille indicated.
What has been important, said Castille, is the Helix program is helping teachers look to St. Landry for employment instead of looking to surrounding parishes.
More than half of the anticipated students at Helix this week are expected to come from St. Landry School District schools. The student fabric will also include students who previously attended other parish charter schools, private and parochial schools as well as those to have been previously home schooled, according to Castille.
Jennifer Gordon will work as the principal and Helix executive director for growth and development, said Castille.
Courses at Helix are structured to provide skills that will help facilitate student access for medical field and technological employment., said Castille.
“The learning is going to be project based along with leadership development,” said Castille.
Castille said Helix plans to emphasize math, science, computer science, machine learning, cellular biology, anatomy, microbiology and robotic construction.
Over the next two years, Castille said Helix has plans to expand two more grade levels. By the 2030-31 school session, Helix could become a k-12-grade campus, Castille added.
Parents for the approximately 600 students who will begin attending the school, were offered a glance at the campus almost two weeks ago during an inaugural family night.
