Our Program
Helios is specifically designed for the educational and emotional needs of gifted children.
The students’ day is grounded in the study of semester-long, project-based themes that provide room for flexibility and creativity. We want our students to retain their love of learning and sense of wonder. It’s not enough to know the answers quickly; asking the right questions is even more important. We welcome our children’s curiosity and passions as we strive to fulfill our mission:
To provide engaging and imaginative education that meets the unique intellectual, social and emotional needs of gifted students and their families and to empower authenticity through respect for self and others.
Our motto—Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Kind—is a guide for the students while they are with us and as they head off to high school, college and out into the world, being their authentic selves. Silicon Valley produces leaders; Helios is shaping the leaders society needs.
But Does It Work?
Perhaps the best proof that, yes, it works is in our alums. With over 15 years of experience as an independent school, we are now welcoming back our college age alums. They speak passionately about how their years here have shaped their further educational experience, and how it gave them the confidence to take risks and excel.
Our teacher taught the kids how to think, not just to regurgitate specific passages and stuff. The questions were designed to make the students think about the book, think about the author's intentions, and why certain things are written the way they were, and how does that contribute to the dialog.
Jane, parent of helios graduate '20
The thing I like the most about Helios is the way they empower the students to solve their own problems and advocate for themselves.
Helios Parent