VHS Counseling March Newsletter

Junior Specific Info

• School Day SAT // March 6

Senior Specific Info

• ACC Enrollment Support // March 6 & April 4

All Grade Levels Info

• Course Selection Info & Timeline

• Course Opportunity - Join Vipertech!

• Off-Campus PE // Application Deadline May 31

Dual Credit Opportunities

• TSI Assessment Opportunities // March 7 & 22

• ACC Dual Credit - Enrollment for Summer & Fall 2024 // Deadlines Approaching

College & Career Exploration Opportunities

• ASVAB Career Exploration Program // March 20
• Enrichment Opportunities in Naviance
• College Visits for VHS Students
• Applied Research Laboratories Summer Apprenticeship Program

March 6 // School Day SAT

March 11-15 // Spring Break // Leander ISD Campuses/Offices Closed

March 18 // Student Holiday/Staff Development

March 20 // ASVAB Career Exploration Program

March 22 // Priority Enrollment Deadline for Summer ACC Dual Credit

April // Course Verification Window for Next Year Courses

April 10 // Viper Night

May 1 // FINAL Change Request Deadline for Next Year Courses

On March 6, VHS will administer the SAT test to all 11th grade students. Students should be sure to be at school on this day as there is no make-up opportunity for this FREE administration - no registration required. Information about School Day SAT, including the structure of the test and what to bring on test day can be found here. More information will be shared in the coming weeks. Direct questions about School Day SAT to the VHS Testing Coordinator, Delis Golden (delis.golden@leanderisd.org).

Our College & Career Center offers our graduating seniors an opportunity to get support in the Austin Community College enrollment process!

We encourage seniors to take advantage of monthly ACC Enrollment Office Hours, this month set for Thursday, March 6 and next month Thursday, April 4. Schedule an appointment for individual support with Ms. Kendall & our ACC Recruiter. While this is available throughout the semester, the earlier you start, the better off you'll be for financial aid, scholarships (priority deadline of April 1), and first-dibs when it comes to course registration.

The initial course selection window is closed for all students to allow counselors time to input course requests into the system. Requests are currently visible in HAC, and the FINAL change request window will open in April. Click here for instructions on how to view your requests in HAC.

VIPER NIGHT 2024 - April 10

During the final course request change window students/families have the opportunity to learn first-hand about Vandegrift's academic programs and elective course options. Save the date!

THE FINAL COURSE REQUEST CHANGE DEADLINE FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR IS MAY 1, 2024.

Please see the Course Selection Timeline for detailed information specific to each grade level.

For more information regarding regarding the May 1st deadline, please read this Leander ISD Insider post.

Interested in hands-on problem solving and helping others by sharing your technical knowledge?

Vipertech needs YOU! Whether it’s helping students connect to Wi-Fi, repairing laptops, or assisting with technology all over campus, Vipertech students are the front-line defense for any technology battle.

Don’t know a thing about computers? No problem! Vipertech will teach you the skills and give you the tools to succeed. We are looking for individuals who are excited to jump in at the opportunity to help, sharpen their people-skills and tackle technology “down-time.”

Vandegrift High School is very proud of the AVID Program which has supported students throughout their high school careers. AVID stands for Advancement via Individual Determination, which is a college readiness elective course focusing on critical thinking, collaborative learning via twice-weekly tutorials, academic enrichment, organizational and study skills, and motivational activities. AVID's mission is to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college and career readiness and success in a global society.

Using your Leander ISD Gmail account, join the AVID Online Application Google Classroom which provides step-by-step directions to apply. Join Code: pm4gxxt (Current and previous VHS AVID students do not need to reapply.)

Questions may be directed to Mr. Adrian, freshman AVID teacher and VHS AVID coordinator, at Joe.Adrian@leanderisd.org.

Off-Campus PE Applications are due by May 31, 2024 at 4pm. Please visit the district website for information and application information. Leander ISD OCPE Information

Whether graduating senior or prospective Dual Credit student, you may need to take the TSI Assessment to prove college readiness. We are offering the TSI assessment here at Vandegrift on March 7 and March 22. Register for an upcoming TSI Assessment

Students planning to continue taking dual credit coursework (returning students) should start scheduling individual meetings with Ms. Kendall to plan for 2024-25 courses (summer/fall/spring semesters).

Students new to ACC should be working through Enrollment Steps 1-4 and registering to take the TSI Assessment if needed.

Both new and returning students are required to set up an individual meeting with Ms. Kendall by the following priority deadlines in order to ensure accounts are activated/cleared for on-time registration:

• March 22 for summer semester classes
• April 19 for fall semester classes

Information about dual credit was presented to all sophomores during the school day and was included in the sophomore parent webinar. If you missed it and want to learn more, check out the College & Career Website for program details.

All important deadlines, registration dates, and registration workshops can be found on the ACC Dual Credit Calendar & Resources site.

The ASVAB Career Exploration Program is a FREE test available to interested 10th-12th grade students. The ASVAB program facilitates career planning and exploration, combining a multiple-aptitude test with an interest self-assessment and a wide range of career exploration tools. The test is open to any student who simply is wanting more career guidance, but is a requirement for students interested in pursuing military options. NOTE: LISD does not release scores to the military; students pursuing the military are responsible for sharing their scores.

The test will take place on Tuesday, March 20. Testing will take place in the VHS Lecture Hall from 8:15 AM - 11:45 AM. REGISTER HERE.

Students can now find ongoing enrichment programs, summer camps, study abroad opportunities, internships, and volunteer opportunities in Naviance. To browse these opportunities, students should log into their Naviance account (accessed through Leander ISD Launchpad), select "Colleges" & "Enrichment Programs".

Don't forget that college admissions representatives are still scheduling visits to connect with future applicants! This is a great way to find out more about colleges, develop an understanding about the admissions process, and connect with the representatives who will be reviewing your application. Click here to access the College Visit Calendar and instructions for registration.

Each summer Applied Research Laboratories, a department at The University of Texas at Austin, sponsors a Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program for high school graduates who will be attending a 4-year college or university in the fall semester, and who have applied to UT Austin. Preference is given to students attending UT Austin, and those whose intended majors are aerospace, electrical, and mechanical engineering, computer science, geophysics, mathematics, and physics but all students will be considered.

This program, which began in 1982, involves summer employment at Applied Research Laboratories in northwest Austin and provides a "hands-on" introduction to research and development. This is a competitive, 10-week summer program for graduating seniors, offering a salary of $20.00 an hour. This prestigious group of students also write reports that are published and widely distributed at the end of their summer term.

Application deadline is March 10, 2024 // details & application

As we enter the final weeks of the 2023-2024 school year, our high school campuses are planning for the 2024-2025 school year. Part of this planning process is the creation of the campus master schedule and teaching assignments for the new school year. The choices students make during the course selection process determine the master schedule and teacher assignments for each campus.Though never perfect, the campus master schedule is designed to maximize student opportunities and minimize scheduling conflicts.

For the 2024-2025 school year, course request changes must be submitted no later than May 1, 2024. If the course request change is made through email or an online platform, a parent and student email address will be required. Course request changes will not be considered after the published deadline.

For additional information regarding schedule change requests and schedule corrections, please see page 29 of the High School Course Catalog.