September Counseling News

All Grade Levels

• Level drop window for advanced courses
• Austin Community College Dual Credit registration for Spring 2026
• AP course and exam registration
• PSAT and SAT dates and test prep resources
• College visits at Vandegrift

Senior Specific Info

• Senior Conference meeting information and prep
• Senior Workdays during PIT
• FAFSA is a graduation requirement!
• Understanding Financial Aid & FAFSA Overview (open to all parents!)
• TSI Assessment offerings at VHS

LEVEL CHANGES ARE NOT IMMEDIATE

The VHS Counseling Team processes changes as quickly as we are able, but please keep in mind we are also juggling multiple additional responsibilities (senior conferences, college applications, letters of recommendation, new student registrations, and mental health needs/crisis management just to name a few).

Note the following:

• Dropping an AP/Advanced course may result in an unavoidable readjustment of the student's current course schedule including the possibility of teacher, period, and/or lunch changes. Due to the volume of requests counselors are processing, we are unable to meet with students regarding such changes, and we are unable to predict what changes will occur as a result of processing the level drop. By submitting the level drop request, students are acknowledging and agreeing to any such changes. Please know we do our absolute best to disrupt the schedule as little as possible, but sometimes this is unavoidable.
• Once processed, level changes and their associate schedule changes are FINAL.
• The exact grade in the advanced class student is dropping will transfer to the new on-level course.
• AP/Advanced weight is only awarded and calculated into GPA after completion of an entire semester of an AP/Advanced course; therefore, the student will lose this when dropping into the new on-level course.
• Until the schedule change is complete, all coursework for the AP/Advanced class must be completed.
• A student who participates in a UIL activity and is currently failing an advanced class, should consider remaining in the advanced course until the end of the six weeks to be eligible for a AP/Advanced participation waiver.
• Students pursuing the IB Diploma Programme must reach out to Ms. Alexandra Magness, IB Coordinator, or alpha counselor before submitting a level-change request.

Registration for ACC spring semester college courses opens October 17.

• Returning Dual Credit students: Keep an eye on your Dual Credit Google Classroom for instructions on verifying your course plans with Ms. Kendall
• New Dual Credit students: Students not currently in dual credit and interested in taking dual credit ACC courses outside of the school day should make an appointment to work through the enrollment process with Ms. Kendall

Full details about the Dual Credit opportunities through Austin Community College can be found on our VHS College & Career Center website.

AP Course Enrollment & Registration

Avoid a $40 late fee per course by completing AP Enrollment and Exam Registration before October 31, 2025. Students should log into their College Board account to make sure each AP Class on their schedule is listed in MyAP and also ensure they are in Total Registration.

Sophomores & Juniors - SAVE THE DATE! PSAT: October 29, 2025

All 10th & 11th grade students will take the PSAT during the school day. The school-day PSAT test is free and requires no registration! There is no make-up opportunity for this test date.

Juniors - SAVE THE DATE! March 3, 2025

All 11th grade students will take the SAT during the school day on March 3rd. The school-day SAT test is free and requires no registration! Juniors should plan to take the SAT and/or ACT in the spring semester in preparation for the college application process. Other than this school-day SAT, students may register for Saturday test opportunities based on national testing dates through the SAT or ACT websites.

Students will be allowed to use their own device as long as the bluebook app is downloaded.

More Than a Teacher offers practice tests and test prep classes, while Khan Academy offers free online SAT prep.

College admission representatives want to connect with our amazing Vandegrift students! There are so many benefits to connecting and tuning into these college visits:

• Develop an understanding of college offerings and college lingo
• Gain unique perspectives on individual colleges
• Fully understand the admissions process, scholarship opportunities, etc.
• Connect personally with admission representatives (the folks who often review college applications!)

You can see upcoming visits through the College Visits @ VHS document. Students should RSVP for the visit(s) in Naviance. Juniors and seniors are also allotted 2 excused absences annually to visit colleges in person - more info here. Additionally, LISD has several upcoming student breaks perfect for visiting college campuses- Sept 22, Oct 16, 17, 20, and Nov 3, 4.

STUDENTS

• Senior Student/Counselor Conferences will take place between August 29 - September 25.
• The link to schedule your conference is included in the Senior Student/Parent Presentation linked here.
• Make sure to complete the Senior Pathways Information Form prior to your Senior Conference with your counselor.

SENIOR PARENTS - How can you support?

• View the parent night webinar slides & recording linked here
• Talk with your senior about the post-secondary planning process and discuss questions you still have - send them to their Senior/Counselor Conference with those questions!
• Seniors are soon launching into the post-high school world and the Senior/Counselor Conference is designed to help them practice those independent, adult skills just as colleges and employers expect - seniors are driving this process! Encourage your senior to share the outcome of their conference with you after their meeting.

In accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.0256, each student must do one of the following in order to graduate:

• Complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Complete and submit a Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) (for Texas residents who are not eligible to apply for federal financial aid - usually includes students who are non-citizens or non-permanent residents of the United States)
• Submit a signed opt-out form ENGLISH, SPANISH
• 
  

*Reminder: this is only one graduation requirement component. Counselors and Administrators will continue working with Seniors on ensuring graduation requirements are met.

ACTION REQUIRED

Seniors: To complete this graduation requirement, submit your documentation to this linked form.

The FAFSA is expected to open by October 1st for this year's graduating seniors.

DO NOT WORK ON IT BEFORE THEN OR YOU WILL BE COMPLETING THE WRONG ONE!!!

Counselors will be reviewing college readiness status (known as TSI, Texas Success Initiative) individually with seniors during their upcoming conferences. Students who are not yet TSI complete in Reading & Writing and/or Math are encouraged to take proactive steps to prepare and take the TSI Assessment in an effort to ensure a seamless transition to college level coursework.

The TSI Assessment is offered at Vandegrift regularly for seniors for free. The next testing opportunity is Thursday, October 2nd. Students can register HERE.

Make sure to keep up to date on all things Class of 2026 with the Senior Information Page!

Counselors and Asst. Principals are assigned alphabetically by STUDENT last name:

VHS Counselors

Kandice Detlefsen, Lead Counselor - A - B

Kylie Russell - C - Ga

Charity Escott - Ge - Kn

Tracy Noble - Ko - Ne

Shawna Powell - Ng - Si

Melissa Wells - Sk - Z

VHS Assistant Principals

Amanda Toon, Associate Principal - A - B

Becky Azard-Jackson - C - G

Parrish McEwen - H - Mao

Collin Fletcher - Map - Sam

David Barnes - San - Z

Additional Staff Contact Information

Katie Kendall - College and Career Transition Coordinator

Heidi Kalla - Dean of Instruction

Emily Rullan - Special Education Team Lead

Jennifer Taylor - 504 Coordinator

Alexandra Magness- IB Coordinator