VHS Counseling March Newsletter

Snapshot of Important Dates

Junior Specific Info

• School Day SAT // March 1
• Register for College Jumpstart

Senior Specific Info

• ACC Enrollment Support // March 9 & 30
• Mid-Year Reports for College Applications

All Grade Levels Info

• Course Selection Info & Timeline

• Course Opportunity - Join Vipertech!
  

• Subcampus Program Opportunity // Cosmetology // Deadline March 20

• Off Campus PE Applications // Deadline June 2
• TSI Assessment Opportunities in March

• ACC Dual Credit - Enrollment for Summer & Fall 2023 // Deadlines Approaching

• College & Career Center Workshop Series

College & Career Exploration Opportunities

• ASVAB Career Exploration Program
• College Visits for VHS Students
• UT-Austin Black Youth Day // March 4
• HBCU College Fair // March 10
  
• Applied Research Laboratories Summer Apprenticeship Program

March 1 // School Day SAT

March 7 // ASVAB Career Exploration Program

March 10 // HBCU College Fair

March 13 - 17 // Spring Break // Leander ISD Campuses/Offices Closed

March 20 // Student Holiday/Staff Development

March 24 // Priority Enrollment Deadline for Summer ACC Dual Credit

On March 1, 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.torresfigueroa@leanderisd.org).

Room Assignments

Students are responsible for bringing:

• Photo ID (school ID, drivers license, passport) as required upon check-in

• An approved calculator to use on the math section

• Water/snacks to consume during scheduled breaks

Eager to start tackling your college applications this summer? Sign up to attend College Jump Start, a free college application workshop hosted at Vandegrift High School.

Access the link below for full details and registration links for sessions in June, July & August.

Our College & Career Center offers continued support to graduating seniors to connect for 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 9 and 30. Schedule an appointment for individual support with Mrs. Spradling & our ACC Recruiter, Taylor Borchardt. This is available throughout the semester, but 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.

Some colleges/universities require a Mid-Year Report as part of the college application process. Mid-year reports can be sent once semester grades are finalized and GPA's have been recalculated and reviewed. This will be complete by mid-February.

The method for submitting a mid-year report will differ based on your method of application for each school.

• Common App - if any of your Common Application schools require a mid-year report, no further action is needed on your part for these schools. Your counselor will submit the report on your behalf once mid-year transcripts become available.
• Coalition - if any of your Coalition schools require a mid-year report, your counselor will upload a mid-year transcript to your Coalition Locker once it is available. You (student) will need to then attach it to your applications.
• School Specific Application - if you applied through a school specific portal and need a mid-year report, you will order a transcript via Parchment. Please be sure to select the "Hold for Grades" option. This will ensure the registrar sends the mid-year transcript to include 1st semester grades.

Counselors are currently working to enter next year's course requests. Below is the timeline for requesting changes to next year's courses. No need to email any change requests to your counselors - we will send instructions for requesting changes in April! (We are unable to process any requests submitted via email.)

• end of March - course requests will be entered and visible in Home Access Center (HAC)
• April 3 - April 28 at 4:00pm - students will have the opportunity to request changes (instructions will be sent in the April Counseling Newsletter and posted in your Class of 20XX Google classroom)
• July 17 - July 23 at 11:59pm - final window for change requests; no student/parent change requests will be honored after this deadline
• Course selections are a year-long commitment. There will not be changes to elective courses past the final change request deadline of July 23, 2023 (NO CHANGES TO ELECTIVE COURSES AT SEMESTER)

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

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.”

Leander ISD students have the opportunity to enroll in various specialized programs at other district high schools if the program is not available on the home campus. These programs have limited availability, and some are subject to prerequisite course requirements. The Cosmetology program at Leander HS is currently accepting enrollment requests.

Click here to submit an enrollment request for the Cosmetology Program. The enrollment request and due date for the information packet for Cosmetology is March 20, 2023. Do not delay, as several of the packet items require 1-2 weeks processing time.

Current Vandegrift students wishing to pursue OCPE for the 2023-2024 school year should turn in their OCPE applications directly to the district office using the Off Campus PE Application Submission form by June 2, 2023 at 4 p.m.

This is a firm district set deadline - no late applications will be accepted.

Please see the LISD OCPE website for information, application, and more.

Whether graduating senior or prospective Dual Credit student, you may need to take the TSI Assessment to prove college readiness.

• Learn more about TSI
• Register for an upcoming TSI Assessment

Students planning to continue taking dual credit coursework (returning students) should start scheduling individual meetings with Mrs. Spradling to plan for 2023-24 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. Information was presented to all sophomores during the school day, and was included with the sophomore parent webinar last semester. If you missed it and want to learn more, check out the College & Career Website for program details.

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

• March 24 for summer semester classes
• April 28 for fall semester classes

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

Check out the spring semester College & Career Center Workshop Series! Workshops are in-person for students, with resources posted afteward. Workshops will take place on Mondays starting a little before PIT (11:00) in order to ensure we're able to thoroughly cover each topic. All grade levels are invited to join - it's never too early to start thinking and planning!

Workshops details and registrations links can be found on the CCC Workshop Series website. Upcoming workshops include:

• Drafting a College Resume // March 6
• Get a head start NOW! Guide to completing the Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) // March 27
• Essay Brainstorming // April 3
• Deciphering Degree Plans and Transfer of AP & Dual Credit // April 17

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 7 (B-day). Testing will take place in the VHS Lecture Hall from 8:15 AM - 11:54 AM. REGISTER HERE.

Don't forget that college admissions representatives are still scheduling visits to connect with prospective 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.

Date: Saturday, March 4, 2023
Location: Engineering Education and Research Center, 2501 Speedway, Austin, TX 78712

Drop off: 9:30 - 10 AM
Event: 10 AM - 2:30 PM
Pick up: 2:30 - 3:00 PM

Black Youth Day is a daylong event for students in grades 8-11 to learn about engineering through hands-on activities led and taught by students within their own community. Hosted by the National Society of Black Engineers UT Chapter and the Cockrell School of Engineering's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office and held on the UT Austin campus, Black Youth Day aims to promote engineering where it hasn't been promoted before in a way that allows participants to see others with the same identity, hoping to show students that they have a community within a Predominantly White Institution (PWI).

The event is geared for high school students in the greater Austin area in grades 8-11 who are interested in the field of engineering. We want students to start thinking about their futures now and show those who come from underrepresented populations have a supporting community within the Cockrell School. Activities include a panel of Black engineers and UT students, geocaching and scavenger hunt, and hands-on experiments and activities.

ALL STUDENTS are welcome at this learning event hosted by the National Society of Black Engineers.

Parents: to register your student(s), CLICK HERE and then choose "New Account - Start Registration"

HBCU Battle of the Brains, the National Football League (NFL), and 100 Black Men of Austin will host a free HBCU College Fair at the Austin Public Library’s Special Events Center (710 W Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701) on Friday, March 10, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM Central.

This event allows 6th through 12th graders and parents/guardians to learn more about our nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities. 40+ HBCU representatives and local college admissions leaders will be present to discuss completing the FAFSA form, resume and application needs, essay and interview prep, independent scholarships, and more.

Graduating in 2023? Bringing transcripts, test scores, and resumes for on the spot college acceptances.

This event is open to the public and is FREE for attendees.

If you have any questions, or if your HBCU wants to participate, contact Alexis Johnson at communications@hbcubattleofthebrains.com.

For additional information on the HBCU Battle of the Brains, please visit hbcubattleofthebrains.com.

Each summer Applied Research Laboratories, a component of 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 next fall semester, and who have applied to UT Austin. Preference is given to students attending UT Austin, and whose intended majors are electrical, mechanical and aerospace engineering, physics, mathematics, and computer science.

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, 9-week summer program for graduating seniors, offering a salary of $19.00 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, 2023 // details & application