Snapshot of Important Dates

Junior Specific Info

• Junior 1:1 Meetings
• SAT School Day For Juniors
• Register for College Jumpstart

Senior Specific Info

• ACC Enrollment Support
• Mid-Year Reports for College Applications

All Grade Levels Info

• Viper Night // March 7

• Course Request Verification Timeline

• Course Opportunity - Join Vipertech!
  

• Subcampus Program Opportunity // Cosmetology // Deadline March 21

• Off Period Applications for Next School Year
• Off Campus PE Applications // Deadline June 3
• TSI Assessment Opportunities in March

• ACC Dual Credit - Summer Enrollment Priority Deadline // March 22

• College & Career Center Workshop Series
• Access to High School Transcripts - Free Self-View
  

College & Career Exploration Opportunities

• ASVAB Career Exploration Program
• Applied Research Laboratories Summer Apprenticeship Program
  
• College Visits & Virtual Information Sessions

Counseling Resources

• "Mental Health Minute" Video Series - Leander ISD Counseling Services
• VHS Counseling Mission Statement

February 28 - April 11 // Junior 1:1 Conference Window

March 2 // School Day SAT

March 7 // Viper Night

March 9 // ASVAB Career Exploration Program

March 14 - 18 // Spring Break

March 21 // Student Holiday/Staff Development

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

March 29 // School Day ACT (for registered juniors; registration deadline has passed)

Counselor/Student 1:1 conferences for Juniors will take place February 28th - April 8th. All needed information/links for the meetings can be accessed by the students through their VHS c/o 2023 google classroom.

Things to Note:

• Junior 1:1 Conferences will be held in person between student and counselor in the VHS Counseling Office.
• Parents/guardians wishing to participate may do so via Zoom; please discuss whether you will be participating virtually with your student prior to the meeting. If parents will be participating, students will need to select "ADD GUESTS" when booking their appointment and enter the parent's email address.
• A Zoom link will be generated for each meeting - this is for parent/guardian use only. (Students will need to select "ADD GUESTS" when booking their appointment in order for the Zoom link to be emailed to the parent.) Again, students will meet in the counseling office.
• Students should share course selection information with parents and submit choices by February 21st (prior to meeting with their counselor).
• Students will be able to update/change their Course Selections during their Junior 1:1 Conference.

• Finalizing your requests during this initial submission provides the highest likelihood of being placed in the classes you want. Students will have additional opportunities to make changes/refine their requests up until July 31, 2022 at midnight.

• Course selections are a year-long commitment. There will not be changes to elective courses past the final change request deadline of July 31, 2022 (NO SEMESTER CHANGE REQUESTS).

The window for students to schedule their conference has closed. Any students who did not schedule will be assigned a conference time by their counselor. Students will receive an email from Calendly notifying them of their conference time.

On Wednesday, March 2nd, Vandegrift High School will administer the SAT to all 11th grade students. No registration was required and there is no option to opt-out. Juniors should plan to arrive at school early to allow ample time for parking, locating their testing room, and check-in procedures. Testing will begin promptly at 8:40 AM to ensure students are finished in time for B lunch. Juniors will then attend their 8th period class prior to early dismissal at 2:30 PM.

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

Testing room assignments will be shared prior to March 2nd. Students are welcome to review the 2021-22 SAT School Day Student Guide for a thorough overview and sample test questions (note: the essay is no longer included within the SAT as of June 2021).

Please reach out to sarah.spradling@leanderisd.org or christa.thompson-martin@leanderisd.org with your School-Day SAT questions.

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 or July.

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 10. Schedule a meeting for one-on-one support with Mrs. Spradling & our ACC Recruiter, Helen Tonnu. 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.

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.

Viper Night will take place 6:00-8:00 PM on Monday, March 7 and is open to all students and parents in a come & go format. Viper Night will include:

• Elective fair
• Club & Organization fair
• Breakout Sessions
• Student Panels
• Counselor Connection Q&A Opportunity

Students are encouraged to take advantage of this evening to explore and learn more about ALL that Vandegrift has to offer!

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 1 - May 1 at 11:59pm - 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 20 - July 31 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 31, 2022 (NO CHANGES TO ELECTIVE COURSES AT SEMESTER)

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.”

Subcampus Program Opportunity - Cosmetology

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 21, 2022. Do not delay, as several of the packet items require 1-2 weeks processing time.

Students who will be SENIORS next year have the privilege of applying for "off periods," up to one period each day (TWO total).

JUNIORS have the privilege of applying for up to ONE total off period.

This privilege is granted to those students who are on track to meet the following expectations:

• Completing coursework for either the Distinguished Level of Achievement or LISD Distinguished with Honors Graduation Plan
• Completing the required 26 credits for graduation
• Have met the passing standards on all sections of the required EOC exams
• Do not owe attendance hours
• Understand that off periods will be rescinded should attendance hours accumulate during the first semester
• Click here to complete the Off Period Application for next school year.
  

**To ensure students meet the requirements above, off periods will not be added to student requests until July/August.**

NOTE: If students are taking ACC courses as part of their VHS schedule or have Off Campus PE class periods, the student is not eligible for additional off periods due to state attendance policies.

Current Vandegrift students wishing to pursue OCPE for the 2022-2023 school year should turn in their OCPE applications directly to the district office using the Off Campus PE Application Submission form by June 3, 2022 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

Current ACC students planning to continue taking dual credit coursework (returning students) should be scheduling individual meetings with Mrs. Spradling now through March 11 to plan for 2022-23 courses (summer/fall/spring semesters).

Students new to ACC hopefully attended our virtual enrollment kick-off session in January. Missed it? View the slides & recording posted here. New students should aim to have completed the Enrollment Steps, including an individual meeting with Mrs. Spradling, by the priority deadline of March 22 for summer enrollment, or by April 29 for fall enrollment.

Check out the VHS College & Career Center Workshop Series recordings, slides, and resources available from the fall semester. You'll also find the workshops slated for this semester, including this month:

• March 7: Resume Workshop // register here
• March 28: Navigating the College Application Process // registration link coming soon!

Students - did you know that you have access to a free self-view of your transcript through Parchment? For information on setting up your Parchment account/requesting a free self-view of your transcript, visit the transcript requests page.

Info for students ordering official transcripts for college application/scholarship purposes:

• Leander ISD students receive five free electronic transcripts while enrolled in a Leander ISD high school when they submit their request through Parchment. These electronic transcripts will be available during students' 9th-12th grade years.
• There will be a $2.75 service charge if students request to have their transcript mailed from Parchment.

• After the five free transcripts have been used, the cost for current Leander ISD students will be $5.00 per transcript.
• Alumni transcripts will be $8.00
• Students are considered alumni on Aug. 1 the year they graduate.

**IMPORTANT NOTE - students SHOULD NOT order transcripts to themselves! Transcripts should be sent directly to the institution the student is applying to. Students have a free self-view of their transcript whenever it is needed - see registrar's website for more information.**

Registration is open for the ASVAB Career Exploration Program on Wednesday, March 9 for any interested 10th-12th grade students starting at 8:40 AM in the VHS Lecture Hall.

REGISTER HERE

The ASVAB was originally designed to help incoming service men and women determine where they could best serve in the military. It did such a good job that they made this exam available to schools to help students get some ideas about which careers might be suitable for them. While still used as the entrance exam for the military, Vandegrift offers this FREE test for students because it is very effective at identifying careers that match the students’ knowledge, talents and interests. Often the results lead students to consider areas they’d never thought of before. The number of careers in this world can be overwhelming! This test helps to narrow the field and gives students something to consider.

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 $18.03 an hour. This prestigious group of students also write reports that are published and widely distributed at the end of their summer term. Please check the website linked below for additional information regarding the program.

The application deadline is March 11, 2022 // details & application

Don't forget that college admissions representatives are scheduling visits to connect with prospective VHS 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. Coming up this month: Texas Tech University, University of Oklahoma - Norman Campus, Michigan State University, University of British Columbia, and University of East London.

Virtual opportunities to learn more:

NACAC Virtual College Fairs

The College Tour

In an effort to promote mental health awareness and reduce the stigma of seeking help for mental health concerns, the Leander ISD Counseling Services team is excited to debut a Mental Health Minute video series. The videos will be shared weekly through students' Class of 20XX Google classroom. We will also be including the Mental Health Minutes for each month within the VHS Counseling Newsletter.

The videos were written and recorded by Leander ISD Counseling Services team members. Some of the topics covered will include managing stress, healthy coping skills, staying grounded, talking about your feelings, making and building positive friendships, and how and when to ask for help. Each video ends with the reminder that “if you or someone you know is struggling, tell a trusted adult."

February Mental Health Minute Series

Your Brain - English // Spanish

Mindfulness - English // Spanish

Emotional Awareness - English // Spanish

What is a Coping Skill? - English // Spanish

The mission of the VHS Counseling team is first and foremost to build relational capacity with students, parents, faculty, and the larger VHS Community in order to promote social emotional well-being, confidence in an academic plan, and options for future endeavors in college and career pathways. As an extension of the VHS administration and faculty our mission is to begin the signature VHS experience for all who walk through our doors. We aim to create a safe space where all VHS students can thrive and celebrate the unique facets and intersections of their identities including racial/ethnic background, culture, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, and immigration status.

Our VHS Counseling team believes in a growth mindset in continuing to critically analyze our processes and procedures to create best practice for our students, parents, and community. We are dedicated to fighting against racism, classism, xenophobia, queerphobia, and ableism. Lastly, collaboration among a strong united counseling team enables us to serve our students, parents, faculty and community.