VHS July Counseling Newsletter

2023-24 School Year

Welcome to the 2023-24 School Year

Welcome to the first VHS Counseling Newsletter of the 2023-24 school year! We hope everyone is soaking up the last days of summer break, and we are excited to welcome back our Vipers in a few weeks.

As a reminder, the monthly newsletter is the way the VHS Counseling team shares information with students and families. We ask that you take a few moments to read through the newsletter when it hits your inbox each month. The answers to your most frequently asked questions are often contained within, and there is always something that applies to each student. Previous newsletters can be found on the VHS Counseling Website under the Stay Connected tab.

This is the first week back for VHS Counselors. Thank you for your patience as we work through the backlog of emails received over the break.

IN THIS NEWSLETTER YOU WILL FIND INFORMATION ABOUT.....

Info for All Students

Reminder - check your SCHOOL email regularly!
Who is my counselor?
Schedule Change Information and Timeline
Off Period Applications (Juniors/Seniors Only)
New to Leander ISD Orientation // Aug 10, 5:30p (for new to district only)
First Tour // Aug 14, 5p - 7p (all students welcome!)
GPA/Class Rank Update
TSI Assessment // Aug 3

Senior Section - Class of 2024

College Application Assistance for Class of 2024
Transcript Requests for the Class of 2024
Letters of Recommendation

Staff Contact Information

Students - please check your SCHOOL email regularly - it's important!

Over the next few weeks, counselors will be finalizing student schedules. If there is a conflict in your schedule that must be resolved (two classes offered only during the same period, too few course requests, a course you requested is full, etc.), your counselor will reach out to you via your school email to address these conflicts. Please be sure to check your email frequently for correspondence from counselors.

Who is my counselor?

We are excited to welcome two new counselors to the VHS Counseling Team and have made some adjustments to the alpha assignments. Please see below for updated counselor assignments.

VHS Counselors

Kandice Detlefsen, Lead Counselor - A - Bo

DeAngelo Freeman - Br - Ep

Becca Ramirez - Er - H

Charity Escott - I - Ma

Peggy Morisset - Mc - Po

Shawna Powell - Pr - Sti

Melissa Wells - Sto - Z

Schedule Change Information

The final window to submit change requests for next year is now open. The change window will close on Sunday July 23rd, 11:59pm.

How to view your course requests: (click here for instructions with screenshots)

Log-in to Home Access Center → Select ‘Classes’ → Select ‘Schedule’

Your 2023-2024 Course Requests will be found at the bottom of the page.

Please access and read the FINAL WINDOW: Course Request Changes for 2023-2024 School Year instruction guide for information on making changes to your course requests.

Make sure to pay close attention to the closed courses list. There are many courses that are already at capacity and many that only have a few seats available.

TENTATIVE student schedules will be viewable in Home Access Center beginning 4p on August 11. Please take a moment to ensure your HAC login is working. We will send notice when schedules are viewable - stay tuned!

FINAL WINDOW: Course Request Change Instructions

Link to request changes is found in the instructions. Please read all instructions thoroughly before completing the form.

Timeline for 2023-24 Student Schedules

Jul 17 // window opens to request changes
July 23, 11:59p // final schedule change request deadline
Aug 3 & 8 // schedule conflict resolution meetings between student/counselor (by invitation via Zoom, more info to come)
Aug 11, 4p // tentative student schedules viewable in Home Access Center
Aug 14 // open schedule resolution session via Zoom (more info to come)
Aug 15, 4p // OFFICIAL student schedules viewable in Home Access Center
Aug 16 // FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!
Aug 21 // First day of ACC Fall Semester classes

Off Period Applications for 2023-24 School Year (Juniors/Seniors Only)

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.

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

New to Leander ISD Orientation // Aug 10, 5:30p

There will be an orientation session for students/families who are new to Leander ISD. This session will be held in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) in Building 2 (also known as the auditorium). Parents/guardians are encouraged to attend with their new to LISD student. (Aug 10, 5:30p)

First Tour // Aug 14, 5p - 7p

The VHS Administration Team is holding First Tour on Aug 14 from 5p - 7p.

Who should attend?

incoming Freshmen
new to VHS students (all grades)
parents welcome!
club/organization fair is open to all students

This is an opportunity to get acquainted with classroom locations, building layout, etc. There will also be a Club Fair happening in Mainstreet during First Tour.

GPA/Class Rank Calculations

GPA/class rank calculations are still being reviewed by the district's technology department to ensure accuracy.

We will notify students and families via email once GPA/rank have been updated.

TSI Assessment // Aug 3

Students still seeking to pursue Dual Credit coursework or Class of 2024 students who were notified via mail/email of not meeting the state College Readiness Standards may wish to take advantage of the TSI Assessmentsbeing offered at VHS in August.

For more details about the TSI College Readiness standards click here. Test dates, registration instructions and registration link can be found here. Note, the TSI Assessment is always FREE through VHS.

College Application Assistance for Class of 2024

Class of 2024 are invited to take advantage of these opportunities for expert assistance in completing your college applications:

College Jump Start // While all remaining sessions are currently full, messages will go out via Remind if seats open up!
College Application Workshop hosted by Austin Regional Counselors // Date TBD in August
University of Texas at Austin admission overview // August 11, 10:00 AM (register via Naviance under "College Visits")
Explore our The College Application Process website outlining the steps and instructions you should be following as your prepare your applications and supplemental materials including Letters of Recommendation and Transcripts (more info below)
Senior Workdays // offered during PIT beginning September 5th, seniors are invited to sign up to get help with all things college application related

Transcript Requests for the Class of 2024 / College Admissions

Transcript requests for college admissions will begin to be processed on August 1, 2024.

Please click here and expand the drop-down for detailed instructions for ordering transcripts and tips for self-reporting academics (SRAR).

Letters of Recommendation

Depending on the school to which you are applying, letters of recommendation from your counselor or teacher(s) may be required. Click here and expand the drop-down for detailed instructions to request a letter.