VHS Counseling November Newsletter

November 2024

In this newsletter you will find information about.....

What's Happening in the VHS Counseling Office?

VHS Counseling's Scope & Sequence for the 2024-25 School Year

All Grades:

Semester 2 Schedules (Preview)
Dual Credit through Austin Community College
ASVAB Career Exploration Program // Registration Open!
Explore the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program – Upcoming Webinars for 9th and 10th Graders
AP Exam Registration

Juniors & Seniors:

Currently Have an Off Period? DON'T LOSE IT!
Semester 2 Off Period Application - DEADLINE DECEMBER 13, 12p (noon)
Juniors - What's Next?
Leadership Opportunities
Update: UT Austin Automatic Admission Policy

Freshmen & Sophomores:

Sophomore Counselor Conferences & Four Year Planning
IB Informational Webinar // Nov 13 @ 5:30p

Freshman Counselor Conferences & Four Year Planning
IB Informational Webinar // Dec 13 @ 5:30p

Leander ISD Mental Health Minutes

Anxiety
Failure & Disappointment
How to Identify Your Support Network

Dates to Remember:

November 7 & 8: Dual Credit Overview for Sophomores
November 13: IB Informational Webinar
November 13 & 14: 10th Grade Four Year Planning Classroom Presentations
November 19 - 20: Sophomore/Counselor Conferences
November 21: ASVAB
December 2 & 3: 9th Grade Four Year Planning Classroom Presentations
December 10 - 13: Freshman/Counselor Conferences

What's Happening in the VHS Counseling Office?

The VHS Counseling Team offers services designed to increase student wellness, improve academic performance, and increase participation in postsecondary education. VHS Counselors support students in their academic, career, and social-emotional development. We help students achieve success in school, pursue post-secondary opportunities, and lead healthy, fulfilling lives. The VHS Counseling Team works with school faculty and staff, students, parents, and the community to plan, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive school counseling program aligned to the Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs. Our program is designed to cover four system components: 1) Guidance Curriculum; 2) Individual Student Planning; 3) Responsive Services; and 4) System Support.

For a detailed overview of the VHS Counseling Team's scope and sequence for this year, please click on the document below.

All Grade Levels

Semester 2 Schedules (Preview)

Students needing a schedule change for the spring semester due to athletic tryouts or level changes will be given the opportunity to request changes in early December. Instructions will be included in the December newsletter. The deadline to submit change requests will be 12 p.m. on Thursday, December 19, 2024.

Click here for instructions on how to view your 2nd semester schedule in Home Access Center.

**No changes to elective courses (other than due to program or athletic changes) will be made at semester.**

Dual Credit through Austin Community College

Information about ACC's dual credit program will be presented to 10th grade students during their science classes on November 7th & 8th to help them consider dual credit options when planning courses. A recording will be posted on the College & Career website after those presentations for students and families to review and find out more about pursuing college coursework through Austin Community College. Preparation for ACC dual credit for summer and fall 2025 will begin in January.

Meanwhile, ACC spring 2025 registration is underway and students should be registered. If you are new to the Dual Credit program and interested in pursuing coursework this spring semester, be sure to follow the Dual Credit Enrollment Steps, including meeting with Ms. Kendall to discuss course plans. Full details about the Dual Credit opportunities through Austin Community College can be found on our VHS College & Career Center website.

ASVAB Career Exploration Program // Registration Open!

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 Thursday, November 21 - REGISTER HERE.

Explore the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program – Upcoming Webinars for 9th and 10th Graders

Attention 9th and 10th-grade families!

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program is a two-year academic program designed to develop students into globally-minded, critical thinkers and problem-solvers. Our IB Coordinator, Alexandra Magness is hosting two informational webinars designed to help you learn about this opportunity. These sessions will provide a comprehensive overview of the IB program, its benefits, course requirements, and the process to join. Whether your student is in 9th grade and starting to plan ahead, or in 10th grade and considering joining for their junior year, these webinars are for you!

For 10th Grade Students:

Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at 5:30p
You can register for this webinar here (password: IBvipers).

For 9th Grade Students:

Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 5:30p
You can register for this webinar here (password: IBvipers).

Mrs. Magness looks forward to guiding you through the exciting opportunities the IB Diploma Program offers. And you can always explore the VHS IBDP on the program's website.

AP Exam Registration

All students enrolled in an AP course are strongly encouraged to register and sit for the AP exam. Here’s a few great reasons why: https://blog.collegeboard.org/3-reasons-take-ap-exams

Did you know? On average, AP students finish college one semester earlier than their peers, saving between $12,015 and $28,095 in tuition and fees.

Require financial assistance? Don’t let the cost stand in your way. Complete the two forms below:

Juniors & Seniors

Currently Have an Off Period? DON'T LOSE IT!

Please note that all semester one off period students will be reviewed to ensure qualifying criteria are still being met. Students who do not have attendance hours cleared by December 13, 12p (noon) will have their off period rescinded and will be placed into an elective course. Students at risk of losing their off period are encouraged to connect with their Assitant Principal to discuss a plan for making up hours.

Criteria and conditions for the off period privilege:

Have met the passing standards on all sections of the required EOC exams that you have taken
Do not owe attendance hours/have credits withheld due to attendance
Maintain on track graduation status with the appropriate core content, LOTE, and elective requirements
Is not also enrolled in a credit recovery period
Off periods will be rescinded should attendance hours accumulate during the first semester
In the event that off periods are rescinded, students will be placed into an available elective
Elective placement will be an administrative decision and students will not have input into the choice of elective
Students who are placed in elective courses will remain enrolled and be required to attend the elective courses for the entirety of the semester

Please click here to review the full VHS Off Period Guidelines document.

CLICK HERE TO SEE IF YOU CURRENTLY OWE ATTENDANCE HOURS

Semester 2 Off Period Application - DEADLINE DECEMBER 13, 12p (noon)

Juniors and Seniors who do not currently have an off period and would like to apply can do so by submitting the SEMESTER 2 OFF PERIOD APPLICATION.

As a reminder, seniors may apply for off period privileges, up to one period each day (TWO total). Juniors may apply for ONE total off period privilege.

REVIEW THE VHS OFF PERIOD GUIDELINES PRIOR TO SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

You must meet all the qualifying requirements outlined in the document above in order to earn your off periods. Most notably, you will not qualify for an off period if you owe hours for attendance.

THIS APPLICATION WILL CLOSE ON DECEMBER 13 AT NOON TO ALLOW COUNSELORS AND ADMINISTRATORS TIME TO REVIEW SUBMISSIONS AND ENSURE ALL REQUIREMENTS ARE MET.

The constraints of the master schedule do not allow for rearranging schedules to accommodate a specific time of day request. Your off period will be placed in the same period as the elective you are replacing. Second period and sixth period courses are not eligible to be dropped for an off period.

Juniors - What's Next?

PSAT is over, and juniors may be wondering, “Now what?” Here’s what’s on your to do list for Spring 2025 in preparation for senior year and beyond.

Check out the College Planning & Application Resources link for the 11th Grade College Planning Checklist and Additional Planning Resources on the VHS College and Career Center website.
College Visits at Vandegrift – Meet with college reps through a virtual visit (register in Naviance)
Junior/Counselor Conferences will be scheduled beginning in January.

Save the Date - School Day SAT

SAT (no writing) for all juniors on March 6, 2025 // FREE, no registration required

Test Preparation Opportunties

Leadership Opportunities

This is the time of year when leadership opportunities often become available specifically for junior students. These opportunities are sponsored by community organizations and we encourage students to check their Google Class of 2026 classroom regularly - information is posted as it becomes available. Posting this week:

Camp Enterprise - Students currently in 11th grade who are interested in pursuing a career in a business-related field. Class of 2026 Google Classroom
Texas Boys State - Male students currently in 11th grade. Class of 2026 Google Classroom

Be sure to check the Class of 2026 Google Classroom regularly for leadership opportunity information.

Update: UT Austin Automatic Admission Policy

The following information is being shared with all high school junior-level students/parents/guardians in accordance with TEA guidance.

Senate Bill 175, passed by the 81st Texas Legislature, allows The University of Texas at Austin to limit automatic admission to 75 percent of the university’s enrollment capacity designated for first-time resident undergraduate students.

The University has determined that it will automatically admit all eligible summer/fall 2026 and spring 2027 freshman applicants who rank within the top 5% of their high school graduating classes. A letter from University President Jay C. Hartzell is attached to this correspondence.

Freshmen & Sophomores

Sophomore Counselor Conferences & Four Year Planning

November 7 & 8 // Dual Credit Overview (for students, through science classes)

November 13 & 14 // Counselor Connection 4 Year Planning Classroom Visits (for students, through world history classes)

November 13, 5:30pm // IB Informational Webinar for Students & Families // Register Here (password: IBvipers)

November 19 - 20 // 10th Grade Individual Student/Counselor Conferences (for students, during world history classes)

Freshman Counselor Conferences & Four Year Planning

December 2 - 3 // Counselor Connection 4 Year Planning Classroom Visits (for students, through English classes)

December 3, 5:30pm // IB Informational Webinar for Students & Families // Register Here (password: IBvipers)

December 10 - 13 // 10th Grade Individual Student/Counselor Conferences (for students, during biology classes)

Mental Health Minutes

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 continue the Mental Health Minute video series.

November Mental Health Minutes: