Trail Blazer Bulletin Dec 15-19

Dear Trail Blazer Community
Happy Holidays!
As always, I am so very thankful to the Trail Blazer community for your support this school year. To our incredible parents, your support continues to be the cornerstone of our success. Your partnership, trust, and dedication have been instrumental in helping our Trail Blazers lead.
Our campus will be closed from December 20 to January 5, 2026. Staff will not be monitoring email during this time. Coaches/Sponsors will communicate games/practices through their normal communication channels. Staff will return to campus on January 5 to prepare for the campus to reopen & for students to return on January 6. During the break, I hope that you have the opportunity to spend time with family & make new memories together. Wishing you the best for the holidays and a Happy New Year! See you in 2026!
Cold & Rainy Season is Ahead
Due to following school safety practices and student supervision requirements, we are unable to allow students who arrive at school earlier than 8:20 into the building. As it continues to get colder, consider adjusting your student’s arrival time to align closer to 8:20 entry time and encourage your students to dress appropriately for the weather to protect themselves from the elements.
End of Semester Grades & Absences
Students who are absent and missing work at the end of the semester will receive an incomplete “I” on their report card.
Students will be required to attend tutorials, Thursday Night Reflections, and/or Saturday School to complete work to resolve the incomplete by 1/12/26.
Except in extenuating circumstances, work not completed by end of day on 1/12/26 will be entered as a zero in the gradebook and the report card grade will be submitted as is.
Extracurricular eligibility is impacted if students have an “incomplete”.
Visiting Student Graduates
Parents, T'is the season when your older children who graduated from LT, will be coming home from college and wanting to visit with their teachers. While we are happy to help facilitate this connection, please be aware and inform your older children that they will need to follow the following guidelines:
Past students will need to have an acceptable ID in order to access the building.
Past students will need to make an appointment with the teacher, and visits may only take place during a teachers' conference period.
The staff member will need to come down to the front office to meet the student visitor.
After the visit, the staff member will escort the student visitor back to the front office.
Student graduates will NOT be given a visitor badge and should NOT be walking the hallway without a staff member escort.
Semester Grades & Course Credit
Quarter 1 (Q1) and Quarter 2 (Q2) grades are averaged together to determine a student’s Semester 1 (SEM1) grade.
A student at any grade level enrolled in a high school course will earn credit for the course only if the SEM1 average is 70 or above.
For a two-semester (1-credit course):
The first-semester average (SEM1) and second-semester average (SEM2) combine to determine final credit.
If the combined average is 70 or above, credit is awarded for the full course.
If the combined average is below 70, credit will only be awarded for the semester in which the student earned a passing grade.
Attendance & Course Credit
To receive credit or a final grade in a class, a student must attend the class at least 90 percent of the days it is offered. A student who attends at least 75 percent but fewer than 90 percent of the days may receive credit or a final grade if he or she completes a plan, approved by the principal, that allows the student to fulfill the class’s instructional requirements.
If a student attends fewer than 75 percent of the class days or does not complete the principal-approved plan, then the attendance review committee will determine whether there are extenuating circumstances for the absences and how the student can regain credit or a final grade.
With the exception of absences due to serious or life-threatening illness or related treatment, all absences, excused or unexcused, may be held against a student’s attendance requirement. Learn more about the attendance policy.
Student Extended Absences (vacation or otherwise)
FISD policy does NOT permit students to 'work ahead' or to get missed work from teachers prior to the planned absences. Students who remain enrolled, will receive the grade earned; a zero for the remaining grades will be assigned and upon return the student can work with teachers to get missing work submitted within a reasonable time frame and teachers can then submit a grade change form if applicable. It is the student’s responsibility to meet with the teacher and turn in missing work or make up missed assessments upon return to campus.
Students who are considered truant (will have accrued more than ten unexcused absences for days or parts of days within a six-month period including the days that will be missed at the end of the year) will be subject to truancy prevention measures and the possibility of being referred to truancy court.
Students who fall below 75 % attendance in any course will be denied credit.
Dear Trailblazer Parents and Guardians,
As we enter the holiday season, the school clinic has experienced an increase in visits from students with common cold symptoms. Since there is no cure for these minor illnesses and the school nurse cannot diagnose or treat them, students with mild symptoms—such as a runny nose, mild cough, nasal congestion, or occasional sneezing—should remain in class or stay home if they are not feeling well enough to participate in learning. Students who do attend school can usually manage these symptoms while practicing simple self-care, including using tissues, drinking water, covering coughs and sneezes properly, and maintaining good hand hygiene.
It is the responsibility of parents and guardians to assess whether their child is well enough to attend school each day before arriving on campus. If your student has had a fever of 100.0°F or higher or has experienced vomiting or diarrhea in the last 24 hours, they should stay home. If your child requires medical evaluation, we encourage you to contact their healthcare provider directly.
Parents may excuse up to four absences per semester by reporting them through the school website. If your child sees a doctor, dentist, or utilizes telehealth services, please provide a note to the attendance office so the absence can be officially excused.
Thank you for your partnership in keeping our students and staff well and focused on learning. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please reach out.
Warm regards,
Christina Salgado, RN
National Spanish Honor Society / Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica
Attention 9th, 10th, and 11th graders, If you are currently in Spanish and have completed 3 semesters of Spanish or more, the National Spanish Honor Society/ Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica is accepting applications online for the 2025-2026 school year. Current members do not need to re-apply. Please fill out this application by January 22nd, at 5:00 PM. Students of Hispanic Heritage who demonstrate a continuing interest in promoting the Spanish or Portuguese languages and their cultures are encouraged to apply as Ambassador Members.
Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (SHH) is not a club. An application is required to ensure students meet the qualifications. Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica is not linked to other honor societies at LTHS. Membership in one honor society does *not* assume membership in the other. The deadline to submit the full application is January 22nd at 5 PM to be considered.
If, after reading through the application in its entirety, you have any questions, please contact your Spanish teacher.
Testing Updates
The ASVAB Test - Rescheduled
Due to the Government Shutdown, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) has been rescheduled. New Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Students can register by clicking the link below. Registration ends on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
Registration Link: LTHS ASVAB
Who:10th, 11th, and 12th grade
What: ASVAB Test
Why: Measures ability for military & civil careers, match with suitable jobs, explore post-high schools
Test Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2026 (B Day)
Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Campus Testing Facilitator, Lauren Phillips, at phillipsl@friscoisd.org.
Attention Juniors! SAT School Day - March 4, 2026
All FISD students classified as 11th grade are automatically registered to take the official SAT during the school day on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. There is no exam fee and students do NOT register for this exam through the College Board website. Students will receive exam details via email closer to the exam date. There is no make-up date for this exam.
How to Prepare:
Questions about the SAT on March 4, 2026 Contact Lauren Phillips at PhillipsL@friscoisd.org
Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Fee
Students who paid for a fall semester or full year AP Exam will receive exam-specific information through their school email in April.
For AP courses that begin in the spring semester, exam payment will be available in Online School Fees January 20 - February 6, 2026.
Students who did not pay for an AP exam OR are not enrolled in an AP course BUT want to take an AP Exam must contact Lauren Phillips at PhillipsL@friscoisd.org between January 20 and February 6, 2026, to have the $50 late fee and exam fee added to their OnlineSchoolFees account.
February 6, 2026 is the FINAL AP registration, payment, and refund request deadline for Frisco ISD. No exceptions!
For questions about AP Exam payment, please contact Campus Testing Facilitator Lauren Phillips at PhillipsL@friscoisd.org.
Student Spotlight
Trail Blazer Class of 2026 got busy making memories last week at the PTSA-Hosted Senior Bonfire
Congratulations to LT Swim & Dive on a successful meet at the North Dallas TISCA Invitational this past weekend. Most of the team made it to the top 16 for finals. Here are the top 8 finishers:
Skanda Kiran- 200 IM & 500 Free
Andrew DuBos- 200 IM
Aditya Sathe- 100 Fly
Ari Escutia Castañeda- 500 Free
Boys 400 Free Relay: Elan Okhotskiy, Aahan Arka, Aditya Sathe and Jayden Li
Our Best Buddies chapter participated in the All District Winter Social and it was all smiles from our Trail Blazers! What a great way for our students to ring in the holiday season, with movies, themed crafts and hot cocoa and singing their hearts out.
Signing Day represents a huge milestone for our student athletes. Congratulations to Zoé Cooksey on signing with Oklahoma Baptist University where she will continue her academic journey and Cheer career. Zoe, we are so excited for you and cannot wait to see what you do next.
Congratulations to Emerald Elite & all the Dance Students who participated in the dance showcase, putting on a memorable event and showcasing their talent.
Congratulations to LT Boys Basketball on their third place finish in the Gold Bracket at the Farmersville Hardwood Hoopfest. Special shout out to Lucas Robertson on being named All Tournament Team. Our LT Boys will begin District play this Friday here on the Trail, as they take on the Frisco Racoons.
Congratulations to LT AcDec and their sponsors for their first place finish at competition this weekend and for once again being named District Champs. The team earned this distinction by accumulating a total score of 28,782 points.
In addition to the team success, several students earned top individual awards across the competition's subject areas:
Mathematics: Kedar Vernekar: 1st Place (Honors) & Tanay Vijay: 3rd Place (Varsity)
Music: Sai Shekar: 3rd Place (Varsity), Shreyas Sharma: 3rd Place (Scholastic), Nicholas Griffin: 3rd Place (Honors)
Economics: Dhiya Viswanathan: 1st Place (Scholastic), Nicholas Griffin: 1st Place (Honors), Abish Kambala: 1st Place (Honors), Shreyas Sharma: 2nd Place (Scholastic), TJ Dube: 3rd Place (Varsity) and Aakash Sundar: 3rd Place (Scholastic)
Science: Diego Salazar Bonciu: 1st Place (Scholastic)
Last week, our NJROTC cadets participated in the Annual Military Inspection (AMI). The Annual Military Inspection (AMI) is a mandatory event for all cadets in the Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) program. The AMI is an opportunity for cadets to demonstrate what they have learned throughout the year, and to show that their unit is operating in accordance with U.S. Navy standards. To say we are proud of these cadets is an understatement!
This past weekend Lebanon Trail's Speech and Debate team competed at Centennial High School on Saturday 12/13/2025. Congratulations to the following students:
Rudra Raghav - 5th place in Novice Congress
Jake Malen and Raghav Pillai - 4th place in Varsity Policy Debate
Joshua Ball -5th place Domestic Extemp
Dhanesh Amaresam advanced to Semi Finals in Novice Extemp
Coming Up on the Trail
12 Days of Holiday Cheer!
Get ready for our 12 Days of Holiday Cheer from December 4th–19th! Each day will feature a fun dress-up theme, so show your spirit and help spread some festive vibes around campus. Let’s make this season bright together! 🎄✨
Mark your Calendars!! The Frisco ISD High School Swim & Dive Teams could use your support!
The FISD H2O Booster Club is having a Fundraiser night with our Gold Sponsor, Raising Cane's!
On Tuesday, December 16 from 4-9pm please go to either the Eldorado or Preston Rd locations in Frisco and mention Frisco H2O Booster Club when ordering.
If you order online, please use the code: RCFUND96
Counseling Corner
CTE Work-Based Learning Applications
CTEC Work-Based Learning Program Qualification Form AND the Collin College Dual Credit Clinical Program Qualification Form deadline is January 16th.
The links to each of these forms can be found on the CTEC website during the qualification process timeline. All students interested in participating in one of the courses listed below MUST complete the appropriate form.
Recent Webinars - Recordings and Slide Decks
Prepare for course registration by viewing this year's district webinars and presentations below.
Frisco Flex (for rising 9th-12th graders- and those wishing to learn more about the program) - Register for the Dec. 3rd webinar!
Middle School Advanced Academics (for rising 6th-8th graders) - Webinar Recording | Slide deck
High School Advanced Academics (for rising 9th-12th graders) - Webinar Recording | Slide deck
IB Informational Webinar (for rising 9th graders- and those wishing to learn more about the program)- Webinar Recording | Slide deck
Collin Edge Informational Webinar (for rising 11th graders- and those wishing to learn more about the program)- Webinar Recording | Slide Deck
Collin College Dual Credit Informational Webinar (for rising 11th-12th graders- and those wishing to learn more about dual credit)- Webinar Recording | Slide Deck
Want to know about all the amazing programs offered in FISD? Join us in our Informative Webinars as we begin the conversations and course planning for the 2026-2027 school year.
Senior Section
Cap & Gown Presentation
Jostens was here in November to visit with seniors about their 2026 graduation cap & gown and other senior year items.
The Group Order Discount deadline has past, but you can still order! Any ordered placed at this time will be shipped directly to your home. Click here to be taken directly to our school’s homepage at Jostens.
Introducing the Class of 2026! It was a clear, cold, windy morning, last Monday, but that did not stop the Class of 2026 from showing up for one of our all time favorite LT Traditions. Every year, this picture captures more than just faces and bodies, but instead it captures possibilities. You can almost see it in their smiles - pride, anticipation and the first moment that it sinks in and becomes real- senior year is here. Here on the Trail, we are so proud of how far they have come and even more excited for where they are headed next! The future is calling, and the LT class of 2026 is ready to answer.
Senior Yard Signs
Class of 2026 yard signs have arrived! Please stop by the front of the school to pick on up (and metal stake if needed).
PTSA
Reminders
Student Transfer Window Opens December 1
Each year, students in Frisco ISD may apply to transfer from their zoned campus to another Frisco ISD campus that is not closed or at capacity. The first transfer window for the 2026–27 school year will be open December 1–12, 2025.
New for 2026–27:
Transfers will be accepted into available campuses through 9th grade.
Families can visit the Student Transfers page on the district website for eligibility details, application links, and campus availability information.
EOY Vacation Scheduling
Every instructional day counts. Unlike in recent years, student grades and assessments will now be collected through the very last week of school. The final instructional day of the 2025-2026 school year is on May 22, 2026. We know that families often plan trips in advance, but please avoid scheduling family travel before that date, as absences can affect learning and final grades.
You can review the 2025-2026 academic calendar here. Thank you for helping your student finish the year strong!
Staff Shout Outs
We encourage you to use this form to nominate a teacher or staff member who you believe deserves special recognition for their contributions. I look forward to sharing your “Staff Shout Outs” with the LT staff.