VHS Counseling November Newsletter

What's Happening in the VHS Counseling Office?

• VHS Counseling's Scope & Sequence for the 2025-26 School Year
• 2026-27 Course Selection Timeline & Naviance

All Grades:

• Semester 2 Schedules (Preview)

• Austin Community College Dual Credit

• ASVAB Career Exploration Program // Registration Open!

• AP Exam Registration

• Updated Process for Correspondence Coursework

Juniors & Seniors:

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

• Semester 2 Off Period Application - DEADLINE DECEMBER 12, 12p (noon)
• Juniors - What's Next?
• Leadership Opportunity

Freshmen & Sophomores:

• Sophomore Counselor Conferences & Four Year Planning

• Freshman Counselor Conferences & Four Year Planning

PARENT ZONE

• Dream School Book Study
• Community Resources for Families in Need

Leander ISD Mental Health Minutes

• Your Brain!
• What is Stress?
• Stigma

Dates to Remember:

• November 10 & 11: Dual Credit Overview for Sophomores
• November 12: ASVAB
• November 12 & 13: 10th Grade Four Year Planning Classroom Presentations
• November 18 & 19: Sophomore/Counselor Conferences
• December 3 & 4: 9th Grade Four Year Planning Classroom Presentations
• December 11 & 12: Freshman/Counselor Conferences
• January 22: Viper Night

• March 12, 4p: Final Deadline for ALL Change Requests for the 2026-27 School Year

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.

Leander ISD has accelerated the district-wide timeline for next year’s course selections. Students and families can begin planning now in Naviance. Parent Naviance Account information will be re-shared this week via an email from VHS.Counseling. Through the Parent Naviance Account all parents/guardians are asked to review student 4-year plans and confirm student course selections for the upcoming school year. Grade-specific information regarding the course selection process can be found in the Course Selection Timeline, and all course selection decisions are FINAL on March 12 at 4:00 PM.

The tools in Naviance help students learn about various post-secondary pathways so they can define their post-secondary goals. Use this Naviance Overview for Students & Parents to help you navigate through the many resources available in this tool. With their goals in mind we encourage students and families to learn more about their course options using the course catalog in Naviance then by attending Viper Night to learn about specific courses from the teachers in those subject areas. Save the date: Viper Night 2026 - Thursday, January 22, 2026.

Students needing a schedule change for the spring semester due to level change 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 18.

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

If your band or athletics periods will be changing at semester, no action is needed on your part. Coaches/program directors will be providing the counseling team with that information.

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

Spring 2026 Registration is Now Open

Spring ACC registration opened October 17 and all students taking ACC this spring should now be registered. If students have issues or questions, please reach out to Ms. Kendall in the CCC-room 1306.

Summer 2026 / School Year 2026–27 planning for current 9th, 10th, 11th graders

Information about the ACC Dual Credit program has been posted in the Class of 202X Google Classrooms and presentations will be made in 10th grade classrooms this month. Students who would like to take ACC Dual Credit courses in Summer 2026 and/or the 2026–27 school year may start the enrollment process now. The priority deadline for completing steps 1-5 for Summer 2026 and/or School Year 2026-27 is February 16, with the final deadline on March 12.

• New to ACC Dual Credit: Students who are new to ACC Dual Credit must complete enrollment steps 1–4, including TSI testing (step 4), before attending an advising meeting (Step 5).

• Returning to ACC Dual Credit : Students returning to ACC Dual Credit do not need to repeat steps 1-4 (unless needing TSI math qualifying scores for Economics) and can schedule their summer/school year 2026-27 advising meeting through this link.

For seniors who want to get started on their next academic journey, ACC has seats available in many spring classes- for transfer credits and workforce programs! Come see Ms. Kendall in the CCC-Room 1306 to get started!

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 Wednesday, November 12 - REGISTER HERE.

Students should log into their College Board account to make sure each AP Class on their schedule is listed in MyAP and also ensure they are in Total Registration.

Students considering pursuing earning credit through an outside provider, please note that major updates have been made to the Correspondence Course Options. It is essential that you understand the new guidelines before enrolling.

Correspondence, Distance, and Virtual Courses (See page 23 of the LISD Course Catalog)
Students may take correspondence, distance, or virtual courses outside of the school day at their own expense. However, credit toward state graduation requirements will only be granted if all of the following conditions are met:

• The course is offered through UT High School, Texas Tech University High School, or the Texas Virtual School Network (TxVSN).
• The course must be approved before enrollment using the Coursework Approval Form.

⚠️ Important: Courses taken without prior approval will not receive credit. Be sure to complete the approval process before registering for any summer class. Critical deadlines:

• Submit the Coursework Approval Form by the last Friday in February

• Complete the course by July 25

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 12, 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 Assistant 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.

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 12 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.

PSAT is over, and juniors may be wondering, “Now what?” Here’s what’s on your to do list for Spring 2026 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 4, 2026 // FREE, no registration required

Test Preparation Opportunties

• Sign Up For SAT/ACT Practice Tests
• Khan Academy SAT Test Prep

Rotary District 5870 is sponsoring Vandegrift High School students to attend the RYLA Leadership Camp, June 28–July 3, 2026.
There is no cost to attend.

This opportunity is open to current 10th and 11th grade students.
Information and the application are available in the Class of 2027 and Class of 2028 Google Classrooms.

Application deadline: Friday, November 21, 2025.

November 10 & 11 // Dual Credit Overview (for students, through science classes)

November 12 & 13 // Counselor Connection 4 Year Planning Classroom Visits (for students, through world history classes)

November 18 - 19 // 10th Grade Individual Student/Counselor Conferences (for students, during world history classes)

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

December 11 - 12 // 9th Grade Individual Student/Counselor Conferences (for students, during English classes)

Interested in helping your student(s) find their just-right college? We are hosting a book study for the new book Dream School, from college admissions expert Jeffery Selingo, which explores how students can find the best-fit college experience. Meeting details will be shared in December’s counseling newsletter—go ahead and pick up a copy now to dive into the discussion this winter. (Link to chapter sample)

In Texas, approximately 3.5 million residents — including 1.7 million children — receive benefits each month through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. Due to the federal government shutdown, these benefits are expected to pause starting Saturday, November 1st. Individuals and families who need support can refer to our linked community resource list to find local food pantries and other available assistance programs.

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:

Your Brain!

What is Stress? - English // Spanish

Stigma - English // Spanish

Counselors and Asst. Principals are assigned alphabetically by STUDENT last name:

VHS Counselors

Kandice Detlefsen, Lead Counselor - A - B

Kylie Russell - C - Ga

Charity Escott - Ge - Kn

Tracy Noble - Ko - Ne

Shawna Powell - Ng - Si

Melissa Wells - Sk - Z

VHS Assistant Principals

Amanda Toon, Associate Principal - A - B

Becky Azard-Jackson - C - G

Parrish McEwen - H - Mao

Collin Fletcher - Map - Sam

David Barnes - San - Z

Additional Staff Contact Information

Katie Kendall - College and Career Transition Coordinator

Heidi Kalla - Dean of Instruction

Emily Rullan - Special Education Team Lead

Jennifer Taylor - 504 Coordinator

Alexandra Magness- IB Coordinator