VHS Counseling March Newsletter
March 2026
IN THIS NEWSLETTER YOU WILL FIND INFO ABOUT.....
- Upcoming Course Verification Activities & Timeline
- Dual Credit through Austin Community College
- Austin National College Fair // March 5
- Applied Research Laboratories Summer Apprenticeship Program // due March 10
- ASVAB Career Exploration // March 25
- College Visits for VHS Students
Junior Jam
- School Day SAT for Juniors // March 4
Senior Zone
- Want to Win a Car? (Yes, for real!)
- FAFSA is OPEN!! (And it's a Graduation Requirement!)
- Don't Forget About Scholarship Applications!
- Accepted? We Want to Know!
- Frequently Asked Senior Questions
Course Selection Information
Upcoming Course Verification Activities & Timeline
Course selection information is so dense that it merited it's own newsletter. The "All Things Course Selection" newsletter contains all the information students need to finalize their requests prior to the district deadline including info on:
- how to submit a change request
- off periods
- student aide periods
- OCPE
- highlighted courses
- specific opportunties to speak with counselors regarding course selection questions.
REMINDER:
THE FINAL COURSE REQUEST CHANGE DEADLINE FOR
NEXT SCHOOL YEAR IS MARCH 12, 2026, 4PM.
General Course Request Questions? Get support from the Counseling team!
Students and parents/guardians both have designated times for meeting with counselors regarding pending course request questions.
Course Selection Rush (for students)
During Rush, VHS Counselors will meet individually with students to review courses in HAC for accuracy and answer any remaining questions.
Course Selection Rush Dates:
- Freshmen - March 2 & 3 (during English classes)
- Sophomores - March 6 & 9 (during English classes)
- Juniors - March 10 (walk-in rush - pop into the lecture hall if needed)
Open Google Meets Session (for parents/guardians)
Counselors will be hosting open office hours via Google Meets for parent/guardian course selection questions March 5th from 9a - 11:30a and 12:30p - 3p.
Google Meet Joining Info (March 5th; 9a-11:30a & 12:30p-3p)
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/sgb-qvrf-twh
Please note, this will be an open forum style meeting with multiple parents joining together; due to the number of students we are serving, we are unable to host individual parent meetings regarding course selection.
Dual Credit through Austin Community College
Summer 2026 / School Year 2026–27 planning for current 9th, 10th, 11th graders
Students who would like to take ACC Dual Credit courses in Summer 2026 and/or the 2026–27 school year should complete the enrollment process now. The final deadline to complete enrollment steps 1-5 is March 12.
New to ACC Dual Credit: Complete enrollment steps 1–4, including TSI testing (step 4), before attending a NEW to DC advising meeting (Step 5).
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 RETURNING to DC advising meeting through this link.
The TSI is offered at ACC testing centers, no appointment needed/walk-in, Mondays-Saturdays. Details can be found here.
College & Career Exploration
Austin National College Fair // March 5
The fair will be held on Thursday, March 5, 2026 from 6:00 - 8:30 PM at the Palmer Events Center. Over 300 exhibitors are expected to participate. A list of participating institutions is constantly updated as Colleges/Universities sign up for this opportunity, but you can see that list here. Click here to register for the fair.
Applied Research Laboratories Summer Apprenticeship Program // Due March 10
Each summer Applied Research Laboratories, a department at 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 fall semester, and who have been accepted, but not necessarily attending UT Austin in the fall. Preference for this opportunity is given to students attending UT Austin and those whose intended majors are aerospace, electrical, and mechanical engineering, computer science, geophysics, mathematics, and physics, but all STEM students are eligible to apply.
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, 10-week summer program for graduating seniors, offering a salary of $20+ an hour. This prestigious group of students also write reports that will be published and widely distributed at the end of their summer term.
Application deadline is March 10, 2026 // details & application
ASVAB Career Exploration Program // March 25
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, March 25. Testing will take place in the College & Career Center (Room 1306) from 9:00 AM - 11:45 AM. REGISTER HERE.
College Visits for VHS Students
Junior Jam
School Day SAT for Juniors // March 4
SCHOOL DAY SAT ADMINISTRATION
On Thursday March 4, VHS will administer the SAT test to all 11th grade students. This testing session will be FREE and registration is not required. Students should be sure to be at school on this day as there is no make-up opportunity for this free administration. Information about School Day SAT, including the structure of the test and what to bring on test day can be found here. Direct questions regarding School Day SAT to jennifer.taylor@leanderisd.org.
WEEKEND ACT & SAT TEST ADMINISTRATIONS
- Various national testing dates with strict registration deadlines
- Registration fees apply; see your counselor if you have financial need as fee waivers are available
- Scores typically within 14 days
ACT - register at www.actstudent.org
SAT - register at www.collegeboard.org
Senior Scoop
Want to Win a Car??
How does a free car sound? Honda Leander is giving away a brand new car to one lucky Leander ISD graduating senior. Make sure to submit your entry form (Google form) by April 1, 2026. If you are randomly chosen as one of Vandegrift's nominees, you will be notified in April so that you can attend the drawing. Click here for more information and to see videos of past LISD winners. A Vandegrift student hasn't won yet, so we are hoping this is the year!!
FAFSA is OPEN!! (And it's a Graduation Requirement!)
In accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.0256, each student must do one of the following in order to graduate:
- Complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Complete and submit a Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) (for Texas residents who are not eligible to apply for federal financial aid - usually includes students who are non-citizens or non-permanent residents of the United States)
- Submit a signed opt-out form ENGLISH, SPANISH
*Reminder: this is only one graduation requirement component. Counselors and Administrators will continue working with Seniors on ensuring graduation requirements are met.
ACTION REQUIRED
Seniors: To complete this graduation requirement, submit your documentation to this linked form.
Don't Forget About Scholarship Applications!
Leander ISD communicates information regarding scholarship opportunities through the Naviance platform. See this infographic for how to navigate Naviance scholarship information. We also post local scholarship opportunities in the Class of 2026 Google classroom (Classwork --> Scholarships). Though these applications can be time consuming, the payoff can be huge - FREE $$!
Accepted? We Want to Know!
Once you make a decision of where you'll be attending, follow the steps below to be added to our "Going Places" wall at the front of the school.
Log into your Naviance account (access through Leander LaunchPad)
Navigate to "Colleges I'm Applying To"
Add your school or military branch and click on the edit icon and update your "Result" to "Accepted"
Once you know where you're committing, choose it from the drop-down of "College I'm Attending"
Frequently Asked Senior Questions
Do I need tickets for graduation?
- No! Seating at the HEB Center is first come, first served. There is ample seating for all seniors and their guests.
Speaking of stuff to wear - when do I get all my fancy accessories? (medals/stoles/cords/cap & gown)
- Graduates will receive packets containing applicable regalia during the walk-through at graduation rehearsal. Graduates will pick up their cap & gown immediately following graduation rehearsal.
Austin Community College After Graduation
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.
March Mental Health Minutes:
Need to Get in Touch?
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