This is a HUGE week for our Skills USA and TSA students who advanced to the state level of competition. Our Skills students are headed to Corpus Christi, and our TSA students are headed to Fort Worth. We know they'll all make Vanguard proud! I can't wait to get the reports back from all the students that are competing. Good Luck Vanguards!!

CONGRATULATIONS to our two First Year Teacher of the Year award recipients: Ms. Asfaw and Ms. Robinson. We are lucky to have you at Vanguard and we appreciate your hard work as a first year teacher. We are proud of each of you and keep up the great work!

What an impressive Thursday and Friday for our UIL Academic students and coaches. See the individual and team results in the newsletter. Best of luck at the next level!

As a reminder:

• This is a busy testing season. Make sure you're marking your calendar for those dates and that you're prepared to do your best on every test you take!
• To align with our professional goals, remember cell phones need to be turned in at the beginning of class, earbuds should be out during class, students should be in standard dress with their student ID badge and be on time to class. Students need to bring their charged Chromebook to school daily. By being consistent with these things our students will be better prepared for their future.

Let's have another great week, Vanguards! Viam Ducemus!

Vanguard will be a closed campus for all STAAR testing dates. All students will either be testing, in a boot camp, or in a study hall holding room.

Bring your charged Chromebook and charger! NO BACKPACKS ON TESTING DAYS!

Room assignments for English 1 and English 2 STAAR will be available later this week and will be posted in the google classroom VAULT.

Be advised that Wednesday, April 9th will now be an "A" day on the school calendar. This will allow teachers to see their "A" day students next week due to testing on 4/8 and 4/10.

The UIL Academic teams competed on 3/27 and 3/28 at the Professional Development Center in Mesquite against other 5A-14 schools. We are excited to announce the results and are so proud of all of our students for competing. Science results are impressive as they swept the competition. Students who place 1st, 2nd, or 3rd advance to the Regional Meet at the end of April as well as any 1st place teams. Thank you to our coaches for working with our students to prepare them for success. Good luck at Regionals!

Science (Christine Claybourn)

Ian Webster (Computer Science)

Joseline Pita (Social Studies)

Suzanna Jensen (Spelling)

Erika Tate and Izaak Lux (Journalism)

Izaak Lux (Current Issues and Events)

Marti Van Winkle (Mathematics/Number Sense/Calculator Applications)

On Tuesday, the Men of Honor students talked about "Attitude" at their meeting. One day at a time they are working to better themselves. Thanks to Coach Fofang for all you do to mentor these young men!

VTA (Vanguard Tutoring Association) is designed to help students who are having trouble in their classes, and are in need of assistance, we have 9 specialized tutors who all achieve high grades in every single one of their classes. If you are interested in becoming a tutor or receiving tutoring services, check out the information in the vault today.

Don’t miss your final chance to help save lives! Join us for our last blood drive of the year and make a difference.

Date: Friday, April 4

Location: Vanguard High School

Sign up here: https://www.greatpartners.org/.../drive_schedule/156204

16-year-olds need a parent permission slip (available with Ms. Clay in Room B120).

17+ can donate without a permission slip.

Reminder: Eat a well-balanced meal 1–2 hours before donating and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated!

Let’s finish the year strong—one donation can save up to three lives!

It's that time of year again! NHS will be hosting their Spring Fundraiser the NHS "Fruteria Stand" on April 9th during all lunches! It will be CASH only.

*IMPORTANT* ALL DONATED ITEMS must be NEWLY PURCHASED for health reasons.
If you have any questions on what can be donated, alongside what is on the list, please reach out to NHS President Amarachi via school email 06amaoke59281@mesquiteisd.org

Drop-off donations at room F211 (next to the college resource room) before or after school in the drop off box. The last day to donate is April 8th! Thank you for your contribution in making our Spring Project a success!

The members of the Vanguard’s JROTC Robotics 91022 (Team Juliette) recently competed at the 2025 US Open which is an international robotics tournament including teams from China, England, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Canada. Team Juliette (Alejandro Rivas, Antonio Rivas, and Layla Owens) showcased their skills, innovation, and teamwork following months of preparation, building and programming their robot to face the highly talented tough competition from around the world. They made it through the qualifying rounds with impressive precision and strategy, earning a spot in the Sweet-16, an achievement that reflected their dedication and technical prowess. However, despite their hard work and excellent performance, they were eliminated in the first round of the knockout stage, just shy of advancing further in the competition. We are extremely proud of the team and their accomplishments, especially given the scale and intensity of the international event. VIPER STRIKE!!

We are beyond grateful to the Texas Outlaws and their amazing Athletic Trainer, Katrina Mascarella, for giving our Senior Therapy Occupation students the opportunity to intern with them this season!

Through this internship, our students gain real-world, hands-on experience in athletic training, learning directly from professionals in the field. This opportunity helps them build valuable skills and prepares them for future careers in sports medicine and rehabilitation.

Thank you for being such an incredible partner in education and for investing in the future of healthcare!

Mrs. Leornas' AP Environmental Science classes recently went on a field trip to John Bunker Sands Wetland Center! Students engaged in a boardwalk tour where they identified specialized wetland plants and observed the key components of a wetland. They also discovered how plants naturally filter pollutants from water, improving its quality before it returns to the environment. During a Water Quality investigation, students were able to gain hands-on experience in field testing techniques. Lastly students collected and analyzed aquatic organisms to assess species' sensitivity to pollutants in the wetlands. This experience provided valuable insights into the importance of wetlands in maintaining a healthy environment!

The therapy occupations class at Vanguard just completed 32 observation hours with our related services personnel at some of our campuses! Amazing work!! Thank you to Mrs. Nash for allowing us to partner with you!

If UNT is your final college decision, sign up for your Decision Day T-Shirt now!
📅 Deadline: April 4th
📩 Fill out the form to secure your shirt!

The admission and financial aid application deadlines for UTA, UNT, TWU, ETAMU, and Tarleton have passed! If you applied, check your portals for admission and financial aid status updates. Make sure to submit any requested documents to keep your application on track.

❗Dallas College, MSU, and UNT Dallas still have time for you to apply & submit your FAFSA/TASFA to be eligible!

💰 Promise Tuition Grant Eligibility: Partner universities will review completed applications in the coming weeks to determine eligibility.

Your hard work is paying off, and we want to celebrate every milestone with you! 💫 Whether it’s a college or career school acceptance, scholarships you’ve been awarded, or your FSA Student Aid Report (SAR) or Financial Award Letter – we’re here to cheer you on! 🎉

Now’s the time to share your amazing achievements so we can keep track of all your successes and tally up your awards throughout the year. Let’s show everyone just how much the Class of 2025 is accomplishing! 🏆✨

Upload your acceptances, scholarships, and SARs using the QR Code or Class of 2025 Classroom – we can't wait to see what you’ve earned! 🎓💼

To meet the Texas Graduation Requirement, you must submit proof of FAFSA or TASFA completion BEFORE spring break! This step is crucial for finalizing your graduation status and securing financial aid for your future.

📌 How to Submit:
✅ Email your proof to aspellmon@mesquiteisd.org OR upload it to the Senior Upload Form (link below).
✅ FAFSA: Submit your FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS)—not the processing timeline.
✅ TASFA: Submit your application transcript.

🚨 Already submitted or shown it to me? No need to send it again!

Let’s get this done and keep you on track for graduation! 🎓💡

Prom ticket sales have started! Tickets may be purchased during lunches or online. Students must show student ID to purchase ticket. If you purchase your ticket online bring proof of purchase and student ID at lunch to pick up your ticket. Get your ticket now before the price increases on April 16th.

We are always looking for ways to partner with businesses in our community. There are opportunities to participate in person and with in-kind donations. As always, your donations are always appreciated and are tax-deductible. Email celsasser@mesquiteisd.org for more information.

🚨 The student ID policy is still in effect! Student IDs must be worn and visible at all times while on campus.

Families, here’s how you can help:

✅ Remind your student to wear their ID every day.

✅ Encourage students to find a consistent spot, like their backpack, to store their ID to avoid losing it.

💡Parent Tip: Check for your student’s ID before they head out the door each morning. Your partnership helps ensure a safe environment for students and staff.

Thank you for helping us with this important safety measure!

As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance safety for students and staff members, please note that Mesquite ISD's clear bag and backpack policy remains in effect for the 2024-25 school year.

For more details, click here to visit our FAQ page. Only clear backpacks, purses, and totes will be allowed for students on campus.

Please make sure you are dropping off and picking up students in the rear of the building. Drivers will circle around the perimeter of the student parking lot to the rear door of the building, drop off or pick up students, and then circle around the perimeter of the parking lot to exit back to McKenzie Road. The gates for dismissal pick-up open at 3:45 pm. Please do not enter the back until that time.

ONLY BUSES will be permitted to use the entrance of the school (where the flag pole is located) on Faithon P. Lucas Sr. Blvd. during arrival and dismissal times.

As an alternative, parents may choose to drop off/pick up students in the Mesquite Girls Softball Complex parking lot, located at the intersection of Faithon P. Lucas Sr. Blvd./Mercury Road and McKenzie Road. From this location, it is a short walk to/from the front entrance of the campus.

Thank you for helping keep our premises safe and secure!

To enhance student focus and minimize disruptions, personal electronic devices such as cell phones, smart watches, tablets, and Bluetooth headphones/earbuds will not be permitted in the classroom for the 2024-2025 school year. Campus expectation is that students power down devices and put them up prior to entering the classroom.

Please refer to the Student Handbook for further details on this policy. Any non-compliance can result in the confiscation of the device, which will be held in the office until the end of the day. If you need to reach your child during school hours, please contact us at 972.882.0000, and we will assist you accordingly. We are excited to work together with you this academic year.

Vanguard shuttle bus times for each high school location:

Horn High School: Back of JHHS

8:10am, 8:20am and 8:30am

West Mesquite High School:

West Side of Building (covered porch area)

8:10am, 8:20am and 8:30am

Mesquite High School: Back by small gym

8:10am, 8:20am and 8:30am

Poteet High School: Back behind the gym

8:10am, 8:20am and 8:30am

North Mesquite High School: Front of building

8:10am, 8:20am and 8:30am

Stay connected and informed this school year with the MyAYO app! 📲 Receive notifications and reminders from your child’s school and teachers, engage in classroom and extracurricular activities, and communicate directly with educators.

Everything you need in one place to support your child’s educational journey! Download MyAYO today from your App Store or Google Play.

Students, the 5:15 after school tutoring/activities buses run Monday - Thursday ONLY! You must secure a pass from your teacher in order to ride the buses. The bus drivers will not allow you to ride unless you present your pass and it's fully filled out. You can only utilize this PM transportation if you're staying for tutoring or staying with an organization and/or sponsor. Buses will drop you off at your original feeder high school. Please ask your teachers or Mrs. Jackson any questions that you may have about the 5:15 buses.