The VIP

We had a great week at Vanguard. Our BPA students competed at their regional competition. Thank you to our Business teachers for preparing and supporting our students as they prepared for this competition. It's been great watching y'all do what you do best!

We want to give a special congratulations to Coach Fofang who is our 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year. Thank you for all you do for our campus and especially to our students. You are invaluable to Vanguard and we thank you deeply!!

Would you please take a few minutes to fill out our Community Events survey? Click the link below!

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. By being consistent with these things our students will be better prepared for their future.

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

Mr. Bordones teaches BIM I and his students are working on a project in Microsoft Publisher to create and design a restaurant menu. First they completed an Edpuzzle to learn how to insert and edit photos in Publisher.

Ms. Atwell’s Advanced English II students are conducting a rhetorical analysis of Creon's speech from the Greek tragedy, Antigone by Sophocles. Students are identifying rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, logos) and the use of devices such as metaphor, parallelism, and alliteration.

Shoutout to Mrs. Nash’s Junior Therapy Occupations class for working hard this past fall semester! These dedicated students mastered key patient care skills, including infection control, donning/doffing PPE, taking vital signs, and earning their CPR certifications.

As we head into the Spring, they’re gearing up to tackle their next challenge: earning their EKG certifications! Keep up the amazing work, future healthcare heroes!

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! 🎓💼

Cadets from the Vanguard High School Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) proudly marched in the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade in Mesquite on Saturday joining the community in honoring the civil rights leader’s legacy. Dressed in their crisp uniforms, the cadets stepped in synchronization, reflecting their dedication to discipline and unity. Carrying banners and flags, the Vanguard JROTC Color Guard led the procession that celebrated Dr. King's vision of equality, justice, and service. Spectators lining the streets cheered as the cadets passed by, many expressing gratitude for their role in fostering leadership and civic responsibility among youth. By marching, the cadets demonstrated their respect for Dr. King's contributions to American history and their commitment to carrying forward his ideals of unity and service.

This past Saturday, our Vanguard BPA Chapter hosted more than 700 people for the Regional Leadership Conference. Vanguard had more than 75 members compete across more than 35 different competitions. All of these students have been working incredibly hard over the last few months preparing for this competition, and at the end of the day, it showed. We brought home 35 medals, 7 being 1st Place, with 19 students qualifying to compete at the State Leadership Conference at the end of February.

State Qualifiers:

Cara Wikoff - 2nd Place, Database Applications

Cara Wikoff, Carly Bullard, & Reagan Prewitt - 3rd Place, Administrative Support Team

Federico Hernandez - 1st Place, Basic Office Systems & Procedures

Nicole Bocanegra - 5th Place, Fundamental Spreadsheet Applications

Maricruz Castro Araiza - 3rd Place, Fundamentals of Web Design

Christopher Maldonado - 4th Place, Advanced Word Processing

Monsserrat Hernandez - 3rd Place, Advanced Word Processing

Jonathan Ramirez - 1st Place, Interview Skills

Brian Smith, Jr. - 3rd Place, Integrated Office Applications

Luis Ibarra - 1st Place, Advanced Office Systems & Procedures

Kaden Montes, Jonathan Juarez, Kamilah Castillo, & Carolina Ibarra - 3rd Place, Broadcast News Production Team

Jonathan Juarez - 1st Place, Integrated Office Applications

Kamilah Castillo - 3rd Place, Advanced Office Systems & Procedures

Nathaniel Hartson - 1st Place, Linux Operating Systems Fundamentals

Fredrick Goins - 1st Place, Device Configuration & Troubleshooting

Guillermo Trujillo - 5th Fundamental Word Processing

Bryan Quintero Bautista - 1st Place, Advanced Spreadsheet Applications

State Alternates:

Kimberly Contreras - 4th Place, Administrative Support Research Project

Joselyn Diaz - 6th Place, Ethics & Professionalism

Jemily Montes - 6th Place, Extemporaneous Speech

Jemily Montes, Moriah Sanchez, & Hector Medina - 6th Place, Global Marketing Team

Dan Gomez - 4th Place, Human Resource Management

Caleb Johnson - 6th Place, Health Research Presentation

Kaden Lopez, Giovanni Osoria, Tyler Carroll, & Kevyn Orozco Puac - 4th Place, Economic Research Project Team

Kacy Roberts - 6th Place, Intermediate Word Processing

Alana Johnson, Sarah Sincal Monzon, Montserrat Loya, Caius Henderson - 4th Place, Financial Analyst Team

Amarachi Okea - 6th Place, Health Administrative Procedures

Mia Rodriguez - 6th Place, Entrepreneurship

Attention Vanguard students! The Muslim Students Association invites you to an engaging event titled 'What Is Islam?' Learn about the core beliefs, values, and traditions of Islam in an open and welcoming environment. Join us on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at 4:30 PM in H210 (Ms. Mu’min’s room) for a thoughtful discussion. All students are welcome, and we look forward to seeing you there!

We would like to congratulate some of our Vanguards who competed in this week's district-level Multilingual Spelling Bee. Zain Aataf (left) finished with a top ten placement and Yazid Mohamad (right) brought home the gold with a hard-fought first place tie! We are so proud of you both and way to represent Vanguard High School.

Any Seniors interested in attending UTA, please see the announcement from Ms. Roth in the Vault. There are some great opportunities a representative of the school would like to share with our Vanguard Seniors.

1️⃣ Super Saturday: FAFSA + TASFA
📅 Date: Saturday, January 25th
🕘 Time: 9 AM to 12:30 PM
📍 Location: North Mesquite HS - Cafeteria
Need help completing your FAFSA or TASFA applications? This is your chance to get hands-on assistance! Completing your financial aid application is important to qualify for college scholarships and grants. Don’t miss out!
***Ms. Spellmon will be in attendance!***

3️⃣ Bacterial Meningitis Clinic Drive *RSVP-Only*
📅 Date: Thursday, February 6th
🕘 Time: 4 PM - 6 PM
📍 Location: North Mesquite High School
Texas colleges require proof of a bacterial meningitis vaccine for enrollment. If you haven’t taken care of this yet, take advantage of this clinic drive to get your vaccine and meet this important college entry requirement.
📌 Important Reminders:

• Bring your student ID
• RSVP for the event if required! The link is attached below.

Feel free to contact me if you have questions or need more information! Let’s finish strong, Class of 2025! 💪🎉
- Ms. Spellmon

Seniors and parents are invited to our FAFSA/TASFA application workshop on Tuesday, February 4 from 5:00 - 7:30 PM. Come and let us help you get money for college!

Congratulations are in order for JROTC Cadet Alejandro Rivas who has been accepted to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Cadet Rivas received a phone call from his congressman during school on Friday delivering the great news. This prestigious appointment is one of the highest honors a young person can achieve and marks the beginning of an extraordinary journey of leadership, service, and personal growth.

West Point's selection process is known for its rigorous standards, requiring applicants to excel academically, demonstrate exceptional leadership in extracurricular activities, and meet stringent physical fitness requirements. However, the path to admission doesn’t end there—applicants must also receive a nomination from a member of Congress, a milestone that gives testament to Alejandro’s character, perseverance, and commitment to service. Congratulations, “Big Rivas” on this outstanding achievement!

VHS welcomes Kathy Hernandez as our new Financial Clerical Assistant. If you have any questions about payments in the MISD InTouch system, please reach out to Ms. Hernandez at khernandez5@mesquiteisd.org or 972-88-0014.

Looking for a chance to support Vanguard High School students in a personal way, then we have an opportunity for you to serve as a judge at our upcoming Technology Student Association Regional Contest. The event is Feb 14th and 15th plus we have slots for the week before for virtual judging.

Click the link to find out more info https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0B4EABAE2AAAF85-54124332-regional

Still need more info? Contact Ricky Broussard rbroussard@mesquiteisd.org

Come have some fun at Vanguard High School on Saturday, February 1, from 9:00-1:00!

Any student in Mesquite ISD (especially Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors) are invited to attend and would need to sign up via the link below. We will have breakout sessions including Etiquette, Financial Literacy/Planning and basic Automotive lessons. We will end with a student panel Q&A which is always interesting and interactive!!

Breakfast, snacks, and lunch provided.

🚨 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.