Hello, Vanguards! We made it to winter break! This is a good season to be reflective of all of the wonderful things we have experienced during the first semester at Vanguard. We have some of the most amazing students in the district. What I appreciate most is the relationships and the time spent getting to know each and every one of our students and staff. As we get ready for finals this week and the close of the year, let's end it strong with good will and grace for all.

A couple of items to mention as reminders for this week:

• FAFSA Night is Monday, December 16th right here at VHS from 5:00-7:30 pm.
• STUDENTS: The last day to turn in hours for recoup will be Tuesday, December 17th. No more hours will be accepted after that date.
• The deadline to request enrollment at VHS is Friday, December 20, 2024 at 11:59 PM. Any MISD student in 8th grade may submit a request to attend VHS.

I hope you have a wonderful winter break and that you are able to spend the time with family and friends. Happy Holidays! Viam Ducemus - We WILL Lead!

All students and staff will be required to wear their school ID badges while on campus. This policy will provide an additional layer of safety and security for our schools. Please note:

All students have received an ID and lanyard. Student IDs must be visible at all times. If a student loses or misplaces their ID, temporary badges and replacement IDs will be available for purchase.

Attention Class of 2029: enrollment requests to attend Vanguard High School for the 2025-2026 school year are now open! Current MISD 8th grade students will find the interest form in their Skyward account. The deadline to request enrollment is Friday, December 20, 2024 at 11:59 PM. Any MISD student in 8th grade may submit a request to attend VHS.

*Space is limited. If more students select a program than seats are available, a matrix will be used to rank all students on the same criteria for admission to limited enrollment programs.

Last weekend, some of our Auto students participated in the 5th Annual North Texas Automobile Dealers Auto Tech competition at Texas Motor Speedway! The event is the largest auto tech competition in the state and allows students to compete for prizes and scholarships.

Reconnect and Student Council students volunteered at Cross Elementary for their Literacy Night on Thursday, December 12th.

Please come join us! There will be a SPLAT Art Club Meeting Monday, December 16, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. in room H210.

Support the Vanguard High School Graphic Design department and help our students participate in SkillsUSA competitions by purchasing one of our hats! Choose from 3 options:

• Natural/Navy High Profile Hat (SnapBack)

• Light Khaki/Navy Ball Cap (Adjustable)

• Grey Hat (SnapBack)

Each hat features 3D puff embroidery and is available for $25 plus tax. The last day to order is Wednesday, December 18th.

To order, visit Intouch, click Items at Students School > High Schools > Vanguard High School > Graphic Design, and select your hat. Want to see the hats before buying? Check out our table setup during all lunches in the commons.

If using a phone turn it to the side to view the images online.

NHS members and sponsors toured the University of Texas at Arlington campus this past week.

Reconnect is selling VHS gear for the winter season, similar to the t-shirts earlier this year. The link will be live until December 22nd. The shirts will be delivered in January when we return. Any proceeds will benefit the Class of 2025!

Blood pressure checks were performed on some of our teachers by our EMT students! Thank you to Mr. Campbell and his students!

Students in PE with Coach Adcock and Coach Hunt have been fishing in our campus pond. Some fish were caught but of course were released!

This week, Mrs. Nash’s Senior Therapy students took an exciting college tour at Parker University!

Students had the opportunity to explore Parker’s incredible Chiropractic program and learn about their diverse graduate and undergraduate offerings. One of the highlights was the hands-on learning experience in Parker’s cutting-edge virtual anatomy lab—an unforgettable experience for our future healthcare professionals!

A huge thank you to Parker University for giving our students such an inspiring and educational day. Special thanks to Shianne Bonds, Head Athletic Trainer at North Mesquite High School, for coordinating this amazing opportunity!

Mr. Turner and Mr. Beauchamp's Auto Tech students are building a strong foundation for future success, developing hands-on skills that will propel them forward in their careers.

Our future Patient Care Technicians in Mrs. Berry's classes are taking big steps—literally! This week, students practiced essential skills like assisting patients from sit to stand with a gait belt and mastering the proper techniques for ambulation with crutches. These hands-on experiences are building their confidence and expertise for real-world patient care.

Student PL - November to December

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! 🎓💼

Attention Seniors - Monday, December 16th, we will be having a FAFSA and financial aid night here at Vanguard. Bring your parents from 5 to 7:30 to get help with completing your financial aid. See Ms. Spellmon or Ms. Roth with any questions!

Congratulations to the Vanguard JROTC VIPERBOT teams for their outstanding performance at this weekend’s tournament! It is with immense honor and excitement that we extend congratulations to our four JROTC Viperbot robotics teams who competed at this weekend’s Mesquite JROTC VEX Robotics competitive tournament. Their dedication, teamwork, and relentless pursuit of excellence set them apart, showcasing not just their technical skills but also the values of discipline and teamwork. The robotics tournament, open to ANY JROTC program willing and able to compete, brought together talented teams from across the DFW metroplex, each eager to demonstrate their knowledge, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. Our Viperbot teams, however, stood out with their remarkable ingenuity and strategic planning, earning top awards and achievements across several key categories. Click here for more information on each team's performance.

We are still riding high from such a great event last week and wanted to share the professional photos that were captured as well as the NBC 5 media link.

Please see the photo gallery here: https://otcreative.pic-time.com/-paxgirlsincdallas/gallery

VIDEO ONLY -- https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/hometown-hopefuls/north-texas-gold-medalist-shares-inspirational-story-with-future-leaders/3718227/

ARTICLE W/VIDEO ATTACHED -- https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/north-texas-olympic-gold-medalist-inspires-local-girls/3717501/

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.

Judges NEEDED! Business Professionals of America's Regional Leadership Conference is on January 18, 2025 at Vanguard High School in Mesquite. We are looking for volunteers to fill our judged events and assist us with our conference to review projects and presentations from the most outstanding young leaders in Texas. Winners will advance to the State Leadership Conference. For more info please click the attachment below! To register as a judge, click the link below!

Join us for THE GAP. A 5-session series crafted for MISD families with children in middle and high school. Together, we'll dive into the range of opportunities awaiting your child after high school and explore the resources MISD provides to guide them every step of the way.

In order to keep our students at Vanguard safe we require student identification badges to be worn everyday and be visible and on the outside of clothing at all times. If a student loses their ID they will be required to purchase a new one for $5.

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

Students, the 5:15 tutoring buses have started. 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 ride the tutoring bus if you're staying for actual tutoring with a teacher. Tutoring 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.

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.