VHS Counseling December Newsletter

All Grades

• Semester 2 Level Drop Requests

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

• Semester 2 Off Period Application (new applicants) - DEADLINE DECEMBER 13, 12p (noon)

• Course Selection Timeline

• Interested in Joining the PALS Program Next Year?

• Dual Credit through Austin Community College

All Things Senior

• Stay Updated!
• FAFSA is OPEN!! (And it's a Graduation Requirement!)
• FAFSA Webinar

• Accepted? We Want to Know!

• Frequently Asked Senior Questions

Junior Zone

• Junior Conferences & Parent/Guardian Informational Webinar - Save the Dates!
• Upcoming Test Preparation Opportunities
• Leadership Opportunities

Sophomores

• Now is a Great Time to Update Your Resume!

Freshmen

• Freshman Counselor Conferences & Four Year Planning
• Explore the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program – Upcoming Webinar for 9th Graders

Leander ISD Mental Health Minutes

• Is My Friendship Unhealthy?
• Mindfulness
• Circle of Control

Dates to Remember:

• December 2 & 3: 9th Grade Four Year Planning Classroom Presentations
• December 3, 5:30p: IB Informational Webinar for Freshman Families
• December 2 - 6: Photo Texas on Campus for Senior Portrait Appointments
• December 10: FAFSA Webinar
• December 12 & 13: Freshman/Counselor Conferences
• December 13, 12p: Deadline to Have Hours Cleared to Maintain Off Period Privileges
• January 16, 17, or 18: PALS Information Meetings
• January 17 & 21: Counselor Connection Meetings for Juniors
• January 21, 6p: Junior Parent/Guardian Info Webinar
• January 27 - February 21: Junior Conferences

The window to request a level drop from an advanced course to an on-level course is now open. The deadline to submit change requests will be 12 p.m. on Thursday, December 19, 2024. Click here for instructions on how to view your 2nd semester schedule in Home Access Center.

**STUDENTS MUST BE LOGGED INTO THEIR LEANDER ISD ACCOUNTS TO ACCESS THE LEVEL DROP REQUEST FORM**

Please note the following:

• Connect with your teacher if you are uncertain if a level change is needed. Counselors are unable to meet with students regarding level changes.

• SENIORS considering a level change should contact the universities to which they have/are applying to; level changes can impact an admission decision.

• Any student taking AP Government or AP Economics semester two should note that there is no level drop window during the 2nd semester.

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

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 13, 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 Assitant 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 13 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.

Please view the VHS Course Selection Timeline document for all information regarding upcoming academic planning activities.

Make sure to attend an information session in January to get information on the application process/requirements.

You have the option to attend before or after school on January 16, 17, or 18 in the Lecture Hall.

ACC spring 2025 registration is underway and students who are taking spring ACC classes should be registered.

Information about ACC's dual credit program was presented to 10th grade students during their science classes in November to help them consider dual credit options when planning courses. Those slides and next steps are posted in the Class of 2027 Google Classroom. Preparation for ACC dual credit for summer and fall 2025 will begin in January.

Full details about the Dual Credit opportunities through Austin Community College can be found on our VHS College & Career Center website.

Make sure to stay up-to-date on senior specific information by visiting the Senior Information Page regularly!

Important Upcoming Dates...

• December 2 - 6 // Photo Texas on campus for Senior Portraits // Sign Up Link
• January 31 // Order Cap & Gown by this date to avoid late fee (link directly to only cap, gown & tassel, not fancy packages)

The FAFSA is NOW OPEN for this year's graduating seniors!!!!

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.

The Office of Federal Student Aid is hosting a webinar on December 10 to guide parents & students through submitting the 2025-26 FASFA form- with a live demonstration of the 2025-26 FAFSA form, an overview of the financial aid process, available federal student aid programs, and funding sources, key facts and common myths about financial aid, a guide on creating and accessing your StudentAid.gov account, and more. Register here.

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"

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.

Counselors will begin meeting with 11th grade students in January to begin the course selection process for the 2025-26 school year. Junior/Counselor Conferences will take place January 24 - February 16 to discuss post-secondary planning and finalize course selections for senior year.

**Be on the lookout for the Viper Vitals for Juniors newsletter with more specifics coming soon!**

Important Junior Dates

January 17 & 21 - Counselor Connection presentations during students' English class periods - Students taking English 3 through ACC will meet in the Lecture Hall during your ACC off period on Friday, January 17

January 21, 6:00pm - Junior Parent/Guardian Info Webinar // Register Here (password - Vipers)

January 27 - February 21 // 11th Grade Individual Student/Counselor Conferences (parents/guardians invited to join via Zoom)

SAVE THE DATE - School Day SAT

• SAT (no writing) for all juniors on March 6, 2024 // FREE, no registration required

Test Preparation Opportunities

• 1/11/25 Mock SAT at VHS ($15)
  
• 1/25/25 Mock ACT at VHS ($15)
• Test Preparation Classes for March SAT after school at VHS ($649) // Classes begin in February

• Monday/Wednesday
• Tuesday/Thursday

Other Spring To-Do Suggestions:

• 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 (register in Naviance)

This is the time of year when leadership opportunities often become available specifically for junior students. These opportunities are sponsored by community organizations and we encourage students to check their Google Class of 2026 classroom regularly - information is posted as it becomes available.

Sophomores recently utilized Naviance tools to complete a Skills Assessment, notate careers of interest, and update four year plans.

Class of 2027 Counselor Connection Presentation

Keep the use of Naviance going! Naviance has a wonderful tool for keeping your accomplishments up to date. This will help you build your resume in future years. To get started, access Naviance through your LISD Launchpad portal. Then click on "About Me --> Resume" and get started!

December 2 - 3 // Counselor Connection 4 Year Planning Classroom Visits (for students, through English classes)

December 3, 5:30pm // IB Informational Webinar for Students & Families // Register Here (password: IBvipers)

December 12 - 13 // 10th Grade Individual Student/Counselor Conferences (for students, during biology classes)

Attention 9th-grade families!

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program is a two-year academic program designed to develop students into globally-minded, critical thinkers and problem-solvers. Our IB Coordinator, Alexandra Magness is hosting two informational webinars designed to help you learn about this opportunity. These sessions will provide a comprehensive overview of the IB program, its benefits, course requirements, and the process to join. Whether your student is in 9th grade and starting to plan ahead, or in 10th grade and considering joining for their junior year, these webinars are for you!

For 9th Grade Students:

• Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 5:30p
• You can register for this webinar here (password: IBvipers).

Mrs. Magness looks forward to guiding you through the exciting opportunities the IB Diploma Program offers. And you can always explore the VHS IBDP on the program's website.

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.

December Mental Health Minutes:

Is My Friendship Unhealthy? English // Spanish

Mindfulness English // Spanish

Circle of Control English

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

VHS Counselors

Kandice Detlefsen, Lead Counselor - A - Bo

DeAngelo Freeman - Br - Ep

Becca Ramirez - Er - H

Charity Escott - I - Mar

Tracy Noble - Mas - Pi

Shawna Powell - Pl - St

Melissa Wells - Su - Z

VHS Assistant Principals

Amanda Toon, Associate Principal - A - B

Becky Azard-Jackson - C - G

Parrish McEwen - H - Ma

Collin Fletcher - Mc - Sa

Delis Golden - Sc - Z

Additional Staff Contact Information

Katie Kendall - College and Career Transition Coordinator

Heidi Kalla - Dean of Instruction

Emily Rullan - Special Education Team Lead

Lori Tanner - 504 Coordinator

Alexandra Magness- IB Coordinator