• Semester 2 Schedule Change Requests
• PSAT Scores
• ACC Spring Registration for Spring 2022
• Juniors - What's Next? // SAT/ACT info & more...
• Juniors - Career Exploration & Educational Pathways
• College & Career Center Spring Workshop Series
• Viper Night // January 13
• Leadership Opportunities for 10th & 11th Grades
• Mental Health Minute Series Launch

Dates to Remember:

• Dec 16 // Deadline to Request Semester 2 Schedule Changes
• Dec 17 // Registration Deadline for School Day ACT (juniors only)
• Jan 10 // Understanding College Admissions Testing Webinar
• Jan 13 // Viper Night
• Mar 2 // School Day SAT (no registration required - juniors only)
• Mar 29 // School Day ACT (registration required - juniors only)

Students needing a schedule change for the spring semester due to athletic tryouts, level changes, or another compelling educational reason will fill out the electronic change request linked below. The deadline to submit a schedule change is 12 p.m. on Thursday, December 16, 2021. 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 CHANGE REQUEST FORM**

Please note the following:

• Elective availability for second semester is extremely limited. Students are not guaranteed their requested course change. Counselors will reach out to students via email in the event a request cannot be fulfilled. CLICK HERE TO SEE LIST OF AVAILABLE ELECTIVE OPTIONS (subject to change as seats are filled).

• Endorsement and Program of Study graduation requirements need to be taken into account when considering changing courses.

• Seniors considering a schedule change should contact the universities to which they have/are applying to; schedule 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.

Scores from the October PSAT are set to be released next week! Scores will be sent directly to student school email addresses from College Board the week of December 6th with a unique code that will connect students to their PSAT Score Report. Please watch this Understanding Your PSAT/NMSQT Score Report video to help decode the PSAT Score Report and learn where attention can be focused to best prepare for the SAT and ACT tets in the future.

Mrs. Spradling will be reaching out to sophomore students whose Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) scores qualify as college ready (460+) for dual credit purposes in early January.

Spring semester registration is underway for dual credit courses through ACC. New or returning students who need assistance with enrollment & registration should reach out to Mrs. Spradling.

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

PSAT is over, and juniors may be wondering, “Now what?” Here’s what’s on your to do list for Spring 2022 in preparation for senior year and beyond.

• Prepare and register for ACT and/or SAT – We will be hosting a Understanding College Admissions Testing webinar on Monday, January 10th during PIT (11:44-12:26) for students and parents to digest the registration process, preparation, importance of calendaring, and how test scores are used, especially in light of continued test-optional admission admission policies. Registration and recording will be posted on our Workshop Series page as the date nears.
• 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 through a virtual visit (register in Naviance)
• Junior 1:1 Conferences with counselors will be scheduled beginning in February

SAVE THE DATE - School Day SAT & ACT

• SAT (no writing) for all juniors on March 2, 2022 // FREE, no registration required
  
• ACT with writing for juniors who register on March 29, 2022 // Registration & $55 fee required - REGISTRATION DEADLINE DECEMBER 17
• Full info on flyer linked below. Questions? Email vhs.testing@leanderisd.org

This past month we met with juniors during PIT and asked them to consider "What's Your Endgame?". During this presentation, we encouraged them to dive into career exploration tools and explore educational pathways. Naturally, we encourage parents to explore these tools and have these conversations with their students. Check out this video and the slide deck for hyperlinks.

Juniors will be expected to come prepared to their Counselor one-on-one meeting next semester with the results of their exploration and research.

Check out the VHS College & Career Center Workshop Series for recordings, slides, and resources available. Additionally, check out the lineup of upcoming workshops, all set to take place virtually during PIT on Mondays in a webinar format, 11:44-12:26. Students and parents of all grade levels are invited to join topics of interest.

Viper Night will take place 6:00-8:00 PM on Thursday, January 13th and is open to all students and parents in a come & go format. Viper Night will include:

• Elective fair
• Club & Organization fair
• Student Panels

Students are encouraged to take advantage of this evening to explore and learn more about ALL that Vandegrift has to offer!

Two leadership opportunities are posted in Google Classrooms for current sophomores and juniors:

• RYLA Leadership Camp - students currently in 10th or 11th grade. Application deadline is December 10, 2021 at 4:00 PM.
• Boy's State - male students currently in 11th grade. Application deadline is December 6, 2021 at 4:00 PM.

Be sure to check our Class of 2023 or Class of 2024 Google Classroom for more information.

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 debut a Mental Health Minute video series. The videos will be shared weekly through students' Class of 20XX Google classroom. We will also be including the Mental Health Minutes for each month within the VHS Counseling Newsletter.

The videos were written and recorded by Leander ISD Counseling Services team members. Some of the topics covered will include managing stress, healthy coping skills, staying grounded, talking about your feelings, making and building positive friendships, and how and when to ask for help. Each video ends with the reminder that “if you or someone you know is struggling, tell a trusted adult."

Mental Health Minute Launch

Mental Health Minute Launch with Dr. Gearing - English