VHS Counseling October Newsletter

• Start Planning Now - Course Selection Discussions Begin Soon!

• PSAT for 10th & 11th Grades // October 20

• Test Preparation Opportunities

• Freshman & Senior October 20 Plans

• College Visits at Vandegrift

• ASVAB Career Exploration Program // Registration Open!

• AP course and exam registration through College Board & Total Registration is happening now!

• Austin Community College Dual Credit

• Student Leadership Opportunities

• Senior Workdays during PIT

• FAFSA is a Graduation Requirement! // NOW OPEN!!

• Financial Aid Night // CPHS October 1 or December 1

• NEW GRADUATION REQUIREMENT // MY TEXAS FUTURE

• TSI Assessment // November 5 @ VHS

• Seniors - Stay Connected!

• Save the Date - School Day SAT // March 3

10th Grade

• Sophomore Counselor Connection Meetings - Healthy Relationships/Dating Violence Prevention // October 5 & 6

9th Grade:

• Freshman Counselor Connection Meetings - Mental Health Awareness // October 14 & 15

Need to Get in Touch?

• Contact Info for Campus Counselors/Administration

IMPORTANT DATES IN ORDER:

Oct 1 // FAFSA Opens // Financial Aid Night @ CPHS

Oct 1 // TSI Assessment

Oct 5 & 6 // Sophomore Counselor Connection Visits - Healthy Relationships/Dating Violence Prevention

Oct 14 & 15 // Freshman Counselor Connection Visits - Mental Health Awareness

Oct 20 // PSAT & Senior Summit

Nov 5 // TSI Assessment

March 11, 4p // Final Deadline for ALL Change Requests for the 2027-28 School Year

Course selection discussions for next school year will begin in November! As we approach that time, students are encouraged to take a moment to reflect on their current course - their interests, strengths, and areas for growth - and begin thinking about appropriate next courses within their pathway.

Students should also consider whether their current level of academic rigor feels like an appropriate fit. A little reflection now can help students feel more confident and prepared when course selection conversations begin in November.

The final course request change deadline for the 2027-28 school year is March 11th at 4p.

Sophomores & Juniors - SAVE THE DATE! PSAT: October 20, 2026

All 10th & 11th grade students will take the PSAT during the school day. The school-day PSAT test is free and requires no registration! There is no make-up opportunity for this test date.

Students will be allowed to use their own device as long as the bluebook app is downloaded.

More Than a Teacher offers practice tests and test prep classes, while Khan Academy offers free online SAT prep.

Freshmen will be attending their regularly scheduled A day classes the morning of October 20. Teachers will notify students of any adjustments to their meeting location for 1st, PIT, and 2nd periods.

Seniors will participate in Senior Summit the morning of October 20 from 9:45-noon. If seniors are on campus before 9:45, they will attend a study hall in the library to work on schoolwork or other to-dos. Seniors must arrive by 9:45a to complete the state required graduation requirements. After 2nd period, seniors will resume their regular A-day schedule. Students should remember to bring their laptops fully charged. Locations & more details will be posted in the Class of 2027 Google Classroom on October 15.

College admission representatives want to connect with our amazing Vandegrift students! There are so many benefits to connecting and tuning into these college visits:

• Develop an understanding of college offerings and college lingo
• Gain unique perspectives on individual colleges
• Fully understand the admissions process, scholarship opportunities, etc.
• Connect personally with admission representatives (the folks who often review college applications!)

You can see upcoming visits through the College Visits @ VHS document. Students should RSVP for the visit(s) in Naviance.

Juniors and seniors are also allotted 2 excused absences annually to visit colleges in person - more info here. Additionally, LISD has several upcoming student breaks perfect for visiting college campuses - Oct 9-13, and Nov 2-3.

The ASVAB Career Exploration Program is a FREE test available to interested 10th-12th grade students. The ASVAB program facilitates career planning and exploration, combining a multiple-aptitude test with an interest self-assessment and a wide range of career exploration tools. The test is open to any student who simply is wanting more career guidance, but is a requirement for students interested in pursuing military options. NOTE: LISD does not release scores to the military; students pursuing the military are responsible for sharing their scores.

The test will take place on Wednesday, November 12 - REGISTER HERE.

Spring 2027 Registration opens October 15/16

Students planning to take spring ACC classes should have confirmed their plans in the Dual Credit Google Classroom by October 1. Additional registration information will be posted in the Dual Credit Google Classroom by October 7 and students can stop by the CCC-Room 1306 if they have questions.

Summer 2027 / School Year 2027–28 planning for current 9th, 10th, 11th graders

Information about the ACC Dual Credit program will be posted in the Class of 202X Google Classrooms and presentations will be made in 10th grade classrooms in early November. Students who have already decided they would like to take ACC Dual Credit courses in Summer 2027 and/or the 2027–28 school year may start the enrollment process now. Steps are posted on the VHS CCC Website. The priority deadline for completing steps 1-5 for Summer 2027 and/or School Year 2027-28 is February 19, with the final deadline on March 11.

For seniors, information about ACC enrollment and registration will be posted in the Class of 2027 Google Classroom with in person support workshops offered monthly beginning in January.

Student leadership opportunities are posted in grade level Google Classrooms throughout the school year. These opportunities, sponsored by local organizations, are typically grade level specific and include an application process. The following leadership opportunities will be posted this month:

RYLA Leadership Camp - open to 10th & 11th grade students. Information and application details will be posted in the Class of 2029 & Class of 2028 Google Classrooms.

Camp Enterprise - open to 11th grade students. Information and application details will be posted in the Class of 2028 Google Classroom.

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.

Senior parents, or any parents planning ahead when it comes to financing college, are invited to join

Senior parents, or any parents planning ahead when it comes to financing college, are invited to join A+ College Planning for their Taking the Stress Out of College Planning workshop. Upcoming sessions will be hosted at Cedar Park High School October 1 & December 1 from 6-7pm in the CPHS library.

• Create a My Texas Future profile and choose to participate in Direct Admissions, which includes allowing the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to share necessary student data and education records with participating Texas colleges and universities; OR

• Opt out of participation by having a parent/guardian complete and sign the required opt-out form and submitting it to the link provided below

***Visit the VHS Counseling website to learn more about this new graduation requirement.***

STEP ONE:

• Create a My Texas Future profile and elect to participate in Direct Admissions OR

• Complete a signed opt-out form

STEP TWO:

• Submit documentation to this linked form

Counselors will be reviewing college readiness status (known as TSI, Texas Success Initiative) individually with seniors during senior conferences. Students who are not yet TSI complete in Reading & Writing and/or Math are encouraged to take proactive steps to prepare and take the TSI Assessment in an effort to ensure a seamless transition to college level coursework.

The TSI Assessment is offered at Vandegrift regularly for seniors for free. The next testing opportunity is Thursday, November 5. Seniors can register HERE.

Make sure to keep up to date on all things Class of 2027 with the Senior Information Page!

All 11th grade students will take the SAT during the school day on March 3rd. The school-day SAT test is free and requires no registration! Juniors should plan to take the SAT and/or ACT in the spring semester in preparation for the college application process. Other than this school-day SAT, students may register for Saturday test opportunities based on national testing dates through the SAT or ACT websites.

More Than a Teacher offers practice tests and test prep classes, while Khan Academy offers free online SAT prep.

We will be holding Counselor Connection sessions for sophomores October 5 & 6 during English 2 classes. These sessions will focus on healthy relationships and dating violence prevention. As you will soon be moving on to your next steps in life, we feel it is crucial to have conversations on this topic. Student feedback from previous years has indicated students find these conversations to have value and importance.

Parents/guardians interested in previewing the Counselor Connection lesson beforehand may reach out to the Lead Counselor for more information: kandice.detlefsen@leanderisd.org.

We will be holding Counselor Connection sessions for freshmen October 14 & 15 during English 1 classes. These sessions will focus on general mental health awareness, warning signs of depression, suicide prevention, and managing anxiety.

Parents/guardians interested in previewing the Counselor Connection lesson beforehand may reach out to the Lead Counselor for more information: kandice.detlefsen@leanderisd.org.

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

VHS Counselors

Kandice Detlefsen, Lead Counselor - A - B

Kylie Russell - C - Ga

Charity Escott - Ge - Kn

Tracy Noble - Ko - Ne

Shawna Powell - Ng - Si

Melissa Wells - Sk - Z

VHS Assistant Principals

Amanda Toon, Associate Principal - A

Becky Azard-Jackson - B - F

Parrish McEwen - G - Le

Collin Fletcher - Li - Ri

David Barnes - Ro - Z

Additional Staff Contact Information

Katie Kendall - College and Career Transition Coordinator

Heidi Kalla - Dean of Instruction

Emily Rullan - Special Education Team Lead

Jennifer Taylor - 504 Coordinator