VHS Counseling April Newsletter

Course Selection Information

• Next Year Course Requests
• Parents/Guardians - General Course Request Questions?
• Off Period Applications
• Student Aide Applications
• Dual Credit Through Austin Community College
• Course Opportunities - Vipertech / AVID
• OCPE Application Deadline // May 30

Senior Zone

• State Graduation Requirement: Financial Aid Application

• Scholarship Information

• Senior Awards // May 19
• Don't Be Caught Without a Cap & Gown!

• Do I need tickets for graduation?

• Accepted? We Want to Know!

• Senior Video Submissions
• Class of 2025 Senior Walk Schedule

Junior Zone

• Register Now for College Jumpstart

College & Career Exploration

• Enrichment Opportunities in Naviance
• College Visits for VHS Students
• Austin National College Fair // April 8
• Tackling the Cost of College Workshop // April 29

Mental Health Minutes

Next year's course requests are viewable in Home Access Center (HAC). Click here for instructions on how to view your requests in HAC.

Instructions for requesting updates to next year's course requests are found in the Course Verification Guide. Please review it carefully prior to requesting any changes.

Please note:

• Counselors are unable to process any change requests submitted via email.
• There will be no additional changes past the May 1st deadline. This includes level drops (moving from an advanced/AP course to an on-level equivalent). Students enrolled in an advanced/AP course as of May 1st will remain enrolled through at least the first progress report period. Level drops can be submitted between weeks 4 - 7 of next school year.
• Course selections are a year-long commitment. (NO CHANGES TO ELECTIVE COURSES AT SEMESTER)

Counselors will be hosting open office hours via Zoom for parent/guardian course selection questions April 8th - 10th.

The Zoom room will be open from 9a - 11:30a and 12:30 - 3p on these dates. A reminder will be sent the week of via the Remind app.

Click here for the Zoom room (opens April 8th at 9a)

Password: Vipers

Please note, this will be an open forum style Zoom meeting with multiple parents joining together; due to the number of students we are serving, we are unable to host individual parent meetings regarding course selection.

Students who will be SENIORS next year have the privilege of applying for "off periods," up to one period each day (TWO total).

JUNIORS have the privilege of applying for up to ONE total off period.

REVIEW THE VHS OFF PERIOD GUIDELINES PRIOR TO SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

Juniors/seniors can access the off period application within the Course Verification Guide. Please submit off period requests (including those impacting semester 2) prior to May 1st. You DO NOT need to submit an additional change request form if you are only requesting off periods.

Students may not apply for an off period if they are enrolled in any ACC or OCPE Category 1 classes during the school year due to Texas PEIMS attendance code referenced above.

Though you may see off periods listed in your course requests prior to the start of school, please know they are not guaranteed. You must meet all the qualifying requirements in order to earn your off periods.

Junior and Senior students may apply for a position as a Student Aide (application found in the Course Verification Guide).

9th, 10th, and 11th grade students interested in taking ACC dual credit classes summer 2025 and/or during the 25-26 school year should complete the ACC dual credit enrollment process and prepare for registration.

For summer courses, students who met the enrollment priority deadline of March 13 can begin registering on April 4. Students who complete the enrollment steps after March 13 may experience a delay in registration but can still enroll if space is available.

For school year courses, April 25 is the priority deadline to complete the dual credit enrollment process to be ready for fall registration on May 16.

To note: 12th grade students interested in taking ACC courses after graduation can find more information here

Interested in hands-on problem solving and helping others by sharing your technical knowledge?

Vipertech needs YOU! Whether it’s helping students connect to Wi-Fi, repairing laptops, or assisting with technology all over campus, Vipertech students are the front-line defense for any technology battle.

Don’t know a thing about computers? No problem! Vipertech will teach you the skills and give you the tools to succeed. We are looking for individuals who are excited to jump in at the opportunity to help, sharpen their people-skills and tackle technology “down-time.”

Vandegrift High School is very proud of the AVID Program which has supported students throughout their high school careers. AVID stands for Advancement via Individual Determination, which is a college readiness elective course focusing on critical thinking, collaborative learning via twice-weekly tutorials, academic enrichment, organizational and study skills, and motivational activities. AVID's mission is to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college and career readiness and success in a global society.

Using your Leander ISD Gmail account, join the AVID Online Application Google Classroom which provides step-by-step directions to apply. Join Code: j3avp72 (Current and previous VHS AVID students do not need to reapply.)

Questions may be directed to Mr. Adrian, freshman AVID teacher and VHS AVID coordinator, at Joe.Adrian@leanderisd.org.

Off-Campus PE Applications are due by May 30, 2025 at 4pm. Please visit the district website for information and application information. Leander ISD OCPE Information

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.

Leander ISD communicates information regarding scholarship opportunities through the Naviance platform. See this infographic for how to navigate Naviance scholarship information. We also post local scholarship opportunities in the Class of 2025 Google classroom (Classwork --> Scholarships). Though these applications can be time consuming, the payoff can be huge - FREE $$!

The Senior Awards Ceremony will recognize seniors who have received outstanding academic, service, and military honors and/or awards. The ceremony will take place Monday, May 19 at 5p in the Vandegrift High School Performing Arts Center. Seniors receiving awards and recognition will receive invitations the week of April 28th to attend the Senior Awards ceremony, however, all are welcome to join the celebration.

This is a formal celebration - we encourage students to dress up (i.e. slacks, button-ups, dresses).

It is imperative you order your cap & gown for graduation. All seniors are required to have a cap & gown to participate in graduation ceremonies.

Graduation regalia identifying various honors are distributed in different ways as we near graduation. A document will be posted in the spring regarding honors and contacts.

Bundled packages and additional class of 2025 products can be found at the Josten's VHS store.

No! Seating at the HEB Center is first come, first served. There is ample seating for all seniors and their guests.

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"

The VHS A/V Program needs your help to build an archive of images and footage to celebrate and show off our grads in the graduation video.

Please submit up to five images/videos featuring a 2025 VHS Senior student(s). Group shots are great if they are ALL VHS seniors this year!

Submissions should feature student activities centered around school life. We want to feature all the times they've had together here at VHS through athletics, academics and student life.

We'd also love some shots you may have of current seniors together when they were younger!
Please keep videos to 15 seconds or less.

Senior walks for the Leander ISD Class of 2025 will be held across elementary campuses from May 19-22. These walks allow graduating seniors to reconnect with the elementary campus where they began their education, and inspire current elementary students who get to see a glimpse of their own futures.

Seniors who participate in the walk on May 19 and 21 should dress in school spirit wear (elementary, high school, collegiate, military, etc.) since they will not yet have their caps and gowns. Seniors walking on May 22 should wear their graduation caps and gowns.

Click here for the full schedule.

Eager to start tackling your college applications this summer? Sign up to attend College Jump Start, a free college application workshop hosted at Vandegrift High School.

Access the link below for full details and registration links for sessions in May, June, & July.

Students can now find ongoing enrichment programs, summer camps, study abroad opportunities, internships, and volunteer opportunities in Naviance. To browse these opportunities, students should log into their Naviance account (accessed through Leander ISD Launchpad), select "Colleges" & "Enrichment Programs".

Don't forget that college admissions representatives are still scheduling visits to connect with prospective applicants! This is a great way to find out more about colleges, develop an understanding about the admissions process, and connect with the representatives who will be reviewing your application. Click here to access the College Visit Calendar and instructions for registration.

The fair will be held on Tuesday, April 8th, 2025 from 6:00 - 8:30 PM at the Palmer Events Center. Over 300 exhibitors are expected to participate. A list of participating institutions is constantly updated as Colleges/Universities sign up for this opportunity, but you can see that list here. Click here to register for the fair.

College planning is more complex than ever—rising costs, endless options, and financial uncertainty. Without a plan, families risk overpaying or choosing the wrong school.

A+ College Planning is hosting a free, no-pressure workshop that will give you the tools and insights to make confident decisions about your student’s future on April 29th, 6p at the Cedar Park Public Library. Click here to learn more and reserve your spot.

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.

April Mental Health Minutes:

• Findling Balance
• Failure & Disappointment
• Identifying What is Important to You
• Letting Go

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