VHS Counseling November Newsletter

In this newsletter you will find information about.....

What's Happening in the VHS Counseling Office?

VHS Counseling's Scope & Sequence for the 2026-27 School Year

Course Selection Timeline

2027-28 Course Selection Timeline & Activities

All Grades:

Semester 2 Schedules (Preview)
Austin Community College Dual Credit
ASVAB Career Exploration Program // Registration Open!
AP Exam Registration
Updated Process for Correspondence Coursework

Juniors & Seniors:

Currently Have an Off Period? DON'T LOSE IT!
Semester 2 Off Period Application - DEADLINE DECEMBER 12, 12p (noon)
Juniors - What's Next?
Leadership Opportunity

Freshmen & Sophomores:

Sophomore Counselor Conferences & Four Year Planning

Freshman Counselor Conferences & Four Year Planning

Dates to Remember:

November 4 & 5: Dual Credit Overview for Sophomores
November 6 & 9: 10th Grade Four Year Planning Classroom Presentations
November 12 & 13: 11th Grade Classroom Presentations
November 16 & 17: 9th Grade Four Year Planning Classroom Presentations
November 18: ASVAB
December 1 - 4: Sophomore/Counselor Conferences // Course Selection Submission
December 7 & 8: Freshman/Counselor Conferences // Course Selection Submission
December 11 & 14: Junior Mini-Meetings // Course Selection Submission
January 21: Viper Night
March 11, 4p: Final Deadline for ALL Change Requests for the 2027-28 School Year

What's Happening in the VHS Counseling Office?

VHS Counseling Scope & Sequence

The VHS Counseling Team offers services designed to increase student wellness, improve academic performance, and increase participation in postsecondary education. VHS Counselors support students in their academic, career, and social-emotional development. We help students achieve success in school, pursue post-secondary opportunities, and lead healthy, fulfilling lives. The VHS Counseling Team works with school faculty and staff, students, parents, and the community to plan, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive school counseling program aligned to the Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs. Our program is designed to cover four system components: 1) Guidance Curriculum; 2) Individual Student Planning; 3) Responsive Services; and 4) System Support.

For a detailed overview of the VHS Counseling Team's scope and sequence for this year, please click here.

Course Selection Timeline & Activities

VHS Course Selection Timeline & Naviance

Course selection discussions for next school year will begin this month. Students and families can begin planning now in Naviance. Parent Naviance Account information will be re-shared this week via an email from VHS.Counseling. Through the Parent Naviance Account all parents/guardians are able to review student 4-year plans with their student(s). Grade-specific information regarding the course selection process can be found in the Course Selection Timeline, and all course selection decisions are FINAL on March 11 at 4:00 PM.

The tools in Naviance help students learn about various post-secondary pathways so they can define their post-secondary goals. Use this Naviance Overview for Students & Parents to help you navigate through the many resources available in this tool. With their goals in mind we encourage students and families to learn more about their course options using the course catalog in Naviance and by attending Viper Night to learn about specific courses from the teachers in those subject areas. Save the date: Viper Night 2027 - Thursday, January 21, 2027.

VHS Course Selection Timeline for 2027-28 School Year

All Grade Levels

Semester 2 Schedules (Preview)

Students needing a schedule change for the spring semester due to level change will be given the opportunity to request changes in early December. Instructions will be included in the December newsletter. The deadline to submit change requests will be 12 p.m. on Thursday, December 17.

Click here for instructions on how to view your 2nd semester schedule in Home Access Center.

If your band or athletics periods will be changing at semester, no action is needed on your part. Coaches/program directors will be providing the counseling team with that information.

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

Austin Community College Dual Credit

Spring 2027 Registration is Now Open

Spring ACC registration opened in October and all students taking ACC this spring should now be registered. If students have issues or questions, please reach out to Ms. Kendall in the CCC-room 1306.

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

In early November, 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. The priority deadline for completing the enrollment steps for Summer 2027 and/or School Year 2027-28 is February 19, with the final deadline on March 11, 2027.

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.

ASVAB Career Exploration Program // Registration Open!

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 18 - REGISTER HERE.

AP exam registration through Total Regist. and College Board is happening now!

Avoid a $40 late fee per course by completing AP Enrollment and Exam Registration before October 28, 2026. Students should log into their College Board account to make sure each AP Class on their schedule is listed in MyAP and also ensure they are in Total Registration.

Click Here for Detailed AP Registration Instructions

VHS AP Testing Information Page

Updated Process for Correspondence Coursework

Students considering pursuing earning credit through an outside provider, please note that updates have been made to the Correspondence Course Options. It is essential that you understand the new guidelines before enrolling.

Correspondence, Distance, and Virtual Courses (See page 27 of the LISD Course Catalog)
Students may take correspondence, distance, or virtual courses outside of the school day at their own expense. However, credit toward state graduation requirements will only be granted if all of the following conditions are met:

The course is offered through UT High School, Texas Tech University High School, or the Texas Virtual School Network (TxVSN).
The course must be approved before enrollment by submitting a request for approval. Coursework should not be started without receiving an approval email. The link to request course approval is found on page 27 of the LISD Course Catalog.

⚠️ Important: Courses taken without prior approval will not receive credit. Be sure to complete the approval process before registering for any summer class. Critical deadlines:

Submit the Coursework Approval Form by March 11
Complete the course by July 25

Juniors & Seniors

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

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 12, 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 Assistant 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.

CLICK HERE TO SEE IF YOU CURRENTLY OWE ATTENDANCE HOURS

Semester 2 Off Period Application - DEADLINE DECEMBER 11, 12p (noon)

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 11 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.

SUBMIT A SEMESTER 2 OFF PERIOD APPLICATION

Junior Mini-Meetings & Four Year Planning

November 12 & 13 // Counselor Connection 4 Year Planning Classroom Visits (for students, through English classes - ACC students will attend Friday during ACC period)

December 11 & 14 // 11th Grade Mini-Meetings & Course Selection Submission (for students, during English classes - ACC students will attend Friday during ACC period)

Juniors - What's Next?

PSAT is over, and juniors may be wondering, “Now what?” Here’s what’s on your to do list for Spring 2027 in preparation for senior year and beyond.

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/Counselor Conferences will be scheduled beginning in April. The focus of this conference is on the next step of your journey - college & career resources and planning.

Save the Date - School Day SAT

SAT (no writing) for all juniors on March 3, 2027 // FREE, no registration required

Test Preparation Opportunities

Leadership Opportunities

Camp Enterprise

Three day immersive leadership camp (February 12 - 14, 2027) open to 11th grade students with an interest in business leadership.
Information and a link to the online application were posted in the Class of 2028 Google Classroom on October 19th.
Application deadline: November 6, 2026.
Sponsored by Austin Rotary - There is no cost to attend

RYLA Leadership Camp

Rotary District 5870 is sponsoring Vandegrift High School students to attend the RYLA Leadership Camp, June 27–July 2, 2027.
There is no cost to attend.
This opportunity is open to current 10th and 11th grade students.
Information and the application are available in the Class of 2027 and Class of 2028 Google Classrooms.
Application deadline: Friday, December 4, 2026.