Counseling & Health Services News

Welcome to the Fall Edition of the LTISD Counseling & Health Services Newsletter!

We are excited to share updates, resources, and upcoming opportunities to support the well-being of our students, families, and community. This edition highlights important initiatives, events, and services designed to nurture the academic, social-emotional, and physical health of every student. Thank you for partnering with us as we work together to create a safe, supportive, and thriving environment for all.

• Nursing Updates
• School Nurse Spotlight
• Food and Nutrition Updates
• SB 12 Consent Forms
• Awareness in October
• LTISD Virtual Parent Workshop Series
• Free College Application Week for Seniors - ApplyTexas
• PSAT for 10th and 11th Grade Students
• Campus Highlights
• Counselor & Social Worker Spotlight

I love being a school nurse because I like to promote health and wellness-being and teaching our students about why and how we take care of our bodies. I like being a source of comfort for our students on the days they are not feeling their best. Most importantly, I enjoy the ability to develop long-term relationships within our community.

Calling all elementary students: Join the Farm Fresh Challenge and complete our farmer’s market scavenger hunt! In honor of National Farm to School Month, all elementary students are invited to visit a local farmer's market and complete a scavenger hunt. Download the scavenger hunt form on the Food & Nutrition webpage in English or Spanish, check off each item as you find them, and make notes about what you discover.

Pack your bags and join us for a Texas Taste Tour during National School Lunch Week! This year’s theme, “Texas Taste Tour: Your School Lunch Passport,” highlights nutritious meals served at school and healthy foods from Texas.

How students can participate:

• Goody Bag Drawing: Each day during National School Lunch Week, elementary students who purchase a complete meal in the cafeteria will be entered to win a Texas-themed goody bag. There will be two winners per campus, and each lunch counts as a new entry (limit one per day). Prize drawings will take place after lunch on Friday, with winners announced the following Monday, October 20.

• Taste of Texas Passport: Students will also receive a “Taste of Texas Passport” and have the opportunity to taste a Texas-themed food item each day. They can explore the Taste of Texas and track each item they try. Students who submit their completed passport to the cafeteria manager on Friday will earn a sticker!

Encourage your child to eat in the cafeteria and explore new Texas flavors all week long. Visit SquareMeals.org for more information.

We understand that SB 12 may have felt confusing for parents to navigate, and we truly appreciate your patience as we worked through those changes together. One thing that hasn’t changed is the amazing work our nurses and counselors do every single day to care for and support LTISD students.

Our nurses go above and beyond to keep students healthy and safe—whether it’s providing daily care for chronic health needs, helping students through illnesses or injuries at school, or ensuring we’re prepared for emergencies.

Our counselors are dedicated to supporting the whole child, offering guidance lessons in classrooms, meeting with students one-on-one, helping them set goals, and being a trusted resource for social, emotional, and academic needs. They also partner closely with families, teachers, and administrators to make sure students have the tools they need to thrive.

Together, our nurses and counselors make a lasting impact by being there for students during both everyday moments and critical times. We are so grateful for the work they do to care for our children.

For those who haven't completed the consent forms, please log into your Skyward Family Access portal to complete them. If you have questions, access the SB 12 FAQ page on the LTISD website or contact Jennifer Garrigan, Director of Counseling and Health Services, by emailing garriganj@ltisdschools.org.

Lake Travis ISD is joining schools across the nation in celebrating Unity Day. Students and staff are encouraged to wear orange to show their support for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion, and to take a stand against bullying. Our counselors and social workers will be engaging our students in activities to promote kindness and pledge to stand up to bullying.

Lake Travis ISD is proud to celebrate Red Ribbon Week across all of our campuses. This nationwide campaign serves as a reminder of the importance of living drug-free, making healthy choices, and supporting one another in positive ways. Throughout the week, our counselors and social workers will lead students in themed activities and events that highlight this important message and strengthen our commitment to safe and healthy schools.

October is Fentanyl Awareness Month, and LTISD is committed to educating our students on the dangers of fentanyl. This fall, our high school students will participate in fentanyl awareness assemblies hosted by the Forever 15 Project. The same impactful presentations were provided to our middle school students last spring.

We will be hosting a parent night with the Forever 15 Project on Monday, October 27. Parents can register to attend this virtual event using this Google Form.

Lake Travis ISD is committed to supporting our families by providing resources and education that promote student safety, wellness, and success. For the 2025–2026 school year, the LTISD Counseling and Health Services department is excited to launch this series designed to engage, inform, and empower parents on important topics affecting children and teens today.

Workshop Dates & Session Information:

Protecting Students in a Digital World: Bullying & Cyberbullying Awareness

October 1, 2025 - 6:00 pm | Virtual - Register here (Zoom link provided at registration)

Presenter: Cally Conklin, Statewide Education Specialist, Crimestoppers

Technology and the internet has caused a whole new form of bullying: cyberbullying. This presentation will look at the difference between in-person bullying and cyberbullying, address parent and school responsibilities regarding bullying, cover current bullying laws, and provide guidance on what to do if your child become a victim of bullying.

The Dangers of Fentanyl: A Mother’s Story

October 27, 2025 - 6:00 pm | Virtual - Register here (Zoom link provided at registration)

Presenters: Janel Rodriguez, Founder of the Forever 15 Project & Mark Andrews, Hays County Sheriff’s Dept.

This important workshop will focus on educating families about the dangers of fentanyl and its devastating impact on youth. This session will be presented by the Forever 15 Project in partnership with the Hays County Sheriff’s Department. The founder of the Forever 15 Project, Janel Rodriguez, lost her son Noah to a fentanyl overdose in 2022, when Noah was just 15 years old. This is her story.

Parents will learn about the rise of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl, how even small amounts can be fatal, and the deceptive ways these substances are being distributed to young people, including through social media. Our presenters will also share practical strategies for talking with children, recognizing warning signs, and accessing community resources for prevention and support.

Youth Vaping: The Problems and The Solutions

November 16, 2025 - 6:00 pm | Virtual - Register here (Zoom link provided at registration)

Presenter: Kellen Kruk, Tobacco Youth Prevention Specialist, Texas School Safety Center, Texas State Univ.

This informational workshop for parents will focus on the risks and realities of youth vaping. Up-to-date research will be provided, along with practical strategies for prevention and tools to help parents engage in meaningful conversations with their children about the dangers of vaping. Families will leave with resources and guidance to support healthy decision-making and reinforce a safe, drug-free learning environment.

Free College Application Week will take place October 13–19, 2025. This new statewide initiative makes it easier and more affordable for Texas residents to apply to college. Established through Senate Bill 2231 during the 89th Texas Legislative Session, this is the first year all public colleges and universities in Texas are required to waive admission application fees for Texas residents who apply to undergraduate programs using ApplyTexas from October 13-19, 2025.

To participate, students must create an ApplyTexas account and submit their applications through this platform. Similar to the Common App, ApplyTexas is designed specifically for Texas schools. Students can use it to apply to any Texas public university or community college, as well as many private universities.

To learn more, access the Free College Application Week FAQ provided by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

If your child is a junior or senior and would like to explore which colleges might be the best fit for them, Naviance’s SuperMatch College Search is a great tool to help guide their journey. SuperMatch allows them to search and compare colleges based on what matters most to them—such as location, size, majors offered, cost, campus life, and admissions criteria. By adjusting their preferences, they’ll see a list of schools that align with their goals and interests.

Using SuperMatch can make the college research process less overwhelming by narrowing down the options and giving them a clear picture of schools that may be a strong match for them. This way, your child can feel confident as they begin building their college list and deciding where to apply.

To use SuperMatch, students can log into their Naviance account, click on the “Colleges” tab and under “Find Your Fit,” click “SuperMatch College Search."

Bee Cave Elementary School

Lake Travis Elementary School

Our counselors joined in the fun of Spirit Week at Lake Travis High School, celebrating alongside students to show their school pride and strengthen connections across campus. Their involvement highlighted the importance of community, school spirit, and positive relationships.

The Breathe Initiative Club at Lake Travis High School helped spread positivity by Chalking the Walk to promote a supportive school culture and wellness. They also joined in the homecoming spirit by providing fun press-on tattoos at the Homecoming Parade & Extravaganza.

Hudson Bend Middle School recently launched a new way to connect with our community by opening the Buc Lounge to families experiencing financial hardship and homelessness. This special event provided access to clothing and school supplies through our first-ever Buc Lounge Giveaway, supporting families in need and fostering a spirit of care and connection on campus.

A heartfelt thank you to Tracy Cooper, our social worker, Erna Hook, our Bilingual Parent Liaison, and the HBMS counseling staff for their dedication in coordinating this event and ensuring our families felt supported.

This effort reflects our mission at HBMS: a school community where all learners are known by name and need.

Lakeway Elementary recently highlighted two meaningful experiences that empowered students to better understand themselves and strengthen their connections with others.

Walking the Peace Path: 4th Grade Leaders Show the Way

During our school-wide morning meeting, two 4th grade leaders modeled the Peace Path in action—demonstrating how calm, respectful conversations can turn conflict into understanding.

In our guidance lessons this month, our 3rd–5th graders learned how to resolve conflicts in respectful, constructive ways. Students discovered how to take ownership of their feelings and work toward solutions. These lessons are equipping our students with lifelong skills for building stronger, more empathetic relationships.

Rainbow Jars of Emotion: Building Awareness in Kindergarten & First Grade

Kindergarten and 1st grade students explored the many feelings we all experience—sometimes even at the same time! Together, each class created a “Rainbow Jar,” layering colors to represent emotions such as joy, sadness, excitement, and frustration. These colorful jars now serve as a classroom reminder that every emotion is valid, and recognizing them is the first step toward building healthy friendships and positive school days.

At Serene Hills Elementary, we’ve been busy building a strong start to the year! Each Pre-K through 5th grade class completed their first round of guidance lessons on respect, and our students loved having LTHS football players visit classrooms to read and connect with them.

We also launched our first Chalk the Walk activity. Organized by our social worker intern from UT Austin, Makaela Russel, along with Kendall Hill, Chalk the Walk was a huge hit with our Kindergarten and 1st grade students.

Across all of these activities, we continue to emphasize our core values of being safe, respectful, and responsible.

Erna is a former teacher from Lake Travis Elementary School and is studying to become a School Counselor. She is currently working at Hudson Bend Middle School as a Parent Liaison and School Counseling Intern.

Angela is our new Counselor at Hudson Bend Middle School. She previously worked in mental health for Leander ISD. Angela will be supporting 7th grade students at HBMS.

Vivian is our new Counselor at Lake Travis Middle School. Prior to this first year as a Counselor, she was a teacher for several years. Vivian will be supporting all 6th grade students and 8th grade students with the last names I-Z at LTMS.

Kimberley is our new Counselor at Lake Travis Elementary School. This is her first year as a Counselor, and she’s graduating from the School Counseling program at Texas State University in December.

Bryn is our new Counselor at West Cypress Hills Elementary School. This is Bryn’s first year as a Counselor; in December, she will graduate from the School Counseling program at Texas State University.

Joelle is our new Social Worker and is based out of Lake Travis High School. Joelle began with LTISD as a Behavior Support Specialist and has transitioned into her role as a Social Worker this year. She supports Lake Travis High School, Bee Cave Middle School, Rough Hollow Elementary School, and Serene Hills Elementary School.

We are thrilled to welcome our new counselors and social worker to the LTISD team and are excited for the positive impact they will bring to our students, families, and schools.