LVHS Weekly Newsletter

Hello, Viking Families! Happy Fall!

Everyday I get to drive in from the Round Rock area, so it gives me time to really think about things, reflect on my days, and count my blessings. One of my favorite songs is “Counting My Blessings” by Seph Schlueter. Some of the lyrics read:

God, I'm still counting my blessings

For all that You've done in my life

The more that I look in the details

The more of Your goodness I find

Father on this side of heaven

I know that I'll run out of time

But I will keep counting my blessings

Knowing I can't count that high

While the end of October is upon us and has us packing so much into one week, all I can say is "It is well.” As we celebrate the coming week, let us count our blessings!

We will start next week with Red Ribbon Week, a time-honored tradition and a celebration of choosing to live a drug free life. The temptation and accessibility of drugs has never been greater. Count your blessings that your child chooses to be drug free!

Senior Pep Rally/Walk is another Lago tradition that runs deep. These moments pass quickly and we encourage our Seniors to take it all in! We look forward to seeing them all on Friday celebrating this first milestone of being a Senior! Count your blessings, Seniors. Graduation is in sight!

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a beautiful Mexican tradition that honors and remembers loved ones who have passed away. This celebration emphasizes the importance of family and remembrance, featuring colorful altars, sugar skulls, and marigolds. In our commons area, the LVHS Spanish Club will set up an Ofrenda and encourage students to engage in honor of friends and family members who have passed away, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for this tradition. Count your blessings that you have someone to celebrate on this day. It means they loved you well. I celebrate my sweet mom, Linda.

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by millions around the world, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. It’s a time for family gatherings, festive meals, and the lighting of diyas (oil lamps). Our students will learn about the traditions and customs associated with Diwali, including its beautiful stories and the spirit of togetherness it promotes. Count your blessings, Viking Family and see the light! Goodness prevails!

Our Viking Band earned straight 1s at last weekend’s Area Marching Contest. Their superior rating earned them the honor of competing in the Regional Marching Contest next weekend! Way to go, Band! Count your blessings for music and all things band!

I’m still counting my blessings, knowing I can’t count that high!

Thank you, Lago!

Janda Castillo

Proud Principal of LVHS

The Viking Marching Band earned unanimous Superior ratings at the UIL Region 32 Marching Contest last Saturday. These ratings advance the band to the Area level of competition, which takes place on Saturday, November 2nd at Pflugerville Pfield. The LV Band has not advanced to Area since 2021, so this is a big accomplishment for our students!

WANT TO SEE MORE AWESOME MARCHING?!?

The students will present two “run-thru” performances this Friday, October 25 and would love to have an audience in the stands! Having an audience at the end of their rehearsal will make the run-thru more “real” for the performers and will also serve as a way to celebrate their Area qualification. Performances will begin in the LV Stadium at approximately 7:10pm and should finish around 7:30pm. Please consider helping celebrate the fantastic work these students are doing, especially if you have not yet seen the show. All are welcome, and there is no admission charge - just come on in!

All 9th-11th graders completed the PSAT this week. Thank you for helping to remind your students to charge those Ipads and get some rest! It was a team effort! When results are released, your student can access them by scanning the code below.

All Seniors need to schedule their one-on-one meeting with their counselor to make sure they are on track for graduation. Please make sure your Senior takes care of this and adds this crucial meeting to their calendar.

We are so excited to celebrate the amazing Class of 2025 on Friday, November 1st with a few annual traditions. See below for important information so you don't miss a thing!

• Senior Pep Rally @ 11:05am- Our entire Senior class will be putting on their annual performance and parents are encouraged to attend. If you'd like to attend, please follow these steps:

  • Email Kellie Berry at kberry@lagovistaisd.net with the first and last names of everyone who will be attending the event.
  • Enter the front of the building so that we can get everyone safely checked in.
  • Please plan to arrive a few minutes early as parking and check-in do take some time.
  • ALL VISITORS WILL NEED TO SIT ON THE VISITOR SIDE during the pep rally. (YES- even for this pep rally!) We have rearranged our student body for more participation and need the entire home side to accommodate this change.
  • Groups (Band, cheerleading, drill, etc) will be recording and sharing performances with their respective parents so everyone will still be able to see their students in action.

• Senior Night for Fall Sports - We will recognize Senior athletes and their parents/guardians BEFORE Friday night's football game on November 1st. Please follow these procedures:

• Parents and family will still need to purchase tickets online to attend.
• Parents should come down to the field using the first new staircase after entering the front gate.
• We will open the gate at 6:35pm and will start lining up on the track behind the end zone. Announcements will begin promptly at 6:50 pm.
• LVHS Admin will be there to assist with this process.
• There will be a professional photographer on the field taking pictures of the event. Information about how to obtain those pictures will be shared soon.
• In order to build the script for the night and to help things run smoothly, we need each Senior to complete this SENIOR NIGHT GOOGLE FORM. You'll also be able to submit a "throwback" picture of your Senior to show on the Jumbotron!
• We will go in the order listed below and will line up by the last name of the athlete per sport.
• Football
• Trainers
• Cheerleaders
• Valkyries
• Band
• Cross Country (Girls and Boys)
• Fall Tennis (Girls and Boys)
• Fall Golf (Girls and Boys)

• Senior Walk @ the end of the game- This tradition is for ALL SENIORS. After the football game, an announcement will be made for Seniors to make their way to the visitor side of the field and facing the home stands. Senior Parents will line up on the home sideline facing and across from their Seniors. Seniors will grasp hands and walk across the field to music they've selected. Then hugs and tears can commence when they make their way across to parents. It's a special tradition. If you don't want to attend the entire football game, but want to participate in the Senior Walk, please plan to be at the field around 9pm. There will be no charge at that point.

• Lastly, SENIOR SHIRTS ARE ON SALE NEXT WEEK FOR $5! To get the right size, please have your student complete THIS FORM! They will wear their shirt to school on Friday and to the Senior Walk, if possible. Just one more way to be a unified Class of 2025! We look forward to celebrating this amazing group of students!

Monday, October 28

• A Day
• We are REaDy to "Say No" to Drugs! (Wear Red!)

Tuesday, October 29

• B Day
• Too Bright for Drugs (Neon Day)
• Texas Tech University Rep on Campus
• Volleyball vs. Manor New Tech @ LVHS- 5:30pm (Tickets) **SENIOR NIGHT FOR VOLLEYBALL**

Wednesday, October 30

• A Day
• Peace out to Drugs (Tie-Dyed Day)

Thursday, October 31 **HAPPY HALLOWEEN!**

• B Day
• Senior Portraits- Round 1
• BOO! to Drugs (Halloween Costumes) All Costumes must adhere to the following guidelines:
• The costume must be in dress code (i.e. no hoodies, short skirts/shirts/shorts)
• No masks or full face paint
• No lookalike weapons blood, guts, or fake body parts
• Nothing unsafe or that may create a safety hazard
• The costume may not impair an individual's movement (e.g. no inflatable costumes)
• All costumes are subject to the discretion of campus administration.
• Freshman/JV Football @ Navarro- 5pm/6pm

Friday, November 1 **DIA DE LOS MUERTOS**

• A Day
• Senior Portraits- Round 2
• Vikings Against Drugs (Blue & Gold; Seniors wear White)
• Special Senior Pep Rally
• Football vs. Navarro @ LVHS- 7:30pm (Tickets) **SENIOR NIGHT FOR FALL SPORTS/TEAMS**

LVHS Spanish Club will have an altar or "ofrenda" set up in the commons area near the front stairs. beginning Monday of next week in honor of Dia de los Muertos. Things to consider if you'd like to take part:

• What is Dia de los Muertos? It is a festival to remember loved ones who have died and to celebrate their lives.
• When is it? Friday, November 1st but we will have the altar available all of next week.
• How do I take part? The ofrenda will be open all week long. People decorate altars with flowers, candles, sugar skulls, and photos of the deceased. **Please note, we can only allow electric candles at the school.**
• Have questions? Please reach out to Natalie Arzate or Janda Castillo.

📚Lago Vista ISD is excited to share the success of our Reading Buddy program through Education Connection!🙌 Last year, 12 amazing volunteers contributed over 600 hours of reading time with our students, making a huge impact on literacy skills and sparking a love of reading! 🧡 Want to learn more or get involved? Visit https://www.education-connection.org/. 📖 🌟#lagovistaisd #weallrow#lagovistaproud #readingmatters #vikingreaders #EducationConnection #txed

Each week we celebrate members of the LVHS faculty and staff based on student nominations. Please encourage your student to nominate their favorite faculty or staff member by scanning the QR code above. It's such an easy way to encourage our amazing team of educators who work so hard to make Viking Nation great! Nominate your student's favorite today!

The Fundamentals of Real Estate class visited Pure Realty in Cedar Park for an orientation and then a class on “Showing and Selling.” The students were able to go through a checklist of items to know and do before showing a listing and even see the benefits of technology used in the industry from presenter Conna Purcell, Director of Agent Development. The class was able to visit a house on the market and gain even more valuable information to help them in their future career in real estate. Fundamentals of Real Estate is a CTE course within the Business & Industry Endorsement, Marketing & Sales program of study where students can obtain their Real Estate License once they turn 18 and have met all licensing requirements.

Please help the Lago Vista High School Band reach our goal by purchasing from our fundraiser. The sale ends on 10/30/2024, so don’t wait to order! Members of our group will deliver your products when they arrive. You can place an order online by clicking this link. Thank you!

https://store.myfundraisingplace.com/7d5c275c-508d-4f6d-8053-e4234f3b673f

Please add these dates to your calendar-

• 10/26- Trunk or Treat @ LVHS from 6-8pm
• 10/31-11/1- Senior Yearbook Pictures
• 11/4-11/5- NO SCHOOL!
• 11/11- Veteran's Day Event- **If you would like to attend this event, please see the flier below for more info.**
• 11/19- Yearbook Picture Retakes

• JOIN CANVAS- The best way to stay connected to your student's academic progress at LVHS is through Canvas. Lago Vista High School parents can create parent accounts in Canvas to view student assignments, course information, and much more!

  For instructions on how to create an account, click here.

  To login, please visit http://lvisd.instructure.com/.
• GET TEXTS- For class specific updates, text the following to 81010-
• Freshmen text @lago2028
• Sophomores text @lago2027
• Juniors text @lago2026
• Senior text @lago2025
• CHECK EMAILS- Encourage your Vikings to check their email. They can login to Google Mail on their school Ipad and use the following login info:
• firstname_lastname@lvisd.com
• PW is their Student ID#
• GET SOCIAL- Follow LVISD groups on Instagram
• @lvisdvikings
• @lagovistapals

YEA FOR VOLLEYBALL SENIORS!

This week we recognized LV Viking Booster Club Scholarship Recipient, Jax Rodriguez!

Q: Year Graduated?

A: 2024

Q: Sports Played at Lago Vista?

A: Football (1 Year), Soccer (2 Years), and Cross Country (3 Years). I was an All-State Kicker! I have the school record, most career goals.

Q: School you are Currently Attending?

A: McMurry University

Q: Current Plans?

A: Complete my 4-Year Degree in Sports Management and play Football for McMurry.

Q: Future Plans?

A: I am going to become an Athletic Director.

Q: How do you plan on or are currently using the scholarship?

A: I used it to help pay for my tuition.

Q: Why was the booster club scholarship important to you?

A: This scholarship was especially important me because it helped take some of the stress off of paying for college. It has motivated me to work harder and want to feel great success again.

Q: How has Lago Vista sports impacted your life?

A: At Lago you are a family (AETT). Its rich history and tradition has helped me grow as a man. I know the values and experiences I have had at this school will help me through college and my professional career. Having coaches that held me accountable made me a better player and teammate. Now I am able to thrive in my new environment.

We are so proud of what Jax accomplished at LVHS and know he’s going to be a huge success at McMurry and beyond. We wish you all the best, Jax!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:

The Booster Club needs your help! Please consider signing up to help out at the concession stand.

WE ALL ROW!

Boys Basketball -- https://www.signupgenius.com/index.cfm?go=s.signup&urlid=10C044CAFAF23A4F85-52101710-202425&useFullSite=true#/

Girls Basketball-- https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044CAFAF23A4F85-52103172-202425#/

Varsity Football -- https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044CAFAF23A4F85-50417336-2024

Sub Varsity -- https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044CAFAF23A4F85-50417323-2024

Volleyball -- https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044CAFAF23A4F85-50417341-2024

MS Football -- https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044CAFAF23A4F85-50417322-2024

DEADLINE FOR BOOSTER CLUB MEMBERSHIPS IS APPROACHING:

LV Viking Booster Club Membership Deadline is 12/1/24

Attention Viking Nation.....if you have been considering joining our amazing booster club, the deadline to sign up is approaching soon! We have included several sports specific memberships this year to ensure there's a membership for everyone.

Visit the LV Viking Booster Club Website (https://www.lagovistasports.com/) to explore our new and exciting membership options.

You can simply sign up via the Google form by clicking here (https://forms.gle/Qyfu73c2tki5TLBJ7) and then pay online through PayPal (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/lvvikingbooster) or Square (https://square.link/u/SKbmqfB6).

As a reminder, if you are interested in your Viking student athlete or trainer/manager applying for a Booster Club Scholarship their senior year, you must be a Member. Also, to be eligible for the scholarship, BC members must work two concession shifts per sport, per athlete to receive credit for that year. Don't miss out on being a part of something great- sign up today!

SECOND ROUND OF YARD SIGNS ORDER DEADLINE OCTOBER 31:
We are now accepting orders for LV Viking Yard Signs! This will be the second of three rounds of order for 2024-2025.

Show your Viking pride and support our LVMS and LVHS athletic programs with our fantastic yard signs. Whether you're cheering for AeTT (Football), All Sports (for multiple sport athletes), specific sports, Cheer, or Valkyries, we have options for everyone!

Important Details:
Order Dates: Yard signs will be ordered three times per year: August 31, October 31, and January 31. Orders placed in between dates will be held until the next order date.
Order Form: Please submit a separate order form for each yard sign you need.
Payment: Payment must be made prior to the order date via PayPal or Square.
Pickup Arrangements: We will contact you to arrange pick up once the signs are ready.

Click here to view our Yard Sign examples and to access the Order Form. https://forms.gle/dGd9fXYYuz1oJNP28

THIS WEEK'S SPONSOR SPOTLIGHTS:

We are thrilled to highlight Gena Hammonds with Highland Lakes Realty as one of our incredible sponsors! Gena’s dedication to helping families find their dream homes in the beautiful Highland Lakes area is unmatched. Her passion for real estate and commitment to the community make her an exceptional partner for LV Viking Booster Club. Thank you, Gena, for your support in making our Viking family stronger! If you're looking to buy or sell, Gena Hammonds is the name to know!

We’re excited to shine the spotlight on one of our incredible sponsors, Grace Fellowship Church! Their unwavering support and commitment to our community are truly appreciated. Grace Fellowship Church is not just a place of worship but a cornerstone of compassion and outreach. Their dedication to making a difference aligns perfectly with the spirit of our LV Viking Booster Club. Grace Fellowship Church offers a warm and welcoming environment where everyone can grow spiritually and connect with others. Their programs and services enrich our community in countless ways. Thank You, Grace Fellowship Church! Your support helps us enhance the LV Viking experience and strengthen our community. We are so grateful for your partnership and look forward to continuing our journey together!

A big shout-out to our amazing sponsor, Northwest Services ATX, LLC - Air Conditioning & Heating! Whether you're keeping cool in the summer or cozy in the winter, Northwest Services ATX has you covered with top-notch air conditioning and heating solutions. Their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction makes them a perfect partner for the LV Viking Booster Club. Thank you, Northwest Services ATX, LLC, for your support and dedication to our community!

SHOP THE VIKING STORE:

The LV Viking Booster Club Merchandise Store is OPEN! Your one-stop shop for all your Vikings gear is just a click away. Head over to lagovistasports.com and select the SHOP tab to explore our online store. We’ve got everything from t-shirts, tank tops, and sweatshirts to hats, visors, beanies, bags, decals, and so much more!

Once your order is paid for and fulfilled, we'll contact you for pick-up details.

Remember, when you purchase from the LV Viking Booster Club, you are directly supporting the Lago Vista Middle School and High School athletic programs. Let's gear up and show our Viking pride! Let’s go Vikes!

If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to email us at lvvikingbooster@gmail.com

• LADY VIKING VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE- 2024
• VIKING FOOTBALL SCHEDULE- 2024
• LADY VIKING BASKETBALL- 2024
  
• VIKING BASKETBALL- 2024
• LADY VIKING SOCCER- 2024

Viking students and families!

We have an opportunity to go on the trip of a lifetime! We are headed for a European tour in the summer of 2026! London! Paris! The Alps! And so much more! This tour will show your student history, art, beautiful cityscapes, and stunning nature!

This trip was selected by our students and has wonderful reviews! Sign up for the meeting to find out just how amazing and affordable this experience will be! Please plan to come to the information meeting, no obligation to join, but tons of information for you to make an informed decision and a chance for a $200 travel scholarship!

Sign up today with this link! https://tinyurl.com/4yrksvvs

Andrew Larkin

alarkin@lagovistaisd.net

Principal, Janda Castillo- jcastillo@lagovistaisd.net

Assistant Principal, David Hilsenteger- dhilsenteger@lagovistaisd.net

Assistant Principal, Dusty Kinslow- dkinslow@lagovistaisd.net
Website: https://www.lagovistaisd.net/page/lhs.Home

Phone: 512-267-8300 ex.5500