LVHS Weekly Newsletter

Viking Family,

I know I’ve mentioned my sweet mom a few times in my missives. She was an amazing woman with the very best heart - the truest heart I’ve ever known. This will be my third Mother’s Day without her, and the loss still takes my breath away. She was this kind, caring, sympathetic woman who was full of grace. She was shy at times but spoke up when she needed to. She was a reader, kept up with current events, and loved to read the newspaper. She clipped articles and recipes and would mail them to me if she thought I would find them interesting. She would send letters randomly just to brighten my day, even after we shared email and text messages. She was a little bit old school in that regard. The (hand)written word was important.

One of the best gifts she gave me and my sister was after her passing. She left notes in furniture drawers and jewelry boxes and different places so that we’d know even after she was gone, she was still thinking about us and sending notes to randomly brighten our day. She wrote about the history of the item or when she bought it or what it had meant to her. Finding her notes was amazing! They were treasures straight from heaven!

My mom was my first teacher and still teaches me lessons today. I will forever be grateful for her love and profound influence. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom! ¡Te amo tanto!

As we celebrate both Teacher Appreciation Week and Mother's Day, it’s only fitting that we acknowledge the profound role that you, as parents, play in shaping the future of our students. Like my sweet mom, you are truly our students’ first teachers. The lessons you teach at home—of love, perseverance, and hard work—are the foundation upon which our school community builds. For that, we are incredibly grateful.

At Lago Vista High School, we consider ourselves fortunate to work alongside such caring families. We know the love and care you provide at home sets our students on the path to success. Our teachers take great pride in being the second set of parents to these amazing young people. They see it as their mission to nurture, support, and guide them through their educational journey, just as you do.

In this week’s newsletter, you will find plenty of evidence of how our partnership is creating incredible outcomes - how your love and support meets ours to cultivate incredible music performances, celebrations of culture and being bilingual, record breaking cereal drive numbers (hint, hint), and wonderful transition ceremonies like the GenTx Pep Rally.

To all the mothers and caregivers—thank you for everything you do. Your love and support are the heart of our school community. To all our teachers—thank you for your tireless efforts to inspire, guide, and educate. We are grateful for each and every one of you.

Happy Mother’s Day and Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

Janda Castillo

Proud Principal of Lago Vista High School

Mrs. Castillo taking part in the USC Ice Bucket Challenge to raise awareness of mental health!

Monday, May 12

• B Day

Tuesday, May 13

• A Day
• Lago Vista Women's Club Luncheon 11am

Wednesday, May 14 **CCMR T-SHIRT DAY**

• B Day
• Signing Day for college-bound athletes
• Blue & Gold Ceremony-6pm LVHS PAC

Thursday, May 15

• A Day
• Senior Trip to Schlitterbahn

Friday, May 16

• B Day
• SENIOR FINALS- 6th and 7th Period

Thank you to so many of you who helped make our teachers feel so appreciated this week. Whether it was a box of snacks, a bag of candy, a carton of soda or a Sonic gift card- every single thing meant so much to the amazing educators of LVHS! No amount of thanks will ever be enough for the excellent work they do every day, but it was wonderful to celebrate them this week!

Each year on GenTX Day, we welcome the 8th graders to campus, and we celebrate the plans that all of our Seniors have for life after graduation. Last year, we added an Extracurricular Fair to introduce the 8th graders to all the ways they can get connected at the high school. It is a fun day for Viking Nation!

Our amazing LVHS PALS serve as hosts for the day. They show the 8th graders around, give advice for how to have a great high school experience, and generally just help everyone feel welcome.

The 8th graders made the most of the Extracurricular Fair!

On GenTX Day we announce the next steps our graduates plan to take. Whether it's college, trade school, military or work force, we are proud of our Vikings moving forward into the next phase of their lives.

Congratulations to Coaches Rob and April McAdams on their next step! They are headed to a well-earned retirement after almost 3 decades of service as educators. We are thankful they are part of the Viking AeTT! They will be missed!

Last Friday, LVHS hosted our annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration! It was a festive evening with delicious food, games, arts and crafts, music, and dancing. Many of our students volunteered to help make the night extra special. We are so thankful for the rich cultural heritage of our community!

We added a new tradition this year by holding a special cording ceremony for all of our ESL graduates. Each Senior was asked to invite a teacher who made an impact on their educational journey. The students received their cords to honor the hard work they did as bilingual students. They will wear these cords on May 23rd during graduation. We are so proud of them!

Any student planning to play sports in college, LVHS will host a signing day on Wednesday, May 14th during Advisory. Please email Coach Phillips to let him know that you'd like to take part.

The LVHS History Department came together to remind all of us to take part in our civic duty!

LVHS Band had their final concert of the year this week. This group of students and their directors have worked so har throughout the year and have represented us well. We extend a special congratulations to our Senior band members...Keep playing, Vikings!

The spring show opened with EVERY Valkyrie having a "mom" on stage. We are thankful for the various ways women impact us and support us throughout our lives. To have 100% participation speaks volumes of the Valkyrie Family! Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing women in this picture!

Here is the cording ceremony for our inaugural NAHS Seniors! They have met the academic and artistic standards to be inducted into the program. This is our very first group at Lago Vista High School!

Junior Jumpstart was all about preparing you and your 11th grader for Senior year. There was a lot of information presented, and we don't want you to miss a thing. You can watch the entire presentation here or you can go through the slides we presented. Still have questions, please reach out to your counselors, Mrs. Lara Clark or Mrs. Whitney Read.

Wednesday, May 14 @ 6PM: Blue and Gold Ceremony in the PAC (All students are welcome. Seniors receiving an award or local scholarship will receive a hand-delivered invitation.)

Thursday, May 15: Senior Trip to Schlitterbahn, New Braunfels

• Cost and Meals

• $2 and a permission form are due on Friday, May 9. This pays for admission and an all-day drink wristband. Cash or check should be given to Mrs. Dohm. Checks should be made out to “Lago Vista ISD” with “Senior Trip” in the memo line. Permission slips are available in Mrs. Dohm’s office.

• Lunch and drinks will be provided. If you have special dietary needs, please email Mrs. Dohm ASAP with specifics.

• You may bring credit/debit cards to purchase additional food in the park on your own. Please note: Schlitterbahn is a CASHLESS PARK. If you do not have another form of payment, there are cash to credit cards in the park.

• Expectations

• Meet at the high school parking lot at 8:00am and return around 4:30pm.

• Students must ride the bus to attend. You may not drive yourself to the park.

• LVHS Dress Code will be enforced for the bus ride there and back.

• Only pre-packaged and unopened drinks and snacks will be allowed. Everything else will be left at the school.

• All bags will be checked before boarding the bus.

• Law enforcement with drug dogs may also be present as we board the bus.

• Plan to bring a swimsuit, cover up clothes, appropriate water shoes, towels, sunscreen and money. Remember- Schlitterbahn is a CASHLESS PARK. If you do not have credit/debit cards, there are cash to credit cards in the park.

• When we arrive at the park, all students will place their items in our designated meeting area and will be free to enjoy the park.

• Other middle and high school groups will be in attendance that day. Students should represent Lago Vista High School with pride and behave appropriately at all times.

• Any misbehavior will cause students to be dismissed from the park. Parents will be contacted to retrieve misbehaving students from the park.

• Seniors are not required to attend this trip. However, attendance will be taken, and any student who is not on the trip IS EXPECTED TO ATTEND SCHOOL. In other words, go to Schlitterbahn, go to school or receive an absence.

SENIOR FINALS SCHEDULE:

• Friday, May 16: Finals for 6th & 7th (Seniors Only)

• Monday, May 19: Finals for 3rd & 4th

• Tuesday, May 20: Finals for 8th & 5th

• Wednesday, May 21: Finals for 2nd & 1st (in that order)

Thursday, May 22: Legacy Walk and Graduation Practice

• Students should be at school by 9:00am wearing their caps or crowns and gowns and be ready to board the bus to the Intermediate, Middle, and Elementary schools. Students may not drive themselves.

• **Parents who want to attend this event will need to check in at the front office of each campus to follow safety protocol.**. Approximate times- Intermediate- 9:45am, Middle School-10:00am, Elementary- 10:30am

• If you did not order a cap and gown, please see your counselor as soon as possible.

• After the Legacy Walk, we will return for Graduation practice. Graduation is scheduled to be held at the Stadium, but there is a contingency plan for the gym in the case of inclement weather. We will practice both possibilities on this day. You will be free to go after we complete graduation practice.

Friday, May 23: Graduation Night- Viking Stadium 7pm

**Students should arrive at 5:30 pm.**

The LVHS AVP team is creating a slideshow highlighting the Class of 2025's journey. Please USE THIS LINK to send us:

• A baby photo (for that adorable "then" picture)
• A senior photo (the impressive "now")
• Any school-appropriate photos and videos that capture your memories.

We appreciate all submissions, and while we may not be able to use every item, they will all be reviewed. Please direct questions to Coach Baugh at jbaugh@lagovistaisd.net. Thank you, LVHS AVP Team

Seniors, before you can receive your physical diploma, you must make sure that you don't owe the school any money- cafeteria fees, technology fees, NHS dues, etc. Please take care of these things NOW so that you can walk away with your diploma in hand on May 23rd!

Texas law (House Bill 3; Texas Education Code §28.0256) requires high school seniors to either complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA), or submit a signed opt-out form to graduate. Here's a more detailed breakdown:

• Purpose:

  The goal is to encourage more students to apply for financial aid and pursue higher education.

• Students can choose to:

  • Complete and submit a FAFSA.

  • Complete and submit a TASFA.

  • Submit a signed opt-out form (SEE YOUR COUNSELOR TO PICK UP A FORM!)

• Opt-Out:

  An opt-out form allows students (or their parents/guardians) to decline completing the financial aid applications.

Graduation is a joyful, but formal, event. It is a celebration of the entire class and its accomplishments, as well as those who have supported you to this point. Thus, student behavior should be celebratory but respectful- focused on ALL of your classmates and not any one individual. Respectful behavior and decorum is expected.

• ARRIVAL

• Students report to the Competition Gym no later than 5:30pm.

• The gates will open at 6:00pm for guests.

• DRESS & DECORUM

• Dress for the event is business casual.

• For example, slacks, a collared shirt, dresses, skirts/pants with blouses and appropriate footwear. Boots are allowed.

• Dresses & skirts should not be longer than the gown. NOTE: Heels are tricky on the football field! Choose your footwear carefully!

• Students may decorate their caps with a pre-approved design. If students' caps are not pre-approved or are deemed inappropriate, we will have extra caps on hand to trade out, if needed.

• NOT ALLOWED: Shorts, jeans, hats, tennis shoes/sneakers, flip flops or chewing gum.

• Cap & Gown Tips:

• After you receive your cap and gown, it is your responsibility to keep up with it and keep it safe.

• Hang it up as soon as you get home so the wrinkles will come out.

• Do NOT iron the gown; a steamer is fine. Do NOT put it in the dryer.

• GUEST PROCEDURES

• The gates will open at 6:00pm for guests.

• If the weather cooperates, the event will be held in Viking Stadium and there will be NO LIMIT on the number of guests you can invite.

• In case of inclement weather, each senior will receive EIGHT wristbands to distribute to family members. These eight guests will be able to attend the ceremony should we have to move to the competition gym.

• There will be a livestream option available in the PAC and online no matter where the event is held for those that are unable to make it down to the football field or into the gym.

• If your family has special needs (ex. wheelchair access) contact Mrs. Castillo to make those arrangements.

• There will be a professional photographer taking pictures as each graduate crosses the stage and receives his/her diploma. An order form will be emailed to you and will be included in your diploma packet after graduation.

• FOLLOWING THE CEREMONY

• Graduates should meet their families in Victory Plaza (entrance to the stadium) immediately following graduation.

• Students will trade in their cords and/or stoles for their cell phones before they leave the stadium. If students have paid all fees and dues, they will receive an envelope containing their diploma, final transcript and an order form for pictures.

• 5/14- Blue & Gold Ceremony
• 5/22- Last Day of School
• 5/23- Graduation

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:

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

WE ALL ROW!

Graduation Ceremony Concessions:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044CAFAF23A4F85-56089281-2025#/

GoldStar Transit is hiring school bus drivers for Lago Vista ISD!
- Starting at $20.50 per hour
- $1,500 sign on bonus w/experience
- Bring your kids to work, no daycare needed.
- No experience necessary....training provided!

Submit your application online today at https://ridesta.com/careers/.
Please contact (512) 267-8300 x1508 with questions.

• 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

THE SPRING FINALS SCHEDULE

NEXT YEAR'S A&B DAY CALENDAR

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