Courtney Johnson

The Viper Nation Education Foundation, formerly Hill Country Education Foundation, has a new executive director, Courtney Johnson.

“We are excited to have someone of Courtney’s experience leading Viper Nation Education Foundation into the next level of growth,” said Kai Lamb, VNEF chairman. “She comes to us with deep knowledge of nonprofit management and has worked both as a classroom teacher and volunteer. I believe she has the skill set to make a positive impact on the foundation’s mission for academic excellence in our schools.”

Local resident Johnson served as director of community and public relations for the Long Center for the Performing Arts and later served as a trustee. She also served as the consumer advocate for Audiotoniq,Inc., and is a published author, having given speeches to school children around Central Texas. Last spring, she conducted her student teaching in 8th grade English Literature at Four Points Middle School.

Continue reading →

Children’s Learning Adventure offers many activities as well as intimate learning environments in its 33,000-square-foot facility at 8300 RM 620.

By KIM ESTES, Four Points News

Children’s Learning Adventure, offering child care and educational opportunities for children ages 6-weeks to 12-years-old, opened on Aug. 6 in Four Points at the Trails at 620.

“We feel this site is well located to accommodate parents in Four Points, southwestern Cedar Park and the greater Lake Travis area. Parents who are invested in their children’s education are our ideal clients, and we are excited for the opportunity to work with parents and children in this area,” said Dan Petersen, vice president of development.

The new Four Points facility is the second location in the Austin area, the other one being in Cedar Park. With 37 locations in seven States throughout the country, the company employees about 80-100 full and part-time workers at each location.

The building is 33,000-square-feet, of which 10,000 or so is dedicated to older children. Additionally, CLA has a 35,000-square-foot outdoor playground with equipment designed for children of different ages.

Continue reading →

Originally from Dubai, quadruplets (L to R) Talal, Dana, Alma and Fotoun Hakim moved to Steiner Ranch this summer specifically to attend Vandegrift where they are juniors.

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

Vandegrift High School adds a number of new students each year and, this year, four of those students are drawing some special attention.

Talal, Dana, Alma and Fotoun Hakim are 16-year-old quadruplets originally from Dubai who recently started the new school year as juniors at VHS. The siblings moved to the United States with their parents and older brother at the age of 11, and attended middle school and the first two years of high school in Ft. Meyers, Fla.

The Hakim family moved to Austin specifically for VHS because of its good reputation.

“They have indicated that they chose Vandegrift for the BioMedical program we offer,” said VHS Principal Charlie Little. “We are seeing more families choosing Vandegrift as a destination school for our academic programs, quality extracurricular, IB, and amazing community.”

Continue reading →

By CASSIE MCKEE, Four Points News

During the past year, there have been two reports of possible mountain lion sightings made to the Steiner Ranch Homeowners Association. The sightings were in the greenbelt area of Shire Ridge and at a trailhead off of Flat Top Ranch Road, according to an HOA spokesperson.

Jim Nissen, who lives on Flat Top Ranch in Steiner, said his 15-year-old daughter, Katherine, was walking home at about midnight on July 30 when she was startled by a noise as she walked past the trailhead near Waters Drive and Summer Canyon Drive.

“While she was walking past the trailhead near that intersection, she heard a noise and looked back to see a large cat exiting (a) cottonwood tree in the area,” Nissen said. “She immediately started to run and was terrified. She said as she looked back, the large cat climbed back into the tree. She was absolutely positive this was not a raccoon or coyote. It was a large cat and she identified it as a mountain lion or cougar.”

Continue reading →

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

3M is selling its 156-acre campus in Four Points at 6801 River Place Blvd. at the same time it is looking to relocate to another site in Austin. The move affects hundreds of local employees.

In 1988, employees started to fill the 11 new buildings of the 3M campus in Four Points, which are connected with walkways. Today the campus has 1.2 million-square-feet of space including offices, laboratories and an on-site co-generation utility plant that powers the 3M campus in Four Points.

Continue reading →