By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Women of Hope partnered with Barons Creek Vineyards recently to host a fundraising and awareness building event at the Steiner Ranch Steakhouse.

Barons Creek Vineyard and the Chase families hosted the wine tasting and pairing event with proceeds going to help Women of Hope, co-founded by local resident Ronda Gray.

“Barons Creek has been amazing tonight donating a percentage of the sales to Austin Children’s Shelter through Women of Hope,” Gray said.

L-R Lauren Zurbrugg, director of development at The SAFE Alliance, Angela Glode, chief development officer at SAFE, Ronda Gray, founder of Women of Hope, Michelle Long Held, Women of Hope member.

Women of Hope is a philanthropic group of women who have come together around their common interest in making the world a better place for abused and neglected children and youth served by Austin Children’s Shelter. Continue reading →

By SCOTT COLEMAN, Four Points News

The sustained excellence at Vandegrift’s storied golf program only grew at this week’s UIL state tournament as the school’s boys squads captured first-place and third-place finishes, as well as a historically best runner-up finish by the Vipers’ girls team at Wolfdancer Golf Resort in Cedar Creek.

Two under-par rounds of 285 and 287 gave Vandegrift an insurmountable lead and the boys Black Team notched a 47-shot victory over second-place San Antonio-Alamo Heights in Class 5A thanks to the team of Cooper Dossey, Tobin Niblett, Brandon Hoff, Lucas Mylet, and Daniel Martinez.

“Remarkable performance… couldn’t have scripted a better finish to the season,” said VHS golf coach Matt Wernecke.

Boys Black Team – Coach Matt Wernecke, Daniel Martinez, Lucas Mylet, Cooper Dossey, Tobin Niblett, Brandon Hoff, Coach Cliff Ellis
Girls Black Team – Story Shaw, Jensen Jalufka, Sarah Rovenstine, Hailey Derrickson, Sophia di Gesualdo
Boys Silver Team – Wyatt Speaks, Jacob Rockefeller, Luke Dossey, Dalton Doerr, Foster Givens

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By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Superintendent Bret Champion is leaving Leander ISD — and a lasting legacy — to lead the Klein ISD in northwest Harris County in Houston.

“It has been a blessing and an opportunity to walk alongside quality educators and a great community,” said Champion, who has worked in LISD for 22 years, starting as a teacher, then assistant principal, principal and administrator.

He became the superintendent in 2008 and will begin as Klein’s superintendent in July.

LISD is a fast-growth district with nearly 37,000 students and Champion will be going to another fast-growth district with 50,000 students.

“The great news is that both districts are well prepared for the growth,” Champion said.

Bret Champion expects Leander ISD to get a lot of applicants for the superintendent job he is leaving. “This job will certainly drive a lot qualified folks to apply,” he said. “This is a great place to live and to work, it’s working for a great board and terrific community and staff that is so student-focused.”
Photo taken by Scott W. Coleman on December 2013.

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By KIM ESTES, Four Points News

A new College Board program offered in a non-content specific, interdisciplinary format will be available next fall at Vandegrift High School.

Called AP Capstone, the addition is part of the College Board’s Advanced Placement series and is designed to complement all other areas of study.

Students do not have to be in other AP classes to enroll in AP Capstone. “Capstone classes can complement anything for secondary success,” said Lisa Brittain, Leander ISD director of College and Career Readiness.

The program helps students develop the ability to do inquiry, learn about gathering information, find out what information to trust or how to put that information in context, how to form an argument based on data, evidence and information and, finally, how to communicate it.   Continue reading →