Luminarias ran the full length of the VHS football field in memory of those lost and to encourage those still fighting.

Band students formed Team Howard to raise money on behalf of the VHS band director, Mike Howard, a cancer survivor. Back row, from left: Aleksandra Krychniak, Kayla Downing, Cameron Moerbe, Elyse Geurra, Isa Cinclair. Front row Madi Howard and Coral Spicer.

By SARAH DOOLITTLE
Four Points News

Vandegrift hosted its 7th Relay For Life April 7 with over 750 participants raising $33,000 for the American Cancer Society. Over the last seven years combined, the Viper community has raised over $200,000 at Relay in the fight against cancer.

For the first time in three years, the event was held outdoors under clear skies. Students, teachers and survivors walked the track in groups, while in the center field others threw frisbees and footballs, rolled on giant inflatable balls, or listed to music from the Bethany Becker Band.

At 9 p.m., as is tradition, the lights were turned off and the luminaria ceremony began. Students whose lives had been affected by cancer spoke, then invited attendees to light their luminarias.

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Four Points News sought a public information request to Leander ISD for the date to compile this chart. The data includes the eight LISD schools in the Four Points area.

By LYNETTE HAALAND
Four Points News

Student absences in the days surrounding “February Break” 2017 cost Leander ISD more than an estimated $229,160 and student absences in Four Points made up more than $64,000 of the total.

The total was actually higher but this report just examines the two days closest to the student holiday, which was Feb. 6 – 7 when teachers took part in staff development.

Student absences cost LISD an estimated $115,760 on Friday, Feb. 3 leading up to the break and $113,400 on Wednesday, Feb. 8 after the official student break ended.

LISD schools in Four Points — Steiner Ranch, Laura W. Bush, River Ridge, River Place and Grandview Hills elementary schools, Canyon Ridge and Four Points middle schools and Vandegrift High School — contributed to that total by an estimated $32,440 on Friday, Feb. 3 and $31,720 on Wednesday, Feb. 8, for a total of $64,160.

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This image was posted on Snapchat on Sunday apparently and some say it had threatening words directed toward the student’s school.

By LYNETTE HAALAND
Four Points News

Extra police patrols were at Vandegrift High School on Monday after two threats alluding to violence were made on social media.

The first post was made on Snapchat on Sunday, according to Leander ISD officials. The post that was apparently the original, showed a male Vandegrift student holding what looked like a large firearm horizontally across his chest.

“I’m proud of our kids who knew about this, they took the initiative and got involved and they immediately reported this,” said Charlie Little, principal at VHS. Sometimes kids know about threats like this and don’t share with the proper authorities, he added.

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The Broe family after facing the clippers at their Pierce Your Heart St. Baldrick’s fundraising event on Saturday. L-R Carson, Kevin, Forrest, Janel and Julianne.

By SARAH DOOLITTLE
Four Points News

The Broe family of River Place raised more than $70,000 for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation at their second annual Pierce Your Heart head-shaving event on April 1 at Redfin Seafood Kitchen.

The foundation is the only of its kind dedicated solely to raising funds for pediatric cancer research. The Broe family lost their son, Pierce, at age 12 to brain cancer. St. Baldrick’s Day encourages supporters to “brave the shave” for charity and in the name of those affected by childhood cancer, and over 50 participants did so on Saturday.

Pierce’s father, Kevin, has had his head shaved for the past four years, a tradition he started with Pierce while Pierce was undergoing treatment for cancer. This year, not only did Kevin and his two sons, Carson and Forrest, “brave the shave,” but mom Janel also joined in the fun, having her head shaved for the first time ever. Daughter Julianne supported her family and spoke at the event.

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