On Tuesday of this week, VHS hosted approximately 20 staffers from the South Dakota Department of Education, including Education Secretary, Dr. Joseph Graves. The DoE contingent visited the new Vermillion Elementary School and Vermillion Middle School campuses before coming to VHS mid-morning.

While at VHS, they were provided the opportunity to visit our Visual Media and Marketing classroom and lab spaces - where Business Educator Sara Rohde and Art Educator Dr. Grant Riedel were leading the class through several projects simultaneously. The VMM course is where our in-house "Caged Creations" design business is operated. Our VMM students were able to show the Dept. of Education visitors some of the products they create and the industry grade equipment in use within the program.

From there, we transitioned to Brandy Wallin's science classroom where the Introduction to Health Occupations students were learning about gowning and gloving up in a safe/sanitary way for medical procedures and students were also experiencing VHS's Anatomage table - a 7 ft. long computer touch display that can lay at table height or stand vertically to allow students to see full size representations of anatomical features within the human (and animal) body. With the return of the CNA program to VHS, the Health Occupations course is a strong addition to our course offerings giving health career-minded students an in-house avenue to explore this vast and rapidly changing field.

Finally, the team was able to take a few minutes to tour our Welding/Manufacturing shop to see the large-scale laser engraver available to both our Manufacturing and our Visual Media & Marketing classes - it is just too large to keep in a classroom, so it's in the shop! They also received a brief demonstration of our new 12 ft long CNC plasma cutting table that allows our Manufacturing students to design parts on the computer and then cut them from raw, plate steel in the shop.

It's always exciting for us to show off the exciting work being done in the classrooms and labs at VHS. The staff work hard to provide a rich experience and the students really have some exciting pathways that they can explore, if they choose! This has gotten long, so let me sign off with my usual salutation ...

Jon

With generous support from the Vermillion Public Schools Foundation the VHS science department is excited to announce that we will soon be taking delivery of a mobile planetarium. The system will consist of a 6-meter inflatable dome and a projector/optical system capable of delivering immersive full dome videos and accurate representation of night skies. The system will enhance Earth & Space science instruction by providing a unique opportunity to experience astronomical phenomena in a controlled and convenient manner. While astronomy/cosmology is the main focus, content crossing over to other disciplines abounds, including topics found in physics, biology, environmental science, geography, mythology, and even art. The system should see first use in early November. After an initial period of learning the system we will look into opportunities for taking the planetarium to the elementary and middle schools to expand the experience for students of all ages!

In the latter part of last spring's semester, VHS hosted visiting artists Steven and William Ladd. The brothers launched a national effort called the National Scrollathon in South Dakota at Vermillion High School, marking South Dakota's contribution to America’s Cultural Project and the national goal of Uniting America.

This project will culminate with scrolls assembled in all 50 U.S. states and a number of territories and is done as part of a commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States—the Semiquincentennial. The scrolls will be put on display at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. during the celebration. Visit the website about the project to learn more about it!

Nationally and locally more schools have adopted cell phone restrictions. There is no disputing the fact that smartphones can be valuable tools; however, they often create distractions from the learning environment. Vermillion High School students can leave their phones in their locker or put their phone in a pouch when they enter the classroom. By limiting phone access, we are finding that students are more engaged, focused, and connected to their work in the classroom.

Cell phone restrictions in the classroom support academic focus. Without the constant temptation to check texts, social media, or games. This can lead to more productive class time. Stronger social interactions are another benefit. Instead of looking at phones during downtime, students are interacting with each other. While phones have their place, banning them in classrooms creates an environment that focuses on learning and connections. In the end, it helps students improve academically and personally.

Overall, VHS attendance dipped last week after improving somewhat for Homecoming* week!

As the weather gets cooler, it’s important to take steps to protect your health and the health of those around you. Cold and flu season is right around the corner, so now is the perfect time to boost your wellness routine. Make sure to wash your hands regularly, get plenty of sleep, stay hydrated, and eat a balanced diet. Don’t forget to dress for the weather and consider getting a flu shot to reduce your risk. If you're feeling sick, it's best to stay home and rest. Let’s work together to keep our school community healthy and strong this season!

Those in charge of a sport or activity do a lot more than teach skills and strategies. They serve as mentors that help shape the character and growth of each participant. A good coach or director understands that success extends beyond wins, losses, and performances. It’s about guiding them to become responsible and resilient individuals.

Coaches and directors provide emotional support and life lessons that are not always taught in the classroom or at home. Their motivation and influence can inspire students. This can help students set goals, overcome challenges, and have more confidence. This can be one of the more powerful and long lasting parts of an activity experience.

The Vermillion School District will be utilizing the Bound software program for its activities. This is comprehensive integrated software tailored for activity directors and schools. This was introduced to all schools in the state of South Dakota to unify scheduling, registration, ticketing, communication, and facility management. Most schools are transitioning to Bound from various other programs. This is an attempt to be more efficient and unify communication. However, we ask for some patience as we transition into this program. Expect some learning curves for all of us. We believe this will provide a better product for our activity programs in the end.

Vermillion Public Schools would also like to remind parents of yearly physical/consent forms required to participate in athletics. Each athlete must complete a physical before participation. Parents and students need to be aware of the Activities/Athletics handbook policy. Each student athlete will have the policy explained to them. Adult and Student activity tickets will be available at the high school, administration building, or at various sporting events. Cost for the activity tickets is $50.00 for adults and $25.00 for students. The Vermillion School District is offering a family activity pass for $120. (Card readers will be available for credit card use) If you have any questions, please call Vermillion High School. We look forward to a great 2025-2026 school year and GO, TANAGERS!

The following are due dates for the 2025-26 ACT testing dates:

Filling out the FAFSA can be a little overwhelming. But if you take the time to gather the information needed and then lean on the resources available to help, you will complete the application – and it will be easier than you think. Check out- https://ourdakotadreams.com/paying-for-college/financial-aid/completing-the-fafsa/ for more information. 

The FAFSA form must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Central time (CT) on June 30, 2026. Any corrections or updates must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CT on Sept. 12, 2026.

Each college and career/trade school may have its own deadline. Check with the school you’re interested in attending. You may also want to ask about the school’s definition of an application deadline. For example, the deadline could be the date your FAFSA form is processed or the date the school receives your processed FAFSA data.

The SD Opportunity Scholarship provides up to $7,500 over four years to a qualifying student who attends an eligible higher education institution in South Dakota. The scholarship is distributed at the beginning of fall semester and the other half is distributed at the beginning of the spring semester:

There are two ways a student can become eligible for the Opportunity Scholarship:

Option 2: (has a higher ACT requirement, but no curriculum or GPA requirement)