A publication of the VHS Administration, Activities and Student Services offices.
February 2026 - Vol. 5, Ed. 4
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Well, just like that the holidays are behind us! We've handed out the gifts, put away the tree, reveled in the new year and suddenly second semester is off and running.
Focus this semester will continue to move in the direction of preparing for the SD-ACT test on March 17, seeing the Tanagers through what we hope will continue to be a successful winter season of Show Choir competitions, basketball games, wrestling and gymnastics, cheer and dance, One-Act play, debate, Quiz bowl and even Culinary Arts Pro Start competition returns once again! I hope I haven't left anything out, but in a place as busy as this, odds are I likely have! Our students are so impressive in all that they take on. I simply cannot help but be impressed and honored to lead them. Our teams compete with heart and character. Our crowds are high energy and spirit and our kids' talent just seems to flow when presented with the opportunity to showcase it!
Whether it's a high school sophomore (Taylor Reuvers) reaching the 1000 point plateau so early in her career or a freshman (Adalyn Bottolfson) being recognized by the Department of Education for a perfect science assessment score, or a collection of seniors (Ryan Vitt, Thea Jennewein, Kamil Schorn, Ryne Chapman, Cooper Girard) being identified as meeting the criteria for recognition as U.S. Presidential Scholars, or even a senior (Trey Hansen) reaching the all-time points leader plateau on the basketball team one thing is for certain, these "birds" just continue to soar!
... as always - GO, TANAGERS!
Jon
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On Friday morning, January 9th, Nick "Sunshine" Tokman, who appeared for four seasons on the Discovery Channel show "Deadliest Catch," spoke to the students at VHS and VMS. Tokman's visit was made possible by the Vermillion Public Schools Foundation.
Tokman's challenged his audience to recognize that when things happen, they often happen for a reason and in those moments, it is important to embrace the challenge and rise above the obstacles that are keeping us from reaching our goals. Tokman's presentation Become Your Captain: Catch Your Future focused on building students' self worth to empower them to create their own success in life. Overcoming the challenges of landing a job in a commercial crab fishing fleet, running out of funds and finding himself homeless in a far away land (Alaska), Tokman went ship to ship visiting with captains and offering to do whatever it took to land work. Ultimately, Tokman would find work and spend eight years in Alaska doing what is widely regarded as one of the most brutal and dangerous jobs, on the planet.
Tokman is recognized for his constant, upbeat attitude, his unwavering focus on achieving his goals, and his determination in the face of adversity. In Alaska, he battled some of the harshest working conditions known to man, including 30-35 foot rogue waves, freezing temperatures, extreme physical labor and 20-hour work days. Nick has proven himself physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of overcoming arduous obstacles.
"Sunshine" spent the weekend in the Vermillion area taking in local restaurants and sites while extending his sincerest gratitude for the incredible audiences he encountered at both VHS and VMS! Our students were outstanding and anyone who missed what Nick shared, truly missed out on a memorable day at school!
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- Feb. 12 - Parent/Teacher Conferences 2pm - 8pm
- Feb. 13 - Staff Inservice 8am - 12pm - NO SCHOOL
- Feb. 16 - President's Day - NO SCHOOL
- Mar. 11 - 1:30 PM Dismissal - Staff PLT
- Mar. 12-13 - Spring Break - NO SCHOOL
- Mar. 17 - ACT Testing - ALL JUNIORS @ USD
- Apr. 2 - 1:30 PM Dismissal - Staff PLT
- Apr. 3-6 - Easter Holiday - NO SCHOOL
- April 11 - Prom, Grand March 7:15pm
- May 6 - Senior Awards, VHS Auditorium 2pm
- May 11 - 12 Senior Final Exams
- May 14 - Graduation Practice, Sanford Coyote Sports Center, 10:00am
- May 16 - Graduation, Sanford Coyote Sports Center, 1:30 PM
- May 18 - Final Exams Gr. 9-11
- May 19 - Final Exams Gr. 9-11
- May 20 - Final Exams Gr. 9-11, Last Day, Complete check-out by 1:30pm
- May 21 - Staff Inservice - NO SCHOOL
- May 22 - Staff Inservice - NO SCHOOL
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Dr. Grant Riedel, Vermillion High School art teacher, and his wife, Michelle, the Vermillion Elementary art teacher, have opened the latest store in town: Lunchbox Studios, a calm place to disconnect from the busy life and as Riedel says “come in and unleash your nostalgia!”
Lunchbox Studios' main appeal is the paint-your-own-pottery section, where you can select from pottery made in-house with local South Dakota clay, at competitive, affordable, prices. Once patrons select their pieces, they can choose a retro inspired booth and go to town painting their pieces. After you finish your piece, have the counter ring you up and from there they will do one last coat of clear glaze, put your piece though the kiln and get it back to you in roughly 7 days. Also, looking to bring a larger group in, Lunchbox Studios can accommodate a party/gathering (birthday, friends, family, business, and corporate groups) of up to 34 people.
They offer many items besides pottery as well, such as art supply kits made to specifically cater to the needs of USD student artists and their classes, or supplies for experienced, veteran artists or those just embarking on their artistic journey.
Lunchbox Studios is also a small used book store, offering titles needed for college courses, a selection of modern titles, graphic novels, classics, and children's titles. Most books are priced $10 or $8. Additionally, Lunchbox Studios offers a wide array of bags, hats, and shirts to “rep” the latest art store in town.
You can contact Lunchbox Studios via their website: Lunchboxstudiosco.com, email: Lunchboxstudiosco@gmail.com, or phone: 605-659-8292, make sure to stop by soon at 10 W Main Street because in the new year they will have brand new paint supplies for USD students, classes, and new pottery pieces.
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by Samuel Lee
Sunrise Sizzle is a temporary restaurant put on by the Culinary Arts Class that occurs once a month on a Thursday morning from 8:45 am to 9:45 am in the high school cooking classroom. During the time it is open, teachers, students, and their families can come in to enjoy breakfast for a cost.
Each month, Sunrise Sizzle occurs, the students change roles. The roles in Sunrise Sizzle are executive chef, sous chef, line cook, server, and dishwasher. Before the actual day of the meal, the students price the items and make posters to advertise the meals.
The goal of the Culinary Arts Class is to teach the students how to work in the food industry. Mrs. Sarah Armbrust is the teacher for this course and started the student run meals by asking the principal at the time, Mr. Curt Cameron, about starting a way for students to run a restaurant in school. It was approved. It soon joined a club called the FCCLA (The Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) which helps with processing money, making decisions and paying bills.
Sunrise Sizzle is a great opportunity for the students taking Culinary Arts. It allows students to practice in a restaurant environment at most levels of employment.
Mrs. Armbrust said “I enjoy seeing them stretch themselves and then grow in ways that are relevant to class and real world experience as well. I think that students can rise to so many amazing feats when we trust them, believe them, and give them the opportunity.”
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The Vermillion School District appreciates your continued partnership in supporting your child’s education. One of the most important factors in your child’s success is regular attendance. They can stay connected to learning, build important relationships, and make steady academic progress.
We understand that absences do happen due to illness, family needs, and other unexpected circumstances. If your family is experiencing challenges that make regular attendance difficult, please know we are here to help. The administration and teachers are happy to work with you and provide support. Thank you for helping create a positive learning environment for all our students.
Below are VHS's attendance rates for the weeks starting Term 3. Since the start of the new year, we have fallen short of reaching 90% attendance for any week, to date. The 90%+ range had been our normal attendance rate prior to this semester.
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Jon Manning: Activities Assistant / BBB Manager
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Congratulations to the VHS cast and crew of "Elephant's Graveyard" for winning a State Superior Play award, technical theatre award, and to the following actors who received Superior Actor medals: Isaac Mayrose, Henry Mollman, Ellie Holdhusen, Rozlynn Olson, Gary Merkwan, Medeina Antoine, Keaton Daniels-Heggestad and Liz Sereda. |
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! |
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Beginning in Spring 2026, South Dakota public schools will use the ACT as the state assessment for juniors. This change is designed to provide more meaningful testing for students and families while supporting college and career planning.
This means that:
• All South Dakota public school juniors will take the SD-ACT online
during the school day at no cost.
• This will typically occur in March and include all testing subjects:
English, Reading, Math, Science, and Writing.
• The results will be used to measure student performance on district
and high school Accountability Report Cards.
• Students can retake the ACT at their own expense should they
wish to attempt to improve their scores.
“For many years, South Dakota students have been outscoring their counterparts nationally and regionally on the ACT. Even though we know testing all students will reduce our average scores 1.5 to 2.5 points, we still expect solid results and the kind of scores which will open doors for even more students to pursue postsecondary educational opportunities,” said Secretary of Education Joseph Graves.
Why the ACT?
It’s One Less Test
The SD-ACT will be our state summative assessment, reducing testing for over 60% of South Dakota’s high school students who took both the former state assessment and the ACT.
It’s Aligned to South Dakota’s Content Standards
We’ve carefully reviewed the ACT and confirmed that it is aligned with South Dakota’s content standards in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. That means the test reflects what is being taught in classrooms across South Dakota.
It Opens Doors for All Students
While the ACT is often associated with college admission, it also offers valuable insights into students’ skills and career readiness. Regardless of postsecondary plans, ACT results can highlight individual strengths, support informed career exploration, and help connect students with a wide range of opportunities—including university programs, technical education, apprenticeships, and direct entry into the workforce. We know from student experiences in other states that require the ACT it has led some students who did not intend to pursue any kind of postsecondary study to set their sights a bit higher as they realize they are perhaps ”college material” after all.
It’s a Credential That Travels with You
Unlike traditional state assessments, the ACT is a nationally recognized credential. Scores can be used for college applications, scholarships, and job applications, giving students a head start on the path they choose.
It Saves Parents and Students Money
This test administration is free for students, saving parents money.
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This list includes the tools, supports, and accommodations that are available to students while completing the SD-ACT.
Information on what the SD-ACT is, test dates, preparing for the assessment, expectations, support tips, and benefits can all be reviewed in this helpful one-page guide.
Free ACT Preparation Course - Methodize
Methodize is a simple, yet effective online learning platform that empowers students to learn new skills and reach their potential. It offers a self-paced ACT preparation course that provides students in grades 9 to 12 with a comprehensive overview of the most effective strategies and the most relevant content for raising their ACT scores. Students who have used Methodize to study for the ACT have seen an average increase of 3 points on a 36-point scale!
Methodize is available at no cost to all South Dakota students in grades 9-12. This resource is provided by the South Dakota Department of Education and can be accessed through SDMyLife powered by Xello. Students and educators can simply log into their accounts and access Methodize at any time.
Easy to print and share documents that explain what Methodize is and how it can be accessed and implemented by students and educators can be found on the Methodize page on SDMyLife.
Vermillion students also have 100% free access to ACT training via the OnToCollege website using their VHS student login credentials.
© South Dakota Department of Education
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Seniors visit Student Services to check out the Scholarship Wall!
Also check out these links to more scholarship opportunities-
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The following are due dates for the 2025-26 ACT testing dates: |
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What are the deadlines for filling out the FAFSA® form?
Federal Deadlines
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.
College Deadlines
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.
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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:
- $1,500 – 1st year of attendance
- $1,500 – 2nd year of attendance
- $1,500 – 3rd year of attendance
- $3,000 – 4th year of attendance
There are two ways a student can become eligible for the Opportunity Scholarship:
Option 1:
- Be a resident of South Dakota.
- Have an ACT Composite or Super Score of 24 or higher. · Complete the high school course requirements with no final grade below a “C” and a cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 prior to graduation.
- Attend an accredited university, college, or tech school in South Dakota.
- Enter the program within 5 years of high school graduation.
Option 2: (has a higher ACT requirement, but no curriculum or GPA requirement)
- Be a resident of South Dakota.
- Have an ACT Composite or Super Score of 28 or higher and meet the ACT college readiness benchmarks scores equaling or exceeding 18 for English, 22 for Reading, 22 for Math, and 23 for Science.
- Attend an accredited university, college or tech school in South Dakota.
- Enter the program within 5 years of high school graduation.
Participating Institutions:
- Augustana University
- Black Hills State University
- Dakota Wesleyan University
- Dakota State University
- Lake Area Technical College
- Mount Marty University
- Mitchell Technical College
- National American University
- Northern State University
- South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
- South Dakota State University
- Southeast Technical College
- University of South Dakota
- University of Sioux Falls
- Western Dakota Technical College
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