17 Prospect St | Vermillion, SD 57069
(605) 677-7000

Student Services

Overview

Vermillion High School Student Services Department

The VHS Counseling Office will use the Remind App to send out important reminders to VHS students and parents this year.

  • To receive messages via text, text @vhscounse to 81010.  
  • Or click on the following link: http://www.remind.com/join/vhscounse
  • (You can opt out of text messages at anytime by replying, ‘unsubscribe @vhscounse’)
  • Please follow us on Twitter: VHS Student Services@ counselor Baedke
DUAL CREDIT INFORMATION: 

http://sdmylife.com/prepping-for-college/dual-credit

Method Test Prep – Free online ACT Prep Program

You’ve signed up for the ACT.   A solid score can mean qualifying for the reduced tuition dual credit program, scholarships, and being accepted at your top choice school.  Instead of spending the time before the test searching for four-leaf clovers and other lucky charms, how about spending a little time on Method Test Prep?

Method Test Prep is a FREE online ACT Prep program available to all VHS students through their SD MyLife portal.   Students can access the self-paced program anywhere they have an internet connection.  Mrs. Larsen provided a short demo of the program to students and parents of the “What?” “Where?” and “How?” of Method Test Prep during Parent-Teacher Conferences.

Links to the presentation and to the Method Test Prep Student User Guide (for iPad) are located below:

MTP Student User Guide

Federal Student Aid (FSA):

ATTENTION SENIORS:  – New FSA ID:  In May, the Department of Education implemented a new FSA ID to replace the FSA PIN as the login process for the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).  Seniors and their parents need to create a FSA ID and are encouraged to do it now.  It’s also important that students and parents create their own FSA ID as they will need them to sign and complete the FAFSA each year the student plans to apply for financial aid.  The following PDF walks through the steps for creating the new FSA ID needed to log into the FAFSA website. Creating FSA ID

FAFSA: Students attending college in 2018-2019 will be able to file a FAFSA as early as Oct. 1, 2019, rather than beginning on January 1, 2020. For more information: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/about/announcements/fafsa-changes

“Need help during the Holidays? Check out this website for local resources!”

http://www.helplinecenter.org/2-1-1-community-resources/resource-guides/holidayguides/

 

Vermillion Scrubs Camp

Location: University of South Dakota

Registration Deadline: January 1, 2020

Date: March 17, 2020

Applications can be picked up in the Student Services Office.

Graduation Requirements

Vermillion High School’s Graduation Requirements are designed to balance the rigor required for success in post-secondary pursuits with the flexibility of choice in courses that are aligned with a student’s career interests.  Toward that end, all students in the state of South Dakota are required to complete a plan for their high school career – or a “Personal Learning Plan” as a part of their graduation requirements.  This plan is a work in progress as students progress throughout their high school career.  VHS students create & update their Personal Learning Plan (PLP) through their SDMylife portfolio.  A hard copy of the graduation requirements and PLP may be accessed through the link below.
The following Course Information and Career Planning Guide helps students understand the course options available in each discipline at VHS.
I noticed in the graduation information something called “CTE” — What is CTE anyway? 
Career and Technical Education (CTE) prepares students for a wide range of careers and further educational opportunities. These careers may require varying levels of education—including industry-recognized credentials, postsecondary certificates, and two- and four-year degrees.  Within CTE, occupations and career specialties are grouped into “Career Clusters.”  Each of the 16 clusters is based on a set of common knowledge and skills that prepare learners for a full range of opportunities.  CTE equips students with: 
  • core academic skills and the ability to apply those skills to concrete situations in order to function in the workplace and in routine daily activities
  • em­ployability skills (such as critical thinking and responsibility) that are essential in any career area
  • job-specific, technical skills related to a specific career pathway
Vermillion High School currently has approved CTE programs in the Career Clusters of: 
  • Architecture & Construction
  • Arts/AV
  • Business Management & Administration
  • Information Technology
  • Human Services
  • Transportation, Distribution & Logistics

VHS courses that fulfill the CTE option for graduation are noted in the course descriptions of the Course Information Guidebook.

Student Information

Senior Information

Junior Information

Sophomore Information

Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) Seminar is the nation’s only program designed exclusively for high school sophomores.

HOBY’s purpose is to bring together a select group of high school sophomores who have demonstrated leadership ability so that they can interact with groups of distinguished leaders in business, government, education, and the professions to discuss present and future issues. These interactions occur during summer seminars which are three to four day weekend events. To learn more about HOBY, visit: www.HOBY.org

Current Scholarships

Senior Scholarships

 

South Dakota Scholarships: 

FAFSA (FEDERAL STUDENT AID):

http://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa

FASTWEB:

http://www.fastweb.com

Legends for Kids Scholarship Application:

Legends Scholarship Application 2019-2020

South Dakota State DAR Scholarship for Military Descendants $500.00:

The student is a  direct descendant of a United States Military Veteran. This  includes legally adopted descendants. The term “Veteran” refers to former and current members of the United States Armed Forces, including members of the National Guard. Applications are in the Student Services Office.

South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation Scholarship: 

2019 South Dakota Farmers Union Foundation Scholarship. This scholarship is open to any high school Senior or current Post Secondary Freshman that is attending a South Dakota school and is a current Farmers Union member.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Current member of South Dakota Farmers Union
  • Senior in high school planning to attend or a current Freshman at a SD post-secondary institution.
  • Completed application received by 8 a.m. on October 25, 2019. This includes attached forms or online equivalent.
  • Any late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
  • Applicants can only win once, past winners are not eligible.
  • Winners will be announced in early December. All applicants will receive an email in regards to who is selected.

The link for online submission: https://www.sdfu.org/education/scholarships

South Dakota Elks:

ANY high school senior who is a U.S. citizen may apply for the Most Valuable Student Scholarships. Applications must be submitted online at enf.elks.org/mvs by November 5, 2019.

For the children or grandchildren of dues-paying Elks, they can apply for the The Elks National Foundation Legacy Awards. The application must be submitted online by at elks.org/scholars/scholarships/Legacy.cfm by January 31, 2020.

The South Dakota Elks Association Vocational Grant is for students who will be enrolled in a Post Secondary Vocational/Technical School program. The paper applications must be submitted to the Yankton Elks Lodge, 504 W 27th Street, by November 5, 2019. They must be received by the Lodge prior to the deadline, not postmarked.

Emergency Educational Grants are also available to children of deceased or totally disabled Elks members. For more details on the Educational Grant program, please visit, elks.org/scholars/scholarships/Eefgrants.cfm

If you have questions, contact the local scholarship chairman, Steven Pietila, at 605-760-4916 or steve.pietila@gmail.com.

Hagan Scholarship Foundation:

Helping rural students graduate college debt free! Visit website at http://www.hsfmo.org  Deadline: November 15, 2019.

AXA Achievement Scholarship: 

Visit us.axa.com/achievers to learn more and apply online. Deadline: December 15, 2019

The Neuharth Scholarship is a $5,000 scholarship:

Given annually to exceptional journalism and/or marketing students who plan to pursue a career in media. Recipients must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA, have active involvement in The Volante (USD’s campus newspaper) and other student media, and meet all other criteria as specified by the award. The scholarship may be renewed annually.

University of South Dakota Department of Media & Journalism Al Neuharth Scholarship for Excellence in Journalism:

The deadline to apply is Dec. 1. Interested students can apply at the following link: https://usd.scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com/CMXAdmin/Cmx_Content.aspx?cpId=407. If you, or any students, have questions about this scholarship, please feel free to contact:  kyle.j.miller@usd.edu.

Basin Electric Power Cooperative-Member Cooperative Scholarship $1000:

This scholarship is only available to Clay-Union Electric Members. Applications in Student Services Office. Deadline will be February 14 return to the Clay-Union Electric office.

Eastern Chapter South Dakota Engineering Society $2000:

The Eastern Chapter of the South Dakota Engineering Society (SDES), the local affiliate of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), is currently offering scholarships for high school seniors applying to engineering colleges in South Dakota. Students who plan to attend South Dakota School of Mines and Technology or South Dakota State University may apply. Applications can be picked up in the Student Services Office. Deadline: January 16, 2020.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tests

College Admission Tests

Most colleges and universities require either the ACT or the SAT for college admission.  Check the website of the school(s) you are considering to determine which test to register for.  Both tests now utilize an online registration process.  Register for the ACT at http://www.actstudent.org. Register for the SAT at https://student.collegeboard.org/.  The ACT writing test and SAT sub tests require additional fees, and may be required by certain post secondary institutions.

Test preparation resources:

ACT:

Registration information is available in the Student Services Office — must register online at www.actstudent.org.  The ACT test is given at VHS.

2019-2020 TEST DATES (NATIONAL)

Test Date:                             Reg. Deadline:                           Late Fee:

  • Sept. 14, 2019             Aug. 16, 2019                             Aug. 17-30, 2019
  • Oct. 26, 2019               Sept. 20, 2019                            Sept. 21-Oct. 4, 2019
  • Dec.  14, 2019             Nov. 8, 2019                                Nov. 9-22, 2019
  • Feb. 8, 2020                Jan. 10, 2020                              Jan. 11-17, 2020
  • April 4, 2020                Feb. 28, 2020                              Feb. 29-Mar. 13
  • June 13, 2020             May 8, 2020                                 May 9-22, 2020
  • July 18, 202               June 19, 2020                              June 20-26, 2020

Test Fees: ACT  $52.00  ACT WITH WRITING  $68.00            

Vermillion’s High School code is:  421-315

Vermillion’s Test Center code is:  197-480.

SAT:

SAT TEST Schedule – Registration  must register online at http://www.collegeboard.com/.

Vermillion’s High School code is:  421-315

 

Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) is the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test:

Sign up in the Student Services Office cost is $17.00 (cost subject to change)

Vermillion High School Test Date: October 16, 2019

 

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB): 

The ASVAB is the most widely used multiple aptitude test battery in the world, developed and maintained by the Department of Defense. Students are provided with scores on eight individual academic tests and three Career Exploration Score composites: Verbal Skills, Math Skills, and Science and Technical Skills. The battery takes approximately three hours to complete and test results are returned to schools in about two weeks. For more information on the ASVAB test, go to the Today’s Military website.

Sign up in the Student Services Office

Vermillion High School Test Date:  November 6, 2019

en English
af Afrikaansar Arabicbe Belarusianbs Bosnianzh-CN Chinese (Simplified)hr Croatiancs Czechnl Dutchen Englishet Estonianfi Finnishfr Frenchde Germanel Greekhmn Hmongit Italianja Japaneseko Koreanku Kurdish (Kurmanji)lt Lithuanianmn Mongolianno Norwegianpt Portuguesero Romanianru Russiansr Serbiansl Slovenianes Spanishsw Swahilisv Swedishth Thaitr Turkishuk Ukrainianvi Vietnamesecy Welshyi Yiddish

© 2019 All Rights Reserved