A publication of the VHS Administration, Activities and Student Services offices.
August 2025 - Vol. 4, Ed. 1
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In over three decades each as high school teachers, coaches and administrators, we have encountered numerous challenges including leading this school through pains of online learning during a pandemic, but this past spring in a number of ways, was much more difficult. The loss of a student - no matter the circumstances - is always hard on students and staff as we struggle to accept why something so bad could happen to someone so young with a future full of such promise. Compounding our loss of a student, to lose an admired colleague and friend all too so soon, certainly left each of us all wondering, "why us?"
The arrival of graduation and summer brought about a beneficial time for everyone to step back, to reflect and to focus on what lies ahead. In a few short weeks we will welcome your students back to VHS and the building will once again come alive with the excitement and promise of another year of academic, activities and athletic accomplishments!
As Mr. Huska and I each enter our 31st and 32nd years of education, respectively, we look forward to the new challenges and opportunities that lie ahead! While a new freshman class will find their way into the building in a few weeks, we will look to our new senior class to lead our school. Big things lie ahead in 2025-26 at VHS and we're both confident that it's going to be a great year at Vermillion High School!
Welcome back, TANAGERS!
Jason Huska & Jon Frey
VHS Administration
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- July 30 & 31 Registration for Students New to the District
- August 19 Orientation & Open House
Grade 9: 10:00 - 11:30am Report to VHS Auditorium
Grade 11: 10:00 - 10:45am Report to Tanager Time Teacher
Grade 10: 1:00 - 2:30pm Report to VHS Auditorium
Grade 12: 1:00 - 1:45pm Report to Tanager Time Teacher
Open House for Parents & Students: 4:00 - 6:00pm
- August 20 First Day of Classes - Classes Begin at 8:30am
- Sept. 1 Labor Day - NO SCHOOL
- Sept. 15-19 Homecoming Week
- Sept. 26 1:30 PM Dismissal - Staff PLT
- Oct. 9 Parent/Teacher Conferences 2pm - 8pm
- Oct. 10 Parent/Teacher Conferences 8am - 12pm No afternoon classes
- Oct. 13 Native American Day - NO SCHOOL
- Oct. 31 No School - Staff Inservice
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These two apps will be important tools for parents and students at VHS!
The ParentSquare app will connect you to all communications at VHS and now, districtwide as all Vermillion School District buildings will be utilizing ParentSquare! Get the app!
Infinite Campus Parent & Student apps will integrate even more with our schools now. While you can use them to check attendance and grades as before, now you can use the apps to communicate the need for a student absence or tardy, to find out what time your student checked into or out of school and your student will be able to request a hall or restroom pass directly in Campus from the app.
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We're proud to welcome two new faces to the staff this year that, in many ways, are not new to us, at all!
Sarah Armbrust - Family & Consumer Sciences Teacher
Sarah returns to her familiar role as VHS FACS instructor after a two-year hiatus. She has a full-slate of classes ranging from Child Development to Culinary Arts and our students will benefit once again from her creativity and guidance in this growing and increasingly popular program. Welcome back, Sarah!
Libby Sykes - Science Teacher
Libby is an astute and well-traveled VHS alumnus who will be stepping into the classroom and teaching responsibilities of our former colleague, Tanna Miiller. Libby has previously sat in those classes as a student, subbed in those classes as Ms. Miiller's substitute teacher and is now excited to assume the role of full-time classroom teacher. Libby brings a very impressive science background to the role and given her ties to the school and community, we look forward to where she will take this position in the coming years. Welcome home, Libby!
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John Schloss - Science Teacher
Where is home? I was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Grade school in Sioux Falls and Yankton, undergrad and graduate degree at USD and now teaching in Vermillion. I Love Vermillion. I probably call Vermillion home more often than anything else.
Where did you get your (post-HS) education? The only acceptable answer in this state... The University of South Dakota. I'm a Coyote through and through!
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Did you always want to teach or did something lead to you teaching after first doing something else? I think deep down I knew in High School that I wanted to be a teacher. I had a great chemistry teacher in High School (Mr. Medeck). He was towards the ends of a long career and still happy to be teaching every day. He was a little quirky and weird and I thought that was great. I ended up doing my undergrad in chemistry and almost pursued a PhD in chemistry. During a summer of undergraduate research I realized that i love science but being alone doing lab work all day was not the right fit for me so I did the only rational thing I could do... graduated and joined the South Dakota Army National Guard. I signed up about a week before I graduated and shipped to Basic Combat Training about 15 days later. During Basic and Officer Candidate School I kept finding myself in roles where I was helping instruct my fellow soldiers. I couldn't deny the fact that I wanted to be a teacher any longer and shortly after completing my training I was accepted to the USD graduate school in the Masters Plus Certification program. It took me about three years, but I was able to get a masters in curriculum & instruction, become a certified teacher, and get hired at VHS.
How many years have you been teaching at VHS? Overall? This is my 8th year as a teacher and my 8th year at VHS.
What classes do you teach? Chemistry, Advanced Chemistry, and Earth & Space Science.
Do you coach any sports? Do you sponsor any activities or clubs? If so, which ones? I am a co-advisor for the Senior Class with Mrs. O'Connor and have done that for about 4 years. Been thinking of starting up a Chemistry or Physical Science club but VHS students already have a huge amount of activities competing for their time and energy.
What is your favorite part of teaching at VHS? Working with students means there is constantly something new happening which keeps life interesting. My coworkers are pretty awesome, too!
Do you have any hobbies or interests that would be fun for others to know about you? I enjoy spending time outdoors (especially with my kids). We spent this summer doing a lot of cycling and some roller blading. I also enjoy learning new skills. This summer I learned how to refinish furniture and last year I repaired the transmission in my car. I also used to enjoy riding motorcycles. I have owned 5 different motorcycles but sold my last when my son was born because motorcycles make terrible family cars.
I have 2 kids. Coraline who is a 4th grader and Kelvin who is in preschool. I have been a member of the South Dakota Army National Guard for almost 14 years and I currently serve in the 152nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion in Brookings. My job as a logistician is to forecast and develop plans to meet the sustainment needs of combat units as they fight. Its challenging and requires me to use logic and problem solving skills similar to those used in chemistry.
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Jon Manning: Activities Assistant
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The Vermillion High School fall sports would like to announce upcoming
meetings and practices:
- Girls’ soccer will have practice starting on Monday August 4th from 4:00pm –5:30pm at the high school practice field. Parent meeting after practice on August 6th.
- Boys’ soccer will practice Monday August 4th from 6:00-8:00 pm at the high school practice field. The parent meeting will be on July 21st at 8pm via Zoom.
- The girls’ Tennis first practice will be on August 4th from 7:00-9:00 am at the high school courts.
- Boy’s golf will have a Parent/Player meeting on August 3rd 1:00 pm at The Bluffs. The first practice is on August 11th at the Bluffs golf course. Start time will be announced on August 4th meeting.
- Football will have practice on August 11th at 8:00am -11:00 am. A parent meeting will be on August 10th 7pm in the back gym of high school.
- Boys and Girls Cross Country will have a meeting/practice on August 11th in the high school commons at 4pm and practice to follow.
- Volleyball practice will be on Thursday August 14th at 3:45- 6pm. August 23rd 9:00 am scrimmage followed by parent meeting and potluck at 11:30.
- Athletic Booster Bash will be held on August 22nd at 6pm. Come to VHS to support the Booster Club and see the upcoming fall coaches and athletes. Memberships along with new Tanager gear will be available.
Go, Tanagers!
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We're excited to announce that you can now use these links to purchase activity passes, single event tickets and even your annual booster memberships! |
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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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2025 VHS Senior Madigan Wallin signed her letter of intent to play softball for the Mount Marty Lancers in Yankton, this past spring. Wallin is pictured with VHS softball coach, Louis Budmayer, Interim Lancer assistant, Kyle McLean and new Lancer head softball coach, Cassandra Brown. |
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Seniors visit Student Services to check out the Scholarship Wall!
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Dual credit courses are up and running! Be sure to check in with your student to make sure they are staying on track with the course(s). Also, be sure to check out important dates. Additionally, students taking USD courses are eligible to get a student ID that can be used to access the Wellness Center and events.
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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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Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a crucial step for almost any student pursuing higher education, even those who believe they may not qualify for aid.
Here's why:
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Gateway to billions in financial aid: The FAFSA unlocks access to over $150 billion in federal, state, and institutional aid, including grants (money you don't have to repay), work-study funds, and federal student loans.
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Eligibility for grants and scholarships: Many institutions and state governments utilize FAFSA information to determine eligibility for various grants and scholarships, both need-based and merit-based. Some merit-based scholarships may even require completing the FAFSA to be considered.
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Access to affordable loans: Federal student loans obtained through the FAFSA typically offer lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options compared to private loans.
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Potential for work-study opportunities: The FAFSA determines eligibility for federal work-study programs, providing on-campus or partner business jobs to help students earn money while studying.
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Demonstrates financial need: Even if you don't intend to borrow, submitting the FAFSA can help demonstrate your financial need to colleges, potentially making you eligible for institutional aid.
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Backup option for unforeseen circumstances: Having an active FAFSA on file can act as a safety net if your financial situation changes unexpectedly, making it easier to access aid if needed.
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Simplifies future applications: Completing the FAFSA streamlines the renewal process in subsequent years, saving time and effort.
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Potential requirement for state and institutional aid: Many states and colleges use FAFSA data to award their own financial assistance. Some states even require it for high school graduation.
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No income cutoff: Contrary to a common misconception, there's no set income cut-off for federal student aid, as various factors beyond income are considered.
In summary, filling out the FAFSA is a crucial first step toward financing your education and shouldn't be overlooked by any student considering college. It opens doors to a wide range of aid opportunities, even if you believe you won't qualify.
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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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