November 2015 – St. Joseph's Indian School

Happy Thanksgiving Week from St. Joseph’s!

Fr. Anthony, St. Joseph's Chaplain — Fr. Anthony, St. Joseph’s Chaplain

Good day from St. Joseph’s Indian School!

Though we tried to hold off as long as we could, winter has ‘arrived’ here on the banks of the Missouri River. We were on the cusp of the recent storm that swept out of the Rockies. We got an inch or two of snow, and then the storm unloaded on eastern South Dakota. Snow kept right on falling across Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois. I have a sister living in Janesville, Wisconsin, and they were in the neighborhood of 20 inches!

Looking across the river as the sun rose was a beautiful sight. The sun reflecting off the windows and the newly fallen snow made it look like the Christmas villages many will be putting under their trees soon. Our students weren’t able to enjoy the snow for very long before temperatures rose and melted it all.

The biggest excitement last week was on Wednesday night, our annual Family Night at St. Joseph’s. All students gathered in the Rec Center to take part in a variety of ‘minute to win it’ type games with their siblings and extended family. It seemed like mass chaos, but it all ran rather smoothly and it was so much fun!

After the games, it was off the dining room for a turkey dinner. As the students waited for the serving to start, they had the chance to reflect on the people and things they were grateful for and create a centerpiece to share with friends and family over the holiday. Several students have headed home already, but the majority will be going on Wednesday just ahead of the next storm that is predicted to move into the area.

You may recall that I mentioned the elementary students were honored a week or so ago for their academic achievement. Last week’s local paper published a listing of high school students who made the Honor Roll at Chamberlain High—seniors Martina, William and Trey; juniors Danielle and Liliana; sophomores Reyna, Chandler, Hope and Camron, and freshmen Listella and Nathaniel. We want to congratulate them on their success!

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at St. Joseph’s!

These past few days I’ve had the chance to play ‘undercover boss,’ …but my disguise has not been too good since people recognized me! ‘Undercover Boss’ is a television show where the boss of a company works among his employees to see how things are going. I had the chance to help out at the Development Office sorting mail. It was an interesting experience. As I was sorting and looking around at others doing similar work, I kept offering up quick prayers of thanks to all our many Benefactors for their generosity.

One thing the staff kept mentioning was to check to make sure each envelope was for St. Joseph’s since sometimes our envelopes get used to return other bills—phone, cable TV, house payments, etc., but they come to us due to the bar code on the envelope. We forward them to the right address as soon as possible so that you will not lose any service.

I want to take a moment and wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you are able to celebrate with family and friends. Some of our houseparents who work far from home will be gathering together to celebrate the day. No matter where or with whom you celebrate, may each of us be able to express our thanks to God for all the blessings He sends our way.

Know that we value and cherish you. We are grateful for your interest and support of St. Joseph’s Indian School.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Fr. Anthony Kluckman, SCJ

Chaplain

What a great week at St. Joseph’s!

Good day from St. Joseph’s Indian School! We had another busy weekend filled with a variety of activities for our students to take part in.

The high school students had the opportunity to attend the Sioux Falls’ Diocesan Youth Conference in Brookings, South Dakota. There was a two-fold purpose: to invite students on the margin of their Faith to have an encounter with Jesus, and to deepen the commitment of those who have had an initial conversion. There were about 1,500 students and adults in attendance. The keynote address was given by Fr. Leo Patalinghug, star of EWTN’s ‘Grace Before Meals.” He gave a cooking demonstration as he shared his message with the youth.

Chamberlain High School’s presentation of the “Wizard of Oz” showed on Friday and Saturday night. It was performed before a literally ‘standing room only’ crowd. Several of St. Joseph’s high school students were in the cast, choir and the stage crew working behind the scenes. They did a wonderful job and everyone enjoyed their journey over the rainbow.

Producers visited with Lakota (Sioux) students at St. Joseph's. — Rising Voices visited St. Joseph’s campus!

You may have heard that some indigenous languages are in danger of being lost. The older generations are passing away and the younger are not picking up the language. St. Joseph’s hosted the director and producer of a PBS production, RISING VOICES/Revitalizing the Lakota Language. The two have been taking the film around the state showing it to different schools and groups to show how steps are being taken to encourage people of all ages to deepen their awareness of the Lakota language. The film is being shown around the nation. Check their website to see if there is a showing near you! www.risingvoicesfilm.com.

Many of the people interviewed in the film stated it helps them feel more Native American if they can become more fluent in the language. It was an affirmation of the Native American Studies program we offer at St. Joseph’s.

Our girls’ basketball seasons are underway. Last week, all the grades played their Chamberlain counterparts. The girls all put forth a great deal of effort! The City of Chamberlain will be hosting a basketball tournament for fourth, fifth and sixth graders this coming weekend at various spots around town. St. Joseph’s will be hosting the sixth grade teams.

St. Joseph's Lady Braves are busy playing in the Recreation Center at St. Joseph's! — St. Joseph’s Basketball season is underway!

One of Chamberlain’s weekly papers, THE SUN, came out with an article on how many records were set or tied by this year’s football team. Three players raising the bar were St. Joseph’s students—Jeremy, Davis and Kyle. Jeremy was selected All Conference Linebacker and set five records—most assisted tackles for the season, total tackles for the season, most defensive points in a game, season and career. Davis was named All Conference Receiver and set a new record for most receiving yards in a game. Kyle tied the record for most forced turn-overs for the season and was also honored as All Conference Offensive Tackle. The team had a great season and we are thankful that some of our students were able to help bring about that success!

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, our students will be gathering this evening to take part in the National Family Day Project Night. They’ll first start in the Rec Center playing various ‘minute to win it’ type games. Then they’ll move to the dining hall for a turkey dinner while making decorations to take home to their families for Thanksgiving.

Students will also be reminded about the food box they’ll be taking home for Thanksgiving, as well as a voucher for a local grocery store. Thanks to your generosity, St. Joseph’s is able to help families have enough resources to make sure no one goes to bed hungry over the holiday weekend.

We are grateful to you for your support that enables us to gather the needed supplies. We hope you have a wonderful week and that God’s blessing may be upon you.

Fr. Anthony Kluckman, SCJ

Chaplain

Greetings from Chamberlain, South Dakota!

Good day from St. Joseph’s Indian School!

It’s another lovely day in the neighborhood… although the evil word SNOW has been mentioned on the weather reports! We have yet to see any and are thankful for mild fall weather.

Since the Lakota (Sioux) youth have begun second quarter, we recently held an awards ceremony for quarter one. The rewards for A and B honor rolls and perfect attendance are a certificate and a WalMart gift card. If a student is on the honor roll with perfect attendance next quarter, the award may increase in value! We also have a contest between age groups to see which class can achieve the highest GPA (Grade Point Average). The one with the highest average gets a pizza party and hangs the award plaque in their classroom.

Lakota (Sioux) students with their teacher. — Ron’s 5th grade class won the award for the highest cumulative GPA for Quarter One!

We honored all veterans and those actively serving our country during Sunday Mass at Our Lady of the Sioux Chapel. THANK YOU just isn’t enough for their sacrifices.

Last Saturday, the Chamberlain Science Club hosted the 1^st Annual Hot Chocolate 5K Walk/Run, and it began here on St. Joseph’s campus. It was a way to celebrate Native American Month and learn about the importance of exercise all year long. Sanford Hospital set up an informational booth and there were baked goodies and warm drinks for all those taking part.

Students are in the process of learning to sing two Christmas carols in the Lakota language — Silent Night and Hark the Herald Angels Sing. Aside from what they are learning in class, singing songs is a nice way to keep developing the Lakota language skills of our students.

This week, St. Joseph’s is honored to welcome Mr. Lawrence Diggs, our current Artist in Residence. He is helping our students express themselves through poetry!

St. Joseph’s was honored to have one of our Native American Studies teachers, Allen, give a presentation on historical trauma in American Indian History to a college class at Dakota Wesleyan University. He shared how early boarding schools tried to negate Native American culture and heritage and ‘mold’ them into the white culture by cutting their hair and not letting them speak their native languages. He also spoke about high rates of unemployment, suicide and sexual assaults currently present on the reservations.

Tree in Our Lady of the Sioux Chapel — St. Joseph’s Indian School’s Tree of Remembrance

He also shared positive notes about how the reservations are working hard to combat suicides and offer resources to those who are struggling. Change will not happen overnight, but he is happy that steps are being taken to get things headed in the right direction and he is proud to be part of that process. Read more in the article that appeared in the Mitchell Daily Republic!

We hope you have a wonderful week. Say pilamaya – thank you – to a veteran and let them know you are grateful for their service to our country.

Fr. Anthony Kluckman, SCJ

Chaplain

PS: The picture shows our tree of remembrance in Our Lady of the Sioux Chapel with the names of our Beloved Dead whom we are keeping in prayer this month.

What a weekend to be a child!

Good day from St. Joseph’s Indian School!

What a weekend to be a child! Our students made the rounds trick-or-treating on campus Friday and then had the chance to dress up again on Halloween itself and make the rounds in Chamberlain. There were a wide variety of costumes and I had a hard time judging my favorites! The weather cooperated as well.

Several of the high school homes made the trip to Sioux Falls, South Dakota to take part in haunted houses and scary corn mazes. On Friday, the National Honor Society students sponsored a dance for the 7^th and 8^th graders from St. Joseph’s and the Chamberlain community. The price of admission was a non-perishable food item to be donated to the local food pantry.

Lakota (Sioux) students walk around St. Joseph's campus. — Our Lakota students enjoyed dressing up!

St. Joseph’s National Honor Society has been busy helping local Special Olympics athletes during bowling practices and will be traveling with them this Friday to Aberdeen, South Dakota for the final bowling tournament of their season.

Each of our St. Joseph’s homes are asked to do some sort of outreach every year. The Ambrose Home (boys in grades 1-3) decided to go to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Fort Thompson and help pass out coffee and treats after the Mass. They enjoyed the fellowship, as did the parishioners!

As the year continues to roll by, new sports and activities commence for the Lakota students to enjoy. The girls’ basketball season opens this week as we host PILC (Pierre Indian Learning Center) and then travel to Crow Creek later in the week.

The intercity basketball program for 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grade boys is also underway. St. Joseph’s students combine with Chamberlain area kids to learn the basics of basketball and get some experience on the court. Coaches from both St. Joseph’s and the Chamberlain school district are assisting.

Lakota (Sioux) students at St. Joseph's Indian School — Our students participated in a costume contest!

Other activities for our Lakota (Sioux) youth include martial arts, wrestling, archery and swimming lessons. Several of our older students are practicing their skills in Lakota Hand Games. You might remember that our hand games team took first place at the annual Lakota Nation Invitational last year. They are practicing twice a week for this year’s competition. We’ll keep you informed about how they do this year!

At our Mass on All Saints Day at Our Lady of the Sioux Chapel, we had a tree at the front of the chapel decked out with red ribbons. These ribbons bear the names of family and friends who have passed away and are now walking the Red Road. It is our way of keeping them in prayer, asking the Great Spirit to have mercy on them and welcome them into the Heavenly Kingdom. We’ll have the tree up all month as we keep the dearly departed in mind.

Hope you’ll have a wonderful month and that you did not overdo it on any Halloween candy you gathered. May God’s blessings continue to be with you, and thank you for your ongoing support of St. Joseph’s Indian School.

Fr. Anthony Kluckman, SCJ

Chaplain