Guessing about how many inches of snow

How do you handle all your leftovers? At Raphael Home (1st – 3rd grade boys) Leonard and Aleece have, “Itty Bitty Night”. When I sat down with the boys, everyone got a plate that evenly divided up the leftovers: a bit of spaghetti, a few florets of cauliflower, half a hamburger, one chicken drummie, several french fries, lettuce salad and fresh pineapple. The portions were like eating hors d’oeuvres but added up to a satisfying meal. It leaves the refrigerator cleared up for the 3 day houseparents who will come on duty tomorrow. The boys had hearty appetites because half had been in the gym for their t-ball game, and the other half in the skate room playing dodgeball and working off some after school energy. After supper I listed to Devon and Keshaume read (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and a nature book about sharks), and then they were off for their community swimming time.

Today was our Board of Director’s meeting. We spent the most time approving next year’s budgets which were well laid out and thoughtfully prepared by all our staff and by our co-workers in the outreach programs. We had two new members to welcome. Doug is a local business owner who has worked with youth in the community for many years. Sandy graduated from a mission school herself and has a passion for education. Before jumping into business, I invited the board members to each share about themselves, the gifts they bring to the board and also what is fulfilling for them about helping make the work we do here possible. We have some good folks whose opinions and insights are so valuable in moving the programs forward.

When I stopped at the Sheehy Home (HS boys) to drop off Sunday readings for the students who will be helping at church, I saw a batch of numbers ranging from 0-6 on the bulletin board by each student’s name. After nice spring days, snow is predicted tonight. They are making their guesses about how many inches of snow will have accumulated by 7:00 tomorrow morning when they will know if school is on time, late start or canceled altogether. The winner gets a free Gatorade. The houseparents are rooting for no snow, because Chamberlain has used up all their snow days, and ones missed from here out have to be made up in late May.

Author: St. Joseph's Indian School

At St. Joseph's Indian School, our privately-funded programs for Lakota (Sioux) children in need have evolved over 90 years of family partnership, experience and education. Because of generous friends who share tax-deductible donations, Native American youth receive a safe, stable home life; individual counseling and guidance; carefully planned curriculum based on Lakota culture and individual student needs and tools to help build confidence, boost self-esteem and improve cultural awareness. All of this helps children to live a bright, productive, possibility-filled future.

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