A Summer of Service: Houseparents Give Back in Reservation Communities

Note: The following guest post was written by St. Joseph’s Indian School houseparents, Mike and Bette, about an experience they had this summer on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Enjoy!

As houseparents at St. Joseph’s Indian School, my wife, Bette, and I (Mike) jumped at the opportunity to go on a Service Week trip to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation this summer.

Our trip started on a Sunday at a church in Hermosa — a small community on the northern edge of the reservation. We met the rest of the group who came from the Fairfax, Va., area and shared some of our experiences we’ve had with the children we care for at St. Joseph’s, as well as our recent experiences while serving on the Bookmobile route. While together, we learned how to play some Native American games, such as throwing a spear through a rolling hoop and a bit of archery. Continue reading “A Summer of Service: Houseparents Give Back in Reservation Communities”

Lakota students discover connections, forge friendships in Germany

Colton, Camron, Diana, Kayla, Amanda and Richard enjoy the view of Frankfurt from 56 floors up.

In June 2018, four St. Joseph’s high school students and their chaperones visited Germany as part of an annual exchange program with Gymnasium Leonium in Handrup. Both founded by the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, St. Joseph’s and Gymnasium Leonium have partnered in an exchange program for more than 10 years.  Continue reading “Lakota students discover connections, forge friendships in Germany”

Rising Eagle Day Camp Wraps-up for 2018

Children exercise their creativity by making paper plate dreamcatchers.

“I wish camp was longer … or I wish we could stay at camp forever!” exclaimed Kenzi, an attendee of St. Joseph’s 2018 Rising Eagle Day Camp (REDC).

Children were provided breakfast, lunch and a snack every day at camp.

Every summer, St. Joseph’s Indian School hosts REDC as an outreach programs for Lakota (Sioux) youth on the Lower Brule and Crow Creek Indian Reservations. The camp takes place on St. Joseph’s campus the first four weeks following Memorial Day.

This summer, we were able to provide… Continue reading “Rising Eagle Day Camp Wraps-up for 2018”

St. Joseph’s names 2018 Distinguished Alumna Award recipient

Jeanette Germaine DeCoteau has received the 2018 Distinguished Alumna Award.

St. Joseph’s Indian School is pleased to announce Jeanette Germaine DeCoteau has received the 2018 Distinguished Alumna Award. Jeanette attended St. Joseph’s from 1947 – 1954, graduating with the eighth grade class of 1954. She was born in Belcourt, North Dakota and now lives in Washington.

Continue reading “St. Joseph’s names 2018 Distinguished Alumna Award recipient”

Students hop, jump and run into summer with Field Day

“Come on guys, we can do this!” said a boy to his tug-o-war team that was about to go up against their girl classmates.

“This is for the championship – it’s all tied up. Girls have won one and so have the boys,” said Evan, rec coordinator at St. Joseph’s Indian School. “Ready … Set … GO!”

Continue reading “Students hop, jump and run into summer with Field Day”

Please Send Your Prayers!

Urgent prayer request! There is an affliction running through our eighth graders and seniors in varying degrees of intensity. The kids are displaying bouts of talking back, reverting to behaviors from early in their development, flat out disrespect and little to no signs of gratitude. The official and technical term for the affliction is “eighth-grade-itis” or “senior-itis.” Continue reading “Please Send Your Prayers!”