St. Joseph’s Language Efforts Earn Recognition from Lakota Language Consortium

St. Joseph’s students earned the highest achieving spot at the middle school level.

For the second year in a row, St. Joseph’s Indian School students have earned awards from the Lakota Language Consortium! At the elementary level, test scores earned the Most Improved distinction. At the middle school level, St. Joseph’s students earned the highest achieving spot! In addition to ranking overall scores, the “highest achieving” recognition takes into account number of students participating and especially focuses on number of students in higher level classes.

“It’s a wonderful honor,” said LaRayne Woster, St. Joseph’s Native American Studies teacher.  “This is our third year using the curriculum, and it’s so exciting to see it working and hear students speaking Lakota!”

At the elementary level, test scores earned the Most Improved distinction.

St. Joseph’s students receive language instruction during their Native American Studies classes twice weekly. In addition to this class, morning announcements at school include Lakota language elements like the Our Father in Lakota, the Lakota Flag Song, a Lakota phrase of the week and Lakota weather words. All St. Joseph’s teachers encourage students to use Lakota phrases, and efforts are rewarded with a ticket, which is entered in a drawing for a prize. Posters with common phrases in Lakota can be found all over campus, helping students use Lakota beyond the classroom.

Lakota Language Assessment Testing occurs in approximately 50 schools across South Dakota that use language curriculum from the Lakota Language Consortium. Awards were given in elementary, middle school and high school categories.

The awards were presented during the Annual Lakota Dakota Nakota Language Summit at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City.

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.

20 thoughts on “St. Joseph’s Language Efforts Earn Recognition from Lakota Language Consortium”

  2. So proud of these children!! I can see that they are working hard and, in hand, receiving honors! I pray they stick with trying to be ( and do! ) their best at all times. A good education will surely increase their chances of a a better life. I am so happy for all the St. Joseph students who participated! And, many thanks to the faculty of St. Joseph’s who educate and encourage these childreto reach for the stars!! They are capable of doing their best………always!

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  3. Wonderful news. Staff and students have done a great job…..Such smart students. Great job young students.

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  5. Congratulations on work well done. You can reach the top of the highest mountains with effort
    and grit. Hurrah for ya’ll.

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  7. It’s so very important that every child is given the opportunity to reach their potential in life.

    When we teach our children to feel that they can accomplish any goal or task they are confronted with … we will have succeeded as a society, and we will have given our children the greatest of all blessings.

    Thank you, teachers for your dedication.
    And congratulations to you, children … for a job well done. Always remember that you are unique and that you are special. You can be or do anything you put your mind to. You are loved to the moon and back.

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    1. We couldn’t agree more! Thank you for your kind words, Jarry! We hope the new year treats you well.

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  8. Your efforts gift these children with pride and dignity they will carry the rest of their lives. The great culture of the Lakota people will live on thanks to you. May The Great Spirit, our Universal God smile upon you forever.

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  10. Congratulations to the students and teachers at St. Joseph’s School for receiving these honors! Language is such a fundamental way to participate in a culture and keep it alive. I am thrilled that the beautiful Lakota language will continue to grow and thrive thanks to St. Joseph’s Native American studies curriculum.

    Reply

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