Success, learning at LNI

Our school semester came to an end at 2:00 today and students headed home for a two-week break!

Several students left early to participate in the Lakota Nations Invitational (LNI) tournament in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Our knowledge bowl team started strong with a win, but dropped the next two closely contested rounds. Our scholars will also take part in individual academic tests.

Our Lakota Hand games team faced their first actual competition against much more experienced teams. They didn’t win, but enjoyed being able to participate. If experience is indeed a teacher, they learned where and how they need to practice harder to improve.

Our archers were awesome! Two boys finished in the top ten. Our three middle school girls, however, totally rocked! The trio finished eighth, third and FIRST! Kaitlyn and Aleece will bring home nice trophies to show off for their first and third place results.

After the students left for break came time for staff to relax with one another during our staff Christmas party. We had a social and buffet supper, with plenty of Christmas door prizes and crazy costumes.

Since this is the date the Mayan calendar suggests the world may end, our theme was “Going out in style.”

We had a few folks show off their wedding tuxes and formal dresses. Others wore gaudy but fun Christmas sweaters. Different groups of staff (Maintenance vs. Houseparents, Health Center vs. Development) competed against one another in some hilarious rounds of “Family Feud.”

Our child services staff will enjoy a break along with our students. However, lots of the other ongoing activity around campus will keep going so we’re ready for a strong start to the next semester.

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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