We serve and teach, we receive and learn.
For decades, Rising Eagle Day Camp (REDC) has been an important part of summer for Lakota (Sioux) children and their families. But in today’s world, where screens and technology are increasingly part of everyday life, summer camp matters more than ever. Continue reading “More Than Summer Fun: Why Rising Eagle Day Camp Matters”
On the last day of school, Thursday, May 21, Lakota (Sioux) students at St. Joseph’s Indian School spent the afternoon enjoying all kinds of outdoor games and activities during our annual Field Day event. From long jump and obstacle courses to parachute games and water activities, students were laughing and running all afternoon long. Continue reading “Best Day Ever: Field Day at St. Joseph’s Indian School”
Finals week can feel like a marathon made entirely of late‑night study sessions, too much coffee and the occasional bundle of nerves that come and go throughout college. But for more than 30 St. Joseph’s Indian School alumni currently in college, this spring brought a bright, unexpected boost: a cheerful care package from St. Joseph’s Indian School. Continue reading “Small Packages, Big Impact: St. Joseph’s Sends Heartfelt Finals Week Care Packages”
Learning took on a whole new form for our fifth-grade students during a special week with the STARBASE Program at St. Joseph’s Indian School. STARBASE — short for Science and Technology, Academics, Reinforcing, Basic Aviation and Space Exploration — certainly has a long name, which is why the acronym is so helpful! Through hands-on STEM activities focused on science, technology, engineering and math, Lakota (Sioux) students spent the week discovering just how fun learning can be. Continue reading “Fifth Graders Blast Off with STARBASE STEM Adventures”
Ten seniors supported by St. Joseph’s Indian School crossed the stage at Chamberlain High School on May 16, celebrating a graduation shaped by culture, community and years of hard work. Continue reading “Ten St. Joseph’s Indian School Seniors Graduate”
At St. Joseph’s Indian School, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) Day was honored in an educational way this year, helping our Lakota (Sioux) students better understand the importance of safety, awareness and speaking up. Continue reading “Staying Safe on the World Wide Web: MMIR Day at St. Joseph’s Indian School”
Smiles, laughter and a few happy tears filled the air on April 29 as the St. Joseph’s Indian School community came together for a joyful senior prayer service in Our Lady of the Sioux Chapel. It was a special evening dedicated to celebrating our 10 graduating seniors and all they have accomplished. Continue reading “Lifted in Prayer: Celebrating St. Joseph’s Indian School Seniors”
On April 30, National Therapy Animal Day, we honor the therapy horses at St. Joseph’s Indian School who stand quietly beside our students as they learn to breathe, trust and grow. But even more, we celebrate the children who show up with courage — sometimes nervous, sometimes excited, but always learning.
In partnership with our Family Service Counseling team and equine specialists, equine therapy at St. Joseph’s gives our Lakota (Sioux) students a safe, structured space to work through big feelings, practice new skills and experience calm in the presence of these powerful animals. Continue reading “Healing Beside the Herd: Celebrating National Therapy Animal Day at St. Joseph’s Indian School”
Each summer, about 20 high school students choose to stay on campus at St. Joseph’s Indian School. With that choice comes a big responsibility: getting a real job.
And that part of “adulting” can be hard … but we can at least help our Lakota (Sioux) students practice before the real world hits. To help them prepare, St. Joseph’s hosts a campus job fair each spring, giving students the chance to explore campus roles, meet supervisors and practice the skills they’ll need in the working world. Continue reading “From Mock Interviews to Real Paychecks: Inside St. Joseph’s Indian School Student Job Fair”
For a while, the only animal sounds coming from the Equine Therapy Center at St. Joseph’s Indian School came from our therapy horses. It was common to hear Pony Boy let out a neigh when he commanded a snack, or a whinny from Gramma when she was keeping the rest of the herd in line.
But there are more sounds coming from the center now, so much so that we’ve turned the chorus into a little rhyme: Continue reading “From Hee-Haws to Cheep-Cheeps: New Voices of St. Joseph’s Equine Therapy Center”