A time of transition and new beginnings at St. Joseph’s

Good day from St. Joseph’s Indian School.

The number of school days is dwindling down quickly. Most of the classes have already enjoyed their home trips to the Badlands, Pierre, Mitchell, Sioux Falls and other sites around the state.

This coming weekend, the 7th graders will take off on their cultural trip to visit multiple sacred Native American sites in South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana. Once they are back next week, they will make a presentation of what the experience was like and how it strengthened their pride in their culture and heritage.

On April 30, St. Joseph’s hosted our First Annual Hand Games Tournament. Teams from Little Wound, Porcupine, Crow Creek, Todd County and Wolf Creek joined St. Joseph’s in the tournament.  LaRayne and Allen, our Native American Studies teachers, organized the event and did a great job! It is interesting to watch as players hide two ‘bones’—one of which is marked—in their hands and try to prevent the other team from guessing which hand held the ‘marked’ one.  It was a double elimination tournament.  Each team had 8 sticks—or markers—that they try to protect. If a correct guess is made by the opposing team, the stick must be surrendered. The game came be short or lengthy, depending on how well a team can bluff and guess.

Jeremy and Gabe, two of our high school students, recently attended St. Joseph’s most recent donor luncheon in Scranton, Pennsylvania. They enjoyed having the chance to visit with local Benefactors in the area and answer any questions they might have.  They also had the chance to do some sightseeing in the Pocono Mountains, shopping in the Premium Outlet’s Mall and they were even able to ride the Mountain Coaster and zip line!

Our next luncheon is in Denver, Colorado on June 25 and 26. Contact Denise or Laura at 800-584-9200 or visit www.stjo.org/luncheon for more information.

On Tuesday afternoon, we held a going away ceremony for staff members who will not be returning to St. Joseph’s next school year. Mary Jane, Director of Alumni, is retiring after 45 years here at St. Joseph’s!  She is looking forward to moving closer to family in the Twin Cities area.  Luisa and Jachin have been houseparents for the past four years.  They will be moving to Florida to be closer to family.  Their talents, skills and dedication will be greatly missed.  We thank the three of them for their time here at St. Joseph’s and pray that the Great Spirit blesses them with good health and much happiness as they walk the new paths He has opened before them.

May God continue to bless you on the path you are walking, in order that you may use well the gifts He has blessed you with so as to reach out in love and service to those you come in contact with.

Fr. Anthony Kluckman, SCJ

Chaplain

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. View all posts by St. Joseph's Indian School