A violent thunderstorm

We had some violent thunderstorms last night, with hundreds of lightning strikes that constantly lit up the sky. This morning we saw the damage from the high winds. At the campground across the river three RVs had been overturned. One home was destroyed and one of our staff lost the roof on his apartment. Thankfully, no one was hurt. On campus we had no major damage, just lots of branches and limbs to collect this morning.

The new Diocesan Director of Catholic Schools dropped by today for her first visit. Kathleen, our principal and I gave Katie, and her husband, a tour of the school and talked about some ways that we can be of support to one another. When people visit and tour the campus, they get a better idea of how we try to integrate services to serve the complete needs of  student, not just academically, but also through our residential, religious, counseling and recreational efforts. I think we made a good first impression.

Ashley and Angelia are the two junior high girls who were selected to represent St. Joseph’s Indian School at our August donor luncheons in New York, and I met with them to practice. One of the fun questions I asked them to talk about was, “So tell us what you like best about New York?”

Ashley said, “We haven’t been there yet, how do I know?”

So then I said, “But I want you to imagine – what do you hope you’ll see and do?”

Both girls had many hopes – to see the Statue of Liberty, and pay a visit to Ground Zero. To meet some famous people and look at all the tall buildings. To fly in a plane, get on a subway and maybe even ride in a horse-drawn carriage in Central Park. We’ll see how the trip does unfold, and I’m sure they’ll have lots of memories.

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.

2 thoughts on “A violent thunderstorm”

  1. These trips are such GREAT experiences for the kids..! They will be memories cherished for life..! Fr. Steve, you know you have a lot to do with making that possible..!
    God Bless you..
    Forever..
    Mia and Bob

  2. That must have been scary. I saw the damage to the campground on the news in Sioux Falls and I was thinking about you guys. The man in the campground saved his wife from high winds.
    So nice the girls get to go to NYC. What an opportunity. Maybe you could stop by the Covenant House too.
    God Bless all of you,

    Cheryl Miller

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