Author: St. Joseph's Indian School

At St. Joseph’s Indian School, Christmas doesn’t end on December 25 — in many ways, it begins anew in January.

While most Lakota (Sioux) students spend Christmas Day with their families back home, the spirit of the season lingers on campus long after the calendar page turns. Trees stay lit. Decorations remain hung. Wrapped gifts wait patiently beneath twinkling lights. Then, when the children return after break, something magical happens.

On Sunday, January 11, that magic filled every campus home. Continue reading “Final Christmas Moments of Joy at St. Joseph’s Indian School”

There is a place where laughter echoes through gyms, cheers rise from every corner and excitement fills the air as students and staff come together to celebrate one another. It’s a place where joy is shared, encouragement is loud and community is felt in every high-five and smile, all before heading home for one of the most joyful holidays of the year: Christmas. That place is St. Joseph’s Indian School, especially during the Thiyóšpaye Challenge, a week-long celebration for students in grades 1-8, blending friendly competition, culture and togetherness as we prepared our hearts for the season. Continue reading “Thiyóšpaye Challenge Brings Competition, Culture and Christmas Cheer”

There is something deeply warm and lasting about giving a gift … the joy of choosing it, the anticipation of a loved one’s smile and the quiet happiness that comes from giving from the heart.

At St. Joseph’s Indian School, we want our Lakota (Sioux) students to experience that feeling for themselves. We want them to know the joy of giving to others, to hold onto that joy and carry it with them long after they leave St. Joseph’s. By creating opportunities like the Christmas Store, we are instilling the value of generosity, not just so our students become cheerful givers, but because Jesus calls us to be. Continue reading “The Gift of Giving: A Christmas Tradition at St. Joseph’s Indian School”

As the Christmas season draws near, we enter a sacred time known as Advent, a season of waiting, preparation and wonder. Advent invites us to pause in the middle of our busy lives and remember the incredible gift God promised the world: a Savior. Long before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, people waited with hope, trusting that God would keep His promise. Today, Advent is still important because it reminds us God is faithful, His light shines in every darkness, and His love continues to unfold in our lives. Advent teaches us not only to celebrate the birth of Jesus, but also to wait with hope for His return. Continue reading “The Hopeful Magic of Advent”

One evening at the Rec Center, Bryan, St. Joseph’s Indian School’s Athletic Director, found himself short a basketball referee. The game was about to begin, and he needed someone dependable who could step in quickly. Kansas, a senior student at St. Joseph’s who had helped Bryan earlier in the year with the youth football team, didn’t hesitate. Continue reading “Stepping Up: St. Joseph’s Indian School Student Finds His Voice as a Leader”

St. Joseph’s Indian School is proud to announce we have been recognized as a 2025 Top-Rated Nonprofit by GreatNonprofits, the leading platform for community-sourced reviews of charitable organizations. Even more meaningful, St. Joseph’s has earned this distinction every year since 2017, a testament to the enduring trust and gratitude of our donors and friends. Continue reading “Nine Years Running: St. Joseph’s Indian School Honored as a 2025 Top-Rated Nonprofit”

Picture this: a room full of laughter as students tilt their heads back, eyes squinting in concentration, trying to wiggle an Oreo from their foreheads down to their mouths — without using their hands. Cheers erupt when someone finally succeeds, and the whole family group celebrates together.

It’s silly, it’s joyful and it’s exactly the kind of memory that makes Thiyóšpaye Night at St. Joseph’s Indian School so unforgettable. Continue reading “Celebrating Thiyóšpaye Night: One Family, Many Hearts”

At the 49th Annual Powwow at St. Joseph’s Indian School, a moment of deep gratitude and celebration unfolded as Robert and Yolanda Kramer — longtime supporters of St. Joseph’s Indian School and cherished members of the DreamMakers monthly giving program — were honored with a star quilt in recognition of their unwavering commitment to the Lakota (Sioux) children. Continue reading “Honoring 70 Years of Love and Generosity: The Kramers Celebrate at St. Joseph’s Powwow”

When Krista from the Alumni Relations team at St. Joseph’s Indian School thinks back to her college days, she remembers a simple joy: care packages from her grandparents. Sweet notes, surprise treats and the occasional “shareable” snack. Those packages always seemed to arrive at the perfect moment, like a warm hug through the mail. Continue reading “A Hug in a Box: St. Joseph’s Sends Love to Čhaŋkú Lúta Scholars”

At St. Joseph’s Indian School, Lakota (Sioux) students recently welcomed visiting artist Randall Blaze, who led an enriching clay‑and‑sculpting workshop. Randall, a prominent member of the South Dakota Arts Council (SDAC) Artists‑in‑Schools Program, shared his remarkable journey in art. Continue reading “Shaping the Future: A Clay Workshop to Remember at St. Joseph’s Indian School”