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.
Despite snow and slushy weather yesterday here in Chamberlain, South Dakota, ten FAST (Families and Schools Together) families made it here for the last day of our spring session and for the graduation ceremony. Our Chalk Hills Singers led the procession with a drum song, and the families were proud to pose together for a family photo as each received their certificates. While I’ve observed the ceremony many times, I’m reminded of how much it means anew to our families who participate. Through this program they can take part is quality activities, celebrate times of togetherness and receive positive recognition as a family.
Donors from the East Coast who have supported St. Joseph’s Indian School for over ten years were passing through and dropped by unexpectedly. They wanted to see the our campus for the first time before giving me 4 boxes of chocolates to share with the kids and a check almost large enough to cover half a houseparent’s annual salary. I am amazed at the generosity that comes seemingly out of the blue – which always causes me to rededicate myself to building strong programs for our students. We visited a couple of homes and had the students give us a lively tour. Then our guests hit the road for their next leg of their journey.
A few years back, a Long Beach California teacher named Erin Gruwell worked with inner city students to help them tell their stories through a project know as “Freedom Writers”. Their writings were published as a popular book and the story was made into a successful movie. Richard, our Religious Education teacher, organized a Skype video conference for our 8th grade students with one of those original Freedom Writers, Darrius Garret. Darrius had experienced homelessness and gang life, and many of our kids could identify with the poverty he grew up with.
Our students prepared many questions to ask, but were a bit shy at first. One question was, “How do you handle the hate when you feel like people are treating you like a 2nd class citizen?” Darrius warned how hate consumes you. He told them especially when others treat you wrong, you can’t stoop to their level and still have to do the right thing. That will eventually bring to light the wrongs that exist. He told our kids the best response is to study hard and get a good education so they can be in leadership positions one day, and be able to set examples of how people should be treated.
Once the ice was broken our timid crew started to have more back and forth interaction. Darrius asked our kids how they could make things better for their reservation.
“ If you had a million dollars, what would you fix?”
“Drinking” was the number one answer that continues to cause hurt and heartache for our Native American students’ families. That’s not an easy fix, but helping our students deal with that reality is key for their success. My hope is that our students can find their voice and tell their story, and in the end make it a story of triumph over tragedy.
This afternoon, Steve’s 4th grade class dressed in biblical looking clothes and acted out Stations of the Cross.
How do you handle all your leftovers? At Raphael Home (1st – 3rd grade boys) Leonard and Aleece have, “Itty Bitty Night”. When I sat down with the boys, everyone got a plate that evenly divided up the leftovers: a bit of spaghetti, a few florets of cauliflower, half a hamburger, one chicken drummie, several french fries, lettuce salad and fresh pineapple. The portions were like eating hors d’oeuvres but added up to a satisfying meal. It leaves the refrigerator cleared up for the 3 day houseparents who will come on duty tomorrow. The boys had hearty appetites because half had been in the gym for their t-ball game, and the other half in the skate room playing dodgeball and working off some after school energy. After supper I listed to Devon and Keshaume read (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and a nature book about sharks), and then they were off for their community swimming time.
Today was our Board of Director’s meeting. We spent the most time approving next year’s budgets which were well laid out and thoughtfully prepared by all our staff and by our co-workers in the outreach programs. We had two new members to welcome. Doug is a local business owner who has worked with youth in the community for many years. Sandy graduated from a mission school herself and has a passion for education. Before jumping into business, I invited the board members to each share about themselves, the gifts they bring to the board and also what is fulfilling for them about helping make the work we do here possible. We have some good folks whose opinions and insights are so valuable in moving the programs forward.
When I stopped at the Sheehy Home (HS boys) to drop off Sunday readings for the students who will be helping at church, I saw a batch of numbers ranging from 0-6 on the bulletin board by each student’s name. After nice spring days, snow is predicted tonight. They are making their guesses about how many inches of snow will have accumulated by 7:00 tomorrow morning when they will know if school is on time, late start or canceled altogether. The winner gets a free Gatorade. The houseparents are rooting for no snow, because Chamberlain has used up all their snow days, and ones missed from here out have to be made up in late May.
Today, I was either meeting or eating. At our management meeting, we keyed in on strategic planning and preparations for the Board of Directors meeting. Mike, our Executive Director of Child Services, celebrates a birthday this week, so afterward we enjoyed a lunch together. We’re always tempted to talk business, but it was fun to let our talk drift towards sports and personal anecdotes.
This afternoon Fr. Jack, another of our SCJ Board of Directors arrived. While there is always work to be attended to, when SCJs come to visit it’s always a joy to sit around and talk, and find up what confreres are up to across the province. After Fr. Charlie’s death in Milwaukee over the weekend, we did some reminiscing about him. During Lent, we have all been spending extra prayer time praying for vocations so a new generation of SCJs can take up the great work that’s been started, and take up new challenges that our world will pose.
Too many meetings on such a spring day. We covered personnel issues, salary adjustments for the coming year and safety/security around campus.
Deacon Dave my predecessor, and Fr. Tom our provincial, rolled in for this week’s Board of Directors meeting. When Fr. Tom visits he enjoys making a pilgrimage to Al’s Oasis, where after a good meal he always orders their signature lemon cream cheese pie. Al’s is a local landmark that many travelers stop at on their way across country.
This evening, I went over to the gym and shot around with some of the high school students. Shay, who graduates next month, told me about her weekend visit to Creighton University in Omaha, where she has been accepted. She admitted to being somewhat intimidated at first at the sheer size of a major college campus. After meeting her potential roommate and familiarizing herself with the campus, she felt more comfortable. The idea and reality of college takes a while to sink in. I’m sure there will be many stages of adjustment along the way. But we are trying to prepare students to set off for new adventures and opportunities on their own.
As for my adjustment, it’s been about 10 months since my sarcoma surgery. It’s time now to get weaned off the medicine I’ve been taking to mask the nerve pain while the nerve endings slowly grow back. When I tried a while back the pain was too strong. Now it’s a bit bothersome, but it does feel like I’m making progress. I just need patience as it takes more time than I’d like.
Today was a picture perfect sunny spring day on the St. Joseph’s Indian School campus. I enjoyed it by walking around quite a bit to check in on folks around campus. Mark, who oversees our printing press operation, is back at work after recovering from a surgery. With most of our spring mailings printed, they are doing maintenance on the presses, but Mark has to be careful to supervise and not do any lifting for now. Dave is back in central storage after vacation where he did lots of fishing. He was getting supplies ready to deliver around campus. Another Dave, in the maintenance shop had a birthday, so I stopped in at morning break to wish him well. Then I met with Kory-our Executive Director of Development-to review finances, mail campaigns and look at our strategic business planning.
Usually Monday brings a slew of campus emails, but today was oddly quiet on that front. A large group of our Child Services staff spent most of the day in training, trying to build team work. In the midst of the day-to-day activities with the students, we still need to set aside time to give staff the tools they need to do their job well, and have them reflect on ways we can improve.
Tony and Odis are heading up our 7th grade cultural trip this summer, and they stopped by to firm up some plans. This week the students will have a lesson about one of the sites they’re most interested in visiting: Battlefield at the Little Bighorn or the Greasy Grass as it was known to the Sioux. Some of our students can name great-great grandparents who fought for their people’s freedom there!
We SCJ’s received sad news today that one of our confreres, Fr. Charles Bisgrove, had a stroke and died at the young age of 58. When I was in Novitiate, he taught a class on the Documents of Vatican II, and also a course on Liturgy. He brought such enthusiasm to his teaching; it was contagious. I learned a lot from him. It reminds me how much impact a good teacher can have on their students, even many years down the road. May he rest in peace.
It reminds me how much impact a good teacher can have on their students, even many years down the road
I helped Fr. Anthony with the regular Sunday morning mass. I led a second one at 4:00 p.m. so our prom students could have a chance for a little shut-eye after post prom and actually be awake instead of struggling to stay awake in church. I enjoyed praying with a smaller, more focused congregation. I preach to high school students differently than when I’m trying to reach a first or second grader, and can talk from the heart about more serious subject matters. Like their relationship struggles and questions of self-identity that weigh heavy on their hearts and minds.
We also invited students from town who wanted to join us, and it’s nice when classmates from Chamberlain High School can feel welcome and take part in our campus activities. I also noticed that the students who volunteered to read the scriptures were more relaxed when there were fewer people around, and all did a good job.
It’s prom night at Chamberlain High School! Several of our houseparents collaborated to serve an elegant, candlelit four course meal to several of our high school prom goers. Aaron and Melissa-two houseparents-who this year switched from high school to work with the primary grades, wanted to come back for a tradition they had when they worked in the high school homes.
Tia-new this year-helped them with her culinary and artistic skills. They enlisted the help some of our younger high school girls who served as waitresses. One of our students referred to the mood music as “elevator music” but enjoyed the relaxing time by evening’s end. We all took a few photos and wished them well on their big night out on the town.
The high school has a Grand March of all the prom goers. Families and friends are allowed to come into the Armory for the first hour before the music and prom really gets going. Everyone wants to see the glamorous couples and take lots of pictures. Several of our homes attended the pre-prom festivities, including the Afra Home (1st – 3rd grade girls) who were particularly excited about seeing their older relatives and classmates.
Don’t the St. Joseph’s Indian School’s kids look great?Our houseparents collaborated to serve a candlelit meal.
We had a fun giveaway of 20 Minnesota Timberwolves basketballs after school today, courtesy of some friends from a church in Mankato, Minnesota. Some prizes were given our through a door prize drawing, while others were earned through shooting competitions, or copy-cat basketball skill drills. Our generous guests presented the balls to the winners, and our kids showed their appreciation with handshakes and huge grins. I enjoyed the time I spent with our visitors giving a tour of the school, homes and campus and answering their questions about St. Joseph’s Indian School’s programs.
Our FAST (Families and Schools Together) families gathered again on campus this weekend. I stopped by to greet the families. A few of our high school girls volunteered to babysit the little ones that families brought with them. I sat with those students at supper to hear plans about prom, upcoming summer jobs and adventures.
I don’t handle hardly any of the day-to-day business, but I started the day with a bank run. I never mind getting asked to go downtown to take paperwork for a signature, because that usually means someone has gifted us with stocks or bonds in a sizeable amount that requires my certification. Especially in a difficult economy, I am so grateful for people’s generosity.
Can you identify some of the activities the St. Joseph’s Indian School’s students participated in?
In the school assembly room, our houseparents set up booths with photos and hands on activities so other staff could stop by and learn about their home activities. One table showed the Lakota (Sioux) cultural projects jr. high students were working on. Another showed lovely wooden picture boxes the houseparents built as keepsakes for their graduating 8th graders each year. The Girl Scout troop leader showed examples of the many crafts her girls created over these last months. One home uses pictures of their 4th and 5th grade girls to make calendars for the families and guardians each year. Yet another makes a DVD to send home with the kids at the end of the year. Our houseparents are not only a very dedicated group, but they have lots of creativity and go the extra mile to make our homes feel more like a home.
Emily is our new photographer, and we set out for some new pictures with the students. It’s fun to take part in a classroom activity or have fun on the playground, and I do those things regularly anyway. Most of our kids have practically grown up around me, so they’re not at all bashful if there’s a camera present. It was a gorgeous-though windy-spring day, and the break from the office felt invigorating.
Dixie from our Akta Lakota Museum & Culture Center gave me a folder of art submissions for next week’s Museum Acquisition meeting. I’m not well schooled in art, and I don’t make the selections. However I did have some fun at the William Home (4th-5th grade girls) showing them the pictures and asking them to choose some of their favorite pieces. I want to show them that there’s more to art than just trying to make something look as realistic as possible, but the use of shape, color and texture can all be used creatively. After supper, I cheered for the girls on the softball diamond. I volunteered to pitch one inning. Though I tried to lay the ball right down the middle for students to hit away, I had surprisingly stellar defense behind me. They caught every ball that was hit and I finished with a perfect 1 2 3 inning.
I finished the evening at the gym, taking part in a game of 21 with three high school boys all several inches taller than me. With my limited “3 inch” vertical leaping ability, I didn’t earn many rebounds among the trees. When I did get a board through a lucky carom or bounce, I had to make the most of it. I hit a few outside shots, and left knowing that even 10 months after surgery, I still have much work to rehab my leg.
