Prayers in the Wind: St. Joseph’s Students Make Prayer Flags

Prayer flags flap in the South Dakota breeze, as the prayers are lifted up toward heaven.

A blank, rectangular piece of fabric was recently placed before each student at St. Joseph’s Indian School. It was accompanied with art supplies in all shades of the rainbow.

These were the ingredients for which the students would use to pray.

Confused? Continue reading “Prayers in the Wind: St. Joseph’s Students Make Prayer Flags”

St. Joseph’s Recognizes Child Abuse Prevention Month

Staff wore blue shirts with the motto “Strengthening Families and Communities.” Below this featured the Lakota words: Táku waŋláka čháŋ, tákeya yo/ye — See Something, Say Something.

On April 13, 2021, Child Services staff at St. Joseph’s Indian School braved the high winds and cold in order to take pictures for Child Abuse Awareness month. Staff wore blue shirts with the motto “Strengthening Families and Communities.” Below this were pictures of children playing, with the Lakota words Táku waŋláka čháŋ, tákeya yo/ye See Something, Say Something. Continue reading “St. Joseph’s Recognizes Child Abuse Prevention Month”

“And the earth he has given to mankind.”

Celebrate Earth Day by getting outside and enjoying the beauty of nature.

“God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.” — Genesis 1:10

If you’re familiar with the story of God’s creation of Earth and all its living things, you’ve probably heard that verse in some version again and again.

Perhaps you’ve heard it so many times that it doesn’t seem that special. But think about it Continue reading ““And the earth he has given to mankind.””

Thankful x5: St. Joseph’s Receives Top-Rated Charity Award … Again!

St. Joseph’s Indian School recently received the Award of Top-Rated Nonprofit from GreatNonprofits for the fifth consecutive year.

St. Joseph’s Indian School is a “2021 Top-Rated Nonprofit” by GreatNonprofits, the leading provider of user reviews of charities and nonprofits. Continue reading “Thankful x5: St. Joseph’s Receives Top-Rated Charity Award … Again!”

Sparking Careers for Native American Students through Scholarships

St. Joseph’s Indian School recently awarded $84,350 in spring-semester scholarships to Native American students across the nation, bringing the total awards for the academic year to $176,050. This spring, the school provided 68 scholarships: 16 to alumni, 13 to family members of St. Joseph’s Indian School alumni and 39 to others enrolled in a federally recognized tribe and pursuing higher education. Continue reading “Sparking Careers for Native American Students through Scholarships”

Love of Basketball High at St. Joseph’s

Hot Shot trophy winners were excited to receive their awards!

Fitting with the hype of March Madness, the love of basketball has been high throughout March at St. Joseph’s Indian School. The Rec Center hosted two very cool events that have put the kids’ basketball skills to the test. Continue reading “Love of Basketball High at St. Joseph’s”

‘Best Nonprofit’ and ‘Great Place’ Awards Received

St. Joseph’s Indian School and the Aktá Lakota Museum (an outreach of St. Joseph’s) were both recently recognized for excellence.

St. Joseph’s Indian School and the Aktá Lakota Museum both recently received awards from local and state entities for a job well done! Continue reading “‘Best Nonprofit’ and ‘Great Place’ Awards Received”

2021 Named the Year of St. Joseph

Everyone at St. Joseph’s Indian School was so excited to have our school’s patron saint honored in this way.

Recently, Pope Francis announced the liturgical year of 2021 as the “Year of St. Joseph.”

As this is the patron saint for our school, it feels like an extra blessing. So, we made a video describing what else the announcement means to St. Joseph’s Indian School and we want to share it with you. Continue reading “2021 Named the Year of St. Joseph”

How St. Joseph’s Helped Prepare a Budding Astrophysicist

Lily graduated from high school in 2017. What a proud day!

Every year, approximately 200 students live and learn on the campus of St. Joseph’s Indian School. We clothe them, supply them with virtually limitless educational resources, and nourish their bodies with healthy foods and their souls with teachings of Lakota culture and a faith in Jesus Christ.

Those are basic needs every child receives. However, each student arrives with specific needs, too. Rarely is there a common baseline to which we can measure success equally from child to child. Some students have behavioral obstacles to overcome. Some have health factors needing immediate attention. While others arrive fairly healthy and educated.

The impact of St. Joseph’s for each of these students will look different. The level of success will look different.

But no matter where a child may fall in that spectrum, we begin where all things start — the beginning. Their beginning. We begin by planting seeds, supplying tools and giving hope and encouragement that they can become something great because all that greatness already lives inside of them. They just have to recognize it for it to burst forth.

And they do. Continue reading “How St. Joseph’s Helped Prepare a Budding Astrophysicist”

When a Pillow Means so Much More

To send the perfect message to someone you love, all you need is a pillowcase and a pen.

Sometimes a few words can send a big message.

When parents and guardians bring their children to St. Joseph’s Indian School at the start of every school year, we have pillowcases and pens ready.

Pillowcases and pens? Seems like a strange combination, right? Continue reading “When a Pillow Means so Much More”