Serving Reservation Communities, One Box at a Time

Robin stands beside St. Joseph’s Indian School’s trailer filled with essentials to help families living in South Dakota reservation communities.

Robin is a beloved St. Joseph’s Indian School employee. She’s known around campus as the woman with the chipper smile and the go-getter personality. Her strong voice commands attention. Her smile and laugh is infectious. She walks from job to job as if she’s on a mission … and she is. Continue reading “Serving Reservation Communities, One Box at a Time”

Senior Students Learn How to ‘Adult’ Before Graduation

Camron, Treyah, Jered, Sarah, Wankiya, Stella and Louie are learning life skills for the future before they graduate!

Seven high school seniors walk into a grocery store …

It’s not the beginning of a joke with a witty punchline. Rather, a real-life scene from a shopping trip our St. Joseph’s Indian School Senior Home recently took. They’ll be graduating from Chamberlain High School soon, and although Continue reading “Senior Students Learn How to ‘Adult’ Before Graduation”

Famous Faces Come to Life at Wax Museum

The room was filled with visionaries, including Martin Luther King Jr.

Just think what it would be like if Sally Ride, Amelia Earhart, Jackie Robinson and Abraham Lincoln were all in one room together.

Well, that’s exactly what took place at the St. Joseph’s Indian School Wax Museum earlier this month! Continue reading “Famous Faces Come to Life at Wax Museum”

8th Graders Conquer Research Project ‘Beast’ with Poise

As you walked into the St. Joseph’s Indian School School Assembly room, you could feel the anxiety and tension radiating off our twenty-two 8th graders. Although they looked their best sitting along a wall in their dress clothes, they fidgeted and squirmed as they waited for their turn to stand and speak. Continue reading “8th Graders Conquer Research Project ‘Beast’ with Poise”

Student Reflection: How I Changed a Dog’s Life

Before and After — The following is a student reflection of a dog rescue mission they were a part of.

Hi! I’m Alyssa and this is my story about how I changed a dog’s life.

I was getting ready to go the Sobriety Carnival Friday afternoon when my good old houseparent said my older sister, Diana, was on the phone and wanted to know Continue reading “Student Reflection: How I Changed a Dog’s Life”

Unlikely Run-in with Alumnus Reminds Residential Coordinator What’s Truly Important

 

St. Joseph’s prepares students for life inside and outside the classroom.

How do we define success?

Most industries have statistics and quotas to show growth, success and progress. Most are able to find success in a linear fashion with a detailed plan. In our line of work at St. Joseph’s we have statistics and numbers, but I don’t know if they show the full story to our work. Continue reading “Unlikely Run-in with Alumnus Reminds Residential Coordinator What’s Truly Important”

Native American Households 400% More Likely to Face Food Insecurity

Growl, rumble, roar.

It’s the sound of your stomach letting you know it’s time to eat. You stand, walk to the refrigerator and cupboards to grab something that sounds tasty. You’re met with several options, such as aǧúyapi (bread), tȟaló (meat), or perhaps something a little more special, like čhaŋmháŋska ǧí (chocolate).

You choose whatever sounds right, take a seat at the kitchen or dining room table and enjoy your meal. This routine happens almost automatically.

This is because eating, for most people, is a given.

This is not always the case for Native American children living on South Dakota Indian Reservations. Continue reading “Native American Households 400% More Likely to Face Food Insecurity”

Road Trip! St. Joseph’s students widen horizons in Minneapolis, other trips

What a view! High school students explored Minneapolis during a winter home trip.

It was a road trip just short of 400 miles from Point A to Point B, but a St. Joseph’s high school girl’s home found all the miles completely worth it.

They started their adventure by loading a school SUV at our campus in Chamberlain, S.D., and then hit the road for Continue reading “Road Trip! St. Joseph’s students widen horizons in Minneapolis, other trips”

Student Animal Rescue Team Gives Old Dog New Life

Note: The following is a personal reflection and update from Maija, St. Joseph’s residential support, who spearheads this venture to allow high school students the opportunity to take part in animal rescue missions. You can read more about the general program here.

Last Saturday some of the Giles Home girls went on a rescue run and met Nena, an older rescue who was on her way to Black Hawk, S.D.

When first being introduced to our girls, Nena was visibly shaking. She wouldn’t take the treats we brought and she cowered as the girls slowly, one by one, attempted to pet her.  Continue reading “Student Animal Rescue Team Gives Old Dog New Life”