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.

Staff Reflection: An Unexpected May Day Memory

Note: The following is a staff reflection written by Frank, our 7th-8th grade Residential Coordinator.

I attended a country school in the middle of nowhere South Dakota. This was my school from kindergarten to eighth grade. All the kids from this small country school were a tight-knit bunch, as were the families. We all belonged to 4-H, played softball in the summer, ice skated on stock ponds in the winter, took field trips during the school year and other childhood adventures. Looking back, those were fun times and I am lucky to have those memories.

Today is May Day – May 1 – and a random memory from my school days surfaced this morning that I am going to share now to illustrate a point later. It came to me quite unexpectedly. Continue reading “Staff Reflection: An Unexpected May Day Memory”

Gone Fishing: SJIS Girls Take Part in Cabela’s School of Fish Clinic

The Cabela’s School of Fish clinic was a big hit with our female students! Pictured here is Jim (right) with most of the St. Joseph’s participants.

As the old saying goes: “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime.”

But, what happens when you teach a girl to fish? Continue reading “Gone Fishing: SJIS Girls Take Part in Cabela’s School of Fish Clinic”

Crossing State Lines: SJIS Nurses Travel to Mayo Clinic for Childcare Conference

St. Joseph’s Indian School nurses attended a conference to learn about the latest advancement in pediatric care.

Pediatric medicine is ever-changing. To stay on top of the latest advances, St. Joseph’s Indian School nurses recently made a 370-mile trip to the Mayo Clinic, an organization famous for research and medical advancement.

The trip was an opportunity for nurses to learn new and improved ways of caring for patients by attending the T Denny Sanford Pediatric Symposium: The Changing World of Pediatric Medicine 2019. Continue reading “Crossing State Lines: SJIS Nurses Travel to Mayo Clinic for Childcare Conference”

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”