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.

Meet the 2017 St. Joseph’s Royalty

St. Joseph’s 2017 Royalty includes Miss St. Joseph’s Danielle, Jr. Miss St. Joseph’s Mersayis and Eagle Staff Bearer Treshawn.

After competitions in dance and a Q&A with judges, St. Joseph’s Indian School has crowned three students as the 2017 royalty for the 41st Annual Powwow. Learn more about Danielle, Mersayis and Treshawn!

In order to be chosen as Miss St. Joseph’s, Jr. Miss St. Joseph’s and Eagle Staff Bearer, our Lakota students must attend and represent St. Joseph’s with pride and respect at powwows and other events. They must also be good role models and demonstrate a good attitude toward all students and adults.

Continue reading “Meet the 2017 St. Joseph’s Royalty”

21 St. Joseph’s students place at triathlon

At St. Joseph’s Indian School, it’s great to be able to offer facilities equipped with bikes, a pool and other recreational activities for our students. But, it’s even better when opportunities arise to share those things with the rest of the Chamberlain community.

Continue reading “21 St. Joseph’s students place at triathlon”

St. Joseph’s to host open house, ribbon cutting for new health facility

St. Joseph’s staff break ground on new health facility.
Groundbreaking for the new Health and Family Services Center took place May 2016.

It’s been a project over a year in the making, but soon St. Joseph Indian School’s new Health and Family Services Center will be up-and-running. To celebrate this new facility, there will be an open house and ribbon cutting during St. Joseph’s powwow celebration. The public, students and their family members are welcome to attend on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017 at noon. Continue reading “St. Joseph’s to host open house, ribbon cutting for new health facility”

St. Joseph’s elementary students give back to construction crew

In the second grade, students are accustomed to sharing their crayons or scissors with their classmates on a regular basis. But, recently, some of the smallest of students at St. Joseph’s Indian School had the opportunity to give back to some individuals outside of their classrooms in a larger way. Continue reading “St. Joseph’s elementary students give back to construction crew”

St. Joseph’s Indian School welcomes students, families with Back-to-School Picnic

“Look! I’m a kitty-cat!” exclaimed Darliss, a St. Joseph’s Indian School student, as she pointed to her ears.

However, she wasn’t pointing to her own, God-given ears, but rather the kitten ears painted on her forehead. The ears were coupled with whiskers stretched across her cheeks and a black nose. The Native American student had just gotten her face painted during the Back-to-School Picnic, hosted by St. Joseph’s Indian School, to welcome students and their families back to campus on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017. Continue reading “St. Joseph’s Indian School welcomes students, families with Back-to-School Picnic”

Martina – Army Achievement Medal

Martina, an alumna of St. Joseph’s Indian Schools graduating class of 2016, was recently awarded the Army Achievement Medal.

Martina attended St. Joseph’s for eleven years and was very involved in the St. Joseph’s and Chamberlain High School communities.

We are so very proud of her!

PFC Martina Hawk was recently award the AAM , The Army Achievement Medal.  Private First Class Martina H. Hawk, currently stationed in Hawaii, received this medal “For exceptionally meritorious achievement while assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 65th Brigade Engineer Battalion During PTA Range Density. PFC Hawk’s commitment to excellence, dedication to duty and technical expertise made her a valuable asset to the unit and contributor to mission success. PFC Hawk’s actions reflect credit upon herself, the “Renegade” Company, The “Bayonet” Battalion, The “Warrior” Brigade, and the United States Army.” 
Continue reading “Martina – Army Achievement Medal”

A Time for Lunch, A Time to Learn…

Hi! I’m Nicole. I am one of the Family Service Counselors at St. Joseph’s Indian School.

Family Service Counselors wear many hats—not only do we provide clinical mental health counseling, conduct guidance lessons in the school and assist with student issues in the homes – we are also the main contact for our students’ parents and guardians. Continue reading “A Time for Lunch, A Time to Learn…”

Focusing on the future…

Though some things ended with graduation mid-May, others have kept moving along… helping us focus on the future and what comes next!

STEP-UP DAY

Before the end of the school year, our students got the chance to visit the classrooms they will be in next year on what we call ‘Step Up Day!’

FIELD DAY

During the last week of school, our 1st-8th grade students participated in Field Day. Field Day is an annual St. Joseph’s event that helps our students burn off a bit of energy and make a few extra fun memories before the school year culminates. After the Field Day activities, our students were able to watch a movie at the local movie theatre. Continue reading “Focusing on the future…”

A time for endings… a time for new beginnings!

Whew!  It’s all over.

Our 89th school year has come to a close with the graduation of our high school students on Mother’s Day and our 8th graders on May 26.  On May 25 and 26, all students returned home to their families for the summer.

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES

Our four high school graduates—Justin, Danielle, Lilly and Ashley—joined their classmates to walk across the stage, receive their diplomas and take the first steps into their futures.  Justin is looking forward to learning how to weld, Danielle will study nursing, Lilly is interested in Astrophysics and Ashely is currently undecided.  We wish our grads all the best as they walk the path the Great Spirit opens before them. Continue reading “A time for endings… a time for new beginnings!”

A recap of the last few weeks at St. Joseph’s Indian School!

Good day from St. Joseph’s Indian School!

As the school year wound down throughout the month of May, our students kept active!  Many of the Homes took their year-end trips to Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Pierre or Minnesota.  The various classes also took day trips to visit local points of interest.

Though the students always get excited about going off campus to visit various sites, they also like to be involved in what is happening in the local Chamberlain-Oacoma area.

CIRCUS

In mid-April, the Chamberlain Big Bend Shrine Club Circus came to town.  The students were excited about having the chance to ride an elephant, camel or pony.  They also were excited about seeing clowns and the acts of the circus performers—especially those working with lions and tigers. Continue reading “A recap of the last few weeks at St. Joseph’s Indian School!”