Fr. Steve’s updates – Page 7 – St. Joseph's Indian School

A Tablespoon of Hot Sauce

Due to a good weekend snowstorm, Chamberlain canceled school yesterday. The Native American grade school students at St. Joseph’s still had classes, since living here they only have to walk a block or two.

Our dedicated facilities crew started clearing snow at 3 a.m. and made it possible to navigate the roads and sidewalks safely. We did start 90 minutes hours late. The teachers and other staff who had to drive from their homes appreciated the extra time to dig themselves out and get to campus.

Our high school students had the whole day off. Knowing there were no ballgames or activities, I figured it was a good time to stop by Sheehy Home (high school boys) for supper. They’d spent the afternoon exercising at the Rec Center, and most were now parked on the couches watching movies. A few of the guys were using the time to catch up on homework and missing assignments, which I made sure to compliment.

Supper was a memorable culinary experience. Anita’s lasagna was some of the best I’ve ever had. But next to the salad was a plastic squeeze salad dressing bottle that was slightly orange colored. From the side I saw the beginning of a word – “FR.”

I assumed it was French dressing, so unbeknownst to others I poured it liberally on my salad greens. It turned out to be “Frank’s Hot Sauce,” and my first bite it was like eating a full tablespoon of Tabasco sauce! The Sheehy boys got a chuckle out of my miscalculation.

I stopped by Raphael Home (1^st – 3^rd grade boys) after school today and found the Lakota youngsters actively playing. You can have fancy computer games and electronic toys, but today the boys were intrigued with simple old-fashioned things. Kane was trying out a yo-yo. I was able to give him a few pointers of how to hold it and get the most spin out of the wrist, signs of my own playful youth. Rudy had a lightweight wooden airplane, like we used to get in the dime store, and he and Dorian were competing to see who could keep it aloft the longest.

Imagination is the most fertile field for a child’s play, and basketball is the big sport around campus. First graders Jacob and Devin stacked a trio of laundry detergent buckets against the wall, and on top built a foot wide square of large Legos. They each had a beanie baby bird (one a penguin and the other an eagle) and were using those to shoot hoops. Teris stood guard by the bucket, blocking shots and trying to keep them away but, with persistence, they would occasionally get one by and over his outstretched arms and into the goal. They cheered as though they’d hit a game winning shot!

Of Basketball & Ping Pong

Three other eighth grade teams took part in St. Joseph’s basketball tournament. — St. Joseph’s eighth-grade team lost their first game of the tournament by only one point!

Saturday at St. Joseph’s Indian School we had our eighth grade invitational basketball tournament. Four teams participated. Robert, one of our high school students, has taken to refereeing, and I enjoyed seeing him run the court and keep the game flowing and fair.

Our team lost their first game by only one point. Disappointed and tired, they didn’t play up to their potential in the consolation round and got blown out. That game was hard for the fans to watch.

It may be even more important to cheer and support when kids are struggling than when they are winning.

Some of the girls’ homes made a batch of sloppy joes, hot dogs and dessert bars to sell at the snack bar. The game room became a lively place to grab a quick lunch and catch up with staff and students.

Our younger girls had basic gymnastics practice in the afternoon. I see our students doing cartwheels all the time, and Heidi and Mark tried to teach them some new skills, like walking on a balance beam. I got in line and tried my hand (more so my feet) at the skill along with the girls.

It was actually much like the physical therapy I had to do to strengthen the nerves to my foot after the cancer surgery, and I had no trouble walking across. But when I tried balancing on one foot and leaning forward, that’s when I needed the spotter’s help to hop down. I heard lots of giggles, but at least I tried.

We had a blizzard warning and snow started flying Saturday night.

Our facilities crew came in early and had the roads cleared in time for Sunday morning mass. Much of the snow we get is dry and powdery. This was wet and heavy, and very much appreciated in an area that suffered from drought last year.

We’ve seen what the East Coast is digging out from, and keep all those adversely affected by winter weather in our prayers. After lunch, I saw a couple of the younger boys’ homes bundle up and head for the hills for sledding.

I ate brunch with the Summerlee Home (4^th– 5^th grade girls). I tried my hand at ping pong with Chassidy, who kept it going pretty good, and gave a quick lesson on how to hold a paddle to Daejah, who was fairly new at the game. Then it came time for all the students to sit at the kitchen counter and get their valentines written out for their classmates.

Valentine Sobriety Carnival & Dance

St. Joseph’s holds a Sobriety Carnival each February for the Lakota boys and girls. — Samantha tries her hand at one of the carnival games.

Friday was our Valentine’s Sobriety Celebration at St. Joseph’s Indian School. The Lakota children in grade school enjoyed a carnival, with about ten different games around the edges of the gym. Older students and a few staff ran a face painting station at center court, and I saw colorful mustaches, cat whiskers and clown faces all around.

Each game required different levels of skill – plastic bowling pins, ring toss and a golf putt. Some were pure luck, like the Fish Pond and the Cake Walk, but the kids had a blast walking around the numbered circle to the music, or casting their rod over the partition in search of treasure. Consolation prizes were penny candies. Each student played until they won up to five small prizes.

Once their card was filled, they made their way to the tables filled with donated toys, games and knick knacks. I noticed some students would pick the first thing that caught their eye, while others were more discriminating shoppers, and carefully looked everything over before making their selection.

The junior and senior high students held a dance later in the evening. Our dances usually involve many students sitting on the sidelines and only occasionally meeting in the middle. Chris, one of our seniors enlisted the help of other classmates to serve as the DJ. The students were more willing to get up and show off their dance moves, mostly in groups. “Couples” were more likely to walk around and hold hands rather than dance together. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

Catching up around campus

After being on the road several days Wednesday was a catch up day with meetings and answering messages. February is the time we put budgets together for next year, and work on the school calendar, so we’re all trying to look ahead and make plans for what we will need.

One of the goals for our strategic plan is to develop more opportunities for our younger students to interact with children in the Chamberlain school in the hopes that it will help build friendships for our Native American students who continue on to Chamberlain High School.

Kathleen, our principal, helped me brainstorm about some ideas.

Could we host an art fair or exhibit that would showcase works from area children?
When we or one of the other area schools have a speaker or activity that would appeal to youngsters, do we think to invite other schools?

In a time when school resources are stretched, collaboration is one answer. But collaboration has its own rewards as well, particularly breaking down barriers and giving students the chance to know one another. We’ll work to try some activities next year.

Kathleen also shared a project she’s been working on with the student leadership group. They’ve been asked about the qualities of a good teacher, and the traits that get in the way of developing a trusting, working relationship. Fairness, and not playing favorites is at the top of both lists. They don’t expect a teacher to be their best friend, but a smile and sense of humor goes a long way in helping youngsters to feel comfortable. While they didn’t use the word “sarcastic” that was the attitude that best described what turned them off in the classroom.

Aaron, who does most of our videotaping projects, asked me to stop by his office to work on a piece for our historical display. In a section about life on Indian Reservations today, I remarked that while there are a host of social problems, we need to also acknowledge the positive developments.

Since I’m the one who insisted we tell that part of the story, I was elected to talk about tribal colleges, cultural preservation efforts, wildlife conservation and land management. There is still a long way to go, but hopefully our Lakota (Sioux) students will be part of the generation that can turn things around for their tribes and families.

I stopped by Summerlee Home (4^th-5^th grade girls). We just completed the remodel of their home, and the girls were excited about moving back in, especially the fifth graders, who remembered how it looked last year. I got the grand tour and they made sure to show me how their beauty parlor chair and hair washing sink worked.

I checked in on our thrift store conversion project. Our crew was installing the slat walls around the perimeter and finishing up some wiring. We hope to start moving clothes and other merchandise in a couple of weeks, and open sometime in March. Downtown Chamberlain is getting a new drug store and city hall as well, so we hope it helps keep our small town main street active and vibrant.

We hold case service plans for each of our students twice a year. The student meets with their Family Service Counselor, homeroom teacher, and one of their houseparents to see what areas they are successful in and in what areas they need improvements. Students’ families are invited to take part either in person or via conference call. We work hard to increase parental involvement. Unfortunately, many of our students are at St. Joseph because their parents have not been involved in their education and upbringing.

I sat in on a couple of meetings for two girls, and learned more about their issues and challenges. None of their parents or guardians were able to attend. One came to us after her family wound up in a domestic violence shelter. After six months at St. Joseph’s Indian School, she is starting to rebuild self-confidence and is showing leadership with younger girls in her home.

The second girl has only been here a few weeks, and is way behind her classmates in academics. Her teacher talked of the need for more testing to see what she needs to catch up on so she can move forward. It’s a long process that takes patience on both sides of the desk.

But that’s exactly why we’re here.

The students were also given the chance ahead of time to write down activities in the home or school they enjoy and would like to see more of, as well as concerns they may have.

Though it’s only 25 degrees outside, after school kids still flocked to the basketball courts! After we moved a storage building and put up some temporary goals on the foundation, that has been a draw for the students. The portable goals have been set low enough for fifth graders to dunk, and they showed me some of their best one handed jams as they dreamed of getting a college scholarship or NBA contract some day.

Afterwards, I joined the Cyr Home (4^th-5^th grade boys) for supper. They had a session at the Rec Center reserved, so as soon as the dishes were washed, the boys crowded the couches and counters to get tomorrow’s home work done. I helped with some spelling and vocabulary words. It’s easy for an adult to give answers to a worksheet, but much harder to get a child to reason out loud and come up with their own conclusions. But that’s what it takes for them to learn.

Home Safely!

We just returned from Buellton California, in the scenic Santa Ynez Valley, where we hosted two donor appreciation luncheons in the area. While some of our friends had a short trip, others drove in from as far as Fresno, Lancaster and Anaheim to join us for an afternoon. Ashley and Martina were our two Native American high school students who spoke to our donors about their life and routine at St. Joseph’s Indian School.

Native American students from St. Joseph’s saw the Pacific Ocean for the first time! — The girls walked in the Pacific Ocean and wrote their names in the sand at Refugio State Beach.

Travel was an adventure. For Ashley it was her very first flight. The attendants let her peak into the cockpit and the pilot made her feel welcome (and safe!). From Sioux Falls to Denver, she had a window seat and could see the Missouri River, Badlands and Nebraska Sand Hills as we flew high overhead. On the second leg, Martina stared out the window, marveling at the mountains, canyons and vast stretches of western desert, which gave way to the incredible sprawl of metro Los Angeles. Our last short leg was at night, and the city and coastline came alive with lights and we descended into Santa Barbara. Our return was not as smooth. Fog delayed our takeoff, and because of missed connections we could only get back as far as Denver, and had to stay overnight there and come back a day late. The girls didn’t mind missing another day of school, and had fun walking around the airports, window shopping and people watching.

Despite the long distances, I recognized a few donors who have made the pilgrimage to St. Joseph’s campus for a summer vacation stopover, or to take part in one of our powwow celebrations. When others hear of our activities in September, it piques their interest and I’m sure we’ll see a few more make the journey. One couple who love motorcycling hope to roll by and visit during the Sturgis rally in August.

Tina, our phone receptionist, traveled to help with the set up and hospitality. She told me that one of the most frequently asked questions by donors on the phone is about me – “Is Fr. Steve a real person?” Many said it was nice to meet the one behind letters and emails. But the same holds true for us.

It’s a joy to be able to thank groups of people in person who make the work of St. Joseph possible.

The Lakota students visited an ostrich farm on their trip to a donor appreciation event in California. — Martina feeds the ostriches at the farm they visited.

Saturday after the luncheon, we checked out a nearby ostrich farm – a unique experience for me, but a sheer delight for our Lakota girls! A bowl of feed cost just $1. We held it out on a dust pan and hungry birds flocked around us. It was amazing to see them up close and personal! In the distant fields we observed their surprisingly quick running, and even saw a male doing an elaborate mating dance to get attention.

We drove into Solvang for mass. Visiting Old Mission Santa Ines allowed me to tell some of the background of the California missions and the history of the area tribes. It was also the annual appeal Sunday for the diocese. In lieu of a homily, we heard a 22 year old Hispanic Woman speak about how the parish school she attended in South Central LA helped give her a chance to go to college and present her with opportunities that others in her neighborhood didn’t have. I looked at our Lakota (Sioux) students, hoping and praying the same for them.

We sampled some Danish foods and pastries, then walked around to enjoy the town’s atmosphere. We found a bookstore that had a large section dedicated to Hans Christian Anderson, and later we took a photo by the Little Mermaid fountain.

On Sunday after the luncheon, we finally spent some time at the ocean, walking along Refugio State Beach.

My favorite moment came when Martina and Ashley were intently tracing their names in the sand with their toes, and a wave came up from behind, about mid-calf height, and sent them squealing and laughing to safer ground.

After enjoying some of the open scenery, we continued to Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara, where the shop with shell jewelry was the highlight. On these trips, I notice that our students may buy one of two things for themselves, but they are always thinking of family and friends, trying to find something that will give them joy.

The girls were amazed at the shops on Paseo Nuevo! — The shops at Paseo Nuevo were full of pink bling!

We headed downtown to the fashionable Paseo Nuevo shops. The girls’ eyes lit up when passing a store called “So Good,” filled with every kind of ring and necklace imaginable. It was the pinkest, blingiest place I have ever seen. I knew that, while it wasn’t my cup of tea, they would be there a long, long time. That gave me a chance to go out for a walk and check in on the Super Bowl. After they had their fill, we ended up at a pizza place where we watched the fourth quarter of the game.

We’re safely back now, with lots of memories, not just of sights, but of the warm and wonderful people we sat at table with and heard their story and their connection to St. Joseph’s.

How did you become connected to St. Joseph’s Indian School?

Campus Competitions

Lakota students at St. Joseph’s Indian School participate in the annual spelling bee. — Students participate in the annual spelling bee contest.

We held two competitive events on campus yesterday. The first began at 11:30, when several of our staff squared off in our annual chili/non-chili cooking contest. Three recipes gained a ribbon and bragging rights, but everyone on campus was a winner when we got to sample many tasty efforts. I had 11:30 mass, and by the time I reached the tables at noon the early lunch crowd had polished off the top three pots. But the others I sampled were hearty on a cold day and quite delicious. Human resources pulled out some colorful piñatas and recorded fiesta music set a fun tone. We laughed about the Kleenex on the table for runny noses and the bottles of antacids for those who found the samples to hot. It gave staff from different areas on campus the chance to mingle in a way that doesn’t happen often enough.

Then at 1:00 the real drama began as the top six spellers in each grade (determined by an earlier competition in their classrooms) participated in the annual Spelling Bee. Fr. Anthony and I were the word givers, and alternated between the grades. Some words I was glad when the students asked for a definition, because that enlightened me too! A few of the matches ended quickly. When it got down to the final two in 7^th and 8^th grade the rounds went on a long time. When one of the students had a chance to win, it seemed they would miss the second word and give their opponent another chance. The winners now advance to the regional competition in Mitchell.

I was at the Hogebach Home (high school girls’ home) last evening when the phone rang. Trinity answered the phone and once she hung up, broke into Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” What happened? – because of dangerous cold and wind chill, Chamberlain Public schools called for a 2 hour late start. Almost every high school kid I know would rejoice with a couple extra hours to sleep in. How cold was it? When the William Home (4^th-5^th) grade girls walked home from the Rec Center after swimming, their hair was frozen in the time it took to walk 2 blocks.

Since our kids live on campus, and the snow isn’t deep enough to cause problems, we pressed on with our regular school day today. Recess was indoors. When we get a long stretch of cold I notice the students getting cabin fever, but our weather has had enough ups and downs that they haven’t had to stay inside for more than a couple of days.

We’re working on budgets and had to submit our list of planned capital expenses for fiscal year 2014. Because our staff have so many good ideas for improvements, our wish list is always quite long. Then we have to prioritize and decide what we can afford, what our facilities crew has time to get done, and what is most pressing, especially where safety and preventative maintenance are concerned. Our costliest projects will be the next phase of our campus drainage upgrade, and the tuck pointing of several of our large older brick buildings. Perhaps the ones I’m happiest to see are the remodeling of the last two homes on our list, Afra (1^st-3^rd girls) and Raphael (1^st– 3^rd boys). I know the houseparents who live with the children in those two homes have been envious of the improvements we’ve made to all the other homes, and excitedly await similar upgrades and improvements.

Catholic Schools Week begins

We began Catholic Schools week with all the staff and students assembled in the Rec Center this morning for prayer. Bright yellow and blue balloons in yellow and blue (St. Joseph’s school colors) added a festive atmosphere to the stage.

This year’s theme is Raising the Standard. We try to do that, not just with academic excellence, but by forming ourselves and our Lakota (Sioux) students in all-around ways. Each attendee received a rubber bracelets with the words “body mind, heart and spirit,” engraved on them. Those are the holistic areas of child development and our own personal staff development on which we focus.

A good number of teachers and houseparents were out sick today. We’re getting the wave of flu and colds that hit other areas hard earlier. Our students have generally been staying healthier than our staff, but the health center has also seen a slight uptick in patients. We had a few subs in the school, but also had the help of some “student teachers.”

As part of Catholic schools week, some students in each classroom were given the chance to stand on the other side of the desk and address their Native American peers. Some gave out spelling words, others taught a few math problems. . . Maybe it gave them a better appreciation for the work their teachers do.

My hope is that their experience in the classroom here will light the spark that will one day draw a few of them back to the classroom as educators.

After school, I went to Fisher Home (6^th– 8^th grade boys) for supper. The guys had come in from the playground and were kicking back watching cartoons before supper. I always want to have dynamic conversations with students, but like many adults I get lots of one word answers when I ask “how was your day?” or “What did you do in school today?”

Building relationships with youth, especially those who come to us from difficult home situations or poverty, takes patience. I’ve learned to let young people talk about what they want to talk about and unfold their tale in their own time and way. Sometimes you have to sit through Sponge Bob and build rapport to set the stage for later. Around the supper table, the boys were relaxed and more talkative without much prompting and I did enjoy that time.

Icy roads canceled tonight’s basketball game, making it a good night to stay in and read a book. I don’t mind wintry weather that forces me to slow down and nurture my quieter, introverted side, as long as I know all the students and travelers are safely home.

Everyone deserves a chance to shine

The Lakota girls participated in a community hair shop this weekend, and everyone got a new ‘do! — Araya and Aralyn giggle in anticipation of curly, bouncy hair!

Yesterday, we had a Community Hair Shop to teach staff and students about braiding and decorating hair. We saw lots of cute new do’s sported around campus, and people enjoyed the time thoroughly. I promised one of our other bloggers I wouldn’t say much, and let them add more pictures and descriptions of those events.

Last night, I filled in for mass at St. James parish in downtown Chamberlain. Fr. Guy, the regular pastor, needed to be away attending to his ill father. Three of the pews were filled with very familiar folks – high school students from our St. Joseph’s program. Our older Lakota students enjoy going downtown for church when they don’t have a ballgame or something going on Saturday night. One big draw is that it gives them the chance to sleep in Sunday morning. But, I also know they enjoy taking part in the local community, and mingling with classmates and teachers from the public high school they attend.

I saw the rest of our crew Sunday morning in Our Lady of the Sioux Chapel. During the announcements Steve, our HS academic advisor, awarded the traveling academic trophies to Hogebach (HS girls) for the highest overall GPA, and to Carola (HS boys), for the fewest missing or late assignments.

There was also plenty of basketball today! Besides our girls intercity games, the Knights of Columbus and Jaycees teamed up to sponsor a Free Throw and Hot Shot contest. I saw several of our students proudly displaying trophies they’d won.

Jashon (10), Wankiya (11) and Trenton (14) took first place in their age group and will advance to the next level of state competition in two weeks!

I ran into four girls from the Afra Home (1^st-3^rd grade girls) walking home with their houseparent, Alice, from a trip to the dollar store where they spend some of their allowance. Mariah held out a rubber ball that bounced very high. Neveah, Loverine and Kyla clutched colorful journals they were planning to write their life stories in.

One of the books was titled, “Everyone deserves the chance to shine.”

That’s my hope for each of our students, and brought a smile to my face.

Unveiling a mural

At the end of the school day we unveiled a new mural in St. Joseph’s art room. Markus Tracy was the artist-in-residence who worked with our Native American students for the past two weeks. They worked to create a concept and bring it to life on the classroom wall.

Seventh grader Kaitlyn and one of St. Joseph’s youngest students, second grader Gavin, had their designs and ideas incorporated into the work. Fifth grader Justina saw part of a poem she wrote included in the design.

A cloth covered the wall, and our Chalk Hills Singers drum group sang an honor song to begin the festivities. Gavin and Kaitlyn then (to the roll of a drum) dramatically pulled off the cover and unveiled the work!

St. Joseph’s art room has a new mural, thanks to the Lakota children and artist Markus Tracy. — The Lakota students worked with artist Markus Tracy to create a mural for the art room.

The mural was painted in a way that the rising sun coming into the classroom window each morning from the East will be part of the art – a dynamic living piece as it arcs its way across the room.

Afterwards, attendees could snack on fresh vegetables, cheese and crackers. Talking to the artists, they were very proud about what they helped accomplish. Hopefully it will stimulate their creativity and imagination for many more beautiful efforts.

Returning to campus after a donor event

We’ve just returned from our Sarasota donor luncheon trip. After walking along the beach barefooted and enjoying supper at a an outdoor sidewalk café, coming home to -5 degrees and scraping snow and ice off the windshield was quite a shock to the system!

Why couldn’t I get any sympathy from the staff who were here all along facing the frigid wintry blast?

To make matters worse, a semi truck slid into an electrical pole and knocked out power for an hour Sunday night. At St. Joseph’s, we have a fuel-powered backup generator, and were able to keep key areas of campus warm until the power company got things squared away. In the winter, I say regular prayers for those who work in the cold to keep us safe and warm.

There was a big crowd in the gym last night for fourth, fifth and sixth grade boys basketball games against Chamberlain. When we have three games like that, the other Lakota children come and go for supper, homework and other activities, but everyone stops by for a few quarters to cheer the teams on.

It was also the debut of St. Joseph’s cheerleading squad. They added spirited encouragement and got the stands more involved. Their new pom poms added to their look, and they wildly waved them at exciting moments throughout the night.

All the games were very close, with Chamberlain winning the first two and our St. Joseph’s students prevailing in the nightcap. In a few years, many of these boys will be competing alongside each other instead of against one another, and we work hard to build good sportsmanship.

While I missed the weekend performances of the high school’s one act play, I did get home in time to enjoy their last dress rehearsal before they took it to Pierre for the regional competition. There they received a first place rating, and will continue on to the state competition.

Congratulations!

I’m glad and proud when our Native American students have opportunities to participate in arts activities.

After being gone from campus for a few days, I made the rounds to different departments and checked on how things are going around campus. The warehouse was stacked with bales of cardboard and shredded paper ready to be trucked off for recycling. While we actually earn a few dollars over the course of the year for doing so, the big benefit is that it doesn’t just go to the landfill as garbage, but can be reused and we help do our part for the environment. That was one of the goals of our last strategic plan.

For our current plan, we’re holding more listening meetings with staff again this week. It’s been time consuming; over two weeks I’ve met with 15 different small groups for an hour each. But we’ve heard good ideas and answered questions as we try to move forward with improving student achievement and success, and a host of other goals.

Over and over again, I appreciated how committed and passionate our staff is about trying to improve in every area on campus.

We had a farewell for Amy K, who is leaving her job in the mail processing room to go back to school. It’s always sad when part of our community moves on, but I’m happy when people take the chance to improve their education and set themselves up for better opportunities. We wish her all the best!