Halloween, Voting Preparation and Lots of Activities at St. Joseph’s!

Good day from St. Joseph’s Indian School!

The weather has really been cooperating and gifting us with mild days as we keep moving deeper and deeper into Autumn. This is beneficial for our students since it gives them the chance to run around outside and breathe in the fresh air.

Even though the football and volleyball uniforms have been returned to the athletic department, our students still have the opportunity to get involved! Currently, our students are participating in archery, wrestling, gymnastics, girls’ basketball and Dancing Dolls and Dudes.
img_4409St. Joseph’s girls’ basketball season tipped off on Tuesday when our 5th and 6th grade girls traveled to Pierre to play PILC (Pierre Indian Learning Center). The team brought back two victories—5th grade won 26-7 and the 6th grade triumphed 26-14!

Those interested in Dancing Dolls and Dudes have been practicing hard and are looking forward to their dance recital in early December.

During the recital, each age group will be able to present two or three choreographed dances to an audience filled with family, relatives and neighbors. When Dancing Dolls and Dudes first began, the program was only for young ladies. Since then, it has grown and begun to incorporate interested boys, hence the ‘Dudes’. All those involved have a great time and proud family members enjoy taking many, many pictures during the recital.

img_4420This past Monday was a day for trick or treating as ghosts, goblins, princesses and monsters of all sorts wandered around campus looking for treats prior to heading to the Rec Center for a grand march to determine the ‘best in show’ costumes among both students and staff.

The most unique costume was a visit from the USA Olympic Synchronized Swim Team. About seven St. Joseph’s staff members surrounded themselves with hula hoops that were adorned with blue colored tissue paper. As the team presented their synchronized ‘dance’, their USA coach cheered from the sidelines.

img_4421In addition to the grand march, several age groups entered a contest to decorate the exterior and interior of their Homes.

The highlight of the day seemed to be the haunted house that some of our high school students and staff put together. Their efforts produced many enjoyable screams and shivers among the students and staff who were brave enough to enter!

With the United States Election coming up next week, St. Joseph’s students will be taking part in a Kids Voting South Dakota program. Each grade will take turns visiting voting booths (ran by our 8th graders), submitting a ballot and receiving an ‘I Voted’ sticker!

Our staff has been busy going over sample ballots and practicing voting to prepare our students to make their own decisions when it comes time to vote.

Although the national election takes place on Tuesday, we will be doing our voting on Monday so we can send in our results to the South Dakota Secretary of State and be included in the State Kids Voting Results. We look forward to finding out the results of our election.

I hope you are registered and will take seriously the opportunity to cast your ballot for those who will lead our country in the near future.

Have a great week. Please know we keep you in our prayers.

Fr. Anthony Kluckman, SCJ
Chaplain

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.

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