Impressive GPA’s

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Today, all our South Dakota SCJs gathered for a time of continuing education. Brother Duane from Chicago led our discussions, and we also enjoyed the company of Fr. Paul from California, and Fr. Guy who came from Connecticut. Besides asking our staff to update themselves regularly, we as a religious order take that seriously ourselves. The morning session was a discussion/workshop on “Instruments of Hope and Healing”. It challenged us, “How can we encourage each other to live healthy spiritual and emotional lives? How can we help people who have been hurt by the church?”

After lunch, our discussions shifted to our community mission statement. We reflected on the question, “How am I faithful to the gospel in the spirit of our founder, Fr. Leo John Dehon?” Lots of days are taken up with day-to-day work related issues. Sometimes, you just have to step back and ask those bigger philosophical questions if you’re going to stay on the right track. For me, God’s love is key. I want people to feel God’s love through me, be it student, staff or donor. First, I have to be aware of and rooted in that love myself. If I keep faithful to that Charism, the day-to-day decisions fall more easily into place.

Tonight, the High School home had an assembly to present the traveling academic trophy to the home with the highest grade point average. Hogebach, our junior and senior girls, came in first again with an impressive 3.42 group GPA! Their next goal is to try to get everyone on the Honor Roll. The high school students have 3 weeks until semester exams, so they all have to buckle down with the books.

Erin and Danisha also gave a presentation to the other High School students about their trip visit to our sister school in Handrup Germany. Another trip is being arranged for next June, and they encouraged other students to apply for the trip. Both were scared at first, and said they wanted to go home after the first day or two, but after the two weeks had flown by, they wanted to stay much longer. Both talked about the ways it was a life changing experience to see the world from a totally different perspective.

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. View all posts by St. Joseph's Indian School