Greetings from St. Joseph’s Indian School!
Guess what! It has been snowing again; but this time we avoided being in the bullseye. We received several inches of snow on Christmas afternoon, but our grounds crew did a fantastic job removing the snow from the roads. Today we are getting some gentle flurries.
The Chamberlain Cubs were scheduled to host an East-West basketball tournament yesterday, bringing in schools from across South Dakota, but the threat of snow caused the schedule to begin today.
You may recall that our Lakota Hand Games team had been practicing to defend the championship they won last year at the Lakota Nation Invitational gathering in Rapid City, South Dakota. Sadly they did not do as well this year. We also sent a Knowledge Bowl team to compete against other schools. The team won their first contest but then dropped into the losers’ bracket and could not work their way through to play for the title. Once a team is ousted, each member of the team can take part in a specific category and answer questions and write an essay on their topic. This year one of our juniors, Justin, took part in the Literature category and won first place. Way to go, Justin!!
The archery team boasted a couple place winners:
- Camron placed 1st in High School Boys Bare Bow
- Danielle earned 4th place in High School Girls Bare Bow
- Samantha placed 4th in Middle School Girls Bare Bow
Congratulations archers!
Since our students are away on their Christmas Break, I can share some events that have happened over the last few weeks. Our sixth, seventh and eighth graders participating in Explorers completed their first semester ‘Chores’ project. Through their hard work, the students raised $1,700 for a local resident who is fighting cancer! There was a picture in our local papers of all the members of the club surrounding the beneficiary who had a big smile on their face.
Just before the Break, those who will be serving as bowling captains held a draft of the students who wish to bowl in the upcoming league. There will be about 8 students on each team. Four of the eight will bowl each week. It will be up to the captains to select who will bowl and up to the students to remain eligible academically. There will be about six or seven weeks of bowling.
Also on the sports front, I was informed by our athletic director, Bryan, that one of our seniors, Daves, has been selected to participate in the South Dakota All State football game this coming summer due to his defense, kick returning and receiving capabilities. Congratulations Daves! I believe this is a St. Joseph’s first.
Vickie, the gift shop supervisor at the Akta Lakota Museum and Cultural Center, was the guest speaker at the Chamberlain Kiwanis luncheon meeting recently.
Vickie filled in for the Museum Director, Dixie, who was snowed in that day. Vickie has been with the museum for 18 years. She shared with those attending information on some of the artists we have on display—Arthur Amiotte, Oscar Howe, Robert Penn, Andrew Standing Soldier, Don Ruleaux and Don Montileaux. She mentioned how schools from various parts of the state come for visits. During these visits, our museum staff help them develop a better awareness and understanding of the history of the Native People. She was happy to inform the Kiwanis that approximately 25,000 visitors came through the facility this past year, a 12% increase!
Hope Santa was good to everyone. On behalf of St. Joseph’s Indian School’s students and staff, I would like to extend our best wishes to you and yours for a very Joyous, Peaceful, Healthy and Happy New Year. May God’s blessings be with you now and throughout 2016.
Fr. Anthony Kluckman, SCJ
Chaplain
Good Morning Fr Anthony.. Boy.. what a busy schedule for your students to still being away . Happy New Year and continued blessings..
Antonia, thank you for your kind blessings! We wish you and yours the same this new year.
God’s Love,Peace and Grace be with you all this New Year. I pray that His BEST is bestowed on each of you and the children .
Thank you for your kind words, Janice! Blessings to you and yours this 2016!
The dedication of our Indian friends and the love for the children is expresses by all of those that I have talked with. Wishing all at St. Joseph’s a Happy Healthy New year.
Marie Johnson of Newfield, New jersey
Thank you for your kind words, Marie! Blessings to you and yours in this new year!
It is so nice to see what a well-rounded education these young people are getting. I so wish we lived closer so that we could come and watch them participate in the activities. May 2016 bring peace, happiness and good health to you all.
If your travels ever bring you to South Dakota, we would love to have you visit campus! Thank you for your well wishes. We extend the same to you and yours!