Excitement at St. Joseph’s Indian School

We had our first Sunday mass of the year. Often, I tell stories when I preach to young people, to help them imagine and connect with the gospel message. Today, it was more about teaching and basic catechesis. We have 42 new students and for some of them, mass was a brand new experience. I took my time with extra explanations and tried to make everyone feel at home and welcome. We had a smaller crowd than normal, since many of the kids from Fort Thompson went back home this weekend for the Crow Creek Powwow. Also, our high school students didn’t return to campus until this evening.

A few folks from last night’s wedding visited us for mass. Georgia went to school here in the late 50’s, and the students were impressed to learn she is a Tribal Judge. I try to hold up alumni like that and urge our kids to aim high in the education and their dreams.

I stopped in at Crane Home (HS underclass girls) and welcomed everyone back. Besides getting bigger rooms than jr. high students, the high school students also have more freedoms and privileges – but also more responsibility as they have to learn to live more independently and get ready for what awaits them in the world beyond St. Joseph’s campus. There’s a good spirit and lots of excitement – if not about starting school, at least about reuniting with good friends and starting a new year.

God’s continued blessings

This morning the Chamberlain/ Oacoma Fitness Council sponsored a youth triathlon and used St. Joseph’s Indian School’s campus for most of the activities. The youngest crowd, 6 and under, rode their bike once around Wisdom Circle, then finished with a 100 yard dash. The 13-15 year olds swam 200 yards, biked 7 miles and ran for 2. The other age categories had in-between distances.

Three groups of our students put together teams and did one leg of the triathlon each. Three of our students competed on their own and did all three. It was the first time any had competed in such an event, and they made a great effort and had fun in doing so. I enjoyed seeing kids from St. Joseph’s and from town mingle together. Angel (7th grade) won her division. Cassidy gave it a great try, but on the last ½ mile of running she hit a wall. She almost gave up, but the other girls from Pinger Home were there to support her and walked the course with her until she caught her breath and finished.

I admire such fortitude, especially when you know you’re not going to win – but are a winner because you hang in and finish.

In the afternoon, I had some visitors stop by campus who were parishioners when I was stationed in Eagle Butte. Janelle’s mom attended St. Joseph’s Indian School and I gave them a tour of the chapel, school and one of the homes. They told me they were in town for a wedding reception across the Missouri River at Cedar Shores and I should stop by if I had the time. Later that evening I did drop by, and between two of the larger clans on the Cheyenne River Reservation, I probably knew about 80% of the people there. It brought back so many memories of my work there; lots of hugs, hearty handshakes and reminiscing. I saw kids who I baptized who now have children of their own.

I also went to the open house of a couple who have been married for 50 years – Jean and Dwain Blackwell. Jean has been on our staff in donor services for many of those years. I enjoyed meeting family from out-of-town that I’d not yet met.

Congratulations and God’s continued blessings!

Folks that cross my path

I had the day off, and walked into town to run some errands. When I’m not in a rush to meet a deadline or get back for a meeting, it’s so pleasant just to take my time and visit with whatever folks cross my path along the way.

I watched a documentary I taped from Current TV called “Rape on the Reservation.” It examined the problems of sexual assault on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, and was both well done, and emotionally disturbing. While the information was not new to me, it can serve as a good teaching tool and discussion starter for dealing with a difficult problem.

On campus, most of our houseparents, a few teachers and other staff were involved in an all day training session – “Love and Logic”. The program is meant to give child care workers the tools they need to build relationships and understand children better. It teaches ways to change behaviors, encourage students to be responsible and still have fun in the process. Those I talked to afterwards appreciated the insights. It also helps to have training toward the beginning of the year when folks still have a good amount of energy and are highly motivated to put skills to work making the year a good one.

Also, the South Dakota School for the Deaf sent out their portable lab and worked with our Speech Therapist to test the hearing of all our new students and a few returning students we have some questions about. Two students were found to have some hearing difficulties. Knowing what their challenges are goes a long way in helping us work with them.

This weekend was the Annual Crow Creek Powwow. I drove up to Fort Thompson in time for the Grand Entry. A good number of our students come from the Crow Creek Reservation and I saw a few that were dancing. Many more were in attendance, walking around the arbor checking out people and activities. As is my custom, I usually check out the new line of Native American themed baseball caps and pick out a couple to wear around campus for the new year. What I love best about powwows, besides the color and ritual and ceremony, is just running into folks and catching up, the way you would do at a family reunion.

Powwow planning

A group of about 20, representing all school departments from facilities and donor services to the school and Akta Lakota Museum gathered together to check in on St. Joseph’s Indian School’s annual powwow planning. September 17 is less  than one month away. It takes the efforts of everyone on campus to pull off the big weekend, but much work has already been done. We already have 278 out-of-town guests who have registered, and a few more come in every day! Two years ago, the day was quite hot and last year was cold enough for gloves and hats. This year we’re hoping everything is just right!

About half of our high school students are already on campus. Some are participating in sports practices for volleyball, football and cross-country. A few who are not in sports, are also here because family circumstances make being on campus now in their interest. Students not in sports, help out with jobs on and off campus. I saw one of our student athletes helping the grounds crew by picking up sticks around Wisdom Circle. He tried out for the football team, but a 5 hour practice changed his mind, so we put him to work. On the other hand, I saw Daylon washing windows the first couple of days. The manual labor gave her the incentive and motivation to try out for the freshman volleyball team!

Mark is the staff advisor for the Drum Group. They held their first meeting of the year to set up a practice schedule. We graduated several strong singers, and I was heartened to see a good-sized crew of sixth graders who have signed up and are willing to learn the songs and art of drumming. Besides helping out at the powwow and upcoming prayer services, this year the school is working to regularly incorporate the flag song as part of the home room beginning of the day ritual, which gives them an added incentive to practice.

 

 

Hoping to find a Woolly Mammoth

Now that school at St. Joseph’s Indian School is back in session, that means more meetings to work on various projects. This morning, I had a meeting with auditors, who are going through our books right now. They will present a report to the audit committee and Board of Directors later and needed to ask me questions about any of my observations or concerns. We try to be good stewards of the donations people give us and work to be very accurate with our financial records. Besides the yearly audit, we also post our financial statements on our website. I’m always grateful that the donations we receive allow us to run so many great programs and projects here on St. Joseph’s Indian School’s campus.

Later, I met with the pastoral care department to plan the upcoming liturgies for this weekend and our opening of school mass. We’re waiting until next week for our “All School Mass” because our high school students won’t all be back until then. We also are looking at ways to instruct students (and staff) about the translations of the mass prayers that will be implemented beginning in Advent. We also brainstormed about ways to foster more active participation in all our prayer times.

I spent a good deal of time in the office. Phone calls, letters, answering emails, checking in with staff who drop by the office for 5 or 10 minute questions – I can’t point to any major accomplishments, but tried to take care of the daily business that keeps everything going.

I finished the day by joining Summerlee (4th-5th grade girls) for supper. There are 4 new girls in the home and they’re still getting to know one another, but already they’ve developed a good group spirit. One fifth grade girl did say she was a little homesick, especially missing her 10-year-old best friend who was killed in a car accident two weeks ago. We have to be very aware of the heartaches the students carry with them and work on healing and wholeness.

Daniel, a houseparent with some archeological training, is working on a “dig” around the Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center before we start doing more construction there. Many of the girls are interesting in helping see what they can find out about the history that artifacts can tell about St. Joseph’s and the area’s indigenous people. One of the girls said she hoped we found a Woolly Mammoth!

Goodness and mercy

I enjoyed breakfast and a good conversation with my brother-in-law Ed this morning. He was on a brief visit, driving home a camper for friends who toured the Black Hills. He rolled in last night and was off again this morning, but I sure appreciated his company and getting caught up on family.

I made the rounds in the classrooms. Richard had the first graders in Religious Education class. They were learning the sign of the cross. A few had the basics down, but for many it was a brand new concept. A lot of the children who come here, even if they have been baptized in some tradition, are mostly unchurched. Hopefully they will deepen their knowledge of God, teach me a thing or two about God’s ways and surpass us all in goodness and mercy.

Frank, our 6th – 8th grade Residential Coordinator and Jenny, our Student Coordinator, met with all the 7th and 8th graders to lay out some guidelines which will help our American Indian students down the road if they want to get accepted into our high school program. We want all of our students to keep their eyes on the future and realize the choices they make now can either contribute to their later success  or become a roadblock. We plant the seeds now and hope they will take root.

I ate supper in the Dennis Home (1st-3rd grade girls), where half of the girls are brand new to St. Joseph’s. I was surrounded in the playroom by more dolls than I’ve seen in a long time; familiar play things that help the girls relax, have fun and help their adjustment to new surroundings.

Before becoming a houseparent, Peter was a chef, and he fixed up a wonderful stir fry from scratch. It’s a constant challenge to make sure kids are eating healthy and tonight they had a mixture of chicken, broccoli, celery, onions, green beans, cabbage, water chestnuts, mushrooms and rice on their plates. Not only did I hear no complaints, but many of the girls asked for seconds!

None of the new kids had ever been around a priest much and were very curious about my all black attire. They asked, “When are you going to change clothes?”  (I do all the time – they just look the same!). Later when I ran into the group again by the Rec Center, in my gym trunks and tennis shoes, they had to check those out too.

Favorite dessert: biscuits and gravy

The first day of school. Crazy but fun.

Midmorning I went onto the playground during recess and shot baskets with 2nd graders. Mostly I rebounded and tried to teach them to cut toward the basket so I could feed them the ball. Even that basic concept took some coaching and coaxing, but there’s some potential ballers there.

I waited until afternoon before venturing into the school. I don’t want to interrupt too early as the teachers build a routine and relationships. I’m trying to learn the new students’ names, as well as remember all our returning students. Some have grown and changed a lot even since May. Some of the younger crowd recognized me from the visit to their home yesterday, which at least sparked a bit of recognition and familiarity.

In the 2nd grade classroom, I went around the room and asked them to tell me their name and favorite dessert, which was a fun ice breaker. We might have to work on teaching food categories and the basic food groups, since besides ice cream and chocolate chip cookies I also heard “biscuits and gravy.”

This morning, Central Receiving was crawling with houseparents, gathering up clothes that their children will need. When our students arrive, all their clothes are cataloged so we know what they have. Some students have very little and the houseparents were even looking for basics like socks and underwear. Over the summer, many generous folks sent in or dropped off many new or gently used clothing items and they are quickly getting into the dressers of the Lakota kids who need them. This year, we seem to have an abundance of clothes for the girls, but a shortage of items for the boys. We do keep an updated  list of needed items on our website. Find St. Joseph’s Indian School’s needs list here!

I reviewed the High School driving handbook. We’ve been finding that after students graduate, they don’t have a realistic sense of how to budget for insurance, replacement parts and repairs. We are trying some new procedures to help students understand the costs for operating a car and want to teach them to do more of the basic maintenance.

I ate supper in the Fisher Home (6th-8th grade boys). They have 9 of 12 back from last year and the 3 new 6th graders have all been at St. Joseph’s for several years. Since I already know all the guys there, I knew visiting Fisher wouldn’t cause too much commotion.

My favorite day of the year

My favorite day of the year –the homes open and Native American families are arriving with students for the start of St. Joseph’s Indian School’s school year.

I got to  the office at noon, when the homes officially opened. There were already five students on campus, the first one arriving at 11:30, excited about being back. There are also students who are very homesick as soon as their family leaves, and the houseparents try to be supportive and guide them through the tears and sadness. By mid afternoon, lots of kids were outside playing, which always helps with adjusting. Out of 203 children, 42 are new to our programs this year.

I made the rounds to all of the homes. I visited the Benedictine homes twice – in early afternoon and after supper. Afra, Raphael, Ambrose and Dennis house the 1st – 3rd graders, and those always have the most new students to get to know, and it takes me several tries to make sure I get all the names down. I also spent time with families as I saw them arrive. We want to continue to find ways to keep them involved, even when they may live many hours away and not make it back to campus all that often.

Our High School students attend the local public high school, which doesn’t start until next week. But about half our high school students have come back to participate in football, golf or volleyball. Two of our four high school homes are open this week. The rest of the crew comes back a week from today.

Students have two sets of houseparents they work with. One set of houseparents works in the home for 6 days and the others for 3. These first two days everyone will be on duty so they and the kids can get to know each other from the beginning.

A day full of Lakota (Sioux) culture

Yesterday I enjoyed a day of prayer and recollection when I visited my spiritual director. Summer has helped me get into a very good space and I want to keep it that way once school begins and the pace gets more hectic. In order to stay on the right path, I know I must consistently make time for prayer and exercise. Now that I’ve mostly cleared my desk, I also want to avoid procrastinating and handle things as they arise. I accept that each day will bring a longer to do list than I have time for, so I pray for wisdom to prioritize, especially spending time with the staff and students .

Lower Brule Indian Reservation celebrates their annual powwow this weekend and I made my way there for the festivities. I split my time between the powwow dancing and the rodeo grounds. Since the Sioux were great with horses, and the prairie is well suited for ranching and agricultural pursuits, many tribal members have become skilled cowhands and riders. A few even compete on the national stage in rodeo.

The Grand Entry at the powwow is a kaleidoscope of color and motion, with the beat of the drum reaching down deep inside. The drum beat draws you in so you’re more of a participant than observer. Inbetween rounds it’s great fun to walk around the arena and see who you run into. I know many of the folks from when I was Pastor there. I also am tickled to see and talk to St. Joseph’s Indian School students and check up on how their summer has gone. I overheard one family talking about having to get their first grader to bed at a decent time so they could get to St. Joseph’s Indian School early tomorrow. I introduced myself and met Tayron, one of our new first graders, and offered him an early welcome.

On one fun powwow side note, a  group of mostly St. Joseph’s Indian School houseparents won the tug of war, with bragging rights for a year and a little pocket-money. The gathering is laden with culture and ceremony, but also lots of fun like a picnic at a family reunion.

Perfect day for a picnic

Mike, a motorcyclist from Michigan was returning from the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, and saw our St. Joseph’s Indian School sign along Interstate 90. As I was walking to chapel for midday prayer, he drove up and introduced himself.

“I send a little money when I can and just wanted to make sure you had a real school and I wasn’t just sending money to a fat cat driving a limousine. But you look like your picture and I can see you have a lot for the kids to do on campus, so I’m glad to meet you and glad I stopped.”

Then he was on his way. We’re always glad when people are passing through and able to stop and see what we’re about.

Most of our planning and preparation meetings are over, and we finished the day with an “All Staff Picnic”. It’s fun to spend time with the spouses, children and family that belong to our staff and I don’t get to see too often during our workdays. Some of the kids I hardly recognize as they’ve changed and grown so much in a year. Some may even continue on a family tradition and someday become part of our staff themselves. The past couple of years the picnic has been beset by too much heat. Today the temperature was perfect, but then a fierce rainstorm blew in. While it sent a few people scurrying home, it caused more than the usual crew to stay and visit.