St. Joseph's Indian School

Mission Education… in the snow

Last week, St. Joseph’s Indian School hosted a Mission Education Conference for members of the Priests of the Sacred Heart and our co-workers. Large contingents came from Wisconsin and Mississippi, and others from Texas, Illinois and even two from our sister school in Handrup, Germany.

An excellent and full article on the events, complete with many pictures can be found here. Be sure to look at the “I am Dehonian because. . .” statements!

I was so proud of the work and planning our staff put into the snowstorm-abbreviated conference!

Our Lakota students were also excited to have visitors tour the classrooms and take part in the interactive class lessons planned specially for the day.

Our guests had to leave after only one day because of the record-setting storm that was on its way. As a result, second day activities had to be cancelled. Our students were very disappointed they didn’t get to give cultural demonstrations they practiced for – archery, hand games, drum and powwow dancing – because school was canceled during the snowstorm. One student was actually disappointed to have a snow day, which says something about the excitement generated with visitors on campus!

An entertaining way of informing our guests about the nature of the work at St. Joseph’s was the production of “commercials” from each department. Each of our departments came up with a presentation, video or skit that gave an overview of their part in the mission. Our staff shared their passion for their work with both creativity and humor.

Foster, head of the grounds crew, got out his guitar to do a fun spoof of Johnny Cash’s song “I’ve Been Everywhere.” The facilities crew brought down the house with a clever and imaginative overview of the work they do:

Oh we can: oil it boil it lift it tease it,     weld it broom it whisk it fleece it

Shine it buff it wax it grease it,      wrench it bench it, max it freeze it

Borrow it buy it sell it lease it,      Good Lord help me I can’t stop or cease it

REFRAIN: We can do anything ma’am, we can do anything ma’am

No matter the time or hour, we have got the power

To make it all better, we can do anything

So as you walk around our campus here you’ll notice it looks fresh and green

The buildings look strong and stout, the windows fixed, the floors are clean

We’re proud to be a part of St Joe’s and I want to know as far as facilities goes…..We can do anything!

As we ended the conference at supper with some of our Wisconsin confreres, they were most disappointed the reservation tour got canceled due to highway closures. We told them it was a good excuse to invite them back another time.

T-ball, tether ball, softball… duck!

The Lakota children play on T-ball teams in the spring. — I got it, I got it!

Hello all you blog readers!

This is Nancy the Nurse reporting in from St. Joseph’s Health Center. Ahhh yes, spring is here! Bring on the sunburns and mosquito bites. Ok, I may be jumping ahead a bit… The mosquitoes are still wearing their winter coats, but the sun is blessing us with longer hours and warmer weather (after the big spring storm, anyway). The Lakota children at St. Joseph’s Indian School are now riding their bikes, participating in track and dodging facial blows from the tether ball, baseball, basketball, T-ball, whiffle ball, football, and golf ball. Life is good!

The flu season had a short run and not too furious. Around 30 of our Native American children ended up with the flu this winter. High School sports took a toll on knees and fingers. It seemed there were more of these injuries than usual. Most of the Lakota students have healed nicely, but there are a few still in physical therapy.

Bones aren’t the only thing breaking around here. We’ve had too many broken pair of eye glasses to count! They just don’t make ’em like they used to. Oh wait, I guess those goofy- looking, thick plastic frames are coming back in style… We’ll have to encourage more children to choose that kind. J The eye doctor’s receptionist keeps a kind, but frozen smile on her face every time we bring in a pair for repair.

Safety is a top priority at St. Joseph’s Indian School. — The Lakota students always wear helmets and other safety equipment when playing.

So what else is going on at the Health Center? We are seeing students with strep throat, colds and an occasional stomach virus. We had a student who needed an appendectomy this fall and another one this spring. I hope we are done with that!

We are also finishing up the children’s dental work at Dr. Daily’s office in Chamberlain. That makes the children VERY happy. So, that’s a little summary of the last several months.

So what can we expect the next couple months before school is out? Although safety is a big priority around here, there will likely be another broken something or other, a scraped knee or elbow and a set of stitches across someone’s skin. Did I say life is good? IT IS!

Enjoy your spring everyone! And remember to duck if you see a ball coming your way.

Nancy the Nurse

A visit from Fr. Jose

Fr. José, an SCJ from our Portuguese province, recently arrived at St. Joseph’s Indian School to begin a four-month stay with us. He is finishing a Masters degree in the area of Economy and International Action at Catholic University in Paris. He is studying human rights as it relates to minority communities and we will be very interested to hear his observations about life in South Dakota.

A significant part of his time here will be devoted to research and study. But, he also wants to improve his conversational English. Children are wonderful language teachers because they have a limited and simpler vocabulary. Where adults are often too polite, kids will laugh when you use the wrong word and correct you. We ate supper in the Dennis Home (1^st-3^rd grade girls) and the Lakota girls helped Fr. Jose make sure he knew the names of all the foods, plates, utensils and condiments on the table.

We had some fun moments on the playground with the kids. We didn’t quite know how to translate “Red Rover” into Portuguese! The girls had fun trying to break through clasped arms. Fr. Jose also had his first attempt at tetherball. To me, it is a monotonous game, but our younger kids love to play it for long stretches at a time.

When the kids asked Fr. José to say something in his language, they sat spellbound as they heard the Lord’s prayer for them in Portuguese, and the Hail Mary in French. Then they in turn began teaching him some of their bedtime prayers.

Friday, our Native American drum group had a practice scheduled in the church, and I took Fr. Jose for his first experience of a Lakota drum song. I could see him tapping his foot in time to the drum beat. Drum music truly is contagious, and you can almost feel your heart beating along.

Prom for our high school students

St. Joseph’s seniors enjoy prom as part of their high school experience. — Erica, a senior, and her date are ready to go!

The highlight of last Saturday evening was the Chamberlain High School Prom. I don’t know what it’s like in bigger cities but, in our small town, almost everyone from town crams into the gym for the Grand March!

Our sharply dressed young couples are introduced and walk around the court so family and friends can shoot pictures before the actual dance begins. We had a dozen of our St. Joseph’s High School students take part.

The Lakota girls love dressing up for prom! — The Lakota girls in the Hogebach Home show off their beautiful dresses.

The Lakota boys sport tuxes for the special evening. — The Lakota boys in the Sheehy Home flex their muscles in their tuxedos.

Afterwards, the community organized a lock-in with lots of fun activities until early in the morning. The hope is to keep students safe and make the evening memorable in a good way. Our students clean up well and looked so grown up! It was an exciting night for everyone who participated.

An Adventure in Washington D.C.

Hi! I am Dianne G., Administrative Assistant at the school. I haven’t blogged for awhile so I will fill you in with my news. I actually have missed quite a bit of work in January and February—my husband received a kidney transplant on January 3 and he was hospitalized in Omaha, Nebraska, for a total of 30 days. Our prayers were answered and e is now doing well and recuperating at home!

I was totally out of the loop for awhile, but now am back!

Earlier this fall, I was selected along with one of our houseparents to accompany three of our Lakota students on a trip to Washington, D.C. — a fantastic gift from one of St. Joseph’s donors!

We left early on a Saturday morning (we got up at 4:00 a.m.!!) and flew to D.C. Two of the girls had never flown before so it was a new experience for them, as was the entire trip to everyone but me (I went to D.C. last June with my son and his family).

I was so glad that I had been there before as it helped me to plan the itinerary for the trip. We were five very busy people. As soon as we got to our hotel and unloaded our luggage, we walked to the Hard Rock Café and had a scrumptious supper along with a fun-filled dining experience. We then went to Union Station to pick up our tickets for the Moonlight Monument Tour.

D.C. is a beautiful sight at night—all the memorials that were lit up were awesome. We also drove past Arlington National Cemetery, the Pentagon, the Capital, the Supreme Court and made stops at three of the memorials. The girls were amazed how large Lincoln’s statue was in his memorial.

While touring we saw the President’s helicopter flanked by two other helicopters heading for the White House! Our tour guide provided us with historical facts and trivia questions. Such a great time!

The next day, we went to the Holocaust Museum which made such an impression on the girls—we all had tears in our eyes. Then on to the American History Museum where we saw Dorothy’s ruby red slippers, Kermit the Frog, the flag that the Star Spangled Banner was written about and so much more!

We walked around the White House and took tons of pictures. We went to the P.O.V. Terrace, which is at the top of the W Hotel, where we could see all of Washington from above.

Later on, we dressed up for dinner, which was fun, and ended up eating hamburgers and fries!! Our girls gave their uneaten fries to a homeless person who they saw outside the restaurant.

On our last full day, we went to the National Museum of the American Indian, where the girls played interactive games and crafts and received stamps on their “passports.” We had a little snack there after seeing an awesome movie about the different tribes and then walked to the Dirksen Building (in the rain).

We went to South Dakota Senator Thune’s office, where we had scheduled a tour of the Capitol and hoped to meet Senator Thune. We had a great tour guide and learned a lot of the history of the capitol, along with some fun information like the whispering spot where we could hear our guide from across the room! We did not get to meet Senator Thune as he had flown home to South Dakota when the Senate recessed. We were disappointed about that.

After that we headed to Union Station where we ate some delicious sandwiches and rested our feet for a little while. We then caught a taxi and headed for the Spy Museum where we were involved in solving a mystery! Wow! After all this activity we were T-I-R-E-D.

We spent the rest of the evening packing our things and resting our weary bones. We flew out the next day and spent a lot of time in airports—seeing the sights there also. All of us had such a great time but were ready to come home and see our families. Heidi and I took the kids home after arriving in Chamberlain around 10:00 p.m., so it was a late night for us.

What a wonderful experience! We are very thankful for such a great trip!

The Lakota students visited the Oval Office. — Vilencia sits at the President’s desk in the Oval Office!

Thanks to a generous benefactor, three Native American students from St. Joseph’s visited Washington D.C. — The girls dressed up for their tour of the Capitol Building.

The Lakota students enjoyed the National Museum of the American Indian. — A highlight of the trip was the National Museum of the American Indian.

Finally back on campus!

After some travel during spring break, I’m back on St. Joseph’s campus! Here are a few recent highlights:

Easter Sunday

I completed my week long stay with our retired SCJ elders by celebrating with them the great feast of the Resurrection. I was with them to present some days of recollection about the religious life we share. While they said they appreciated my input, I probably benefitted more from being with them.

I was inspired by their dedication and faithfulness to the daily routine of prayer. None of us quits learning, and these men keep up an active intellectual life. The living room tables were filled with magazines and journals to keep abreast of the issues of the day. In addition to recounting interesting stories from the past, they talked politics and current events, religion and business, with a little sports mixed in for good measure.

One day while I was out walking, I came across 91-year-old Brother Gabriel, far from home with rosary beads in his hand and a steady, determined step. He walks 3-5 miles each day. Instead of complaining about what he can no longer do, he does what he can, which is a good help to good health. Should I live to such a ripe old age, I hope I’m like that too.

Tuesday

I spent a morning at St. Joseph’s new donor care center to see how staff there is doing. I try to be a resource in our office to answer questions about school and programs, but even those in the business office are very aware and engaged about what’s going on for the Lakota boys and girls.

I didn’t “accomplish” many practical things, but walked around the office and heard about donors whose stories touched the hearts of those who answer our phones. Sometimes I describe my role as Director of St. Joseph’s as being the head cheerleader! I am grateful for all that our staff does in all areas of campus that contributes to our goals and mission.

Our Parent Advisory committee had their spring meeting.

Looking at our high school data, we were impressed to see that, in the past three years, the number of Honor Roll students has more than doubled, while the number under a 2.0 GPA has been cut in half. We make an effort for each student to succeed, but ultimately, they have to be the ones making the determined effort.

With 40 Native American students this year, our St. Joseph’s students make up a significant portion of the total Chamberlain enrollment of 300 students. As we prepare our eighth graders to transition to high school, next year we may have closer to 50. The Chamberlain High School principal told us that, with the vast rural nature of our part of the world, 50 students is larger than the entire population of 25 High Schools in the state of South Dakota!

Our parents are very concerned about our bullying policies and efforts at prevention, so we reviewed those at the meeting. Later in the month, we are training a group of 20 staff in a new prevention program. We plan to expand the training to all our Child Services workers at orientation before the new school year.

We showed the parents our new historical center. One alumnus looked at the display case with items our development office has sent out over the years and saw one of the glow-in-the-dark rosaries that used to earn him a penny allowance for stuffing into envelopes to be sent all over the country. Other displays triggered many memories.

Thursday

The hallways at school were unusually quiet as state-required academic testing was underway. Bathroom breaks were staggered for one class at a time, and silence even reigned there. Our teachers are experimenting with an incentive package. The students get to pick a reward or activity they enjoy, and if they pay attention, participate and complete their tests in a timely way, they can earn extra of their favorite time. We’ll see how it goes.

We have a lot of phones on campus, but also lots of activity, so when people call they may get a recording instead of someone live. I spent this afternoon recording new messages for our list of options. It’s strange when I call the school and hear my own voice! But we are trying to do a better job of getting to calls as quickly as possible.

Friday

We practiced today for this weekend’s first communion and baptisms. When I practice for a church event, one of my goals is that the practice shouldn’t take longer than the actual ceremony, but I don’t think that worked today. With 18 students ranging from grades 2 through 8, it takes some time to organize and get everyone in the right places with the right idea of what they need to say or do.

Learning Life Skills in PLS

Things have been heating up in Personal Living Skills (PLS) class this last month! St. Joseph’s sixth, seventh and eighth grade Lakota students have been busy in the kitchen, planning menus, and preparing foods.

We put lots of emphasis on how to plan nutritious meals, making wise food choices when shopping, and how to store foods properly.

Our Native American students also learn how to follow recipes, which includes reading food preparation directions and measuring ingredients. Then, of course, we give it a try! Some of their favorite labs have been pizza Stromboli, fry bread, donuts, pumpkin French toast, Butterfinger cake, and fruit smoothies.

A great meal also includes proper table etiquette. Setting the table is an important part of meal preparation, especially in a formal setting. When our students are faced with the dilemma of three forks, they will know which one to use!

The Lakota students learn to cook in Personal Living Skills class. — Learning to read a recipe and measure ingredients are important first steps.

The Native American children learned that measuring flour can be difficult! — The flour can get away from you if you’re not careful!

It’s always busy at the REC Center

St. Joseph’s REC Center is always a busy place during the school year and especially during the winter months. Andy, Mark, Bev, Shelly and I have our hands full during that time. It is, however, a different look during spring break.

REC Center is home to the St. Joseph’s Braves sports teams. — St. Joseph’s boys’ basketball teams play in January and February.

Spring break for the Lakota boys and girls gives us time to catch up on many things that we don’t have time for in January and February. A lot of “little things” take place such as deep cleaning and organizing equipment. This spring break was no exception. With the addition of a handicap bathroom stall, we had extensive cleaning in both the REC Center office area and bathroom area. The additional bathroom is a great addition to the building and will be greatly utilized by St. Joseph’s staff, students, families visitors.

We did have one spring break home on campus, so there was still some normal activity. Each day, they scheduled time in the gym, pool, weight room or game room. They also borrowed DVD’s and games to enjoy during break.

Another nice part of break is planning upcoming activities for the Lakota students. The REC Center provides lots of programs and activities for the children from now through the end of the school year. The time it all gets put together is during spring break!

Now that the Native American students have returned to St. Joseph’s, we will start track for the sixth, seventh and eighth grade students, T-Ball for the first through third graders, and softball for all the homes in grades 4-8! All these activities will wrap up in the middle of May.

In addition to activities for everyone, we have several staff and students we will be working with individually for wellness/health workouts.

All in all, spring break is nice and welcomed by everyone. It is bitter sweet, however – we get a little break from the daily grind, but we also know it means the end of the school year is near.

Thanks for your support and have a happy Spring!

The Lakota children stay healthy and fit at St. Joseph’s Indian School. — The REC Center offers activities like wrestling and tumbling for the younger Lakota students.

All St. Joseph’s homes participate in field day, houseparents included! — Each spring, the REC Center plans field day for all the Lakota children.

Bryan

A peaceful, happy Easter

Greetings once again from the banks of the Missouri River!

We hope that you and yours had a very blessed, peaceful and happy Easter.

Things were a bit quiet this past weekend since the Lakota (Sioux) students were away for the Spring/Easter break. They’ll be returning today and we’ll have an Easter egg hunt later this afternoon.

Fr. Steve is on his way back from Florida, so I have the chance to bring you up-to-date on what’s been going on.

I was able to help with Holy Thursday services at St. Michael’s in Kennebec, South Dakota, which is about 30 miles west of us here in Chamberlain. It is one of the mission parishes covered by our pastoral team at the Lower Brule Indian Reservation. I enjoyed having the chance to celebrate with the community there.

I concelebrated Easter Vigil at St. James in Chamberlain, helping Fr. Guy Blair, SCJ. One of our houseparents had been part of their RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) program this past year and joined the church at the Vigil.

It was an honor to take part in the service and helped get me excited since our RCIC (Rite of Christian Initiation for Children) will have its celebration this coming Sunday, when 18 of our Native American students receive the Sacraments of Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation.

Easter Day was quiet and relaxing. I had Mass for St. Joseph’s students staying in the break Home (those who stayed on campus instead of going home for the Spring/Easter break) prior to their outing to Mitchell, South Dakota.

It was also quiet since it appears the snow geese, which are on their migration back to the Arctic, have finally headed north. Their normal route home was feeling the effect of mid-Western snow storms and frozen waters, thus their path was pushed further to the west, which brought them into our area. They were all over the place – the local paper estimated that there were about 50,000 in Brule County!

Again, best wishes for a very happy Easter Season. Be assured of our prayers for you and your intentions, as we are truly grateful for your support of St. Joseph’s Indian School. May the Great Spirit continue to bless and reward you.

Sincerely,

Fr. Anthony Kluckman, SCJ

Chaplain

St. Joseph’s Indian School

Chamberlain, SD

My way of giving back

Hi, my name is Jennifer and I am the Web Producer at St. Joseph’s Indian School. I work in the business office, updating our website and sending out emails. I help keep benefactors informed of the happenings around St. Joseph’s campus.

I am an enrolled member of the Lower Brule Sioux tribe and was fortunate to be a St. Joseph’s Indian School scholarship recipient. Looking for employment after college, I decided St. Joseph’s was the right move for me.

My father is a Commander in the U. S. Public Health Service and has worked for Indian Health Service for almost 30 years. His job took my family and me from state to state, and from one Indian Reservation to the next, throughout my childhood.

He was once given an eagle feather – the greatest honor a Native American can receive – by a Lakota medicine man from the Black Hills for his work with the elderly. His passion for helping Native Americans and giving back has been my inspiration to do the same.

Working for St. Joseph’s Indian School is my way of giving back to my people. I am fortunate to help our people; even though I do not work directly with the students, this is my way of giving something better for the next generation.

An enrolled member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, Jennifer’s inspiration to give back to the Lakota people is her father. — Jennifer, St. Joseph’s Web Producer and her father, a Commander in the U. S. Public Health Service.