St. Joseph’s Indian School Celebrates ‘I Hate Winter Day’

Students at St. Joseph’s Indian School celebrated what likely everyone in the area has been thinking – “I Hate Winter Day.”

Students slurped red and blue slushies and munched on popcorn while a team of five judges viewed beach home projects constructed for the day. Categories were first-third grade, fourth-sixth grade and seventh-eighth grade.

William, a student in Annie’s second grade class, offered the judges a tour of his class’ model home, filled with a pipe-cleaner sunbather relaxing outside.

Their home was a close second to first-place winning “The Beach Party,” made by Jessamy’s second grade class. Wyatt, Micah and Aaliyah pointed out the unique features of their home, where a beachfront wedding ceremony was taking place under a decorative wedding canopy. The girls further added to the experience with a hula demonstration.

Brock’s fifth-grade boys took home first in the fourth-sixth-grade division. A smart-looking house on stilts stood proud next to a palm tree made of straws and silk flowers.

The competition was tight, and Steve’s fourth grade class took second with a very creative entry described by student Bresayus. She escorted the judges around a beach house surrounded by natural sand, protected by canons and fitted with an indoor throne — all basking beneath a golden sun.

“My favorite part of today is the food and decorating,” she explained.

The seventh-eighth grade division was the most competitive, ending in a three-way tie for first place.

• Linea’s seventh grade had a SpongeBob-inspired pineapple castle under the sea where Gary the Snail and Plankton basked in the sun. The home was made entirely of brightly colored playdough.
• Matt’s eighth grade class entered the largest home in the competition, a place complete with a tropical island laden with treasure and surrounded by pirates from a large sailing vessel.
• Sarah’s eighth grade created a beach scene with a popsicle picnic table and dock. A hot-air balloon with a coffee-filter basket floated above monkeys diving from the pier and sunbathing on a scallop-shell chaise.

Guest judge, six-year-old Logan, a staff member’s son, summed up the excitement as he offered every model beach house a score of “perfect five.”

To learn more about the great things happening at St. Joe’s, visit www.stjo.org or follow us on Facebook at www.stjo.org/facebook. 

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