Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center – Page 19

I gave up a few home runs

Eighteen of our staff spent the morning together for the latest stage of our strategic planning process. The question that led to the most animated discussion had to do with our focus. How much emphasis is put on school and academics, and how much focus needs to be on the clinical treatment needs of our students? Of course both are important as we try to serve the students in a holistic way. Some of our students are gifted and talented, and are to be encouraged to strive for excellence. Others come to us below grade level, and we try to nurture them to make steady progress. Because students often come from difficult backgrounds, we find ways to help them heal life’s hurts. We don’t really have the luxury of choosing one or the other but do our best to respond to children in need.

Nick and Shawn are our two high school boys chosen to represent St. Joseph’s Indian School at our June donor luncheons in Chicago. With only a couple of weeks left of school, it’s been hard to find time to practice when both of them available, but we were able to meet this afternoon and get them started. They were hard on themselves when I asked how they did, but it gave them a chance to see what they need to think about and what they want to say. They’re both very excited about being in such a big city.

I began taking a walk around campus this evening to enjoy the wonderful weather. When I walked by the 4^th and 5^th grade softball game, I was offered the chance to pitch for a few innings. I pitched for both teams and didn’t play favorites, but when the game was finished and I found out that Furies won their first game of the whole season; I was happy for them. When that game was over, I continued my stroll and came to the field where the 6^th– 8^th graders were competing and I threw a few innings there too. In slow pitch, I’m pretty good at throwing strikes, so I kept laying it in there and batters hit away. I gave up a few home runs, but didn’t mind at all. There were some good defensive plays behind me, and the game kept moving along. Being out in the fresh air with the students had an invigorating effect.

A visit with my radiologists and oncologist

I just got back to campus after my latest excursion to visit the doctors. It has been 5 months since my last check up and this time I had blood work, a CT scan, and visits with my radiologists and oncologist. The news continued to be good. The scans and tests turned up nothing – no warning signs of the sarcoma returning, and no alarming blood values to keep watching. The doctors told me to keep working the leg, and maybe add some new exercises as the nerves may still recover yet a little more feeling and strength. I felt pretty good on the drive out on Monday and even better returning home today.

God is Good!

While I was at the hospital, I visited Jerry-part of our Recreation Center staff-who has been ill with a puzzling illness for many weeks. The students sent Jerry a load of handmade cards that tugged at his heart-strings.

I ate supper with the Cyr Home (3^rd-5^th grade boys). When I arrived they were just beginning their enrichment activity. This week was a chance to work on a social skill. The houseparents led a lesson on how to politely enter into a conversation without interrupting, and how to ask follow-up questions to keep a conversation going instead of always shifting the focus to something you have done. Then they talked about the difference between tattling to get one of the other kids in trouble versus telling an adult if something bad is going on so that you can prevent a fellow student from getting hurt or in real trouble. We try not to take for granted what our students know and have a home curriculum that tries to address those basics.

The celebration of sacraments

Twenty St. Joseph’s Indian School kids were either baptized or confirmed over the weekend!

May 1 is our special Feast Day – St. Joseph the Worker. Today was made extra special by the celebration of the sacraments of initiation (baptism, confirmation and Eucharist) for our students who have taken part in special preparations during the year. Twenty students in all participated. The girls looked lovely in their white dresses and our boys looked sharp dressed in suit and tie.

At the end of our liturgy, our “Chalk Hills Singers” drum group played a honor song to pay tribute to their fellow students and ask God’s blessing upon them. At times the lineup of family and friends with cameras flashing must have felt like paparazzi, but it was important to everyone to preserve the memories of the day’s excitement . Afterwards we moved over to the school dining hall where the staff prepared a tasty sit down meal, and decorative cakes to mark the day.

I value the opportunities we have to partner with students’ families. Some of the families had to travel quite a distance to be here, so a few stayed the weekend. We have some places on campus to house visiting families, and after our remodeling projects are finished, we will have even more capacity to host and collaborate.

A quiet Saturday

Today was a quiet day of answering letters and working on strategic planning.

This evening the local parish, St. James, celebrated the sacrament of Confirmation. Several of the young people who were confirmed I know well because they are children of our staff. Others I know from helping out downtown occasionally, or going to events at the high school. The church hosted a wonderful and spirit filled celebration. For me, the most enjoyable part is wandering around the church hall afterwards, visiting with people and getting to meet extended family who made the trip to be of support.

22 years ago today, I was ordained a priest

22 years ago today I was ordained a priest.

22 years ago today, Fr. Steve was ordained a priest.

I give thanks to God for all the blessings that have come to me because of this vocation. I pray I can be a good priest set an example that helps students, staff and the many people who help make St. Joseph’s Indian School possible to feel God’s love.

Today, we held our annual Spring Sobriety Walk on a windy, yet warm and sunny spring afternoon. The assembly began at the Rec Center and our whole student body, along with members of the student leadership group from Chamberlain High School, walked into town. Wearing matching t-shirts designed by Kianna, one of our Freshmen. The students carried banners and flags during the walk. At a designated point the Homes split off into the four directions around town and later met up at a rally point on the south end of main street. My foot and nerves held up quite well during the two-mile walk, and it felt great to be strolling and talking with the students.

When we returned to campus, everyone enjoyed a picnic supper in the pavilion. Then guest speakers addressed the students in two different age groups. They shared their own stories of recovery and hope, and encouraging our youngsters to make the right choice regarding drugs and alcohol, so they can building a brighter future for themselves and their families.

Fun in the sun

The middle school ranks were mighty thin when I visited the school today. Today was the first track meet of the season, and the team bus left in the morning. The runners have been practicing a lot in cold damp weather, and had one meet canceled, so they were glad for a sunny day and a chance to compete.

Fr. Anthony lead a Mini Retreat for the students who will make their first communion on Sunday. They are excited that their families plan to be on campus and be witness to their special day. They’ve learned their prayers fine, but getting them into the right places at the right time showed that we need more practice. Key houseparents and teachers will help point them in the right direction.

After school, the staff in the Mentor Program gathered with their students at American Creek campground just down the road. There were plenty of games to get involved with, including volleyball, frisbee and kite flying. I ended up playing the washer toss (same principles as horseshoes, only with washers and a board with a hole in the center) with several of the kids. The two hours evaporated and in the blink of an eye it was time to get everyone home to start homework.

Personally satisfying interactions

Engaging 7-9 year olds in an activity that takes focus is not always easy. As I walked toward a game of kickball, I spotted some of the kids locked into the action, while others were turning cartwheels in left field or pretend sword fighting with the extra bats. I heard one houseparent call out, “Anyone who is laying down on the field will have an early bedtime tonight!” I sat and watched for a while, grinning the whole time at the kids’ antics. The score didn’t really matter all that much – they were having fun being active and being outside, which is all that really matters, right?

They invited me to tell them more about myself and my life experiences.

About once a month our High School Sons of Tradition group has been having in elders come talk with them about life. While they’ve been hearing from tribal members, tonight they invited me to tell them more about myself and my life experiences. We covered a wide range of topics including what I learned from sports, how and when I heard the call to religious life, facing illness and disappointment, prayer, attitudes toward drinking, and what I believe are some of the things that do (or don’t) make a man a man.

They too are at the stage in their life where they’re wrestling with significant issues in life. They stayed engaged and asked many follow-up questions, so it wasn’t just a monologue. Getting away from policies, plans and procedures and just having some straight talk from the heart made it one of my more personally satisfying interactions on campus in quite a while.

Transition

This morning I saw some of the 8^th graders getting on the bus to go to the high school. After graduation at St. Joseph’s Indian School, many of them will stay with our program and make the transition to our community’s public high school in the fall. Today part of that group was matched up with our current high school students. The rest will do the same tomorrow. They spend time shadowing, attending classes for a day and start familiarizing themselves with the facilities and the teachers.

Another part of their transition is that they’ve now earned high school privileges. That includes later bedtime and more freedom around campus. But they also have responsibilities, such as getting themselves up on their own with an alarm clock to get ready for school. Since they were excited about the change of pace, getting up on time wasn’t an issue.

The students at St. Joseph’s Indian School undoubtedly enjoyed the circus!

The circus is in town, and many of our Homes, especially the younger ones, were excited about the exotic animals and fun adventure. The most common favorites were the tigers, clowns and acrobats on bicycles.

Their eyes wide with excitement

Our American Indian youngsters had such a blast at our annual Easter Egg Hunt! — Our Native American youngsters had such a blast at our annual Easter Egg Hunt!

The school was very quiet this morning, but once the homes opened at noon, the campus sprang to life as our American Indian students returned from Easter break. I took advantage of the morning quiet to work through a thick folder of strategic planning materials for next week. It has been four years since we developed our last plan. Reading through staff input on strengths we can build on and weaknesses we need to address, gives a good overview of where to focus our efforts.

The residential coordinators spent the afternoon hiding colorful plastic eggs around our St. Joseph’s Indian School campus. At 4:00 all the children who were back, got to take part in our annual Easter Egg Hunt. Grades 6-8 gathered at the field outside the Fisher Home, and grades 1-5 lined up outside the office.

Once they accomplished that mission, they brought their findings back to the Rec Center where they opened them to see which ones contained prize slips in addition to the small treats. Many lucky winners got to choose from a variety of lovely toys, games and stuffed animals. $10 Walmart gift cards that someone had donated were the coveted grand prizes. The kids all seemed to enjoy the adventure and everyone walked away a winner.

Easter Sunday

Yesterday, I spent several hours on the road for a couple of pastoral visits. One of our alumni is working through some difficult life issues and wanted to have someone to talk things over with. I mostly listened and encouraged. We can’t take the hurts away, but we sure can be supportive in people’s tough walk through life’s crosses.

I also visited an elderly couple from one of my former parishes I’ve kept in touch with over the years. The wife has been ill and homebound, and appreciated the company. We caught up over a few games of cards with plenty of conversation during the hands.

Today, I saw a few of our students at Easter Mass in Fort Thompson. When I don’t have duties at the school, I enjoy getting back to the Indian reservation communities. At church we had a nice mix of ages, which I often miss when I’m only in the school setting. Many young adults who’ve moved away were back to gather at the homestead with extended family for the holidays.

Fr. Anthony, Fr. Dominic and I all had a hand in preparing Easter dinner; shared in a relaxing way. I don’t cook very often, but when I have the time it’s actually enjoyable. Breaking bread and telling stories … sounds like somebody I know who makes Easter all that it is.