Tag: Child poverty

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

I’ve had lots of meetings these past two days, which cuts into the time that I’m able to spend directly with the students. But, so many of the meetings are about students, their issues and finding the best ways to reach and care for them. Meetings aren’t as immediately satisfying as hearing a Native American  9-year-old read you a story or hearing about a 12-year-old’s rendition of their own life’s Lakota Winter Count  they are drawing for Native American Studies class. But when good decisions are made and followed through, they do make a difference in the daily life of both staff and students. And the work I have to offer up to the Lord is the fair amount of time sitting in meetings.

Today, we announced the 1st – 4th grade Honor Roll for the 2nd quarter, and passed out perfect attendance awards for the semester. The students were proud when their name was called and they came forward to claim their certificate, and take their choice of a small prize, like a gel pen or hackeysack ball. We want to affirm all children for what they do well. But we don’t inflate grades and give something to everyone. Students must put in the effort to earn honor – an important Lakota (Sioux) value.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Our 5th graders have been learning about Math and Science all week in a special unit designed by “Operation Starbase” a program put on by the State of South Dakota. In past years they build rockets they ignited and shot high into the air from our football field. 

January in South Dakota is not the best time to try an outdoor launch, since the field is covered with snow and the temperatures are in the single digits. The program did undergo a change anyway this year. These new “rockets” the students built were made of plastic straws, rubber tipped cones, and feather shaped fins they themselves designed. They were launched with air pressure rather firepower, and the goal was to try to land their craft on a moon shaped target. Students had to adjust air pressure and angles to shoot for the moon. While it may not have had the wow factor of a rocket hissing high into the air, our students got to launch multiple times, and had lots of fun. This approach helped teach about angles, numbers and basic science.

Chamberlain’s superintendent of schools gave our staff a presentation on a school board proposal to build a new gym/ exercise facility/performing arts center onto the public high school where our St. Joseph’s students attend. It will take the community about 15 years to pay off a bond to finance the center. Money for education is getting tighter as the state cuts back to meet budget shortfalls in this economy. It’s been a dream for several years, and this school board is trying to find a way to see if it is feasible.

At Afra Home (1st-3rd grade girls) I welcomed Alyssa, our newest student. Her brother is in the high school program, and she has several cousins at St. Joseph’s Indian School, so she was already adjusting quite easily. At supper, Lynaiah asked for something that surprised me, “May I please have seconds on peas”? We do make sure the students take some of each kind of food for a balanced diet, and I’m glad when they discover that eating vegetables isn’t a bad thing. I helped review spelling words and math homework before calling it a night.

Sunday January 16, 2011

During homily time at church, I was preaching about how to combat the violence in our world and communities. While addressing the subject of the Arizona shootings, I asked how many of our students have had a family member shot in an act of violence. About 25 hands went up. It’s a sad reality in many of our communities. Tragedies are a topic that our counselors are well aware of when trying to heal the emotional hurts that some of our students bring.

After church, I stopped in on Matthias Home (6^th-8^th grade girls). Most of the girls were using the time before lunch for their required reading and journalism time, so I let them be quiet and talked more with the houseparents. During lunch Marlena wondered, “What do you do all day – pray?” During the school day the students may only see me pop into the classrooms for a few minutes, and they were wondering also. I told them a few of the things I do, and as always, ask them for suggestions how to make St. Joseph’s Indian School a better place. Usually, they hope for less homework or more allowance, but occasionally I get some good ideas to work on.

Today was the first weekend for our girls intercity league. Four teams of junior high girls, half from St. Joseph’s Indian School and half from town, started their weekly games meant to build camaraderie between the two groups.

Fr. Anthony treated Fr. Dominic and me to supper at a local restaurant. Our waitress was none other than D’Kera, one of our high school students! Several of our older kids are able to juggle school and work to earn spending money for now, and save some for the future. When they do get checks they are required to put some into savings. D’Kera did a fine job serving our table, and since her shift was ending, besides a tip we gave her a ride home and saved the houseparents a trip!

Saturday January 15, 2011

Besides working on the weekend homily and making the Saturday post office run, I stopped at Ambrose (1^st – 3^rd grade boys) for lunch. I promised Richard that I would take a look at his prized Christmas present – a tiny, light weight remote control helicopter called an “Air Hog” that he could maneuver around the family room. The other boys show off new toys they had been given, then giggled as I tried my hand at skee-ball and bowling on the Wii. My coordination and athletic ability don’t translate so well onto electronic devices.

I sat in the Armory for 5+ hours of basketball, cheering on our high school students. The JV girls lost in two overtimes, the varsity boys lost by a single point in one overtime, and our varsity girls lost a hard-fought game by a single basket. While we didn’t have much success on the scoreboard, I enjoyed the time at the gym to visit with our staff and local townspeople. While those events are time-consuming commitments, I know my presence is noted and appreciated, especially by students.

Friday January 14, 2011

Today was theoretically a sleep in day, but I was still up before 7:00. I’ve been away so much that rather than take a day off, I hit the office all day.

I had paperwork to sign for educational assistance for two of our staff who are picking up some college classes this semester. One of our counselors wants more training on how medications affect student behavior. Another long-term employee who interrupted school to start a family some years ago, wants to finish up her bachelor’s degree. They both thanked me a lot for giving their request an OK, but I’m not entirely altruistic. I believe that just as a good education helps our students–our staff can improve themselves by going back to school–they can add so much more to their work and our children in need here at St. Joseph’s Indian School.

I stopped in at the Friday night Skate Room movie for the 1^st-3^rd graders. I got my quota of hugs for the day. While the kids laid on the floor with blankets and pajamas, the houseparents sat around a table, catching up on conversation while trimming box top labels. When you have a dozen 8 and 9-year-olds to take care of around the clock, sometimes you just appreciate the chance to have an adult conversation.

Over in the Recreational Center, I joined some of the students and staff shooting baskets. Michael, one of our alumni who is working here as a custodian, talked about his desire to go on to a four-year college after he finishes his courses at the tribal community college. He dreams of coming back here and working with kids who were once in his shoes, and helping them to believe in themselves and set their goals high. I encouraged him heartily, and listened as he talked about the things that he saw holding his friends and classmates back.

Thursday January 13, 2011

The first day back in the office after time away means extra time on the phone and answering mail, and today was no exception. We also had a Board of Directors conference call today, and packed a lot of business into a 90 minute session. Our board members are spread out over several different states, and we only meet together on campus twice a year. We find that in between phone conferences, those visits keep the everyday business rolling along.

Next, I met with my Management Team. We are making preparations for our mission awareness week in March. We want all of our staff to understand the philosophy and values that St. Joseph’s Indian School was founded on, and talked about ways to make it come alive. We’ll have some combination of prayer services and small group gatherings to help people own and think about those principles.

While I just got back from one donor luncheon trip, it’s time to begin preparations for the next one. Come February, we will travel to Tucson, Arizona. I practiced with Brendan and Isaiah, who had a lot to say for a first time practice. In light of the tragic shootings in Tucson, one of the boys asked if we would be safe there. Our hearts do go out to all those who have suffered from violence there and elsewhere.

Since Brendan and Isaiah are both from Speyer (6^th – 8^th grade boys) after practice I joined their home for dinner. The students didn’t get to hang around too long because tonight, they were off to basketball practice. In those cases they do their homework right away when they get home from school.

Wednesday January 12, 2011

After flights to Chicago and then a transfer to Sioux Falls, I was back home by late afternoon. I did a fair amount of reading in the air, and came across a remark by St. Thomas that the highest form of intelligence is intuition. Some things we know by study, others from experience. But sometimes, you just have to go with your gut tells you, even if you can’t say exactly why.

I often pray that God will keep my heart always pointed in the right direction.

I stopped in at Hogebach (HS Girls) for supper. Often with busy schedules, the High School girls eat and run but tonight, to the surprise of their houseparents, they sat and talked for a full hour and were almost late for their Daughters of Tradition meeting.

What got us started talking, was when I asked them what they would be most interested to see when they come back to our St. Joseph’s Indian School campus in ten or twenty years. The young women I spoke with have been here since at least third grade, and have noticed big changes in our high school program since they first came to St. Joseph’s Indian School. They wonder what it will be like a generation from now, and what changes will be made. They recounted funny stories that had us all laughing about things that they remember over the years. They spoke about jobs they would like to have if they came back to St. Joseph’s to work, which I always encourage. They shared about life at Chamberlain High School. When they are one of a few American Indian students in the classroom, it’s hard when they get asked to answer a question “from a Native American perspective” – like they are able to speak for a whole tribe of people. That’s a lot of pressure to put on a young person’s shoulders as they’re struggling to find their own voice and their own ideas. The time with them was a real treat.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

In preparation for a meeting, I was supposed to fly into Milwaukee last night, but all the flight delays and cancellations meant staying overnight in Minneapolis. The rebooked flight finally got to Milwaukee this morning–as soon as the wheels hit the ground–everyone dug out their cell phones and buried themselves in the latest texts and email messages. Everyone in the plane sat shoulder to shoulder, but with no conversations or interactions. And we wonder why many people feel lonely even among crowds of people.

I came to meet with my Provincial Council about St. Joseph’s Indian School’s planning to expand the museum and add better space for our alumni to visit. A big part of the project also involves floor space to tell the story of the history of St. Joseph’s Indian School. This afternoon, I provided background material, cost estimates, drawings, and answered questions as best I could. Observations from the Council helped provide direction and guidance. I’m finding this building project is taking a lot of work on the front end, so that it can be as useful and good as we hope when it’s finished.

Our SCJ retirement home is in the Milwaukee suburb of Franklin. I visited those members of our community and joined them for supper.  Many of them also served in South Dakota, at St. Joseph’s Indian School or one of the missions. They invested a lot of themselves among the Lakota (Sioux) people and reminisced about the early days of the work.

This was my first trip back to the “home office” in over a year, since before I got sick. Everyone was very curious about my health, and I provided the latest updates. Everyone remarks how “normal” I look and say that with a sigh of relief and delight.

January 10, 2011

I’m at the Daytona Beach airport in Florida with two students and three other staff members. We had wonderful attendance at our two St. Joseph’s Indian School donor appreciation luncheons in St. Augustine. Now we’re trying to get home and all the flights through Atlanta have been canceled due to an ice storm. Our staff members want to quickly get home to their families as soon as possible. 7th graders Jalynn and Mikeal, on the other hand, see it as a great adventure and want it to keep going as long as they can. When the airlines informed us that if we drive north to Jacksonville, they would try to get us to Minneapolis via Washington DC, the girls actually jumped up and down with excitement. Mikeal wondered if we might see the President when we passed through the airport, but I had to explain how unlikely that was. Still, all our travel opportunities for Lakota (Sioux) children help them see the larger world with more understanding.

On Friday morning, when we flew down, we met our bishop Paul Swain, who was on his way to a retreat with other bishops, so we wished each other safe travels and promised prayers for each other.

We had three flights to get to Florida. This being Mikeal’s first airplane ride, I heard her let out a nervous giggle as the plane’s wheels left the ground and we started that magical ascent into the skies. It is a fun privilege to be with our young people at such times.

St. Augustine also had that magical quality as we arrived in the evening. The girls had never seen palm trees, let alone ones brightly decorated with Christmas lights. Much of the center of town is restored in a Spanish colonial style, with lots of history in the area. We learned about Ponce de Leon and the Fountain of Youth, saw the Nation’s oldest schoolhouse, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument and learned about the local tribes who populated the area long before it was “discovered”. Mikeal and Jalynn were more excited about shopping and souvenirs, but I think some of the history lessons will come alive for them as they look back and remember.

Sunrise came up over the ocean at 7:25 (6:25 our time), but the girls were game with getting up early and driving to the beach to welcome the day. Jalynn and Mikeal were most excited to see the sandpipers and seagulls on the beach. They filled a plastic bag with sand to take back with them, and threw in a few shells for good measure. Only a handful of others were on the beach at that hour, and for me it was a prayerful and reflective time.

About 125 donors came to the Saturday luncheon, and another 80 on Sunday. Florida is such a long way from South Dakota, most had never seen St. Joseph’s Indian School, but was delighted to visit with us, take pictures, and ask questions. When I was 12 or 13 years old, I would have had great difficulty speaking before such crowds, but our girls talked about their school day, life in the homes, and some of their future goals and plans. Then, they helped me answer questions from the crowd. Once they got past the nervousness of the first day, the second was even easier and better. I was proud of them. We met such kind and generous people. Some I remember from visits to the school, and a few of the folks have been to other Florida luncheons hosted by St. Joseph’s Indian School, so it felt like a reunion to see them again.

Saturday evening, a donor who runs a sanctuary for exotic animals who are injured and have no other place to go, invited us for a tour. My favorite was a black leopard who lost a leg to cancer but manages to keep on going despite its obstacle. They told us we would be able to walk along with their tiger cub, and I was expecting a cute little thing about the size of a stuffed animal. The one year old “cub” was much bigger than me and weighed around 300 pounds! Most of the sanctuary is run by volunteers, who are very passionate about their work. It’s inspiring to see people so dedicated in any form of charity and service.

The rest of the evening was spent in a second round of shopping. Since Chris, the Pinger Home 6 day houseparent, is such an avid golfer, the girls asked us to stop at the World Golf Hall of Fame so we could run in the gift shop and get a souvenir for him. Both of the girls wanted some things for themselves, but their first priority was finding small gifts for family and close friends. My leg started to get sore from all the roaming around, and I’m not much of a shopper anyway, so I read and rested in the hotel, and left Teresa, the houseparent chaperone to oversee the expedition and she was happy with that.

St. Augustine Cathedral/Basilica was just two blocks from the hotel, and we went to Sunday morning mass there. With excellent music, and good homily, and the historic nature of the parish, that too was a memorable experience.

Monday, January 10, 2011

As Fr. Steve is away for a St. Joseph’s Indian School donor luncheon in Florida, he asked me to bring you up-to-date on what happened over this past week here on our Native American campus here in Chamberlain, South Dakota.

The high school children returned on January 4^th, to be ready for the opening classes on January 5^th.   They got right into their basketball schedule, the Chamberlain High School girls’ teams had games against Crow Creek on Thursday January 6^th, and then against Cheyenne Eagle Butte on Saturday January 8^th, which was a double-header since the boys’ teams also played that day.  We have students on the teams at all levels: “C” team, junior varsity and varsity, cheerleading squads and team statisticians.  Many of the St. Joseph’s homes attend the games to be supportive of their housemates and friends.  The “C” teams and junior varsity teams won their games, but the varsity teams came up a bit short though they gave a good effort. One team even gave Cheyenne Eagle Butte’s defending LNI (Lakota Nation Invitational—an annual gathering of Native American schools which takes place in Rapid City, South Dakota and sponsors competitions in a variety of sports, academic, and heritage contests) champions a scare!

On Friday, the St. Joseph’s bowling season kicked off as 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grade students joined with staff, and spent an enjoyable two hours on the lanes.  Each of the 8 teams had a staff captain and four students from the various grades.  The recreational center staff helps establish averages, so that when the teams face each other there is a little bit of balance.  Since this was the opening session, there were a number of gutter balls, but everyone enjoyed themselves and is looking forward to the season ahead.

Sunday January 9^th, was the day we “celebrated” Christmas here on campus.  We began with Mass in Our Lady of the Sioux Chapel during which students acted out the Nativity Story and the coming of the Magi.  This year, we were honored to have Mrs. Rose Dillion Kredt attend the Liturgy.  She is a St. Joseph’s Indian School alumni and currently lives in Pierre, South Dakota.  She, her husband and others adopted a couple homes on campus to help provide Christmas gifts for the students.  We had her stand and be recognized. Then we had the students give her a round of applause to thank her for her generosity, and had her stand in for all our Benefactors who generously donated money or gifts for our students.  We are grateful to you all, and wanted to let you know that you were remembered during the Mass. 

Once Mass was over, the American Indian children returned to their homes for brunch and opening of gifts.  I had the opportunity to be with the students in three of our homes to watch the excitement as the gifts were opened.  Some homes had the children go one at a time, others had each student open one gift and then chaos took over as bows, ribbons, wrapping paper and scotch tape were pulled apart.  Your generosity was greatly appreciated in all the smiles and squeals of joy as gifts were opened; plans were certainly made how to spend the rest of the day playing with all the various gifts.

The weather made it easy to stay inside, as our area was hit with several inches of snow again.  It was falling gently as the students, staff and guests came to Mass. It was not as bad as the days before New Year’s when the Chamberlain area got hit with a foot of snow, but several inches did come down that have caused several schools in the state to close or run on delayed schedules.  I must give a shout out to our grounds crew members for their efforts to get the snow cleared enough to open up the campus.  They did a magnificent job.

I hope your weekend was enjoyable as well.  May God’s blessing continue to be with each and every one of you, and thank you for helping our Native American children in need.

 Sincerely,

 Fr. Anthony Kluckman, SCJ