Greetings everyone from Mike and the William Home (4th and 5th grade girls)!
This is my tenth year working in the William Home and it is hard to believe that we are finishing up the first quarter of school this week. As always, St. Joseph’s Indian School’s powwow was very enjoyable and our Lakota kids love showing off their homes, campus and dancing.
The girls are now getting excited for the start of basketball season. We signed up October 18 and our first game is November 5!
If you have followed the William Home activities from last year, you may recall that we set a goal to walk 500 miles (10,00 laps in the gym) as a group. Well, this year the girls have a new plan. We have worked to find the mileage to all the girls’ hometowns and have set up a map to track our walking. Our tour is set to take us 760 miles or 15,200 laps around the gym. So far, we have made it to Fort Thompson and Lower Brule and are headed to Winner, South Dakota next.
Thank you for all you do to help the children of St. Joseph’s, and we will keep you updated on where the William Home is on our walk!
A small crowd today in church as several of the homes were still gone on home trips, and many other students’ families took advantage of our nice fall weather and checked out their kids for the weekend.
Our high school students generally have religious education classes Sunday after church. The session is called “faith in action” and students find service projects around campus or in town to take part in. Today all the high school girls banded together to organize all the storage areas around the sacristy and chapel. Over the years, we’ve accumulated many bells, books and candles and assorted church supplies. It was a real service to empty cupboards, dust and clean and sort.
The most interesting find of the day was a wooden church clapper – a pivoting wooden hammer used only on Good Friday in place of bells that represents the nails being hammered into Jesus’ hands and feet. I had to explain what that was to the group. The girls laughed when they dug out the king’s crowns we use for the Nativity play, and wore them like royalty as they went about their work. They found a pile of old keys we’ll try to match up. They removed a lot of packaging and couldn’t resist popping lots of the bubble wrap. Thanks for the help!
I joined the Afra Home (1st – 3rd grade girls) for brunch. In some of the older homes the kids eat and run. The girls this age love to chat, and more than a few times had to be reminded to work on their food before it got cold. Afterwards Tashia taught me how to play the game Mancala, trying your wits at strategically placing colorful glass beads. With kids, it’s not about winning and losing, but about taking the time to “waste time together.”
About 25 of our staff, from all different areas of campus sat together in the Assembly room to evaluate our 36th annual powwow. Kathleen, our principal led the discussion, and passed out Kudos candy bars, two to each participant. She told us to enjoy one treat for ourselves, and suggested we pass the other on to another staff member, since everyone pulled together so well to make for a delightful weekend.
Powwow usually goes well because of both planning and evaluation. We take a long look at what went well, and discuss what we could do better. Each year, we come up with an idea or two where we ask,
“Why didn’t we think of that years ago?!”
Daily progress is being made on the William Home remodeling process. Today, our maintenance crew drilled into a section of concrete wall almost two feet thick, pulled a chain through and pulled it down. The thud reverberated like an earthquake throughout the Benedictine homes. One houseparent napping before the kids came back from school said he didn’t know what to make of it as it woke him from his sleep. But it opens a new hallway so we can expand the size of the home by the end of the year.
During our community adoration, I noticed the wicker basket with the donor prayer requests left from powwow weekend. I used the quiet time to go through them one by one, and lift up the intentions presented in prayer. Many were heavenly appeals for healing from personal illness, but even more were concerns for loved ones going through personal struggles. Fr. Anthony will pass those around to the homes and classrooms and our Lakota students will be remembering those people in prayer.
Welcome baby Lilya!
All the Sheehy Home (high school boys) were away at school, but we had a big potluck lunch there anyway. Guest of honor was newborn Lilya, and her parents Tim and Jessica, who began recently as houseparents there. Several of our younger houseparents raise their own children along with the St. Joseph’s students in their care. Most of the high school houseparents were able to visit in a relaxed way, with good food and a festive, joyful atmosphere.
5th graders get to experience a hands on special Science module called Star Base. Today the school gym housed a large black inflatable theater in the round, called a GeoDome. While the students lay on the floor, they gazed up at projections of the stars, galaxy and universe. They participated quite intently and excitedly.
The kids has a great time learning about the stars, galaxy and universe!
After all the excitement over the weekend, today was back to the normal pace, which included taking care of those regular things, like a trip to the dentist. While reading in the waiting room, the door opened and Dorian and Araya, two of our St. Joseph 2nd graders came in for their appointments. The fact that I was being worked on too seemed to put them more at ease. When I got done with my appointment and passed the children’s room, they were even giggling because of the way the Novocain was making their mouths tingle. Our healthcare center tries to be thorough in making sure students’ health needs are attended to.
We have an upcoming donor appreciation luncheon in Denver next month. I met with Kaitlyn and Danielle, both 7th graders who were selected from the many student applicants to represent our school there. We discussed what they hope to see in the big city, and practiced what they wanted to tell people about life here at St. Joseph’s Indian School.
Have any of you been to a St. Joseph’s Indian School donor luncheon?
I hope there is one near you in the future, because both students and donors get a lot out of them.
The addition of the new Tokéya uŋkí nájiŋpi (We stood here in the beginning) Alumni/Historical Center has made great progress since July. Most of the structure’s exterior work is complete and contractors are now busy working on the interior of the building.
At this point we are really in the final stages, installing lights, cabinets and wall and floor coverings. The final completion date of the project is scheduled for October 1 and everyone is getting excited to move in.
Once the building construction is complete, we will begin Phase II of the project. This includes installation of the Tokéya uŋkí nájiŋpi exhibits and renovation work to the existing museum building and exhibits.
Mni Wićoni – water is life
Other projects going on outside of the building are the addition of a Medicine Wheel Garden and the expansion of our parking lot; the museum and the Rec Center share a parking lot and things get pretty tight during the school year when sporting activities are in full swing. In an effort to alleviate the problem the parking area will be expanded, adding additional parking spaces and a specific area designated for bus parking. The improvement to the site will make the area much safer for our students and visitors.
This Medicine Wheel Garden area is shaping up as well. The water wall element was installed last month and looks beautiful. The wall is inscribed with the Lakota words Mni Wićoni which translates to “water is life.” The glu-lam beams for the arbor are in place and the pre-cast colors of the medicine wheel have been installed. It is really progressing nicely.
Akta Lakota Museum Front Entrance
If you are planning to visit our area please don’t let our construction scare you away. As construction progresses we will continue to maintain regular museum hours as much as possible and extend a heartfelt welcome to everyone! We hope you can stop by and check out our progress.
Since our students live on campus, we have school on many of the federal holidays, but Labor Day is the last gasp of summer, and it was a day for fun and relaxing. All the Native American students on campus were invited to walk downtown for a matinee movie. Temperatures hovered around 95 degrees and we worked up a sweat. Everyone was glad to come into the air-conditioned theater and have a pop and bag of popcorn waiting for them. The movie itself was rather silly, but I enjoyed watching the kids laugh and enjoy themselves.
Afterwards, while we walked home, second grader Araya asked me,
“So are you really the boss of all St. Joe’s?”
“Yes, I suppose I am. How do you think I’m doing?”
“Not very well!”
Surprised to hear that response I asked,
“Not very well! What do I need to do better?”
“You’re too nice to everyone. If you want to be a real boss you have to yell more and get things done,” she explained.
While students have a lot of wisdom and insight, I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree on my management style.
We ended the day with a cookout in Wisdom Circle, and had a chance to shoot baskets, toss around a football and slap away at the tetherball.
We had our first weekend mass with the students. Some of the students who attend St. Joseph’s aren’t all that familiar with church and it takes a while for them to learn the songs, find their places in the book and get used to the routine. But there was a good and lively spirit in the pews as we gathered to pray and ask for God’s blessing on the new school year.
While the grade school students have completed a full week, our high school students didn’t have to be back until today. The students staying in the two homes open early for those participating in sports moved from their temporary quarters into the rooms they will have for the year. In the Giles Home (freshman boys) everyone was back early. The supper table was full as they wolfed down Aaron’s homemade vegetable beef soup. Melissa remarked that they worked with 1st-3rd graders last year, and they are going to have to adjust the quantity of food they cook considerably!
The upperclassman straggled in a little later, and one or two called in because of transportation difficulties. But it’s good to have the campus mostly full again and coming back to life.
The first day of classes! I enjoyed looking out my office window and seeing the playground, full of laughter and playfulness again.
I waited until later in the day to make rounds of the classrooms. The teachers need some time to get students settled and organized. The first graders especially will take some time to feel at home here and get used to the routine. As I walked into each classroom, I had our returning students help me meet and greet our new kids. I welcomed them and worked on remembering a few more names. We still have a few students who haven’t arrived, but know they’re on their way. By the end of the week when our high school students return, we should have everyone in place.
For supper I joined the girls of Stevens Home (6th-8th grade). They are enjoying the brightness and spaciousness of our newest remodeling job. The five 8th grade girls remember living in the home two years ago before the upgrades, and proudly showed off what they had done with the new spaces. While few of the students particularly enjoy cleaning, the houseparents, Frank and Wanda, told me the students have a little more pride and put in a little extra elbow grease to keep things looking nice.
After school the houseparents took the girls to Central Receiving, where all the new clothing that generous donors have dropped off or mailed in has been sized and sorted. They got to “shop” for a half hour, and were showing off their fashion finds. They were especially pleased to find a nice, dressy outfit or two for “church clothes”.
As I walked back to my office, I saw groups of the younger children playing in Wisdom Circle. I noticed that a good-sized group of Dennis Home (1st-3rd grade girls) were seated at the picnic table. Three were on the bench, and four others were sitting on the table, hovering above them and combing their hair.
A fair number of kids have returned from summer with head lice. It’s so commonplace here that it isn’t embarrassing, but a back-to-school routine that we have to plan for. Their housemates were gently and carefully combing and pulling nits out of hair. It seemed to build a sense of care and community among the girls, and they were enjoying the great outdoors, talking and getting to know the new students.
School staff hosted an ice cream social for Melody, one of our title teachers. Due to recurrent health issues, Melody won’t be returning this year. She was a big support to me as we simultaneously battled our respective cancers. I, and many of our staff, will redouble our efforts at prayer for her healing.
This evening our staff and their families celebrated our annual back to school picnic in the evening. The dining hall staff prepared some delicious treats, and the atmosphere was fun and relaxed. I roamed from table to table, catching up with some staff I hadn’t seen since school let out last May. Some of the families I only see on special occasions. I met a couple of spouses of new staff for the first time and found out a little about each of them.
New staff are continuing their orientation, with everything from how to calm an out of control child to working our email system. One day they had a scavenger hunt to get acquainted with campus and start to find useful and needed things. I hope our new co-workers will feel welcome and an important part of the St. Joseph’s mission. Today the SCJs hosted them for lunch at our house.
As folks finished eating, I asked each person to introduce themselves with a short “job description” of their role. Present among us were houseparents and teachers, custodians, food service worker, an electrician and a bookkeeper. I asked folks who came from a distance how they heard about St. Joseph’s Indian School. Several were from families who supported us with donations, and through the mail have known about the school since they were little. Others saw an ad in their area newspaper, or found job information online. The people who grew up in the area were asked to share a favorite memory of St. Joseph’s Indian School. Two people whose parents worked here fondly remembered the family picnics we have for staff. One woman recalled her own elementary school days when she played basketball and volleyball against our kids. I trust the good spirit of camaraderie and sharing, the hope and enthusiasm they bring will enrich us all.
Fifteen of our staff sat in on a teleconference with a group of researchers. Child Trends conducted interviews with our students and their families and presented their findings. Overall the report was affirming. Like any organization, we look for ways to improve, and there were areas to look at in that light as well.
One area we need to review is our vast array of rules. Students grudgingly admit that the rules are overall a good thing that point them along the right path. Still, few of us really like so many rules. Just because we’ve always done something that way, it’s still worth a fresh look. Celia, one of our residential coordinators pointed out that we have a rule limiting student outgoing long distance calls to the weekend. That was put in place years ago partially because that was when calls were cheapest. Our phone services now costs the same per minute all the time. As we look at improving communication with families, that’s an example of a rule that probably needs to be revamped. While students also complain about homework and house chore rules, those are the kinds of things that we’ll undoubtedly keep in place.
