Prom – St. Joseph's Indian School

Lions and tigers and bears (and dresses), oh my!

Fr. Anthony, St. Joseph's Chaplain — Fr. Anthony, St. Joseph’s Chaplain

Greetings from St. Joseph’s Indian School!

This past weekend, the National Honor Society and the Explorers Club hosted a dance for 6th, 7th and 8th graders in the Rec Center. Robin, St. Joseph’s National Honor Society advisor, stated it was an “awesome” event.

There were about 80 young people split between St. Joseph’s students and students from the Chamberlain-Oacoma area. The price of admission was either three cans of food or $3.00. Both were donated to the Food Pantry at St. James’ Catholic Church here in Chamberlain. The festivities lasted for two and a half hours. Everyone had a great time dancing, socializing and supporting a good cause by gathering supplies for the food pantry.

Continue reading “Lions and tigers and bears (and dresses), oh my!”

Prom night for our Native American youngsters

Chamberlain High School held their prom this evening. A dozen of our high school students looked sharp as they ventured off to the evening’s festivities. Some of them dined at a restaurant in town, but eight of the students were pampered right here on campus. At the Sheehy Home (high school boys), several houseparents got together and hosted a pre-prom dinner, with multiple courses and luscious desserts. Some of the freshmen and sophomore girls served as waitresses, no doubt taking mental notes about dresses, corsages and dreaming about a future prom invitation themselves. The older students enjoyed the attention and star treatment.

As I approached the home to check out the sharply dressed young men and women, I met the girls of Afra Home (1^st-3^rd grade) coming to check out the fashions themselves. Several had big sisters or brothers attending the prom, and quite a few of the other homes made their way up the hill to have a peek and wish the prom goers well. Later in the evening, many family members and friends showed up at the Armory for the Grand Entry, with flash bulbs filling the night before the dance hall doors were close, to leave the students to enjoy the night with classmates.

Prom night for our Lakota (Sioux) kids

Bring out the glitter and glam; it’s prom night!!

It’s prom night at Chamberlain High School! Several of our houseparents collaborated to serve an elegant, candlelit four course meal to several of our high school prom goers. Aaron and Melissa-two houseparents-who this year switched from high school to work with the primary grades, wanted to come back for a tradition they had when they worked in the high school homes.

Tia-new this year-helped them with her culinary and artistic skills. They enlisted the help some of our younger high school girls who served as waitresses. One of our students referred to the mood music as “elevator music” but enjoyed the relaxing time by evening’s end. We all took a few photos and wished them well on their big night out on the town.

The high school has a Grand March of all the prom goers. Families and friends are allowed to come into the Armory for the first hour before the music and prom really gets going. Everyone wants to see the glamorous couples and take lots of pictures. Several of our homes attended the pre-prom festivities, including the Afra Home (1^st – 3^rd grade girls) who were particularly excited about seeing their older relatives and classmates.

Don’t the St. Joseph’s Indian School’s kids look great?

Several of our houseparents collaborated to serve an elegant, candlelit four course meal to several of our prom attendees. — Our houseparents collaborated to serve a candlelit meal.