NEWS :: Red Cloud Indian School

Red Cloud Elementary students take home top honors at reservation-wide speech competition
posted on Nov. 06, 2009

Four students from Red Cloud Elementary School placed first place in the Shannon County Reservation-wide Speech Contest on Wednesday, November 4, at Wolf Creek School in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.

Held every year for students in grades 5-8, the competition gives students a rare opportunity to share their writing, reading and speaking skills with students from across the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. More than 50 students from 10 elementary schools competed in a variety of categories, from humorous prose to duet memorized poetry.

“It was a very exciting day for us,” says Demcie, a seventh grader. “We practiced for weeks, and we didn’t know what type of competitors or speeches we were going up against going into the competition. We’re all very proud of this accomplishment.”

In the seventh and eighth grade division, Demcie and his partner Marlee placed first place in the duet memorized poem competition, reciting “Hiawatha.” Jacob also placed first, in the humorous prose division with an interpretation of “The Stinky Cheese Man.”

In the fifth and sixth grade category, Red Cloud also placed in the dramatic interpretation of prose category, with Aisha taking top honors and Casey receiving the second place award.

“To have each one of our student competitors place in their respective categories is a wonderful testament to their commitment to practicing and working hard throughout the past month,” says Carol Krotz, Title I instructor and the after-school activities director. “We are excited for their achievements, and look forward to their continued success.”

Join us in our mission of educating the mind and spirit of the Lakota people, now and for future generations. Please consider an online gift.