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High school students from Massachusetts volunteer at Red Cloud A group of high school students from Saint John’s High School in Shrewbury, Massachusetts, made the long trek to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation last week to work with Lakota men and women as part of Global Encounter. The program, offered through the school’s Spiritual Formation Department, gives students the opportunity to visit other areas of the nation and engage in service work. Mike Welch, the headmaster at Saint John’s, has made visiting Red Cloud a priority for the young men he teaches at the college preparatory school. “I love this place, and wanted these students to experience what I have in the past with the good people here at Red Cloud,” Mike Welch said. “It is always wonderful to come back here, and an important milestone in our students’ lives—to learn about diversity and community service.” Welch and his wife Bridget are former volunteers at Red Cloud. Their son Peter, who grew up on the reservation for a few years, also accompanied them on this year’s visit. “It was fascinating to see so many faces light up when we arrived,” said Peter Welch. “I knew we lived here when I was little, but didn’t think the people here would really remember me.” During the weeklong service trip, students spent time tutoring at Red Cloud Elementary School and Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School. They were also active in the local community, working side-by-side with the Lakota people to complete a number of projects, including repairing homes for the elderly and cleaning up the streets. During the trip, students were encouraged to immerse themselves in the Lakota culture in a number of different ways. “I came here wanting to learn a lot about the Lakota culture, and help in any way I could,” said Nick McCarthy, a junior at Saint John’s. “This was an awesome opportunity to be able to see how other people live, and experience life in a new and refreshing way.” Saint John’s is a Catholic, college prep high school. The school has a number of Global Encounter Initiatives. To learn more about their service program, visit http://www.stjohnshigh.org/s/804/index.aspx?sid=804&gid=1&pgid=755. Tweet, tweet! We're on Twitter. Follow us at www.twitter.com/redcloudschool. 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. |
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