NEWS :: Red Cloud Indian School

Over half the student body at reservation school participating in after school program, with teachers seeing results
posted on February 18, 2010

The ultimate success of any student comes down to a lot of heart and a lot of commitment, both in the classroom and out of it. And at Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary in Porcupine, students are proving that they are committed to turning their dreams into a reality.

Attendance in after school programs are up, with more than half of the total student body taking advantage of an extra two hours of educational and extra-curricular opportunities each day at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation school.

“We know that we must continue to keep our students invested in their education, and sometimes that means offering them ways to interact with each others—and their teachers—outside of typical school hours,” says Alice Phelps, principal. “If it’s meaningful to them, it’s meaningful to us.”

Phelps says that the program is dependent upon the teachers and staff of Our Lady of Lourdes, employees who volunteer their time because the school cannot pay beyond the salaries they already receive.

“It’s a real testament to the quality of the people that work at Our Lady of Lourdes and Red Cloud Indian School,” says Phelps. “Our teachers and staff have embraced the important service this program offers, and are happy to put in the extra effort and time for the betterment of our students. Their service does not go unnoticed.”

Students in kindergarten through eighth grade stay after school Monday through Friday, participating in a myriad of clubs including arts and crafts, storytelling, scrapbooking, 4-H, accelerated reading and math, and home economics. Oftentimes, a special, surprise event is held on Friday for the students to celebrate a successful week of learning.

Phelps says the program is yielding excellent results, including higher marks on reading and math scores. And, she says, “The program allows us to give extra focus to those students that need a helping hand.”

This Friday’s special event will be a movie: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. The movie night is also part of the school’s celebration of the Pennies for Patients campaign, which raised money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

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.