10 Reasons Why Red Cloud Indian School Stay Busy All Summer Long

posted June 17, 2014
by Sierra Concha
2013 Red Cloud Graduate

Last year, Sierra Concha walked across the stage at Red Cloud Indian School and received her diploma. That fall, she left the reservation to begin studying Journalism at the University of New Mexico. But this summer she has returned home to work with school staff to help tell Red Cloud’s story as a Community Relations Intern. On one of her first assignments she visited with staff and students around campus to find 10 reasons why Red Cloud Indian School stays busy all summer long.

Although the official school year has ended, I’ve found that Red Cloud’s busy summer schedule has just begun. With Summer School and the 46th Annual Red Cloud Indian Art Show in full swing, and a Lakota Language Camp just around the corner, an exciting summer is underway for both staff and students.

Red Cloud encourages students to remain involved and active on campus during the summer, while focusing on education and having fun with their friends! I visited with people in the schools, the parish and The Heritage Center to see what’s keeping everyone so busy.

1. High School’s in Session!

Did you think school was out for summer? Think again. Over the course of four weeks this summer, high school students are continuing their education in math, science, social science and English and getting a head start on next year. Some students are actually incoming freshmen getting a glimpse of what high school is like before it starts in the fall.

2. We Get by with a Little Help from Our Friends

Each summer, service groups from around the country lend a hand on Red Cloud’s campus. This week, a service group from the Gonzaga High School in Washington D.C. has come to Red Cloud and will stay with us on campus while helping in any way that they can. They have been coming to Red Cloud for many years. This week they’ve been working at Our Lady of Lourdes School as mentors to the summer school students, as well as building fences, painting railings and fixing doors. They dedicate their time to making our schools a better place and we’re always glad to see them!

Also, a number of Red Cloud alumni (like myself) have returned to the reservation from colleges and universities across the country to support the institution by giving tours, calling donors to say wóphila (thank you) and helping out around the school. It’s great to be back!

4. Top-Soil, Manure and Perlite, Oh My!

 

This past November, The Toyota USA Foundation provided generous funding for a greenhouse to be built on campus. This summer, Garrett Waters, one of Red Cloud’s AmeriCorps volunteers, has been maintaining our brand new greenhouse! He’s also built a garden with the help of the students attending summer school. This week, students mixed a combination of manure, top soil and perlite—which students learned is a naturally aerating soil additive—for the raised beds earlier this week.

Garrett watched over the process and mentioned that the project has allowed the students to learn about biology, ecology and healthy foods while having fun and getting their hands dirty. “I think any opportunity where a student can get out of a classroom and do something with their hands is essential. It will stick out in their memory—a lesson they’re sure to remember.”

3. SAFETY AND SIDEWALKS

Our students and teachers aren’t the only busy ones on campus. Our maintenance crew comes to Red Cloud every day during the summer to keep our campus looking its best and keeping our equipment and buildings in working order. Red Cloud Elementary and the Advancement Office will be receiving new sidewalks in the next few months and the gravel road to the historic cemetery—where Chief Red Cloud is buried—will be updated as well.

And, their work doesn’t stop at the Red Cloud campus. They have been traveling to the nearby town of Manderson to touch up the roof of St. Agnes Church. They work tirelessly on many projects throughout the summer and we’re not sure what we would do without them. Red Cloud is very grateful for our hardworking maintenance crew.

5. Maȟpíya Lúta Owáyawa Lakȟól’iya Wičhóthi!

After six years of developing a new K-12 Lakota language curriculum on campus, Red Cloud’s Lakota Language Program (LLP) is now reaching out to students and the community in a new way. This July, a language camp will focus on Lakota traditions and language in an engaging, hands-on way before school begins. Melissa Strickland, the LLP site coordinator is very excited about this upcoming event. “We want our students to be able to have conversations about everyday events outside of the classroom and this camp is a way to help promote and support that.” About 30 students will be camping in tipis with their families, Lakota teachers and community members. Stay tuned for more!

6. Elementary Students Are Taking Their Books to the Hills!

As well as having three one-hour class-blocks that include reading, writing and math, the elementary students take off on an educational field trip every Friday. Ann-Marie Amiotte, Red Cloud Elementary’s assistant principal believes this is a great opportunity for kids to learn outside the classroom. “Last week we went to Rushmore cave—which really impressed the students—and we’re scheduled to go to Evan’s Plunge and Harney Peak in the Black Hills over the next few weeks. These trips are both educational and fun and allow students to see their school subjects in action.”

Image is Public Domain
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Hills

7. Japanese Balancing Art on the Pine Ridge Reservation? Yes!

The 46th Annual Red Cloud Indian Art Show just opened on June 1, which displays colorful artwork from Native artists across the country and just around the corner. Each piece on display is for sale, but the gallery isn’t only open for viewing and purchasing, it is also open for workshops for students of all ages.

One special workshop will be with well-known Japanese artist and woodworker, Tadao Arimoto. Tadao will come to The Heritage Center on July 8 and assist participants in creating a Japanese Yajirobei, or balancer, using simple materials such as bamboo sticks, small pieces of driftwood, branches and even carrots and jelly beans! Oh, by the way, it’s FREE.

More information:
  • Morning workshop, all ages, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • Afternoon workshop, teens and adults, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Workshops sponsored by The Sculpture Project: Passage of Wind and Water at Main Street Square in Rapid City. Questions: anna@destinationrapidcity.com, 605-716-7979.

Photo Courtesy of Tadao Arimoto

8. Science-themed Bible Camp? Yup, We’ve Got That Too!


Churches around the reservation are holding Vacation Bible School for children of all ages throughout the summer. Each one lasts about a week and includes fun, summer activities for kids, while also learning about their Church. At Sacred Heart Church in downtown Pine Ridge, this year’s theme is ‘Power Lab: Discovering Jesus’ Miraculous Power.

Here is the full Bible School schedule.

More information can be found on the Parish’s web-calendar.

  • June 10-12 at Our Lady of the Sioux, Oglala
  • June 12-15 at St. Ignatius, Wanblee
  • June 16-20 at Our Lady of Sorrows, Kyle
  • June 30-July 4 at Sacred Heart, Pine Ridge
  • July 7-13 at St. John's, Allen
  • July 15-17 at St. Agnes/Christ the King @ St. Agnes, Manderson
 
 
 

9. Keeping the Brain-Gears Turning

More than 40 students are filling the halls and classrooms at Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School—one of two Red Cloud elementary schools—receiving lessons in math, science and English five days a week! Lenore Locke, the school’s office manager, acting nurse and general go-to wonder woman says, “I’m just so impressed with the students; they really want to be on campus. It’s clear that they love learning and I think it’s great that so many of them are able to keep their minds engaged all summer long.” This week, Sister Susan Biegert, SSND had students reading and learning about different types of animals and little critters!

 

10. TIMBER!

A large pine has passed on and it’s now looming menacingly over the entrance to Christ the King Church on Our Lady of Lourdes’ campus.

 

Not to fear, Doug Johnson and the maintenance crew say it’s time for the big tree to come down! Coupled with the good work of the Gonzaga High School service group, the church will look spiffy and bright for the coming school year thanks to their hard work!

 

 

 

What are you excited for this summer?

Share your plans with us on Facebook or Twitter and stay tuned for more updates from the schools, the parish and The Heritage Center all throughout the summer!

Photos and Content ©Red Cloud Indian School, 2014 unless otherwise noted