Kathleen Whitebird, principal of the St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, SD, wrote about this year’s SCJ Schools in Collaboration gathering:
St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, SD, hosted the SCJ Schools in Collaboration Summer Institute June 10-13. This year’s group included members of Holy Family and Sacred Heart schools from Mississippi, St. Joseph’s Indian School, and St. Martin of Tours school from Wisconsin. David Schimmel, director of Dehonian Associates for the US Province, also took part.
Flying into Rapid City for the weekend, the students had the opportunity to tour the Black Hills, visiting Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore. A visit to the state capital and a cultural museum rounded off the road trip. By Sunday evening the busy travelers had time to relax and listen to the story of Fr. Dehon as narrated by David Schimmel.
On Monday morning there were short presentations on each school community. Students from the SCJs’ San Jeronimo in Spain and Gymnasium Leoninum in Germany were able to participate via Skype. To reflect this international exchange, the SCJ Schools in Collaboration have redesigned their logo. Each student and adult participating in the Summer Institute received a t-shirt emblazoned with it. Afternoon activities exhibited a flair for the local Lakota culture with a tour of the Akta Lakota Museum, a cultural speaker, and a Dreamcatcher craft.
At the close of the institute students returned to their homes richer in friends and memories.
