Thanksgiving Day Feed

Thanksgiving meal at Serena Hall. Photo by Jin Yup Jung '14. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

                   Thanksgiving Day Feed

                      By Jin Yup Jung '14

What’s your favorite food in Thanksgiving day?

Pedro Martinez- My favorite food is potato salad since I just love how my grandmother makes it.

Kristian Big Crow- My favorite for for thanksgiving is probably sweet potatoes with marshmallows.

Austin Big Crow- Pumpkin pie and stuffing

Mato Hinton- Mashed potatoes and roast beef  

Caine Ghost Bear- White meat turkey, homemade stuffing, corn, and my mom’s homemade cherry pie with banana ice cream on the top.  

Yoshiki Ueda- Some chickens.

RCHS Cheerleading is Back

LNI Cheerleading 2012. Photo courtesy of Kylie I'atala. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

RCHS Cheerleading is Back

By Kylie I’atala ‘14

The four-time Lakota Nation Invitational Cheerleading Champions are preparing for this year's LNI cheer competition.

For the past four years, the Red Cloud Cheerleaders have performed in the Non-Stunting Cheer Competitions and won each time. Every year it gets a little more tricky for them, especially with the other cheer teams wanting the LNI championship award. “I’m hoping we will do good this year,” said Jacob Cousin ‘16.  People are waiting to see what they will do this year.

Practices for the cheerleaders are three hours long! The cheerleaders practice the routine and the cheerleaders from last year teach the new ones the cheers. They are extremely nervous and excited for the LNI competition to come up. The cheerleaders want to go home being fifth time in a row champions. 

New coaches for this year are Maggie McGhee and Shelby McGhee. 

Staff Profile: Melinda Jackson

Melinda working hard. Photo by Rhiannon White Eyes '14. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Staff Profile: Melinda Jackson

By Rhiannon White Eyes ‘14

Meet Melinda "Math" Jackson.

Melinda Jackson is an outstanding teacher. She teaches Pre-Algebra and Geometry here at Red Cloud. The students appreciate and enjoy being in her class. There are lots of laughs and memories made in Melinda’s classroom. She enjoys working with all the students in her classes and hopes nothing but the best for them and their future.

Melinda is from Gordon, NE. She attended college at Chadron State. Before coming to work at Red Cloud, Melinda worked at Little Wound High School. Melinda has enjoyed all the time she spent here at Red Cloud.

Melinda plans on coming back next year to continue teaching Geometry and Pre-Algebra. One of the most fulfilling parts of Melinda’s job is being able to watch the students grow not only academically but also maturity-wise and spiritually.

Every year Melinda enjoys meeting the new volunteers and working with the veteran teachers. Not only the students but the staff hope to see Melinda next year.

“Always end the day with a positive thought no matter how hard things were. Tomorrow's a fresh opportunity to make it better,” said Jackson.

Are you Drawn to Art?

RCHS Art Room. Photos by Odessa Star Comes Out '14. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Are you Drawn to Art?

By Odessa Star Comes Out '14

Where ART thou? You should be in Art Club!

Brittany Weidel has conducted an after school club. Art Club! Every Monday and Wednesday. Paint something you’re passionate about. Draw if you’re a good drawer!

Brittany sits back and provides the paint, paint brushes, and the pencils for us. Art Club is for the freshmen and other classes to have a creative experience without boundaries. One of Brittany's plans is to start a magazine including students' art projects around the second semester.

"I'm pretty open to what the students want to do. I wouldn't mind being in charge of a Quidditch team," says Brittany. She has other clubs in mind that she wants to start, like poetry club, which was the club she was in in college.

What are you Thankful for?

The Mahpiya Luta Times Staff. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

What are you Thankful for?

By Jen Brave Heart ‘14

It only comes once a year and this time it’s actually okay to gain a few pounds. You couldn’t be any more thankful for being surrounded by family, friends, football, and food. Thanksgiving is finally here! Students return home from school, families gather together, football games are on the big screens, and delectable food is prepared for all the hungry stomachs.

Thanksgiving is a very significant time of the year when everyone comes together to celebrate the things they are grateful for, or just to give thanks to the turkeys for filling their stomachs. Not many people know the real meaning behind the holiday, besides the fact that they were celebrating the first meal the pilgrims ate when they arrived in Plymouth.

Every family has different traditions and rituals by which they celebrate Thanksgiving. Numerous amounts of people watch football games, others prepare different dishes to bring to the feast, and some people don’t celebrate Thanksgiving at all. Numerous students were asked what their family traditions were and the responses varied from “We eat turkey,” by Rhiannon White Eyes, to “Our family prepares their own dishes. Like my sister brings pie and I make the mashed potatoes,” spoken by Genriel Ribitsch. Although Thanksgiving is a time to feast and enjoy time being surrounded by family, it is also a time to give thanks to the things we are grateful for.

“I am thankful for life, water, and Jesus Christ. I am thankful for Sister Connie. I am thankful for life, family, and friends.”

These are some of the various things students are grateful for. Although the list seems short, everyone is grateful for something and someone. Although we don’t show it everyday, the gratitude we have is always there. Not everyone is fortunate enough to celebrate Thanksgiving so we would like to share our gratitude with those who aren’t able to have a Thanksgiving this year.

The Guru of the Mat: The Clay Leonard Story

Clay, wrestling sensei. Photo by Jin Yup Jung '14. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

           The Guru of the Mat: The Clay Leonard Story                                  

                                                          By Jin Yup Jung'14.

There are some students who puff out hot humid air and work out harder and harder in a sweat everyday. These warriors believe that the beads of sweat they wipe off everyday will help them as they prepare for battle. They are at the weight room for the rest of their lives. These are your Red Cloud High School wrestling students for 2013-2014.

Wrestling is the one of the hardest winter sports. Wrestlers are supposed to be prepared already or get in shape if they do not want to lose. Many high school students would rather play basketball than wrestle, although it depends on the school. However, many students believe that wrestling is harder than other sports physically and mentally; it requires so much work. Nevertheless, the reason most wrestlers do not quit during the wrestling season is that they enjoy their feeling of accomplishment during wrestling matches.

The Red Cloud Wrestling team, led by Clay Leonard, is almost ready to face the first wrestling meet, and they will battle with each other in practice in the hopes of accomplishing their goals. They look to qualify for state and win in the South Dakota state tournament.

Also, this year is a honor for Clay because he is entering his 26th year at Red Cloud. Clay learned wrestling in high school in Colorado from Coach Bob Smith, who was a two-time national wrestling coach of the year. Smith won eleven team state championships in his 33 years as a high school coach and went on to coach in college. 

Clay started coaching as a freshman in high school with fourth graders and coached them for three years. He moved on to coach during his college years, both in Colorado and in Rushville. He was a youth coach during his years along with being a high school assistant coach at Rushville for four years. This was before he came to Red Cloud. The students who Clay coached have went on to do much good work on the mat. This includes eight team state championships (two in Colorado, six at Rushville), multiple individual champions and place winners, and even a college national champion.

One of the things that Clay enjoys the most about coaching is the seeing the joy on his wrestler’s faces when they get that first win and they know that they did it themselves. The confidence that they have in themselves is great for them. 

Film Review: Ender’s Game

Ender's Game ticket, straight outta Chadron. Photo by Kirkland Ross' 14. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Film Review: Ender’s Game

By Kirkland Ross ‘14

Action, adventure and rising to occasion. These are all descriptions of Ender’s Game.

Ender’s Game is a movie based off the book by Orson Scott Card that takes place in the year 2086, fifty years after an alien invasion. A program was created to transform the minds of intelligent, young children into strategic, militant minds. Andrew “Ender” Wiggin is among the children within the program. Throughout the movie, Ender and his newly-made friends survive battle school and help stop an alien race before it annihilates the human race. Ender learns the secret of defeating an enemy and loving your enemy as they love themselves. Only then can you destroy them.

Ender’s Game is a work of art. The graphics are done extremely well. The plotline is very intricate. You will not want to take your eyes off the screen. Gavin Hood, the director, makes you sit at the edge of your seat. He takes you on a epic journey of finding the hero in oneself.

"I liked it," said Jaycherie Little '14. "They should've elaborated on Ender being a third child and more about the world. I like how it ended.”

It is overall a good movie. Action lovers will love it, sci-fi fans will adore it, and families will enjoy it.

Don't Hibernate-Get in Shape

Winter sports conditioning. Photo by Jeremy Lays Bad '14. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Don't Hibernate-Get in Shape

By Jeremy Lays Bad ‘14

Let's get physical! Physical!

Winter sports are coming.

The first day of practice for girls basketball is on November 25th, while the boys start after that week. Meanwhile, winter sports conditioning will help students improve on their speed, stamina, and strength.

Winter sports conditioning started on November 4th and is from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. after school. It helps athletes to be in shape by the time season starts. Athletic Director Christian McGhee leads the conditioning of basketball and wrestling athletes. “We’re going to run a lot this year. It helps prepare the players," said McGhee. Conditioning helps your body strengthen from your shoulders to your ankle muscles.

“Conditioning is pretty intense!” said Cody Janis '14. Conditioning is all about getting in shape for the winter sports season and helps improve your speed and strength. The workouts work on your abs, balance, calves, and arm muscles. Conditioning is recommended for those who are playing both basketball and wrestling. 

Health Monster: Manny Munoz '14

Manny being Manny. Photo by Kylie I'atala. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Health Monster: Manny Munoz '14

Kylie I’atala ‘14

Tackling cows, wrestling bears, and poaching prairie dogs, Manny Munoz would do anything he can to survive in the state of South Dakota.

Manny Munoz is a senior at Red Cloud High School. His position for football was lineman. Everyday after school he is in the weight room pushing himself to be more and more stronger than he was yesterday.

Manny started to lift when he was a freshman. He lifts for two hours each day. His motivation to lift was when he was little, he would get picked on about his weight. So in 8th grade he decided to make a change in his life. “The people who say I can’t do this make me do what I do,” said Manny. One of the benefits of lifting for Manny is that he can eat what he wants and burn it off the next day. Also, he lifts in order to get better at sports.

Manny doesn’t eat fries and hamburgers due to the greasiness. He just doesn’t eat fast food at all. His favorite healthy snack is a good protein shake and an apple. 

Wrestling Practice Begins Today

Wrestlers of yore. Photo by Jin Yup Jung '14. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Wrestling Practice Begins Today

By Jin Yup Jung '14

                        

The winter sports season begins today. The Red Cloud wrestling team had a meeting in the room of head wrestling Coach Clay Leonard for the upcoming wrestling season last Monday. The Red Cloud Wrestling team achieved many triumphs last year. Also,the Crusaders wrestling team will have great accomplishments since there are great wrestlers this year, including several new wrestlers. Leonard has desired to develop a strong wrestling team since the last wrestling season was done in late February. “I want the wrestlers to improve,” Leonard said. “And I want people to qualify for state. I want the wrestlers to see the benefit that they will have in wrestling."

Also, RCHS gained some new wrestlers this year. One of them is Yoshiki Ueda, a foreign exchange student from Japan, “I really do not know about wrestling, so I think possibility is infinite,” said Yoshiki.  Also, senior Harlen Standing Bear decided to wrestle his senior year. “I feel excited, and I’m ready to win,” Harlen said. "I will obtain as many moves as I can, then I will try to qualify for State.” 

The other new wrestler is senior Santana Red Feather, who is a new student from Scottsbluff. “I just want to try something different. I like to gain new wrestling moves and skills,” Santana said. “My goal in wrestling is to give out my best performance and build up my strength although I am a little nervous because this is my first time to take it seriously.”   

This is the second wrestling year for senior Morgan Starr.  “I feel good about it. I’ve worked hard during the last summer,” said Morgan. 

While there are under 20 female wrestlers in South Dakota, there is a strong female wrestler at RCHS. Miranda O’Donnell has been working as hard as others, and she is looking for many wins this year. Also to overcome her mistakes from her wrestling matches last year, she’s been working hard to try to fix her mistakes. “My goal is to be able to make the regionals and qualify for state,” Miranda said. “I think if a girl is going to wrestle, then she should take it seriously and try to be like one of the great wrestlers.”

Jacob the Librarian

Jacob in his domain. Photo by Rhiannon White Eyes '14. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Jacob the Librarian

By Rhiannon White Eyes ‘14

Jacob Vocu is the master of many books, newspapers, magazines, and the Dewey Decimal System. He is our fearless, magical librarian.

Vocu is from Pine Ridge and he is also a Red Cloud graduate. After graduating from Red Cloud, he went to college. Vocu attended Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is currently a part time student at Oglala Lakota College.

One of the reasons Vocu wanted to come back and work at Red Cloud is because he enjoyed being a student here and he wanted to come back and work here.

Last school year was Vocu’s first year of being the librarian here at Red Cloud. He is now in his second year and sadly this is his last year here. Vocu wouldn’t mind coming back next year to work but since he is part of Americorps, he is only allowed two years.

As part of being the librarian, Vocu enjoys his job. He checks out the books and puts up new magazines and newspapers along with new books. He is also in charge of the laptop cart, and he gives out late arrival passes in the morning. One of the favorite parts of Vocu’s job is interacting with the students and the staff. Vocu feels like the staff do all their best and make everything enjoyable as they can, starting with the students. So far Vocu has enjoyed his time being here at Red Cloud and hopes nothing but the best for the students and staff.

One quote that Vocu lives by is, “‘We read to know that we are not alone.’” - William Nicholson

Celebrating our Heroes!

Flags outside of Eben Hall. Photo by Jeremy Lays Bad '14. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Celebrating our Heroes!

By: Jeremy Lays Bad ‘14

On Nov. 11, 2013, everyone celebrated Veterans Day and the heroes of our nation. We celebrated the remembrance of our heroes who are fighting for our country and sacrificing their lives for us.

On Veterans Day, people look back on any relatives or close friends who fought for our country. People go visit the veterans at a cemetery and salute them as a sign of respect. We remember wars from World War I to Pearl Harbor. To show we celebrate Veterans Day, people make commercials on television, visit their deceased loved one who fought in war at a cemetery, or have a cook out.

People take advantage of this day as a day off from school. A RCHS senior was asked about what he did on Veterans Day. "I just rode horse all day,” said Daniel Kills Small. Kills Small also said something that would surprise a veteran. “I’m thinking about joining the Marines,” said Kills Small.

The first Veterans Day was in 1978, instituted by President Gerald Ford.

Juniors Retreat to the Black Hills

Brad. Photo by Marco Starr '14. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Juniors Retreat to the Black Hills

By Marco Starr '14

Bye Juniors!

On November 14th and 15th, Red Cloud will send the junior class to Storm Mountain for a retreat. The junior class will participate in many activities while on retreat. Table tennis, foosball, basketball, and volleyball are some activities they can participate in during their free time. Group discussions will bring the class together and they will start talking about future plans. The retreat is designed to bring the class closer together and to start talking about life in the near future.

Brad Held is in charge of the whole retreat. Brad is in the Spiritual Formation Department of Red Cloud High School. “Of course I’m excited. It would be good to go with the students I teach every day,” said Held. “My favorite thing about retreats would be getting to spend time with students outside of school.” Brad has planned all the activities for the retreat, and these activities include the following: icebreakers, free time, campfire, hike to the top of Storm Mountain, and a lot of small group activities. The hike to the top of Storm Mountain is a long hike, but it's worth it when you reach the top. Walking up a hill and seeing the pine trees and all the scenery around makes the hike great.  

Staff Profile: Sister Dannel

Sr. Dannel working hard. Photo by Rhiannon White Eyes '14. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Staff Profile: Sister Dannel

By Rhiannon White Eyes ‘14

As we began the new '13-14 school year, we welcome our new office manager Sister Dannel Wedemeyer.

Office manager Sister Dannel takes all the phones calls, gives out the late arrival passes, deals with the attendance, and a lot more. 

Sister Dannel is from St. Louis, Missouri and is a diehard St. Louis Cardinals fan. She is also a School Sister of Notre Dame. Before Sister Dannel came and worked here at Red Cloud, she spent 16 years on the Standing Rock Reservation. Her motivation to come work at Red Cloud is to give back to the community and to work with Native Americans.  

Sister Dannel plans to come back and work here next year. She very much enjoys her experience here at Red Cloud. According to Sister Dannel, “There is never a dull moment.” One of the most fulfilling parts of her job is to be able to help the students, parents, and faculty with their needs. All the faculty are happy to have such a wonderful office manager, and they all hope to see Sister Dannel here next year.

“Red Cloud is a great place to live and work because of all the great people here,” says Sister Dannel.

Red Cloud Students Perform Poetry in Rapid

Red Cloud students reading their poetry. Photo courtesy of the Rapid City Journal.

Red Cloud Students Perform Poetry in Rapid

By Marco Starr '14

Stage fright set in as a Red Cloud freshman got ready to perform her poetry in front of a crowd in Rapid City. A group of three RCHS students went on a journey to Rapid City on Friday, November 1st to read their poetry. Chantel Roubideaux '14, Austin Big Crow '15, and Savannah Jacobs '17 attended the NIEA Convention held in the Rapid City Civic Center. These three students also went to the Crazy Horse Memorial Monument and Central High School in Rapid City. 

“I have stage fright and it was pretty hard for me to get up there and perform,” Jacobs stated.  “As I got up there and performed, I felt this rush.” Jacobs continued, “When I’m up there performing, I feel like I'm making a difference and I’m also having fun at the same time.”

Growing up, Savannah Jacobs started to write poetry. “This was a way to let out my feelings and be myself without judgment and help speak for anyone who doesn’t have the courage to speak.” 

Jacobs has some interesting advice on writing poetry. "Just be yourself and have fun writing poems," she said. "Not all poems have to rhyme. Anyone can pick up a pencil and start writing poetry.” 

You can read more about this event in the Rapid City Journal. 

Bright Futures for Bright Students

USD and Mount Marty. Photos by Jennifer Brave Heart '14. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Bright Futures for Bright Students

By Jen Brave Heart ‘14

Five students, one chaperone, two days.

It was an early Friday morning, the sun was shining, and the cool air was crisp. The students gathered their homework and got their yellow slips signed by their teachers. They were about to embark on a college trip to the University of South Dakota and Mount Marty College.

When the van arrived out front of the school, the students and their chaperone loaded their belongings and began to get comfortable for the five hour drive ahead of them. Before leaving Pine Ridge stops were made at Big Bats and Higher Grounds Coffee Shop so that there wouldn’t be as many  stops on their voyage to Yankton. Everyone bought food and coffee to keep them busy and energized for the long ride ahead of them. Nakina even brought a laptop and movies so that no one would get bored. The students that attended the trip were Pedro Martinez, Will Belt, Jen Brave Heart, all seniors, and Shi-Dawn Hawk Wing and Kiaya Walking Eagle, juniors at RCHS.

Once their journey started, there was no turning back. The suspense started to build as they came closer and closer to the rez line.

   

Once they arrived in Yankton, everyone was exhausted from the ride and wanted to go to the hotel so they can rest, but there is no rest for the wicked. After checking into Holiday Inn Express, they headed to Mount Marty College where they were taken on a tour of the campus and even met some faculty. At the end of the tour they were given information on the school, an application with the fee waived, and free t-shirts. Once they left the campus, they went to eat at KFC and Taco Bell, went to Wal-Mart, and made a last stop at Starbucks to end their day. Once they got back to the hotel, the seniors worked on their homework and registered for the ACT with Nakina while the juniors watched TV in the other room.

The next day is when the real action started.

Early Saturday morning after checking out from Holiday Inn Express, everyone loaded up their belongings and made one last stop at Starbucks before heading to Vermillion. After a half an hour, their destination was right before their eyes. The moment they arrived at USD Nakina took the students to registration where they were welcomed with handshakes, warm smiles, and breakfast! The students were given name-tags, information about USD, and an application from the students that were helping with the open-house registration. Tickets to the following football game were also offered, along with tailgating, but tickets were denied due to the long drive. Once they were checked in, the students and Nakina went into an auditorium where they met up with everyone else that was participating in the open-house.

In the auditorium, speeches were given from faculty, such as the Dean of Students and students such as their Student Ambassadors. After they gave their inspiring and motivational speeches, a video was presented on the various majors, clubs and organizations, and new additions that USD has to offer. Not to mention their Native American Cultural Center, which adds diversity to the USD community and is also where the Native Student Services office is located. During the tours, the groups were taken to numerous locations on campus, caught a glimpse of the new additions, and even had the chance to see what the dorm-life was like. After the tours were over, everyone gathered in the Muenster University Center where numerous booths were set-up that gave information on majors offered.

“The most exciting thing was the tailgating because we got to see how a college person celebrates and the awesome food,” said Pedro when asked what he enjoyed most about the trip.

For the most part, the trip was very enjoyable and the students all had a great time. Like Sir Francis Bacon said, “Knowledge is power,” and not a lot of Native Americans further their education beyond high school, or even complete high school, so we hope to see our students become intelligent individuals and outstanding leaders because the future is in their hands.

Blood Donations Saves Lives at Red Cloud

Photos by Jin Yup Jung '14. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Blood Donations Saves Lives at Red Cloud

 By Jin Yup Jung '14

                                               

On October 30th, RED CLOUD SUCKED....blood from their bodies and donated it for a good cause.

Many Red Cloud Crusaders were being real heroes by overcoming the fear of being injected by a big needle to save lives...

Students were called by one of the student helpers of the blood drive and went to Eben Hall one by one to donate their blood from the morning until three. There were some students who had a reason to donate their blood. “Because I’m saving a life,” Talea Black Tail Deer ‘14 said. “I felt anxious and nervous before donating blood, and I fainted after donating my blood.”  However, Talea said that she will donate blood next year too, if she has the chance. “Because I can save a life again,” said Talea.  

Bobby Pourier ‘16 said, “I have never gave blood before, so I wanted to this year, and it was a new experience. At the beginning, I was really nervous, but afterwards, I was scared because I felt like was going to collapse." He continued, “But I will donate blood next year too; both to get some cookies and to save lives.”

I would like to give it up for those who donated their blood to save millions of lives. Hopefully, more Crusaders will donate blood and recognize that blood is the same as life for some people.

Healthy Tips

Photo by Kylie I'atala. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Healthy Tips

by Kylie I’atala ‘14

You’re deciding if you want McDonalds or Subway. Do you want the big juicy burger or do you want something that isn’t so greasy?

Being healthy isn’t a hard task. Take steps one at a time. Stretch in the morning and never skip breakfast. Load up on vitamin C, and eat five servings of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Losing weight is not only based on working out- it also takes place in your eating habits. So if you love eating junk and greasy food, try substituting it with a delicious, healthy snack of a banana and peanut butter sandwich. Eat 70% water foods in your diet, and decrease the amounts fatty foods. Try not to eat packet chips; instead eat canned vegetables.

Working out is not the only thing that helps you lose weight. Sometimes just simply changing your diet can help you improve the weight loss.