Badlands Camping Trip

Students gearing up for the Badlands. Photos courtesy of Kristian Big Crow '14 and Shawnta' Jones '14. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Badlands Camping Trip 

By Jin Yup Jung '14

                                               

On Sunday March 16th, several Red Cloud students cruised to the Badlands National Park for a trip with History Teacher Matt Campbell. They were also accompanied by students from New York. I had early interviews with Kristian Big Crow and Hoksila Briseno, who attended the trip.

“The trip was all around amazing,” Kristian said. Kristian also went on the trip last year.  “Being able to come back to the same trip was a relief since I knew vaguely what to expect.” 

The trip wasn’t always fun as Kristian expected because there were some obstacles in his way. “The biggest obstacles I suppose I faced, and I could probably speak for the other Red Cloud students too, was trying to get outside my comfort zone and interact with the New York students on a deeper level than just first names,” Kristian said. 

 Kristian continued, "One of my favorite memories was going out at 11:00 at night and discovering a cave/cavern and crawling inside it. We all trusted each other and any time anyone needed assistance, everyone was there to help. It was sad on the last day when we had to leave since we didn’t want to walk away. We all ended up hugging all the New York students three times each. I enjoyed this year a little more than my first visit and sure hope it isn’t going to be my last."

“The camp was great," added Hoksila. "I had a good time. We hiked all over the park and climbed up very tall mountains and saw how beautiful the Badlands were during the sunrise and sunset. We also told the New Yorkers our stories of ghost, spirits, and how we were told where the Lakota came from. I loved the camp mainly because I got to travel safely with others and hike out to some far away rocks and also to meet really great people that are really amazing. I hope that I can go back next year again.”

Jin Says Yup Yup Yup Yup?

Jin Yup ('15?) pondering his future. Photo by Colton Sierra '14. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Jin Says Yup Yup Yup Yup?

By The Mahpiya Luta Times Staff

Super senior Jin Yup Jung shocked the Red Cloud community this morning by announcing over the loudspeaker that he would be returning next year for his unprecedented 4th year at Red Cloud as an international student. Jin Yup would be the first ever 3rd time super-duper senior in Red Cloud's storied history.

"I've never seen anything like that," said Social Studies teacher Matt Campbell. "I was shocked, stunned, and befuddled."

According to inside leads, The Mahpiya Luta Times has uncovered that Jin is in the pursuit of an American wife and is almost on the verge of success. This cannot be confirmed or denied, however.

There are rumors that Jin Yup will live on campus and teach two Korean language classes and an after-school program on Taekwondo. He is also pursuing his lifelong dream of becoming a head basketball coach.

Jin hopes to finally pass Lakota Language I after three years of unsuccessful efforts. He also hopes to join the Lakota Language Bowl team in their pursuit of three consecutive LNI championships. 

Jin is in talks with previous exchange students and is trying to convince them to return to Red Cloud next year as well. We are not sure yet of their status, but he has contacted Tomo, Yuichi, Jun, Tank, and Monica. 

"I see Red Cloud as an international school. Korean language should be taught in all grades," said Jin.

Jin Yup's goals in returning to Red Cloud are as follows: to gain U.S. citizenship, to find true love, to ride his first horse in a rodeo, to dance at his first pow-wow in full regalia, and to return to the state wrestling tournament as a state-sanctioned ref.

Since Jin Yup has already been on multiple senior retreats and has memorized the schedule, Brad Held has inquired if he would be interested in being the faculty leader for next senior retreat.

"This is a revolutionary step for all international students," said senior Shawnta' Jones. "I look up to Jin Yup as a leader, a hero, and a sage."

Jin Yup's agent cannot be reached for comment.

Winter Weather Report

Featuring Colton "Tornado" Sierra '14. Filmed by Shawnta' "Blizzard" Jones '14. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

The Crusader Halftime Show

Crusaders in Denver. Photos courtesy of Christian McGhee. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

The Crusader Halftime Show

By Shawnta’ Jones ‘14

Recognized for not only their athletics but also their academics and citizenship within their school and their community, members of the Red Cloud boys basketball team were picked to scrimmage each other during the halftime of the Denver Nuggets basketball game on March 23rd.

Head Coach Christian McGhee had enough tickets to take eleven boys from the basketball team: Will Garnier, Kobey O’Rourke, Marty Richards, Colby Hunter, Mato Hinton, Robert Looks Twice, Marco Starr, Kein Clements, Randy Hughes, Kris Carlow, and Caine Ghost Bear.

The boys left early Saturday morning and returned back to Pine Ridge late Sunday night.

“This year was a little different from last year,” said McGhee. “They let us have a shoot around at the Pepsi Center the day before our scrimmage and we also got to play against another high school team from Denver, which was pretty cool.”

The basketball team was able to tour the Nuggets locker room and were also lucky enough to meet some of the players of the Nuggets team: Quincy Miller, Randy Foye, Nate Robinson, Wilson Chandler, and Head Coach Brian Shaw.

Journalism Culinary Class with Colton, Jin, and Shawnta'

Journalism Culinary Class

By Colton Sierra '14

Red Cloud focuses on the education, but where does learning how to cook come in? All of my years at Red Cloud, and I have never seen a “home-ec” or a “culinary” class.

Sure it can be taught at home, but sometimes that is not enough. My colleagues and I decided to shed light on the world of cooking, and all of the wonders that follow.

Below are the links to a three part how-to video that my news team and I put together to try and spark the idea of having some sort of class aimed toward the culinary arts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE5o3iZDSOc&list=UU3Q3IeLcLs8nflIgKzgwGwg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UhQH4dI6CY&list=UU3Q3IeLcLs8nflIgKzgwGwg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiM0P-wDJbk&list=UU3Q3IeLcLs8nflIgKzgwGwg

Viki Eagle’s Advice to Conquer Red Cloud High School

Viki. Photo courtesy of Viki Eagle. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

Viki Eagle’s Advice to Conquer Red Cloud High School

By Jin Yup Jung '14

You must be a spy from Pine Ridge High School if you haven’t heard of Viki Eagle…

I bet you have seen a woman who always holds her own camera to take pictures of the Pine Ridge Reservation and students at Red Cloud.

Viki Eagle was on staff at Red Cloud in 2012-2013, and she taught Computer classes and worked on the yearbook with students. She recently visited Red Cloud few days ago for spring break. This was her third time to visit Red Cloud this year.

The reason she keeps visiting Red Cloud is that she earned so many great memories through the past year while working here. She loves this place, the students, and staff at Red Cloud.

Here are eight great tips from Viki, and it’s also called “Zombie Land Rules!” 

Viki wrote this because she wanted to give some advice for students at Red Cloud since she has always hoped that students from Red Cloud do well in high school, in college, and throughout their lives.

1. Cardio. 

Start strong, finish Strong. To all the incoming and current Freshmen and Sophomores: Don’t be like the Broncos' Peyton Manning in the Super Bowl. After that first safety in the first minute, he wasn’t able to bring his team back to catch up and now holds the record for the third worst Super Bowl blowout in the history of NFL.

In that way, don’t mess up your chances of succeeding your first year and having to catch up till senior year. Keep that GPA up, do all your readings, homework, and learn to study. And if you have a chance to join a program, internship, travel, Upward Bound- take it!

2. Enjoy the little things.  

Enjoy being a student and having great teachers that care. Give them a high five in the morning!

3. The Double Tap. 

Let your Negative Nancy and Debby Downer friend go. No one needs either of them in your life and they are not going to help you succeed.

           

4. Get a Kick A** Partner.  

When you get rid of Negative Nancy and Debby Downer, get a close friend to rely on. Tackle the zombies together as in tackle the academics and homework together.

            

 5. Shoot First 

 Advocate for yourself. No one makes it through high school by themselves. Everyone gets help. There are always teachers, faculty, etc, there to listen to you. Advocate for yourself and tell your teachers and counselors what you are struggling with or need help with. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Speak out for yourself. You have a voice so please use it.

          

 6. When in doubt, know your way out. 

If you find yourself in a bad situation where your friends are not listening, walk away from the situation. If they are your real friends, they will understand.

           

 7. Don’t Swing Low. 

 Don’t make your goals low- make them high. You are capable of so much more. It requires work but you can do it.

            
8. Be a Hero. 

Prove to everyone they were wrong. Or as my great friend Amanda say “Make your Haters be your Motivators." For all those people who don’t believe in you or think you cannot accomplish a task, prove them wrong instead of getting down and surrendering. Don’t get lazy…..please! 

                                                           

SDSU Scientists Get a Reaction From Students

Science in action. Photos by Colton Sierra '14. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.

SDSU Scientists Get a Reaction From Students

By Colton Sierra '14

Pop! Fizz! Boom! These are the sounds of science. This past Monday professors Dr. Larry Browning and Dr. Matt Miller from SDSU came to Red Cloud for the second consecutive year to show off their chemistry and physics skills for all to see.   

“What do you want to see?” exclaimed Dr. Browning as he welcomed the next group of science students into the room off the Commons. He helped Dr. Miller set up a station that the students could use to make homemade pop rocks.

They both showed us different chemical and physical demonstrations that had their crowd in awe. The demonstrations ranged from watching a chemical change colors multiple times in a reaction to shooting ping pong balls at a deadly force. There was a point during the presentation that everyone was eating frozen Cheetos Puffs.

This is the second year that these two professors journeyed to Red Cloud. Brother B. (Brother Mike Baranek) tells me, “Wendell and I saw them at their summer program,” and hence led them to come to Red Cloud to show us a piece of the world of science.

“It was good to have real professors,” said Wendell Gehman. “They help give credibility to what we do.” Being with these professors and seeing them in their habitat mirrored what the students might encounter in a college-level science class.

It was all good and fun, but it needed something to put the official stamp of acceptance on it. Dr. Browning grabbed a white bucket and put some water inside of it. He then showed us what he called “liquid air.” It actually was a bottle full of nitrogen. He closed it tightly, and dropped it in the water and scurried from the bucket. His quick little hustle from the bucket indicated visuals of something that all high school science students would want to see; we were about to see an explosion. 

 SCIENCE. Filmed by Colton Sierra '14. Copyright Red Cloud Indian School.