Continuing the Dream

The direction for the school was laid out in 1993 when the St. Michael Indian School was incorporated in the state of Arizona as a non- profit educational institution. The four original directors for the Corporation were Anthony Lincoln, Richard Mike, Sam Day III, and Patrick Graham. Their initial energies focused on creating endowments for financial stability, but now their responsibilities have been broadened to include both financial and administrative duties.

Another change that was made, in the mid-1980s, was the hiring of a lay- person as principal of the high school. John Lincoln held that position for a couple of years, then to be succeeded by John Reilly, who held that position until he retired in June 2002.

Many of the staff and teachers who worked with Mr. Reilly agree that his greatest "gift" to the school was the establishment of a workable and equitable Code of Ethics and Deportment. He instilled in the students a sense of honesty, trust and self-respect, and encouraged them to excel, both in the classroom and on the athletic field. This gave the high school a good reputation, and enrollment continued to grow.

Although a disciplinarian, Mr. Reilly always gave the students an equal chance. It is said that he wore taps on his shoes so that students (and faculty) could always hear him coming down the hall.

Today, the high school enrollment stands at 170.

The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament got a real morale-booster in November 1988, when the foundress of their Order, Mother Katharine Drexel, was beatified. Not only the sisters, but everyone connected with the school was overjoyed when Pope John Paul II canonized Katharine Drexel on October 1, 2000. What a wonderful gift for the new millennium!

Over the past four decades, high school students have continued to pack the trophy cases with new examples of excellence -not only in the fields of sports, but also for entries in the Navajo Science and Culture Fairs, "Making it with Wool" contests and many other competitive activities.

In 1994, after a hiatus of 21 years, football returned to St. Michael. Other high school extra-curricular activities include the National Honor Society, Chess Club, Native American Club, Cross Country as well as Track and Field.

The Elementary School has also seen a period of growth. First, the addition of a Kindergarten class, and beginning in 1996, the provision for after school care, and in 1997 the establishment of the Early Bird Program.

The Early Bird concept is an out-reach program where staff members travel to local Chapter Houses and WIC Centers. It involves the.family as the first and best teacher of the child who is learning how to learn. Over the past five years more than 1,300 children under the age of six have participated in the Early Bird Program, which has laid the foundation on which St. Michael Elementary School then builds.

Under the capable leadership of the principal the elementary school is at capacity with an enrollment of 240 pupils. At many grade levels children are turned away for lack of room. The principal and faculty have been successful in improving the math and language arts curriculum, and the Computer Lab now has a full-time coordinator.

But all of these improvements and additional activities have not come about without a tremendous cost. Just about one-third of the operational costs of maintaining St. Michael Indian School are covered by tuition and scholarships. The remaining expenditures are balanced by large contributions from the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions and the Southwest Indian Foundation. Additional income is received from donations and endowments from such diverse organizations as the Koch Foundation, Raskob Foundation, Alfred Harcourt Foundation and the Ottens Foundation. These groups, and many -other donors and contributors deserve the thanks and appreciation of all who are associated with St. Michael Indian School. Their support has, to a large degree, made it possible to "Continue the Dream."

A hundred years have come and gone -and still the long line of students, alumni, and all those who have been touched in one way or another by the school on the banks of Cienega Amarilla, continue to move, both into the annals of history and into the hopes and challenges of the future.

One hundred years of collective memories -of a small, but highly dedicated group of women, some young and some not so young, and many with Irish, German and Italian accents, who devoted their lives to the noble dreams and goals of their leader, now a holy saint in the Catholic Church; of brown robed friars who came first to lay the groundwork for the physical facilities, and then have consistently provided their support and assistance to the school; of Indian leaders and parents who had the courage and foresight to entrust their children to a promise of a brighter future; and of the growing number of lay teachers, who have come from all walks of life and educational backgrounds, but have the singular goal of assisting in the education of our Native American youth ...and the dream continues.

One hundred years of collective memories -of scared little children who left the security of hogan or pueblo for the new world of dormitories, classrooms, Red Lane and the Four Chairs, learning English and algebra, catechism lessons, Baptisms and Holy Communion, the excitement of a victorious basketball game... and the agony of defeat, creating new and enduring friendships, the anticipation of the junior/Senior Prom, Senior class trips, and finally graduation... and the dream continues.

And as we enter the second century for St. Michael Indian School, those memories and dreams are still here... are still with us. If you walk among the ancient, stately willows that grow along the Cienega Amarilla, the Yellow Meadow, Ts'ihootso, and feel the soft, gentle autumn breeze on your face, stop and listen. And if you listen to that soft wind, you can hear the voices of all those who have come before.

Listen, and you can hear them singing . . .

Here among the rocks and sagebrush,
on this desert wide.

Stands our dear old Alma Mater stands
our dear old Alma Mater whom we view with pride.

Wavew her colors, bear them onward,
Red and white so true.

Hail! St. Michael School forever.
Hail! Oh hail to you.

Always shall our hearts be grateful for the blessings true,
We received within, thy portals, the days we've spent with you.

Wave her colors, bear them onward,
Red and white so true.

Hail! St. Michael School Forever hail, oh hail, to you.