We have used the phrase “Excellence Now…Choices Later.” This phrase is the core belief that excellence is expected and practiced now and students will have choices later. Taking responsibility and hard work is the core to greater opportunities, and with opportunities come more choices for the future.

Students within an academy program are expected to “step up” when they meet challenges. They are expected to work as a team to create a school where all are respected and everyone learns. Academy programs are built on accepting responsibility for ones own actions and knowing that personal accountability excuses and short cuts are not accepted or allowed. An academy program is designed to inspire students to acknowledge their dreams and convince them that through commitment and hard work, their dreams can come true.

It takes a total school commitment; a commitment of parents, students, teachers, staff and administration to promote a positive learning experience to achieve high student achievement. Parents and students will sign Parent, Family, and Student Commitment letters. These commitment letters outline the responsibilities and document the promise to work hard together to meet the challenges of the coming school year. Teachers will sign a commitment letter reinforcing their commitment to provide high quality instruction for every student.

This begins the first year our schools will implement the Curricular Trips program. At the fourth grade, all students in good standing will attend a four to five day Science camp in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The eighth grade will tour part of the east coast and the Washington, D.C. area. The eleventh grade will tour part of the west coast. These are not reward trips---but are designed to support the curriculum and expose our students to outside opportunities.

Uniforms are also an important element of our academy programs. All of our students will wear uniforms, polos or other acceptable professional dress, every day. Within the academy philosophy wearing uniforms means there will be no competition in dress, and it provides students with a sense of unity and of belonging to a broader family. Uniforms reinforce our identity as a community and the sense for each student that “I belong to something greater than myself.” Uniforms support our collective responsibility to take care of one another and also helps identify and welcome newcomers.

We will begin a strong careers program PreK-12 so students experience and explore job opportunities. The careers program will keep the focus on the “choices later” element of our hard work and efforts.

Another great plus for students graduating from St. Labre is the scholarship program. Students graduating from St. Labre may receive up to $4,000 per year in college. To qualify, a student must compete two years of high school at St. Labre.

The quote from Plenty Coup says very well St. Labre, St. Charles and Pretty Eagle Schools move toward the academy program. Most people have heard and can repeat the first part of his quote—“Education is your greatest weapon. With education you are the white man’s equal; without education, you are his victim and so shall remain all of your lives.”

Following is the part that exemplifies St. Labre’s efforts: “Study, learn, help one another always. Remember there is only poverty and misery in idleness and dreams—but in work, there is self-respect and independence.”

He said our motto in this part of his speech, “Hard work = “Excellence now…Choices later.”

Ivan Blake Small
Director of Schools