De La Salle Blackfeet School
De La Salle Blackfeet School continued celebrating its 25th anniversary year with a season marked by faith, academic progress, cultural learning, and strong community participation.
One highlight of the winter months was Catholic Schools Week. The week began with a community Mass at Little Flower Parish, where students, families, and parishioners gathered in prayer to celebrate Catholic education. Following Mass, the school hosted a community breakfast and open house in the De La Salle gym, offering visitors an opportunity to meet teachers and view student work.
Throughout the week, students participated in activities that reflected the unique mission of De La Salle Blackfeet School as a Catholic, Lasallian, and Blackfeet educational community. Students wrote essays reflecting on what it means to live these identities together, while classroom activities included Catholic and Lasallian reflections, a Blackfeet and Lasallian scavenger hunt, and the creation of a school time capsule to commemorate the school’s 25th anniversary. Students also prepared thank-you cards to donors whose support sustains the school’s mission.
Catholic Schools Week also emphasized community and vocation. A Blackfeet community presentation by Kim Jiron-DeRoche encouraged students to reflect on service and leadership within the Blackfeet Nation, while De La Salle Christian Brothers visited classrooms to speak about religious vocation and the Lasallian mission. The week concluded with several community celebrations, including a talent show and a friendly student-versus-staff basketball game that brought the school together in joyful spirit.
Academic progress was also celebrated as students completed winter MAP testing. Results showed encouraging growth across several grade levels. In reading, Grade 3 students achieved 83rd percentile growth, Grade 6 reached the 69th percentile, and Grade 8 reached the 75th percentile, reflecting strong literacy instruction and intervention efforts. Mathematics growth in the upper grades was also encouraging, with Grade 7 reaching the 67th percentile and Grades 5 and 6 both demonstrating 51st percentile growth. Science gains were notable in Grades 4 and 6, where students reached 83rd and 51st percentile growth respectively. Midyear achievement data also showed upward movement in several areas, including Grade 3 reading and Grade 7 language, reflecting positive momentum for the remainder of the school year.
During January, De La Salle Blackfeet School also welcomed several visiting groups through the OKI-NI-SOO-KA-WA (Come & See) Blackfeet Immersion program. Students and staff from La Salle High School in Yakima, Washington; Mullen High School in Denver, Colorado; Christian Brothers Academy in Newark, New Jersey; and Calvert Hall College High School in Towson, Maryland joined our community for weeks of service, classroom assistance, cultural learning, and reflection within the Blackfeet Nation.
The school community also entered the Lenten season together with a student-led Ash Wednesday service at Little Flower Parish, beginning the journey toward Easter in prayer and reflection.
These months have reflected the spirit of De La Salle Blackfeet School, where faith, culture, and education continue to guide students toward lives of purpose, leadership, and service.
