THESHERMAN

TIMEsSHERMAN INDIAN HIGH SCHOOL VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5 FEBRUARY, 2018

Figure 1. Gila Rivermembers touring

the Sherman Path-way Program. Notethe aquaponic sys-tem in the back-

ground.

From Vern’s DeskSenior high school student and guest

speaker Kinsale Heuston visited ourcampus early this month. Ms. Heustonis the 2017-2018 National StudentPoet for the Western United Statesand the winner of two NationalScholastic Art and Writing GoldMedals. While at Sherman she pre-sented several mini workshops on po-etry writing to students and staff.The very successful Sherman Braves

and Lady Braves basketball seasonconcluded this month. The junior var-sity girls and boys teams went unde-feated and capped off their seasonswith the Arrowhead League champi-onships. The Varsity Braves and LadyBraves teams finished second in theleague and qualified for CIF post sea-son play (Fig. 4).On February 9th, representatives of

the Gila River Indian Community (Ari-zona) visited Sherman. The Gila Rivermembers included Danielle Allen, theORSBS advisor, five of the educationalstanding committee, and the studentservice representative. The Gila Rivermembers toured our campus, visitedwith some of our faculty, and indicatedthat they were impressed with our stu-dents and school (Fig. 1).Special Education and English

teacher Patti Verwiel and her dramaclub recently saw the inspiring play“Antigone” at the University of Califor-nia, Riverside.

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School Reading and MathematicsGoals AchievedAt the end of 2017 school-wide BIE Native Star reading and mathematics goals were

established for our school. To measure individual student academic progress, we usethe NEWA MAP RIT scale and RIT points. Student growth in reading and math ismeasured by a Student’s increase in RIT points over the academic year. Our goals for9th through 11th grade students were that 40 and 35% of these students for readingand mathematics, respectively, would individually increase their NEWA RIT scores.Our January 2018 midterm NEWA test revealed that we achieved and exceeded ourschool year goals. In reading 57% of our students increased their RIT score over theSeptember NEWA testing and in mathematics 68% of the students increased theirRIT scores. Congratulations to our Sherman students and teachers for achieving ouracademic goals.

Figure 2. Babychickens in the

Pathways Program.Agricultural PathwaysProgramIt is an exciting time in the agricul-

tural pathway program. Last monthagricultural teacher Gena Hasson wel-comed aboard science teacher Ms.Helen Bonner to teach the floral designclass. The Operation 29:11 group con-tinues to aid pathways in various cam-pus agricultural projects. One of the

Figure 3. Top: Completed and filled vegetable wood growth boxes. Bottom: Agricultural teacher, Gena Has-son (front left) and members of Operation 29:11 in discussions within the Agricultural Pathway classroom.

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goals of the 29:11 group is to providesupport and direction so that youngpeople and communities can becomeknowledgeable and self-sufficient infood production. Although the group issouthern California based, it also workswith Native American communities inArizona and New Mexico. The groupmeets regularly with Ms. Hasson andrecently finished construction of thefirst of several aquaponics systems(Fig. 1,3). Aquaponics is the combina-tion of raising fish and plants togetherin one integrated system.The members of the operation 29:11

group include: Randy Williams, Execu-tive Director of Operation 29:11; ScottBerndt, RUSD Specialty Crop FoodHub Coordination; Jerry Creekpaum,Second Harvest, Backyard Bounty; JonHauntz, Backyard Bounty; Joyce Jong,City of Riverside Community and Eco-nomic Development Department Coor-dinator; Gabe Pimentel, SouthernCalifornia Indian Center; John andPenny Warren, Operation 29:11; andPamela Williams, Operation 29:11.Recently Ms. Hasson and five stu-

dents attended the World AgriculturalExpo in Tulare, California. The WorldAg Expo is the largest Expo of its kindin the world. While at the Expo our stu-dents observed displays in cutting edgeagricultural technology and equipmentfrom over 1500 exhibitors. The incredi-ble ground breaking agricultural tech-nology at the Expo included drones andthe use of drone data to automate andoptimize farm management, e.g., weedpressure mapping, minimizing wateruse, disease pressure mapping andyield prediction, and the use of nan-otechnology/biochips/biosensors formanaging animal health care.This month the agricultural pathway

students completed assembling theirwooden raised beds (Fig. 3). The stu-dents will use these vegetable beds togain exposure and experience in culti-vating vegetable crops and conductingexperiments in vegetable culture. Alsomeat and egg laying chickens (Fig. 2)recently arrived at Sherman destinedfor the Agricultural Pathway Program.

Figure 4. Above: The 2017/18 Braves Varsity Basketball team atthe winter pep assembly. From left to right: Edward White Eagle,

Colbey Aster, Donald Staley, Jarred Carlyle, Iverson Ivins, BrandonJimmie, Aloysius Lopez, Kina Brings Plenty, and Wes Franco. Inter-

tribalCouncil Officer Kobe Dale stands at the far left. Right: The2017/18 Lady Brave Varsity Basketball Team top (left to right) Topah

Scherer, Jennaya Steve, Tiawna Sinyella, Bottom: Trina Hunter,Krista Wasson, Whitley Hill, Wahela Gregg, Kimberly Topaum.

Honoring ourAcademic EliteIn February 115 Sherman stu-

dents with GPAs of 3.0 or betterand no D’s or F’s for the firstprogress report were honored at aluncheon (Fig. 5) and later withbanana splits at our winter pepassembly (Fig. 5). These recogni-tion activities were organized bySherman councilors K. Cliffordand S. McMorris. Also in Febru-ary nine new members were in-ducted into the Sherman National

Honor Society Chapter (Fig. 5).The new members were: EricaGuzman, Teela Hunter,Leighanna Jake, Krista Wasson,Libby Atene, Jessica Azure, Be-linda Crocker, Takia Martin, andRayne Ramirez. We congratulatethese new NHS members for notonly achieving academic excel-lence, but also for excelling inleadership, character, and serviceat Sherman.

Figure 5. Top Left: Proud students (left to right) Gianna Yazzie, Kiani Quiver, and Emerald Sam display their Honor Roll Certificates. Top Right: National Honor So-ciety Induction Ceremony held in the school library. School Principal, Mary Yarger, and NHS advisor Monica Royalty present a certificate and a rose to new in-ductee Jessica Azure. Bottom Left: NHS member Timera Gordon (front right) relates the importance of academic scholarships to all NHS members. Bottom Right:Winter Pep Assembly in the Sherman Gymnasium.

Healthcare at ShermanIndian High School

Figure 6. Top: An early picture of the Sherman Indian Campus Hospital. Bottom: Sherman physician andnursing progrm coordinator, Mary Israel, with four of her nursing students.

Although there were unfortunateoutbreaks of diseases at Shermanduring the early years, such assmallpox (1903), typhoid fever(1904), and Spanish influenza (1918-1919), students overall received rela-tive good health care. It wasprimarily due to the typhoid feverepidemic at Sherman in 1904, alongwith a new focus by the Indian Of-fice in 1909 to improve the healthcare of all off reservation boardingstudents, that in 1910 the Indian Of-fice authorized $15,000 for the con-struction of a state of the arttwo-story medical and surgical hos-pital at Sherman (Fig. 6). By 1912the hospital was in operation andprovided care not only to Shermanstudents and employees, but occa-sionally to Native Americans livingaround the area. The hospital stooduntil 1967 when it was taken down.A contract physician in Riverside di-rected the medical care at the hospi-tal and school, but a residentialnurse who lived on campus directedthe daily health care of patients. In1907 physician Mary Israel came toSherman, lived on campus, andstarted a first rate comprehensiveschool nursing program. Studentnurses aided surgeons during opera-tions at Sherman and were also as-signed to the Riverside CommunityHospital for additional training (Fig.6). During this time, students inneed of dental work were sent to pri-vate practices in the Riverside area.In 1955 the United States Govern-

ment established the Indian HealthServices (IHS) with a goal to providecomprehensive culturally acceptablehealth services to American andAlaskan Native Americans. The IHSis an agency within the Department

of Health and Human Services. TheIHS employs over 2500 nurses, 700physicians, 700 pharmacists, 100physician assistants and 3000 den-tists. With the arrival of the IHS toSherman a small clinic was con-structed on campus in the late1970’s. This clinic operated until the1990’s and also provided health carefor both Sherman students and Na-tive American employees.Our current IHS unit is located

within the academic building andwas constructed in 2005. The unitconsists of a reception area, andtriage, examination, lab, and phar-macy rooms along with various of-fices. The clinic provides urgent andemotional care to our students from8 to 4 pm during the weekdays. Onan average week 40-50 students usethe IHS Clinic. If the clinic is con-fronted with issues they cannot han-

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dle or issues that arise during clinicoff-hours, students are taken to theParkview Community Hospital Med-ical Center, which is located aboutfour minutes down our street. Un-fortunately, government cutbacks toIHS funding over the years has re-duced the IHS staff at Sherman.These cutbacks have restricted thetime that the Sherman IHS staff canvigorously pursue preventativehealth care on campus and has de-layed the time students can be eval-uated at the clinic. Our ShermanIHS clinic staff includes Nurse Prac-

titioner T. Graggs (Fig. 7); K. Maser-jian LCSW (Fig. 7); and clinic sup-port staff member C.Valliere-Segovia (Fig. 7). Ms. Graggshas been at Sherman twice. She wasinitially stationed here during 2004-2006, then returned to Sherman in2015. At times it is necessary for Ms.Graggs to collaborate with the IHSUnits of students back home to de-velop individualized student treat-ment plans. Therefore, it isimportant that parents disclose onthe Sherman student applicationform if their child requires special

health care services in order for theclinic to provide proper and optimalcare. Ms. Maserjian has been atSherman for 13 years diagnosing andhelping to alleviate mental and emo-tional problems of our unique andprecious teenage population. Sheurges Sherman parents to call her ifthey feel or sense that there is some-thing wrong or different about theirchild at Sherman (951-509-8780;951-276-6325 Ext. 300). Ms. Maser-jian will gladly look into and discussyour concerns and provide studentswith counseling.

THE SHERMAN TIMESis a monthly digital publication that pro-vides information on Sherman IndianHigh School.DESIGN: Marg’s Designs

SHERMAN INDIAN HIGH SCHOOL9010 Magnolia AvenueRiverside, CA 92503PH: 951-276-6325FAX: 951-276-6336WEB: www.shermanindian.orgSCHOOL PRINCIPAL: Sister Mary Yarger

MISSION STATEMENTThe Sherman Community empowersNative students through opportunities tofind their purpose at school and in life.

MIND • BODY • EMOTION • SPIRIT

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Figure 7. Top Left: Nurse Graggs in the examinationroom of our current IHS unit. Top Right: Ms. K. Maser-

jian, IHS; Bottom Right: Ms. C. Valliere-Segovia and Ms.T. Graggs, IHS