Holbrook Indian School

A Seventh-day Adventist Boarding Academy Serving Native American Youth Since 1946

Chilly Day, Big Smiles

by Nicole Potgieter

At 5:30 a.m., before the winter morning had even begun to dawn, the campus was already stirring to life. It was Rec Day for the students at Holbrook Indian School (HIS)—one of the highlights of the school year.

This year there were three different field trips for the students to choose from. One group went to Bearizona, a safari park. Another group signed up to go bowling and ice skating. The third group went skiing and snowboarding.

The first group of students loaded up early and headed for Sunrise Park Resort on the Fort Apache Reservation, where skis and snowboards awaited them. The excitement was palpable as the bus drove off campus. A few hours later, the safari park and bowling/skating groups were ready to go. The buses pulled out of the driveway and Rec Day began.

The two-hour drive to the safari park in Williams, Arizona, seemed to take forever. Finally, Bearizona came into view and the students got ready for the drive-through safari. Phone cameras clicked as bison ambled across the road. Up next were the wolves, who surrounded the bus and sniffed the tires. Finally, the wolves wandered off and the safari could continue. The fuzzy, cuddly-looking black bears were among the kids’ favorite animals.

When the safari came to an end, everyone headed to the

exhibits to see more animals. There were red foxes, porcupines, raccoons, bobcats, and even jaguars! The snow was piled up by the trails and the wind was blowing. However, that did not dampen the spirits of the visitors. Meanwhile, the students on the ski trip were also having fun. While the more experienced students skied down slopes of varying difficulty, the younger ones received skiing and snowboarding lessons. A lot of laughs ensued as first-time skiers and snowboarders bumbled their way through the lessons. As the day progressed, so did their skills; there were fewer falls and more successful attempts. Finally, they were cleared for the real slopes!

As the day drew to a close, each

group had supper and settled in for the long drive back to Holbrook. Rec Day had been a resounding success. Every student went to bed that night with a host of unforgettable memories and friendships that were stronger than before.

Rec Day is an important event on the school calendar. The field trips give the students a chance to experience adventures they’ve never had before. Many times, Rec Day is the only chance a student will have to do something like skiing or bowling. This year a generous donor helped to cover the cost of Rec Day so the students could have this opportunity. Having the opportunity to explore outside of the classroom also helps the students experience

Without Rec Day, many students at HIS would never have the opportunity to experience adventures like bowling, skiing, or snowboarding. Rec Day field trips are one of the ways we help our students experience the joy of learning.

Holbrook Indian School (HIS) is a first- through

twelfth-grade boarding academy operated by the Pacific Union Conference of the Seventhday Adventist Church. HIS also manages a

first- through eighth-grade day school on the Navajo reservation in Chinle, Arizona. Eighty percent of funding comes from individuals who have a desire to support Native American ministries and Christian education. Your generosity makes a difference in the lives of our students, their families, and the communities they serve. Thank you for your support.

the joy of learning. While it is our teachers’ primary goal to introduce the students to Jesus, we want them to enjoy school and learning new things. It takes a great deal of planning and effort, but Rec Day is one of the ways to do that.

M.A.P.S. is a vital part of the NEW You Initiative at Holbrook Indian School. We want to help our students grow Mentally, Artistically/ Academically, Physically, and Spiritually. Rec Day field trips are one of the ways we help our students grow physically. Thank you so much for your support in providing a safe and nurturing environment for the students of HIS.

Seventh-day Adventist

DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT P.O. Box 910 Holbrook, Arizona 86025-0910 (928) 524-6845 (Ext. 109) Development@hissda.org HolbrookIndianSchool.org