Counseling Sessions

Counseling sessions (individual and small group) has become Sue’s major task here. As soon as we arrived, after the administration learned Sue has a degree in counseling (I can vouch for that. She has given me the “3^rd Degree for many years!!!!!) they leapt out of their seats and asked her to set up counseling and they had a long list of students for her to see.

It appears many of these girls suffered incredible traumatic events when they were younger and they have never debriefed or talked about them or their pent up feelings surrounding the events.  The administration became aware of the problem when the girls had all these unexplained or unexplored “night traumas.” 

Sue started out with small group sessions and once the girls saw they could trust her, there is a “pick a number and stand in line” crowd wanting to talk to her. 

Madam Sue Struts Her Stuff

When there is a celebration at St. Clare it is celebrated with dancing. Girls gather in their tribal groups and perform songs and dances native to their cultural tribal roots.  While it is fun and makes for a great celebration, these cultural activities are an important part of the education at St. Clare for it is important the girls recall and know their tribal heritage.

To add more spice to the dance the girls love to send a girl out to the audience and drag up a teacher, or the principal or a visitor. Recently Madam Sue was selected from the crowd and was pressed into service.  The children love to see the adults trying to keep up with their energy and dancing skills.  Even with a 60 year difference Sue was able to keep up.