Musical Talent Showcased at He Dog School

PARMELEE, SD – The elementary students at He Dog School dedicated many hours practicing to present a successful Spring Concert to parents, grandparents and community members last week.

Sarah Nelson is the Vocal/Instrumental Director at He Dog. She led the school band in their presentation. Playing the clarinet were Judd Cortier, Elena Murray, Jordan Smith and Anthony Stone. Callie Olson played the Alto Saxophone. On the trumpet was Dayna Witt. They played Farm Out, Lightly Row, Melody and Star Chase.

The musical continued with the fourth grade students demonstrating their skills with the recorders. They played three songs—Mary’s Little Cha-Cha, Country Hoedown and the Cabbage Song.

Students in the other grades sang several songs for the crowd. The first grade did a great job with Down in the Valley, I Love the Mountains and The Garden Song. The Kindergarten A and B students were a big hit with their families. They sang Sandy Land, Over in the Meadow and Down the River.

Also combining their vocal talents as a group were the fourth and fifth grade students. They sang Simple Gifts, Lift Every Voice and Sing and The Water is Wide. The second and third grade student group wrapped up the musical presentations with Blue Skies, Home on the Range and What a Wonderful World.

Named after the Lakota Chief He Dog, the elementary school is one of the oldest on the Rosebud Reservation. The original He Dog Day School opened in 1893. In 1935, the new consolidated He Dog Day School was opened. In August of 1950, He Dog School became part of the Todd County School District.

Today, the He Dog School campus has eight buildings housing classrooms and offices, a gymnasium, bus garage and several housing units for staff. The school long served students in pre-school through the eighth grade. However, district restructuring saw the sixth through eighth grades moved to the Todd County Middle School several years ago. The school currently serves students from pre-school through the fifth grade.

He Dog School is located on the western end of the Rosebud Reservation near Parmelee. It is one of nine elementary schools in the Todd County School District. He Dog School currently serves over 100 students from three communities—He Dog, Upper Cut Meat and Parmelee. The student body is 100% Native American. Principal is Deb Boyd.