Latest news with #PatrickHenryMiddleSchool
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Making a difference through mentoring
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Eighth grader Angel Moreno and his mentor, Garth Caselli, meet once a week at Patrick Henry Middle School. The two were playing kings in a corner during a recent afternoon at school. Recycling in SF just got a whole lot easier 'When we first started I was horrible at it. I had no idea what I was doing on there. And then he showed me how to play and I'm better than him at it now,' Moreno said. That competitiveness is something these two have in common. It's one of the reasons they were matched with each other by the school-based mentoring program TeamMates of South Dakota. Caselli decided to get into youth mentorship after retirement. 'I had retired from a career where I'd had a lot of opportunity to teach and train and help develop people and I just really had a passion for doing something in the community civically,' Caselli said. He's been mentoring Moreno for a few years. 'It's very fun. It's one of the things I look forward to at school because I don't look forward to school that much,' Moreno said. More people like Caselli are needed to answer the call for mentors. 'We find that we have a lot of folks who are a little nervous about mentoring and just not sure that they would be a good fit, but truly, with our program, is just showing up to be present for a child,' TeamMates of South Dakota State Director Jess Karim said. TeamMates of South Dakota serves several communities including Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Pierre. Right now, the organization has a list of kids waiting for a mentor. 'A lot of our students in the schools that we serve see their friends have mentors that come into the building and share a lunch with them and see they have just another caring adult to talk with,' Karim said. Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken, who currently mentors several young men, has advocated for mentorship during his time in office. 'You have statistical information that will say that kids who have mentors in their lives are less likely to commit crimes, they're more likely to graduate, they're more likely to have jobs while in high school,' TenHaken said. The mentees aren't the only ones who may benefit from mentoring. 'I learn so much about myself when I pour into someone else,' TenHaken said. 'If it's tugging at your heartstrings give it a try because it is so simple to make a difference and we need more people that will step up and just give it a try. Everyone I know that has done it has received the same thing I've received and it's well worth the effort,' Caselli said. While Moreno has picked up some card game skills from Caselli, he's also benefited from mentorship in other ways. 'In sixth grade, I used to be a little angry bird. I'd very lash out at people. He showed me there's a bright side to everything. It's not always like you have to lash out at people over things. You can talk it through, not freak out, tell an adult about it. I'd say he's very much helped me with that,' Moreno said. Moreno will move on to high school next fall, and his mentor will be there. Click the links below for more mentoring resources: LSS Sioux 52 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A morning of art at 'Doodle with a Poodle'
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A number of local artists spent the morning talking shop at a coffeehouse in Sioux Falls. Tucked away in the corner of Josiah's Coffeehouse & Cafe is a meeting of the Great Plains Watercolor Society. Juvenile injured in 'weapons violation' 'You can do just a little bit to a drawing and add a lot or you can make it entirely a full watercolor with nothing else,' local artist Gary Pederson said. Pederson is a retired band instructor, most recently teaching at Patrick Henry Middle School, and rarely goes anywhere without his 4-year-old doodle dog, Arthur. 'He's surprisingly well-behaved, that's not due to us, he just came that way,' Pederson said. He's also the inspiration behind the Watercolor Society's newest indoor event. 'My friend who is great with coming up with good ideas says 'call it Doodle with a Poodle',' Pederson said. 'Arthur is the most amazing dog I've ever met,' local artist Barbara Sparks said. Sparks helped found the Great Plains Watercolor Society six years ago. 'We started out with 35 members, it went to 100 within months, and has stayed there ever since,' Sparks said. The group was created on a simple idea. 'Why don't we get together, pool our resources, and we can hire people from all over the country to come and teach us sort of to elevate our level of watercolor,' Sparks said. When the artists take their watercolors indoors for Doodle with a Poodle, they focus on urban sketching. 'Not necessarily landscapes but more urban scenes and people and places,' Pederson said. Pederson says when it comes to urban sketching, sometimes deciding what to draw or paint is the toughest part of the process. 'Even though we all love painting, sometimes we need a little extra incentive to get the brushes out,' Pederson said. Local artist Steve Randall found his inspiration in 4-month-old Lance, the son of Mary Kate Schultz, who's now the proud owner of an original piece of artwork. A case of painting leading to conversation, that's what the Great Plains Watercolor Society is all about. The members of the Great Plains Watercolor Society will take their talents outdoors starting in June, meeting from 10:00 to noon June 26th at Dunham Park in Sioux Falls. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Better South Dakota (formerly Long Live MC) expands mental health support with new programs and scholarships
Mar. 25—SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — A South Dakota nonprofit that focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention has made a significant stride in its mission with the award of its first-ever $10,000 counseling grant. The grant, presented to Patrick Henry Middle School in Sioux Falls at the organization's inaugural Counseling for Kids event in January, will help strengthen the school's counseling and therapy programs, providing support for students in need of mental health resources. Better South Dakota, formerly known as Long Live MC, is shifting its focus toward offering direct mental health resources in schools across the state. The organization's latest initiative represents a crucial move to ensure that young people receive the support they need before struggles escalate, according to co-founder Tristan Teichmeier. "We believe in early intervention," Teichmeier said. "Our goal is to help schools address counseling needs early on, creating a solid foundation for mental health support before challenges become more severe." Patrick Henry Middle School was selected as the first recipient due to a board member's connection to the school, but moving forward, schools across South Dakota will be invited to apply. This expansion marks a new chapter in Better South Dakota's broader vision to address mental health at a community level and support the well-being of the next generation. Founded in 2022 by childhood friend and Dakota Wesleyan University graduate Teichmeier, along with Manny Christopher's brothers, Denet and Patrick, Better South Dakota began as a tribute to Manny Christopher, a former Roosevelt High School and Dakota Wesleyan University football player who died by suicide in 2021. The nonprofit initially focused on raising awareness about mental health and suicide prevention in his honor. Teichmeier, who graduated from DWU in 2020 and earned his master's degree in 2021, teamed up with Manny's family to establish the nonprofit. "We wanted to do something meaningful to honor Manny and make a difference in the lives of others," Teichmeier said. In December 2024, the organization rebranded to Better South Dakota to reflect its growing statewide mission. "The rebrand was an opportunity for us to move beyond just honoring Manny's memory," Denet Christopher explained. "Manny wasn't the only one struggling. We realized that mental health challenges affect everyone, and we wanted to reach a broader audience to make a real difference." With the rebrand, Better South Dakota has expanded its focus to not only support individual initiatives but to address systemic mental health needs in schools and communities throughout South Dakota. This shift allows the organization to have a lasting impact by providing tangible resources and building stronger mental health infrastructures in schools. As part of its growth, Better South Dakota continues to honor Manny Christopher's legacy through scholarships. Initially, the organization awarded three $500 scholarships annually — one for a Dakota Wesleyan University business major, one for a DWU football player, and one for a basketball player. Today, the nonprofit awards two $2,500 scholarships, maintaining its focus on the areas Manny was passionate about — business and football. "Seeing our scholarship grow from $1,500 to $5,000 has been incredible," Teichmeier said. "It shows how much this movement has expanded, and we're excited to continue helping more students pursue their education and careers." In addition to scholarships, the nonprofit has launched a faith program this year to engage churches and religious organizations in conversations about mental health. The program includes quarterly grants of $500 to faith-based groups supporting mental health initiatives. The first recipient in 2025, Good News Church in Sioux Falls, used its grant to send three youth members to a church camp, where they could address their mental health struggles in a supportive environment. "There's a big disconnect when it comes to pastors and faith organizations being prepared to handle conversations about suicide," Teichmeier noted. "We want to help bridge that gap, making sure that faith leaders are equipped to have these important discussions." As Better South Dakota continues to expand its impact, it remains focused on the future. The organization's largest fundraiser, the annual golf tournament, raises funds for these initiatives, while its new Counseling for Kids fundraiser has already proven successful, raising $17,000 in its first year. Proceeds from these events directly support Better South Dakota's counseling programs, scholarships and faith-based initiatives, ensuring that the organization can continue growing and offering support where it's needed most. For Christopher, the mission is both personal and transformative. "Manny was the type of guy who would make sure everyone felt valued," Christopher said. "Through Better South Dakota, we want to make sure his spirit lives on by helping as many people as we can. It's not just about honoring Manny's memory, it's about making real, lasting change in our community." Teichmeier, now working in San Francisco, draws inspiration from Silicon Valley's startup culture. "Being here has shown me how much potential we have to grow this nonprofit and make it bigger than we ever imagined," he said. "We're just getting started." Looking ahead, the nonprofit is planning two major events later this year. In August, Better South Dakota will team up with Mitchell native and former NBA player Mike Miller for a basketball fundraiser. By the end of the year, the organization hopes to host a Faithful Leaders Seminar in Sioux Falls, providing faith leaders and pastors with mental health training to better support their congregations.
