John Kozlowicz
Staff Writer

On January 24, 2004 residents of the Wisconsin Rapids/Nekoosa area joined the Nekoosa Study Center staff and students at an open house celebrating the opening of the new Study Center, located near Rainbow Casino, in the middle of the Nekoosa Ho-Chunk community.  Located in the Chak-Hah-Chee Building, for the first time students in the area now have a permanent after-school home.

Study Center Coordinator, Valerie Smith explained that the Nation had been renting space in Wisconsin Rapids, serving area students who lived within a 25-mile radius of the Center.  Because most of the students are from the Nekoosa area, she said a decision was made to find a place closer to their homes when the lease on the rented site expired last November.  The Chak-Hah-Chee Building had been the home to the Tribal Health Care Office in the area and the decision was made that the space available would be better utilized as a Study Center with Health Care moving to the new Community Building.

Along with providing the staff and students with a permanent home, Smith stated that since opening, she has seen an increase in the number of students attending.  The numbers, she said, “is the largest group we’ve ever had,” and she attributes the growth in enrollment to the new location.  Noting that the Center is responsible for transporting students from school and back home, she added that in most cases the shorter travel time should allow students to get a few more minutes in the classroom.  Currently the Center serves 27 children, ages 7-11, on Mondays and Wednesdays and 25 students, ages 12-17, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Teachers, Jancita Warrington, Erin Hansen, Jean Day and Home School Coordinator, Tania Hamus typically work with the students about two hours a day under the strict guideline that Homework must be done before any other activity.  The staff regularly reviews progress reports on each student provided by the local school districts and they agree that these reports allow them to better serve each student’s individual needs.

Helping make the evening a real celebration was the music provided by the drum group, MIDNITE XPRESS.  As everyone enjoyed a meal and each other’s company, singers Keith D. Smith, Opie Day Bedeau and Hallo Day, with help from Valerie and Keith’s son, Nick Smith, entertained everyone with their unique style of music.

Valerie Smith concluded that the move from Wisconsin Rapids to Nekoosa took about a month and she is grateful to the entire Ho-Chunk community for the help and time they devoted to the project.  Now that we have the room, she said, she encourages more of the estimated 200 Ho-Chunk students in the area to visit the Center and is confident that the staff can help everyone who attends regularly.

Left to Right: Jancita Warrington, Erin Hansen, Tania Hamus, and Jean Day, members of the Nekoosa Center Staff.

Younger students enjoying some free time.

MIDNITE EXPRESS