It has been said that “it’s better to seek to understand, rather than try to be understood,” and a very prominent author said, “to deal with human minds is the greatest work ever given to man.”

At Holbrook Indian School (HIS) we try our very best to tackle these humbling prospects. Our MAPS approach (which involves the whole person, Mental, Academic/Artistic, Physical, and Spiritual) is the foundation of all we do here.

For the month of January, our MAPS feature will be sharing the issues and our approach surrounding Mental Health (the “M”)—understanding and dealing with minds.

It has been said that “it’s better to seek to understand, rather than try to be understood,” and a very prominent author said, “to deal with human minds is the greatest work ever given to man.”

At Holbrook Indian School (HIS) we try our very best to tackle these humbling prospects. Our MAPS approach (which involves the whole person, Mental, Academic/Artistic, Physical, and Spiritual) is the foundation of all we do here.

For the month of January, our MAPS feature will be sharing the issues and our approach surrounding Mental Health (the “M”)—understanding and dealing with minds.

The year 2020 has been one of dilemmas. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many to make some tough decisions, and for our little boarding school in the desert, this has been no exception.

In doing our part to curb the spread of the virus, our students were unable to return to the Holbrook Indian School (HIS) campus to finish out the 2019-2020 school year. After leaving for spring break, they remained home, many of them living on the Navajo reservation. Our Summer Experience program was also cancelled.

The conditions for our students were dire. The Navajo Nation had the highest transmission levels in the country. This is significantly due to a lack of clean water, access to healthy foods, and adequate medical care, along with overcrowded homes. Lack of internet also posed a considerable obstacle to distance learning.

With all the uncertainty this year has brought, it is wonderful to have some tangible tokens of assurance. Four alumni of Holbrook Indian School (HIS) are dedicating their time and talents to give back to their alma mater. Another has stepped in during a time of misfortune and need. For all those invested in what we do at HIS, this is a welcome note of encouragement. Seeing our students rise above the challenges of their backgrounds, breaking the cycle of poverty and abuse - this is the reason Holbrook Indian School was founded

At Holbrook Indian School (HIS), we may be concluding the first semester of this unique school year, but it’s only a continuation of our radically different approach to education. That includes lesson planning as well as operational logistics. Before any decision is made, we like to ask: “What is best for our students?” That is the philosophy at HIS. Whatever decisions we make, we always want to consider how that decision will affect our students. With this in mind, we prioritize two things at HIS.