A little here... A little there

Saturdays here are precious... I am not a fan of working on my Saturdays, but out here it is common to have make up days every so often. What makes it really difficult is that we are experiencing amazing weather and being inside when I can be outside soaking up some Vitamin D stinks. But it is what it is...

And after working from 8-1 this morning, Amy and I were planning on attending a funeral. I find it hard to participate in such a personal event that remembers the life of someone I never knew. But Amy wanted to support the mother and it's easier to do this with someone else, so I said I would join her.

Well, five minutes til to two I heard that the church was packed and that it would be standing room only.

This means that we would be in the back standing for a couple hours with the service being spoken in Yup'ik. I like to be supportive, but I also like to stay engaged, so we both thought we'd find another way to show support.

A fellow colleague mentioned that after she took people across the river, she would start putting food together for the feast. This was our opportunity to help, so we made Spanish rice w/ moose meat, and corn muffins bzef!

We brought it over while the service was still being held and  met with some of the family for awhile, and then we were outside observing the huge crowd that waited outside until the body was ready to be viewed one more time. We were all invited to participate in this event, but I felt uneasy about this event as it is different from the sort of services I have attended in the past. Sometimes different ways of doing things are healthy, and sometimes I am ok with just  saying no thank you.

Following that we walked over to the gravesite.
 Dave, the school counselor, was with us and asked a gentleman that was getting ready for the body to be brought over for burial how the ground is prepared. As you probably already know, tundra ground is rock solid. The answer to his question is with lots of gasoline, a lighter, axes, and shovels. They draw out the proper size, pour gasoline on it, light it on fire, let it sit for awhile, and then with the axes they cut into the ground. It is HARD work.

This is the same time that our ride appeared and we were ready to head back home as I was ready for some rest. Riding back over in the sled reminded me of being on a water ride as a lot has melted over the last 48 hours.

It was quite the Saturday, but I am thankful for the opportunity to show support in one way this weekend, as it was new for me. And also get some time outside and enjoy a few more minutes of soaking up Vit. D.

Placing 'bets' on

the river breakup is pretty much the new excitement around here. With the warmer weather the melting has commenced ( just the snow on top at this time and lots of slush). In talking with a few teachers yesterday I found out that 1 or 2 weeks into May is the possible breakup time. I have no clue, simply b/c this is new for me, but I am gonna sit on it today and then place my bet on a specific date as well.

Dedicated ones

10 out 19 students. Hunting, chillin' at home, a few suspensions. Some of these arrangements are normal, others are not. But the fact that there are so many missing on a daily basis makes grading difficult and filling skill gaps even that more difficult.

Even the staff member that takes note of the absences and sends them off to  court said today that he is quite surprised that the families are still looking the other way with fines of 500 bucks coming their way.

Quite a thing to write off- don't ya think?

But I am grateful for the ones that are present almost everyday. They are making progress and I can't wait to see how they do in 7th grade!

3 Teaching Mondays left! well, 4 but I am sticking w/ 3

The days are getting warmer, the sun is staying out longer, and I just got a "sneak peek" of summer vacation over our last spring break. But I still have to keep my students motivated to learn for at least three more weeks. It's gonna get interesting!

Working a Malamute

We all needed something to do...so I created an opportunity to be productive and make progress towards my next destination- Toksook Bay.

Amy & I started packing up some of our belongings Friday night as we would like to make sure that the end of the school year is not an overwhelming one. I learned the hard way that moving while wrapping up the year is not an easy and oftentimes will put a damper on the closing process.

So we shipped off a number of totes and placed them in the sleds and got Bogart involved- no free lunch here. Since it continues to snow out here, we were able to use the sleds b/c the boardwalks are still covered.

I hooked him up with a harness, but I will def. be investing in a harness with the proper equipment attached. 

Roadside assistance needed.

A little pooped.

And once we arrived and dropped off our tubs, the offers came in to take him "off my hands." So not going to happen- but it was good to see him socializing with the locals! 

It would be such a help if ...

 there were more opportunities to share the word that people have options in the villages.

There is a definite need for men & women to come out here and speak in schools and community centers about how to help those when they are in crisis. This village lost another young gentleman last Friday....he chose to end his life. My heart goes out to his family, esp. one of his younger brothers, a first grader that has become a regular on my walks after school with Bogart. It is my hope that there will be no more "out of the blue" incidents like this one and this will be the last wake up call... as I am afraid that what prevention is available right not is now good enough.

Calm after the storm

Another great ending to a very rough beginning.

Every so often someone goes off the deep end in the classroom and there is normally an instant shift in the way the rest of my students act.

But not today. This particular time my students laughed it off and I had to as well. I decided in that moment to keep the good times rolling and I assigned a project that brings out the creativity of my students and ties into our reading story ( Robots)  for the week. The best part about this day was the fact that I just kept laughing with my students as they would place random things on their robots- peg legs, flotation devices, MC Hammer pants, etc. Whatever floats their boat.

And then to top it off, we had Buddy Reading w/ my roomie's class... my favorite thing to do simply b/c these first graders are quickly becoming experts in reading.

And while reading w/ a  1st grader myself- a little girl who cracks me up b/c she keeps skipping pages (as if I wouldn't notice), Amy pointed out that I should capture one of her students giggling up a storm with one  of my very own silly students.

They are a blast to be around & even more fun to watch w/ my bigger student. 

https://vimeo.com/40703669