First Week of School

There were actually only two days when the kids came.  We started school on Wednesday and we didn't have school on Friday.  Beginning next week I will create two groups of students who will come in every other Friday.  The Kawerak staff don't teach on Fridays because they use the day to do all their Head Start mandated paperwork.  I can only have 10 students or less by myself.  I will create two groups of about 9 each and they will come in on alternating Fridays.  However, this week I gave myself the Friday off.

Wednesday, August 31:  The students first day of school!  They began arriving about 8:35am about 25 minutes too early.  When they come in they find their name slip (a piece of paper with their name printed on it) and then write their name on a piece of paper without parent assistance.  Remember, these are four year-olds...on the first day of school!  Let's just say I was amazed at what these kids could do.

Sign in names: "Kyra, Kobe, Staci, Zachariah, Chris"

We had 15 students on the first day of school.  We had 17 possible students and we have two more that might start next week after they have their shots and check-ups.  All the students speak English (Village English-more on that later), but some have thick accents.  As I work more with the students, I know it will be easier to understand them.  This group of kids has so much life and so much energy.  They were so excited to be at school.  We didn't have any tears as parents were leaving...just some that hesitated a little.  Here are the kids:

Kids exploring the Dramatic Play Lab.

Flora and the kids playing Duck, Duck, Goose in the gym during Gross Motor Time.

Kids putting puzzles together in the Manipulatives Lab

Kids building a house together in the Blocks Lab.  (No, she is not going to hit him with the block :) )

On Thursday, September 1, we had 16 students.  Next week we will have two more students joining our class.  We needed their health forms before they could come to school.  On Thursday I had an idea of what the day was going to be like, so I didn't feel like I was behind all day.  On Thursday during afternoon gym time we had our first fire drill.  On of the little girls in my class was really upset while we were talking about the drill because she had experienced a house fire already.  

When the fire alarm went off, one of our other girls started crying, and one little boy was very upset that he couldn't go back for his coat.  When we were outside they kept asking if their moms were okay (the community laundry is in the Kawerak building).  I pointed out the group of parents down the road and reassured them.  When we went back in the building the kids kept asking where the fire was.  Even though we kept telling them this was a drill, they didn't realize that there was no fire.  

Thursday nights are Girls Night for teachers.  We made sushi rolls and decorated cheesecake for desert.  

On Friday, September 2, we had a Kawerak work day.  We had to wipe down EVERYTHING with bleach water.  At 10am we had a Kawerak telephone conference with all the villages.  After that we had a Parent Committee meeting at 12pm followed by a staff meeting at 1:30pm.  I also had to go to the big school for our BSSD weekly staff meeting at 2:15pm.  

Earlier that morning I had to go to the big school to make some copies for our student files (our printer/copier was completely out of ink).  Flora asked if I wanted to take her honda (this is what every four-wheeler is called).  I said, "How does it work?" She said, "Can you drive a car?  You just turn the handles the way you want to go."  I said, "How do you turn it on?"  She came out and showed me how to pull-start it, put it in reverse, and shift with my foot.  Wow...what an experience!  It was so much fun.  I got to the school, made my copies, and then went back out to the honda.  I couldn't remember how to put it in reverse!  I put it in neutral and pushed it backward until I had enough room to turn forward.  Then I drove back to the Kawerak building.  I used the honda that afternoon when I went to the BSSD staff meeting, but I asked Flora how to reverse before I left.  

Friday night I went over to Katie and Sara's apartment (next door, also part of the old school) for diner and a movie night.  We watched Sherlock Holmes and two episodes of Chuck (a show Katie is going to get us hooked on) while we worked on various projects: I began knitting a blanket, Katie is making fur gloves, Sara is quilting.

On Saturday I started preparing the house for another occupant.  Nathan arrives tomorrow!  At 2:45pm I met  up with five other teachers and we drove to Stebbins together for the St. Michael-Stebbins volleyball game and potluck, about a 15 minute drive.  I watched the game for a while and then Prophetess (ECE teacher from Stebbins and the pastor of the church in Stebbins) came and gave me her old cell phone.  I bought a SIM card with GCI (Alaska cell service) when I was in Nome and Prophetess put me on her wireless plan and offered me her old phone.  

It was fun seeing the other new teachers I met in Unalakleet during New Teacher Training.  I got some lox and caviar from Lan (science teacher in Stebbins

Fall has arrived in St. Michael.  This next week the highs are in the forties and the forecast says rain.  I have been told to expect it to be raining until it snows.  The change in weather is the only indicator of the change of seasons...no trees means no beautifully colored leaves.