A Big Storm's a-Brewing

We were going to let this go unheralded so as to not give undue concern to our friends/family back home, but since it appears this is getting national news attention...there is a hurricane force storm moving north through the Bering Sea expected to smash our area tonight and tomorrow. The entire sea is expected to rise 10 feet during the storm as  a large amount of Pacific Ocean water moves into the much smaller Bering Sea & Norton Sound. Waves are predicted at 35 feet (that's a 3 story house). WE WILL BE OK! St. Michael is on a sheltered harbor on a north facing coast so we will not get direct hits of water, and most of the community is more than 10 feet above sea level in addition to many buildings, including ours, being an additional 8 feet above ground. However, many other commmunities, including Stebbins on the other side of the hill from us are right on the water with no protection from the sea. So while Nathan and I appreciate everyone's Facebook birthday wishes, we would much more appreciate your prayers for the people of the Bering Sea villages who are facing a potential level of devastation that has only come through the region twice in the last century ('74 and '13). We anticipate losing power during the storm, and depending on damage it could last multiple days. DO NOT PANIC if we don't regain contact with any of you over that time. We have confidence in God's protection, and the preparedness of this community.

Today we were given 45 minutes notice that we were sending students home early.  Flora had to call every parent and tell them to come get their kids.  School has also been canceled for tomorrow.  Right now the wind is blowing so hard that it whistles down the road and the snow has blown away from areas on the ground leaving dirt showing.  

...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM WEDNESDAY TO 6 AM AKST THURSDAY...

A COASTAL FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM WEDNESDAY TO 6 AM AKST THURSDAY.

* LOCATION...ALONG THE EASTERN NORTON SOUND COAST FROM POINT ROMANOF TO CAPE DARBY.

* IMPACTS...MAJOR COASTAL FLOODING AND SEVERE BEACH EROSION IS EXPECTED ALL ALONG THE COAST. SEA LEVELS RISING 8 TO 10 FEET ABOVE NORMAL COMBINED WITH HIGH WAVES WILL PUSH WATER ONSHORE AND FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS NEAR THE COAST. COASTLINE BORDERED BY SEA ICE MAY HAVE THE ICE PUSHED ONSHORE. THIS MAY CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE. SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 50 TO 70 MPH ARE EXPECTED AS WELL.

* TIMING...WINDS AND SEAS WILL INCREASE LATE TUESDAY NIGHT. MAJOR COASTAL FLOODING AND SEVERE BEACH EROSION ARE EXPECTED FROM EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY MORNING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A COASTAL FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT RISING SEA WATER THAT CAUSES FLOODING IS EXPECTED. THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE MOST SEVERE STORMS ON RECORD. COASTAL RESIDENTS IN THE WARNED AREA NEED TO BEGIN TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS NOW TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY...AND BE ON THE ALERT FOR RISING WATER LEVELS. DO NOT DELAY IN TAKING NEEDED PRECAUTIONS FOR THIS UNUSUALLY SEVERE AND LIFE THREATENING STORM.

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 PM AKST WEDNESDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 PM AKST WEDNESDAY.

* SNOW...2 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW AT LOWER ELEVATIONS. 5 TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW ON THE NULATO HILLS.

* WIND...SOUTHEAST WINDS 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH.

* VISIBILITY...VISIBILITY WILL BE POOR AT TIMES. NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE.

* TIMING...THE HEAVIEST SNOW AND STRONGEST WINDS WILL OCCUR TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY.

* IMPACTS...VISIBILITY WILL BE VERY POOR AND SNOW WILL ACCUMULATE INTO DRIFTS. TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES WILL BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT WINTER WEATHER HAZARDS ARE EXPECTED. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITY VERY HAZARDOUS.

Here is a picture of our storm from space:

The First Snow Storm of the Season

Thursday, November 3:  The storm arrived early in the morning with winds that whistled down our stove vent.  The wind howled around the corners of the house and made the walls rattle.  In the streetlight I could see the snow...blowing completely sideways.  The winds reached a speed of 33 mph with gusts over 40.  The snow continued to fall and blow away all day.  Now there are areas on the ground that the wind has blown clear.  The wind blew the snow away revealing ice and frozen gravel or dirt.  This snow blew into drifts, piling up around stairways, doorways, and walls of houses.  In places where only a few inches of snow accumulated during the last two week, the wind has blown ten inches of snow.  Footprints made in the drifts are erased in an hour or two.  Windchill is a factor that must be taken seriously now.  Today the temperature didn't fall below 24 degrees; however the windchill brought the temperature to 0 degrees.  In the next few days the low temperature (with windchill) will fall to -17 degrees.  With this in mind, I wore my parka tonight when I joined my mentor, Morgan, and Sara and Katie (two teachers) for dinner this evening.  I didn't wear my fleece or my down coat.  My parka kept the wind away and kept me warm.

Before the storm arrived I was taking walks after school to the post office and the beach, just to enjoy the brisk weather.  Here are a few of the pictures I took of the new winter sights around St. Michael.

North Beach:  These rock have a good, thick layer of ice on them from the tide coming in and out.  

North Beach:  The sun stays about that high during the day.  It does a low arch in the south.  

That is NOT dry, cracked ground you would see in the desert.  That is ice on the ocean off of North Beach.  It is amazing to think that water that moves as constantly as the ocean could freeze enough for people to drive on.  Not yet of course.  

Carving Our Class Pumpkin

This week we learned about Apples and Pumpkins (foods that are ripe in the fall).  To end the unit we carved are own pumpkin.  On Wednesday morning we studied the outside of the pumpkin-- color, sound made when hitting it, texture, etc.  That afternoon we cut the top off the pumpkin and studied the inside of the pumpkin-- color, smell, texture, contents, etc.  Everyone got to help pull out the seeds and clean the pumpkin.

 

First we explored the outside of our class pumpkin.   Lennie and Daiza are using magnifying glasses in the Science Lab to look at the bumps on the pumpkin.

Then we explored the inside of the pumpkin.  We discovered that the pumpkin is mostly hollow inside.  We felt the pulp and looked at the seeds.  

Now we are pulling out the seeds to prepare to bake them for our afternoon snack.

On Thursday morning we talked about what kind of face we want to carve in our pumpkin.  The kids drew pictures of jack-o-lanterns and we hung them on the wall.  During the day we looked at all the pictures and decided what face to carve.  That afternoon we carved the pumpkin.  The kids had a great time.  

Recess in the snow.  This is what the sun looks like at 11 am.

Dorris and Logan

The snow that accumulated on Sunday morning is still on the ground.  Each night a small amount of snow has fallen.  I believe the snow will continue to accumulate until April or May when it melts.  This  week the temperatures remained in the mid to high 20s.  However, the temperature doesn't feel as cold as it sounds.  In fact, I am still wearing a fleece and a thin jacket everyday.  I haven't even started wearing my ski coat from home.  I think the difference between Oregon 20s and Alaska 20s is the moisture.  The air here is very dry and when the wind isn't blowing the temperature feels mild.  

The first week of November the temperatures predicted fall to the teens.  Before the winter is over the temperature will fall to -20 or lower.   I will be very thankful for my parka when that weather arrives.  

Pictures of the Week

Sunday:  We woke up to snow!

Nathan and I went for a walk on Sunday afternoon before going to church.    This picture looks east from our porch toward the newer part of St. Michael.

North Beach

Snow coming in on the left and the tide coming in on the right.

Whale Island

This is a river that flows into the ocean.  I don't know the name of it.  It's getting ready to freeze.

Looking south across the tundra in St. Michael.

Tuesday:  The snow is still around.  We have snow flurries each night and throughout the day.

Recess on Tuesday.

The slide was coated in ice so the first kid that went down flew off the bottom of the slide onto the ground.   He was surprised! 

Regina, Leandra, and Dorris learning about snowballs.

Lunch Time!  We eat family style.  We pass the food around and the students serve themselves.  

End of the Quarter, Beginning of the Freeze

This week we had snow fall and snow remain on the ground in patches the whole week.  The temperature fell below freezing on Monday and stayed there.  Yesterday and today the temperature is in the upper 20s.  Earlier this year, when I would walk to the big school I would watch the wind blow across the ponds that cover the tundra.  If the wind was strong, I could see waves on the ponds.

Now when I walk to the big school I see big rocks, pieces of metal or trash, even shoes sitting on top of the ponds where kids have thrown them trying to break the ice.  Some of the rocks rest next to little dents in the ice but most of them didn't do any damage at all.  The roads are no longer muddy, slippery messes.  Now the roads are frozen tire tracks.  The gravel I walk across to go to school each morning is frozen around the footprints that were left behind by kids and dogs.  Imagine going to the beach and walking in the dry sand; however the sand doesn't give in and reshape around your feet, it stays in the shapes left by wind and other footprints.  That's what is it like walking across the playground each morning.

The sun comes up around 9:30am now and sky is noticeably lighter around 10am.  The sun sets around 7:30pm.  We lose 70 minutes (1 hour and 10 minutes) of daylight each week.

Sun breaking through the clouds around 10:30am.

Barbecue Chicken Pizza 

Tonight I made barbecue chicken pizza, inspired by Lisa's Pizza.  I'm getting better with the dough.  I make up pizza toppings with whatever happens to be in the fridge.  So far, so good!

Sunday Morning

This picture was taken at 9:50 am looking West out of our front windows.  I woke up around 2:30 am this morning and saw that it had snowed.  The night is brighter with snow on the ground.

Looking South toward the Norton Sound. 

Activities in St. Michael

On Sunday afternoon Nathan and I walked out of St. Michael toward the airport in search of black berries.  We ventured off the road and on to the tundra.  It is like walking on foam mixed with lake silt.  It is covered in lichens, grass, low-bush cranberries, and small bushes.  We found black berries growing around some rocks and began picking them.  These berries are on very low bushes so we had to squat down or stoop to pick them.  The temperature was just above freezing and some of the berries were already frozen.  We managed to pick about three cups of berries between us before or fingers were too cold to pick any more and we started to walk back to town.

When we got home I made syrup from part of the berries and apple-black berry cobbler with the rest of them.  One night I made puff pancakes and we had black berry syrup to go with them.  Yum!

The hills to the north after a storm.

Our church as the sun sets.

Linda and Brian are missionaries from California and run the Assembly of God Church that we attend.

There was snow on the ground when I got up on Tuesday morning and more was falling.  My kids came in and were so excited.  I heard Christine coming down the hall toward the classroom, "I tell Teacher it snowing!"  She came in and said, "Teacher it snowing!  Look, look!"  She took me to the window and showed me the snow.  I couldn't help thinking that just a little more snow on the ground would mean schools back home would be closed.  During the day, the sun rose and the snow turned to rain.  By Wednesday all the snowdrifts were gone.  The temperature has stayed in the upper 30's since then.  However, we are expecting snow Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday next week.  Mary (the Kawerak supervisor) said that by now the freeze had usually occurred (meaning the ocean had frozen).  She said it has happened later and later each year.

Friday night, instead of watching LOST, Nathan and I joined the teachers and the community watching the first wrestling match of the season.  St. Michael Storm against Stebbins Grizzlies.  This wasn't an official match it was more like a practice match.  Since St. Michael and Stebbins are so close, they hold a lot of matches like this.  Both schools have some very talented kids (boys and girls, second grade through high school).

Ready for Winter

Last week during the BSSD inservice, the city took advantage of my empty classroom and worked to weatherize it.  A company came in with an infrared camera and took pictures of the windows, doors, and places in the ceiling that were losing large amounts of heat/letting in cold air.  While the room was empty the city worked on the windows, heaters, and other areas of the classroom to try to help it retain heat this year.  I guess we will find out if it worked in January.

Sunlight coloring the tundra.

Sun coming over the horizon around 9:15am on Sunday, October 2.

Nathan in his parka.

My new parka and boots.  The boots are rated -100 degrees Fahrenheit.  Nathan's boots (to the left) are the same as mine only HUGE.  We are now ready for winter temperatures.

We enrolled a new student on Monday morning.  So we now have 18 students enrolled in our 2nd Year class (4 year olds) and 13 enrolled in our 1st Year class (3's).  This week we had 16 of the 18 students everyday which is pretty good.

Circle Time on September 7.

Axel helping Kyra "pack" the bear.  Women in the village will carry their babies on their backs inside their jackets.  This way the child stays warm and is secured.  Regina is on the right.

On the left is Daiza, Logan and Kyra are in the front.  Regina is behind Logan and Leandra is in the back.  The kids love having their picture taken.  We have a classroom camera and sometimes I will bring my camera.  Whenever they see or hear the camera flash they come over and say, "Me see."  I printed off many pictures this week and hung them on the board in Dramatic Play (our unit was Fun With Friends).  They really enjoyed looking at themselves and talking about what they are doing in the pictures.

The season change is affecting everyone.  Teachers, including myself, find our beds very comfortable, maybe too comfortable in the mornings when we need to get up to go to school.  My students often remark about how dark it is in the mornings.  "The sun go down" is a common phrase I get in the mornings when the kids arrive at 9am.  They will look out the windows into the darkness.  I ask them, "Do you think the sun will come out today?"  Some of them say, "no" and I tell them to wait and see.  Pretty soon the wait will be a while.  We still have another month of Daylight Savings Time which seems ridiculous up here.  

If tomorrow is dry, I plan to head out on the tundra with Nathan and a few containers to pick black berries.  Unlike the blackberries back home (ex. marionberries, boysenberries, etc), these black berries are black, round berries (kind of like blueberries).  Cranberries will be ready soon.  Unlike most berries, cranberries stay on the bush and will freeze when the snow comes.  Cranberries can be picked throughout the winter as long as you are able to dig down through the snow to find them.  With our new boots and parkas, Nathan and I are ready to be out in the winter months instead of being stuck inside.