To say that I have been a busy girl this semester is a gross understatement. It seems like everything has just been going non-stop ever since school started up again, and I have hardly had time to think, let alone blog. Our whole school is in a frenzy over the statewide tests that happen in April, and all the preparation that goes along with them. We are in sort of a "do or die" position as far as testing goes this year - we need to improve on our scores as a school in order to be in accordance with NCLB (that's 'No Child Left Behind', for those of you who are blissfully unaware of the world of education bureaucracy). To that end, we have instated a new daily schedule that includes specific "intervention" time for the big three testing subjects: reading, writing, and math. At the beginning of the school year, students were dismissed at 3:15. Now, all students are dismissed at 3:45. We now have 25 minutes of extra math practice each morning, and 25 extra minutes for both reading and writing practice each afternoon. The students are fairly fried by the end of the day, which makes sense, and our last class of the day is 45 minutes of either social studies or science. I teach social studies, and I have been trying to keep it light and not too mentally taxing, while still getting through the standards. It seems like we have been having a lot of laughs in social studies now that it's at the end of the day, and I appreciate that as much as (I hope) the kids do. They have a lot on their shoulders with the new intervention schedule and tests looming over them...as if being a middle schooler isn't stressful enough already!
It's the first of February today and that means only about 4 more weeks until Spring Break. While I doubt early March in Stebbins is anywhere close to being called "spring", "break" is the same no matter where you are. It will be nice to have a few days of rest in preparation for that last hectic push before the SBA tests in early April. We are all downhill after the SBAs though, and school is out May 19th.
So, life in Stebbins goes on. We have had about 6 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours or so, which is very happy news for the cross country skiing team who just started practicing about a week ago. Basketball season is in full swing for high school boys and girls, as well as the Jr. High and elementary co-ed teams. Home games are a big deal, and the whole community comes out in full force to cheer on the Grizzlies and buy goodies from the student store. Basketball is definitely THE sport up here, and it brings in a lot of revenue for our school, which is great.
For those of you who have been watching Flying Wild Alaska on Discovery, you have seen a few quick shots of the Stebbins airport already. Our Friday nights now consist of FWA at 5, then on to the basketball game at 7. For us, that's about as thrilling a start to the weekend as possible! Last night my roommate, who coaches the girls h.s. b-ball team, was pointing out the fact that her life consists of 3 or 4 things: basketball, reading, TV or DVDs, and work. Minus the basketball part, my life isn't much different. It's a simple existence, but we try to make our own fun as much as possible. Our teaching community is pretty tight knit, due to the fact that we not only work together, but we live in close proximity to one another as well. Getting together for dinner, having girls' night, arranging walks on the tundra or trips to St. Michael, tupperware parties and movie nights...these are the things that keep our minds occupied on things other than school, and distract us from the thought of how much beer we're NOT drinking. It truly is a blessing that I actually like the people I work with quite a lot...if that were not the case, I would certainly be in trouble up here!
So, to all my friends and followers in the Lower 48, have a fabulous February! Enjoy those Super Bowl parties this weekend, drink a beer (or many beers) in my honor, and GO PACKERS!!!
XOXOjane
