Stebbins: Take Two

Holy cow, the end of September is already here, which means we have been in school for a month now! The time seems to have gone by quickly, but so much has happened during that time, it already feels like school has been going forever. During the month of September, I only had one full week of school, and that was the first week. The second week of school was only 4 days because of Labor Day, the third week of school I spent in Wasilla, being trained to become a trainer of the Strategic Instruction Model (SIM) Learning Strategies. The fourth week of school was another 4 day week because we had teacher inservice on Friday and Saturday, and this week, school was cancelled on Monday because we had a power outage in the village and were without water in the school. To say it has been a crazy five weeks for me is an incredible understatement!

Crazy as it has been since returning to AK, I would say that the year is off to a good start. We spent the week before school started in the village of Savoonga, which is located on St. Lawrence Island, and is only about 70 miles from the Russia mainland. Seriously. It was an intense week of inservice, gearing us up for our SIG (School Improvement Grant) which we, along with 3 other schools in the district, received this year. While there, I scored some pretty fantastic ivory treasures (Savoonga is renowned for their carvers). My walrus ivory whale is about 5 inches from nose to tail, and 1 and 1/2 to 2 inches thick in places. It's not super-ornately carved, compared to other pieces I saw while there, but I got an AMAZING deal on it. I also procured an ivory and baleen jewelry box while in Savoonga.

As you can see on the map of western Alaska, St. Lawrence Island, and the villages of Savoonga and Gambell, are almost too close for comfort to Mother Russia. Directly east of the island you will find St. Michael, which is the village 7 miles east of Stebbins. Apparently we weren't cool enough to make it on this map. The island you see offshore from us is Stewart Island, which I can see from my living room window. You'll see it too, in some of the pictures I'll post below.

To be quite frank, I have been loving the heck out of my job this year. Sure, there have been a few speed bumps here and there, but overall, things in Ms. Demme's room are running pretty smoothly. I have seven 7th graders all day, all subjects. I LOVE having a self-contained class. Am I an awesome math teacher? I will be the first to admit that I am not. Most days, though, my kids are excited to learn, and that makes up for my content area shortcomings. I am teaching the same reading program as last year, only this year, I actually know how to do it. I actually know how to TEACH this year, which is huge. Last year was a hot mess. I wish I could erase it from my record. I'm glad of it, only in that I learned SO much from my screw-ups. Otherwise, I would rather just forget that my first year of teaching ever happened ;)

7th grade is an incredibly fun age group to teach. They are always on the verge of a meltdown because they are wired on hormones and their emotions have no grey area. One minute they love you, the next they are shooting you the stink eye from under their hoodies. They are loud and volatile and excitable and passionate and IF you can get their attention, and get them on your side, they are valuable allies to have in the classroom. They definitely keep me on my toes, but they make me laugh every day, and more than once, we have struck that magic balance in class where learning is fun for me AND them. That's what it's all about, right?

School aside, life in the vill goes on as usual. We are losing more light every day, and it's only a matter of time before snow will start flying. Until then, I am basking in the beauty that is the late summer/early fall in the tundra land.

 Blue skies and green tundra on a honda trip to St. Michael.

A painfully beautiful September sunset right outside our living room window. There's Stewart Island in the background!

 Climbing to the top of Steven's Hill with a co-worker and her doggie. Once again, Stewart Island is in the background. Ironically, the dog is also named Stewart :)

 A stunning view from the top of Steven's Hill...

 Ben and I took an evening stroll to the south side of Punik, which is the mound of land that marks the south end of town. It's pronounced like 'bunnock', but last year a student told me the correct spelling was that which I used above.

 The tundra grass has turned brown, but there are still spots of color nestled in here and there.

 These weird little pools are back a ways from the water...maybe a high tide that got stuck in the rocks? Love the droopy tundra grass around this one.

 It's seal hunting season!

There is plenty of viscera and severed body parts to be found on the beach this time of year.

In other news, I was given a Yup'ik name this year by my students. They call me Ms. Caiglluk, meaning 'medicine', because I "make them better." Unbelievably, it is pronounced like 'jice-luck'. The Yup'ik language continues to astonish my English speaking sensibilities in it's fearless bucking of usual (i.e. English) pronunciation rules. Either way, I was truly touched by the name my students bestowed upon me, mostly because of it's meaning, but also because being given a Yup'ik name somewhat signifies having reached a certain level of acceptance in the community (even if it is just my classroom community for now).

Ben is starting to hassle me because I have been at this for so long, and my battery life is running short, so I suppose I ought to say farewell for now. I know last spring I promised a post detailing what shopping for groceries, etc. is like out here in the bush, and I have not forgotten that promise! I will deliver on that post when I can, as it is an interesting subject about which I am asked frequently.

Until then, all the best to all of you in my readership! Quyana (thank you!) for stopping by :)

XOXOXO

jane