So after our little sub-zero hiccup, we are back on track for the fall season in Wemindji. This makes me so happy! My favourite season is fall and nothing was bumming me out more than to know that I had possibly missed out on the most climate-friendly time of the year (in my opinion). It has been cool but mild, sunny, sometimes a little rainy, and the trees are beginning to change! Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous although I spent it inside painting the rest of my living room. Nevertheless it was still lovely to look out of the window all day and see the beautiful sunlight and be able to keep all my windows open while painting with the very much appreciated help of Monika. Today is a typical overcast cooler fall day in Wemindji and I will be spending all of it at school prepping for what is going to be an absolutely INSANE week.
But first, let me catch you up on the past week and a half because I have been quite neglectful in the blogging area lately. Life has just gotten so busy recently and I barely have time to catch up on my beloved Mad Men (final season ah!) let alone ramble like a crazy person on here. Priorities. Anyways, last weekend was again a little rainy but pretty much everyone and their mother decided to head to Radisson (a little town about 200km north east of here) for lunch and shopping. Samantha and Meghan had never been before so Monika and I were glad to have an excuse to get some delicious eats at the trusty Chez Mika and visit the Arts et Tresors Inuit (craft store) as well as see what the grocery and SAQ (liquor store) had to offer. I got some tasty treats for my family's impending arrival and some beautiful Christmas gifts. I am looking forward to going back with my family at Thanksgiving and showing them around too! So anyways, the drive was pretty good and the company was hilarious. We sang Backstreet Boys at the top of our lungs and of course saw no wildlife so that was pretty typical.
The past week has been expectedly busy. Our yearly long-range plans were due at the end of last week (a look-at-a-glance plan that covers all areas of the curriculum we teach in Grade 1). We did our best to figure out what themes we wanted to cover, how we wanted to cover them, the types of assessment we were going to use and how we were going to approach the subjects cross-curricularly. We came up with a pretty good plan and if it is followed like we want it to be, this year is going to be really awesome for themes and ideas.
Anecdotal reports (like progress reports) were due last week also. They were given out a little late which put everyone in a frenzy since they have to be handwritten and then passed on to other option teachers like Cree Language, Cree Culture and Gym but we all managed to get them done! Friday was a PED day where we carried out one of two IEP blitzes. We broke off into Cycles and wrote out IEP documents for students who were at risk or who we felt needed modification in the classroom. At this stage in Grade 1 I found it difficult to pin point who was actually in a more defined area of need because most of the students are essentially starting from the same point and are low by typical standards. They are all learning their letters and numbers so to say one student isn't reaching their full potential after only 25 days of school is difficult to assess. So I will definitely revisit this process again in the year when I know more about the abilities and needs of my students.
Friday night I got home after a long day of prepping and planning after the IEP blitz, did some more prepping and painting and then crashed. Yesterday I painted my living room with the awesome help of Monika (I had left it so late and wanted to get it done before next weekend, my birthday party!) and then went for dinner and hilarious conversation at a friend Tiffany's house with a few other friends. Today I will head back to the school (essentially my second home, or maybe first depending on how many hours per day I spend there...) and get the Breakfast Program ready with our new recruits! The Breakfast Program has finally restarted at MES and the kids and teachers have been anxiously awaiting its arrival. It is such a great incentive for so many students to come to school on time. They get a nice little breakfast and start the day off right. For me, I love how it gets the kid's bellies and minds ready to learn and becomes an integral part of the morning routine. Taking 15 minutes out of each morning to get these kids fed and ready to start the day is no big sacrifice when you know the impact a full tummy has on a growing brain. I am happy and proud to be on the Breakfast Program team and very pleased we have new staff this year willing to lend a hand. It is a lot of work but totally worth it.
I will also be prepping for this week's crazy calendar of events!!! Monday night will be busy with making Superstar cupcakes and jello and prepping all the activities and events for our Declaration Day at school on Tuesday! Declaration Day is the day when the CSB counts all students for official attendance numbers. This official count determines our funding for the future school year and it is incredibly important that all registered students attend this day (and of course other days but this is the biggie). To encourage attendance we have been essentially given free reign to plan all sorts of activities as an incentive for full-day attendance. Grade 1 has planned an ambitious Superstar day complete with a red carpet, walk of fame, photo shoot, awesome games, a delicious hotdog lunch, and movie!! I don't know who is more pumped, the teachers or the kids but regardless its going to be awesome. Crazy but awesome.
Just when you thought it was over, Wednesday is our Anecdotal night. Basically a night to invite the parents in and share with them their child's progress and have a look at the classroom and work they have been doing. I am looking forward to setting up some of my kid's favourite centers, organizing and displaying their work and being able to talk to parents about progress, needs and ideas for reinforcement at home. It will be one long day but I look forward to meeting the parents!
THEN (oh lord) I have the rest of the week to recover, do a deep clean of my house and get ready for the weekend which is my INCREDIBLE MEXICAN-THEMED BIRTHDAY PARTY! I have been planning my Mexican-themed birthday party since the beginning of the summer and truly cannot wait for Saturday. I have really gone all out if I do say so myself and hope that everyone has as great a time as I am pretty sure I will be having. I have bought a sombrero for everyone, a fake moustache, tons of delicious Mexican treats, awesome decor and lots of Mexican-themed drinks for all. I am really looking forward to this one. I will likely not be posting any pictures of the party itself because I have a feeling they would show so much fun I would never get a job down south. So I'll just stick to "before party" decor pictures. Sunday is my actual birthday and I am sure I will spend the day recovering and relaxing.
BUT WAIT, there's more! The following week is going to be awesome and crazy and busy too! My family is coming to visit me for Thanksgiving and are driving up early to visit and see Wemindji in all it's fall glory! They are coming at the best time of year and will be able to take the time to really explore the town and surrounding area as well as visit at the school. Eryl my sister, a trained and certified yoga instructor, will be coming into the school to teach some of the younger kids yoga in the classroom which I am really looking forward to. It's going to be a blast! I am hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for some of my single lady friends and family and am looking forward to meeting all the other families that will be in town for the holiday.
So the next couple of weeks will be insane but really fun and I can't wait. Oh and did I forget to mention there is a polar bear waltzing around town somewhere and everyone is freaking out?
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