Staff training -Bush style!

I really need to post more... I will work on that! The staff training in Bering Strait School District is very different from the other 5 districts I've worked in. Since most staff is in remote access villages, they fly everyone to a central location, in this case -Unalakleet (pronounced "you-na-luck-leet" or how everyone around here says it "you-na-kleet"). All the teachers, who don't live in town, stay in the school -air mattresses are provided, bring your own sleeping bag! Each school is assigned a classroom -though there are also male-only and female-only rooms for those who prefer that. One of our teachers stays with friends in town, but all the rest of us stay in the same room. This is a fun way to get to know your coworkers -big slumber party!!!

 Nick and I on the way to New Teacher Orientation

 BSSD "School Bus"

 I call shotgun!!!  This is the best seat on these little planes.

 Nick and I waiting to go home after 3 1/2 days of New Teacher Orientation

 Nick taught math and science last year to grades 7 - 12.  This year, we have an additional teacher for math, so he is just science.

 Jill finding a place to sit (she teaches grades 2, 3, and 4)

 The pilot is inside loading the luggage area.

 Amanda (English and History grades 7-12) and Maude (grades K/1) waiting for meeting to start

 Poor Nick.... I kept asking others to take pictures of me and they kept making Nick jump in also, since it was also his first year.

 The school district has a hanger and a gas tank in Unalakleet for the plane.

 Seal Island in Norton Sound

 SHOTGUN!!

 Nick listening attentively

 Beats sitting in chairs for 8 hours

 More "hurry up and wait" - b/c you can't rush a plane!

 Margaret Koegler (principal) conducting a session with husband Alan (grades 5/6 and special ed) "listening" in the background.

 Private planes, ERA planes (yes - Jim Tweeto from Flying Wild Alaska) and wind mills up on the hills.

 Finally going home after 2 weeks of training.

 Inside of our "school bus"

That being said, I had new teacher training August 10th - 13th in Unalakleet, then flew back to Golovin for a weekend of unpacking and meeting a few more people, then back to Unalakleet for full staff training August 16th - 19th. I really like flying on the small planes!! I even got to fly in the copilot's seat on the way back from training on August 19th!!! You can see so much more from the front - I love it!!!

The following week, while K-12 kids were starting school, all of the ECE (Early Childhood Education) teachers went to Nome to have training with the Kawerak staff. Kawerak is the organization in this area that sponsors Head Start. My students are actually in a Head Start program that has a licensed teacher in the room, employed by BSSD (Bering Straight School District) - that's me!!

 Igloo #1 - LOL

 Brenda - one of my co-teachers

 Annette -Brenda's older sister, my other co-teacher

 

Cleaning after training

 Still cleaning

 The man with the hat is our SUPER TALENTED pilot - he will fly in ANYTHING!  Students and staff both have reports of sideways landings, getting their heads bumped on the roof, etc.

 9 different teachers from 9 different villages. Five teachers had to fly ERA.

 I was at the store before getting on the plane asking if anyone needed anything.  They all said EGGS!  Our little store was out, SO I brought home 10 dozen eggs and sold them to the other teachers, saving 12 for me!!

SO, while in Nome, the school district put us up in the Aurora Hotel -one of 2 hotels in town and it is super nice!! Our training was all week and very informative. I learned a lot and enjoyed getting to know all the staff from the different sites!! This will be the only time I see the other ECE teachers until October... SO different from the east coast!

So, during my first month in Alaska, I was in my house a total of 10 nights, took 9 plane trips (7 of them being bush planes -9 seats or less), and stayed in 4 different towns!! Now THAT'S a way to start a new job!!!!!!

Golovin

WOW!! Golovin is a pretty little village. It is on a point, so to the north, south, and west you see water and in all directions you see mountains also!! I was picked up by one of the maintenance men, Sonny, and taken to my apartment where I met my principal! I walk into my apartment and WOW -all my tubs and boxes are there -I don't have to move them!! How nice. I spent Sunday evening and Monday and Tuesday morning meeting a few other teachers and unpacking and just walking around the town. My classroom is actually in the EDA building which is owned by the Native Corporation. It is a 10 minute uphill walk from town. It is a really nice walk now, but should be interesting in the winter!!! I love being able to see the entire village as I am walking down -it is really special. I think I'm going to love it here in Golovin!!!!!

 Golovin airport from the plane.

 Full moon rising and reflecting on the bay.

 Sunset over the Lagoon

 spare bedroom -now has a boiler in it

 My bedroom.  Many teachers use aluminum foil instead of blackout curtains.

 Standing in the kitchen facing the living room and door.

 Standing in the living room facing the kitchen and bathroom.

 About 15 steps outside of house!

 My side of the building ends just before the right edge of the picture.

 My house

 Truck to deliver water to the people who live up the hill.  People who live downtown are on the city water grid, except for the school - who has their own water tank (though they pay the city to fill it in the summer).

 After making my bed, of course.

 Cutting zip ties off of the totes.

 Breaking into the boxes and totes - all 27 of them.

 When buying sugar.... seal in a bag BEFORE taking to the post office!!!

 EDA building - owned by Chinik Eskimo Community, or the Native corporation.  Houses Head Start, EPA, and other positions funded by Kawerak.  On the right is my classroom and on the left is a large community room and kitchen.  There is also a bedroom in the back that people can rent.

 11 pm sunset between Washeteria and power station.

 resolution is lousy, but this picture was taken from my door

 my shed -in other areas where I have lived, this would just be a porch.  it acts as storage and helps keep snow out of your house when the wind blows like crazy

 Standing just inside

 view from kitchen window

 Golovin power station

Sunrise over bay