Cross Country in Chevak

We had a busy week with Nathaniel's birthday, a tour of the new school, and our first Cross Country trip/race.

We went to the Yukon Cafe to get Nathaniel some birthday pizza.

We baked our salmon the next night.  So good.

We took a tour of the new school building.  The roof will be put on this month to beat the snow.

 Climbing into the new school.  No stairs yet.

 1st floor Elementary wing on left, gym/cafeteria on right.

 2nd floor, Middle/High School

 2nd floor classroom windows.  Great view!

 The gym ceiling

 My classroom last week.  Just to prove that I'm actually doing my job while I'm here...

We are writing 5 Paragraph Essays.  It helps to use examples they can relate to.

Our school doesn't have elective classes like Art, Music, or P. E. so I try to squeeze in some Art whenever I can.

My cultural bulletin board.  Waqaa means Hello/Welcome in Yu'pik (the native language).

 Organization

 My desk.  Students call teachers by their first name here.  Pipes are on the inside of the building so they don't freeze.

 I had to make the sign because students like to hide in the corner and not do their work. 

 They can also squeeze into that cabinet below the sink.  Another one of their favorite hiding places is under my desk.  Yes, even the high schoolers like to hide.

Getting ready to leave school for Chevak, another village, for the one and only Elementary/Jr High Cross Country meet.

 Packed up and excited for the planes to pick us up at the airport.
We took 2 Cessna airplanes because they only seat 9 passengers.

 Riding in the "shuttle" at Chevak from the airport to the school.

 Chevak had a very nice, new, and clean school.

Chevak decorated door signs for us.  (We spent the night in a classroom).

 The kids were excited to swing because our playground doesn't have any.

 Race day!  Pinning on numbers.  They were super excied to wear new uniforms.

Elementary girls

 Toes on the start line.

 Elementary boys

 Taking off at the start.

 Junior high girls

 After the race.

 Our junior high boy.

 Team picture.  All 16 athletes.  We had over 40 kids on the team, but could only travel with 16.  These kids had the best grades and at least 10 practices, so it was easy to decide.

 JUNIOR HIGH GIRLS... 2ND PLACE TEAM!  I was super proud of them.

 

 Sleepy kids, waiting for the planes to pick us up.

Leaving Chevak, admiring the hills because Alakanuk is flat.

Our ride back home.

 Nathaniel took the 8 Jr High kids, and I took the 8 Elementary kids.  I think my kids were a little more excited to be flying.

I'm sitting in the very back seat.

 Flying over the marshland.

This looks like a road, but it's water.

 Back in Alakanuk, smiling with medals.

The next night we decided to have a bonfire at the docks.  Someone sighted a bear down at the dump, so we brought the guns just in case.

 Shooting guns

 Roasting marshmallows

 Relaxing in the driftwood.

We are exhausted from a long week and weekend.  This weekend is the High School Cross Country race in Mountain Village.