The month of no teaching?!?

Wow, so who would have thought that March would turn into a month of very little teaching for me?? Holy moly. It started off with the regional basketball tournament, which made me miss 4 days. Then the next week was a 3 day week, I taught on Monday then was off to the district science fair on Tuesday and Wednesday... Then a day of inservice... The following week I was actually at work all 5 days, and then I took off for a week of sick leave/vacation days in Anchorage/Hawaii. Yesterday was my first full day teaching again. Holy cow. No wonder I am so grumpy--I missed my kids!!!

I never really realized how much I would miss my kids. It was hard to not see them for 6 days; I can't imagine what it will be like all summer long! HOLY COW!! And Monday I finally realized just how much they love me, even if they don't always listen or act like they care in school. I got back from Anchorage about 1:15 on Monday. I was dying to see my kids, but didn't want to completely interrupt the math lesson my sub was teaching. So I went to the office and visited with Steph for a few minutes before heading to my class. I walked into my room expecting to see all my kids playing with the building blocks. However, only one was in there with my elder, Aggie. He is one of my tougher eggs to crack--very stubborn. He dropped his paper on the way to the turn in tub and RAN over to hug me. After making him go back and walk, he and I went to find the rest of the class. They were playing inside recess with the kindergarten so I told him to go in and pretend like I wasn't even there. He grinned ear to ear because he knew this little secret. I walked in the door and nobody noticed for a solid 5 seconds. But then, it was chaos. I had 13 munchkins headed straight for me. I heard a chorus of "You're back!" and "I missed you!" and "Teacher, I love you." as I was surrounded football huddle style. A few gave a quick squeeze then returned to their games they were playing while most kept hugging until I shooed them away. One even asked me to promise that I wouldn't miss any more school days this year.

Is that why I teach first grade?! I think that has a lot to do with it... These little boogers have captured my heart.

Yesterday was tough... The first day back to work in 10 days makes for a rough morning of actually having to wake up to an alarm clock again! PHEW!! The morning was a little rocky at first, but the kids quickly fell into step with the plans. We had a rougher afternoon though... They ended up having to practice walking in the hallway again--I think my expectations are higher than the sub's... And we missed afternoon recess because it was tough to get through the math lesson on time. They weren't happy, but we talked about it and decided that tomorrow is a new day and we'll try harder.

I must admit that I am to blame ALOT for their behavior. I have only taught them 7 days this month so far out of 17. That is so not fair to them. So I am back in AUK for the next 7 1/2 weeks. I plan to be at school EVERY DAY and be the best teacher I can be. My kids deserve some consistency and a good stretch of undivided attention from their teacher.

Last night we had parent teacher conferences. I only had 6 of my 14 students' parents come. I had some good conversation with those parents about their child's behavior and what I have set for goals for their child for the next 7 weeks of school. I was hoping for higher attendance from parents, but there was a funeral in town that many were attending.

In my last post I told you about my decision to stay with LYSD. At that point I was hoping like crazy for a transfer to Mountain Village. My biggest reasons for that were: 1. the administration has a good reputation there--supportive, not micromanaging, etc. 2. more accessibility (I assume) to district office support staff such as the reading specialist, etc. 3. some good friends who live there and would be fun to hang out with more and 4. easier access to St. Mary's which in turn means Anchorage and the lower 48 if I needed to be home right away. However, I was really wondering if this would be the right move for me because I do absolutely adore the natives here in Alakanuk. I am starting to build some friendships with many people in the village. I wasn't sure if I wanted to start that all over again if this is in fact my last year in the district. I also had a hard time moving away from the students here... There are so many kids that I would miss TERRIBLY if I left. I would miss the high schoolers I worked with through basketball and volleyball. I'd miss the middle schoolers who always have a new handshake for me to try. I'd miss Jana's class and their jokes on my lunch break. I'd miss the kids I teach in after school program. And most of all I would miss my first graders who have come so far this year! I am amazed at what they've learned despite me trying to just stay afloat as a first year teacher.

Who's to say that I wouldn't  build these kinds of awesome relationships with the kids in Mountain? I don't know. But ultimately I had to decide if it was worth it to try to become part of a new community or to stay put and dig my roots a little deeper into this community. My final decision came rather easily to me. I decided that AUK is home now. Its where my heart belongs for at least another year. Now, I must admit that I am taking this whole think called life one year at a time. I haven't made any sort of commitment--even to myself-- about how long I'll stay with LYSD or in a bush village or even in Alaska. The only deal I have made with myself is that since I am staying in AUK next year, I need to make a more focused effort in visiting more friends and seeing more places throughout this district. I have at least one friend I met through new hire orientation last fall in every school in the district. My goal is to make it to all the schools and villages to see people. This could happen by boat in the fall, ski doo all winter or plane anytime I feel the urge.

I also understand the toll this may take on relationships with people from the Pac NW and other parts of the lower 48. I've already started to drift a bit from some college friends and that sucks. However, I have also promised myself that I will do a better job of reaching out toward them via phone, Facebook, or Skype so that I won't lose those awesome relationships I have made. I have missed some family time--especially seeing Cody Nicole play in soccer games or dressing up for Halloween with her... I've missed hunting season with some cousins and some good fights with my siblings. But at the end of the day, when I look at the students I get to work with here, I must say that it feels right. I know I can't change the world over night, but perhaps if I stick with it I can change at least one kid's outlook on school or learning or life.

I know MANY of you had to listen to me contemplate my decision for next year. Thanks for your open ears and unbiased help in weighing my reasons for staying or leaving. I know that I've made the right choice, and if I didn't know that before I learned it on Monday when I was so warmly welcomed home by my students.

Life is all about adventure. Find one and live it up!

A week of EXCITEMENT!

Holy cow! A whole week full of awesomeness to fill you in on. :) I think my last post was about the girls finishing the basketball season up, right? So, we made it back from Chevak just fine. I was the unlucky character who got to bring back 8 of the boys team. However, I must say the boys are entirely more entertaining than the girls are on plane trips. At one point I heard a loud chuckle so I turned around and see one of the high school boys holding his ball shoes up to the air vents. I laughed and asked what the heck he was doing. He just giggled and said he was drying out his shoes.

Sunday was a fun day of relaxation and sub plans. I was obviously excited for my birthday, but got plenty of work done. I was supposed to leave on my birthday for Mountain for the district science fair. However, as it goes in this area of Alaska, the weather was bad so we were postponed until the next day. So, Jana and I did our class then took off on our Ski Doos. I decided that even though the post office ruined my afternoon, apparently God still loved me because we got some fresh powder. We played until probably 9 PM and finally decided it was time to eat some birthday dinner.

You know you're in Alaska when your birthday dinner consists of moose, fake mashed potatoes and canned vegetables. :) At home I would've taken myself out for some Mexican or Italian food. In the bush, I have tasty home cooked meals. :)

We headed out to Mountain on Tuesday morning. I was excited to see my MOU friends. The kids were great during the presentations and were easy to handle. However, basketball coaches are MUCH better at keeping kids quiet than these chaperones were. Holy moly, I was awake until after 2 in the morning because some kids were running through the halls and sumo wrestling next door. Sure makes for a grumpy Sammy Jo! However, it wasn't a completely terrible time in MOU. I was able to go have dinner with Jamie--she made DELICIOUS chicken taco soup. Then we got to go watch part of a movie with Sam and Joshua. Good company and a good movie make for a good evening.

Wednesday we had the awards ceremony for the science fair... My 3 cups of coffee really multiplied my normal ADHD tendencies. I couldn't sit still for the life of me. We have one student going to the state science fair in Anchorage. So excited for her!! I got back from the science fair just in time to take my kids out for recess and early release. They were not too happy that I was leaving them again last week. It seems as if I haven't been with my kiddos at all for 2 weeks! Holy cow.

Thursday we had inservice and I was able to handle my exhaustion decently. Nope, I take that back. I was delirious all day long. I was singing and dancing through breaks and put my heart and soul into a respect song the IL wanted our staff to practice...

Thursday afternoon Jana and I talked a friend John into showing us how to get to Mountain. However, the MOU crew didn't know we were coming. After a 3 hour rough ride over hard pack bumps and ice chunks we made it to MOU. We were hungry and it was getting dark. The surprised looks on the faces of our dear friends was awesome. :) It was fun to hang out for a day and a half with them.

While in MOU we had all sorts of adventures. We saw some sweet Northern Lights... Shared some laughter... BSed with the human resources guy about hunting, basketball and guns... Climed the "mountain" which really is more like a hill-- Think Devil's hill in Paisley... Rode ski doo's down to the spring for water... Rode ski doo's up the hill... More movies and laughter...

Surprise visits are awesome, but sometimes a little bit of local knowledge is needed... The gas station in MOU has apparently been closed for a while... Pump isn't working. Oopsie, should've looked into that Thursday! But the tapped the line today. It was like the new clips from big cities when there are gas shortages... We pulled up to the station at 1015 this morning. I counted and there were 2 pickups and 18 snow machines ahead of us. And the pump wasn't working... Great.... Our plan B would be to drive 20 miles to St. Mary's with gas cans until we've got enough in the machines to get the machines to St. Mary's then head home from there... However, we waited it out and by 11:30 we were at the pump. It took us about 4 hours to get home today. We took a different route coming back and it was awesome. The majority of the trip was awesome powder. There was also some rough ground to cover--some bumps that cause a girl to catch some sweet air! I thought to myself probably 100 times that it felt like I was driving on clouds. I realized today that there is nothing more peaceful than cruising through fresh powder at 45 MPH and talking with God. What a calming feeling.

Now I sit here at midnight--time to change clocks. I'm hoping my phone and computer will automatically update because I am not sure if I jump forward or go backward... I am looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow--likely the first night of sleep that lasts longer than 5 hours all week. I've got a busy week ahead of teaching, report cards and sub plans.

HOLY COW, didn't realize I hadn't mentioned that I finally made the decision to stay in Lower Yukon School District for another year. I signed my contract on Tuesday and turned it in. While it should feel like a complete weight lifted off my shoulders, I just still don't know how I feel about it. I also put in for a transfer to other schools within the district. Right now my worst case scenario is returning to Alakanuk, and having that as my "worst" option isn't all that bad. :) I should hear from HR this week about any positions open in the district. Jana and I are going to try to stick together regardless of where we teach next year. That makes the decision to transfer much easier knowing that I will have one person I know and trust with me from the beginning.

I think that sums up this week. I'll keep you posted throughout this week on new developments in my life like where I'll be next year, my awesome summer plans, etc.

There are more pictures on facebook. I just don't have the patience to download them then upload them to my blog. Maybe tonight I'll find the time. :)

23 years 364 days...

There are some things I understand... And others that make NO sense to me at all... Tomorrow is my 24th birthday--even though I may try to tell you it'll be my 25th. I have spent most my my birthdays away from my sisters since I went to college... However, we always are able to come home and have the weekend together. This year is gonna suck. I'm in Bush Alaska. Hannah is in Paisley and Laura is in American Falls. There is no way we'll be able to all get together at Mom and Dad's house with the whole family for dinner, birthday cake and a little Guitar Hero. :)

I have so many things to be thankful for. I am grateful for two very loving, compassionate parents who have taught us kids the value of honesty, respect, hard work, a giving spirit, and most important the importance of unconditional love.

I am lucky to have all four grandparents who are my go-to's when I don't like what Mom or Dad say. :) They've always been right there to support us and hug us when we needed it most.

I was lucky to have my sassy great grandma until I was 22 years old. She taught me many tricks in the kitchen, showed me that life is supposed to be fun, laughed with me and always had room in her bed for her great-grandkids.

I have 4 best friends--Ash, Hannah, Laura and Joe. Regardless of the issue I know that they'll always be on my side in the end. They've seen me at my best and at my worst and somehow still talk to me through it all.

I am thankful for my many many aunts and uncles, great-aunts, great-uncles, third cousins we call uncle, etc. They've always been there for a laugh, a cry, a piece of advice or to tell me that I've made a poor choice. I love getting to spend a few minutes talking to each of them in the random times they happen to call or I catch them. They've housed me for basketball camps, long weekends, and summer vacations. They have supported me in every life choice I've made from my goal to become a teacher to my summer teaching in Italy to my big move to the Bush.

I am thankful for some awesome friends, both old and new, who've always had a smile for me when I needed it most. Some of them are my drinking buddies, others my study buddies, some my co-workers, others my awesome cousins. Regardless of how we met, I am so blessed to have so many awesome people surrounding me.

I guess I am just in a bit of a reflecting mood this mornings. Perhaps its because I'm putting off the sub plans I need to create for tomorrow and Tuesday... Perhaps its because I haven't caught up on sleep yet. In any case, days like today--the last day of my 23rd year--I know I am blessed.

End of Ball Season

Girls played Scammon Bay last night... Lost 70-17.

This morning we played Kotlik. The first quarter was close--and we ended the half down by 15. The 3rd quarter the girls decided something needed to change and dominated. They finished the 3rd quarter within 2 points of Kotlik. The girls continued to play hard, but Kotlik picked up the pressure as well. After some poor passes and lazy rebounding the game ended with Kotlik 52-Alakanuk 41.


Its been a season of ups and downs. The girls seemed to have had lots of fun. They've worked hard and had great success. I've learned alot about myself, coaching, frustration and Bush basketball over the past 4 months. Its been quite the ride.