Its Been A While...

Well I don't really have time to continue to update my blog. However my wife has a blog that is a great portrayal of what life is like in rural Alaska. Check out her blog at www.loganandjack.blogspot.com

Goodbye Friend

Due to unfortunate events my principal, friend and mentor Terry is leaving Marshall. I have learned so much from him about teaching, working together, and Alaska. I'm not sure how this year would have been without him. Thank you Terry for everything that you have done for me and my family, you will be missed.

Terry is standing next to me (at the Anchorage Art Museum)

Back in the Classroom

     Its been awhile so I thought that I'd better write a new post and tell whats been going on in my classroom. Since before Christmas break I had been telling my students that if they behave I will let them use the Mac Books that are stored for the upper elementary students. About a week after getting back I decided that it was time. They were so excited. After going over some rules about how to care for this new piece of technology they were about to use I handed them out to each student.

 The students got right to work. They are working on state projects. They each had to pick a state and find out several facts about that state. Stay tuned to find out how it turns out.

After I took this shot I decided I could get their faces too.

The students were happy to help each other. Some had more experience working with Mac Books so they lent a hand when they could.

     So far the students are doing a great job working with the computers. I am proud of how careful they are with them. They are also doing a good job with their research. Most have been able to find out a lot about the state they picked. I am looking for another project that they can use the laptops, so that they can stay excited about using the technology that we have available.

My Redneck Roots

     On Saturday I went shooting with my dad and brother at the English Pit shooting range. This is the second time that we have gone shooting there. Ever since I moved to Alaska I have become more interested in guns and shooting. My dad supplied the guns he brought a nine millimeter, .22 single shot hand gun, a .22 single shot rifle and a .22 semi automatic rifle. We took turns shooting the different guns. My dad is the best shot, followed by Samuel and then me.

My Dad's new ammunition case

The target on the left was ours

My dad shooting the nine millimeter

 

Me shooting the nine

Catching the bullet coming out of the gun

 

Samuel shooting the nine (he saw me shoot it one handed so he shot it one handed)

 My Dad shooting the single shot .22

 Samuel loading the semi automatic .22

Shooting the semi automatic

     We had a good time shooting this time, we were at the range for about three hours. We discovered a few problems with the semi automatic .22 it needs a new ejector spring and firing pin because it misfires and jams while ejecting the spent shell. I am excited to come back to Vancouver in a few months to shoot again. 

Leaving so Soon?

     We were supposed to leave Thursday 12/23/2011 from Marshall on a charter flight to Bethel. However the charter company called and canceled due to weather. Lucky for me I put my name on manifest for the evening Era flight. The rest of the teachers were able to get on that flight too. We all went out to the airport to wait for the plane to come in. It landed but never taxied off the runway. Upon further inspection we found that a tire on the airplane had blown. Needless to say we did not get on that flight, we also did not get on the next flight they sent either because the plane with a flat tire was in the middle of the runway so the plane in the air wouldn't land. Since the plane with a flat tire was in the middle of the runway the pilot asked us if we could tow it out of the way so that the mechanics plane could land. We were hoping to get a ride to Bethel after they fixed the tire, however Era isn't allowed to fly passengers after 9:30 PM.

 Uh oh a flat and no AAA

 Me and the flat

 Hooking up the plane to the van

 Towing the plane out of the way

 Rear view of the plane being towed

Front view of the broken plane

     All of us teachers were able to get on the morning flight out of Marshall to Bethel. Once I arrived in Bethel I had to haggle with the Era agent to get me on the next flight to Anchorage, unfortunately all she could do was get me on stand by. Luckily I was able to get on that flight to Anchorage. Once in Anchorage I was able to get a new flight to Portland. I only lost one day. Shelly was waiting at the airport at 10:30 Friday night to pick me up. I was overjoyed to see her.

Marshall School Christmas Program

     Thursday night Marshall students put on one heck of a Christmas Program. Each grade had to perform in some way. All of the students did a great job. Right before my students went on the stage they told me they were too nervous. I told them that all of the people in the stands were there for them and they wanted to see their performance. My kids did a really good job. Unfortunately a couple of my students didn't show up so I had to step in a say a couple of lines, but other than that the play went well.
   

The background for our stage

 The kindergarteners singing Ruldoph the Red Nose Reindeer

 The 1/2 graders read a Merry Christmas poem each letter had its own meaning

 The boy on the end was to cute I had to put this picture in

 My class did a skit Goldilocks and the Christmas Eleves 

 I wish there was more than one mic

 Santa came in and stole the show

Santa getting mobbed on the stage (we found a chair for him to sit in)

     Overall the program was a success. There were a few hiccups, but I think that is normal when you are trying to put on a show that includes students from grades K-12. All of the students did a great job learning songs and skits. I hope that the parents enjoyed the show their kids put on.

The New Digs

     Well its about as done as I can get it without Shelly here. The house still needs a few things to be complete. One thing is blinds in the windows. I'm not sure why the district did not have these to put in, but they didn't so we are waiting for those (so don't mind the towels over most the windows). Another problem is that our front door doesn't fit correctly with the frame so there is a pretty sizable gap between the front door and the jam. This causes snow and water to come into the arctic entry and make a mess. This too is supposed to be fixed soon, however the contractor, supplier and district are all pointing fingers to whose problem this is so it could be a while before that is fixed. Who would of thought that you need to have doors that fit in Alaska. It only gets well below zero with daily winds of 10-20 mph not to mention it SNOWS. Other than those couple of things the house is really nice. I'm going to stop talking now because I know most of you just want to see pictures.

 The front of the house (Flora's dish to the right)

 Arctic entry

The living room looking from the dining room

The door on the far right goes outside, moving left the next door is the downstairs bedroom and the door to the left of the TV goes to the bathroom

 The kitchen

 Not a lot of counter space, but I think it will be okay

 Dining room the door on the left is to the pantry

 The laundry room/storage. With Joe's help we were able to move the washer/dryer in

The downstairs bathroom

The downstairs bedroom/playroom full of boxes for when Shelly gets here

 Lots of boxes

 Bedroom closet

 Leading upstairs

Logan and Jack's room

 More of the boy's room

 The closet in the boy's room

The upstairs bathroom

Hallway closet

 Shelly and my bedroom

 It's a pretty good size room

It even has a bookshelf, perfect for Shelly

     I forgot one more thing that will make this place complete. Its missing Shelly, Logan, Jack and Wyatt. Once they get here It will feel like a home. When I talk with Shelly on the phone she can hear my voice echoing. I am excited for Shelly to decorate and make it feel a little more cozy here. I am also excited for the boys to finally see the "Alaska House."