I have decided to keep a separate blog for family and friends from this current one that I am using. I have created a link from this blog to the new one... you can find it on the side bar under "For Family and Friends". You may have already noticed that there are links on the side bar to the "NU5", aka the other student teachers from the Mount doing practicum in Nunavut. The new link is beside that. Or you can save the new URL which is "terindewolfandfamily.blogspot.ca"
This current blog's main purpose is for keeping contact with my professor/supervisor in Halifax, therefore the format from now on will be different, with less pictures and descriptions.
Thanks for following and feel free to follow both if you like
Terin
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Weather Looks Promising
I think it's going to be a good day out on the ice!!!!! Hope we catch some fish... well not me, but other people so that I can photograph it :)
Friday, March 14, 2014
Happy Dance - Too Excited to Sleep!
I'm too consumed by excitement to get any sleep. Today was a great day! I am getting more comfortable in my class and within the school with each passing day. I will just give you the highlights as it is after midnight already and I have to be up and ready early in the morning.
John, the principal has graciously lent me (and Krisanne too) a lap top to take home during the evenings to do my blogs. This means that I have more free time during lunch and before/after school to spend getting to know the staff and students.
I know every one of my students names, as well as a number of other students within the school...this is a HUGE feat for me as I am really not the best with remembering names quickly.
Today I taught two lessons in which the students were engaged and produced amazing work. I was so happy and proud of them. I know this can change day by day in any classroom, but to end a week on a high note is always a positive in my books!
After school I joined the Huskies program again. I really enjoy being a part of it because it allows me the opportunity to build relationships with students in other classes and different grades. I was very flattered when the students seemed genuinely please when I answered in the affirmative when asked if Krisanne and I were now also their coaches (along with the other teachers leading the program).
Tonight was movie night at SP (Sam Pudlat). The grade sixes helped to transform the school gym into a 'movie theatre' complete with chairs in the back and crash mats at the front for students to lay on. The movie was projected onto a large screen connected to the gym wall. There was also a canteen set up and run by the same grade sixes....they made a killing! Quite a few of the teachers showed up to help out and enjoy the movie, Monsters University. It was pretty cute and funny.
After everything was cleaned up, put away and all the students were safely out of the school krisanne and I were informed that a snowmobile and qamutiik (sled) had been secured for tomorrow morning to take us out to the fishing derby!!!! This is apparently the first fishing derby to occur in Cape Dorset and it is supposed to be a HUGE community event.
We first heard about the derby a couple of days ago and had inquired about the likelihood of being able to catch a ride out to the location (it is about a 45 minute snowmobile ride out onto the sea ice, or somewhere between 2-5 miles depending on who you talk to). The locals and SP staff we talked to earlier in the week suggested that we ask around, put an add out on the local information site and maybe inquire about it over the radio. Easier said than done when you don't really know anyone and have only been here less than a week!
Well....Katie, Jess and Heidi, three maritimers and fellow Mount graduates who are working and living in Cape Dorset, worked tirelessly trying to make it happen for Krisanne and I. We knew that they were asking around and speaking to locals they knew, but I had no idea just how far they set the net. Earlier on in the evening, things were just not looking good though, even with all of their trying. Katie had managed to procure the use of a qamutiik for us, but everyone who had a snowmobile was either using it/ could not pull the qamuttik on the back, or their machine was just not working. In the end, at about 8pm tonight Margaret (the Inuktitut teacher at SP) called Heidi to say that she had managed to rent a snowmobile for tomorrow and if we were willing to split the cost then she would pull us in the qamutiik!!!!!!!!!!! To rent a snowmobile the cost is about 200 dollars for the day.
WE ARE GOING OUT ON THE LAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, obviously I assumed the night could not possibly get any better. I mean what seemed like the impossible suddenly came together at the last minute, thanks totally to Katie, Heidi and Jess!!!!
Well, after the movie we had made plans to go over to Krisanne's neighbours for a visit. It was a beautiful night, clear sky and not too cold (very little wind). We popped into Krisanne's so she could get changed and drop stuff off before heading over. When Jess and I came back out we were met with... you guessed it, the northern lights!!!!!!!!
Krisanne was still in the house, and Jess and I started yelling for her to get out here. She came flying out, thinking there was a polar bear, haha but nope, something way better. The three of us just stood in the middle of the road and marvelled at them for a while. They streaked across the sky, in dark to light aqua greens. They were so bright and clear, it felt like you could just reach out and grab a hold of them. They snaked around the sky fading and thinning out in parts, only to resurge thicker and brighter. Krisanne remarked that it was easy to understand how people could have and would still imagine these lights to be spirits. It really was very awe-inspiring.
Well thats all for now. More to come if I make it back from the derby alive! haha
John, the principal has graciously lent me (and Krisanne too) a lap top to take home during the evenings to do my blogs. This means that I have more free time during lunch and before/after school to spend getting to know the staff and students.
I know every one of my students names, as well as a number of other students within the school...this is a HUGE feat for me as I am really not the best with remembering names quickly.
Today I taught two lessons in which the students were engaged and produced amazing work. I was so happy and proud of them. I know this can change day by day in any classroom, but to end a week on a high note is always a positive in my books!
After school I joined the Huskies program again. I really enjoy being a part of it because it allows me the opportunity to build relationships with students in other classes and different grades. I was very flattered when the students seemed genuinely please when I answered in the affirmative when asked if Krisanne and I were now also their coaches (along with the other teachers leading the program).
Tonight was movie night at SP (Sam Pudlat). The grade sixes helped to transform the school gym into a 'movie theatre' complete with chairs in the back and crash mats at the front for students to lay on. The movie was projected onto a large screen connected to the gym wall. There was also a canteen set up and run by the same grade sixes....they made a killing! Quite a few of the teachers showed up to help out and enjoy the movie, Monsters University. It was pretty cute and funny.
After everything was cleaned up, put away and all the students were safely out of the school krisanne and I were informed that a snowmobile and qamutiik (sled) had been secured for tomorrow morning to take us out to the fishing derby!!!! This is apparently the first fishing derby to occur in Cape Dorset and it is supposed to be a HUGE community event.
We first heard about the derby a couple of days ago and had inquired about the likelihood of being able to catch a ride out to the location (it is about a 45 minute snowmobile ride out onto the sea ice, or somewhere between 2-5 miles depending on who you talk to). The locals and SP staff we talked to earlier in the week suggested that we ask around, put an add out on the local information site and maybe inquire about it over the radio. Easier said than done when you don't really know anyone and have only been here less than a week!
Well....Katie, Jess and Heidi, three maritimers and fellow Mount graduates who are working and living in Cape Dorset, worked tirelessly trying to make it happen for Krisanne and I. We knew that they were asking around and speaking to locals they knew, but I had no idea just how far they set the net. Earlier on in the evening, things were just not looking good though, even with all of their trying. Katie had managed to procure the use of a qamutiik for us, but everyone who had a snowmobile was either using it/ could not pull the qamuttik on the back, or their machine was just not working. In the end, at about 8pm tonight Margaret (the Inuktitut teacher at SP) called Heidi to say that she had managed to rent a snowmobile for tomorrow and if we were willing to split the cost then she would pull us in the qamutiik!!!!!!!!!!! To rent a snowmobile the cost is about 200 dollars for the day.
WE ARE GOING OUT ON THE LAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, obviously I assumed the night could not possibly get any better. I mean what seemed like the impossible suddenly came together at the last minute, thanks totally to Katie, Heidi and Jess!!!!
Well, after the movie we had made plans to go over to Krisanne's neighbours for a visit. It was a beautiful night, clear sky and not too cold (very little wind). We popped into Krisanne's so she could get changed and drop stuff off before heading over. When Jess and I came back out we were met with... you guessed it, the northern lights!!!!!!!!
Krisanne was still in the house, and Jess and I started yelling for her to get out here. She came flying out, thinking there was a polar bear, haha but nope, something way better. The three of us just stood in the middle of the road and marvelled at them for a while. They streaked across the sky, in dark to light aqua greens. They were so bright and clear, it felt like you could just reach out and grab a hold of them. They snaked around the sky fading and thinning out in parts, only to resurge thicker and brighter. Krisanne remarked that it was easy to understand how people could have and would still imagine these lights to be spirits. It really was very awe-inspiring.
Well thats all for now. More to come if I make it back from the derby alive! haha
Thursday, March 13, 2014
-27 degrees
Woke up early this morning and took a little walk around my neighbourhood. The sunrises here are very different than at home. On the horizon all around you the sky seems to be ringed in a purple-red hue with a medium/dark blue dome above you. As the sun comes up the horizon ring slowly blends through the colours red to orange to a yellow day light colour. The dome also slowly lightens through different shades of blue.
The contrast between the white and brown mountains/hills surrounding you and the sky make everything seems to pop... this could also be due to the lack of humidity in the air. It makes you feel like you can just reach out and touch the hills.
There were only two people out walking with me. Besides the occasional sound of their footsteps and a snowmobile or two it was eerily quiet. It is minus 27 today, but there was no wind this morning so it was quite pleasant to walk around. It is such a different cold here. You do not seem to notice it right away when you step out of your house all bundled up. But once you breath in you can feel the restriction in your chest, making you want to cough a bit or clear your throat. Once you are outside for a few minutes is when you really begin to notice the cold. Your exposed skin begins to tingle and then feel a bit like pins and needles. You can feel the moisture in your breath crystallizing around your nose and mouth... you can also see it on your hair!
Walking on snow up here also sounds extremely different. It can sound like you are walking on hollow styrofoam. I find it does not bother my if my toque is on or my hood is up, but wow it can sometimes sound like nails on a chalk board!
Well here are some photos I took this morning on my walk around.
The contrast between the white and brown mountains/hills surrounding you and the sky make everything seems to pop... this could also be due to the lack of humidity in the air. It makes you feel like you can just reach out and touch the hills.
There were only two people out walking with me. Besides the occasional sound of their footsteps and a snowmobile or two it was eerily quiet. It is minus 27 today, but there was no wind this morning so it was quite pleasant to walk around. It is such a different cold here. You do not seem to notice it right away when you step out of your house all bundled up. But once you breath in you can feel the restriction in your chest, making you want to cough a bit or clear your throat. Once you are outside for a few minutes is when you really begin to notice the cold. Your exposed skin begins to tingle and then feel a bit like pins and needles. You can feel the moisture in your breath crystallizing around your nose and mouth... you can also see it on your hair!
Walking on snow up here also sounds extremely different. It can sound like you are walking on hollow styrofoam. I find it does not bother my if my toque is on or my hood is up, but wow it can sometimes sound like nails on a chalk board!
Well here are some photos I took this morning on my walk around.
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| View from my front porch |
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| my street |
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| my house |
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| our water and sewage tank... the truck comes by daily to replenish/empty |
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| the local arena just across the street |
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| the school |
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| hockey arena/basketball court |
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| front doors |
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| view of my house from the front doors... mine is on the left |
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| polar bear |
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| view of downtown from the school |
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
A Day in the Life of Me!
I know it has only been two days, but I figured that's long enough to do a 'day in the life' post as I can't imagine it will vary too greatly from Monday to Friday over the next couple of weeks.
I wake up between 6-630 am, have coffee and pack my lunch. I sometimes check emails, or just read a bit. I get ready and head over to the school around 745am to get settled and discuss anything that needs to be discussed before the day begins.
The morning bell rings at 840am (but you are outside at 820 if you have duty). Students come in and get to work on a morning problem waiting for breakfast to be served (changes but has been toast and eggs and fruit one day, then cereal and juice another). We then do some Yoga and complete a 'simon says' colour memorization game as a class. After this the students break up into working groups where they focus on English reading and writing. We then have a 15 minute recess. After recess the students have Inuktitut for 30 minutes and then math. We have an hour and 20 minute lunch where all the students go home on either a bus or they walk.
After lunch each day is different where they focus on subjects such as 'Science, Social Studies, SEL (social skills/building relationships), Computers, Gym, etc. The dismissal bell rings at 340pm. Depending on the day there are a number of activities that occur throughout the school.
So I have been arriving home after 6pm to have dinner, read and regroup for the next day/blog. I have been crashing between 9-10 each night, as it is all just so new and I have been finding myself absolutely exhausted. It is weird to be lulled to sleep by the sounds of snowmobiles racing by. It reminds me of hearing speed boats at a cottage. Actually that is one thing I have noticed, just how quiet it is throughout the day when you are outside, especially at night and first thing in the morning. It is so peaceful.
It is generally staying light out until around 730, which is great as it makes the days seem nice and long. The weather has been clear and crisp. It makes for great picture taking. Krisanne and I are eagerly awaiting Saturday so that we can spend the day exploring and checking out the local sites. We haven't had the opportunity to do much yet except blog, sleep and move between home and school.
Actually there are a number of exciting event coming up:
Friday night movie night at the elementary school - Monsters University
Dinner at our Principals house Saturday Night
PD days Monday and Tuesday on Residential School Legacy and Assessment
Stars Assembly
Winter Carnival
Hamlet Day
Hockey Games
I wake up between 6-630 am, have coffee and pack my lunch. I sometimes check emails, or just read a bit. I get ready and head over to the school around 745am to get settled and discuss anything that needs to be discussed before the day begins.
The morning bell rings at 840am (but you are outside at 820 if you have duty). Students come in and get to work on a morning problem waiting for breakfast to be served (changes but has been toast and eggs and fruit one day, then cereal and juice another). We then do some Yoga and complete a 'simon says' colour memorization game as a class. After this the students break up into working groups where they focus on English reading and writing. We then have a 15 minute recess. After recess the students have Inuktitut for 30 minutes and then math. We have an hour and 20 minute lunch where all the students go home on either a bus or they walk.
After lunch each day is different where they focus on subjects such as 'Science, Social Studies, SEL (social skills/building relationships), Computers, Gym, etc. The dismissal bell rings at 340pm. Depending on the day there are a number of activities that occur throughout the school.
So I have been arriving home after 6pm to have dinner, read and regroup for the next day/blog. I have been crashing between 9-10 each night, as it is all just so new and I have been finding myself absolutely exhausted. It is weird to be lulled to sleep by the sounds of snowmobiles racing by. It reminds me of hearing speed boats at a cottage. Actually that is one thing I have noticed, just how quiet it is throughout the day when you are outside, especially at night and first thing in the morning. It is so peaceful.
It is generally staying light out until around 730, which is great as it makes the days seem nice and long. The weather has been clear and crisp. It makes for great picture taking. Krisanne and I are eagerly awaiting Saturday so that we can spend the day exploring and checking out the local sites. We haven't had the opportunity to do much yet except blog, sleep and move between home and school.
Actually there are a number of exciting event coming up:
Friday night movie night at the elementary school - Monsters University
Dinner at our Principals house Saturday Night
PD days Monday and Tuesday on Residential School Legacy and Assessment
Stars Assembly
Winter Carnival
Hamlet Day
Hockey Games
Hitting the Ground Running
The first two days at the school have been jam packed! Arriving at school between 730-8am and not getting home until after 6pm...and remember I do not have a far commute! It has been great! The staff are amazing and very friendly, always checking in to see how I am getting along and fielding my many questions as though they have all the time in the world (they don't! it is a very busy school).
There are about 20 students in my class, mainly grade 3's with a few grade 4's. There are a number that generally do not come very often. I have been told that it is rare if not unlikely that I will see a full class during my stay. They are EXTREMELY active, not wanting to be confined to chairs or desks, but who can blame them! They definitely have been keeping me on my toes. Although, I have finally memorized the Inuktitut for 'how old are you, what's your name, and how are you' so this helps. These are the questions the students seem to love to ask multiple times a day. They find it hilarious when I attempt to then ask them the questions back, answer in Inuktitut or try to answer yes or no questions using only facial expressions in the traditional Inuit way. I get the impression that they also respect me for trying.
The first day was very interesting as it was parent-teacher interviews. I was able to sit in on a number of them, which was great as I was then able to meet some of my students parents. I was not sure what to expect for the interviews, but quickly realized they were not much different from the ones that I had been to during my practicum's in Halifax.
Our school has a couple of after school programs. One is a 'sports' program which is run by a number of students from the high school. Each day they take a different age group to partake in gym activities. This program runs daily from 4-6pm, with the students being bused home afterwards.
Another program, called the "Huskies Program", is run by some of the teachers at our school. It consists of a small group of students who remain after school until 5pm. They have free time on the computers and then head up to the weight room which is above the gym in a loft style attic. The students do 2 minute rotations on the machines and equipment. Afterwards they gather as a group and take turns telling their classmates what they noticed they did well that day.
I had the opportunity to attend the "Huskies Program" today after school. It was so great to see the students supporting each other, and I had the opportunity to share what I had been noticing with them as well.
As I sat down with my practicum teacher today to go over our lesson plans for the next couple weeks we quickly realized that due to a number of events coming up at the school (two PD days, half a day assembly and a Winter Carnival) there are actually only 10 teaching days left!!
There are about 20 students in my class, mainly grade 3's with a few grade 4's. There are a number that generally do not come very often. I have been told that it is rare if not unlikely that I will see a full class during my stay. They are EXTREMELY active, not wanting to be confined to chairs or desks, but who can blame them! They definitely have been keeping me on my toes. Although, I have finally memorized the Inuktitut for 'how old are you, what's your name, and how are you' so this helps. These are the questions the students seem to love to ask multiple times a day. They find it hilarious when I attempt to then ask them the questions back, answer in Inuktitut or try to answer yes or no questions using only facial expressions in the traditional Inuit way. I get the impression that they also respect me for trying.
The first day was very interesting as it was parent-teacher interviews. I was able to sit in on a number of them, which was great as I was then able to meet some of my students parents. I was not sure what to expect for the interviews, but quickly realized they were not much different from the ones that I had been to during my practicum's in Halifax.
Our school has a couple of after school programs. One is a 'sports' program which is run by a number of students from the high school. Each day they take a different age group to partake in gym activities. This program runs daily from 4-6pm, with the students being bused home afterwards.
Another program, called the "Huskies Program", is run by some of the teachers at our school. It consists of a small group of students who remain after school until 5pm. They have free time on the computers and then head up to the weight room which is above the gym in a loft style attic. The students do 2 minute rotations on the machines and equipment. Afterwards they gather as a group and take turns telling their classmates what they noticed they did well that day.
I had the opportunity to attend the "Huskies Program" today after school. It was so great to see the students supporting each other, and I had the opportunity to share what I had been noticing with them as well.
As I sat down with my practicum teacher today to go over our lesson plans for the next couple weeks we quickly realized that due to a number of events coming up at the school (two PD days, half a day assembly and a Winter Carnival) there are actually only 10 teaching days left!!
Home Sweet Home
Our flight left Iqaluit Monday afternoon around 3pm. It was fairly windy and thus quite cold out, but a clear day so I was not worried about flying on our prop plane. One thing I found odd though was that at the Iqaluit airport we were not made to go through any sort of security before boarding the plane to Cape Dorset. People were bringing open drinks and whatever else they liked right from the town onto the plane.
We also had to board a bus to take us to our little 18 seat plane. Haha the look on Krisanne's face when we exited the terminal and were directed to the bus was pretty priceless (she hates flying). Then again when we pulled up to this small two propeller plane that earlier Krisanne had said looked like it was on fire! (they were steaming the plane getting it ready for us).
The flight was very short, just about an hour, and very noisy. The views were spectacular though. We traveled over open water for most of it. When we finally approached the Island (Cape Dorset is an Island separate from Baffin Island), I was amazed at how hilly it was, Google maps had not prepared me for that.
We were not sure who would be meeting us at the airport and were thrilled to have a five person welcoming committee along with a personal bus to give us a quick tour of town before depositing us safely at our respected homes.
Cape Dorset is beautifully nestled around a horseshoe bay. The town sort of fans up and out over the hills surrounding the bay. This means that from many different places in town you get a great view of the bay!
My house is located right beside the Elementary school, actually my bedroom window looks out onto the school yard and hockey/basketball rink. I have two wonderful dogs at my new home, Ella and Carlos. They are super friendly and total cuddle monsters.
Doug and Grace have welcomed me with open arms and I already feel like their home has been mine for forever. Their one rule is 'make yourself at home' which I have done. They have even arranged a number of social gatherings throughout the next couple of weeks for Myself and Krisanne, which felt so amazing to hear about my first night in a strange place.
We also had to board a bus to take us to our little 18 seat plane. Haha the look on Krisanne's face when we exited the terminal and were directed to the bus was pretty priceless (she hates flying). Then again when we pulled up to this small two propeller plane that earlier Krisanne had said looked like it was on fire! (they were steaming the plane getting it ready for us).
We were not sure who would be meeting us at the airport and were thrilled to have a five person welcoming committee along with a personal bus to give us a quick tour of town before depositing us safely at our respected homes.
Cape Dorset is beautifully nestled around a horseshoe bay. The town sort of fans up and out over the hills surrounding the bay. This means that from many different places in town you get a great view of the bay!
My house is located right beside the Elementary school, actually my bedroom window looks out onto the school yard and hockey/basketball rink. I have two wonderful dogs at my new home, Ella and Carlos. They are super friendly and total cuddle monsters.
Doug and Grace have welcomed me with open arms and I already feel like their home has been mine for forever. Their one rule is 'make yourself at home' which I have done. They have even arranged a number of social gatherings throughout the next couple of weeks for Myself and Krisanne, which felt so amazing to hear about my first night in a strange place.
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