Too Cold for School!

So we have been back in Deer Lake since Tuesday and it has been a very busy week of... resting and sleeping. Out of the 5 days of school this week the school has only been open 2 days. It was closed Monday because there was no water in the community and Thursday and Friday it was cold because the weather was to cold (this means with the wind chill it was -40 or below). Needless to say the week has been very relaxed except for the part where we wake up and get ready to go to school and just find out as we walk out the door.

On Tuesday we came back from Thunder Bay. We had a really early morning flight on Wasaya. The usual Wasaya flight consists of walking out on the tarmac to a small 11 seater plane, with one seat on each side of the aisle and 3 seats in a row at the very back of the plane. It is a very small plane with a pilot and co-pilot. Well Tuesday's Wasaya plane ride started off the same, we walked out onto the tarmac and to the plane, but the plane we saw was different. It was still a Wasaya plane but it was HUGE!!! It had 29 seats, 2 seats together on each side of the aisle. Not only that but it also had, get ready for it.... a flight attendant!!!! It was crazy. This flight attendant did everything a regular flight attendant does including giving the passengers a drink AND snack. I was blown away. I flights were smooth and we got lucky and didn't have to deal with going through the milk run on the way back. We were the fist stop after Sioux Lookout. It was great.

Anyways everything else in Deer Lake is going good. I have been feeling pretty good and have definitely started showing that I am now pregnant.

A speech for the ages

Claire and I have been in Thunder Bay for a couple of days to visit the high school featured in the Fifth Estate documentary from before Christmas. An opportunity for us to visit the school arose in November and was intended for us to connect with the teachers and get a feel for the procedures and expectations some of our students will soon face. We had an excellent day and are glad for little time spent at the school. We had the chance to see the five students from last year who are now attending the high school. Their reception of us was quite surprising, given some of their histories towards us.

The high school is pretty small. The enrollment in September was 156 and is now down to 100. The principal, in a meeting with us, said that they had told 25 students to not come back after the Christmas break. Many of the 56 students that are no longer at DFC were removed for 'health and safety reasons.' The principal showed us a cache of needles (at least 75), small propane tanks, and several other contraband items that were taken from a student just before Christmas.

During the day the school had a short assembly to go over expectations and help motivate the students for the second semester. What a job the principal did! Claire and I sat back and felt like we were at the movies watching a Hollywood scene where the coach is rallying the troops. The principal stood up at the front and told it like it was. He started by explaining that there was a noticeable difference in that 25 people were missing. He then congratulated the students who had any success last semester. One student had received all four credits, his first time in 6 years. Another student is on pace to graduate this May, after 7 years at the school. The principal then went into a speech about how they are looked down upon by the outside and how they are different. He noted the successes the teams have had the past year. Earning a 4th place finish of 20 schools in a boat race and a 6th place finish of 12 schools in a city-wide Science Fair. One student was going to Minneapolis to compete in a large Judo tournament. The assembly was short, only 20 minutes, but he had managed to get the blood pumping in at least two audience members.

It was refreshing to see a school where the leader is competent. Our principal had accompanied us for the trip, even though there was nothing for him to do. We had not received any information regarding the start time for school so we decided to go for 8:45 am. When we arrived and our contact finally showed up he had asked if Johnson had given the agenda he had faxed up last week. Of course Johnson knew nothing about it.

The school was quite unique. With the advantage of only having 100 students, there was a sense of community that would not be present in a larger high school. After only 1 day, Claire and I had already connected with most of the students and staff. In the assembly there was a sense of pride among the students. They clapped for each other and seemed to care for the little achievements.

We were thankful for the opportunity and chance to see first0hand the next step for our students. On a separate note, Deer Lake had a day off because the water was not working during the morning. Figures...the one day we are out of the community, the school is cancelled.

A Sad Day

Some sad news from today. A plane crashed near Deer Lake this morning. The crash occurred at the next reserve over and was on its way to Deer Lake for a meeting with Chief and Council. A lot of people here have a connection with someone who was on the plane.

Where turkeys aren't the only things stuffed

Yup, 22 people!

"About Time"

Another Christmas season has come and gone and Greg and I are back in Deer Lake. We arrived yesterday and 2:30pm and started school already today. Although we had an awesome Christmas break I did feel it went way to fast.

We had many highlights over the break but our favourite one was telling our family and friends that we are expecting. Greg and I are really excited about and are looking forward to the future. Today, we were able to tell our boss and co-workers. Everyone up here is very excited for us and I am sure the thought a lot of them had was "about time". We also told our students today and Greg got some very funny comments this afternoon. One student walked up to Greg and recess very nonchalantly and said "Sup" and waited a few seconds, then continued by saying "so you knocked up Claire". Another student commented to Greg that he "finally stuffed the turkey". I laughed so hard when Greg told me about these comments.

Anyways Greg and I hope you all enjoy 2012!