Saturday May 16, 2026

 Happy Long weekend

Wow--yesterday, beautiful and sunny, all snow off the roads, and walking without spikes!!  Today, minus 12, snow and a high wind with blizzard coming for the week!!  So much for my plan to walk over to the grocery store!!  My amazing neighbour, the guy in charge of housing resigned and left a few days ago.  Now, I have no way of going shopping.  I could get the keys for the truck, but I am not a good driver in snow--so I will have to make do for the next 3 weeks with what is left in my pantry.  Nick did leave me a present--he was contracted here by a Montreal based firm--and they provided him with internet--so I was able to use it, gratis.  He has left it on for me!!  Yahoo.  Thankyou Nick.

The Quebec system does year end exams for grades 6 to 12/13 in English, French and Inuktitut.  May is the designated month for these tests.  My neighbour got the results back for math at the grade 6 level, and his class scored the highest for Nunavik--his son go the highest score, 96%.  Good for him.  I have to say that teacher Joseph has done an amazing job.  In his third year year, with the same class,  he  has the best attendance record for the school.  He came here  as a single dad with one son.  He married this past September.  His new wife had one son and a foster son.  They now have a baby.  In addition to this, they are fostering a girl (from his class), and extend a home for youth who are caught in the welfare system.  He is a pillar of the school.  He is the School Council president, he organized the exchange trip for his class and a class in Toronto, and he coaches volleyball.  To top it off, he comes every morning with a big smile, a kind word, and support for all.  So lucky to have such a spark plug.

The local police have put on three afternoons of interaction with the school.  On Monday, they hosted an afternoon at the rink, on Tuesday they hosted a games afternoon in the school gym, and on Friday, they hosted a school lunch.  They are really working at creating a closer bond with with the community.  Good for them.

The good news is that we have 8 more school days with kids, so grade 3 English is doubling down on English, Math and Art.  We have set goals to complete.  In English, the goal is to read 5 more books, print 10 sentences, and be able to figure out any word using phonics skills.  In math, continuing flash card practice of quick facts in adding, subtracting and multiplying and in art create at least 5 more things.  For the grades 1 and 2 English as a second language, we are using our knowledge of letters to unlock the words in our interactive farm animal games.  Finally, with the enrichment group, we are reading, and then retelling the stories using the old theatre sport game Fortunately and Unfortunately.  Too much fun.  

I will miss the teaching part--I really love it.  These kids  buy into the interaction, the thinking and the satisfaction that can only come from accomplishment.  The trick always is to provide opportunities that are doable, with the touch of challenge.  A real balancing act as we all know!!

With Nick gone, I can practice at any hour, and at full volume.  That has been really great, but a little lonely.  I really look  forward to playing clarinet with my friends.  A lot of opportunity lies ahead with the Delta Music Makers,  Monterey Band and of course  the Friday clarinet choir.

The ceiling in my bedroom--caused by melting snow trapped under the shingles.  The dripping stopped after 5 days!!  An new roof will need to be ordered for the summer.

Some of the music I have been working on.

Grade 1/2 English as Second Language--c is for cat!!

Mother's Day--painted dish, sun catchers and cards.

My little plants love the sun--sunrise 4:00 am, sunset 9:30 pm.

The rink.

Making our spring flowers.


A visit from the Arctic Bunting yesterday.  Today, too much snow and wind.  I don't know where these little birds go on such a day.

Completed flower project!!




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