Northern Paradise

As Mr. Rogers used to say: "It's a lovely day in the neigbourhood." The sun is up over the hills and we are getting sunshine in the village. We have had several days of sun for the past week. Some days it was very windy, others are calm like today. Very cold but when the wind is not blowing it is pleasant to walk a short distance... like the 300 steps to my home. Last night I was out to see the northern lights. They were fantastic. They were a brilliant green flashing acoss the sky. This morning I grabbed ahand painted silk scarf to wear that Dawn MacNutt had given me. The colours are so like the northern lights: purples, greens and blues with flashes of gold. Nothing like being in style in Salluit.

My kids are asking for an afternoon on the hills to play with sleds, tubes and pieces of cardboard. I am going to delay that as long as possible but it would be nice to get out of the classroom to enjoy some fresh air. But it is too bloody cold right now.

The students have been working so hard the past few days. Tasks that took 45 minutes are being completed with in 20 minutes. And their writing has improved. They are so more comfortable writing these days. The writing is helped by all the reading they are doing. They have matured and learned so much since August. When they are well behaved and working I give out coloured sticks. On Friday I open a little store for them to pruchase treats with these sticks. They have seen all the parcels that have arrived from my parents in Florida so they know the store is well stocked.

But it is not just the treats that have them working. Most of them are in a sweet spot.. they have worked and learned. They like that feeling. There is more freedom now that they don't have to work so much with me. They can read what they want to read. If they finish the math for the day they can read the magazines I have for them. The boys love Hockey News and Sports Illustrated For Kids. The girls die for any recent news of Hillary Duff. I just won't let them know that they are learning as they read more and more.

The girls and I stay for lunch at least once a week and sew together. That is so much fun. I am not getting my sewing done at home as I have to stay a project ahead of them. I honestly was never a fan of pre-teen girls before. But they are so much fun, kind and generous. The boys are like young pups... always play fighting. They roll around outside all the time. I must be getting old and soft as I love the time I spend with most of them.


They are not perfect but they are trying to be. They are so successful now that they try to do the work. And it is not just in school. Abigail ( who is 10) has been asked to play on the women's hockey team. She is big for her age but she is also a hard worker. So disciplined MOST of the time. Luc is playing golaie on his team. He has a terrible brusie on his chin these days. Most of the boys and a few girls are playing hockey. Their journals are full of their accomplishments. And just when I think everything is just about perfect they start a farting contest. The children here could make farting an Olympic event and would win the gold with very little real effort.

On Tuesday I had outside duty. Putting all the necessary layers of clothing on plus the boots takes so much energy. And to go through that so many times in one day is a pain in the arse. Once out , this week, it was fun. Some duty times I stand like those penguins in the recent movie. The principal organized the kids for races.... going backwards, hopping on one foot ect. Then as a joke Annie, Julie and I raced. I can only imagine what that must have looked liked.. but it did put some colour in my cheeks and I did not have to be medi-vaced out.

So with the light back in this part of the north and the students learning something had to go wrong. Of course our school board had to reward us for working so hard. This week's paypacket contained all the bad news concerning how much they chose to dock us for flying home for Christmas before Dec. 23rd. Flying on the 23rd would have put me in NS on the 24th, weather permitting. As it was we were delayed because of the storm in Montreal but, had we left on the 23rd. it would have been more dependable to fly with Santa as he is never delayed. The staff room is not a plesant place to be today. Perhaps I should take the kids out for the afternoon on the hills.

Other than that all is well here. Once there is more light we all cheer up. I hope there is some sunlight in you r day.