A Bad Time In Salluit

We are still suffering here in Salluit. This second death, hard on the heels of the first, has shrouded the village in saddness. Not that one was harder than the other, just that two is too much... one it too much .. nothing seems to make sense... everyone is so tired and so down. It is difficult to plan the school day. The children are not rested and are emotional. As a teacher, it is difficult to find the words to comfort them. I feel it is disrespectful to play a game that would cheer them up, but we need something to get us going.

Funeral arrangements are not made yet so we are all waiting for that announcment. Salluit is enveloped in a dense veil of fog and it is also snowing. Planes are having trouble landing so some family members are not yet here.

Everyone is exhausuted from staying up most of the night and the emotional state that has gripped this community for over a week. This is a small village of 1200 people. The family relationships are very strong and interconnected. Most families will have had some connection to one or even both tragedies. Last year was a very difficult time for this community with over a dozen deaths from unnatural causes. So many people would be still suffering from the events of last year.

This is the first week that we don't have Annie our principal. We really need her right now. The vice-principal from the other school is trying to do both schools He is doing a good job but we miss the comfort that Annie would shower on us at a time like this. The teacher on the upper floor, mainly southern based teachers, don't know where we fit in when the village is in crisis.

The students are having a difficult time preparing for exams that start next week. I have been testing all term. I think it a fairer way to evaluate my students. I tried giving them some math this morning. What a trial for student and teacher. They always think that they can't do something when they can. It is a confidence issue. I encourage them by telling them they have it in their head and they have to play detective to get it out. It is not that I don't want to help them, I want them to help themselves and have the confidence to try. Their going to bed after 11pm at night does not help the situation and I am sure the homes are upset at this time.

My student Tunu was back in school today after a week in Montreal. He is a great student. He was a bit of a fighter when he came to me but has learned to walk away. He has the kindest smile. I call him "My Main Man" as he loves to be thought of as the MAN of the class. It is good to have him back. Tunu is the type of student a teacher misses when they are absent.