Week 40

 Weekly Greetings!

This is it, my last posting of the school year! Our last week is here, and I cannot believe how fast the year has gone! I am so proud of each one of the students, as they have worked hard and made consistent gains throughout the year.

The field trip to Fort Greeley last Thursday was a blast for the class. Despite road construction and a short stop for a picnic lunch, we made it there in less than 4 hours. All of the students were like little fish in the water, and all over the pool using a variety of equipment available. You can tell by the pictures to follow that they had a wonderful time. It was hard to get pictures, as they were so active!

After almost 3 hours of swimming, the group was starving and we went to the base commissary for pizza. The commander of the base was having a snack there at the time, and warmly welcomed the class. He visited with us all as we waited for the pizza to be brought to our table.

Everyone slept all the way back to Tok, and probably would have slept longer if we had not stopped to get gas. What a fun way to end our year together!

The next day was the Pre-School and 8th grade graduation. The class was excited to see the graduates and eat cake afterwards!

 It was a really wonderful ceremony, and both graduating groups looked so sharp. The gym was also nicely decorated. 

Last week was the last week of homework and the students will have a fun filled week of special activities all this week. I hope the notice of events made it home with each child last Friday. Please remember that there will be a special presentation of "Where the Wild Things Are" on Thursday at 12:30pm, just before the Awards Ceremony at 1:00pm.

As we end our year, I would like to say what a pleasure it has been to teach each of the children in my class. It will be hard to leave them, as I have taken a position in Tok for next year. I am thankful for my 2 years in Northway, but the commute has been just too difficult for me in the middle of winter.

Thank you for all your support,

Julie Brown

Week 39

Weekly Greetings,

It was great to get back to class last Wednesday, and in the afternoon we headed out to the burn area near the dump. Last fall, we had gone to see the damage from the fire that had occurred during the summer. We were looking for signs of new growth, as the animal population is dependent on plant life for the food chain. Students partnered up to see if they were a certain animal in the boreal forest, could they find their food source? There were a few signs of new grown, but it may still be too early to tell what will grow back this year. We will follow up on the activity on Monday in Science.

On Thursday, the class was invited to watch a presentation of Where The Wild Things Are by the drama class. It was well done, and the students really enjoyed it. There will be a repeat performance at the end of the year awards ceremony.

We also had some interesting items brought in on Friday for Show and Tell. The most exciting thing was a huge beehive that Moore and his uncle had to share. No one had ever seen one so big!

The students listened intently as information from the Internet was shared also.

There were fun and different toys to hear about....

...and some lovely hand crafted bead work items. It is always fun to see what each child decides to bring.

We are winding down our school year with review work over the next two weeks. Please remember that this Wednesday is our monthly staff meeting, and school will start one hour later that day. Also, we will be going to Fort Greely in Delta Junction on Thursday for a field trip to use the pool facility.

Have a great week!

Kind Regards,

Julie Brown

Week 38

Weekly Greetings!

Well, I am sorry to say the only photos I got of the students last week was of them starting the Dancing With The Spirit program on Monday. The 1st and 2nd grade were so excited, as they remembered the group from last year. The Kindergarten really enjoyed their first day also. I am so disappointed that I missed their performance and retirement party for Becky at the Community Hall last Thursday....

Rita Abel and the school councilor were also in to work with the class last week, in addition to the weekly visit from Lorraine Titus to work on Upper Tanana Athabascan. It looks like I will have to be out a few more days this week, but the class has been in good hands and still working hard in my absence. Please help your child remember that there will be Show and Tell this Friday.

Have an awesome week!

Kind Regards,

Julie Brown

Week 37

 Weekly Greetings!

Our school year is rapidly coming to a close with just four weeks left! Last week, the highlight was the food presentation title "The Power of Food". The doctor and his assistant did a wonderful job exciting the students about eating healthy and colorful vegetable dishes.

  

The students were fascinated by how fast the doctor could cut up the vegetables!

 They even got turns at stirring and mixing some of the food.

Everyone got to sample some of the great tasting and healthy food, in addition to photos with the special guests. The Pre-school students also got to join in the presentation.

This week there will be more special events. The Dancing with the Spirit music group will be back to teach the students guitar and fiddle music and there will be a performance on Friday at 1:00pm, so please try to make it.  Also Rita Abel from UAF in Tok, will be in on Thursday to plant seeds with the class. I will not be able to post pictures of these activities next week, as I will be out of school from Tuesday through Friday. My husband needs to have a substantial surgery, so I will be with him in Fairbanks.

Have a wonderful week!

Kind Regards,

Julie

Week 36

Weekly Greetings!

Our field trip last Wednesday was a big success. The students all really enjoyed experiencing what it is like to fly in a small airplane. Everyone asked if they could go again, but the people at 40-Mile Air were kind enough to take time from their busy day, to give all the students a short flight around Tok already. A couple of the students were so excited after getting off the plane, and said they want to join the military to become fighter pilots. It will be interesting to see if they hold onto that idea, as they grow older. Here are just a few pictures from the day....

One of the planes used to fly the students. There were two planes and pilots that took the class up in small groups.

 One of the first groups to go take off...

 Another group was loaded at the same time.

 While each group was in the air, those on the ground got to watch Randy Rallo fly a small remote control helicopter. It was too fast for me to get a picture.

 The second loads had their time in the air, and everyone came off the planes with big smiles.

We took a group picture before heading off to the Tok School for a recess break, and then on to Fast Eddy's for pizza. It was a full and fun day.

Please note that I will be out Monday, April 25 and four days next week as my husband had medical needs and will have surgery. Also, there is no school this Friday due to teacher in-services.

Have a great week!

Kind Regards,

Julie Brown

Week 35

 Weekly Greetings,

Important news for this week is that we will be taking a field trip to Tok on Wednesday. That is also the day that we start school 1 hour later, so we will leave when the class is done with breakfast. To tie into the careers focus started Mrs. Lundy, we will be going to 40-Mile Air to hear about what a career as a pilot is like. The students will also get to go for a short flight if they have the approval box filed in by a parent on the permission slip. Please make sure your child is on time for school that day. Also, please return any book orders to me by Friday if you would like to buy books for your child.

The students have really been excited about the butterflies in our Science unit. Not only have they been able to observe the stages of change, but also the specific parts of the Painted Lady butterflies.

On Wednesday, Ranger Stephen Rudolph from the Tetlin Refuge was at school to give Duck Stamp awards and prizes to those in our class that participated. Quinten, DeMarcus, Noah, and Evan received honorable mentions. Jasmine, Kayann, and Terrence received 3rd places ribbons, and Brandi won a 2nd place ribbon. The pictures to follow are of the class with their certificates and displaying their artwork.

 Ranger Rudolph also shared with the class about different animal tracks and what the tracks can tell us.

 He also brought some of the furs that go with the animals he discussed.

 The school wide reward program has been a big success this year. Many of the students in our class have been saving for some of the big items in the store. Terrence just saved enough for a new bike! Just in time for summer fun!

 In art this week, the class made colorful butterflies for spring decorations. The wings allow light to shine through the colored tissue paper, and the lovely butterflies are displayed in the class windows.

There will be more interesting things to share next week from our field trip. Enjoy your week!

Kind Regards,

Julie Brown