Small School, but not tiny

The Fort Yukon school is the biggest in the district at around 112 students. (A lot of HS kids will go to a boarding school like Mt Edgecumbe in Sitka) The other schools are about half the size, if not smaller. Last year, the board voted to keep the Beaver school open despite enrollment numbers (http://www.newsminer.com/news/education/beaver-s-only-school-in-danger-of-closing/article_c1544d18-98c3-11e5-9f76-77b1d5713833.html) 

Political Soapbox: School starts August 30th. Schools get funding based upon this "October count" attendance number. This is right around the time that the Fall Moose hunt starts. A lot of students will have "bad attendance" due to participation in this important annual tradition. 

Here is the school. There are 14 staff: K, 1, 2, 3, 4/5, 6, 7 plus Math/Science, Social Studies, and English. There is a Reading Specialist, two SPED, Curriculum Director, and Principal at this site. There are 6 schools in the District: Beaver, Ft Yukon, Venetie, Chalkyitsik, Circle, and Arctic Circle. There are 2 playgrounds. 

(One in front of the school)

(One behind the school)

Each classroom has a smartboard, all teachers get district issue laptops. My 3rd graders get an ipad cart & a laptop cart. We get satellite internet. I did my interview over skype, it will be interesting to see how our mystery skype works in the winter! 

The whole school does reading block from 9:00-10:30, this is to ensure that despite whatever grade students are in, they can be placed in the reading group which is exactly at their level. 

Staff are guaranteed a 30-minute duty-free lunch. There is no music teacher this year (A pastor used to volunteer), but the kids get Gwichin Language 3 times a week. We have our own recess/PE, art, and library once a week. Good thing I have experience teaching specials from teaching Preschool! 

Wednesdays are "Early Release" at 2:30 when staff collaborate & problem solve to help struggling students. 

Most places are in walking distance/bus. The District also has vehicles to help when you get a big food order!

Yesterday after in-service there was a group of kids waiting around looking for their teacher. I met a couple students yesterday who asked if I was going to stay (They could not fill the 2nd grade teacher position last year, so the kids had 3 substitutes)

The school apparently had a technology director show up in March & then got on a plane out of here the next day. They are honest that not all people want to work out here, but everyone is so friendly & helpful. They really want to make sure you are taken care of. Remember, be flexible. Be patient. 

It took 2 weeks for our cable to get hooked up. But once it did, we have 50 channels including PBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, Foodnetwork, Discovery, and HBO. (We also bought dvds of tv seasons off of amazon, but we probably wont even need those now!)