Onwards In 2022

Source: iStockPhoto.

Happy New Year everyone!  Yes, I know it’s the end of January, but better late than never.  Hard to believe that 2021 is behind us and 2022 has begun.  The days, months, and years just fly by.  I had fun times down south visiting family & friends, and buying school supplies for the upcoming semester.  Surprisingly, I didn’t encounter any travel difficulties on the return trip.  I was stuck in Iqaluit for 5 days last August, but faced no delays in January.  It’s usually the other way around.

However, the start of school was delayed by two weeks, thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  The rate of infection increased in the territory, prompting the Nunavut Government to shut everything down.  I think the human race will have to admit defeat and accept COVID-19 as endemic like the seasonal flu.

Electric (top); Bass (bottom).

The delay gave teachers and staff more time to prepare their classrooms & the school.  I received a shipment of musical instruments from St. Johns Music, thanks to the MusiCounts Band Aid Grant I received in March 2021.  I bought 4 acoustic guitars, 1 electric guitar, 1 bass guitar, and 1 marching snare drum.  They will all make fine additions to the school’s music program.     

The biggest change to the school year is the new schedule.  Five high school periods were created by splitting the first morning class into two periods.  (That part of the morning was always too long).  Elementary & middle school schedules were adjusted to accommodate this change so that all breaks & lunch timings are the same.  The downside for high school students is that they would have one more class to take.  The upside is if the new schedule is kept for the long term, students can be done high school in two years instead of three.

A new schedule also brings new classes to teach.  I still have my regular high school courses, Grade 10 Guitar and Grades 10 & 11 Social Studies, but for the first time, I’ve been given several middle school grades.  I won’t be teaching their entire curriculums; only certain subjects.  Grades 7 – 9 Guitar, Grade 8 Social Studies, and Grade 8 Computers for boys.  A different teacher will teach Grade 8 computers for girls.  I used the two-week delay to prepare the necessary materials & lessons.

Classes did start on Monday, January 17, but they weren’t in-person.  Teachers were instructed to prepare take-home learning packages for the week of January 17 – 21.  The packages were picked up at the school’s main entrance.  I kept my lessons simple.

In-person instruction resumed on Monday, January 24.  The wearing of facemasks is still required.  I spent the day welcoming the students, going over the course outlines, explaining the new schedule, and assigning binders & folders.  The next two days were focused on reviewing the learning packages and giving students time to finish them.  Their completion would be counted on report cards. 

I began teaching new content on Thursday.  All guitar classes focused on the basics: parts of the guitar, posture, holding the guitar, reading musical symbols, proper care of instruments & equipment, and holding a pick.  For Grade 10 Social Studies, it’s globalization and its effects on Nunavut, Canada, and the world.  Grade 11 Social Studies students will be looking at nationalism and its effects on people’s identities.  My Grade 8 students will be studying Canadian citizenship & immigration. 

I had to postpone the return of in-person cadets due to COVID-19 restrictions.  I’m hoping training will resume next month.

On a more positive note, Arctic Bay has a brand-new power plant up and running.  The new facility is located at the Gas Station and, according to Nunatsiaq News, “[cost] $32.4 million [and] replaces the 45 year-old system[.]”  It will be officially opened in the spring, but is already providing much needed electricity.  The area around the old power plant will be quieter, something the people living next to it will greatly appreciate.  (The former power plant sits in the community). 

And finally, since it’s the end of January, I can say I have lived & taught in Arctic Bay for 9 years!  I can’t believe it’s already been that long!  Time sure flies fast.  I have seen, experienced, and documented so much.  I look forward to what the future brings.