The Sun & PI Week

The sun returned to Arctic Bay on February 6, bringing an end to dark season.  I was at the school grading student class work and preparing lessons when the sun rose above the mountains on the other of the bay.  I took several pictures to mark the occasion.  I know this happens every February, but it never gets old.  Seeing the sun after a two & a half month absence is a big deal in the Arctic.  The sun stayed visible for less than an hour and descended behind the mountains. From now until early May, the length of time the sun will stay up will increase by 20 minutes everyday.  Twenty-four-hour daylight will commence in May.

The temperature outside doesn’t increase immediately when the sun comes back.  It’ll be cold until mid-May.  We sometimes have blizzards in April and light snowfalls in early June.  At least there’s more natural light, making it easier for people to see where they’re going and for hunters to spot their prey.      

Unfortunately, the school didn’t hold a Return of the Sun celebration due to COVID-19 restrictions.  Students & teachers celebrated the sun’s return in their classrooms.

The week of February 14 – 18 was Professional Improvement (PI) Week.  It’s also known as Professional Development Week.  Nunavut students get a week off school while teachers improve/upgrade their teaching qualifications and skills.  Unfortunately, everyone had to stay in their home communities this year. 

I completed two online courses on educational leadership, specifically leading professional learning, and how to be an effective leader.  I’m assuming I’ll be called upon to do such things in the near future, so best to get ready.  The courses were okay; not outstanding.  It’s difficult to find good short online education courses.  Most of them require more than a week to complete.  Regardless, I did learn a lot and acquired a list of resources to use.

My coworkers completed online courses, Connected North workshops, and prepared resources for their classrooms. 

We will now have to spend time completing and submitting substantiation forms to the Nunavut Teachers Association headquarters in Iqaluit.  Thankfully these can be completed online.