Before The Summer Break

The last day of school for students was June 5.  Students assisted teachers in cleaning the classrooms and throwing out work they no longer wanted.  Final report cards were handed out in the afternoon.  A few minutes before the last school bell rang, the principal came over the PA system and wished students a safe & happy summer.  The bell rang and students celebrated the end of school.  When I was growing up, Alice Cooper’s School’s Out would play in my mind.  When I was in high school, it was Mel Gibson shouting “Freedom!” in Braveheart. 

The last day of school for staff was June 6 (next day).  There was a bunch of housekeeping duties we had to complete before we were dismissed for summer break.  Some of them included making sure the classrooms were clean, the desks & chairs were piled into one area of each classroom, and posters removed from walls.  Speaking of posters & walls, this was the same for the main hallway.  Any borrowed electronics needed to be returned to the main office.  

A year-end staff get together was held in the afternoon.  Snacks were served.  It was a nice way for staff to unwind after working hard for 10 months.  Staff talked about their summer plans, and we said goodbye to teachers who wouldn’t be returning in August.

Many southern teachers left on June 7, but I chose to delay my departure until Friday.  I needed an extra two days to relax at home, clean, and pack. 

I flew down south on June 9.  The plane took off at noon.  I took several photos of the community as the plane ascended into the sky.  There was still snow & ice in the bay, but it was beginning to melt.  The was also snow on mountain tops.

Canadian North, unfortunately, recently changed its plane routes, so the plane first landed in Resolute Bay.  (The community is further north than Arctic Bay).  We picked up more passengers and then flew down to Iqaluit.  Thankfully, the flight to Ottawa was in the evening, but I arrived in the nation’s capital in the very late evening.  At least I didn’t have to overnight in Iqaluit.

As always, I’ll be taking a break from my blogging duties for the duration of the summer.  See you all in August!

     

HS Graduation (2023)

June 2.  The day had finally arrived for two excited & relieved senior high school students.  They were graduating high school and moving on to the next chapter of their lives.

As mentioned before, the community hall was decorated days in advance.  Food preparation was much easier for the Graduation Committee in that they didn’t have to prepare any.  The local hotel catered this year!  I think this was the first time since I’ve been here where the graduation dinner was catered.  The hotel’s cook & kitchen staff prepared and transported everything.  We just had to set up tables.  The dinner began at 6:00pm.

Everyone attended in their best attire.  The local RCMP & our MLA David Akeeagok was in attendance.  The food was blessed by an Elder and the grads were invited to be the first to receive their food.  Everyone followed thereafter.  The dinner lasted an hour.  Everyone assisted in the clean up and rearranging the hall for the graduation ceremony.

The ceremony began at 8pm with the local RCMP leading the two graduates to the main stage.  Everyone applauded as the graduates took their seats on stage.  An Elder led everyone in a short prayer and then another lit a ceremonial qulliq.

The principal welcomed everyone to the ceremony and congratulated the two graduates for completing their high school education.  He admitted the journey must have been difficult at times but assured them that it was all worth it.  Now with high school behind them, the grads were ready to explore all the possibilities the world has to offer.  He encouraged them to try new things, explore the world, and if possible, consider becoming a teacher.  He then presented the grads their diplomas. 

The ceremony moved onto awards.  The awards were: Hamlet of Arctic Bay (HAB), Volunteer Achievement, Athletic Achievement, Inuktitut Language, and the Governor General’s Award (GGA).  The HAB & GGA awards are similar in that they’re given to the top academically performing student.  The only difference is the GGA also comes with a large ceremonial coin. 

MLA David Akeeagok was invited to the podium to say a few words to the graduates in the audience.  Similar to the principal’s address, he congratulated the students for finishing high school, wished them all the best, and encouraged them to inspire others to finish high school.

The graduates were invited to address the audience.  It’s not mandatory, but the offer is there.  One graduate accepted the invitation and did a short thank you speech.

Parents/Guardians were also invited to address the graduates & audience.  A few came forward and offered their own congratulations. 

The vice-principal did the closing remarks, thanking everyone for attending and supporting the graduates.  The graduates were led off the stage by the RCMP while music played in the background.  The crowd applauded the graduates one last time. 

The graduates had their pictures taken with the graduation cake.  The cake was then cut and distributed to the people in attendance.  Of course, the grads received the first pieces.  The grads then posed for more photographs with the MLA, RCMP, teachers, family, and friends.  The celebrations lasted well into the night.

 

Recognition & Celebration

June 1 was a day of recognition & celebration at Inuujaq School.  The perfect way to start the month. 

The day began with staff arriving in the early morning to prepare food in the Home Ec Room and setup the gym for the first assembly.  Staff cut & prepared large assortments of fruits, vegetables, meats, and hardboiled eggs, and then carried them to the gym.  I helped in the gym, setting up tables, plates, sound system, chairs, and garbage cans.  Several teachers taped large posters on the gym walls.  The food was divided amongst the paper plates.  This would make distribution easier & faster.  Everything was ready to go before the ringing of the first bell.

The morning assembly was dedicated to recognizing & celebrating the 43-year educational career of Morty, highlighting her many achievements, and to wish her a happy retirement.

The assembly began at 10:00am.  Parents, guardians, and community members were invited to attend.  The principal welcomed everyone, and the high school Inuktitut teacher led everyone in a short prayer.  Morty was given a comfortable red chair to sit, giving her a front row seat to the festivities in her honour.

A group of students performed a square dance.  The routine was energetic, fun, and lasted for about 10 minutes.  It’s quite impressive to see young kids able to dance that long without a break.  I was told some routines last much longer.  Morty and the audience clapped along to the music while the dancers showed off their skills.

The principal continued the assembly with a prepared congratulatory speech to Morty for her many years of dedication and hard work in Inuit education.  An Inuit staff member translated the words into Inuktitut for the unilingual audience members.  (Morty is bilingual).  The principal led everyone in giving Morty a standing ovation at the end of his speech.

Former students of Morty, many of whom are on school staff, did a short celebratory dance with Morty.  The dance was spontaneous, but she appreciated it.

The head of the local District Education Authority (DEA) did short congratulatory speech and rewarded Morty with several gifts.  The Grade 2 class continued the assembly by singing a few songs in Inuktitut and playing the Inuit drum.

Inuujaq School staff posed with Morty for group photograph.  Staff were also invited to say a few words about their time working with Morty and if they wanted to publicly wish her a wonderful retirement.  This invitation was also extended to community members in attendance.

Morty was given the opportunity to address everyone in the gym.  She thanked everyone for coming to the assembly, supporting her through the years, and was glad to see her former students succeed.  She also stated she was glad to have chosen a career in education.

The assembly finished with a breakfast meal.  Well, it was more of a brunch based on the time the plates were handed out.  The food still tasted good.

The second assembly was Kindergarten Graduation.  The students and their parents/guardians & teacher were excited.  Everyone assembled in the gym in the afternoon.  A row of 10 red chairs were placed at the front of the gym for the graduates.  The kindergarteners were led into the gym wearing their blue graduation gowns.  They took their seats while the audience applauded.

Congratulatory speeches were made by principal, vice-principal, and the kindergarten teacher.  They also wished the kindergarteners all the best in Grade 1 and beyond.  The teacher called her students individually to receive a certificate and have their picture taken with her in front of a large poster.  I took the individual and group photographs.  The audience gave the kindergarteners a standing ovation.

 

The End of May

High school final exams were held at the end of May.  I administered two exams to my Grade 10 & 11 Social Studies students.  We spent several days reviewing the materials.  My Grade 10 Guitar students had a final performance test, playing a chosen piece in front of the class.  They spent several days practicing. 

Snow fell on the community on May 27.  It was surreal but expected.  I’m sure the hunters, fishers, and campers were glad because it meant more time to drive skidoos out on the ice.  I took a few pictures.

High school & middle school students spent the last day of May decorating the community hall for the upcoming High School Graduation ceremony in early June.  (More on this in a future post).  I borrowed a truck from Frank to transport everything the school would need to put on a great show.  There was so much stuff I had to make two trips. 

I parked the truck really close to the community hall steps.  Students unloaded the graduation supplies and placed them in the main lobby.  The Hamlet staff were just finishing mopping the floor.

The red carpets were unrolled and vacuumed.  Decorations were taped to the walls.  When the floor was declared dry, tables and chairs were brought out and placed close to the main stage.  Students also began blowing hundreds of balloons.  I inserted earplugs into my ears because experience taught me several balloons randomly and loudly pop.  And yes, quite a few did.  The balloons were black, gold, and white.

Tablecloths were placed over the tables as well as candles and flowers.  The red carpets were brought in and placed in the middle of the hall, forming a path towards the stage.  The stage itself was decorated white and gold cloths, balloons, a speakers’ podium, and two chairs for the graduates.

The dishes, cups, bowls, and cutlery were placed on a table next to a wall.  Two other tables would serve as the food tables. 

All the preparations were completed in the afternoon.  The community hall looked ready for a celebration.