Did I mention how much unpacking stinks? Did I say this when I typed about Yellowknife or Tuktoyaktuk? A lot of you who are faithful readers know exactly whereof I speak and I know through Facebook how much you sympathize. Thanks for that! It's nice to know that at one point or another in the moving process, everybody wants to sit down amongst the boxes and packing papers with a good stiff drink and sob.
It has also been incredibly hot since we arrived and we do not have air conditioning. We have some pretty amazing ceiling fans, but once the temperature gets to a certain melting point - ain't nothin' gonna' do but the a/c! Oh well. I try to remember that this, too, is a blessing because there were times over the last few years where we have lived in areas where it is so frigid, we lived in layers of both inside AND outside clothing! Oh, how I longed for the warmth of the sun on my skin! Simple things like sunlight, moonlight, heat and cold, the leaves changing colour....the list could go on. I simply think about the times when my family was uniquely without these things, and I am instantly grateful. So yeah, it's hot.
We have been school shopping. By that I do not mean the acquiring of backpacks and school supplies, although we have done a little of that. There are no busing boundaries in Dryden so students are free to attend whatever school they want. Since we live outside of town, all three of our kids will be picked up at the bottom of our driveway and taken to their school of choice. There is one high school in Dryden, so James is attending Grade 9 there. He purposefully picked courses that did not involve having his Dad as a teacher, and we laughed about that. He didn't really understand the concept of semesters until he saw his schedule. "You mean I don't have to take another French course again in my life after the end of January?" Sigh. The dismayed French Teacher in me wonders where she went wrong. "You mean I don't have Math until January? Cool!" The forlorn Math Teacher in Greg wonders where he went wrong. Some people's kids, huh?
Charlotte has fallen in love with an Arts Program available at Open Roads Public School. She is one year from being able to enter it, but she knows what she has to do to prove her worth for entry. This program is for students in Grades 6-8 who are Arts oriented. They spend two thirds of the day on their academics, cramming all their English, Science, Math, Gym, Social Studies and French into the first two blocks of the day, and the remaining third of the day is designed for Visual Art, Music, Dance and Drama every day. The students are academic oriented and are expected to keep up with the accelerated pace of the class and behaviour is strictly monitored. They are very watchful of the Grade 5 students so that when the time comes at the end of the year, staff will have a good idea of whether or not students are ready for this kind of program.
Patrick is passionate about being able to continue with his French Immersion studies, and although Greg has been strongly encouraged to place the kids in the public school system, since it is the public board that is employing him, it is the Catholic Board that offers French Immersion. Patrick has an interview with the Principal of St. Joseph's Catholic School tomorrow regarding his entrance into Grade 8 FI. The thing is, last year he was in a Late Entry French Immersion class. By March they were operating 100% in French and Patrick is very fluent, especially because I have been speaking French to him this summer, which is good for both of us! It remains to be decided by the principal whether or not he can be admitted with a group of kids who have been in FI since Kindergarten. His teacher from last year says yes - he will excel - so we shall see.
The mayor of Dryden is also Greg Wilson. When Greg's name started floating around Dryden High School as the new Math/Computer teacher for next year, everybody was surprised that the mayor was a teacher. He became known as Greg 'Not the Mayor' Wilson - and he has embraced the name. The staff have been most welcoming and the principal and admin of the board are especially interested in his First Nations history. In fact, he knows a lot of people who are working on First Nations Student Success up here from his time both in London and during our time before then when we lived in Northern Ontario. They are looking forward to tapping his knowledge, and he is especially delighted about that. He finally gets to take his doctorate out for a spin!
As for me, I am getting myself onto the Occasional Teacher's List for both the Public and Catholic boards. Since I have been in several schools over the last week, I have dropped the information that I am a certified French teacher and have taught JK-Grade 12, and everybody has been extremely enthusiastic. I have a few more hoops to jump through and then I am ready to go. I am really looking forward to having some time to myself this year and teaching at the same time. No planning, no report cards, no parents.....just time with the students. I need this time to regroup after last year - and to help my family settle in. I think things will run more smoothly this year without me stressing about settling into a new job. I freely admit that my stress had a negative effect on the family last year. Having been through it once will prove slightly less stressful each year, but I think this year especially, we need to ease our way into this routine in a happier, more careful manner.
Unpacking has been slow but purposeful. This week I began with an ambitious list of what I planned to accomplish each day and then I realized that the kids are feeling some anxiety and trepidation about being in a new home, school and life....AGAIN.... and I decided I had to re-think my plan. Right now, I am keeping up with housecleaning and laundry - and the rest can wait until next week when Greg and the kids head to school. The kids are lethargic, moody, grumpy, and hot - a volatile combination, and so I am trying to be patient and understanding. I am, however, being extremely strict about getting up, dressed, and ready to go out the door this week - beds made, teeth brushed, and all that jazz. I want this family to be a semi-lubricated engine by next Tuesday, the first day of school. A finely oiled machine? Hardly. A squeaky wheel? Absolutely not!
I guess you could say that we are on the way to settling in. While we have kids crying because they want to be in Yellowknife and dislike not living in town, I look back to this time last year when they were balling their eyes out because they didn't want to be in the middle of a subdivision in Yellowknife. Right.
I am striving to remember the advice a dear friend of mine often gives me, and I remind myself of it when I feel overwhelmed and am ready for that sobfest and a glass of wine....
Breathe.
