Adventures in Education: A Community in Shock and Mourning

The first week of December was going by fairly uneventful after my kids got home. Autumn did not want to spoil my weekend with my children, so she did not tell me that she had witnessed one of our students severely shaking a sibling, on school grounds. This same student has grabbed, kicked, and bruised another sibling at the end of last month. Plus a week earlier had been witnessed socking and dragging another different sibling. Thursday I called the mother, Fannie, and we had a very nice talk about how that behavior has to stop for several reasons: (1) The student could do serious, possible life long, damage the siblings. (2) The student could end up spending time in jail. (3) It is a habit that will carry on and effect the students children. (4) Staff is required by law to report all such happenings and the next time it would be reported to the proper authorities. Up to this point all the siblings were denying what was observed saying that the witnesses did not see what was really happening--that they were just playing and no one got hurt. The mother and I talked about having the student attend Crossings, in Wrangle, to help correct their behavior. She brought up some complaint that I was able to correct some misunderstandings. She left with both of in agreement and in good moods. As she climbed on her ATV, to go home, she pointed out some white birds across the river (She thought they were swans, but were egrets.) and said she was going to get her uncle to shoot one, because she wanted some "Native" food on her table. She was laughing and smiling.

Friday, her children were called home, because she was being medi-vaced out of PTU. She has been sick since the middle of September. She had been in the hospital in Dillingham (several times) and ANC (in October). At one time she told me she had "beaver fever" and was being treated for it. At 11:30 pm, I got a text form our PM that she had passed away before she reached ANC. I'm told that a cyst or something burst near her diaphragm.

Saturday I got hold of Sarah and Random Acts of Kindness to see if she could find a few Santas to purchase Christmas presents for the children. Sarah, being the loving, caring person she is got 17 volunteers, who are purchasing cloths, presents, and food to be sent out to the family. The response is above and beyond what I had envisioned.