Adventures in Education: October all ready?!!!

I can not believe a quarter of the school year is gone in two weeks. I seem to be busier than I was last year. Of course, last year I was fumbling around in a daze trying to figure everything out.

OCS came and took all of the Tugatuk children away, on August 20th. It has taken a month and I still don't think I've got all the facts. The troopers say it was because their father was having relations with the oldest daughter. The oldest son denies it ever happened and blames her for everything that has happened since. I was told one of the younger children witnessed it and told OCS during the interviews. The children are all in Grandmother's custody, in Goodnews, except for the oldest girl, who is in Bethel. Attempts are being made to get her into Hope Cottages. When the troops were coming back to arrest the father, one of our older students found him dead. He cleaned the house, laid a piece of cardboard on the back porch, and shot himself in the chest. The eight children are orphans now and I'm not sure what will happen to them. I've been told the grandmother is too old to raise them, so not sure who will take them. I'm fairly certain they will be split up. If I was younger, I know I would take two of them--my favorite of course.

Our school is down to 13 (The second oldest has returned to Platinum and is going to school until he turns 16 in December.) and for a school to have a site administrator there should be 15 minimum students. I'm good for this year, but next year I maybe some place else. So while I do my work, I'm mentally packing and thinking about what would be worth taking with me. Plus, I'm having to plan for moving from Anchorage to Fairbanks this summer.

My plans for building a cement basketball court here in Platinum were waylaid. September 2nd the head of purchasing said to me, "I have some good news. Well at least for me it is." That is how I learned the cement I ordered, which the city of Platinum was paying for the shipping and construction of the court, was not on the last barge for this year. I talked to the Superintendant, on September 19th, and he said the order (PO) is still good with Anchorage Sand and Gravel. He talked with he head of purchasing, who is covering his ass, and told me it was ASG's fault it did not get delivered to the barge. Whereas, he told me he had canceled the order because he did not like the terms of credit payment. My hope is to get the freight covered somehow and have it on the first barge north and built next summer.

I took a walk down to the beach today, one of the first where the rain was not pelting down and the wind blowing us over. Here are some pictures. Nature did some awesome sculptures at high tide. and the fall colors and views were beautiful.