Hunting for for Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen

Well, it has been crazy the past few weeks! School has kept me so busy! Last Saturday we had Saturday school. We have school one Saturday a month, that way we end up getting out in the middle of May so the students have more time to work in the summers. Our Saturday schools aren't like normal school days, we usually do some cultural activities. So, this past Saturday I took a group of the students out reindeer hunting. Well, actually I was more like the teacher chaparone who went with two local hunters who took a group of students reindeer hunting. But whatever. Anyway, we were driving around looking for the herd when one of the students said, "I just saw one back there". It is really usual for a reindeer to be roaming around on its own during this time in the year. They are usually all in the herd. So, we figured the herd must be near. We drove up a hill and there they were! 600 of them!!! It was so cool! We all got out of the van quietly and figured out the best way to sneak up around the herd so they wouldn't see or smell us. As we stalked up to the herd, I was in the rear making sure all the students were coming. One of the girls was having a difficult time walking through the rough tundra and was trailing behind. I was coaxing her on, when I heard a grunt. I looked up and there was a reindeer trotting right for us. I was trying to get the girl's attention without scaring the reindeer. She was so oblivious to the fact that at any moment we might become the new version of "Grandma Gor Runover By a Reindeer." Can't you picture it, "Teacher Got Run Over By a Reindeer". All of a sudden it stopped and stared right at us. We both froze. We turned around and the other hunters were taking pictures! haha. Finally, it ran to catch up with the rest of the heard. By the time we caught up with the rest of our group, two of the girls didn't want to walk any further. So, I was asked to stay behind with them. We sat in the fog on soggy moss covered rocks in the middle of the tundra for an hour and fifteen minutes, while the others were off on a hunting escapade. I was a little bummed, but then the girls decided it would be fun to sing "High School Musical" songs. So, time went faster after that. And the hunters didn't get a reindeer in the end, so I really didn't miss out.
Anywho, we made it back to the school in time for the hot dog luncheon. After sharing our adventures with the other students I was sent off to lead the traditional Aleut story telling and games. I asked Ms. Edna, the Aleut teacher, to teach me a few things. It was really fun! After all of this the last half hour was spent celebrating Grandparents Day. All of the grandparents were invited to the gym, where there were tables of crafts and food. The students made seal and halibut cracker spread and spicy seal chilli. And that my friends, is Saturday school in St. Paul.

The rest of this week has been rather uneventful seen as how I have been swamped with school work! I think I am actually getting the students excited about books! I gave one class the option of playing a game for the last ten minutes of class or I could read to them out of our book. They asked for the book and were bummed when the class period was over because they wanted to know what happens! It was awesome!!!