The weather in Igiugig has had some bizarre weather this winter. We’ve had a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit for a week or so back in December when it is usually just above zero or in the negatives. Last year in the first week of January it was negative 30. The highest number of consecutive days maximum temperature was below zero within the last year in Igiugig was 6 days starting December 30, 2008 to January 4, 2009 at around negative 30. There were really high winds in December that also warmed things up.  Kids have been waiting for the snow to come back; we’ve had a little bit but it is not enough to satisfy the playfulness they possess. It had been getting colder here in the last couple of weeks, and it has snowed a couple of times, but now it’s warm again.

On Sunday, February 7th, I got on the plane to go to Newhalen for Phase 1. On the way we landed in Kokhanok to pick up 2 more of our group. When we arrived in Newhalen, we went to the Newhalen House. We spent some time getting to know each other. Our first task that evening was to plan our menu for the week and then go to the store to buy our food.

• A room full of awaiting residents, students and parents alike sit anxiously waiting  while enjoying and array of desserts, coffee and juice. The elementary students squirmed in their seats waiting to recite their poems of choice.

One by one Mark’s class recited with perfection and out performed Mr. B’s class with style. As the desserts disappeared and the recitals were done, the 2nd Annual Poetry Slam ended with smiling poetic students and proud parents.

Two of my days in January were filled with knee-bruising falls, an interview with Abe Lincoln, and sitting in a mono-ski while I attended the Lake and Peninsula School District's Leadership Ski Retreat. The retreat consisted of three older students in the Leadership program (Sasha, Sam, and I) and three newer students (Jennifer, Caylen, and Jarin). In addition to LPSD students, there were twelve students from the Chugach school district. We were there to learn how to downhill and cross country ski, share our leadership lesson plans with Chugach, and create new lesson plans for the 2010-2011 school year.