This is an email received the other day:
Tuesday, November 15th, Operation Santa Claus is coming to Togiak!
Alaska Operation Santa Claus is a non profit that brings Christmas Cheer to remote Alaska villages. 2016 is the 60th year for Op Santa! We team up with the Alaska National Guard, Alaska Businesses, Local Community, and all of JBER to bring food, new toys, and other much needed supplies to villages in Alaska that are in need!
We are expecting about 45 people, including our Alaska state governor, his wife, other dignitaries and Mr. and Mrs. Claus! They are scheduled to arrive in Togiak around 10 am, and will be setting up in the gym. It will take them about an hour to set up. While they are setting up, families will be able to take pictures in the commons with Santa and Mrs. Claus. We will be decorating the stage on the commons, and the gym. I would like to get all kids involved by having each class make decorations: snowflakes, wreaths, red/green chains, and other Christmas decorations that we can decorate the gym and commons with. So if you can have your students make something this week, and we can decorate on Monday, Nov. 14th.
HOW EXCITING!!! The day after getting this email, I was running around looking for Christmas music so we could listen while decorating to help us get into the spirit 6 weeks earlier than usual; I did find some nice music on amazon to listen to. We decided to making a giant white snowflake out of butcher paper and each student pressed their hand into red or green paint and then we decorated the snowflake with our hand prints. We also made stockings from paper; the kids decorated the paper with red and green colorings, various Christmas pictures such as snowmen, presents, trees, etc. and then we added some bling using glitter! To top this off, I called my mother - who was unaware of any of the events taking place - and we sang Jingle Bells to her! My mother is a Christmas fanatic and her license plates are Jingle Bell (some shortened version of that...)
I went to Dillingham over the weekend to participate in a Vocabulary Committee meeting with the district. I met some wonderful uplifting teachers! It was so nice to get away for a little bit. Dillingham is still not on the road system, but, it has a road! It has 2 or 3 stores AND IT HAS A SUBWAY! I was determined to have Subway for a meal while there - and it just happened to be that the district provided lunch and that lunch was Subway. Needless to say, the trip right there was worth it!
The weather is getting a little chillier - snowier - windier.. 20s for the highs and teens for the lows. This still isn't anything terrible and I've not yet unpacked my heavy winter gear - but I'm sure I will be doing that fairly soon! The kids enjoyed recess slippingNsliding!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY GRANDBABY!! Alexander turned a year old on 11/11 :)
This was my voting place last week - a picture is worth a thousand words...
Ginger and Chloe :) These 2 give me more than I could ever give in return...
... on another note.. I bought my plane ticket home for summer... a one-way. (More to come on this later...)
Michelle, I LOVE. Reading your blog! You have such a whimsical writing style that I feel I am right there with you! I really enjoyed seeing where you had to go to vote. Although I am quite surprised that you got to stay there and didn't have to go anywhere else to vote!
ReplyDeleteThe Operation Santa sounds like so much fun! So is this an annual thing or is a new village chosen every year? It must've been quite difficult getting into the Christmas spirit so early, and lacking decorating supplies. Although it sounds like you and your class certainly made do! I can't wait to see photos of this next week!
Your grand baby is adorable! It must really be hard being so far away from your loved ones, especially during key events like that. At least you have your dogs to bring you joy!
I am so glad that you finally got to have Subway! I'm sure it never tasted so good! Enjoy your week!😊
Subway was really yummy :) Operation Santa happens yearly and the operation travels through different remote villages in Alaska; this will be its 60th year! I found this online that tells more about it: http://www.176wg.ang.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123465443
DeleteI'm sure Subway was amazing! :) Thanks Michelle, I read the article. It really sounds like an amazing operation. I'm sure the whole village is super excited to be a recipient for this year! I can't wait to see photos of the event!
Delete... And I know you are super excited about your return flight!!! :)
I hope O.C.C. goes well for your students. Your snowflake sounds very cute!
ReplyDeleteI'm curious to hear about your one way ticket.
We have snow accumulation now!
DeleteEnjoyed reading it all, personal and professional. Will be waiting for your next update.
ReplyDelete