A small village on St. Lawrence Island.
On Friday, March 20th, I experienced the second best ride in my life as I traveled by helicopter over the Bering Sea crossing St. Lawrence Island to a small village on the northern side. As we landed the helicopter, townspeople were awaiting on snowmobile (or snow machine as they are called in Alaska) with sleds attached, for the arrival of the next aircraft with supplies and the mail. This small village, tucked away in the snow, experienced record breaking snow fall this year. The snow was as high as many roof tops. Two weeks earlier, harsh winds, 105 mph hurricane force winds, almost removed the roofs of several houses. And many people were sick with the flu.
The new school is in the right corner of the photo.
Jackie Grebmeier, one of the Lead Scientists aboard the Healy, and I went to the local government office called the IRA Council. It was small building behind the airstrip. They were able to round up some snow mobile drivers to take us to the edge of town to the school. We found out that the teachers were having 2 days of inservice training so the students were at home. Where were all of the children as only a few children were outside playing? The principal, Roxie, told us that they were mostly sick. She knew this for sure as she didn't have to chase any students off of the roof of the school. The high snow made for an easy roof access.
In front of the old school. They will move into the new school soon.
The school was like any other school with students work posted on the walls, objectives written in the board, and objects labeled with words...only the words were in a different language. Saint Lawrence Island Yup´ik is the language of the native people. The people of Savoonga are descended from the Siberian Yup´ik people and also call themselves Saint Lawrence Island Yup´ik.
Dressed warmly
At the school, I gave them gifts from J. C. Parks Elementary School and the Commissioners of Charles County. Each student received a bookmark created by Parks students with symbols of our school and the State of Maryland. We presented the principal with medallions from the 350th anniversary of Charles County along with county flags. A fourth grade teacher, Ms. Foster, received the bounty of the gifts as her class will be the first to start our sister school project. I look forward to a box of letters from her students as I return from Alaska.
One of the school's favorite sports is basketball. The team travels by air to play other schools.
[video]