Selfies and Polar Bears

So last weekend it really started to feel like the Arctic. With -40 windchill it was pretty chilly and our breath was condensing and freezing fast! Here are some pics after a 5 minute walk to our friends.

Ryan

Shane

Arctic Cat

Last week at 3:30pm the moon was out and getting dark...it's even darker now!

The other day there were eight polar bear sightings around town, one right behind the school at about 8pm, and the people in the town couldn't scare it away, so they had to shoot it.

The next morning while I was at badminton practice, Laimiki ran in to the gym "Catherine...bring your camara..there's a bear at the end of town and we can see it before they scare it away!" We took off in his new SUV, to the wrong end of town, got turned around, but by the time we got to it, the bear had been shot after it was chasing one of the teachers!

People gathering to see the bear.

I did get some pictures of it, however, I'm not going to post them. 

There is a larger number of bears in and around town...this is a result of global warming. The bears are not able to get out of the town on the sea ice and so they are stuck in the area until they can go.

Thanks Stephen Harper for your oil sands! Grrrr.....

Stay tuned for the updates on the badminton tournament and Iqaluit adventure.

School Fun and Halloween

Sorry it's been so long, but I have lots to share now...

This is a little puppy in the town that some of my student bring by to see me in the morning. I gave her a can of wet food the other day and it was gone in seconds! Hungry little puppy.

Last week our school had a SET (Science, Engineering and Technology) challenge. This year the theme was Space, so different grade levels would be given different supplies to design different rockets. We had different straws, plasticine, a water bottle, and paper to create a pressure rocket. Here are some pictures of creating and the creations!

Deanna, Bridgette and Britney

David and Nathaniel

Class Rockets!

And the winner of the grade 5's was...Heather, Kasandra and Cassandra!

I'm trying out new recipes too...so I made baked doughnuts (Cinnamon Chai...yum). Our class sold these, cookies, collected change and sold shoes to raise money for UNICEF and the local food bank. Our class raised over $200! The school together was able to raise over $2500! Great work for a student body of about 430!

I always need to update you on Penelope...Isabelle is pretty quiet, but here is where she was fond one evening...Ryan's dresser!

Shane had the opportunity of going out on the land with the grade 9 class and hunt and fish. Here are some of his pics

Ice fishing

School Cabin and transportation (ski doo and Sleds)

Shane:)

Halloween is a favourite time for many here and we have costume judging in the morning at school and in the afternoon we have activities. 

Shane made a game, Pin the nose on the Witch, he was so proud.

The costumes we so fun...Shane and I were Robin Hood and Maid Marion. Shane was a winner for the best teacher costumes.

Here are some of the kids costumes

My grade 5's

Teachers

Carol of grade 7

Grade 5 team

Roomie Ryan

EA Sarah

In the evening Ryan and Shane dished out the candy while serenading the trick-or-treaters. We also made an Arctic Jack-o-Lantern with a milk jug. 

The next day (Nov.1) the whole school went out the Old Water Lake and had shedding, dog sledding, ice fishing, hot chocolate and other fun activities. The day was perfect, only about -11 with no wind. Here's some of the fun...

Richard with Sarah's fish (lake trout)

Cutie little garden gnome...isn't he sweet!

Cuties sledding

Getting ready for the dog sled team! (Nunavut flag on the back)

A fun day in the Snow!

Stay tuned for more Arctic Cat Adventures!

Puppies and on the land

This weekend was beautiful in Repulse Bay. The sun was out and it was a good time to explore. Jenn and I went to see some puppies that live in town near the water with the mom dog. They are so cute.

Mama and baby

The view by them was also amazing

-12 today, but no wind

Shane went out early with Tim and Julia to try and catch a caribou, and they did find them, but weren't able to get one.

Hunter Shane

Arctic Rainbow

Julia, Shane and Tim

Lovely stroll in the Arctic

There they are!

On the hunt with Tim and Shane

Shane waiting for the right time...

Thanks Julia for the pics!

Penelope always wants to see what's going on outside, so I took her out today

And there are always someone who wants to see her (Agnes, Andy and Bridgette)

These three had just lost their aunt in an ATV accident on Thursday, so they needed some kitty love. Bridgette actually said, Penelope is making me feel better:) She knows how to do that.

Stay tuned for more Arctic Adventures!

Caribou and Water Part Deux

This morning we didn't go into school until 1:00, the water pump had not been fixed until then, and we were dismissed from school at 3:00, as there was a funeral in the community at 3:30 and when there is a funeral, everything closes.

Shane was able to go out on a boating trip to catch caribou today.

Conservation Officer Tim (in his seal skin parka)

Elsa and Julia

He had fun, saw a whale breach and some seals...but no caribou...but guess who DID see caribou?! ME!

Jenn took me out on her ATV and we went for a ride on this beautiful afternoon and just as she said "keep your eyes open for caribou"...there they were!

The view was amazing!

Me and Jenn Roop

Arctic Cat on the Arctic Cat!

And we turn another corner....and there was a herd of about 250-300 Caribou!

Thanks Jenn for an amazing time today! My first caribou experience! It's like National Geographic!

Stay tuned for more Arctic Cat Adventures!