Secret Santa

Shop classes from around the Bering Strait School District have sent student-built toys for our students to paint and prepare for one another. Andrea has created a secret Santa system to make sure each student will be both providing and receiving a gift. Swing on by for Friday art night with Vera and Rob on the 4th and 11th of December to choose a toy, paint, and wrap it. Toys will be selected on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Thanksgiving Feast and Dance

On Thursday, November 26th there will be a Thanksgiving feast in the school gym. Bring your favorite dish to our community-wide potluck and give thanks to our amazing village. Also, the following day, Friday, November 27th, we will be having a school dance from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Stephanie will, once again, be our marvelous D.J. The entire community is invited to dance those turkey bellies away! I hope to see you there.

Teacher In-Service

On Friday, November 20th, there will be no school due to a teacher in-service. Enjoy the time off!

Diomede's Webcam

That's right! At long last, our webcam can now be viewed around the world thanks to our friend, Amos. You can check it out here: Diomede's Webcam. Or, for more control, visit it form within the BSSD network here. From this site, you are able to control the camera, zoom in on Russia, or scope out our school. Enjoy!

Movie Night

Brought back by parent request, every Thursday night will now be movie night in the gym! Movies will be selected by popular vote once a month. Popcorn will be avaliable for purchase for $1.00 a bag with full refills for only 25¢! All funds will go towards Diomede Schools Future Educators of Alaska fund. Water will be provided. Please no pop, juice, or other sticky drinks. Feel free to bring your own mats and pads. Some will be provided. All attendees under 7 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Movie schedules will be posted at the school, post, and store. Talk to Rob for more information.

Halloween Decorations and Crafts

Every Friday in October, we will be making Halloween decorations, costume props, and other seasonal crafts. If you would like to build origami pumpkins, tissue ghosts, cardboard Spartan/Norse helmets, or plaster masks, drop on by the cafeteria at 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Have something else you'd like to work on? No problem! Just let us know and I'll rustle up some materials.

October Teacher Inservice

There will be no school for students from Thursday, October 22 to Friday, October 23. School will resume as usual next Monday.

Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent teacher conferences will be held from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20th. One lucky attending parent will win a drawing for a gift certificate at the Diomede Native Store. I hope to see you there!

Halloween Carnival

On Saturday, October 31, Diomede School will be hosting our annual Halloween festivities. Last year we had a chilling haunted house. This year we'll open up the gym from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for a Halloween carnival, with games, tickets, prizes, music, and more! There will even be a costume contest at the end! Bring all your family and friends for a real hoot of a time!

Diomede Went Dark

Since last Wednesday, October 7, the entire village of Diomede was without internet or phone service. We are back up for the time being. Here's hoping for continued communication with the outside world.

Heavenly Hats

Diomede School will be participating in the Heavenly Hats campaign to bring awareness to cancer survivors and raise money to fight the cell mutation. For a donation of $1.00, you can wear a hat in and about the school. Even if you bring your own hat, that $1.00 will get you a complementary hat. This will take place from 8:50 AM on October 9th to 3:30 PM. To find out more about the Heavenly Hat foundation, check out their official website here.

Picture Day

Even though our friend, Jeroen Toirkens has left back to Anchorage, Wednesday, September 16 will still be picture day. Diomede School gym will be open from 8:30 AM to 9:10 AM for family and student portraits. This service is free and can be shared online. Swing on by for some semi-professional photography.

Visitor from Holland and PICTURE DAY!

This weekend, Jeroen Toirkens (an international photographer from Holland) came to Diomede. He'll be staying at the school, but going out into the community and the island to photograph Diomede's beauty. Next Wednesday (September 16, 2015) he will be taking portraits of our entire school! If you would like a family portrait, come on in from 8:30 AM TO 9:30 AM on the 16th. Check out Jeroen's amazing books on Amazon.com here!

Spirit Week

This week will be Spirit Week at Diomede School.
Tuesday: Cray Hair/Bed Head Day
Wednesday: Pajama Day
Thursday: Make-Up and Painted Nails Day
Friday: Backwards/Inside-Out Day

Open House

Join us for our open house this Thursday, September 3, from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. All parents and students are welcome. We will have complementary cake, coffee, and HUNDREDS of free books you can take home! One lucky adult will be entered in to win a gift certificate worth $50 at the Native Store! I hope to see you there!

A Blast from the Past

This week Edwina and her friend Paul will be visiting Diomede. Edwina grew up living in the one room school house back in the good-old-days of Diomede and has been a loyal matriarch of the village ever since. They'll stay at the old church while they're in town. Paul will even hold a service on Sunday, August 30, from 10:30 AM onward. Everyone is welcome to attend.

The Sikuliaq Crew Visits Diomede School

Tomorrow we will be visited by the crew of the Sikuliaq: a global class ice-capable research vessel based out of UAF. Her captain and several of her science crew will come and talk to the students about their polar research of using sound to explore sea ice under the ocean. They'll be here around 9:30 AM so come on over to Mr. Rob's room for a chat with Captain Adam and his wards!

Back to School: Wednesday, August 19

Welcome back! The first day of school will be Wednesday, August 19, 2015. As usual, doors will open at 8:00 AM and breakfast will be served from 8:15 AM to 8:40 AM. We'll be assembling in the gymnasium at 8:50 AM for our morning assembly and announcements. The first day of school will be a half day and will be dismissed after lunch. I cannot tell you how excited I am to see you all again!

Summer Students

Even though school is out for the summer months, it is still very important for your student's development to continue learning and practicing their academic skills.

Reading: Make sure to read with your student. Be it the Nome Nugget, or even text messages, reading is the most powerful academic tool there is. Reading fluency comes though practice, practice, and more practice.

Mathematics: Have your student help out with real world math problems, like balancing the check book, counting change, or adding up groceries in the store.

Physical Education: Take your kids out with you on hikes up to the top or on the South Road. Have them help you clean up the house and pick up trash around Diomede. Take them out birding or to help with the hunt.

Art: Beading? Carving? Sewing? Have the kids watch or participate. Have them draw pictures of stories either read or spoken.

Maligiaq in Diomede

Maligiaq, the world famous kayak builder, is visiting Diomede School this week! He will be building a kayak with the students up in the shop area off the gym. The event is open to the public, so please drop by and watch a master craftsman at work. He will be here from Monday, May 4 to Wednesday, May 13.

The last time a Greenlander visited Diomede was nearly 200 years ago! In honor of this, the Greenlandic Broadcasting Organization (KNR.GR) will be interviewing Maligiaq on radio and television about his adventures on our island.

Find out more about Maligiaq on his website (here).