Today is the 3rd anniversary of my mother Juanita’s falling asleep. May her memory be eternal.
I wrote most of the morning. Around 16:00 (4 p.m.) I received an invitation to have dinner with the elders at a family’s home. The grandbaby of the family had picked her first bucket of blueberries over the weekend, and everyone seemed genuinely excited for her. She is three.
Berry picking is a part of traditional life and still practiced over the summer months as berries ripen, in season. In the past, berries were essential nutritionally for vitamin C, preventing scurvy.
I read how Jack London actually suffered from scurvy during his sojourn in the Klondike. I can guess why. He didn’t pick any berries. Had he done so, he might have maintained his health better.
At 18:00 (6 p.m.) there was the weekly Akathist to St. Herman, after which Peter tells me there is Open House at 19:00 (7 p.m.) at the school. I decide to walk over.
On the way, Puppydog, aka Buddy, comes limping up to me in the street. He is injured under one shoulder and had bled a bit. I don’t know what kind of fix he got himself into. I had heard he had been tied up on the other end of town. He obviously got lose. And he seems glad to see me again. I tell him to wait for me until after the meeting. Perhaps, he forgot.
I know half of the parents and grandparents at the meeting from church. Not that it was that good a showing, I’m told; but respectable. Most of the others, I’ve already met in town, too.
The superintendent is there, as well as the mayor. I get to meet them, the faculty, and the principal. The school district comprises eleven villages over a region that looks larger than most New England states, put together. Of all the villages in the district only, only two are connected to one another by road.
As I introduce myself to the principal, he asks if I will be the one he should ask to bless the new school, or should that be Fr. Stan. (Note, he didn’t ask whether I would give a non-sectarian-offend-no-one “prayer” to something in the great unknown.) The opening of the school will be after my departure: Fr. Stan’s the man for this job!
There is discussion about the new system for graduation which is more accomplishment based than before. As they pointed out, graduating with 21 credits of straight-D work does not prove that you have really mastered the material. It will now take 21 units of mastery.
Also, new policies are now in effect regarding iPods, cell phones, and electronic games. They are banned! First offense: confiscation for the day. A second infraction results in a week’s impounding of the device, in the principal’s office. Third time: one month in the principal’s safe and parental retrieval. (For the cell phone, not the kids!) It reminds me when transistor radios were state of the art in 1962 and possession meant it went to the principal’s office until the end of the year. Go directly to jail. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.
The policy was determined by the teachers, not the school board. There is nothing like decision making by those most involved in the day to day running of the school.
I wanted to applaud on this one, but thought it would be out of place for the obvious Outsider to be so bold. [Of course, I wouldn't mind public possession of cell phones being illegal anywhere. Be that inconsiderate of others only from the privacy of your own homes. But I'm not sure I could get that referendum on the ballot. (PA doesn't have a provision for referenda anyway.)]
Mastery levels have improved by 12-13% in both LA and Math over last year, but still have not broken 40%. 48% overall mastery is the goal for next year.
I visit Peter and Jennifer afterwards and we get to chat for a while, before I head home. They had been offered some of yesterday’s moose kill and thought that meant enough for a meal. It turned out to be a whole leg of moose. They suspect it will last them all winter.
Augusta sees me walking in front of the old church narthex about the time she approaches the intersection. So help me, she has a station wagon, the only station wagon in the village. “Do you want a ride home?”
Sure do. Thanks!
She had been out pulling boats up out of the water because the river is very choppy tonight. It rained again all day. She drops me off, so I can write some more.
Miss you, Mom!