Arctic Researchers Visit A.C.S.A.

by: Melozi Scott & Ben Peterson

On October 30th, 2000, four scientists; Lisa Clough, Deb Neese, Jeffery Johnson, and David Griffith came to the A.C.S.A. to give a presentation on the Arctic and Antarctica. Mr. Hindman, who worked with Dr. Clough this summer, worked out the arrangements for the scientists to come to our school to give the presentation.

Before they came here, they were in Kotzebue to interview the citizens. The scientists are working on a study comparing how Native Alaskans and classical scientists learn about the environment. During the slide show Dr.Clough talked about ice algae. She showed us a movie that was taken by a ROV, remotely operated vehicle. The movie showed how the ice algae hangs to the bottom of sea ice. The ice algae provides food for fish and brittle stars.

Jeffery Johnson told us how people in Antarctica don’t really have to worry about food spoiling since they live in a “giant freezer”, and there are no land predators.These days the scientists in Antarctica have improved the camps and are being used by researchers who are studying Antarctica, like Jefferey Johnson. Mr. Johnson studies the effects of isolation on scientist who are in Antarctica.

The scientist also visited with elementary and high school students, as well as community members, before they left.

Student’s Tied, then Dyed

By: Chase Madden & David Graham

Michele Peterson, a classroom volunteer for the Anvil City Science Academy, asked Dave Coler to do a tie-dye activity with the students of A.C.S.A.

On Tuesday October 31st, Coler went to the Science Academy and showed the students how to make tie-dye designs on their clothes. The students tie dyed socks, shirts, undershirts, and pants. Some of the designs included; spiral, double spiral, spider web (also called bullseye), and origami.

During an interview with Coler, he said “I have been tie dying on and off for the past 40 years.” Now Coler sells tie-dye clothing. He has tie dyed over 700 clothes and still today he has fun doing tie-dye. Coler started tie dying when a friend of his took him to a party that was doing tie-dye when he was seventeen.

We asked Mr. Coler “How messy is your laundry room?” and he said “The walls, sink, washer, dryer, and the floor all were tie dyed.” “The sink is the messiest of all, that’s where I mainly do tie dying,” declares Coler. He said that he’s never seen a sink as messy as his.

Writing Teachers Take Over School

By: Jessica Ford & Ramon Ponce

For the past two months, Mrs. Peterson and Mrs. Scofield have been coming to work with the students of the ACSA two to three times a week. They come in and help the students improve their writing and also with their reading skills. Mrs. Scofield worked on a timeline project with them. What the students did was write out all of the big events in their lives, called milestones. Some of the students added pictures to go with their milestones. Mrs. Peterson does journal writing with the Anvil City Science Academy students. She comes two times a week to help students write in their journals. The students would get a topic from Mrs. Peterson or Mr. Hindman and write a journal entry about it.“I like having reading and writing teachers because they come up with good project ideas for us to work on.” Says Megan Colley, a student at Anvil City Science Academy.

When asked what gave her the idea of being a writing teacher for ACSA, when she started teaching and why she likes teaching, and how long she has been teaching, Mrs. Peterson replied, “I help in your class on Monday mornings. I feel that volunteering in the schools is a way of giving to one’s community. I graduated from college with degrees in English and French and a master’s degree in teaching. I taught 7th-12th grade English and French until I started having children. I like working with English at the Academy because it helps to stay in touch with teaching. I also do it because I think that kids have very interesting things to say and write about. And it is a good learning experience for me.” “I work on journals with your class because I think that it is important to write as often as possible. I have written in journals for many years and I find that it is interesting to look back at what one has done over the years,” Mrs. Peterson answers, when asked why she teaches at the Academy.

Lucky Pots, Who Knows?

By: Akim Vasiliev

It was a cold and windy day. On Tuesday, the 24th of October, parents, students and siblings of the 24 students came to a potluck organized by none other than, Mr. Hindman. He holds potlucks to show parents what type of projects we are doing and so they have a chance to meet with each other. At the potluck, parents viewed the Grandparent projects which were made with PowerPoint. They also saw the timelines the students made of their life. Most of the food served at the potluck was Italian.

The potluck also consisted of Tae Kwon Do belt rank advancements. The people that advanced to blue belt rank were Clinton West and Brad Mahoney. The only person that advanced to black belt rank was Asaaluk Irelan., Mr. Irelan’s daughter. Because black belt is the highest belt rank in Tae Kwon Do, Asaaluk was quite happy. Chase Madden and Megan Hahn both advanced to yellow belt rank. They still have quite a way to go to get to black belt.

A couple days after the potluck, the class did self-assessments and peer-assessments of the projects as part of their report card grades. After polling the class, Akim found out that most people thought that it was a success. As for myself, I think it was a success too. I learned an important lesson, for whatever reason these potlucks are held, you will always have fun at ACSA potlucks!

Out of Africa

By: David Crame' & Clinton West

Kathy Mallory came to A.C.S.A to show the students a slide show about living in Uganda. She talked about where they went in Africa and what they did. She was living in a country about the size of Oregon, with a population of around 40,000 people. Kathy Mallory lived in Uganda for 3 months right next to Entebbe International Airport. The runway is right on the Equator. Uganda has temperatures ranging from the upper 50s to the upper 80s. Mrs. Mallory said a woman named Marianna was the only person she knew who drank untreated water and she was lucky she didn’t get very ill. Usually when someone would drink the water they would get very serious water born diseases. For transportation the rode bicycles. Kathy said it wasn’t to bad not being able to drive a car, they tried to ride bikes as much as they could. Bicycling and exploring the countryside was the most memorable thing they did.

In Uganda she was a teacher. The school didn’t have very many supplies except for a few books. Her husband worked on airplanes for a relief agency. When he was asked to work in Congo, he quit his and they came back to the United States. They never went to the Congo because it was too dangerous. They agreed to accept the risk of living in Entebbe and Uganda. The last they heard was that one of the company planes was shot full of holes while getting ready to leave from Goma.

Students Show Spirit

By: Abby Kremer & Jenelle Johnson

Anvil City Science Academy had a Spirit Week, on the week of October 23, 2000. Spirit Week was put on by the A.C.S.A Student Council. The Student Council came up with a different theme for each day of the week. Monday was Pajama Day where the students could wear their pajamas to school. On Tuesday, students could wear mismatched clothes because it was Mismatch Day. Students ate snacks on Snack Day, which was on Wednesday. On Thursday, the class watched Toy Story 2 because it was movie day and Friday was Wacky Hair Day.

Most students say that Akim Vasiliev’s hair was the wackiest hair of all. When asked how they would explain Akim’s hair, Chase Madden, Ramon Ponce, Jessica Ford, and David Graham all exclaimed “WACKY!” Akim stated that it was difficult to spike his hair in clumps like that. He mentioned that it took a lot of gel, hairspray, and patience.

Wednesday was originally planned to be Wacky Hair Day, which was the same day the class would go swimming. But if the class went swimming on Wacky Hair Day, their “wacky hair” would be flat. So, when President Jessica Ford was informed of her mistake, she switched Wacky Hair Day with Snack Day.

The majority of the class thought that Movie Day was the best day of the week. The second favorite Day was Snack Day. Secretary Megan Colley gave her opinion of Spirit Week “I think it was nice. ” President Jessica Ford thought it was a big success.

Shocking Info from Mr.Irelan

By: Megan Colley & Scott Payenna

Frank H. Irelan is 52 years old and has four kids. The college he went to was Clemson, South Carolina. After college he went back to his former grade school and taught Earth Science, Physical Science, physical Ed and then coached football then he moved to Fairbanks, then he moved to Nome in 1985. In the past he has been a tour bus driver, correctional officer, military officer, pipeline labor and a security person, recreation director, Boy Scout executive, and a volunteer for many things. He has taught in Fairbanks, Barrow, North Pole and Clarksville, Ohio.

Frank H. Irelan has worked for the A.C.S.A. for two years. The former teacher Mr. Conger brought him to the A.C.S.A. two years ago. What he likes about the A.C.S.A. is that it challenges him working with the kids.

He learned Tae Kwon Do five years ago and has been teaching it for four years. In Tae Kwon Do class the kids do exercises and kicks, stances and blocks. He also teaches an after school Tae Kwon Do class; they have been learning break falls, rolls, and Poomses.

Parent Profile: Sporty Spice Chick a.k.a. Tina Hager

By: Elise Hager & Emily Kremer

This month’s Parent Profile is Tina Hager. Tina’s birthday is October 26. She is 45 years old. Tina Lynn Martin was born in Sanderson, Texas on a ranch. She has two sisters; Georgine and Mary. Tina is the middle daughter of Charlotte and Tex Martin. Tina’s father, Tex, was a rodeo cowboy. Tina’s mother, Charlotte, was a schoolteacher for 37 years.

Tina went to Tarleton State Universityin Stephenville, Texas for a year, then went on to graduate from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. When in college, Tina was on the gymnastics team. While still in high school she participated as a majorette, and also in band, basketball, volleyball, track, and acting plays. Tina’s hobbies are jogging, swimming, basketball, volleyball, biking, horseback riding, and anything else sports-like. Needless to say, if Tina were a Spice Girl, she’d be Sporty Spice! Tina married John Hager in 1985. She and John didn’t settle down for while because John was in the army. After five years they finally settled down in Nome, Alaska. Their eldest daughter Marlee Kristina Hager was born in Clifton, Texas, on February 5, 1987. Their second daughter Jacquelyn Elise Hager was born in Fairbanks, Alaska on June 1, 1990. Tina’s family has a dog named Spidey. Tina’s job is at the Nome-Beltz High School as the junior high gym teacher. During classes Tina teaches swimming, rope climbing, exercises, jump roping, gymnastics, and different techniques of running. She still lives in Nome and is still working at Nome-Beltz High School in her 11th year.