School Closing

We had to send the kids home last Thursday (2/23/23) due to a power outage on the School - Grand end of town. It's the second time in my 30 year career we've had to do that. Without power the fire alarm, door locks, heat, etc. don't function; not to mention the lights and laptops.

Today two different people pulled me aside to tell me how impressed they were with my son. Apparently, rather than hopping on his snowmobile and heading right home with the rest of the high schoolers, he went down to the elementary end of the building. He helped the elementary teachers keep the young kids calm and entertained until their parents could get to school to pick them up. 

He's such a good human around children. He tells me he's planning on teaching kindergarten and I think he's going to be an incredible teacher.

 

Full

This is what a full parking lot at the Mackinac Island Public School looks like: snowmobiles as far as the eye can see. I took this picture during Winter Festival's Sunday Brunch. 

We haven't had a Winter Festival since 2020 (due to Covid.) It was wonderful to celebrate again.

Happy Valentine's Day

There it goes...

My Valentine's Day present...

My husband packed up the kids and headed for the 9:00 am boat and then onto a weekend of fun. Leaving me home alone. All alone until I have to leave for work on Monday morning. I'm looking at two glorious days at home, all by myself. I can't even remember the last time I was home alone. I may do laundry, but I may also binge watch The Crown, or Star Trek. Only time will tell.

Busy

I am often asked what people on Mackinac do to keep busy during the winter. If you went around town and asked 20 different people you might get 20 different answers, but most people would agree on one thing. On Mackinac you have to entertain yourself - or better yet, organize something you'd like to do and invite people to join you.

We are lucky enough to have a very active Recreation Department, who are always organizing activities for both adults and kids. Pre-Covid I signed up for a stained glass making class. Unfortunately, the class was shut down when Covid hit, and my project has been languishing on a shelf for the past three years. Last week I decided enough was enough - I dug out the glass making supplies and set out to finish my piece. I'm shooting to have it done by March first. Wish me luck!

Playground Duty

Kids on Mackinac are tough. So when we head outdoors for recess on a day where, after factoring in the windchill, it felt like it was five degrees (- 15 C), it's no big deal. The kids had a blast and I was toasty warm inside my Lands' End parka.

Meals on Snowmobiles

Did you know that Mackinac Island has a Meals on Snowmobiles program? 

Our YAC (Youth Advisory Council) kids volunteer and deliver the meals after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It's a wonderful way for the kids to give back to a community that gives them so much support. Tonight's delivery included:

baked ziti, a garlic herb roll, veggies, Caesar salad, and cake a la mode.  My mom gets meals when she is here and really appreciates them. 

Teen Night

Mackinac Island teenagers don't have a lot of options when it comes to "hanging out." To give the seventh through twelfth graders a hangout space, the Island community created "Teen Night." Each Saturday night during the winter, St. Anne's Catholic Church opens their meeting space for the kids to come together. The church basement has a pool table and an air hockey table, in addition to lots of room to just chill. The kids bring the music, the Mackinac Island Community Foundation provides the pizzas and pop, and parents organize baked goods and activities. It takes a village, right?

Recently I got the kids to participate in an epic Superfight battle. If you are not familiar with the game of Superfight, it's a hoot! Players draw cards to create a character who will battle another player's character. For example The Mario Brothers with the ability to turn all they touch to humus while carrying a magical protective blanket, might battle the Pope with a mustache that can stretch at will armed with holy hand grenades. (One student actually dew those cards!)

To battle the players argue about who would win and why. They argue like their lives depend on it, because the lives of their characters actually do. Once the yelling, I mean debate, dies down, the other players vote to determine the winner. The champion of that fight goes on to battle the next player, and so on, until the ultimate champion is crowned. The funniest moment of the evening was when our high school math teacher hit Darth Vader over the head with a very heavy Algebra II book. Sadly, she was not match for the Force...

Just Another Day

What happens when a student's

zipper no longer works? 

Mrs. Burt fixes it during recess of course.

Just one of the many benefits of keeping

a sewing machine at school.

Handmade Holidays

Now that it's Christmas I can safely share the ornaments my students made this year. Each of them hand sewed 20 yoyos, which they then stitched together to create a wreath. I try to have the kids hand sew something every year to then give to an adult they care about. I hope the parents appreciate them - my students worked hard!

I actually have seven fifth and sixth graders this year, but two of them were absent the day we took this picture.

Merry Christmas

Wishing you and yours  a peaceful (and warm)

Christmas from Mackinac Island.