Aanin Oshki Ogimaag Community School Families and Community Partners,
The past two weeks have been filled with enrichment, with many engaging experiences with Community members and other visitors to school!
Mr. Daniel Deschampe, from the Department of Natural Resources (and parent of one of our Kindergartners) visited school and told students a traditional Anishinaabe story about the sugar bush. Mr. Deschampe told the students how Nanabozho found people drinking maple syrup directly from the maple trees and realized the people did not respect and appreciate the gift of maple syrup. Nanabozho diluted the syrup with water and taught the Anishinaabe how to boil the sap to make syrup, and showed that you must work hard to receive such gifts as maple syrup and have respect for the trees, the sap, and the syrup . Today, it takes about 40 gallons of boiled sap to make 1 gallon of syrup!
Mr. Roger James, a naturalist from Grand Portage State Park, also visited school. Mr. James and Mr. Deschampe taught students the traditional Anishinaabe winter sport of Snow Snake. Mr. James and Mr. Deschampe brought snow snakes (long wooden sticks) and showed students how to throw the snow snakes down a snow track, as far as they can. Students joyfully practiced throwing the snow snakes down the tracks!
Last Friday, storyteller Niigaanibinesiikwe Hannah Orie visited Oshki Ogimaag Community School, to tell traditional Anishinaabe stories at an all-school gathering. Niigaanibinesiikwe told students stories speaking Ojibwemowin while acting out the stories. Before she began, she spoke to the students about storytelling season, and how we wait until there is snow on the ground to tell aadizookiwen (sacred stories). Niigaanibinesiikwe turned out the lights and told stories by the flickering of twinkle lights and after she shared stories, she invited students to also tell stories to the group, which students were very excited to do!
A Peek Into Our Week
Waagoshag - In Reading, Kindergarteners continue to sound out CVC (consonant vowel consonant) sight words, identify sight words in poems and identify rhyming words. In Reading, 1st graders are working on reading short stories and answering comprehension questions. In Writing, Kindergartners are working on writing simple sentences that include their sight words, and 1st graders are wiring sentences that include more than one sight word. In Math, Kindergartners are working on addition and subtraction and 1st graders are working on addition and instruction within 20, reading story problems, and adding three numbers in an equation. In Science, Kindergartners are working on a study of weather and 1st graders are studying the sun, moon, and stars.
Makwag - In Foundational Reading Skills, students are learning about multisyllabic words with the consonant -le syllable type (i.e. apple, giggle, table, waffle, turtle, buckle, puddle). For Poem Launch students read silly poem called Crystal Giggle and Her Pets. Students practiced reading, spelling, and writing sentences using words that end with a consonant -le syllable. The class Decodable Reader this week was Mable Wants to Play Basketball, about a young girl, who people call “the little girl in the wheelchair,” who is determined to convince her mother to let her play basketball.
In Language Arts Module, Makwag are leaning about fossils. They did a poetry and movement exercise with a poem called, A Group of Dinosaurs. Students are engaged in a close-reading of the text, Fossils by Ann O. Squire. From the text Fossils, students are learning to describe the steps of fossilization using pictures and words. In Math, Makwag continue to explore concepts in measurement, learning to solve one-step and two-step story problems about length within 100, and learning to interpret line plots and understand that line plots are used to represent and interpret numerical data.
In Social Studies, Makwag have been exploring a geography unit, learning about the impact of modern transportation and communication to the movement of people and goods. In Art, Makwag learned about warm colors and cool colors, and are working on a project to show complimentary colors. In SEL (Social Emotional Learning), Makwag made thank you cards for the YMCA Aquatics Team and Ms. Anne, for Writers Workshop.
Migiziwag - This week Wednesday through Friday, Ms. Jeana and the 5th graders went on trip to Wolf Ridge!
3rd and 4th graders are planning their informative writing piece about an animal of their choosing and their defense mechanisms. The first component of the project was researching their animal and recording notes. The second part was mapping out each paragraph. The last step is to put it all together including an introduction paragraph, one proof paragraph, and a conclusion paragraph.
5th grade just finished their informative writing piece on the rainforest. Students read the book The Most Beautiful Roof In The World, by Kathryn Lasky. Students are collecting information and taking notes. Students planned out their paragraphs and are now writing their final draft including an introduction paragraph, two proof paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph. Their prompt was "What does the author's use of concrete language and sensory detail help you understand about the rainforest?" Student must include evidence from the text in their responses to the prompt.
In Math, 3rd grade is learning about division, 4th grade is learning how to turn fractions into decimals and vice versa. 4th grade is also working on putting sets of decimals and fractions in order from least to greatest. 5th grade is learning multiplication and division of larger numbers. 5th graders are learning multiple ways to solve the problems, and then deciding which strategy works best for them.
In Science, the class is working on an ocean project. Students are writing their final drafts and illustrating pictures. We will send in our work to get published by the end of the month!
February 26 was Norman Deschampe Day, first declared by former Grand Marais Mayor, Jay Arrowsmith-DeCoux and then proclaimed by Governor Tim Walz. The Minnesota Proclamation reads, “The Grand Portage Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe has for centuries had its homeland at the international border in northern Minnesota; and Norman W. Deschampe was born February 26, 1953. Since 1974, Norman Deschampe was an elected official of the governing body of the Grand Portage Band, serving four years as a Tribal Council Member, fourteen as SecretaryTreasurer, and as Chairman since 1992; and Norman Deschampe earned the respect of his fellow tribal leaders and served for 22 years as President of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe and six years as Vice President; and Norman Deschampe dedicated his life to improving the lives of the people of Grand Portage through programs supporting education, health, and economic development; and Norman Deschampe promoted the understanding of traditions and customs of the Grand Portage Band and the stewardship of natural resources essential to the culture of the Chippewa; and It is fitting that the State of Minnesota acknowledges the contributions and legacy of this elected leader who has had a life-long impact in the State.”
Tribal Leader Deschampe leaves behind a legacy that lives on through the many lives he impacted. His portrait hangs on the walls of our school, and many of our staff and students also have relational connections to Tribal Leader Deschampe, including our longtime Transportation Director Mr. Fish, who is Norman’s brother. Of his brother, Fish communicated that he was a tremendous supporter of Oshki Ogimaag, and dedicated his life to serving students and Elders, supporting education, and the Grand Portage Community, always doing for others.
Reminders of the many Elders who served to build this school and bring the mission to life invites reflection on the meaning of our school. While our school may be small, big experiences happen here. While our school may face obstacles along the way as a small school, in a remote and rural location, we are still here, serving the mission because its meaning is powerful and of great significance. It causes me to reflect on the work the Makwag class did in their studies of schools around the world and how different communities worked together to solve obstacles of students attending schools in their own communities and the importance and benefits of going to school that is in the context of one’s own community.
At a recent OOCS Board Meeting, a Board Member stated, “It finally feels like the mission of the school is coming to life.” This school is bigger than the sum of its parts, the staff that are present, the number of students that are currently enrolled, it represents strength in Community, preservation of Anishinaabe language, culture and tradition, and contributing to the wellness of future generations. Much of that wellness and preservation of culture comes from learning within the context of the Community, connecting with Elders and other Community members on a daily basis as part of our learning, and instilling a strong sense of cultural identity and sense of Community that will serve students lifelong in helping to guide our new leaders on their journeys. Tribal Leader Deschampe’s dedication to serving youth and his support of education and caring for Elders, is a constant inspiration to do better and be better as we walk the halls of our school, especially in the face of adversity.
Hands-On, Community-Based Projects Happening at Oshki Ogimaag
We have Intergenerational Yoga with Ms. Carly each week on Thursdays. Yoga sessions are 20 minutes long and work to support students with focus, attention, mindfulness, emotional regulation, and bodily awareness. Each session, Elders are invited to participate! See flyer below for details and reach out with any questions!
Students finished swimming lessons this week, lead by certified instructors from Cook County YMCA.
Students completed their work with Anne Brataas, from the MN Children’s Press, engaging in Writers Workshops. This week Makwag created illustrations with Ms. Anne and created stories using rhyming words.
North House Folk School provides Woodworking classes after school on Wednesdays.
This week, Ms. Emily Derke, Grand Portage Agricultural Coordinator, presented to students how to process a waabooz (rabbit). Students assisted Ms. Emily throughout the process as Ms. Emily described each step. Our Cultural Liaison, Ms. Char, spoke to students about the tradition of snaring, using every part of the waabooz and showing respect for the waabooz. On Thursday, at lunch, students enjoyed Waabooz Stew, made by Bomp Deschampe (Callan’s Grandfather!).
Mondays 3:30-4:30, through March 31st, Dr. Erik Redix is leading Ojibwe Language Table, located in the OOCS Conference Room! Join us to learn and/or increase your Ojibwemowin skills! See flyer below for details!
Chi-miigwech to Bomp Deschampe, Mr. Redix, Ms. Emily, Ms. Anne, and the YMCA Aquatics Team!
Each Friday afternoon, the whole school joins together for hiking in the woods along trails, creeks, adventuring to different local areas in nature, including the shores of Gichigami. Forest Fridays are lead by our Environmental Education Coordinator, Ms. Jeana Van Dyne, and Forest Friday activities target meeting our Environmental Education goals with our authorizer, Osprey Wilds.
Chilly Temps Call for Cold Weather Gear
Please make sure your student comes to school in weather-appropriate clothes and outdoor gear every day. We are committed to outdoor learning and experiences throughout the entire school year, including the many months of chilly, snowy, weather we experience in Minnesota. Each day your student should have the "Big 5": Boots they can hike in, a jacket warm enough for the weather, snow pants, hat, and mittens or gloves.
If your family faces barriers preventing you from providing these items for your students, please reach out, we often have donations of winter gear and/or can help you connect with Human Services to ensure all students have warm winter gear. Please include sizes and color preferences, when reaching out.
