Even more Maori!

I just cant help it...these Maori dancers are so interesting. Here they are doing a dance with some kind of twirly thing. (Kale, do you remember what they called those things?) The music, singing, dancing, and outfits are so exotic. Makes me want to visit New Zealand. Who am I kidding? I want to visit everywhere.



I'm sitting here with my last round of state testing kids. I've been proctoring standardized tests for the 8th graders all week. Every kids in Alaska is testing this week. Most of them take the SBA (Standards Based Assessments) tests, while the 10th graders take the HSGQE (High School Graduation Qualifying Exam). While the SBA's are used to determine if students are learning what they're supposed to, if they are at grade level or not, and sometimes what classes they'll be in; the HSGQE is used to determine if students will graduate high school. They have tests in Reading, Writing, Math, and, this year, Science.

Thank goodness it's over. The kids are so mentally wasted after they finish testing all morning that trying to have class in the afternoon is a disaster. We always manage to make it through though. Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

Have a great Friday!