Debbie Maestas Says Goodbye

Dear New and Returning PACE Families,

I am sending this email with mixed emotions. Normally, I send out a Welcome email to all my families during September introducing myself and welcoming them to our wonderful program. This year my email is to say hello and good-bye all in the same day.

I have worked with PACE in several capacities over the last 8 years and am now embarking on a new professional challenge. Today is my last day with PACE as a Correspondence teacher and tomorrow I will begin my role as a Kindergarten teacher at Kincaid Elementary School. So I am sad to say good-bye to those of you who I have worked with for years and sad for the new families I won’t get to know this year. On the other hand I am excited about working with young students and seeing them excel. I’m sure they will keep me hopping and young at heart!

All of you will be reassigned to another PACE teacher very soon. In the meantime, Jen and Tony in the Anchorage office will be more than happy to assist you. We also have staff in Ketchikan and Craig who can help you.

On a personal note: Many of you returning families know about my husband’s health and I want to let you know he is back in Anchorage and dealing quite well with his chemo. We both appreciate all your thoughts and prayers. Miracles are happening.

Also, if you’d like to keep in touch my email address is: rdetmaestas@yahoo.com. I believe my Craig email address will no longer work after tomorrow.

I wish all of you the best in your children’s education this year and hope that your time with PACE is beneficial and enjoyable. Take care.

Lessons from "On Your Knees Cave"

"A Celebration of Knowledge and Homecoming”
Friday, September 26, 2008

The Klawock Cooperative Association and the Craig Community Association are celebrating the life and homecoming of Shuká Kaa, our ancient ancestor whose 10,300 year-old remains were found in On Your Knees Cave on northern Prince of Wales Island in 1996. As part of the Public ceremonies (Friday and Saturday, Sept. 26 & 27, 2008), we have invited leading project scientists to join with community leaders and elders to present an educational program for students and the public at the Klawock School Gymnasium.

Time: 2:00 – 5:00 PM
Date: Friday, Sept. 26, 2008
Place: Klawock City School Gymnasium

Program

Opening statements and welcoming remarks by tribal and community leaders and elders.
Kuwóot yas.éin (His Spirit is Looking Out From the Cave), a 28 minute documentary, produced by Sealaska Heritage Institute, film relating the research and partnership highlights.

Terry Fifield, Forest Service Archaeologist, Prince of Wales Island, has been with the project since its beginning and will present a history of the research at On Your Knees Cave, how it came about, and the partnerships that have helped make the project a benefit to the Island.

Dr. E. James Dixon: Archaeologist and Director of the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico, has been the principle investigator for archaeology since the discovery of cultural materials in the cave in 1996. He will summarize the archaeological results of the research and their importance for North American researchers.

Dr. Timothy Heaton, Professor of Earth Sciences at the University of South Dakota Vermillion, discovered the human remains and artifacts in On Your Knees Cave in 1996 and has been the principle investigator for paleontological research at On Your Knees Cave since 1994. Dr. Heaton will present his findings regarding the animal remains in the cave.

Dr. Brian Kemp, Molecular Biologist with Washington State University, conducted DNA studies of the human remains from On Your Knees Cave in 2007. Dr. Kemp will discuss that research and other DNA studies as they relate to the First People of the Northwest Coast.

The presentations will be followed by a dinner at the Klawock City School Gymnasium at 6:00 PM. Everyone is welcome to attend.

For information about the Friday presentations or other events during the celebration contact KCA at 755-2265; CCA at 826-3996; or the Forest Service at 826-1642.)

Student Spotlight: Ian Umholtz | Renaissance Man

My name is Ian Umholtz. I was born in Austin Texas in April of 1990. I am now 6 feet, 3 inches tall and weigh around 270 pounds.

I am usually a pretty happy and easy going guy. I have a deep love of history and literature, as well as baseball, bowling and swimming. Right now I am involved in two different historical reenactment societies, one of them focusing on period correctness and strict adherence to the forms and functions of daily life of the time period that we are enacting. The other is a Battle reenactments group that focuses not so much on correctness, but on having fun and learning new things. Right now I am taking part in a study group, learning obscure, rural German weapons dueling forms.

I have also been a Blacksmith's apprentice for the last 9 months, learning the ancient art of Blacksmithing. It has been one of my passions and will continue to be one for the rest of my life. I am more than happy to answer any questions that any one might have on the subject, for it is fascinating to me and I hope it will be to some of you as well.

I love to read any and all books especially the Constitution of the United States and the Declaration of Independence , as well as write poetry. I have only recently started to enter my works in contests but so far I seem to be doing quite well.

I love music in most of its forms and will listen to most anything once! I am now learning to play guitar and am exited about that.

I enjoy video games, mostly Xbox 360 games
such as Call of duty 4 and the Halo series. but I play a lot of different games as well.

This week I helped out at the PACE Anchorage office. I learned how to image computers, which means use one computer to clone exact replicas. With the help of Jen Alverson, we prepared 75 laptop computers in under three days. I am taking the Final Cut Express class with Mr. Baylinson this year. I look forward to learning the art of video editing so that I can share some of my interests and talents with other students.