Yellowknife (June 20/03) - There is no room for reveries in the heads of our educators this time of year.

Dreams of sand and surf and spending time with their families have to be pushed back to concentrate on -- you guessed it -- the dreaded exam week.

St. Patrick high school teacher Michele Toms blames exam week for her cold sore. - Lisa Scott/NNSL photo

So what do they do to cope with the stress? Most teachers keep to themselves during the week, preferring to get together for barbecues and lunches on the weekends.

A little pampering helps to take the mind off of work too, as others head out for manicures and pedicures.

Keeping students' minds on their upcoming exams is a big concern for many teachers. The preparation is half the battle, according to St. Pat's Math and Physics teacher Heather Parsons.

Each teacher is rushing to fit in last-minute tutorials and reviews of material covered during the year. Ioan Matthews, who teaches Math and Science, is personally affected when exam results are less than desirable.

According to teacher Michele Toms, she indulges in lobster before exams and camping after. She said, "If it weren't for marking exams, teaching would be the perfect profession."

The St. Pat's "everything" teacher is still preparing her students for the year-end and she has sprouted a cold sore already. Toms doesn't hesitate to blame it on stress.

Over at Sir John Franklin, Biology teacher Joan Glover takes her 85 test papers and squirrels up in class with a few litres of coffee, trying to push thoughts of a canoe trip down the Nahanni river to the back of her mind.

She notices the change in her teaching counterparts this time of year, as they walk around in a daze and head outside for some air to clear their heads.

Expect to hear a collective sigh of relief in two weeks time, as students and teachers run out the high school doors for another glorious Northern summer.