While parents and alumni can attest to the power of the experience and transformation that being away from home for 3 months can have, sometimes it still seems like a new idea to school administrators, teachers, and colleges.  Why have they not heard of Semester Schools?  Since students have to work hard to convince their school and teachers that going away is more than a “vacation” from school, the group of academic semester programs banded together to help families take the leap, and spread the word.  What’s going on with that?
 
Well, from the beginning, when the Island School started in 1999, we adopted the traditions and lessons of other established semester programs that had been the pioneers of taking high school students out of their comfort zone of school and into a community experience.  We still share a belief in how important it is to get support for students who want to do this kind of thing, so we decided to speak up!  Check out the new website at www.semesterschools.net  We hope you’ll help us innovate and improve: tell us your story of how you busted through walls and overcame obstacles to make your semester at The Island School possible!  You can make a difference for those who come behind you – even just reassuring them that it’s hard and takes effort would make their path easier.

In the reading of The Omnivores Dilemma, I learned things about the food I eat that I never would have thought of. I’ve never sat down at Applebee’s, looking at the menu wondered “where is my food coming from?” I’ve never even thought to question it. I never questioned the chicken and steak I buy at Costco. It’s just from Costco right? Through this reading, I realized my Continue reading →

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Students, upon returning  to Island School campus last Sunday after  a weekend spent living with local Bahamian families, hosted their homestay families for a delicious dinner and community celebration.

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For the past month we have been catching juvenile lemon sharks in specific mangrove creeks around South Eleuthera. We do this to determine the relative abundance of sharks in each creek and gather data that will help raise awareness of the current threatening situation these sharks face today.  In many islands of the Bahamas, mangrove creeks have been dredged during coastal development for things like sandy beaches and seaside resorts. It is our hope that by collecting data Continue reading →

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqiD7ioN9Uk

Remo is dedicated to education for sustainable development. He designed the Human Ecology course offered at The Island School based on educational theories related to critical pedagogy and experiential learning.  Remo also acts as the Dean of Faculty and coordinates the Teaching Fellows Program. He received his Masters Degree in Education from Teacher’s College, Columbia University and worked as a public school teacher at School of the Future in lower Manhattan – a member of the Coalition of Essential Schools.  Other prior experiences include his work as a Peace Corps permaculture volunteer and program coordinator in Panama as well as a “green” builder on Cape Cod. Remo grew up in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Oregon, and studied geology during a semester abroad program in Iceland. He enjoys swimming and surfing and is an avid promoter of reading.

by: Team Acult Research: Lea Luniewicz, Nate Smith-Ide, Gian Paul Graziosi, Catharine Pirie and Augi Cummings

Yet another gripping scuba dive, but this time it took us into uncharted waters. This place was straight out of a dream, a reef full of undefined beauty, elegant in its voluptuous ways. As we sunk into the deep mystic realm full of our petite gobies, our eyes were drowning in magnificence. Immediately, the hunt was on. As we applied our war paint, preparing for battle, we spotted a little bugga amongst us. With a blind eye, he reached down and captured the beast its self. This brave warrior was named Augie. Gian Paul, his companion in crime, swam near, and found his own arduous battle. Their sidekicks, Lea, Cathy, and Nate were also successful in the goby hunt. They all arrived at the surface with a whopping FIVE GOBIES. Leaving Poseidon’s Chamber, smiles filled the damp boat. Gleaming with joy we debriefed as proud soldiers, just another day on the job. Now with 13 gobies in the wetlab we expect them to begin pairing soon.

With love, Acult Team Goby Force.