Monthly Archives: September 2011

Cacique Update, Uncategorized

Cacique Update September 23, 2011

By Caciques Sam and Tyler

“A Little MJ”    Today was the highlight to my week! It all started with a little Michael Jackson-The way you make me feel. It was the perfect way to wake up at6 a.m. The second reason to today’s highlight was THE RAIN!!! This morning we swam with an overcast sky and a light rain falling down our goggles. Every student worked on their stroke technique and then did some sprints. It was such a refreshing way to wake up! During classes, one of the students, Anna, came into my math class to talk about the cisterns. Because we are in the rainy season at theBahamas, our water level should be between 90-100%…however ours is currently at 74%. But no fear! It poured all day today! During research hours, I asked if I could go outside and run in the rain. With approval from my flats teacher, Leanne, Tori and I dashed outside into the rain dancing and doing cart wheels. Students from the other research groups looked at us as if we were crazy, but after a few minutes of watching the joy the rain brought us, they followed along. 8 students joined me in taking the best outdoor shower of the semester! As caciques, Tyler and I wanted to have a unique and fun pass off. We decided to give our pass off in a Doctor Seuss poem and rap/poem. We spent breakfast, lunch, and the 20 minutes before dinner preparing for our epic poem…and man it was epic! Tyler and I wrapped up our duty of caciques by playing more Michael Jackson during dinner. Michael Jackson in the morning, rain dancing, and more Michael Jackson at night-today was awesome. -Sam

 

Cold by definition is “having or being a temperature that is uncomfortably low for humans” however uncomfortable is not how I would have described myself as I ran through the rain this morning, my flip-flops slapping the ground with each slippery step. I would actually say I felt more comfortable than I had in a long time. I ran up the steps of the dining hall ducking my head under the water dripping off the roof as if I could somehow dodge the stream of water coming off the roof. Continue reading →

Cacique Update, Uncategorized

Cacique Update September 22, 2011

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by Caciques Tessa and Katie T

Tonight was a particularly special night in the community. The Cape Eleuthera Foundation consists of three organizations, The Island School, Deep Creek Middle School and Cape Eleuthera Institute. Tonight, members of all three associations came together for the foundation dinner; there were almost one hundred attendees. Though we cross paths, it is rare for us students to have a chance to get to know the people involved in CEI and DCMS, tonight was the perfect night for just that. Continue reading →

Cacique Update

Cacique Update September 21, 2011

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by Caciques Annie B and Helen

Wednesday mornings: sacred sleep in days… except for those brave enough to venture out to Tunnel Rock for an early morning free dive! Those of us who took Maxey’s advice “You can take a dirt nap at the end of your life”, woke up bright and early and headed out to the boats, “Mac Daddy” and “Kenny T”. Once we arrived at Tunnel Rock and anchored our boats, we all jumped into the wavy waters and began our dives. In pairs of two, we took turns diving down toward the vibrant reefs, taking in as much of the beautiful scenery as we could in one breath. Practice truly must make perfect, because the more we tried, the better we got, and soon enough we were all making impressively deep dives. After the sun had risen well above the waters, we made our way back to the boats, and back to campus… just in time for breakfast. Waking up early that morning and jumping in the salty ocean, rather than sleeping in my warm bunk was one of the best choices I’ve made so far at The Island School. Though it was simply a fun morning activity, it was a phenomenal way for me to “seize the day”, and made me appreciate the true meaning of living life in the moment. -Annie

Today, in the tradition of true Bahamian culture, we were introduced to conch fishing by a local fisherman, Nehemiah. After studying sustainable fishing practices in Human Ecology, we decided to go out and do some fishing of our own.

Continue reading →

Uncategorized

Fall Island School Receptions!

The Island School is going on the road! In September and October we will be hosting receptions in New York City, Connecticut, Maine, and Boston. These events are for anyone interested in The Island School: perspective students and parents, upcoming students and parents, Island School alums and their parents, former faculty, and anyone who has questions and wants to learn more.

Bring along friends or send invites on to anyone who may be interested! You can read more about the events and their specific locations and dates by clicking here.  Please RSVP to Hannah Mauck at hannahmauck@islandschool.org  and we hope to see you there!
– The Island School

Deep Creek Middle School, Uncategorized

DCMS Students’ Day at the Sandbar

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Students from the 8th grade class at DCMS stepped out of the classroom and into a boat to further investigate the formation of the islands of The Bahamas. The trip was organized by the social studies, math and science teachers to give the students to chance to get their feet wet and their hands dirty with a practical application of their classroom lessons. Students dug with their hands deep into the sand to learn that for miles and miles below the surface they would find the same thing: limestone ooids. They discussed with Mr. Maxey where the raw materials for the ooids came from and how wind, currents and tides had brought them to this place. Students also had the chance to act out a small play on the formation of ooids with students playing the roles of calcium atoms, carbonate molecules, microscopic dust and even evaporating water molecules. Finally, students were asked to gaze out at the horizon and ponder how far away it was and to think about how the Pythagorean theorem could be used to find the answer. It was a great experience for the students to see how the different subject areas are connected and to spur further questions to be investigated back at school.

Cacique Update

Cacique Update September 18, 2011

by Caciques Benji Beardsley and Anabelle Florio

Sunday is the only day of the week that we get to sleep in, relax and have exploration time for the whole day. One thing I immediately noticed was the fact that I wasn’t able to sleep in. I woke up at 8 and tried to sleep more but it was impossible.  Yesterday, however, most of the students did homework. Normally, all of us would have loved to go out and explore, but we were all swamped. There was the occasional study break at the marina store for an energizing snack, but for the most part, we all spent our time glued to our computers either writing our Eleutheros paper or finishing up our math assignment.  Since I wanted to be outside on the only free day I had, I wrote my Eleutheros paper under the gazebo in the poo-poo garden.  Continue reading →

Cacique Update

Cacique Update September 17, 2011

By Cacique Alex Spring

Today, September 17, 2011 was our first settlement day! It was an awesome experience, in which we got to only explore more of Eleuthra, but to also get to know the people who live here a little better. Our student body was split into 4 groups, each going to a different settlement. When we arrived at our designated settlements (Rock Sound, Deep Creek, Tarpin Bay, or Wemyssbight) we set off in pairs to explore the settlement and conduct our first interviews. My buddy and I had a wonderful time interviewing four really interesting people. It was a life altering experience for me to be able to simply sit and talk with people who I had never met before and learn their life story. I can’t wait to learn more about Eleuthra, Bahamian culture, and the people who inhabit this fascinating place. The rest of the day inculded querencia (solitary reflective time), a dance party and a movie! Altogether it was an amazing day, jam-packed with what makes the Island School what it is- enriching, non-traditional education and fun.

by Cacique Jack Foote

Tonight was the first Saturday Night, which meant that we were able to decide on an evening activity and have some fun.  After some deliberation we were able to come up with great idea, we would hold a “school dance” themed sustainability/neon rave, hosted by Griffin and Carter, followed by popcorn and a movie of our choice, coordinated by yours truly.  After dinner everyone went to their perspective dorms to put together some costumes.  After the costumes were constructed we met in the Prez. Room go over rules for the dance and then vote on a movie.  It came down to three choices Mean Girls, The Incredibles, or Ratatouille, The Incredibles won in a landslide.  After the voting was all said and done we filled out and into the Dinning Hall.  Inside had almost the exact atmosphere of an actual nightclub, it was dark, the music was loud, and headlamps were set up around the room on the strobe function.  With Griffin as the DJ the dance was on its way.  After an hour and a half of fist-pumping music and energetic dancing, the dance was done so we all got ready for the movie.  I had pinned up a sheet in the Boathouse to act as our movie screen.  Once the projector was up and running and everyone was all nestled in we started the movie… but for some reason The Incredibles wouldn’t play so we settled in for Ratatouille.  Through all the chaos and scrambling to set everything up today was a good day.

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