Monthly Archives: December 2011

News

Welcome New Head of Island School, John Schatz!

The Island School is proud to announce a new head of school starting in the 2012-13 school year! After an extensive 18-month search, John Schatz has been hired to be the next Head of School. John has a long history with The Island School semester program. He joined a pioneer teaching team back in the fall of 2001 as a mathematics teacher. Outside the classroom John was head of the boys’ dormitory, sea kayaking guide, research advisor for a number of different projects and in his final year he ran the daily program as Dean of the School. John is remembered well as the teacher/mentor who was always there to challenge and at the same time support the community.

After four years of committed service to The Island School, John went on to receive his Masters in Education from Columbia Teacher’s College and taught at several private schools. Continue reading →

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Farming for the Future

On a beautiful Eleuthera afternoon there was a small gathering in the fields of corn at Apple Hole Farm to celebrate a big partnership between Edrin Symonette and Cape Eleuthera Island School. Among those gathered was long time Cape Eleuthera Island School mentor, Mr. Philip Miller, currently Undersecretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources. The partnership includes an initial investment of $5,000 by Cape Eleuthera Island School and is a celebration of the cooperation already in place that brings fresh locally grown meat from the fields of Apple Hole Farm to the dining tables at The Island School. Josh Shultz, CEIS Agriculture Manager, and Emery Long (F’04), Sustainable Chef at The Island School, have been working closely with Mr. Symonette to bring fresh, local, healthy foods to the table. Perhaps more importantly, the partnership will continue to educate future leaders in The Bahamas and students from around the world about the importance of reviving local agriculture and supporting local farmers wherever one lives. Continue reading →

Cape Eleuthera Institute, CEI

The SeaStation Has a Brand New Net!

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After a year and a half of trial and error CEI’s aquaculture cage has been refitted with shark resistant netting! Last Wednesday the aquaculture team, along with help from the majority of CEI, successfully installed this newly developed netting. Sharks biting holes in the netting has been the greatest hurdle that the aquaculture program has come across while trying to demonstrate the feasibility of aquaculture in The Bahamas. Previous growouts have failed due to escapements through holes that sharks had bit in the netting. The new netting was donated by the life materials company, DSM and the net manufacturing company, Net Systems. This is the first time this type of netting has ever been used on a SeaStation and the first test run will begin in February when 5,000 cobia will be stocked in the offshore pen. This will be the third time fish have been stocked in the offshore cage and fingers crossed, the first time the netting will be shark resistant.

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Cacique Update

Cacique Update December 4, 2011

by Caciques John Morris and Annie Bryan

The morning started with a dreary mood as we all got up to pack up our first bags. It was quiet in the dorms as people reflected on their semesters coming to a close. While cleaning up their personal spaces, many people came across various meaningful items that had been lost in their cluttered drawers. It was bittersweet to find things like old art projects, notes from friends etc. that brought back memories of the good times we’ve had throughout the semester.

In girl’s dorm, we had a “T-shirt swap” where we all traded our sending school T-shirts with other girls. This was a way for us to bring a piece of our friends back home with us and remember the great times we had with one another.

After we each packed up one bag, we were free for the day. Since it was our last Sunday exploration time it allowed us to spend some final quality time together. Even though it was rainy and cold it didn’t stop anybody from getting off campus and enjoying themselves. From snorkeling, to exploring the inner loop, to watching movies, we all enjoyed a relaxing Sunday afternoon with our friends. Though we are all melancholy thinking about saying goodbyes on Thursday, we’re all enjoying our final couple days here to the fullest.

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Don’t Know What to Get Your Island Schooler This Holiday?

Then look no further than The Island School’s brand new online gear store! Here we sell bags, hats, mugs, water bottles, and more! The Island School also sells items from the Lighthouse Collection like woven blankets and Thatcher Spring neckties. These can be ordered through the Lawrenceville office by contacting Scott Aland (scottaland@islandschool.org). Stay tuned for our online apparel store, coming soon…Happy Holidays (and happy shopping!) from The Island School!

Cacique Update

Cacique Update December 3, 2011

by Caciques Kate M. and Frankie

We were caciques for the last Saturday of the semester. We started the day with team sports, and we both played soccer rather than yoga. We then had the research symposium, which we’ve been preparing for all semester. Our final research presentation lasted six minutes and represented all our work from the last three months. In attendance were locals, government officials, and visiting scientists. We are both in the Flats research program, and, following the presentation, we explained our Flats poster in the boathouse, which we’ve worked really hard on creating. Phillip Miller, the Undersecretary of the Prime Minister, was our guest speaker. We were really inspired to hear him talk about how he supported Maxey’s dream for The Island School. It helped us realize how special this place is and how important it is to pursue your dreams no matter how difficult they may be. After the research symposium we had exploration time; Frankie and I decided to make a cake to celebrate one of our last community nights all together. Afterwards Kate explored the Banyan tree with Anika and Frankie stayed on campus in boy’s dorm. The Saturday night activity was the Green Castle homecoming, Continue reading →

Cacique Update

Cacique Update December 2, 2011

by Caciques Jane and Claire

According to Cam Powel, former Island School student as well as Director of Alumni Relations (and beloved phone time scheduler), our semester is “in denial” about leaving. Maybe it’s because everyone is still cruising along as if we have a month left or as Rob says maybe it’s because we just want to live for one more week as if the carpet isn’t about to be pulled from under our feet.  Maybe, even though we will be home in our own beds in one short week, we are trying to live well in this place for our last few days and hours. Today marked exactly a week until we pack up and head home to the various places around the world where we came from. Today I took it upon myself to begin the acceptance that in one weeks time I will have to rearrange my life, just as I did coming here. Little did I know that today would be one of the hardest days to do that. It was our final day of Human Ecology class where we displayed our final projects at DCMS. As an audience member walking around, you would see eco-friendly art supplies where the presenters allowed the listeners to make their own paper, the food inventory group that presented an array of new snack options that they had made with the kitchen ladies, the effects of development group in which they questioned/tested the detrimental effects that a possible cruise port would have on nearby marine ecosystems. It was evident to everybody there that we, the students were passionate about what we had done. Every time I turned my head I saw people smiling, inspired by what we had taken on. Going home, I hope that I can put as much enthusiasm into any project I participate in. Although leaving will be hard, I am excited for what the future may hold.

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The Island School Finishes Top 5 in Cans for Kids Project

Over 50% of the aluminum cans in the world are recycled but the statistics are much lower in The Bahamas. Cans for Kids has realized that the country has come to a point where they must address the garbage problem. Lack of landfill space and a growing awareness of that fact that Bahamians need to move away from that practice has brought the importance of recycling to the forefront. CFK realizes that it’s more and more necessary for Bahamians to conserve raw materials and energy, too!

Cans for Kids is a non-profit organization founded in 1998 by Ginny McKinney to recycle aluminum cans in The Bahamas. The net proceeds are used to help finance children’s programs in The Bahamas. The Island School has been donating their cans to the organization since the fall of 2009. At the end of this most recent quarter, The Island School was among the top 5 earners, recycling 375 pounds of aluminum cans. We hope to continue this level of participation in the future!

Cacique Update

Cacique Update November 27, 2011

Today marked the final journey of the run track. The half marathon began at 5:30in the morning as the runners took off in the direction of Deep Creek. Swim track watched from the side lines as support as the runners ran over 12 miles from the flag pole, into Deep Creek and back to the flag pole, marking the end of what they have spent the past 13 weeks training for. Congratulations runners!