Each week, a group of students is selected for their unique potential as leaders to come together as the 5 student Cacique Council, “Cacique” meaning leader in ancient Lucayan. During that week, the group will plan special activities for their peers, run morning and evening circles, facilitate communication between students and faculty, and fulfill other important roles as needed. Members of the council are welcomed into the new role during Community Meeting, in which a public acknowledgement of each individual’s leadership qualities is read aloud. Enjoy these “Cacique Pass-Offs” written below. Join us in welcoming the first Cacique Council of the semester, and look forward to more student leadership updates in the coming weeks.

Hope Logan: During this morning’s Run Swim, Hope was the first to touch the flag pole. She is physically strong and an excellent athlete and swimmer, but her leadership is more than physical. During her Kayak trip she demonstrated self-awareness, which is a key to building a strong community and an aspect of the island school mission of “Creating an intentional community whose members are cognizant of their abilities, limitations, and effect on others.” I know in her coming week of leadership, she will be an excellent model of this quality for her peers. At Slippery Pete’s during the game night this last Saturday, she was an eager and energetic game-player. In fact, her energy and eagerness to engage and participate has been demonstrated throughout orientation. I have seen it in my own Advisory, and am excited to see how Hope can motivate and inspire us all in the coming week.

James Boyce: Whether this student is in the dining hall, dorm, on a boat, or at a campfire he manages to include all of those around him. He has continued to push himself to get to know more people as the semester continues. Peter Drucker once described a successful leader as: “The leaders who work most effectively, it seems to me, never say “I.” And that’s not because they have trained themselves not to say “I.” They don’t think “I.” They think “we”; they think “team.” They understand their job to be to make the team function. They accept responsibility and don’t sidestep it, but “we” gets the credit…. This is what creates trust, what enables you to get the task done. “ According to his Kayak leaders, James thinks in the “we” form. His initiative and willingness to volunteer helped his kayak trip run smoothly and I am confident that he will effectively lead our community forward.

 Kaitlin Ball: From the moment Kaitlin arrived at The Island School she had demonstrated her determination and strength. Whenever I have needed help in the dorm she has been willing to step up to the task at hand. I have noticed a similar attitude when her peers need help, be it a logistical task or emotional support. She fully embraced the challenges SCUBA week and her enthusiasm became contagious to those around her. Kaitlin lives The Island School mission of Sense of Place, taking advantage of the opportunities around her and enjoying each breath underwater. I am confident Kaitlin will be a valuable member of the first Cacique Council.

Maren Roberts: Obama, Martin Luther King, Jesus, Mother Teresa… all amazing leaders, all proclaimed their “seemingly” wild ideas, but somehow, everyone listened. Whether it was charm, compassion, creativity or patience, it just worked. for this student, people do just that—they listen, they get excited. Sure, she seems a little bit wild at times, but don’t all great leaders? From leading the most entertaining post-morning exercise stretches, to embracing the role of dealer during our Riverboat Casino Night on Saturday, Maren has already shown great leadership—leadership that is marked by proactive, selfless, and consistent energy.

Nathaniel Millard: Expeditions force people to live in close quarters for extended periods of time. At the end of the day, you still have to work hard to achieve group goals. Sometimes when the group is tired, hungry and struggling, simple discussions or camp chores take on a certain volunteerism. This is called Expeditionary Behavior. This individual has a gift for putting the needs of others in line with his own. According to his peers and faculty, this person is described as grounded, patient, and polite. Being an already certified diver, he was willing to help others set-up and break down gear. In addition, this individual displayed excellent peer leadership on kayak. He was always willing to volunteer for tasks such as setting up lunch or being a part of the pod formation while on the water. He made individual sacrifices for the group without complaining. I am pleased to announce Nathaniel Millard as our next member of the Cacique Council.