My alarm sounded. Confused, I turned it off and rolled over. Today is Sunday, the one day at The Island School when students and faculty alike take advantage of sleeping in. I was content nuzzling back into my pillows until I remembered: today was the day Griffin had asked me, or maybe convinced me, to lead yoga at the sandbar. I left my house in the dark noticing the silence of campus, the brilliance of the stars in the morning sky. Stepping into the boathouse I made out the silhouettes of students sitting with lifejackets as promised: 6:10 am and ready to go. We groggily filled two boats and headed out as the first glimpses of daylight shone through the clouds in the distance. The water was quiet, each movement of our boat breaking the steady silence of the sea. The pale pink of a sunrise reflected on the glassy surface as we all came to life. [slideshow] Continue reading
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Cacique Update September 27, 2011
by Caciques Tori O. and Forrest
Today we woke up at the regular time of 6:30 for run and swim track practices. Run track completed a timed run of around four miles while swim track practiced sprints. After breakfast we rotated between Literature, Math, and Histories class. In Histories and Literature we had Harkness discussions, while in math we began our project on The Island School cisterns. The project entitles students to try to answer the question: how do we most efficiently use our cisterns? Continue reading
Stories Beneath the Waves
In the beginning, there was artwork. From the artwork, came stories. Yes…yes, we are indeed talking about marine ecology. No joke. Marine ecology is NOT just about diving and pretty fishes. God help us if it was. Sticking with the cross-disciplinary approach at The Island School, students incorporate themes from other departments, holding them close as they descend beneath the waves. Beautiful dives abound throughout the Cape, yet the beauty is never truly ‘seen’ until one’s attention is focused. This is where the intricate detail is. This is where the nuances come alive. This is where life begins. This is where ecology happens. Continue reading
Eleutheros – An Inter-Disciplinary Reflection
This year, the Human Ecology, Histories, and Literature Departments have collaborated on a series ongoing assignments. Each week students are asked to write a reflective essay that demonstrates their understanding of the themes from their coursework and effectively links these themes to their unique thoughts and experiences. Enjoy reading how our students have deeply and personally engage with essential questions, important to their course of study at The Island School…
This Weeks Prompt: Within the context of your experience at The Island School so far, especially in Literature, Histories and Human Ecology how have you begun to see your own paradigm and worldview challenged or changed?
“Gingersnap” by Grace Fowler
Gingersnap is the perfect example of a paradigm. Orange and very temperamental, Gingersnap fits the common stereotype of a “sassy ging.” He bites, claws, mauls and sneaks. He terrorizes lizards and tries to steal food from people’s plates. I’ve heard some students say he is the most hated cat at The Island School, and have even seen him be hurled off the dining hall deck by the scruff of his neck. However, spend enough time with him or pick him up when he’s not busy hunting lizards, and he’s the sweetest cat. Countless times he’s crawled onto my stomach and began purring loudly. He’s curious and smart. Once you get past the incessant biting, he’s a gem.
A paradigm is a system of understanding. Often in this world, people are defined by their paradigms. Their judgments, beliefs and biases determine who their friends are, what they like, and what they do. To see the big picture, you must understand it. You must talk to people and experience what they experience to understand their culture and beliefs. Continue reading
Carlton University Field Course Videos
Every winter for the past few years, the Cape Eleuthera Institute has hosted biologist Nigel Waltho and a group of students from Carlton University in Ottawa, Ontario for a two-week dive-intensive field course. During their stay, the students develop individual projects on coral disease, reef health, fish communities, etc. At the conclusion of the course, they must put prepare and present a final report. Nigel has recently uploaded a number of videos from their time in Eleuthera. Check out all their videos here!
Cacique Update September 26, 2011
by Caciques Tori Suslovitch and Connor Sullivan
Tori:
Today during advisory time, my (Megan’s) advisory traveled to Rock Sound in search of a hidden cave. None of us had ever been there before but Megan had very general directions of where to look: follow the road into Rock Sound, stop at the first white church that you see on the right, and take the path on the other side of the road until you find a ladder. Climb down the ladder. Vines winded in and out of the cave and spiderwebs hung from every corner. While it was dark and a little frightening, we all climbed over the unusually shaped rocks and explored the series of caves. We even found an area that was full of bats. Going on an adventure through this National Heritage Site was incredible and exciting; the entire exploration felt like a scene straight out of an Indiana Jones Movie.
[slideshow]
Connor:
During my (Beth’s) advisory time, we also went to Rock Sound, but we explored the ocean hole. Although it looks like a lake, it is connected underground to the ocean by a deep cave, the bottom of which has never been found. Continue reading
Caribbean Boarding School Fair Pre-Conference in Eleuthera
Deep Creek Middle School in conjunction with The Island School is hosting boarding school admissions officers in Eleuthera in November. It is a great opportunity for schools to get to know some of the local students who may be considering continuing their education in the U.S. for high school. As part of their time in Eleuthera, admissions officers would conduct a school fair, observe classes, and tour The Island School. It is a great opportunity for sending schools to spend some time at Deep Creek Middle School, as well as some time on The Island School campus. Please click here for more information.
Cacique Update September 25, 2011
by Caciques Maddy and Ian
A Poem Update by Maddy:
Waking up, it’s a brand new day
All of the rain got chased away
Waking up it’s the early morn
Shhh.. you have to be quiet inside the dorm.
Doing some homework before the day starts
Makes me feel so awesome and smart.
I walk to the boats, excited inside
The water is currently at low tide
We boat to blue holes ready to dive
We want to see lionfish, we’re so alive
Justin and Rob dive down with spears
And I have to wonder if they’ve been doing this for years
Some of us practice shooting the sand
There are no lionfish, nothing goes as planned,
We try two more sights and it’s obviously clear
That they’re much deeper down than they appear
Rob catches one that he had chased way deep down
We all crowded round to see the lionfish with the great big frown
We got back in the boats to head back to school
I got to practice free diving and that was so cool.
This morning was educational and fun
We got to swim in the nice warm sun.
That’s what I did on my morning off
Even though my bed was so soft.
A Reflection by Ian:
Sunday is easily my favorite day of the week here. Continue reading
New Cacique Update Blog Editor!
Show don’t tell. Three words simple words that make the world of difference in writing, three words that have been branded into my writing by my teachers atExeter. I didn’t like it at first, it took longer, and at times would go horribly wrong but they have made a huge difference in my abilities as a writer. As the new cacique blog editor, I would like to help incorporate that simple phrase into the upcoming blog posts. My name is Tyler Courville. I grew up in a small town in St. Ignatius, MT until my freshman year when I was accepted into Phillips Exeter Academy. One year after my first departure from home I got a plane again only this time I was headed in a completely different direction, The Bahamas. The Island School has changed my perception on sustainability and my outlook on culture and life. I am excited to work with the Caciques this fall.
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