“The Last Weekly Schedule”

By Caciques Margaux Burnham and Hammy Wallace

Today was our last day of formal classes. By dinner time each student had completed their last Histories, Literature and Math classes. While it was sad to close that portion of our semester, in each class we reflected on our work and everyone felt proud of how much they had learned. Now we are all hard at work completing our Portfolios, which are a compilation of all the assignments we’ve done in the past three months. We have specific requirements to include for each class, so it’s quite a large undertaking. However, everyone has been putting a lot of hard work into coming up with a creative way to present their work. Continue reading →

“Conquering the 4-Mile Swim”

By Caciques Chris Pibl and Sasha Whittle

Today was the exciting day that swim track swam their 4 mile swim! Everyone, including run track, woke up and were excited for the race. All the swimmers loaded up in the vans to depart for the start, while all the runners, still soar from yesterday, got ready in their support spots. Even though the runners were tired and tight from the long run the day before, they found the energy to cheer for swim track all the way to the finish. The swimmers started their Super Swim strong and ready. Each stroke they took they had kayakers or boaters alongside cheering their names. The swimmers cruised through the water and almost all of them saw sharks while they swam. Each swimmer finished the race strong with lots of support at the finish. Weather it was a breeze or the hardest thing they had ever done, everyone finished feeling accomplished with smiles on their face.  

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For me (Chris Pibl), the first stretch to the turn around point was gruesome. Continue reading →

Two and a half months in the making. Training each morning; before, during, and after sunrise. After months spent in anticipation, all run-trackers triumphantly finished the Half Marathon this Saturday. We like to say around here that “sweat is the cologne of accomplishment.” Check out these photos of our community: glistening and drenched in accomplishment.

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From the Perspective of Cacique Will Overman:

At 4:45 I woke up. I then started to run a half marathon. A couple of hours later I finished. Then I cheered others to the end. Afterwards I ate a gigantic breakfast of french toast and granola. After I was recharged, I, with a bunch of buds, went out exploring. To finish off, haha, pun, Louise and I put together the best casino night like The Island School has ever seen. It was fantastic, with Frank Sinatra playing, Texas Hold ‘em at its finest, and ice cold water for everyone. It was a fabulous Saturday night.

“Prepping for the Big Events!”

by Caciques Hammy Wallace and Megan Osborn

Today started with a relaxing morning exercise in preparation for the big events of the weekend.  Everybody was anxious to find out if the Super Swim or the Half Marathon would be on Saturday.  Even though we had a normal morning with three classes (art, math, and literature) everybody’s nerves were elsewhere.   

The afternoon took our minds off of the weekend as we focused on our research posters for the science symposium.  Lemon sharks had their last day in the field.  Three lemon sharks were caught today, and were added to our vast amount of data!  This made the day a little bit more relaxing and we were excited to go back to the classroom and finish our poster.  We were sad to have our last day in the field, yet we knew that the symposium was still to come and we would stun the audience with our presentations.  Continue reading →

“We Give Thanks”

by Caciques Sasha Whittle and Jack DeVries

This morning we woke up excited because it is thanksgiving! During morning exercise we had easy run and swim track practices because the Half Marathon and Super Swim are just around the corner and we are resting our bodies. All morning we worked on our Human Ecology final products. Many of the projects are starting to get important things done. For example today the chicken team finally got chickens and the glycerin soap team finally made soap. In the afternoon Continue reading →

“Our Old and New Families”

By Caciques Brandon Gell and Marianne Foss-Skiftesvik

After an exciting day of preparing for parents weekend, I can safely say that everyone in the community is itching to spend time with their families. It was right after dinner circle when I realized just how excited I was to see my family and show them everything I have done here. From how I have adapted to excel in my new home and how I have come to know this island like the back of my hand. I am excited to show my family my new friends and family here. I came to these realizations during an exercise Marianne and I led proceeding dinner circle. Continue reading →

“You Can Sleep When You’re Taking the Dirt Nap” –Chris Maxey 

By Caciques Jackson Rafter and Louise Shiverick

Brandon poked me on my side, and I jerked up onto my side, ready to rush to get to morning circle. I glanced out the window to see the orange semi-circle peeking out of the horizon, melting in with the clouds. I looked around the room and noticed everyone was still sleeping, and remembered this wasn’t a normal morning. The faculty had put an extra Tuesday morning sleep-in on the schedule, a blessing, but my watch still showed 6:18, just like every morning. Why? Brandon had organized a morning free dive to the cage with Maxey, and I knew I couldn’t miss out. All night I had heard Maxey’s voice in my head: “you can sleep when you’re taking the dirt nap!” It would be so easy to go back to bed right now, I thought, now stepping outside, Continue reading →