Today’s run-jump-swim for swim track was possibly one of the best and most exciting run swims yet. It involved multiple jumps as well as an emphasis on swimming. Everyone in swim track was excited and determined to finish strong. Everyone loved to jump off the wall into current cut and then leisurely float down the cut. Today’s swim track was a great way to switch up our normal routine. It provided encouragement for our swim team, strength in both fields (swimming and running) and bonding moments between swim track.

Everyone at the school is excited to see our parents and show them what we have accomplished here at The Island School.  They will be able to witness all of the training we did up to their arrival and currently completing. To everyone here, parent’s weekend will be the pinnacle of our Island School adventure. The adventure that will continue even after our Island School experience has ended. In the end, we can’t wait for your arrival.

-Garneisha and Brandon

This morning we had a chance to sleep in and jump slowly into the day. In art class we started our art projects that are to be shown during parents weekend. We all were excited to start and it appeared that everyone had a good idea of what their project was going to be.  There are so many different styles that are being used to answer so many questions that will make our show amazing. Today also provided us with a chance to visit with our buddies at Deep Creek Middle School. I was working with grade 9 and we got so much done in our planning for Deep Creek’s homecoming carnival next February. My group alone was able to acquire a stage and stalls for the event. To finish off the day we have been blessed by rain. The rain is a great commodity here at the Island School providing us with full cisterns, and a full cistern is a happy cistern.

-Charlie

“Our fingerprints never fade from the lives we touch.” -Unknown

Hearing this quote made me think about all the people in my everyday life who are important to me; whether they are back home, one of the 47 students at the Island School, or a member of the faculty. How many times a day, or even a month, do I take time to tell them Continue reading →

Legacies, Labor and Appreciation

The day was full of manual labor, hard work, legacies and appreciations. We started off with clean shirts, ready for the day ahead. The twenty-four students still on campus were split into three legacy groups: CEI, Bike shed and Faculty apartments. All the groups were in charge of planting and landscaping one of the three areas. At CEI we moved sand from piles to create a smooth, elevated surface. Then we took enormous rocks and encompassed our mound of sand. Although it may seem like effortless work, by lunchtime all of our shirts were dirty. After a well earned meal we dug holes and planted our trees.

At the bike shed we first started out our morning pick-axing the hard curry soil and digging 3 foot wide by 3 foot deep holes. We filled these in with tamerun, palm and citrus trees. After planting we then went on an adventure into the inner loop to retrieve rocks that would ultimately line the drive way.

Our day of hard work and manual labor was not only a day where we left our mark on the school, it was also a day where we realized the challenges of our landscaping staff. This day also taught us to challenge our own personal strength and it brought teamwork back into our school community.

-Julia G. and Scott E.

by Caciques Margaux Burnham and CJ Easton

This week at The Island School most of the students are participating in a night dive as a part the advanced open water portion of PADI scuba training.  So, Tuesday night I, and the rest of the Limpets scuba group, participated in a beautiful night dive.  Every person jumped into the water at night to see the fluorescent coral reefs of Tunnel Rock.  Our group has visited Tunnel Rock before in the daytime but it was hardly recognizable while wearing this cloak of darkness. After one gets over the fear that some hidden predator is lurking in the darkness you can really enjoy the underwater world’s nightlife.  Continue reading →

by Caciques Charlie Fichtner and Taylor Schendel

Today provided us a chance to go explore a new part of Eleuthera. We got to go to Princess Cays, an island right off Eleuthra dedicated to entertaining cruise ship passengers, a day at a time. We arrived to the sight and were given a tour of the area by the manager. He showed us how the cruise liner transports all the food and workers to the island before the passengers get there. We then had lunch at the buffet then had a chance to explore. It was amazing to me to see how much this island varied from the rest of Eleuthera. Continue reading →