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Island School Fall 2005 alumni, Drew Fink, Dave Seamans, Jaclyn Battjes, Colton Coughlin and Lucas Cherrington, managed to find some snow during this mild winter we’re having in the US. The crew met up for some skiing and snowboarding out west in Beaver Creek, CO. Yeah Island School!
As The Island School emerges in its 14th year, we feel stronger than ever as an organization having two lead donors ensure the longevity of the school and its supporting programs.
The Searle Family has supported the growth of The Island School since before the beginning. Bill and Sally Searle made their first gift of support in 1996. The entire family has been behind the development of the semester program and the creation of DCMS and CEI. As of today, four grandchildren have undertaken The Island School journey (Jake Searle S’02, Abby Klarr Bebee S’02, Bekah Klarr S’04 and Nathan Klarr S’11). We also have new energy emerging through the program with new Island School parents, Floyd and Kim Wilson, who have become huge supporters of The Island School program since their daughter, Kelley Duggan, completed her semester in Spring 2011. Together, the Wilson and Searle families play a large role in getting 2012 off to such a strong start with two $1,000,000 lead gifts to support endowment, educators, students and programs.
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For the eighth year, Sarah Gardner of Williams College brought a January term class to stay at The Island School and research different topics. Last year, this class studied how agriculture on Eleuthera could be revitalized, and this year, continued that work by addressing three main issues: fruit and vegetable processing and slaughtering, increasing youth involvement in farming, and changing the packing house system. Local farming on Eleuthera plays a vital role in increasing food security and reducing import dependency, as well as providing economic opportunities for young people. The students remark:
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“To better understand these issues, we conducted field research and interviews with restaurants, farmers, government officials, and high school students. Shaun Ingraham was instrumental in helping us set up interviews with high school students, Continue reading
We had over 50 guests attend the Admissions Reception at the Florio’s Home in New York City last night, including many interested families, prospective students, and of course plenty of alums! Thank you to all who attended–and a very big thank you to the Florios for hosting such a successful event.
The next Admissions Reception event is in Easton, Maryland on Tuesday, January 31 from 6pm-8pm. It will be held at the Koch Home:
28299 Old Country Club Road
Easton, MD 21601
We hope to see you there!
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The week-long workshop sponsored by the Cape Eleuthera Writers & Artist Workshop series will bring together a small group of adults interested in fiction writing to the Cape Eleuthera campus to work with celebrated author, Richard Bausch. Participants will further develop their writing by receiving expert feedback on their own manuscripts in a safe and constructive environment as well as by engaging in writing exercises, by considering issues of craft and of the writing life, and ultimately by cultivating a community based upon the shared love of writing. “Sense of place,” a concept deeply integral to the philosophy and mission of The Cape Eleuthera Island School, will be interwoven into the fabric of the week, both in the actual workshop activities and in “exploration time.” The workshop ultimately promises to be a perfect mix of instruction, inspiration, relaxation, and celebration of the art of fiction.
Highlights of the week include:
To learn more about the workshop, please click here.
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Students from The Maine School of Science and Mathematics departed this morning, having completed two weeks of research and experiential learning here at The Island School and Cape Eleuthera Institute. During their time on Eleuthera, they worked closely with CEI researchers, while learning about the importance of conserving resources, exploring the surrounding tropical ecosystem, and discovering some of the many hidden treasures of the island. They reflect on their experiences:
“One of the main goals for coming here was to conduct research meaningful to the place in which we were living. We were divided into two groups for our program-long projects, one collecting data on the diet of invasive lionfish via dissection and analysis of stomach contents. This group dissected over 100 lionfish and went free diving among the coral reefs to see them alive and swimming. The other group worked diligently to find the maximum temperature at which certain species of fish can Continue reading
Students from The Canterbury School of St. Petersburg, Florida have had a week to unwind since their time on Eleuthera, and it is without doubt that they have continued to think critically about the world around them and our part in making the planet a better place. It is our hope that they will continue to be stewards of the earth through research, education, and conservation, and that they might serve as a launching pad for sustainable practices in their own community. We wish them well as they embark on their second semester of school and will welcome them back whenever they get the chance!
To read a first-hand account of Canterbury’s adventure in The Bahamas, please click here.
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…click here to find out!
As a collective alumni community, we reached 33% participation and raised over $110,000! Way to go! While we did not meet our goal of 45% overall participation, we did see much improvement from last year’s CONCHtribution campaign. 2010 recorded 32% participation, or 294 alums, raising $103,000. This year, 368 alums donated, which is over 70 more than 2010! We also raised $7,000 more than we did last year! Thank you to all who “Donated Once and Gave Back Twice!” We appreciate your support of The Island School.
Looking for something outside the classroom? Join us for our Winter Admissions Receptions!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
6-8pm
The Maroni Home
220 Clyde Street
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
6-8pm
The Florio Home
129 East 95th Street
New York, NY 10128
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
6-8pm
The Koch Home
28299 Old Country Club Road
Easton, MD 21601
*Alumni–if you join us, please bring a friend who is interested in The Island School!
RSVP to Hannah Mauck at hannahmauck@islandschool.org
There is no rest for the weary on Cape Eleuthera as Island School and CEI staff geared up for the arrival of visiting high school and college programs on the first of the new year. Throughout the past week, dorms have been readied and Johnny Bread has been prepared for five academic groups eager to see the world in which they live through new and exciting lenses.
-The Canterbury School of St. Petersburg, Florida spent last week on its own mini-Island School adventure, complete with a run to High Rock, a Down Island excursion, and even a half-day kayak expedition! Students were oriented to their surroundings through natural history lessons, daily snorkeling, and a trip out to the sand bar to learn all about Ooids.
-The Maine School of Science and Mathematics is nearing the end of its first week in which students have been teamed up with CEI researchers working on both the bonefish and lionfish populations here in Eleuthera. Continue reading