http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFCIF-1YS6g

Skylar Miller came to CEI this Fall, to work with the Flats Ecology team and to lead the Patch Reef/ Lionfish IS research project.  As a spring 2003 Island School alumna, Skylar is excited to be back on Eleuthera getting to experience The Island School from the other side.  She grew up in upstate New York and bounced around a bit during her undergrad work – starting in Hawaii, studying for year abroad in Australia, and eventually graduating from Oregon State University in 2008 with a B.S. in Biology with a Marine Science concentration.  Most recently Skylar was living in the Florida Keys teaching marine science field programs and working as a guide on ecotour boats.  At Cape Eleuthera Institute, Skylar is hoping to gain valuable research experience while preparing to attend graduate school.

While parents and alumni can attest to the power of the experience and transformation that being away from home for 3 months can have, sometimes it still seems like a new idea to school administrators, teachers, and colleges.  Why have they not heard of Semester Schools?  Since students have to work hard to convince their school and teachers that going away is more than a “vacation” from school, the group of academic semester programs banded together to help families take the leap, and spread the word.  What’s going on with that?
 
Well, from the beginning, when the Island School started in 1999, we adopted the traditions and lessons of other established semester programs that had been the pioneers of taking high school students out of their comfort zone of school and into a community experience.  We still share a belief in how important it is to get support for students who want to do this kind of thing, so we decided to speak up!  Check out the new website at www.semesterschools.net  We hope you’ll help us innovate and improve: tell us your story of how you busted through walls and overcame obstacles to make your semester at The Island School possible!  You can make a difference for those who come behind you – even just reassuring them that it’s hard and takes effort would make their path easier.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqiD7ioN9Uk

Remo is dedicated to education for sustainable development. He designed the Human Ecology course offered at The Island School based on educational theories related to critical pedagogy and experiential learning.  Remo also acts as the Dean of Faculty and coordinates the Teaching Fellows Program. He received his Masters Degree in Education from Teacher’s College, Columbia University and worked as a public school teacher at School of the Future in lower Manhattan – a member of the Coalition of Essential Schools.  Other prior experiences include his work as a Peace Corps permaculture volunteer and program coordinator in Panama as well as a “green” builder on Cape Cod. Remo grew up in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Oregon, and studied geology during a semester abroad program in Iceland. He enjoys swimming and surfing and is an avid promoter of reading.

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This weekend Chris Maxey traveled to Middlebury, VT to speak at a student organized TEDx conference, themed “How We Started:From Idea to Impact.”  Chris spoke about how he came up with the idea to start The Island School and his belief in the idea that schools should “go to work.” While in Vermont, Chris was excited to meet up with several alums including Andrea Whittle (S07), Sam Dawson (F04), Katie Romanov (F05), and Doug Parizeau (S06).

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“Lionfish!”

The mixture of emotions that this one word evoked was evident: anticipation, excitement, respect.

This exotic-looking fish was unintentionally introduced to The Bahamas as a result of hurricane Andrew in 1992.  Apparently, a few red lionfish escaped from a home aquarium into the ocean during the destruction caused.  Without any natural predators in the local area, the lionfish population has exploded.  Part of our research is to better understand how this invasive species is interacting and possibly influencing our local environment.

Today, after careful preparation, our task is to live-capture a lionfish.  We hope to dissect Continue reading →

Originally from Port-de-Paix, Haiti, Joseph is a skilled stone mason, farmer, and landscaper. Joseph was introduced to the school as a stone mason contracted to build artisan walls from limestone rocks at the school’s entrance. His work was so beautiful and strong, we had to ask Joseph to stay and find other ways to utilize his skills. Joseph now manages our farm, maintaining the nursery and orchard on campus, tends to the pigs, goats and ducks, and continues to beautify the campus with his stonework and landscaping expertise. Joseph is also an avid crabber, known across the island for his uncanny ability to navigate the bush at night and catch more crabs than anyone else. He is always willing to share his interests with others, often taking students out crabbing at night, helping them with their human ecology projects, teaching creole to community members, or simply sharing stories of his life and journey from Haiti.

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Congratulations to IS alumnus Carter Brown (S09) for completing the Philadelphia half marathon this weekend!  Carter, who placed first in the S09 Super Swim, returned to the States last June and decided to sign up for the 2009 Philadelphia half marathon.  Since then, he has completed a half marathon in Bermuda and this weekend completed his 2nd Philadelphia half-marathon, setting a personal record with a time just under 1 hour and 35 mins.  Carter is currently a high school senior at Shipley in Pennsylvania, where he co-captains the cross-country and the crew teams.  Well done Carter!

Check out this article from Energy Today about Eolian Energy, featuring Co-founder/CEO (and former IS faculty member) Jack Kenworthy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQJUs4cok-A

Thanks to Christian Henry for putting this together!