“Swimming in the Wind”

October 7, 2010

By Caciques Louise Shiverick and Tucker Beckett

We woke up this morning for our long workout of the week. This workout is usually on Saturdays, but we had to reschedule because we are going to participate in the four mile Wemyss Bight homecoming race this Saturday. Swim track ran in the rain against the high intensity winds, to the triangle cut to swim laps. As we rounded the final corner, we glimpsed the epic size of the tumbling waves for the first time. Nevertheless, we balanced on the rocks to jump into the water that was as cold as bath water that’s been sitting out for a day to start our warm ups. After we were finally nice and toasty, we began the mile swim that was ahead of us. Continue reading →

“Two Classes in the Day of an Island School Student”

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

By Caciques Heather Seeley and CJ Easton

Today at the Island School my Marine Ecology class performed our Naturalist dive at tunnel rock.  The reason it is a naturalist dive is because this is one of the roles one must fulfill to be granted advanced open water scuba diving certification.  So for our naturalist dive my marine ecology class went to Deal’s Point.  I was boat captain of the boat the Mary Alice, which means that I was in charge of operating the boat and maintaining safety of the passengers throughout our journey.  The the passengers of the Mary Alice were Continue reading →

“Finally, the Sun”

October 5, 2010

By Caciques Brigid Carr and Charlie Fichtner

            Today we were finally able to see the sun after three days of rain. As the weather got better so did everyone’s mood. We were able to enjoy a very productive community meeting in which we split into four pods and discussed the state of our campus community. There were many constructive plans made that are going to help the community. We discussed improving time management to help deal with homework stress. There was also a discussion of our strengths, of which we decided our extensive student and faculty support system was a key one. Boys’ dorm also got to enjoy our new pet, Continue reading →

October 4, 2010

By Caciques Chamon McIntosh and Ashlie Thompson

“This Overcast Will Never Last”

But it did.  We woke up to gray skies and heavy showers.   First thing in the morning we did a run-swim exercise in the rain.  It didn’t matter, we were getting wet anyway. Inch after inch the sky cried upon our day. Normally, you would stay inside for this type of weather, but not at The Island School.  We, as you may say, “toughed it out.”  

We had classes all morning, followed by a great lunch prepared by our cooks, and the rain did not let up once. Due to our highly anticipated weekend of homestay we had to hurriedly finish off the remainder of our homework for the next day, which left many students disoriented and stressed.   Community Outreach was all afternoon and getting to hang out with our DCMS buddies helped to boost our moral; however this rain had its say.  Luckily our group of geriatric leaders (a joke around campus, since students are “young leaders”) had another plan in store for us. During advisory time most of the advisories watched movies and took shelter during this perpetual storm Continue reading →

“Our Month-iversary “

September 30, 2010                                    

By Caciques Margaux Burnham and Liam Donovan

Today, as everyone leisurely started the morning exercise, our good friend Tropical Storm Nicole introduced herself to the Island School community. While we had heard news about the storm the night before, we were not fully prepared for its strength. The howling wind accompanied with buckets and sheets of powerful rain came upon us during Run/Swim Tracks. Fortunately, there was no sign of lightening, so we were able to continue. The tired runners were blown sideways with heavy spears of rain darting into their faces. The swimmers were woken up by the sudden frigid water of the Current Cut and the blistering precipitation on the run there.

After the grueling, but fun, morning exercise Continue reading →

“Wait…How Much Time Is Left?”

September 27, 2010

By Caciques Nate Smith-Ide and Hunter Foote

Mondays at the Island School mean we made it through yet another week; we added another notch onto our belt. Entering week five here feels unreal. Our first phone times with parents feels like only two days ago, but at the same time, orientation feels like ages ago. Time is tricky here; it never seems to make sense. What we want to draw out and enjoy, like our favorite classes or Saturday nights, feels like milliseconds. The belt of time is tightening down on us. We don’t have that much time left. It is constantly said in the girls’ dorm, “Don’t count down the days. Make the days count.” Five weeks down, nine short weeks to go. Continue reading →

“A Little ‘Me Time’”

September 25, 2010

by Caciques Gian Paul Graziosi and Perry Leavitt

As the sun rose over the warm land of Eleuthera, the run track team was stretching before the big run.  While run track was preparing for our challenge, the swim track had already started swimming their long swim to triangle-cut. Soon after 6:30, we set off on a 5 mile run, pacing ourselves through the humid rain forests. As we completed the run, many smiled in knowing that they had run more in that one day then they had in their lives.  The practice was a great experience for everyone.

Saturday was filled with new experiences. For the first time each student had Querencia time. This is an allotted period of time where students are encouraged to go off campus and have “me time.” As each student took out their bike and peddled away, Continue reading →

“This Morning’s Yoga”

September 24, 2010

by Caciques Jackson Rafter and Megan Osborn

We were lined up on top of the dinning hall deck looking out over the turquoise water, our eyes were drooping and our yawns were contagious.  Hannah and Brady got us started by motioning to the group to get into child’s pose.  Moving into a sun salutation we stretched our arms up to the orange sky, taking deep slow breathes was a relaxing way to start the day.  The sun was rising behind spectacularly graying clouds and the wind was swirling around us.  There was a full moon low in the morning sky.  The waves were lapping against the rocky shore, calming the atmosphere around our bodies in downward dog.  Continue reading →

[slideshow]

Caciques: Chris Daniell and Taylor Schendel

Today was a busy day on The Island School campus. For our first math class, we headed out to the sandbar a couple miles offshore. Here we applied our math skill to find the distance to the horizon. As Chris was explaining how “ooids” (the sand particles) form, a pod of dolphins swam towards the anchored Continue reading →