Category Archives: Student Update

Another Eleutheran Sunrise

July 8, 2014 teamcomm

Another sunrise, another run swim. It almost seems like we are finally getting into a routine.

After battling the waves and learning how to drain a kayak in the middle of the ocean we were asked the question, “What did today teach you?” My answer would definitely have to be that that strength is not everything and that even the most strenuous activities require more of a soft touch. Kayaking was truly amazing; it allowed us to gain a personal connection with the environment, while learning a new skill. It felt like we were captains of our own mini ships, in full control of our speed and direction.

Even though it’s always fun relaxing at one of the many beaches at school, it was eye-opening to go out and see the settlements of South Eleuthera. We headed straight to the airport, but unfortunately we had arrived there too late: it had already been shut down for a few decades. We learned a lot about South Eleuthera’s tourism decline on the car ride over to our next destination. The blue hole was a sight to see—truly breathtaking.

Everything is becoming more comfortable. Though it is only our sixth day, we already feel like a family.

-Rebecca & John

Daily Update, Student Update

America Pride and SCUBA Certified

July 5, 2014 teamcomm

Breaking the surface of the water, we pulled off our masks and cheered as loudly as we could. K1 and K2 had just received their SCUBA certification! For the past three days, the two groups have worked tirelessly to master all of the required skills to be eligible to graduate to PADI Open Water Divers. Congrats everyone, well, everyone in K1 and K2 that is!

Having performed their final skill, these students are now fully certified divers.

While K1 and K2 were mastering their SCUBA skills, K3 and K4 had the pleasure of having their first class! After a fun filled morning of discussions, K3 and K4 had a first hand go at Querencia, an alone time for individuals to reflect on their experiences so far.

Summer Term students gathered on Boys Dorm Beach for a Fourth of July bonfire.

By evening time, K1, K2, K3 and K4 were finally united again to celebrate the 4^th of July! Armed with cameras, we progressed to the Boy’s Dorm Beach to end the night with a BONDINGfire. Our Island School term warmly welcomed Camden Hills and Ocean Side schools who will joinging us on campus for the next ten days! After a very long photo-shoot, with many blinding flashes, we roasted marshmallows and set off fireworks. #USA

Calling it an early night, we all went to bed tired and excited for a new day!

Your Caciques of the Day,

Celeste and Nick

Daily Update, Student Update

Diving and Thriving

July 5, 2014 teamcomm

8 o’clock never felt so good. Day Four was our first sleep-in of the term, although tons of students opted to run and continue to physically stretch themselves. As the sun grew hotter, K1 and K2 prepared to SCUBA dive and K3 and K4 were off on their down-island and kayak adventures. The five veteran divers were quick to get ready and were eager to embark on yet another thrill ride in the Saddle, while the rest of the novice divers worked diligently on their open-water skills, pushing towards their certification.

After another great day, a delicious dinner and dish-crew a capella, our first Natural History of Marine Ecology class rolled around. The classroom structure was unique and quickly began to teach us the importance of one of the three pillars of the Island School: Developing a Sense of Place. As soon as class commenced, the central theme of asking questions became evident, as Peter hysterically disagreed with all of our answers to his question, “Why do we teach you to breath underwater?” This encouraged us to keep thinking and come to a conclusion as a whole.

Each day continues to help us grow academically and physically, as we learn new and different techniques to enhance our learning experiences. We keep pushing our limits and impressing ourselves everyday by overcoming all of the challenging but compelling obstacles down here on South Eluethera. #FUNINTHESUN

-Evie and Nate

Daily Update, Student Update

Growing Our Sense of Place

July 4, 2014 teamcomm

You cannot forget the first time you look up from the ocean floor and see your bubbles rising quickly to meet the surface. Even though waves and currents affect the surface seen from land, from below, it is a humongous mass of water, which is unhindered by anything but its own ebb and flow. It is surely frightening to be so far removed from the air you are accustomed to breathing, but after a few deep breaths through your tank, you can calm down and start to realize how incredible it is that you are thirty feet underwater.

Today was the first day that we really focused on developing our sense of place here on Eleuthera. One of the “three pillars” here at the Island School is sense of place, and this week during orientation we are focusing on establishing that. Students were divided into K1, K2, K3, and K4 groups that would determine their schedules during orientation week, and throughout the whole week the final goal was to establish sense of place through land, sea surface, and under water. Each day, each group embarks on a different journey in hopes that they will familiarize themselves with the land and the people.

K1 and K2 would spend the next two days focusing solely on scuba diving certification, which aimed to familiarize the students with the ocean and the different species we will study in the coming weeks. To those who have never dived before, it is an incredible experience to view an entirely different world, to forget what land feels like, and to be able to stay underwater longer than you can hold your breath. All of the students, from those who have been already been certified, to those who have spend little time in water, let alone under it, have taken the challenges in stride and have had a great time getting to explore an unfamiliar place.

The down-island trip stopped for a snorkel expedition and this picture was taken looking up from an ocean hole.

K3 embarked on their first down-island trip to visit different spots on South Eleuthera, stopping at different settlements to learn about each one along the way. On their journey, they visited a beach in Deep Creek where they snorkeled and saw a lot of fish and even a few sting rays, they walked through caves that were the home to hundreds of bats, they shopped at a local market, they jumped into “Ocean Hole” in Rock Sound, and they finished off their journey with a local favorite “Papaya cups” that was a delicious popsicle like treat made from fresh local papayas.

K4 set out on a journey to get to know the water from the surface, on a kayaking trip. They went all around Eleuthera, stopping at different beaches, and practicing new skills they would need for their longer kayaking trips in the future. One of the guides, Nick, helped the students build a fire on the beach and rumor has it some students managed to make quesadillas with the fire. All of the students are looking forward to the days to come during orientation.

Your caciques of the day,

Kate Grossman and Will Ryan

Daily Update, Student Update

Into the Water for the First Time

July 3, 2014 teamcomm

Pushing off the sandy ground into the water for the first time, many different emotions raced through my mind. Having grown up in Tanzania, this is my first time in the ocean—and one of the most door-opening experiences I have had so far on my journey here at Island School. With the help of the faculty and the encouragement of all my new friends, I am feeling much more comfortable in the water. My goal is to join everyone else in the run-swims in two weeks, and, even now, I can begin to see that dream come true. Everyone else was able to complete their swimming test, and had their first real taste of what the run-swims will be like. We are all excited to see how far we come on this journey together as a team.

Apart from the swim test, we had our first exploration time. Most of the students biked to the Saddle—a dredged section of the old marina—and got to snorkel around with their buddies for the first time. Looking out into the distance, several students pointed out a spotted eagle ray to each other. As the days continue, we hope to see many more fascinating organisms. There are so many other places to explore, like High Rock and Fourth Hole Beach, and we simply cannot wait to get out there and experience them for ourselves. Island School is already becoming a part of us.

-Emily and Loth

Student Update, Uncategorized

Dr. Seuss Said It Best…

June 27, 2014 teamcomm 2 Comments

…when he said…

The day has arrived.

It is June 12^th which always seemed to be more of a reference to our departure that seemed way off in the distance, is now upon us.

As we sit here in our common room in Boys Dorm, with the clock pushing on 3 in the morning, there lies a thin line between reminiscing over memories and bursting into tears. Morning circle is in two hours, followed by loading up the bus and passing through South Eleuthera one last time. We decided as a dorm to stay awake the entire night; yet just like our 12 year old selves found out at sleepovers, it becomes much more difficult than previously expected.

Whether our eyes are red from sleep deprivation or tears—or maybe a combination of both—our time together is slowly diminishing. It’s sinking in that our semester is coming to a close; the final chapter of our Island School book is ending.

At the same time, it seemed like just yesterday we were only starting that book, with the first pages filled with more questions than anything else. 100 days ago we arrived here, not knowing what we were really getting ourselves into.

This journey was not an easy one.

Each day brought challenges that seemed harder to overcome than the day before. Each workout a little bit longer, each class becoming more in-depth and thought provoking.

All 48 of us have changed, and the best part of this whole experience was doing it together.

We lived, ate, learned, and slept near each other 24/7. At first thought this seems like a recipe for disaster, for that much time together would make us all sick of each other. Instead, the friendships that my peers and I have formed are ones that I wouldn’t trade for the world.

I made a blog post on April 10^th named “Ferris Bueller said it best” in which I described where we stood in our semester, and how we would make the most out of the last 64 days that we had. Those 64 days went by faster than I could ever imagine, and I know my peers feel the same way.

This Island School experience has completely changed our way of living, and now we have to jump back into our previous worlds.

Wherever that may be, it will be without all the members of this community that made our time so special. I know that we will all remember this place forever, and not just through all the Instagram and Facebook posts from the 26 girls from our semester with the hashtag #takemeback.

The Island School has changed the way I view the world around me, as well as how to be a great friend, researcher, student, mentor, and member of a community.

Although the Island School won’t be on my mind all the time moving forward, I know I’ll have a place to thank for making me a better person.

Congrats to the other 47 students who have also experienced this once in a lifetime journey. I know that we will all go on to have amazing futures, as Island School was only the beginning. It is true that 100 days have past, but there are many many more to come.

As Dr. Seuss so famously wrote, “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…”

by Zach McCloskey

Student Update, Uncategorized

By far the best experience of my life

June 4, 2014 teamcomm

On Wednesday my research group, Deepwater, along with the lemon shark research group set out to have our fun field day.

It was our last field day of the entire semester and we were all excited to do something exciting. We all arrive at the boathouse, ready to go when our research advisors tell us we are doing something completely horrible: hand hauling. Now, here is some explanation of what that is. In deepwater research, a series of traps were dropped to depths between 500 and 1200 meters. To haul these traps to the surface, we use an electric pot hauler. But when that breaks, there is 1000+ meters of line to hand haul, and that is what our research advisors told us we were doing on what was supposed to be our fun field day.

We all hop on the boats, two pangas, and begin driving to the oceanic shelf in the Exuma Sound, which is what we use as a proxy for depth in deepwater research. As we drive out, we see our buoys and begin to hand haul. After about 2/3 of the line is hauled and coiled into a bucket, our advisors gather us together and tell us that they in fact did not drop regular traps, they dropped a deepwater scientific long line!! A long line consists of a series of baited hooks (our long line had 29 hooks), which are meant to catch animals such as sharks. Species like a gulper shark and Cuban Dogfish are common deepwater sharks that researchers here have pulled up.

I heard our teachers say that we could go in the water and I immediately leaped in with all the other students. I could see the hooks in the water – nothing so far. I keep staring, hoping that soon I would see something. Jeff, one of our teachers, comes up from a free dive and gives a thumbs up. There is something on the line.

I can slowly see an outline of a shark appearing, getting larger and larger till it reaches the surface and in front of me is a 10+ foot Blunt Nose Six-Gill shark. Right in front of me.

All the students take their cameras to capture this moment.

Our teachers tie the shark to the side of the boat so that it lays half in the water, half out. This was not difficult because the shark is completely disoriented, as it is not in its own habitat. The shark we pulled up is from 760meters deep and being at the surface, or even in shallow waters, confuses all the senses of the shark. In addition, the shark had been hooked for several hours and after being pulled out of its habitat, was extremely stressed. It did not have the drive to fight because all its energy would be primarily placed in trying to protect itself in survival. They begin to take measurements and samples from the shark while all the rest of us sit in the water and watch in amazement. It was the first time any of us, the students that is, had seen a shark anything over 4feet.

I am still in amazement that we caught a blunt nose six gill shark. I was able to see its gills flap in the water, its mouth open to show off its numerous teeth.

The body swaying side to side as Jeff swam it back down and then let it swim free back down to its home of 760meters deep.

I watched it until it disappeared into the navy blue, by which time we all had to hop on the boats and head back to campus.

By far the best experience of my life.

by Julia Forster

Photos by Brendan James

Student Update, Uncategorized

Half Marathon & Super Swim FundRacer!

May 28, 2014 teamcomm

There’s no doubt that one highlight of an Island School semester is the half-marathon and super swim, which gives students and faculty the chance to push themselves to levels of physical extremity that seemed impossible just three months prior.

Our Human Ecology group’s idea was to fundraise for the Cape Eleuthera Foundation, and we decided that we could raise money by giving others a glimpse into the individual stories of 5 athletes training for their big event.

Our group project was aptly named “Fundracer.” A boy and a girl from both the swim and run tracks were selected, as well as a faculty member, who were filmed during exercise and interviewed. Although their experience and athletic abilities vary, it is clear that each athlete has been giving it their all—day in and day out.

Each of the 5 participants are representing a specific branch of the Cape Eleuthera Foundation, which are The Island School, Early Learning Center (ELC), Center for Sustainable Development (CSD), Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI), and the Deep Creek Middle School (DCMS). Whether alum or parent, it is easy to relate and become inspired by the stories of each athlete and the progress that has been made so far.

To donate each cause click here but make sure to specify which cause you’re supporting by leaving the following comment on the Give page: ‘FundRacer: Student/Faculty Name’

Stay tuned in the near future for an update video before the big events. Your support keeps our community thriving; any donation is much appreciated. Thanks for reading & we hope you enjoy our videos!

Thank you from Baylor, Avery and Zach

Student Update, Uncategorized

Spring 2014 Parents Weekend Arrival Video

May 27, 2014 teamcomm

Student Update, Uncategorized

Spring 2014 Parents Weekend!

May 26, 2014 teamcomm

The tables were set and the food was ready, all that was missing were the parents. Sure enough at 5 o’clock sharp cars started rolling into the driveway. Students massed together outside the girls dorm waiting excitedly for their parents to finally arrive and cheering when each student ran and gave their family the much anticipated hug.

The next few hours were spent giving tours of the beautiful campus and showing off the art gallery.

At 6:30 we gather to circle and for the first time as we counted off we were all together and the parents were already learning about life at The Island School.

Dinners with advisory groups followed and at 8 o’clock families were ushered off of campus so that we could prepare for our research presentations the next day.

Thursday morning parents continued to learn about the Island School when they joined their students during morning exercise and either participated in run or swim track.

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Morning exercise was followed by breakfast with our families and then the much anticipated research presentation.

After the presentations we gathered at the flagpole to pose for a parent’s weekend group photo and then geared up for an afternoon filled with student-teacher conferences.

Friday morning we gathered as a group at 6:30 to prepare for a run to High Rock where we watched our families take the jump just like we did at the beginning of the semester.

The day was filled with directors presentations and the opening of The Center for Sustainable Development!

Friday night was highly anticipated as it was the coffee house! Highlights included a rap by Sam, Cole and Max, a father daughter guitar duet and a group sing along lead by Sam’s dad Ernie Parizeau.

Saturday was spent exploring the Island as students led their parents throughout Eleuthera. Many spent there time exploring beaches all around, eating lots of food and enjoying time with their families. And now we are trying to make the most of our 17 days left of the semester. Now that we are in our last academic week, we are starting to look forward to the finals ahead, the half marathon and the super swim, the research symposium and our last few weeks with our best friends.

by Faith, Patrick, Julia, Robin and Boden