We began the day with morning circle at 6:30am. The sun was shining brightly and the wind was blowing strong. When all 33 of us who weren’t on the tourism and development road trip were done singing the national anthem, we gathered together on the dock near the boat house to start our mile swim to the pole. One by one we all jumped in the warm water instantly we began freestyling to the pole. Some were slower than others. Me (Sahara), was one of the slow ones, while Abraham was in a swimming class because of his little experience with swimming. But he is getting better! When it hit around 7:15am, the teachers told us to swim back. This was pretty difficult because we had to swim against the current. Once again, some took longer than others but we all arrived back at the school at 7:35am. After the workout everyone began their daily chores. When all the chores where done at 8:00am all the students started their personal space in there dorms. At 8:15 am everyone lines up for breakfast but since our group, the Saber Tooth Blennies, was on dish crew we had to arrive at the dining hall at 8:00am to set up the dishes. When breakfast was over at 9:15am, the students split up into two groups; the marine ecology class and the food class.

In the food class, we studied about permaculture, a self-sustaining farming system. Following our introduction to permaculture, we went to the farm where we observed and noted down the self-sustaining methods in the farm. We also got the chance to make a heap of compost. Each of us was assign to a site to analyze the plot and re-design it based on what we had learned within the week.
It seems like yesterday we all unpacked our bags to begin are journey here at the Island School but now it’s quickly coming to a close. Everyone including those who had no experience with swimming before coming to the Island school, is training and looking forward to the “monster run- swim”, where we will do a four mile run and one mile swim on Sunday the 27th.To those who are nervous- don’t be! We know you can do it!

The Caciques of the Day,

Sahara Lewis and Abraham Martey

Yesterday marked our last day off before our parents arrive and our final academic rotation begins. For all of us still here on campus, we slept in as late as our bodies would allow us, which for most of us wasn’t past 7:30 AM. However, one group woke up in a bit of a different setting…on their 24-hour solo on the beach. Everyone returned happy and well in the morning from their solos and the rest of campus was very excited to welcome them back after their long-anticipated arrival. Even on our days off at the Island School, the whole student body is always busy, never wasting a minute of our time here. Some of us searched the exploration grounds for the famous “Banyan Tree,” others relaxed at the beach, and a group even went to the nearby town Deep Creek with Peter for a game of basketball. After dinner, we congregated for the usual 7:15 PM night class, but this was no ordinary class. Whit and Nick took us to the boathouse to teach us a few swing dancing moves! No matter how experienced we were, we all managed to learn some of the motions and have a laugh while doing so. We all got our energy out and slipped right back into the academic mindset for study hours to prepare for the busy week that lies ahead.

Our campus is full of mixed emotions as we get underway with this week—we are all eagerly anticipating the arrival of our parents, but we are also sad to see our time here coming to a close. I think we are all surprised by how close we have become in just three weeks and the thought of leaving each other is unnerving. However, our fellow student Emily Jenkins reminded us this morning at Morning Circle to make the most out of it and recited a quote to us: “Don’t count the time, make the time count.” This quote encourages us enter this week with the best attitude possible, because we have so much more to look forward to. We still have another week of classes, the Monster Run-Swim, and Parents Weekend to take on with full force.

Your Caciques,

Hope Tierney and Jenson Meeker

As the sun rose yesterday morning, anxious kids climbed out of their beds and feared the morning ahead. What kids would be doing in twenty minutes time would be the longest morning exercise they have seen this summer. It consisted of a two- mile run to High Rock, a quarter mile swim to 4^th Hole and a drenched mile and a half run back to the flagpole. This was a challenge even for the most athletic kids. Although everyone was exhausted from the course, people still cheered their classmates on with enthusiasm until everyone finished.

The energy was high at breakfast, which set a positive tone for a full day of research. Seventeen kids were split up into three groups: Lemon Shark, Stingrays, and Deep Sea. The Lemon Shark group went out into the artificial mangrove and collected two tagged lemon sharks to study at CEI. In the afternoon they ran a swim tunnel test on the sharks to see how they respond to stress. The Stingray group spent the morning catching rays at the Saddle where we were able to catch five Yellow Stingrays. From there, we pumped saltwater into their stomachs to see the contents inside. They were able to find shrimp, worms, and crabs in the Stingrays stomach and digestive system. The Deep Sea group set out early to extract isopods from 1,500 meters. They extracted DNA to differentiate the species from one another. Yesterday was a prime example of all of the opportunities The Island School has to offer for their students. We have ten days left, let’s make the most of it and continue to push ourselves to the limit!

Your Caciques for the day,

Margot Painter and John Rauen

Waking to another gorgeous Bahamian sunrise, we gathered at the flagpole to prepare for… The pole swim. After tightening our goggles and stretching to loosen our muscles, we dove off the dock into the turquoise seas. The mile swim deemed quite challenging for many swimmers as we struggled to freestyle against the current. After everyone reached the docks, we were all rewarded with muscle soreness, salty skin, and a delicious breakfast. The down island trip was greatly missed at the swim.

In the marine ecology group, we designed a “video game” called Coral of Duty: Polyp Revenge. We discovered how Brad Polyp and Algaelina Jolie worked together to save the ocean reefs with their children, zoo zoos and nee nees. We also went on an extravagant dive to get a close look at the varieties of Bahamian coral on Tunnel Rock. We were all amazed at all of our unique patch reefs with abundance of cool biodiversity.

After reflecting on our time underwater, we were able to realize that we must protect the reefs, especially the corals that offer so much to the underwater ecosystem. We completed a long night of homework and quickly fell asleep after a tiring yet exciting day.

Your Caciques,

Will and Margo

As the sun began to rise above the boathouse, we boarded Red Rising and set out for a free diving excursion at Tunnel Rock. Swimming down 40 feet beneath the surface, we explored the underwater world. There was so much to be seen on this reef, from schools of Bar Jacks, swimming to and fro, to Stoplight Parrotfish, munching on algae. We broke the surface of the water, leaving that world behind as we prepared for the long Island School day ahead of us.

For the third day in a row, campus felt empty without our friends on the down island trip, yet we powered through the exciting and packed day ahead of us. The Food Systems group spent the morning at Edrin’s farm, a 6oo acre two-man operation, and the Marine Ecology group spent the morning diligently working in class and preparing for their afternoon dive. In the afternoon, some explored the island by land, at Joseph’s slash-and-burn farm, while others explored the ecosystems in each of their patch reefs on ocean floor. As our second academic week comes to a close, we are shocked by the amount of time that we have passed together, and sad at the prospect of the dwindling days remaining, but excited to show our parents the island that we have come to call home.

Your Caciques,

Madeline Doten and Emily Arnold

After almost a week long without everyone at the Island School, the Flying Gurnards group was finally able to join the rest of the school and enjoy the much needed day-off. The group had just returned from their 24-hour solo in which they were spread out along the beach and had no interaction with other humans for an entire day. I spent my day reflecting on my down island experience as well as singing, building sandcastles, attempting to make a shelter, and napping in the soft sand. It was an amazing experience until the skies opened up and everyone got drenched. Although people woke up with soggy sleeping bags, after the solo experience we all shared a laugh as stories were exchanged about everyones adventures and activities during the 24 hours.

The second day-off of the summer term proved to be a great day to get out and explore. Groups of students could have been found all over the cape seeing what this place has to offer. The activities included, cave exploration at High Rock, free diving at the Saddle, soccer games at boys dorm beach and much more. A group headed out to find the fabled Banyan Tree and discovered it deep in the inner-loop. After a morning shower, people went swimming and relaxed on the beach. The day was enjoyable as it was nice to catch up with the people who had been gone all week and hear stories of solos and the trip.

With only 14 days left of the summer term, students are looking to accomplish all they can in the closing two weeks. Tomorrow brings the start of a new rotation of classes and even more experiences are yet to come.

Your latest caciques,

Serene and Alden

Yesterday we woke up to a special occasion, swim class and campus sprints! As the days go by and we continue to get stronger, the morning work-outs continue to get harder in preparation for the monster run-swim. After a tiring work out we all went to chores, and then to breakfast. The dining hall was filled with talk of the departure of sixteen students about to embark on their much anticipated solo experience. Once the students left to be alone for twenty-four hours the campus became much more quiet.

The students of marine ecology and food systems remained on campus to attend their last class of the first academic week, although we were sad to already have finished our first rotation we are extremely excited for the next two weeks to come.

To finish off the day, we used up all of our energy in extreme excitement for a late night. The evening activity? A bonfire and wading for bio-luminescents! The night began at eight thirty when the students gathered around the flagpole to head to boys dorm beach. Loth and Abraham first showed all of us who sat around the fire how to make a fire, and then the scary stories started. After a quick game of “tiger uppercut” in the water, we all headed in out of exhaustion. As always, the late night was a wonderful bonding experience and a great way to end the long day.

Your caciques from the day,

Neely and Kaven

At the start of the second day during our first academic week, the students ran to a beach location called The Saddle. From there, they swam parallel to the shoreline all the way to Sunset Beach and finished the morning exercise with the typical run-swim through the cuts. Though the run-swim was a bit more difficult this time around, it has only gotten easier as the days go by that the students train for the semester’s monster run swim at the beginning of parent’s weekend.

The dining hall seemed strangely empty as Tourism and Development had left the day before for their four day Down Island Trip to the northern tip of Eleuthera. The Marine Ecology group began their individual research in their own personal patch reefs, studying fishes and coral in their isolated communities. As these activities were happening, Food Systems was touring the school’s own personal farm, learning about a few plants and animals seen along the way.

The night was topped off with a great presentation from a woman named Mackey who works at the Cape Eleuthera Institute next door. The students sat entranced as they learned more about the deep sea and what they might be able to learn in their time here. After this quick presentation, it was off to study hours and preparation for the day to come!

~Greer and Adrian

Yesterday we woke up early to the rising sun and a 6:30 breakfast. We had to push off early for deep sea research, which was about a 35 minute boat ride to get to. Deep Ocean isn’t exactly right off the shore, so we had to go through a rough and rainy boat ride to arrive to our destination. Upon our arrival, we spent two and a half hours pulling up two ropes from about 5,000 feet underwater. Although tired and feeling slightly sea sick, a few members of the crew finally reeled in about 40 isopods (picture a 2 foot underwater pill bug). It was so fascinating holding critters from 5,000 feet under the water in our hands. While on the boat, we also got to free dive the 90 foot wall and the deep, vast, blue ocean. The contrast between free diving in those two settings was unbelievable, and each one was moving in a different way. It was definitely worth waking up early for.

For Marine Ecology, yesterday was a wonderful yet semi-tragic day. We were disheartened to realize that this would be the last time we would view our little patch reefs that we spent all week studying. I had become so attached to mine I even named it (Patchy if you’re wondering.) However, as we had studied different fish species and their biology we were eager to test out our knowledge in the field. Scuba diving has always been an awesome activity for the students here and we thoroughly enjoyed our final dive. Some of us were delighted to realize that the fish ID’s, that we had struggled so much with the night before, were allowing us to correctly identify the denizens of our reefs. Waving a fond farewell to our clumps of coral and sponges we ascended with plenty of information to write our Field Notes. These are basically a way to put down what we learned from our reefs into writing that are enjoyable to read. Upon our arrival at the Boathouse, we were delighted to find that our buddies from Tourism and Development had all returned. Hugs were exchanged and we all realized how much we really missed each other. During advisory time, spirits were higher than ever since the whole campus was finally reunited (even if only for a few days.) However, today these students leave us once again to embark on their solo experience and we wish them the best of luck.

Your Caciques,

Caroline and Nico