by Caciques AJ and Zeke

Today consisted mainly of preparing for our final projects in human ecology and marine ecology class. We had a yoga class in the morning with Bryna, who is visiting yoga instructor from Rhode Island, which helped us work out all the aches and pains we were still carrying from the super swim. Unfortunately the boat house was being used so swim track had to squeeze into the presentation room, although it was tight, all of us had a few laughs watching ourselves try to pretzel our bodies into healing poses. After breakfast, we launched into our first class, human ecology where we worked on our final presentations for our research projects. Then we had our last community meeting, where we also shared our favorite moments here at The Island School, and what were exited for when we go home. Although it was sad to know we only have a week left here, there was an exited vibe coming from the meeting thinking about our new lives we are going to lead back home. After lunch we had a long block of marine ecology in which all 47 of us rotated through stations in all of the classrooms. We started off class by having a harkness discussion on a paper called “To Live with the Sea,” where we talked about an Marine Protected Area in Madagascar and what made it successful. We then talked about how we could implement their methods here in South Eleuthera.  We used the rest of the period working on our final assignments: our No Blue No Green projects. These consist of a 2-3 minute speech addressing these questions: “How is the ocean important? (ecologically, culturally, economically, ect.)”  and, “What is our connection and responsibility to the ocean?” Teschna and Peter were happy to edit our papers during this block and give suggestions so that when we handed them in they were close to perfection. Sad as it may seem, this summed up our Marine Ecology course here at The Island School.

by Cacique Anika

This morning, after waking up at 6:15, we all changed into our athletic shorts and bathing suits, ready to jump in the water or onto the road for round two of the half marathon and super swim. Just kidding! The day began with a light morning exercise. A short run to the marina and 15 minutes of stretching for the swimmers, and a jog around the clubhouse for the runners. After we all devoured a delicious breakfast, we changed into our uniforms for a grueling day of classes.

In English, we read our last pages of Omeros, an epic by Derek Walcott about his home country St. Lucia, and bid goodbye to the characters we had grown so fond of the past few months. I remember the first day I opened the book, and read the starting chapter about canoes, rum, ants, and tourists. I couldn’t make head nor tail of it, and I was convinced that I would never be able to understand, or enjoy the book. Three months later, after discovering the symbolism behind Philoctete’s wound, journeying with Achille to his lost home in Africa, and spending countless classes trying to find out who the father of Helen’s child was, I can’t believe that our experience with Omeros has come to an end. It may have been frustrating trying to annotate difficult passages and identify the complex symbols throughout the epic, but the sense of accomplishment we all agreed we had gained through understanding Omeros is so gratifying.

In math, we scrambled around campus trying to find all the solar energy grids, Continue reading →

by Caciques Anna and Tessa

Today marked the second day of a groundbreaking weekend in our semester. After all of their dedication, all thirty-two swimmers completed the super swim. Sitting in our support boats, we finally realized just how extensive of a feat it was. One by one students hit the turn around boat with a smile on their face, motivated to keep going. Even with current and fatigue in their way, everyone managed to finish in less than four hours. We were so proud to see everyone achieve what seemed impossible.

by Caciques Jack and Lincoln

Today was the last for a lot of things; it was the last exercise before our half-marathon or super swim, the last field day for research and the last day before the half-marathon.  In Aquaculture, we decided that our last field day would be best spent diving–a rare thing because, in ACULT, we never go diving.  For our dive, we went to the Aquaculture cage and the buddy pairs were Emily and Jamie, William and Elliot, and Brian and I (Jack).  As we got into the water we heard Marie shout, “HOLY FISH!”

Confused we looked under the waves to see what deserved this exclamation, what Marie had seen was a school of about 200 yellow tail snappers. The dive itself was uneventful except for two sightings of different grouper that were easily over 300 pounds. On the way back to campus, the weather turned on us and we rode back on eight-foot waves.  All in all it was a great day.

by Caciques Connor and Charlie

Thanksgiving at Island School is different than a Thanksgiving nearly anywhere else. While we know that our friends and family back home are playing backyard football, sipping apple cider, eating turkey, or watching the Lions’ game, we have spent the day swimming and running in preparation for our super-swim and half-marathon this weekend, making positive changes to the Island School community with work done in our Human Ecology final projects, and seeing manta rays while SCUBA-diving to a wreck of an airplane near the Exuma Sound Wall. However, the Thanksgiving spirit was honored during dinnertime when our community came together to enjoy a delicious meal of pork, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, pie, and other traditional dishes. It was very exciting to have Teschna (the Marine Ecology Fellow from New Zealand) join us in her first Thanksgiving ever as well. When we were writing our pass-offs to the new caciques, we wanted to do something special for thanksgiving. Volunteers from girls dorm gratefully decorated the dining hall, and we came up with the idea for everyone to say something they were thankful for during dinner circle. So when dinner circle came, we stood around the flagpole and said what we were thankful for; a common theme among the answers made it clear that we are very thankful to be here.

By Caciques Ian and Harrison (an authentically articulated synopses of the day)

At the first cock’s crow, we had the splendor of an eight AM sleep in; the first light was exceptionally phlegmatic. Subsequent to a palatable cuisine of granola, we basked in the eminence of Human Ecology Class. Some of us notable scholars conducted surveys among residents of the lovely settlement of Rock Sound, while other dignitaries inhaled compressed oxygen from a self-contained breathing apparatus up to 60 feet beneath the surface of an appealing Caribbean sea. The dawn was prodigious.

Henceforth we partook in a ravishing fodder of Tomato soup, grilled cheese, and macaroni. The diving squad jackanapes were significantly tardy.  After all pupils received a sufficient amount of nutriment, half the student body rushed off to midday lessons, while a fraction received the privilege of two hour exploration. Ian for instance, studied the complexities of math and literature, while Harrison had the privilege to accompany the staggeringly statuesque Caleb upon a pursuit of Caribbean Spiny Lobster. The two wrangled up an adequate supper and returned back before Harrison’s presence was requested in class. Whereat the Marine Ecology group went on a breathtaking excursion examining the ruins of a downed airplane, near 80 feet below sea level.

All and all, the day of the 23rd was nonpareil. Come nightfall, all a hungry child was looking forward to the day of thanks and feasting next morrow.

by Caciques James and John

We met at circle at 6:30, not sure what we were about to get ourselves into. The schedule said that rather than morning exercise, we would be a part of a pig slaughter. Nobody knew what to expect as we made our way towards the farm. When we got there all we saw was a massive barrel of water sitting over a fire pit. It was a quiet, eerie feeling, as people whispered to each other about what was to come. Joseph led the pig into a separate kennel and shot it in the head. Everybody was given an opportunity to participate in cleaning and preparing the pig for our Thanksgiving feast. John and I took part in skinning the pig to get it ready for butchering. It was a powerful experience for everybody. This event really put into perspective where our food comes from and helped us understand the effort that goes into getting meat on our plates. I have a greater respect for my food now that I have witnessed this moving event.