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Run Track Reflection

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“Run Track Just Like That!”

by Hunter Foote

Through reflection and just everyday life here, I’m learning so many valuable things about myself. I’m a “spontaneous motivator.” I work well after a good cry. I love conch. I am a good dorm mama. But also, I’ve been learning that I’m exponentially stronger than I thought I was.

At the beginning of the semester we had our first run-swim. We ran a maximum of 200 meters, then swam for a maximum of 30 over and over again. It’s one of the nicest exercises here because once your legs get tired from swimming, it’s right about time to jump back in the water. And, when your arms get tired of swimming, you’re almost about to transition back to land. As soon as I started out on the swim, I felt strong. I quickly and easily got into a rhythm. While one arm swings over my head, reaching as far as possible, the other arm is stretched out into the water, trying to pull at as much water towards me as possible. I quickly passed the people swimming around me.

But then, my juggernaut-like momentum came suddenly to a halt Continue reading →

Cacique Update, Uncategorized

Cacique Update October 21, 2010

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 Scouting the Schooner Cays:

by Caciques Jack Devries and Louise Shiverick

 [slideshow]

This morning we woke up to a dark morning, and gathered in the boathouse to go FREE DIVING for morning exercise. After a rainy boat ride, we  flipped back  into the water at Chub point.  All of a sudden, we heard Meaghan shouting excitedly about a double rainbow emerging from the cloudy sky. It was an incredible sight. After scrumptious breakfast, we embarked on out journey to the Schooner Cays for a day of math under the sun. As it turned out it, it was extremely cloudy all day and the sand flies were horrendous, but we escaped their itching by fleeing into the water with our sextants. We use sextants to measure the angle between the horizon line and the sun. Our goal for the day was to have 150 readings for each pair of students, but because of the uncooperative weather, most only came out with 50. Even though we couldn’t see the sun, it turned out to be a day full of shining experiences.

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Fritter Sleeping Places

Photo courtesy of John Subranni

Mail day.  It can strike any day of the week, any week, at any time.  Delivery is arbitrary and not at all related to the date it was sent.  The package your mom sent filled with the latest issues of TeenBop and Vogue will most definitely get here faster than the one with the retainer, underwater camera, and headlamp you left at home.  Students and staff alike anxiously await the day that letters and boxes Continue reading →

Cacique Update

Cacique Update October 20, 2010

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“The Fruits of our Labors”

by Caciques Augie and Aly

[slideshow]

Today was Legacy Day. It is one day of the semester where we as young leaders leave our mark on campus. It involves hard labor, sweat and teamwork, fueled by the internal flame of love of our community that burns in all of our souls. We all worked together to plant trees, build trellises, thatched walls, garden beds, and a better community. Continue reading →

Cacique Update

Cacique Update October 19, 2010

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“Hitting Halfway”

by Caciques Clay Bales and Hunter Foote

Today was a big mile marker for the community. We hit day 50 of 100. For those of us on our 8-day academic rotation, it felt wrong celebrating with only half of our Island School community. The 23 of us here are missing our other halves on kayak and Down Island trips.

As caciques, we wanted to make hitting 50 a special day. At the same time that we feel we’ve been here forever because of the friendships we’ve made, it feels like we haven’t been here for long at all. At dinner circle, we had the community go around and say one word that describes their past 50 days here: change, growth, gnarly, adventure, and too short, were all words that came up. We then had the community go back around and share one word that describes their anticipation for the upcoming 50 days. We heard words like: possibilities, endurance, half marathon, solo, Down Island, and kayak. Continue reading →

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My Own Astonishment

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When I am reading for enjoyment, not for study, I have precarious and inefficient shorthand for my experience as a reader.  I draw smiley faces next to things that make me smile.  I underline things that I think my future self will want to go back and find.  I draw stars next to other things, though I have yet to figure out just why I do this; stars are pure impulse.  I draw stars out of whimsy. I am just imagining how shocked my students would be if they only knew the woman responsible for allocating their annotation grades, marked her own texts like this. As I rummage through pages of amateurish annotation, looking for inspiration, I come upon this line, glad that I underlined for my future self, me now, to stumble back upon:

“You were made and set here to give voice to this, your own astonishment,” –Annie Dillard

And I begin to think about my own astonishment and I begin to think that this might be an incredible way to explain what it is like to teach and live here.  And I begin to think about recent moments where I found myself completely immersed in awe, big eyed, and astounded…

As a teacher at The Island School, I was made and set here to give voice to this: Continue reading →

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Bein’ Green

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Yesterday The Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) and The Ministry of Tourism organized a ceremony to recognize Deep Creek Middle School’s achievement of Green Flag certification.  Green Flag Certification is an international recognition, which is awarded to eco-friendly schools committed to environmental education and performance.

During the ceremony, Hyacinth Winder Pratt, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, congratulated the students for being a game changer as the first school in The Bahamas and the region to receive such an honor. She also recognized their commitment as an important contribution to preserving The Bahamas’ number one draw for tourism, the beautiful beaches, clean water, and environment. She went on to encourage the students to promise that they would get their parents, neighbors, and friends involved with promoting sustainability.

Also in attendance for the ceremony was Director of Sustainable Tourism, Earlston McPhee. “It is a great milestone that you’ve achieved. A small school of this size is setting the pace for the rest of the English speaking Caribbean,” said McPhee.

The DCMS Eco-Club led the school on its journey to receive the Green Flag with pilot projects like the creation of a recycling center where students recycled Capri Sun pouches, plastic bottles, and aluminum cans. The Eco-club also imposed a fine of 50 cent to those students who use styrofoam containers in an effort to eliminate their use and installed fan and light timers to reduce electricity consumption. Continue reading →

Cacique Update

Cacique Update October 18, 2010

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“A Smaller Community” 

by Caciques Ellen Doughty & Jackson Rafter

Our morning began with a regrettable goodbye to half of our loved community as K1 and K2 bravely departed on either their Kayak or Down Island Trips. We wished them safe journeys and anticipate their return. On the other hand, we know that the events ahead of us will bring new relationships and experiences for everyone, in addition to wonderful stories when we our entire community is reunited. We joined together under the moon at morning circle and those of us who are staying on campus for our academic week began a new rotation of chores, before morning exercise as we waved goodbye to our friends. Throughout the day, the small group of 24 really focused on how a temporary smaller community can impact Continue reading →