Editor’s note: My apologies.  Occasionally blogs slip through the radar and a missing blog update goes unnoticed, for days, maybe even weeks.  So, I bring you this better-late-than-never Cacique Update from March 11th. Enjoy.

by Caciques Austin and Izza

The Island School Community was reunited again today after a three day separation while half the students were on their Kayak trip.   Their return to campus was full of excitement and anticipation, as their three day absence seemed to last a week.  Many came back calling Island School home, while the students that remained on campus welcomed them back as family. Continue reading →

“Our Potential”

By Caciques Nick M and Hannah J

The ability to accept others can truly test just how well a community has grown together. As our small population grows into a larger foundation, we understand how to accept people into our way of life. Our horizons have been widened as we experience the dedication to The Island School cause that exists outside our small community. Talking to Kearney, an Island School alumnae from Lawrenceville (S.10), about how she has translated her Island School education into her daily and academic life at home, our perspective of the numerous applications of our ideas from The Island School made us realize our potential. With the arrival of new faces and ideas for the Educational Leadership Conference this weekend, Continue reading →

“Above and Below Water”

by Cacques Ellie Cutchin and Jack Kempner

With Peter leading the way, my Marine Ecology class cautiously entered a tunnel that lead from one side of the large patch reef, Cathedral Rock, to the other. I was amazed at all of the unique organisms that were tucked away within the cracks. There were red squirrelfish with their gaping eyes, delicate purple and yellow fairy basslets, and dark, living coral all around. I loved seeing how, around the outside of the tunnel, there were fish swimming freely everywhere, while the ones in the tunnel were tucked away in little pockets of the coral. The immense beauty of where I entered caused me to forget about the claustrophobic thoughts of the encompassing rock, and explore the new perspective. As I flipped over face-up, I was astonished to see the bubbles from my own air float up and form into silvery film, trapped above me on the rock. Continue reading →

“The First Run-Track”

by Caciques Damian and Elizabeth

The sun had just risen and more than half of the students were participating in the dynamic warm up that involved strenuous lunges, rapid leg lifts, and constant laps around the campus. This morning would be the first of our vigorous training that would soon lead to a half-marathon run at the end of the semester. After a quick jog over to the marina, our buddy sprint relay began. Still half asleep, the first group of buddies slowly but surely lined up on the “Big” bridge ready to sprint to the “Little” bridge and back. The first group took off! Continue reading →

“Good Morning!”

By Caciques Eliza Hazen and Tony VanGessel

Waking up this morning was one of the hardest things I have done as a student here at The Island School. As Cacique I had to wake up at 6:15, which is ten minutes earlier than usual; we typically have to arrive at morning circle at 630, but this morning, I had to raise the flag at 6:20. As you can tell, there is not a lot of preparation that goes into arriving at morning circle, especially in the boys dorm. Eight different alarms go off at around 6:20, someone inevitably yells “shut that thing off”, and no one gets out of bed until 5 minutes after that. Then they rush out of bed, throw some shorts and a shirt on and run out to circle to avoid doing pushups.

Now I did not want to get up this morning, the wind was blowing incredibly hard, and it was extremely cold (65 degrees). Continue reading →

by Caciques JP Ferro and Annie Morris

Whether it was reflecting on our lives at sunset beach, snorkeling at 4^th hole, or simply picking tropical fruit in the inner loop, this Sunday was a personal and relaxing day off for all of the Island School students. Sleeping in was a great way to recover from our daily exercises and busy schedule. The boys started the day off with a bowl of granola followed by a deep clean of their dorm. The girls started off their day with the same breakfast and a couple hours of productive studies before circling up for brunch. Following brunch, a majority of the students left campus to explore. We, Annie and JP, both enjoyed soaking up the sun at sunset beach surrounded by our peers; this was a moment that I felt that everyone had connected with each other. Continue reading →

By Caciques Hannah and Nic

Anticipation rushed through all 48 students as we jumped off of the bus in Tarpum Bay for our very first “Settlement Day” an essential kind of field trip that we will have throughout the semester for our Histories class. No one knew what to expect as we headed into a day full of Bahamian people and food, as well as new experiences. The sun was high in the sky as we descended upon the farmers market, a smell of freshly fried chicken and conch fritters in the air. Continue reading →