GAP Program Update #1
by Philip Beardsley
Back down to paradise…this time, not as an Island School student, rather as a Gap Year student! The first 10 days or so down here have far exceeded my expectations. As anticipated, there was a warm welcome for us all at the Rock Sound Airport – what better way to embark on such a journey? Being that there are only three Gap Year students, we have gotten to spend a lot of time with the other interns, which has been very enjoyable.
The week started off with a few days of orientation followed by a trip down island. The Down Island Trip was truly amazing – it was a great way to get a sense of the general vibe on Eleuthera Continue reading
AML Foods Presents Check to BESS Program
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To mark their continued relationship of support, AML Foods, through their Solomon’s Fresh Market Brand presented the Bahamas Environmental Steward Scholar program (BESS) with a $5,000 donation. Renea Knowles, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for AML Foods, presented the check to a grateful group of scholarship award recipients and partners, which included Franchesca Bethell and Cristina Roberts 2012 BESS students Trueranda Cox, (BESS alumnae 2010), Garneisha Pinder (BESS alumnae 2010), Charlene Carey, Environmental Educator at BREEF, and Kalin Griffin, Chief of Staff at The Island School.
Solomon’s Fresh Market demonstrates its dedication to fostering Continue reading
The Fall 2012 Semester Has Officially Begun!
Yesterday, 47 students of the Fall 2012 semester traveled from far and wide to begin their journey at The Island School. Here they are at their very first dinner circle. It’s going to be a great semester!
Camden Hills Regional High School’s Week on Eleuthera
Hello everyone,
Camilla, Cole, and Rebecca here, reporting from Camden Hills Regional High School in Rockport, ME. These past ten days, we were lucky enough to be a part of a twelve-student research group who went down to The Island School to work with professional scientists on specified topics of interest. Broken into three four-person groups, we developed and executed our own methodologies in order to collect data.
Field work was a major part of our experience. Spending three full days in the field, principle investigators helped us in conducting field research, analyzing data sets, and synthesizing a presentation which was then given orally to the rest of the group and Island School staff. From snorkel transects off the coast of the Schooner Keys to seine net corralling in jellyfish-infested mangroves, swimming with sharks to tagging sea turtles, we learned both the principles of research and how to have fun conducting it.
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Aside from research, we were exposed to many other quintessential Island School activities. Each morning, we started off the day with Continue reading
Alumni Spotlight: Francesca Forrestal (F’99)!
Fall 1999 alumna, Francesca Forrestal is a research assistant with ISSF and a PhD student at the Rosensteil School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at University of Miami in the Marine Biology and Fisheries Division. She recently wrote and published an article on the ecological effects of farming blue fin tuna as part of her research on ecosystem effects of bycatch in tuna fisheries. Be sure to read the full article here! Congratulations, Francesca!
Welcoming Chris Brown and the Golden Knights Back to The Bahamas!
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This past Wednesday South Eleuthera hosted a homecoming for local hero, and Olympic Gold medalist Chris Brown, and his three teammates, Demetrius Pinder, Michael Mathieu and Ramon Miller. The four men, nicknamed “The Golden Knights” toured Eleuthera starting early in the morning in North Eleuthera and worked their way up the island before reaching Weymss’ Bight park for a ceremony and celebration in their honor.
For The Bahamas, the gold medal was their first in the 4×400 relay race, with the four quarter-milers finishing ahead of the United States, covering the mile in just over three and a half minutes. The ceremony was emceed by The Island School’s own Danielle Gibson, with presentations by Kalin Griffin and others, followed by performances including the Rum Runners.
After the official programme, the athletes availed themselves to supporters by signing autographs, posing for photos, and discussing their memorable triumph. Thanks to the Golden Knights for allowing some Island School, DCMS, and CEI folks to pose for their own “golden” moments.
First Day of Summer Bridge at DCMS
School started this morning for Deep Creek Middle School seventh graders. 14 new students showed up in their starched uniforms, shy but ready for the changes of a new school. DCMS brings in grade sevens for a two week summer bridge program to help them get oriented to the school, teachers and their classmates. We spend time teaching them the core values, expectations for community behavior, how to do chores, basic organizational skills and how to participate in community meeting. Teachers also give introductions to their classes and the session culminates with their first field trip and swimming lesson at Wemyss Bight Beach. School for grade 8 and 9 starts on September 3rd.
Deep Creek Middle School was opened by The Island School in 2001 as a way to give back educational opportunities to the local community. Check out our webpage at www.dcmsbahamas.org to learn more.
Sterling Wright (SP’12) Wins Bike Race in Nevada
Last weekend, Spring 2012 alumnus Sterling Wright participated in the 7th annual Lamoille Hill Climb in Lamoille Canyon, Nevada. It is a grueling race that climbs 3,000 feet over the 12-mile course. Sterling not only completed this difficult ride, but also finished in first place! Unlike the other cyclists who wore skin-tight biking shorts, Sterling chose to wear a pair of loose swim trunks and an over-sized Island School bike jersey that had belonged to an Island School faculty member worn during the Ride for Hope that occurred during Sterling’s semester. Congratulations Sterling! Your athletic feats never cease to amaze us. You can read more about Sterling’s race here!
Shark Week and Flats Week at CEI
Early Monday morning Shark & Flats week were off after a busy camp exploring the mangrove flats ecosystem in South Eleuthera.
The flats week students not only worked alongside our Flats researchers all through the week, but also had the opportunity to go bonefishing with some of the local fishermen of Rock Sound and Savannah Sound. In doing this, they got a taste of some of the local ideas in conservation of the mangrove flats ecosystem and protection of bonefish as well as other species that spend all or just part of their life there.
The Shark week students spent a good amount of time in the field setting longlines and drum lines for juvenile lemon sharks and their predators. They were very successful in tagging and recapture of juvenile lemons, having caught 7 in one day at a nearby creek. They were also able to use their findings to relate to other juvenile lemon shark studies from the Bimini Biological Field Station.
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On the last day, both shark and flats presented to their fellow campers and Continue reading