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STUDENT HANDBOOK
This handbook is designed to outline the rules and policies of The Island School and to introduce students and parents to life at the School. The Island School community depends on the pillars of respect, responsibility, integrity and trust. Students are trained to act responsibly in a wilderness environment and to care for each other as a community. Safety is a priority for everyone at the School. The semester program is comprised of three major parts: 1) the academic program, 2) community outreach, and 3) outdoor education.
WHAT IS THE ISLAND SCHOOL ? The Island School is a 14 week semester program for high school sophomores and juniors on the island of Eleuthera in The Bahamas. The program began in March of 1999 when The Lawrenceville School supported a pilot program for 20 students. The Island School began accepting students from all schools in the fall of 1999. The academic program includes Elements of Ecology, Literature of the Sea, Mathematics, Land and Environmental Art, History of The Bahamas , and hands-on field research in the environment. The traditional coursework is augmented by outdoor education including SCUBA diving and sea kayak expeditions. Additionally, through the community outreach program, students become teachers to primary school children in the local Bahamian schools. Approximately 40 students live at The Island School campus in open-bay dormitory buildings. They learn to negotiate close community living with responsibility for clean- up and campus duties. Life at The Island School is fast paced and rigorous. Through academic, social and physical challenges, students discover much about themselves, each other, and the remote, beautiful place in which they live.
ACADEMIC PROGRAM The educational philosophy of The Island School is based on students asking and answering their own questions. Such a style allows for growth and maturation, presses students to apply specific skills they are learning in the classroom to solve problems, and helps develop a tolerance for uncertainty while preparing students for the rigors of college. The academic program at The Island School is skill-based: students are graded in the areas of Organization, Listening and Speaking, Reading, Writing and Reasoning. More information about this system can be found in the “assessment” section of this handbook. The Island School offers a high school credit in each Elements of Ecology (science ), Research (science), Literature of the Sea (English), Mathematics, History of The Bahamas (history), and Land and Environmental Art (studio art) . A pass/fail grade is given in Physical Education and Community Service. Students earn approximately 30 hours of community service credit. Sending schools traditionally preview The Island School curriculum to help students plan their overall course of study to meet their own graduation requirements. Language instruction is not offered at The Island School. Sending schools commonly review work completed at The Island School when students return from their semester away. Responsibility lies with the student to follow through with course work s/he may miss while attending The Island School. Orientation — The first seven days at The Island School are spent introducing students to their surroundings. Orientation also includes safety briefings and discussions of general rules and practices. Students meet their advisors and attend abbreviated classes in all subject areas. Academic Honesty — Individual integrity is essential to a successful community. Academic honesty is particularly important in a school community. Cheating and plagiarism represent two forms of academic dishonesty that will not be tolerated at The Island School and can result in dismissal of a student. We often do group work on projects and research in which students collaborate and share results. In these cases it is expected that all members of the group will cooperate and take an equal and fair role in the completion of given challenges. Advising and Student Support — Each student is assigned a faculty advisor. The advisor serves as a point person for academic concerns and monitors overall student progress at school. If an issue arises, the advisor works in concert with the Dean of Students, the student and the student’s parents to bring about positive change. All advisors have three or four advisees. In a small community such as ours, it is easy to find a number of resources to assist students with academic or other concerns. Time is allotted in the weekly schedule for meetings with the faculty advisor. This faculty advisor is also responsible for providing a written report on the student’s progress at mid-semester and semester end. There is always a faculty member trained in crisis/medical emergency management present on campus to supervise students and grant permissions. Assessment — The Island School uses a skill-based assessment system focused on students acquiring fundamental tools that can be applied to all subjects and disciplines. The cross-disciplinary skills assessed throughout the term are Organization, Listening and Speaking, Reading, Writing and Reasoning. A standard A, B, C, D, F grading system with pluses and minuses is used. Our use of this skill-based system of teaching and assessment allows us to give more detailed and focused feedback than traditional systems. Approximately seven weeks into the semester students receive progress reports and written comments from their teachers and advisor. Progress reports are also sent home directly following student teacher conferences. Final grades, which are sent to parents and sending schools, arrive approximately two weeks after the completion of the semester or after all financial obligations have been met. Standardized Testing — Although it is possible to take standardized tests at The Island School, we recommend students take these tests before or after their Island School semester . The ETS testing center nearest our campus is Windermere High School (test center code 800090), approximately one hour away. Windermere High School follows the international testing schedule and does not offer tests on every ETS testing date. Students must notify our office if they are interested in taking an AP or standardized test as soon as they determine which tests they will need. Students should not plan to take more than one test while at The Island School. Students wishing to take the SAT must register with ETS before arriving at the School. It is possible to register online and find out dates at http://www.ETS.org. We will register students for AP tests although you must notify us in writing as to exactly which test you would like to take. Additionally, we will register all fall semester students for the PSAT. The ACT’s are not offered on Eleuthera. Please avoid test dates later in the semester as they may conflict with final science and history presentations. Schedule — The daily schedule at The Island School changes often. On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday mornings all students participate in morning exercise. At The Island School, we start our day as a community, exercising together, staff and students alike. We find that this activity helps jump-start the day, waking our minds as much as our bodies, and allows more time later for work, play and reflection. Exercises vary daily, building endurance, strength, and confidence in a variety of activities. We do not expect everyone to be an expert in such activities, only that they try their hardest and support their peers. Following morning exercise students do campus chores, which can entail anything from watering the plants, to cleaning the bathrooms in the dorm. Chores are followed by time to organize personal space and clean up before breakfast. Advisor groups take responsibility for delivering and busing food, doing dishes, and general clean-up on a rotational basis. Students can expect to be “on duty” about once every five days. Classes are held throughout the morning and afternoon. Students have “free time” from the end of classes until dinner, usually 4:15 - 6:00 PM. Occasionally classes will meet in the evening. At 6:00 PM the entire community gathers for dinner circle at which time we share announcements, reflect on the day, and appoint the next day’s student leader. The student leader, or “cacique”, works with the faculty member on duty to ensure that the community stays on task throughout the day. Teachers are readily accessible for consultation or extra help throughout the day and evening hours. Wednesdays are dedicated to SCUBA diving and Community Outreach; while Sundays are "sleep-in" days when students can catch-up on sleep or work. Saturday afternoons and Sundays provide time for recreation, work, or relaxation. Some students and faculty choose to attend local church services Sunday mornings. Study Hours — Study hours are from 7:00 - 10:00 PM Sunday through Friday. It is expected that the atmosphere throughout campus during study hours remain conducive to productive study. The library and classroom space are open until check-in for quiet study and group work respectively, and dormitory space is available for quiet, single gender study. The dining hall is open for study breaks and snacks during these hours. Students are expected to take responsibility for managing their own time with the guidance of their advisor. Students check in to their dorms at 10:00 PM, at which time they may continue quiet study in the common room. All lights are out at 10:30 PM.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH / HOMESTAYS Students spend approximately 30 hours working with primary school children during the course of the term. Activities with the local children include instruction on the use of technology and computers and teaching about the local environment. Time is also spent informing local people about conservation and stewardship of the sea and coastal areas and learning from their perspectives and priorities. All students enjoy home-stays with families in the local community for a more intimate connection to their temporary island home. Students spend a day with this family and then an entire weekend immersed in the local culture.
EXPEDITIONS / OUTDOOR EDUCATION Extensive policies and procedures regarding wilderness and marine safety are covered during orientation. All students learn wilderness first aid skills, CPR, and emergency oxygen administration. Emphasis is placed on developing sound judgment and decision-making skills necessary to life in a remote setting. Several times throughout the semester student groups travel away from campus for various academic reasons. History classes travel to archeological sites around the island, while research groups travel to various sites to gather information. Additionally, students participate in two sea-kayaking expeditions, one for four days and the other for eight days. During the eight-day expedition students have a “solo” camping experience. More information on the sea kayak expeditions and solos can be found at http://www.islandschool.org . SCUBA diving certification is another part of the outdoor education program. While it is not necessary to become certified, or to be physically able to dive, all students learn dive physics and physiology. Specialized academic work continues during both the SCUBA diving and the sea-kayaking expeditions.
COMMUNITY LIFE As stated at the beginning of this handbook, The Island School community depends on the pillars of respect, responsibility, integrity, and trust. These same concepts, along with our overriding concern for the physical and emotional safety of our community members guide our rule structure. All school rules apply to all students at all times during their enrollment at The Island School, whether on or off campus. Enrollment at The Island School constitutes acceptance of all school rules and the consequences of their violation. Rules fall into two categories at The Island School - Major School Rules and General Rules and Expectations.
Major School Rules: The following rules cover situations or behavior that are considered central to our safety and success as a community in a remote environment. Students violating these rules can expect to be dismissed from school. Alcohol and/or drug use will result in immediate dismissal from The Island School.
General Rules and Expectations Violation of the following rules leads to a four-tiered response:
General rules are as follows: Academic Expectations — It is expected that students will attend all classes and complete work on time and to the best of their ability. Community Expectations — It is expected that all students will work toward helping to foster a positive community environment and atmosphere. Exclusive Relationships — Much of what transpires during the 14 week semester at The Island School focuses on building a community. We encourage students to develop close and lasting friendships. Exclusive relationships, however, have the potential to harm the community by developing boundaries between students . For this reason, exclusive relationships, whatever their nature, are discouraged as they disrupt the cohesiveness of a positive and productive community. Sexual relationships are prohibited for the reasons stated above as well as for health considerations. Transportation – Students may only travel in motor vehicles driven by Island School faculty members unless specific permission has been granted and the student has signed out. Cell Phones - Students are not permitted to have cell phones at The Island School. If they arrive at school with one, they are expected to store it with the faculty for the duration of the semester. Signing Out – Students must sign out to leave campus for any reason other than sanctioned Island School activities. Students may not be off campus unaccompanied after dark under any circumstances. Dormitory Rules and Expectations — Visitation in the living quarters of the opposite gender is NOT permitted at any time. Visitation in the common room of the opposite gender is not permitted after 6:00 PM except during special Island School functions. This policy is strictly enforced. - Check-in is at 10:00 PM Sunday through Friday and 11:30 PM on Saturday. After this time, students may not leave their dorm. Lights are turned off in the dormitory at 10:30 every night with the exception of Saturday when lights out is at midnight. Lights out is strictly enforced. - The dormitory space is the responsibility of all occupants. The dormitory must remain clean and clear of food. Food should never be consumed in dorm space. Dress Code — Following the lead of our host country, The Island School has a uniform policy. Classroom attire is an Island School T-shirt or polo shirt with shorts, pants, or a skirt. For off-campus functions, community outreach or special events, students wear an Island School polo shirt and khaki or navy shorts or pants. Island School swimwear must be worn during research, SCUBA diving and kayak expeditions, and community outreach. Shoe Policy — For safety reasons, all members of The Island School community are required to wear footwear at all times, including off-campus expeditions (except in dorms and the library).
Harassment Policy The Island School is a community in which every individual should be treated with respect and sensitivity. These are vital elements to the success of our community. Tolerance and patience should always be practiced and individuality should be encouraged. Harassment of any kind (ethnic, religious, gender, sexual, or sexual orientation) has no place in The Island School community. Harassment includes both overt acts of physical assault and less obvious forms of unnecessary touching, suggestive remarks, verbal abuse, graffiti, epithets or “humor.” A member of the community who believes that he or she has experienced any form of harassment should bring it to the attention of a faculty member immediately. All members of the community are obligated to take these complaints seriously and immediate action will be taken against the individual or group that harasses others.
Mail and Communications As a School, we require that students write letters to communicate with family and friends. We ask that you do not bring a cellular phone to the campus. The separation from family and lack of communication can be challenging, but it has proven to be a valuable part of the experience. Separation from the familiar is integral to The Island School experience. Students are in a foreign country, away from the lifestyle and comfortable connections on which they have come to rely. Practice in the skill of letting go has proven to be a positive force in the personal growth and learning of our students. We post weekly updates about the community on our website at http://www.islandschool.org to inform parents and friends about what we are doing. We are connected to the outside world through cellular phone service. To reach the school, please call (242) 359-7625, fax (954) 252-2440 or e-mail info@islandschool.org. This is a business address and as such can be used to contact teachers and administrators. Students do not have access to e-mail, though it is possible for parents or sending school teachers to communicate with faculty via e-mail. All faculty e-mail is sent in the format: firstnamelastname@islandschool.org . A list of faculty names can be found at www.islandschool.org. For other queries, please contact our New Jersey office at (609) 620-6700. Students use phone cards when calling home. A 100 minute phone card is $60 and can be purchased through the school store. Students are able to use the phone in the evening on a rotating basis. Given the logistical difficulties involved in offering 44 students equal opportunity for telephone communications, students and parents can expect to speak with each other infrequently — probably less than once a week. When sending packages to your son or daughter, please realize that Twin Air, our mail forwarder, is providing a service to the School outside of their normal operation. Try to limit the size and quantity of packages you send. Please do not send candy and food packages to students at the School. Students are fed plenty of nutritious food at mealtimes. Snacks are always available and access to soda and treats is located nearby at the Cape Eleuthera Marina. We have found that food arriving from home can cause a variety of problems in our small community setting — from infestations by insects to hurt feelings because some students receive many packages and others none. We strongly discourage parents and friends from sending food. Be aware that Twin Air charges freight costs on packages and these charges are forwarded to parents throughout the semester. Additionally, the Bahamian Customs Department may charge duty on these packages. All correspondence to students is most efficiently processed through the address below. Regular U.S. postal rates apply. Mail usually takes between one and two weeks to travel between the continental United States and the campus on Eleuthera. STUDENT NAME
HEALTH AND SAFETY The Island School program is focused on healthy living. Five days a week begin with exercise, and fresh fruit is served with most meals. Our goal is for students to return from The Island School program strong in body, as well as, in mind and spirit. In the event of illness, there is an experienced and competent doctor, along with nurse practitioners, on call 24 hours a day at the Rock Sound Clinic located twenty miles from campus. More serious illness or injury that requires evacuation off the island is coordinated through The Island School staff. Teachers and staff members are trained in advanced wilderness first aid and there is always a staff member with a wilderness first responder (WFR) certification on call at the campus and on all wilderness expeditions. All students will be CPR/first aid trained. Strong reliance on the buddy system ensures that students take responsibility for themselves and their classmates. The Island School must have complete and up-to-date health information on each student. During orientation, the medical staff conducts personal interviews with each student. It is critical that every student has a medical form and a liability agreement signed by a parent and a physician. Additionally, The Island School medical, liability agreement must be completed and signed authorizing Island School staff to act and serve in loco parentis . No special immunizations are required for travel to The Bahamas. All necessary forms are mailed to you well in advance of the start of your semester. All students are required to purchase Diver Alert Network (DAN) Master level insurance for emergency evacuations. The DAN phone number is (800) 446-2671 and the web site address is www.diversalertnetwork.org . For legal reasons, students cannot access a first aid kit without faculty supervision. All student prescription medications are checked by the medical staff upon arrival at the School and must be kept in the school office and dispensed by the medical director. Over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, are reviewed for safety, but may be kept by students. If a student feels ill, he or she should notify a faculty member who will make a judgment as to his or her care. By placing great emphasis and importance on training, health, and safety, we hope to prevent the occurrence of illness and accidents.
Natural Disaster Contingency Planning Students and parents often express concern about the possibility of hurricanes or severe tropical storms striking the campus. While its leeward location and relatively shallow waters have shielded Cape Eleuthera from any serious storm related damage, we are prepared, in the event of an approaching hurricane, to relocate to an established shelter in a local settlement on Eleuthera. Given the unpredictability of a storm, evacuating students off the island may put students more directly in the path of a hurricane. Large population centers carry many more potential dangers in severe weather than the relative sparseness of Eleuthera. We will track the path of storms and make decisions based on the information we receive from the National Weather Service and the Coast Guard. At the beginning of the semester, parents are sent a telephone chain to be used in the event of evacuation or other school wide emergency. The telephone chain is initiated by Island School personnel on the island and relayed through the Lawrenceville office. If a storm does pass over the school we are likely to experience lengthy loss of power and cell phone communication. In such circumstances, our satellite phone serves as our primary means of communication.
Kitchen and Dining Students are expected to attend all meals. Due to of the level of activity at The Island School, we want all students to feel free to eat as much as needed. The dining center is open until l0:00 PM, and snacks and drinks are always available.
Billing International Schools Services (I.S.S.), a company that specializes in international school operations, maintains all finances for The Island School. All student tuition and store account invoices are handled through Ms. Kathleen Pasquale at I.S.S. (609) 452-0990, fax (609) 452-1154 or kpasquale@iss.edu. Tuition payment information is included in acceptance letters sent from the Lawrenceville office. With the exception of the initial enrollment deposit sent to our Lawrenceville office, all invoices are paid to The Island School c/o I.S.S., 15 Roszel Road, PO Box 5910, Princeton, N.J. 08543.
SCHOOL STORE / STUDENT ACCOUNTS The School Store operates at designated times throughout the day. Students can purchase books, journals, school supplies, stamps, envelopes, dive tables and log books, Island School clothing and other items. All students will have an account to which they can charge items and bill their laundry service. Laundry typically costs $6 per load and will be sent out once a week. Students may also draw cash from their accounts for trips to town or other incidentals. Parents will be billed monthly through I.S.S. and at the end of the semester after the students return home. Typical charges to the store account are about $300-$500 for the semester. If you would like a specific limit set on the student store account, please notify us.
Laundry Laundry is sent out and picked up once a week. It is usually returned the following day. The cost per load is $6. Students should bring two sets of standard twin sheets.
PARENTS' WEEKEND Parents and immediate family are invited to come to The Island School campus for a long weekend during the semester. Exact dates for the fall and spring Parents’ Weekends will be communicated in a later mailing. Parents should make their plane reservations to arrive at Rock Sound Airport on the Thursday of Parents’ Weekend and depart Sunday or Monday. Parents should call before their arrival to arrange a rental car for the duration of the weekend. Rental cars typically rent for $60-$80 per day through one of the local “agents”: Friendly Bob (242) 334.8184 or King Bee (242) 334.6006 . Parents can make accommodation arrangements at Cotton Bay Club through Anne Maxey at (713) 880-5864 or reefrat23@yahoo.com. Anne is a volunteer, a 22-year resident of Cotton Bay and the mother of Chris Maxey. Cotton Bay is the closest guest residence to The Island School campus. Adventurous parents are welcome to camp at The Island School. Parents should arrive at the campus after 5:00 PM on Thursday. Friday and Saturday mornings, students and parents attend classes and presentations. There are optional activities on Saturday, and Sunday is a day for parents and students to spend together. Students are required to be back on campus by 10:00 PM on Sunday. We require that students remain on campus overnight throughout the weekend.
TRAVEL AND LOGISTICS Students should make plans to travel on the first and last days of the program. All students should meet us at Rock Sound Airport, Eleuthera, Bahamas. Part of the beauty of our location lies in its inaccessibility. Flights may be difficult to arrange, so we cannot overstate the importance of planning your travel well in advance. Once in Rock Sound, the School will provide transportation to and from the campus. Twin Air, a small commercial carrier based in Ft. Lauderdale, has set up special flights for Island School students. Twin Air flies directly to Rock Sound. Mention that you are affiliated with The Island School when making arrangements with Twin Air (954) 359.8266. Because Twin Air utilizes small, eight seat aircraft there are very specific packing rules. Total baggage weight should not exceed 50 pounds. Any weight in excess will be charged per pound, and will be shipped on a space available basis. Medium-sized, soft-sided duffel style baggage works best. Another option for flying into Rock Sound Airport is Bahamas Air, the national carrier of The Bahamas. Flights to Rock Sound Airport leave Nassau twice a day, morning and evening. To contact, please call 1-800-222-4262. In the event you are unable to find a way to Rock Sound, you may opt to land at Governor’s Harbor Airport, which receives a larger number of commercial flights. You will need to take a taxi, normally $60, to Rock Sound where we will be waiting to pick you up. YOU MUST BE CARRYING A PASSPORT WHEN FLYING INTO THE BAHAMAS. CRITICAL IMMIGRATION DOCUMENTS THAT NEED TO BE RETURNED WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE SEMESTER WILL BE MAILED TO YOU.
Island School Gear List The following gear list is meant to assist you in your planning and packing. It gives you a general idea of what is needed throughout the regular, daily schedule as well as gear for SCUBA diving and sea kayaking Some items are repeated or applicable in several contexts. All clothing should be clearly labeled with the student’s name. When packing, medium sized duffel type bags work best. An asterisk (*) indicates items available at the School Store. REMEMBER YOUR PASSPORT. Uniforms –– Students are required to wear uniforms for class and “official” Island School trips and activities. Students select Island School clothing from an order form that is then mailed or faxed to ISS (see Billing). ISS completes the orders and sends clothing to the address you indicate on the form. Should exchanges need to be made, we ask that you do not return items to ISS, but that you exchange articles on campus in Eleuthera. Classroom attire (six days per week) –– Island School T-shirts or polo shirts* (not athletics shirts), khaki or navy shorts, sandals or sneakers Fieldwork clothing (working at the aquaculture center, swimming, paddling, etc.) –– I.S. swimsuit*, I.S. T-shirts*, I.S. board shorts*, Tevas or Chacos or similar water tolerant sandals (not flip flops) Off-campus attire –– I.S. polo shirts*, khaki or navy shorts or pants, sneakers or sandals More “formal” attire (for outside school functions, church, etc.) –– Personal Clothing –– When not in class or during free time students can wear their own clothing. Below please find suggestions for typical needs. Exercise clothes (morning exercise) five mornings per week –– running/athletic shorts, T-shirts (can be I.S. athletic T-shirt)*, I.S. swimsuit*, sports bras, socks, good, comfortable sneakers Free time and evening wear (remember some nights are cool!) –– T-shirts, shorts, s wimsuits , jeans/sweatpants/athletic pants, fleece/sweatshirt/vest (non cotton is best for expeditions), long-sleeve T-shirts* Daily Necessities: The following items are suggestions, but cover most everything you will need on a daily basis (necessary items are in bold):
Expeditionary Gear: The following items will be used for SCUBA diving and outdoor education. While some items are suggestions others are necessities (as noted in bold ). Generally, students wear swimsuits, t-shirts or long-sleeved shirts on kayak trips. It is essential to haver synthetic underclothes for camping (as opposed to cotton.)
An asterisk (*) indicates items available at the School Store.
Board of Trustees Mr. Leslie Morris, Chairman, Pawley’s Plantation Mr. William Bardel, CFO, The Lawrenceville School Mr. Kenneth Beall, Jr., Gunster, Yoakley, et al. Mr. Daniel DeVos, President, CEO, DP Fox Ventures, L.L.C. Dr. Sylvia Earle, President, CEO, Deep Ocean Engineering, Inc. Mr. Duncan Fraser, President, Accurate Accounting Associates Mr. David W. Green, COO, Landquest International Mrs. Lucy Lewis, Director of Capital Programs, The Lawrenceville School Dr. Kevin Mattingly, Lawrenceville School Science Department Mr. Christopher B. Maxey, Director, The Cape Eleuthera Island School Mr. John Twiss, Executive Director (retired), Marine Mammal Commission Please refer to our website www.islandschool.org for a list of faculty and staff. |
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Copyright 2006
The Island School