A Community Outreach snorkel lesson

Another week has gone by at The Island School. We finished with midterms last week, having had a science test on Wednesday morning, a math exam on Thursday and our final draft of the Omeros paper for English class due on Friday.

Saturday morning we woke up early, ate breakfast and got on a bus that took us to Windemere High School for the PSAT’s. When we returned to campus, we packed overnight bags and left for Deep Creek to experience our 2nd home stay. Everyone had an incredible time with their family and loved being a part of the local neighborhood. Dinner that night was different for all of us but included lots of conch, french fries, chicken, crab and rice, and barbeque ribs prepared by our host families. In the evening many of us walked through Deep Creek, bought ice cream and spent time with neighbors. Some of us were even lucky enough to watch the first game of the world series!

A group boards the bus for the PSAT on Saturday

Sunday we went to church with our host family and then spent the afternoon in town, at the Deep Creek beach or playing basketball on the town court. By 5pm we all made it back to campus and once again shared lots of stories of our time away. Sunday evening we had a big bonfire out on Powell Point. We made s’mores by the fire and listened to music under a gazebo lit by strands of white Christmas lights.

Monday was a typical Sunday schedule. We slept in and then spent time at the beach, snorkeled and had the opportunity to go on a dive. All of us were pleasantly surprised in the afternoon to see an Island School truck come back from the airport with over 500lbs of packages and mail that Twin Air finally sent to Rock Sound. We went to sunset beach in the late afternoon for a game of kickball and a cookout. The kickball match-up was the North girls dorm teamed up with the South boys dorm versus the South girls and North boys dorm. The winners won t-shirts donated by Whitaker Boat Works.

Trygg, Peter, Chris and Travis in Deep Creek

Tuesday morning we ran 7.5 miles and are getting closer and closer to being in ½ marathon shape. We had Island School Seminar in which we discussed the “Not In My Backyard” theory and more specifically talked about the mixed feelings surrounding the potential resort development of Powell Point. We had 2 hours of research in the afternoon. Aquaculture surveyed a reef, Permaculture finished their plot preparations, Coastal planted mangroves and logged data, Patch Reef surveyed reefs off Cow point and Conch observed activity at the nursery ground.

This morning has been busy with Junkanoo costume preparation and a special, student-led SCUBA dive. This afternoon during free time there is a student vs. faculty basketball game. We are all anxious to learn what kayak trip we will be on and should know by tonight. On Monday morning kayak rotations begin with the first 8-day kayak and down island trip heading out. It will be fun to be out on the water again and   to have a break from the academics routine.

Tim, Miles and Ali pose during Permaculture

This web update was written by Chrissie, Trygg, Lindsay and Brie. Below are messages from them to their friends and family at home.

Chrissie – Hey Ya’ll! To Mom, Dad, Ston, May, James, Caroline, all of my school friends, and to all the soccer girls: Hello from Eleuthera! I’m having a great time but I miss you very much. I love you and can’t wait to see you.

Trygg- Hey Mom, Dad, everyone @ CA, Thomas and the Ponz: Hope everything is going well. I’m half way done here so I’ll be back soon. Love all you guys.

Lindsay – Mommy and Daddy: I miss you guys tons, but then I see the sun rises and sunsets and remember why I am here. Thank you so much, and I love you with all of my heart! Aubs: You are my mentor and I’m your protector, and we are best friends. I love you more than anyone in the world. It’ll be x-mas time soon enough (too soon for me!) and we’ll be together again.

Brie – Hey Central! I miss you all so much, you know who you are! I’m not burnt! I’m actually tan, (looks at    hand) at least I used to be. I’m having so much fun down here! Mom and Dad: Looking forward to Parents  Weekend. I’ll show you so much fun stuff! Carly: Love you to death, babe! Everyone else: I love all of you and miss you too!

Austin plays harmonica on the dorm deck	Sophie, Lindsay, Lindsey and Kylie