On Thanksgiving Day, Thursday November 25th, 2004, all island school students arose from their beds early at 5:30 to get ready for their half-marathon run or 3 mile super swim. The students had to be around the flagpole at 5:45 sharp to receive their instructions. At 6:00, all the runners on their way, running their 13.1 mile half marathon to Deep Creek and back. While the runners were running, the island school vans were driving the swimmers to the designated cheering spots, where they would cheer on the runners and fill them up with Gatorade. One group in particular consisting of Andre Walsh, Kat, Kristin, and Emmanuel were shooting around in their van and doing cheerleading dances for the runners as they ran by.

Jennie and the Boys Running Strong	The Girls Running Strong Together

All runners made it back by 9:10 a.m.  At this time, the swimmers were getting prepared for their three-mile swim. At 9:30 a.m. the swimmers started their swim from palm island to the marina, while the runners were on boats cheering on the swimmers. The swimmers celebrated completing their swim at the marina, and then all the students returned to the island school where they either napped or chilled out in the dorms.

Island School SuperSwim Crew Looking Strong

At dinner circle we all circled up to meet our home stay families, with whom we celebrated  our thanksgiving feast.  We had an amazing spread: turkey, pork (island school grown),  corn, beans, stuffing, and a whole lot of pie for dessert.

On Friday, everyone as still recuperating from the half-marathon and super swim. We had the morning off of exercise, but still had to go to classes. In science we continued to learn about water issues and problem solving techniques, while in math many of us started reviewing for the final. In history class, Victor Sloss, a developer who has plans to develop the Cape, came to talk to us about tourism and development. He was very interesting, but many of us had apprehensions about the implications of development so close to the Island School.  Free time was much needed after the long tiring day, and many people spent it chilling out in the dorms.

On Saturday half of us did work projects, while the other half went SCUBA diving at Hole in the Wall. It was the deepest dive yet for most of us, max depth 90ft. Saturday night we had a relaxing bonfire on boys dorm beach. Most of us were pretty exhausted from the long week and needed a relaxing night. It was very fun and a good time was had by all.

Hannah Diving Deep

Sunday was a lovely free day in which half of us did SCUBA in the morning while the others did what ever they chose. SCUBA was a deep dive (96ft) off of the wall, for the majority it was their first time there and some also experienced the feeling of becoming narced (nitrogen narcosis is a common effect of deeper scuba dives). Once SCUBA returned most of us spent the rest of the day writing Part I of our final history paper.

At 5:00 am on Monday the girls made their way over to the boys dorm, and then everyone locked every door and window possible.  Once the dorm was secure, we started our 2nd freedom morning!  It was only after faculty meeting that they had realized that we were all not coming out to do the morning psycho (an intense blend of exercises) that had been planned.  At that moment, the students and faculty declared war on each other. As the students watched, hurricane window boards were brought out.  Soon the faculty boarded all of our windows up, locked us in from the outside, and also turned off our power. It was soon after the windows were boarded up that a student, Chandler, crawled out of the bathroom window in attempt to bring back food.  However, there were just too many faculty for him to out run, and no one messes around with Maxey. The faculty had a hostage of ours so it was only fair for us to return the favor.  Soon after, we lured Kristen Rillen into our custody. The students were getting hungry, so 4 of us again left the building.  2 went to try and get food and 2 went to try and help Chandler escape and we successfully accomplished both missions. It was only after most of us were back in the boys’ dorm that we looked out and saw that the faculty had stolen our jenga and was drilling holes into them and making necklaces with them.

Chandler is Caught

Things went on like this until it was time for breakfast when the faculty went and ate eggs and bacon and left some cereal and milk outside the door for us students. Once the girls went back to their dorm to get ready for classes we were all slightly surprised to see that all of our shoes and teddy bears were missing and were only to be found floating out in the cut on the raft. Our drawers were also switched amongst each others, our Bob Marley poster was missing, and our cushions were nowhere to be found. Eventually things were replaced and found and that was the start of a day of regular classes and the faculty wore their prized new necklaces around only to give them back at Community meeting. 

On Tuesday, we worked so long on research that most of our sanities were pretty close to cracking. But for the most part everyone pulled together at the finish, although many teams were not completely done and had to be herded away from the library and into the dorms.  Meredith’s voice rang out in the library saying “there is nothing more you can do at this hour.  You must go to your dorm and check in.” 

So on Wednesday most of the students work up early to do research, and scrambled to have their final papers completed by the 8 AM deadline.  After they were handed in, we prepared to go scuba diving and do work projects.  The scuba divers dove around the aquaculture cage.  John said that they saw 3 sharks in the distance, and that, “it was so cool that I wasn’t even afraid.” 

Nathan Carving Ham for Thanksgiving Feast	Laura Becoming One With Her Art

SHOUTOUTS:

Maggie- Hey Mom, Dad, Grandma, Molly, Sarah, Ali, and everyone else in Sacramento! I hope the weather isn’t too cold, cause I don’t know if I’ll be able to handle anything below 70 degrees! Just kidding…Can’t wait to see you guys in a few days! Miss you lots!