Jensen, Courtney, Maggie, Mallery and Alex

Tuesday, March 30 th was the beginning of our 5 th week at the Island School and no one can believe how fast our time here is going! We began the day with a run combined with calisthenics and everyone did really well. Then we all got together during our research period and listened to a presentation given by Andy on how to properly write a research paper introduction. After that, we broke off into our separate research groups and worked on our projects. That night we had Fish ID slides with Sascha, and then settled in to do our homework.

Hayley, Mr. Bohnett, Cat and Will in science

On Wednesday we got a much needed sleep-in, and came together for morning circle at 7:30. Some of the students, however, had been up since 5:30 for a sunrise free-dive led by Rob and Maxey. All the students who went on the free-dive loved it, and we hope to make it a Wednesday morning tradition! Also on Wednesday, half of us did work projects in the morning and the other half completed our scuba certification with a dive to Cathedral. We all did really well and are happy to be certified! That afternoon, we all headed out for our community outreach projects with students from the primary school and middle school.

Chris and Chris during resource center

On Thursday morning we woke up for morning circle to find ourselves facing our longest run yet. We ran a total of five and a half miles around the loop in the old resort. We had a strenuous academic day with a test in math and a quiz in science. We all faced free time with preparation for the arrival of the board members where some students were greeting and touring the members as a welcome to the campus. Dinner was a delicious feast of jerk pork, corn, mashed potatoes, and it was all followed by cake for Will’s birthday. The rest of the evening was spent on the first math project that was due the next day.

Our morning exercise for Friday morning was a switch of the exercise we participated in on the previous Friday. Everyone that did a run-swim the week before was on a work project, and the people who did work projects last week played water-polo. The work projects included the bike storage area, feeding at the aquaculture cage, helping on the farm, and more. The rest of the day was a regular academic day (board members visited our 1 st period classes). We had a snorkel to the fourth hole beach in science class to observe the reefs. We spent our free time at our Querencia spots reflecting and later enjoyed cake for Hillary Becker’s birthday.

Saturday morning half of us did yoga while the others participated in a run/swim. In the afternoon 8 of us went to the resource center and created an Easter egg hunt for the local kids. Others went to a local farm and picked grapefruit while 22 went on a SCUBA dive. That evening there was a late night run to highrock and lots of time to relax and hangout.

Sunday morning we all motivated for a school wide trip to Half Sound beach. We packed our snorkel and beach gear and waited for Friendly Bob to pick us up in his yellow bus. We had a cookout of hamburgers and potato salad and had tons of fun off campus. Most of us checked out the coral heads and others organized a game of ultimate Frisbee.

Group at Half Sound Beach on Sunday

Monday morning exercise was a long run or swim depending on which track you are on. The run was 5.5 miles and the swim was intense. It was another full day of academics that lead to a student meeting after dinner and then a community meeting. Everything is going well yet none of us can believe it is almost time for midterms!

This web update was written by Izzy and Katie. Below are messages from them to their friends and family at home.

Izzy- Hey everyone back in Camden and K-town. Dad, Mom, Willi, CAFLers. I miss you guys. Don’t have too much fun without me! Write me, and I can’t wait to see you guys!

Katie – Hey Mom, Dad, Megs, Patch and Annie! I miss you all and love you, write me letters and say hi to bonnie, gracie,     beau, pickles and the rest! Camille, Anne, Marg, Mariah, and all the Bryn Mawr girls: I MISS YOU and want to hear everything that’s happening! WRITE! I love you!

Julia, Val, Izzy and Elizabeth	Cat, Andrew, Katie and JD at Half Sound