A few of the boys relaxing with their homestay family.

This has been an action packed fiesta of a week. We got to free dive, scuba, practice Junkanoo, Ultimate Frisbee, campus clean, the works. Galore. We also had our home stays this week. Everyone on campus went in pairs out into various parts of South Eleuthera to stay with their respective families. We were dropped off on Friday at free time, stayed overnight, and came back to campus at 7. Everyone had a blast and brought back cool photographs and fascinating stories.

The ultimate frisbee team.

Another event during this 8 th week of school was Ultimate Frisbee. Ultimate has become a major theme of Island School life. Led by John “The bullet” Schatz and Justin “Dim-Dim” Dimmel with a guest appearance by Nick “The Annihilator” Farrell and backed with fun fledged student support, Ultimate has taken over Wednesday freetime. Our defensive MVP this week was Patrick “The Long Shot” Long. The MOP (most outstanding player) was Nick “The Man, The Legend” Zbitnoff. However they were influenced by a strong pack of players including Luke “Poseidon” Cherrington, Jesse “Jordan” Pierce, Jac “the SMACK down” Battjes, Maggie “Ronald” Regan, Nate “Ogre” Wellin, Justin “Hightop” Drazin, Danny “Wheres Waldo” Waldman, Drew “The Finkter” Fink, Durico “Long Bomb” McKinney, Henry “Where’s the Mustard” Hatch, and Chris “ The Rock” Della Rocca. This intense game resulted in a tie. But here at the Island School everyone’s a winner!

Kickball in Deep Creek.

Hurricane Wilma moseyed on through the Island School campus this week, but we laid down the law and sent her on her merry way with no damage done, or so we thought.   Island School students, like a deer caught in a Mack truck’s headlights, were petrified as the news broke about the ice cream store closing. This left us gloomy, like the dark rain clouds above us, but the ribs for dinner helped to brighten our spirits. As a precautionary measure the kayak trips were postponed for an extra day. Wilma could take our sun, but we knew that she could never take our pep and vigor. Instead, we spent the morning frolicking in the lush fields of Deep Creek taking part in a plethora of activities. From kickball and lacrosse to eating at the local burger joint, we kept vivacious and bubbly until it was time to return to campus. That afternoon was spent preparing for our Junkanoo festival and bonding with our fellow students.

Henry and Pat gettin' their clean on.

On a bright and jolly Thursday we preformed a “deep clean” on both the chap’s and lass’s dormitories. Like the Broadway musical “ Annie,” we were put to work on the floors. On hands and knees we scoured each room, leaving no stone unturned and disinfecting every nook and cranny. The cleaning was in honor of the end of a five-week academic rotation, leaving our dorms spick and span.

MORNING EXERCISE. Each morning at sunup we are awaken to the jingle of a cowbell only to stand in the mosquito-infested daylight, but our discomfort was put to rest by the thought of our toned abs and bulging biceps. This week we were subjected to a Psycho led by Danny Waldman and Amelia Barisone, two 6-mile jaunts or mile long swims, and a chilly game of water polo at the break of day.

Steff SCUBA diving.

SHOUTOUTS:

Hatch: Hello world. Especially my younger sister Nina.

Steff: Hey everyone up north.   I’ve been really busy with so much work, but I love being down here.   Mom & Dad, I miss you guys!   You’ll be down here before we even know it, less than a month already.   Scott, I wish you were coming down with them.   I love you all!   Hey to the rest of the family: Deacons, Stones, and Petersens, hope you’re all doing well.   I can’t wait to see you all when I get back.   Nobles and Needham people, I miss you guys.   Happy Halloween!

Nate returning from snorkeling.

Nate: Hey everyone. Hope everything is going well. I want to give a shout out to NYA and my family. I will see you all soon.

Pat: what it is NJ?. Times are merry and joyous here in the Bahamas. Mom, Dad, Emery, and Dorothy and any other inhabitants at the home front I am having a jolly good time here. Kyle, Naylor, Luke, Molly, Carter, and PHS keep it real and remember to gig ruff at the shindig.