Deep Creek Middle School Students Discover A School Without Walls

Our Grade 7 SWW experiences centred around exploring 4 local marine ecosystems found in South Eleuthera. In this photo, Grade 7 students have just finished a snorkelling experience at 4th Hole. Photo © The Island School

Scuba diving. Snorkelling in mangroves. Fishing for conch. Being immersed in the environment. These experiences–special moments where exploration is embraced as part of learning–are all part of what makes School Without Walls such an enriching experience for students.

As part of our Deep Creek Middle School curriculum, students take two weeks to integrate the theory they are learning in their coursework through dynamic learning experiences outside the classroom, engaging with various branches within The Island School organisation.

Gearing up for the deep! A Grade 9 student, Jernara Rahming, prepares to take the plunge during School Without Walls (SWW) week, where students learn the fundamentals of SCUBA diving while exploring how to advocate for marine conservation. How does experiencing the ocean firsthand shape our responsibility to protect it? Photo © The Island School

Grade 9 students dive into a world of discovery

For Grade 9, School Without Walls served as a continuation of their scuba certification journey through the skills assessment and application of theory. During this period, they made significant strides toward earning their PADI Junior Open Water dive certifications. Because the certification process can extend beyond this timeframe, the Grade 9 students will continue their training in the coming months!

Completing this certification will open new doors for our students, as a whole world of exploration is unlocked. Scuba allows these students to not only learn about the marine ecosystem from multiple disciplinary angles but also develop a deep, actionable understanding of how they can contribute to ocean preservation by creating access for them to engage with the underwater environment.

Scuba diving also teaches them that they are capable of overcoming challenges or fears. It may not feel natural at first, and it can be daunting to begin diving in the open water, but despite these anxieties, our students persevered with energy and passion. School Without Walls has kickstarted their scuba journey, and we hope that all Grade 9 students will have their certifications by the end of the year!

40 feet down and a world of discovery unlocked! After a successful dive, the Grade 9 students Ne'Veah Carey (to the front) and D'shawna Clarke (pictured to the back) resurface after a successful dive with a new perspective on marine ecosystems. Through School Without Walls (SWW), students connect their SCUBA experience to the bigger question: How can we protect what we explore? Photo © The Island School

Exploring the effects of climate change on food security

Meanwhile, our Grade 8 students gained a deeper understanding of how climate change has affected various food sources on our island of Eleuthera. To do this they visited lobster and conch fishing sites, as well as farms on the island, to better understand fishing and agricultural practices. In interacting with lobster, fish, and conch, students were able to learn not only about how the climate affects marine life itself, but how that then impacts food security and sustainability.

Dr. Nick Higgs is working with our Grade 7 students to explore different areas where Marine Protected Areas have been established and how those protections might impact marine biodiversity. Photo © The Island School

Rediscovering local habitats with grade 7

For Grade 7 students, their School Without Walls lessons were focused on ecology; specifically the ecosystems in South Eleuthera. They explored concepts of habitats, ecosystems, the transfer of energy through the food chain, life cycles, and conservation pertaining to each habitat. To learn about this outside of the classroom, our Grade 7 students visited rocky shore ecosystems, the sandbar just off of Cape Eleuthera, as well as coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds.

Grade 8 students explored local conch fishing methods as well as areas that conch spend their life cycle as they explored the status of food sources and food security in South Eleuthera. Photo © The Island School

Demonstrating deeper understanding through presentations of learning

At the conclusion of their two weeks on the Island School campus, all of our DCMS students participated in a Presentation of Learning (POL) feedback session with the researchers, scuba instructors, and Visiting Programs guest speakers who supported them during their School Without Walls experience. This feedback plays a vital role in refining their POL, which will be officially presented to the broader community at the Island School Research Symposium on November 26. Through this process, students not only deepen their understanding but also gain valuable practice in presenting their work to an external audience, realising that their final projects can impact a wider community beyond the classroom – which is a vital part of building the future leaders of The Bahamas.

Grade 7 students are exploring the fish biodiversity around mangroves and seagrass beds. They are also seeing the effects of high and low tide on these habitats. Photo © The Island School

Grade 9 students demonstrated their understanding and advocacy for marine ecosystem preservation by creating an Awareness Campaign presentation and completed media productions including a PodCast, a slide presentation, and a video short that can be posted on social media.

Grade 8 students created a 3D physical map of food sources such as markets, fishing spots, and farms within Southern Eleuthera. They also designed and recorded a cooking demonstration using conch obtained from those spots, as well as a summative research assignment letter to government officials advocating for greater food security.

Lastly, Grade 7 students presented their learning through poster board displays that focus on four major ecosystems of South Eleuthera that they learned about and explored during School Without Walls, and demonstrated their understanding the dynamics of each ecosystem. Students also explored the concept of the services provided by each and advocated for preservation and mitigating human impacts.

This immersive educational experience not only deepens students’ understanding and appreciation of their local environment but also empowers them to take action in its conservation. Through hands-on engagement, they become meaningfully connected to their surroundings, reinforcing the vital role they play in protecting marine and coastal ecosystems.

We are eager to watch our DCMS students further connect with the world around them and demonstrate all of the lessons they learn both in and out of the traditional classroom setting.