In 2024, The Island School celebrated its 25th anniversary. 

Last month, to honor this incredible milestone, we welcomed our community to Eleuthera for an unforgettable celebration. The event brought together alumni, current and former staff, as well as friends from both our local community and around the world. 

The two-day gathering was a vibrant mix of Island School traditions, cultural immersion, community-building, and heartfelt reflection—a fitting tribute to a quarter-century of impact, innovation, and growth.

Honoring 25 Years of Growth and Impact 

For the last 25 years, The Island School has served as a hub for experiential learning, environmental stewardship, and innovation. This milestone was much more than a celebration of our history—it was an ode to the relationships and innovations that have allowed us to grow and define our mission.

It was inspiring to see campus through the eyes of our visitors, especially alumni from early semesters (we had 2 Spring 1999 and 6 Fall 1999 alumni return for the celebration, twenty-five years after they first came to The Island School), who marveled at all of the changes. Our campus today is almost unrecognizable compared to that which they once knew and called home.

Since The Island School opened in 1999, we have added indoor and outdoor learning spaces, improved our waterfront operations to include a dive center, expanded our campus to include the Cape Eleuthera Institute and Elementary Learning center, established Deep Creek Middle School in our local community, and developed cutting-edge sustainable systems to power our campus. 

During the event, we unveiled our newest campus installation, which was designed by our Fall 2024 Semester students alongside Antonius Roberts, a world-renowned Bahamian sculptor. This piece, called The Bow, was designed to celebrate our anniversary, as well as recognize the strength and resiliency of The Island School—especially our Fall 1999 and Spring 2020 Semester students. Learn more about this installation here.

While our guests were awed by the many changes they noticed around campus, they also recognized that some things never change, especially the life-changing lessons they learned at The Island School. 

Revisiting Time-Honored Island School Traditions 

The celebration was steeped in tradition, starting with classic Island School AMX (morning exercise). After all, no Island School gathering would be complete without it. Throughout the weekend, our guests participated in cultural workshops and community projects to learn about and celebrate Bahamian culture, as well as give back to the local community, which has supported us for the past 25 years.

Guests laced up their sneakers for a sunrise run-swim and the iconic High Rock run, which is only complete with a jump into the chilly water below. These greuling activities were a fun reminder of the camaraderie and adventure that define the Island School experience.

Workshops throughout the weekend invited attendees to immerse themselves in Bahamian culture, with hands-on activities that explored local cuisine, storytelling, and traditional crafts. From learning about the conch fishery to cooking native dishes or learning the art of straw plaiting, these workshops highlighted Eleuthera’s vibrant heritage.

True to The Island School’s commitment to living well in a place, guests also supported efforts to improve campus facilities and worked on community projects to build a garden at Deep Creek Middle School and clean up the Deep Creek community park.

A Deep Creek Homecoming Celebration 

The true highlight of the weekend was the traditional Bahamian Homecoming celebration in Deep Creek featuring local vendors and live music. The event served as a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of The Island School and our South Eleuthera community. It was heartwarming to see alumni reunite with former teachers, local friends, and mentors, all while enjoying local fare and dancing to the rhythms of Rake n Scrape music. 

We are deeply grateful to the local chefs, artisans, and musicians who shared their talents and made this event an authentic celebration of Eleuthera’s rich culture.

Celebrating Our Circle 

This milestone would not have been possible without the dedication of our staff—past and present—whose hard work and passion have made The Island School what it is today, nor our students, who have carried our mission out into the world, affecting change wherever they go. 

We are especially grateful to our local community partners and friends in South Eleuthera, who have been with us every step of the way. Their support has been the foundation of our success, and we are honored to have celebrated this milestone with them.

Looking ahead

As the weekend drew to a close, we were filled with gratitude and inspiration. The 25-Year Homecoming Celebration was more than just an event—it was a reflection of all that we stand for: community, resilience, education, and the pursuit of a sustainable future. 

Thank you to everyone who joined us and supported us both near and far. Here’s to the next 25 years of creating young leaders who affect change!

To see a gallery of the 25-Year Homecoming Celebration, click here.