The island is their classroom

On December 17, the students at Daufuskie Island Independent School hosted their Winter Showcase, an event that could be best described as a gallery walk of the school for parents and community members to see and understand what the children have been learning.

“Showcase is a fantastic forum to ease students into public speaking as well as to include the community in celebrating student learning and growth,” said Kimberly Lundgren, the school’s Executive Director regarding the purpose of the Winter Showcase.

Lundgren, who along with Justin Dacanay, co-foundered the school and partnered with community organizer and DIIS parent Erin Quinn to create the school in 2023. By doing so, they filled a void for students in grades 6-8 to remain on Daufuskie Island, and not have to take the ferry to Hilton Head Island for middle school instruction.

Moving from class to class, visitors listened to students talk about the content of their core subjects: English language arts, math, science, and social studies. While on the surface that may sound like a typical open house visit to any school, it was not.

Instead, the students showcased how they utilize the resources of an island that is accessible only by passenger ferry. Specifically, greeting cards students made by carving designs into rubber blocks, the designs all being natural to the island such as leaves and shells. There was also a display of oysters that the students colored with paint, the finished products to be used as Christmas decorations.

Parents visiting the Winter Showcase saw first-hand that their child’s education goes beyond the walls of the classrooms.

In front of the school, students explained and demonstrated their pickle ball skills on a strip of pavement. Their actual venue for pickleball is located on the clay courts of the nearby Haig Point Club, a location they drive to in golf carts.

Haig Point Club has partnered with and supported the school by graciously opening their amenities to the students. In the fall, the students took swimming lessons at the club and there will be opportunities to learn how to golf at the Haig Point Club driving range.

“Haig Point has been an important partner in education, helping us expose students to sports and activities they would not otherwise have the opportunity to try,” said Lundgren.

As one of the closing activities of the Winter Showcase, the students gathered in their music room and shared samples of their work from a recent Mock Trial study segment. During these vignettes, they spoke with clarity, confidence, and enthusiasm while acting as attorneys.

Next, they performed in front of their parents with keyboards, guitars, and percussion instruments while singing under the direction of Melvin Small, the school’s music teacher.

Similar to a strategy used in a classroom for students to reflect on any given lesson, parents were asked at the end of their visit to complete a Ticket to Leave. The task was for them to share on a small piece of paper some words to describe their thoughts about the showcase. As they exited, they stuffed a Christmas stocking with their pieces of paper.

Their feedback included the following: “Excitement. Effort. Joy. Engaging. Inclusive. Welcoming. Creative. Diverse. Teamwork. Inspiring. Active Learning.”

When putting it all together, perhaps the Winter Showcase was more than just a presentation for parents and community residents. The event may have very well represented the exclamation point in the slogan The Island is our Classroom!

Martin D. Cox, Ed.D. is the Interim Head of School at Daufuskie Island Independent School.