Academics
The school year is organized by trimesters instead of semesters. This means that there
are three major divisions of the 181 instructional days. Trimesters are shorter, more compact,
than semesters. In addition, they fit a school year better than semesters. For example, the
Winter Break falls in the middle of a trimester rather than just before the end of a semester.
Two days at the beginning of the school year are used to assess the achievement level of
each student in language arts and mathematics. This information is used to determine class
assignments for these subjects.
As indicated in the pages that follow, Island School's educational
program addresses all aspects of a student's potential – academics, the arts, and sports
and games. In addition, the importance of civic responsibility is given attention, as the future
of our democratic society is dependent upon an informed and involved citizenry. Practicing
community responsibility is an essential aspect of an Island School education.