The Island Academy

The graduation season, a time of academic triumphs from pre-schools to high schools, has arrived, and the 2024 season commenced in San Pedro Town with The Island Academy (TIA) hosting its 2024 graduation ceremony for eight Standard Six (eighth grade) students on Friday, May 31st. Held at their campus at Mahogany, Bay Village, the ceremony was attended by the student body, teacher, family, and friends who celebrated the milestone in their educational journey.

Hol Chan Marine Reserve held its Annual Reef Fest 2024 Primary School Trivia Competition on Wednesday, May 22nd, at the Lions Den in San Pedro Town. The tight competition started at 9:00AM, with the participation of nine contestants from five different schools: Ambergris Caye Elementary School (ACES), San Pedro Roman Catholic School (SPRCS), The Island Academy (TIA), Isla Bonita Elementary School (IBES), and the Holy Cross Anglican School (HCAS). The participants showcased their knowledge of the reef and marine ecosystems.

On Sunday, April 14th, the biggest indoor volleyball tournament event of 2024 came to an exciting end at the Angel Nunez Auditorium. The tournament finals were a huge success, featuring plenty of food, drinks, music, and marching band entertainment, making it a memorable experience for everyone. By the night's end, the champions for the different categories in the volleyball tournament were awarded for their hard work and great sportsmanship.

The Island Academy basketball girls won the Belize district primary schools basketball championship at the Belize Civic Center on Thursday, February 15th, which qualified them to the national championships organized by the National Sport Council, where they won third place against four other district champions at the Punta Gorda Multi-purpose Sports Complex on Friday, February 23rd.

On Thursday, February 22nd, the annual Bowen and Bowen Spelling Bee Belize District Zone Eliminations occurred at the Sagebrush Church Auditorium. The event saw the participation of several schools, including The Island Academy, Ambergris Caye Elementary School, Caye Caulker Roman Catholic, Holy Cross Anglican Primary School, Isla Bonita Elementary School, New Horizon Seventh Day Adventist, and San Pedro Roman Catholic Primary School. Out of all the participating students, three emerged as the top spellers. Valentina Caliz from Holy Cross Anglican School took the third position, followed by Ryan Sanchez from Isla Bonita Elementary School in the second place. Yadier Carillo secured the first position from the Caye Caulker Roman Catholic School.

The female basketball team of The Island Academy (TIA) is set to participate in the Primary School National Basketball Championship in Punta Gorda, Toledo. The island girls earned their spot in the Nationals after winning the District Championship on Thursday, February 15th, in Belize City. The San Pedro Roman Catholic School basketball team represented the island in the boy’s category but unfortunately got knocked out early in the tournament.

On Wednesday, December 13th, The Island Academy (TIA) delighted parents, friends, and special guests with their annual Christmas show. The traditional holiday pageant saw their junior and senior students performing, as usual, to perfection, a creative show dubbed this year, "Star Bucks!" The Christmas musical kept everyone smiling with the creative and fun performances.

Schools across the island are gearing up for an exciting 2023 graduation season. The Island Academy (TIA) opened the 2023 celebratory season, with seven students graduating Standard Six (eighth grade) on Friday, June 2nd. Ethan Guerrero, Carlos Nuñez, Sahara Jones, Charlie Stewart, Frank Vandy, Briani Gongora, and Toby Oakley marched to the tune of Pomp and Circumstance, enjoyed a morning of speeches and awards, before receiving their primary school certificates. Family and friends gathered at the TIA campus at Mahogany Bay Village south of San Pedro Town to witness and celebrate the students’ accomplishments.