The "Skimmer" Scoop
SIES Weekly Newsletter
At SIES our teachers and staff go ABOVE & BEYOND for students and families! We want to recognize all that they do! Please use this form to shout out an SIES Faculty or Staff member. We will share these with our staff on our daily staff newsletter!
Coastal Connections with Ms. Gallipeau
At the end of last school year, I wrote about keeping an eye out for sea turtle nests on Sullivan’s Island, Isle of Palms, and beaches throughout South Carolina. We even had a loggerhead nest laid on Sullivan’s Island in late May, right near our school’s beach access path!
Sea turtle nesting season begins in early May, and our beaches continue to welcome mostly loggerhead sea turtles through the end of August. Once laid, sea turtle eggs need about 60 days to hatch, which means nests laid toward the end of the season will continue hatching well into the fall. For the rest of the summer and into early fall, it is especially important for all of us to be good sea turtle stewards and help give both nesting mothers and tiny hatchlings a safe path to the ocean.
Being a good beach steward means keeping our beaches free of trash, knocking down sandcastles, and filling in holes before we leave for the day. These simple actions can make a big difference for palm-sized hatchlings as they emerge from their nests and make their way toward the ocean.
So, how has this nesting season been going?
An international website called seaturtle.org tracks sea turtle nesting data from around the world, including right here in South Carolina. So far, it has been a banner year for sea turtles!
As of this week, 7,851 sea turtle nests have been recorded in South Carolina. That is a significant increase from 2025, when only 3,916 nests were recorded. So, why the huge difference?
Adult female sea turtles typically nest every other year or so. Because of this natural nesting cycle, we often see “high” and “low” years, as many females take a year off between nesting seasons.
Here on our local beaches, Sullivan’s Island has recorded 17 nests this year, all loggerheads. Sullivan’s Island typically has fewer nests than some of our neighboring beaches. Isle of Palms has recorded 41 nests, Folly Beach has 132, and Kiawah Island has recorded more than 500 nests!
Sea turtle biologists believe several factors may contribute to the lower number of nests on Sullivan’s Island, including the shallow waters surrounding the island and the nearby shipping channel, with its heavy container-ship traffic.
Some of the highest nesting numbers in South Carolina can be found in the state’s Marine Protected Area around Cape Romain. Cape Island alone has recorded nearly 2,000 nests, while Lighthouse Island has had around 1,400 nests!
With several weeks of nesting season still remaining, there is a good chance that more female loggerheads will come ashore and add their nests to our beaches.
So, as we enjoy the rest of summer, let’s all remember to be good stewards of the Earth. Keep our beaches clean, leave them safe for wildlife, and help give every sea turtle,from nesting mothers to tiny hatchlings, the best chance to make it safely home to the ocean!
🎨Special Area: ART🎨
“We’re off to a fantastic start in the art room at SIES! As we begin to learn about new artists and experiment with materials, the Studio Habits of Mind will be embedded throughout our learning - helping students develop skills like observing, envisioning, and reflecting along the way.
Students across all grade levels began with a collaborative project inspired by contemporary artist, Yoko Ono. This piece celebrates connection, hopes, and goals for the new school year!
A special thank-you to the families who have expressed interest in supporting our artists and space. Please be on the lookout for more information about future volunteer opportunities and material collections.
It has been wonderful getting to know our Skimmers and I look forward to supporting their growth this year! “
