Eagle's Eye October 2013

Eagle’s Eye Dalat International School, Tanjung Bunga, 11200 Penang, Malaysia

What’s Inside: Minions & Smurfs . . . . . . 2 Elementary and Middle School students sport new uniforms

Into the Wild . . . . . . . 3 Juniors welcome seniors back from sneak with “wild” party

Word Wars . . . . . . . . 4 Debaters practice for the Forensics Tournament in Kuala Lumpur

Junior for Grill . . . . . 4 PTO “hires” juniors to grill chicken, lamb, and beef for back-to-school event

Nerds Clash . . . . . . . 5 Spirit Week provides opportunities to show creativity

Mission Not Impossible . 7 Juniors paint old World War II bunkers as their serve-athon to raise class funds Eagle’s Eye Staff Note: This copy of the school paper has been written by the students in the AP 12 English class.

Writers: Hannah Bradnam, Stephanie Jones, Hyun Soo Kang, Justin Lao, Tommy Mallow, Ana Mims, Ciera Nash, Josiah Steinkamp, Kate Sun, Reese Terry, Jennifer Vo Adviser: Mr. Tommy Tompkins

Eagle’s Eye

October 2013

SEWing Spiritual Seeds

By Stephanie Jones having the opportunity to hear about, start, and/or deepen their relationships with God, comprised three days from 2426 September. Each day, Pastor Tom led three meetings during the school day for elementary, middle, and high school; and at night, he shared in a meeting open to all everyone of all ages. Along with the different elements of student involvement, students also appreciated the depth and relatability of the messages shared during these meetings.

Benjamin Mauger (9) said, “What really impacted me was what Pastor Tom said about how we give Jesus a beautiful room in our hearts but not the whole house. When we accept Jesus

The chapel imploded as the countdown began and the Middle School students, cracking voices and all, joined in, spurring on the beginning of the SEW meeting.

“5, 4,” the volume steadily grew, “3, 2,” the various pitches rose and joined inharmoniously, “1,” and the worship band rewarded the enthusiasm and cheers with the song “Glorious.” The muchanticipated Spiritual Emphasis Week, however, did not begin at the end of a countdown or even at the beginning of the week.

It began when God first started to plant the message shared by Pastor Tom Cura in his heart, when the students who shared their testimonies began to ponder what to say to their peers, and when the students embraced the “power of prayer.” As Pastor Tom encouraged them, a group met together to welcome the Holy Spirit and ask God to bring revival in the students’ hearts through SEW. “I was deeply encouraged

by Pastor Tom’s suggestion for a prayer walk, for prayer over the chapel and the chairs that students would sit in, and for unity in praying together. Also, the short video clips of students’ testimonies were great as they showed that this ‘Christian thing’ isn’t just for adults who are married and settled down but for the young or old and the rich or poor. It was great to see the student involvement in this SEW,” said Joyce Lee (12).

SEW, a week in the school year dedicated to students’

into our lives, we need to give Him everything. I also enjoyed [Pastor Tom’s] different stories and his enthusiasm for what he was preaching. His messages continually kept me interested and engaged; my favorite part of SEW was the worship and all the songs we sang.”

The worship team, led by Mr. Brandon Orr, performed at all four SEW meetings.

“We gave every session our all,” said Jennifer Vo (12), a vocalist on the team. “However, I think that I enjoyed seeing the elementary children worshiping the most as it highlighted for me that even as we grow older, we should continue to worship with the same joy and abandon (Continued on page 2, col. 1)

“The Bachelorette”

(Senior Sneak Edition)

By Tommy Mallow

Soaring through the humid air, Justin Lao fixed his hands into the shape of a heart and smashed into the waves as cheering and laughter erupted from the platform above. Ana Mims felt a tinge of embarrassment as her friends crowded around her and began their obnoxious “oohs” and “ahhs.”

Senior Sneak imprinted lasting memories such as this into the hearts of 55 book-worn souls 1

yearning for one last adventure together.

The adventure started with a bang as eager seniors explored the wonders of a colorful Legoland. Logs floated, bricks stacked, and rollercoasters dropped. As the heat of the day kicked in, seniors retreated to the infamous log ride to experience the feeling of having a bucket of water in the face. As she thought (Continued on page 2, col. 3) October 2013

Minions and Smurfs Unite As the school year began, a new occurrence whispered its way through the community swirling from tree to tree. The atmosphere had shifted, and the smell of freshness filled the campus. A new exciting feeling settled upon the campus amidst the new colors that had invaded Wednesday morning.

“Good morning my little minions a n d Smurfs!” y e l l e d M r.

Brandon Orr as h e readied his guitar for worship.

The silky dri-fit fabric bounced around the room as the young elementary children leaped in excitement. The vibrant blue and gold colors filled the chapel in a sea of school spirit coming to life. It signalled the start of a bright new year.

After a deliberation between faculty and staff as well as student parents, the decision to replace the original navy blue and maroon polo uniforms for the dazzling cobalt and gold dri-fit uniforms brought about an enthusiastic response from all parties.

“I’m a big fan of the new blue

and yellow colors because they really make the kids look nice, neat, and very sharp; and the dry fit is also much softer than the old cotton shirts,” said Ms. Lacey Fields while prepping for her kindergarten class. “I was worried about the khaki shorts at first because I teach kindergarten, and so we paint a lot; but the khaki material doesn’t stain, and so is perfect for the kids.”

Parents of elementary students felt especially positive towards the change. “Being an international community, the

vibrant blue is perfect against all the different skin colors that we have on campus. The soft khaki trousers also add to a more academic ambience,” said Mrs. Juni Worten.

This slight change has beautifully added a kind of childlike quality to the air as the elementary run about. As blue as Sonic the hedgehog and as yellow as Pikachu, the kids buzz with energy all over campus, running without a care in the world. These new uniforms portray the creativity of ingenious minions and the cheerful attitude of animated Smurfs—perfect images fused to generate a brilliant description of the exciting life of an elementary student. •

Senior Sneak...

had their first taste of adrenaline when the courageous took the leap of faith off a 30-foot platform into churning waves. This also marked the beginning of the bachelorette.

“The Bachelorette” took the form of a hidden game disguised between activities and free time. In past years, Senior Sneak maintained a reputation for making and breaking hearts.

This year, the seniors went into the Sneak expecting couples to emerge; thus the term “The Bachelorette” spread like fungi in a locker room. In the passionate voice of a TV show host, Josiah Steinkamp announced to the camera, “If that couple called Laoana brushes shoulders one more time we may have to turn off the camera!” Activities such as beach volleyball, Capture the

Flag, “The Amazing Race,” and “The Bachelorette” sufficiently killed valuable time. Before the class realized it, Telunas had stolen away their entire vacation

break. As the sun set on the seniors’ paradise, every heart realized that these precious memories would stay with them for a lifetime. •

By Jennifer Vo

(Continued from page 1, col. 4) back on the feeling, Joyce Lee sighed, “The water refreshed my entire body because I had been walking all day in the sun.” As the sun slowly fell towards the distant mountains, seniors left the fantasy wonderland for the real city of Johor Bahru.

Early the next morning, a ferry loaded with seniors and their luggage headed towards Telunas, Indonesia. As the the class neared the scenic island, Nathan Unruh remarked, “It looks just like I pictured it.

Paradise.”

Not a single senior wished to remain on the crammed ferry, and a desperate struggle ensued as people scurried off to the promised land. That night, they

Spiritual Emphasis Week...

(Continued from page 1, col. 4) as little kids.”

SEW reached out to all the different age groups; and the young as well as the old enjoyed it, although—as evident when Rebecca Hurlbut (3) said, “My favorite part of SEW was the ice-cream on the last day!”—not always for the same reasons.

Before long, the last SEW session rolled around and the clock at the back of the chapel ticked its way through the last few seconds of the last SEW meeting, “5, 4,” Pastor Tom closed in prayer, “3, 2,” the worship team ended with one more Eagle’s Eye

The Goh-Goh Girls Unite

By Hannah Bradnam The beginning of the school year came around once again, and students arrived elated at the prospect of new classes and a fresh start. Third period came, which meant choir awaited an assembly of select pupils on a sunny 14 August day. The group began to trickle into the doorway to meet the chorus director, Ms. Joyce Goh, with her warm smile and hopeful anticipation of an enjoyable year. With the scheduled night of the choir performance looming, one simple issue presented itself. What would they wear for their concerts? The spirited symposium thus commenced.

An invigorating discussion between Ms. Goh and the young ladies of the choir took place and suggested ideas met with a great deal of consideration from their choirmaster. For four years this debate had persevered. At times the girls prevailed, but in recent years, however, the steadfast choir director had remained adamant in relation to the issue of dress length. The verbal sparring from the young ladies caused Ms. Goh to reasonably point out the fact that, “It doesn’t matter

song, “1,” Anyone and everyone had the invitation to stay, but the night had come to a close and a large majority of people rushed for ice-cream. Done. The muchanticipated Spiritual Emphasis Week, however, did not end then but continued as the seeds sowed in the hearts of students took root and began to grow, when the students, encouraged by their peers’ testimonies, gave their whole hearts to God rather than just parts of them, and when the prayer meetings continued as students lifted their school and fellow classmates up in prayer, asking God to continue His work in and through the students and school. • 2

what regulation dress code is, when you are wearing heels it will always look shorter. Therefore, the dress must be below your knees!”

The careful deliberation continued on as the days turned into weeks, and the long awaited concert came ever nearer. Six of the ten choir girls currently enjoy their second or third year in choir, but recently there stood an increase in distress and worry towards the concern of the dresses.

Two weeks before the Annual Fund and its concert, the discussion escalated. There remained the impending belief of the girls that they would fail to find something to wear, until Ms. Goh made an announcement, “Girls we are going to be getting dresses made, no objections allowed, especially from Sally [Chang, 12] ha-ha.

Go get measured!” The girls eagerly scurried out of the choir room to get measured by the awaiting tailor.

The tailor ensured delivery the next day and any qualms originally had by the girls, stood (Continued on page 3, col. 1) October 2013

Into the Wild

tions of disgust rang all around chapel, and no one could believe what they saw—live worms and durian. Both Mr. Hall and Steinkamp grinned, most likely out of fear as they realized they could not chicken out because they did not want to disappoint those who had cheered them on.

Without further delay, Brandon shouted, “Go!” On that cue, the two contestants grabbed the live worms and started shoving them into their mouths. The crowd went crazy in ovation, half enjoying the show and the other half feeling pity for the two up on stage. In the end, however, Mr. Hall could not handle the taste in his mouth and rushed out to the bathroom as Steinkamp polished off the remaining worms and durian like a beast. Brandon raised Steinkamp’s arm, proclaiming him the winner; and the contest came to an end.

“Wait! Hold on, do you hear that?” Brandon, with an anxious face, cried, “Oh no, we are being attacked! Quick! Everybody, run!”

As soon as she had run, the lights in chapel dimmed and five juniors, body-painted as native Indians, emerged out of nowhere. Making primitive howls, they circulated the seniors and the sponsors. After a few moments of scanning, the juniors “captured” Mrs. Jacki Steinkamp and Mrs. Debbie Chinn, and tied them on chairs up on the stage.

After that, the “intruders” suddenly disappeared from sight.

Brandon silently tiptoed back to stage, looking horrified at what she saw.

“Uh-oh!” she said, “they have been captured, and they will most likely be used as objects of sacrifice! We need to rescue

By Hyun Soo Kang

“To keep you alive, you might plastic bottles sliced in half have to eat some truly hideous (used as cups). They all added up to the “wild” theme, and things. . .”

On 2 September, the senior brought positive remarks, such class stood by the white tables, as, “Dude! How did they come half buoyant, half anxious, not up with all these cool ideas?” knowing what lay ahead. At from Daniel Yoon Hyung Ha 6:30 p.m., the time had come, (12), that revealed how much and the class strolled down the the decorations bewildered the stairs towards the chapel. Candle whole class.

“Food lights flickered on is served! each side of the Prepare stairs, small trees your beland other greenlies!” John ery stationed near Kim (11) the entrance proannounced vided a jungle-like the good atmosphere, and news every six juniors cossenior salitumed as native vated for.

Indians escorted S o o n the se ni or s to enough, the thematically juniors changed chapel— appeared Man vs. Wild, the After-Sneak Din- Native Indian David Beak (11) with bowls ner edition. poses with senior Yeon Woo full of satay “Whoa! I can’t Sakong. The Indians later “cap- (skewered believe what I’m ture” two of the senior sponsors. m e a t ) a s appetizers, seeing! This place is truly stunning!” said Raymond and the aroma diffused through the chapel. As soon as the Pow (12).

The chapel had indeed trans- tender meat transferred down formed in countless ways. Long the senior class’s stomachs, paper-vines hung loosely above another row of juniors marched people’s heads; the crisp sound in, this time with Chinese style of leaves resonated as students fried rice and tantalizing chicken stepped on them. Flower pots pieces that had a bright-yellow and tree trunks randomly settled glaze. Just by the main dish’s on the edges of the chapel appearance, the senior class’s established a jungle-outlook, jaws dropped, and each senior and mock-fossils time-traveled hurriedly scooped up the rice the seniors way back to pre- and a piece of chicken. The “modernization” period. The abundance of rice and fulljuniors stationed eight circular grown-man’s-hand-sized chicken tables all around chapel, and pieces helped everyone pig out.

“Your attention please!” Jeseach table had name cards, banana leaves (used as plates), sie Brandon (11), the main an Indian tribal mask, a wilder- “host” of the night, announced, ness map, a menu, and 1.5-liter “In the wild, to keep you alive, you might have to eat some truly hideous things . . . and I want to know if the seniors or their Choir Dresses... sponsors can survive in the wild!

I would like Mr. [Jason] Hall and (Continued from page 2, col. 4) Josiah [Steinkamp, 12] to come immediately eliminated. Col- up as representatives to see who leen Mims (10), the first to try survives better in the wild!” on the dress, remarked, “It’s No one knew what “hideous” actually not so bad”; and the food the juniors had prepared, rest of the ladies of the choir and the senior class cheered happily agreed. Peace began to frenziedly for both Mr. Hall and seep into the walls of the choir Steinkamp as they went to the room once again, returning it stage, rooting them on one to its former glory. The age-old hand and eager to find out the dilemma of “What to wear” – no “hideous” food on the other. As longer stands in the way of a soon as Brandon uncovered the wonderful class. • “hideous” food, loud exclamaEagle’s Eye

To rescue his wife, Mrs. Jacki Steinkamp, Mr. Karl Steinkamp has to put his hand into a cage with a python and withdraw a knife that lay on the bottom. Mr. Steinkamp fearfully did save his wife.

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Banana-leaf plates and jungle pharaphernalia decorate the tables at the After-Sneak Dinner. them now!”

With that said, Brandon called up Mr. Karl Steinkamp and Mr. Larry Chinn on stage. She first explained to Mr. Steinkamp that he had to reach into a transparent hamster cage with a snake inside, and grab the knife to save his wife. He looked hesitant in overcoming his fears, and made comments such as, “It’s a real snake!!” to win sympathy from the seniors. However, after a long, vigorous attempt with a little bit of cheating (skewing the hamster cage so that the snake would lean on one end) and seniors’ encouragements, he managed to take the knife out and triumphantly save his wife.

Brandon then turned to Mr. Larry Chinn, and told him he had to do the same, but she did not show what the box contained; only the spectators saw what moved around inside the box—white rats. Mr. Chinn, having no clue what moved around in the box, stoically reached down into the box. After a quick scrutinizing of the box, he successfully found the knife, and saved his wife from the hands of the native Indians. No one got injured or sick, and all the laughter during this “entertainment” proved that everyone enjoyed the night.

All the planned activities came to an end; and the seniors wandered around freely, most of them posing for pictures and capturing the unique moments of the night on camera.

“The juniors, in light of the decorations, food, and activities, blended the theme, “man vs. wild” with after sneak dinner so perfectly!” said Sally Ye Lim Chang (12). Every senior left the chapel happy, thankful, and full of hope. Senior class president, Steinkamp, wrapped up the night in a sentence: “The AfterSneak Dinner was such a blast, and looking at the amazing job they [juniors] have done, I’m really looking forward to what JSB will be like!” • October 2013

Wednesday’s War of Words tery of this mental sport lies in practice.

“I believe that speaking skills are learnt and not just intuitive. There are many people who think they are not a good speaker, but it’s the same with everything: …when you practice speaking skills, you become a better speaker,” declared Mrs. Chinn, emphasizing the importance of practice. “Thushara started out in debate in ninth grade, and she struggled… looking at her now, I can hardly conceive how that even happened!”

Kantimahanti later asserted this fact “… [In my] first debate, I was so nervous; and I tried to save my best point ’til last, except I ended up not even having enough time to present it. Obviously, we lost.”

Tan also reflected on his first experience with debate “On my very first debate, I didn’t really get the idea of the structure of it, so Thushara just passed me a paper and said to read it out. So basically all I did was read it out.”

Now, four years later, Kanti-

mahanti and Tan have ascended the ranks to reach the senior debate team. But to them, debate symbolizes more than just a mental exercise; it represents an art of speech, critical thinking skills, communication, and even, a way of life.

Kantimahanti affirmed confidently, “Debate is an extension of my personality… it’s a way for me to express myself and hone my public speaking skills… [It] is the primary reason why I want to be a lawyer, so debate has shaped my future and my life.”

Meanwhile, the eight students attacked their blank white paper with ferocious intensity. The extreme concentration, reflected in each of their faces, grew as the debate ensued.

Like how an athlete in competing with his peers, the students’ brains challenged each other to prove and disprove the speaker’s claims.

“However, the minute changes, the improvements in technology in the present way are not progressing technology in any way. Thank you,” concluded Kantimahanti as she proudly stepped down from the podium.

The two teams burst into applause as they finally concluded another weekly Wednesday War of Words. •

to finish last-minute preparations for the evening.

In spite of their responsibilities, the juniors enjoyed the time they spent together. “I worked the first shift from 5:00–6:30,” said Josh Basha (11), who manned the candy table for the evening, “and though I wasn’t supposed to work the second, I came back to work with a certain girl.”

Though others may not have worked because of Basha’s motives, it became evident that many stayed after their shift to socialize.

The class also helped the PTO members distribute food.

The aroma of the barbecued chicken attracted the impatient and famished crowd, causing them to gather around the tables and grab a piece. “I was happy I got there as soon as the BBQ started because half an hour later the lines wound back for what seemed miles,” said Ina Park

(12). “I actually wanted seconds, but I decided not to go back,” she sighed, reflecting the attitudes of many.

The barbecue went on from 5:00–7:00 p.m., with the food and the socializing drawing the customers. As a night to get away from stress, both dorm and day students alike flocked to the event. Jerry Lee (12) played his guitar around the court, serenading various students until he passed the task off to other musicians; parents and students milled about, keeping each other company; and juniors passed the time by goofing around at the “store.” Tessa Sasse (11) said with a laugh, “At the end we threw ice at each other! That’s all I can remember!” •

By Kate Sun

By the time Wednesday rolls around, the feeling of weariness sets in the hearts of students.

As the middle day of the week, Wednesdays have a reputation of exasperating and torturing students. As a result, once the day comes to an end, students joyfully run back home – relieved that they had survived the hazards of school. Nevertheless, a few brave souls defied the norm and stayed back—regardless of their fatigue—for the mental challenge of debate.

Standing five feet tall with her chin up, Thushara Kantimahanti (12) mounted the podium to eradicate her opponent’s argument once and for all. Fortified with complicated diction and elevated syntax, Kantimahanti foresaw, with utter and complete confidence, her impending victory.

“There is no doubt that technological progress has accelerated from the Stone Age; however, is it continuing to accelerate? Allow me to point out the fact that improvement and acceleration are not interchangeable.”

“Hear hear!” With a glowing smile on her face, Brittany Hurlbut (12) pounded her desk emphatically to demonstrate her support for her teammate.

Johnathan Tan (11) listened to Kantimahanti’s points and nodded solemnly in agreement.

Meanwhile, on the opponent’s side, the symphony of shaking heads, annoyed sighs and pens scratching on paper continued in the background.

Welcome to the weekly forensics debate practice, where every Wednesday, eight students dutifully march to Mrs. Debbie Chinn’s room to tackle the topic of the week. Armed with their iPads, the students spend forty five minutes engaged in intense debate on current social, political, and economical issues.

With no other weapons but their critical thinking skills and quick analytical minds, two opposing teams fight for the ultimate victory of defending their position, while successfully attacking their opponents’.

Using sarcastic remarks, formidable diction, and an occasional stutter, these eight students individually take turns to present their respective team’s contentions. With their eyes on the prize, they research and practice to improve their skills as a debater, and perhaps, to even win an award from the annual ISKL Forensics Competition.

Each week the teams train, for the key to attaining true mas-

Juniors for Grill

By Ana Mims “Calling all strong male juniors!

We need to lay these tables out now, boys,” Mr. Bob Pagee, junior class sponsor, called out.

So the afternoon of Saturday, 21 September began.

The PTO Barbecue, an anticipated and traditional backto-school event, began

Eagle’s Eye

early in the afternoon for the juniors. The Parent Teacher Organization hired the juniors to slave over a hot grill to prepare savory foods for the starving crowd.

The grills popped and sizzled as the juniors began barbecuing.

Those helping with the set-up started their Saturday work day at 2:00 p.m., preparing the grills and stocking the junior class “store.”

The rest of the class showed up at 4:00 p.m.

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October 2013

Clash of the Nerds!

By Alison Mays

Monday morning began like any other normal start of another school week; alarms completed their task of jolting young boys and girls out of their blissful slumber, and coffee makers quietly sizzled and fizzed producing the aromatic brew of caffeine so desperately needed by teachers to survive the day. But something else hung in the air mixed with the smells of breakfast and coffee, a sense of excitement so tangible that a knife could slice through it, for today marked the beginning of a long awaited Spirit Week.

The week began with a bang, or should I say, a clash. Clash Day—the only day a person could wear plaid and polka dots together without budding fashionistas lamenting his or her shoddy fashion choice.

Excited murmurs and spouts of laughter rang through the halls on Monday morning 30 September as students, dressed in the gaudiest blend of hodge-

the school teemed with costumes of all sorts, from Mr. and Mrs. Yeung by Jerry Lee (12) and Abby Bengs (10), to die hard Manchester United fans and their rivalling teams. Though some costumes needed a repeating explanation, everyone enjoyed dressing up as his or her favorite character, football team, or local Dalat teacher couple on the second day of Spirit Week.

Wednesday arrived, marking the middle of Spirit Week and the beginning of Nerd Day. Glasses framed the eyes of the non vision-impaired, necks faced the choking hold of shirts buttoned to the top, belts looped around high-riding pants which contained the tails of the tucked in shirts, and cuffs rolled just high enough to show the socks that proudly stood above the freshly shined shoes. The boys unashamedly borrowed their mothers’ hair gel and slicked back their manes in a straight part, while the girls returned to the innocent hairstyles of their

podge clothes, filed into their homerooms and as the teachers attempted to wade through their disorientation resulting from the chaos of clashing colors. All throughout the remainder of the day, students and teachers alike delighted in the uniqueness that the day had to offer. “Spirit week was so relaxing and exciting because we were able to step out of our comfort zones and do something out of the norm,” said Sam McIntyre (12). The day certainly brought some people out of their comfort zone, and everyone would agree that “normal” did not describe that day nor any of the days to come in the rest of the week.

“No way, Man!” “That’s so cool.” Mr. Tom Miller proudly faced the impressed comments such as these from a group of senior boys who could not contain their awe at Mr. Miller’s Wolverine costume.

Fandom Day had arrived, and

Once Upon a Weekend...

Ping! The common and sometimes exasperating notification tone beeps from Justin Lao’s (12) iPad as he eats his delicious and succulent chicken rice during lunch block. As he peers at the little red one on top of the Facebook icon he wonders what new event will appear in the application.

As he taps on the blue square, a title pops up large on the screen: Disney Movie Night.

Soon after Senior Sneak, a group of seniors found themselves determined to find activities other than lugging themselves to Gurney every Friday night. Instead of commonly migrating to the mall, they planned to whisk themselves back to their early years through the wonderful Disney movie classics. “ I absolutely love Disney movie nights because it gives Eagle’s Eye

as classmates with a different form of entertainment. “No matter how mature or cool you get, Disney movies never get old.

And although our Disney movie marathon is mostly a good excuse to pretend that I haven’t been watching them alone in my room all these years, it really is tons of fun to slow down, relax, and eat incredibly unhealthy yet delicious food with friends while ‘reliving my childhood,’” said Stephanie Jones (12).

Complimented with snacks and fellowship, the Disney nights truly gave seniors the chance to let loose and reflect on innocent memories in a new way. “I always look forward to Friday nights now because it’s so much fun to connect with friends as well as remember being a kid in a new sort of way,” said Reese Terry (12). Through creativity and thought, the seniors found a way to bond and come together to create a night where dreams come true.

Speedily, Lao read through

me a chance to get out of the dorms and visit other peoples’ houses while hanging out with friends and reliving my childhood,” said Lao. Every Friday night, a group of seniors congregated at different venues—from their houses to the dorms—to watch Disney classics and enjoy yummy refreshments.

With each new week, seniors waited in eager anticipation for the night in which they could truly go back to the “good old days” when swinging from vines as an ape seemed cool and no worries truly translated to Hakuna Matata. Recounting these wonderful times, Nathan Unruh (12) said, “They make me feel like I’m in diapers again.”

Not only did seniors get the chance to watch these classics; they also had a chance to bond 5

childhoods and evenly distributed their locks into two perfect pigtails or tightly twisted braids.

For a few brief hours, everyone’s outward appearance mirrored the inward intelligence which the school proudly takes credit for.

Just as soon as the gel washed down the drain and the pigtails released their grip, the hairs went up, sideways, inside, outside, looped around, tucked under, and stuck out of the students’ heads’ once again for Crazy Hair Day. The styles ranged everywhere from Cindy Loo Who by Alexa Cahal (11), to the Whomping Willow by Charlotte Combrink (10), but the level of fun and enjoyment had by all did not vary in the slightest.

The week of adventure started with a bang and ended with a pop. A pop of colors, of course.

The final day of Spirit Week called the pride of the school to attention with the bright and bold school colors of brilliant blue and glittering gold worn in every way imaginable. The students banded together one last time for Spirit Week, and carried the colors with much honor and joy as they recalled and retold the stories of outrageous costumes, ridiculous hairstyles, and unforgettable fun. •

By Josiah Steinkamp the new message on his Facebook app stating the time and place of the next Disney movie night. With his quick reflexes he whipped up a reply right after the bell rang signaling the end of the lunch block and hit the post button in the lower right hand corner. He rushed out of the student center, closing down his iPad, and headed to his next class—but not before a small sound emanated from the tablet in his hands. “Ping!” •

October 2013

Eaglets Soar for Gold

By Reese Terry Sweaty palms and heart racing, the young junior varsity volleyball athletes prepared for their first home tournament of the year. Friday, 20 September marked the beginning of this thrilling event. After the last bell rang out through the campus, all players scurried towards the gym in anticipation and excitement.

Despite every local team dropping out at the last minute, Athletic Director, Mr. Chance Edman, quickly revised the schedule allowing

the first serve flying over the net.

Raymond Pow (12), a referee for the tournament, reminisced over his role in the tournament.

“Being a referee was awesome because I got a front row seat to all the games!” He enjoyed supporting these young stars to victory. “Our JV volleyball boys and girls fought hard and finished strong in the finals, earning us the gold,” he enthused.

Both girls’ and boy’s “A” teams for the Dalat JV squad ended with wins. Not only did the players prove their skills, but they also enjoyed spending time brought

everyone together for an expla- with one another on and off the nation of the rules, signaling the court. “Playing in the tournament helped us practice the skills beginning of the tournament.

The whistle blew, sending that we had learned, as well as for multiple games between the home team and their rival, ISKL. Both Dalat and ISKL brought four teams to compete in this small tournament, two guys’ teams and two girls’ teams. All players took time to warm up and get rid of their pre-game jitters, u n t i l M r.

E d m a n

bond as a team,” Ruby Noh (8) said. She finished by stating positively, “I was proud of my team; playing in the tournament showed us what we needed to improve on.”

Adrian Nonis (8) also enjoyed playing with his team, building excitement for his future seasons. “Competing in the JV volleyball tournament was a great experience because of all the intense games we got to play and the new friends I got to make,” he said.

Although nearly every team had dropped out, the tournament ended up a success for both schools involved. The Dalat players came excited to compete in their home tournament, but left with more than just gold medals. The JV Volleyball Tournament helped sharpen the skills of these young athletes as well as bond them together as a team. •

Frozen Thighs & Slippery Slides

By Tommy Mallow

Foam filled Nathan Unruh’s (12) nostrils as he sprinted face first into a soaked sponge. He gingerly wiped the white fluff off his cheeks and released a shriek resembling a Native American war cry as he charged the ranks of the Blue Team. Opposing Unruh, Keegan Oppenheim (10) swooped his arm into a bucket of balloons and returned fire with the wobbly water grenades. Weapons of wet destruction continued to tear across the puddled lawn all night.

The Water War had begun!

If a visitor decided to tour Dalat on the afternoon of 20 September, he would have discovered a magnificent sunset silhouetting hundreds of wild

up of four girls, dominated the pool in strength and strategy.

We won almost every time!”

Stories of the feats of ingenuity and determination that teams had achieved flitted to and fro.

To the east, students tested their pain tolerance as they sat in buckets filled to the brim with chunks of ice and frigid water.

Eyes turned red and cheeks turned purple as they maintained their dignity in the arctic buckets.

Meanwhile, to the southwest, amateur Dalat wrestlers drenched themselves in sweat and tears as they took on fierce adversaries in the illustrious Water Sumo Wrestling games.

To the south, epic battles

teenagers living as kids for a few precious hours. A breeze ruffled Josh Basha’s (11) frosty hair as he exclaimed, “I squatted in the ice water for over ten minutes!”

Basha, along with countless others, gave life and limb to earn points for his team.

Five stations surrounded Dalat’s outdoor basketball court with the buzz of adrenaline and H2O. To the west, the savage within slowly emerged as decent young men and women gnashed their teeth and flexed their biceps in heated Tug-of-War matches. Raymond Pow (12) discarded any sexist stereotypes he had previously believed by remarking, “Our team, made

comparable to D-Day raged across the span of the football pitch. Foam flew, eyes burned, balloons exploded, shirts tore, and one team stood victorious.

As Micah Martens (11) reflected on losing his comrades to the casualties of water, he shuddered. “I saw my friends, people I had grown close to… covered in foam and lying in puddles of their own balloons.”

As the sun dipped below the orange horizon, drenched clothes and waterlogged spirits inhaled the moist air and released sighs. Only the melancholy puddles remained that night to tell the great story of Water War 2013. •

Starting on the Bottom; Ending at the Top—Literally!

Sweat beads cascaded down, soaking shirts and leaving a wet trail behind. Excruciating pain heightens with every step and with every steep incline, the stomach lurches. The legs begin to feel like lead, and the mind begins to wonder why it even did this in the first place. Turning back was not an option; and only one way remained, up and forward. At first the task seemed Eagle’s Eye

nous Penang Hill on 22 August.

This “insurmountable task” had each group of leaders trudging up the mountain leaving behind a trail of sweat that anybody could easily follow. Each troop seemingly had its own personality as Ina Park (12) recounted, “The hike was super challenging but, like, in our group, Michelle Chan (12) and David Unruh (9) seemed so full of energy, seri-

reasonable; but eventually these feelings of reason disappeared completely, leaving regret to replace them. Why did these students put themselves through this misery? Ah, yes, the Leadership Retreat time had rolled around again.

Apparently, for this year’s attendees, the first step to leadership started with a six-kilometer hike up the legendary but omi6

By Justin Lao

ously the hike was like a joke to them.”

Not everybody in this “lively group” shared the same view.

Further down the trail, a frustrated and weary Shawn Kim (12) yelled, “I hate you Mr. [Tom] Miller!” as if it would heal the mental wounds he suffered.

Cars drove by and bewildered on-lookers peered curiously at (Continued on page 7, col. 1) October 2013

Mission Not Impossible On 28 September, sleepy-eyed and clothed in painting garb, ranks of juniors marched to the top of Pearl Hill with rollers slung over their shoulders, ready to do battle. Crusted with dirt and grime built up from long days of neglect, buildings lay in wait for them at the top of the hill. The juniors’ mission? To scrub, clean, and repaint these buildings. ​Led by their Captain Benjamin Tse and other Excom officials, the staunch, stalwart, and steady young soldiers trooped up a slender path that twisted its way up through the jungle. After the arduous climb up the hill to where the old Japanese World War II bunkers lay, the juniors began the real work. ​Each one chose his or her weapon: a roller, a scraper, or a paint brush and got straight to work. Before long, the intrepid

workers found themselves winning against the grimy buildings; but the the “enemy” had a new tactic. A sharp whine like a falling missile alerted the juniors to this new threat.

Mosquitoes.

The tiny creatures attacked ruthlessly, ripping through the ranks of boys and girls with wanton force and doing their best to stop the group from achieving their mission. But the juniors continued to toil, determined to do their duty. They would work on despite all odds; mosquitoes could not daunt them. ​On the juniors worked as the sun steadily rose and the temperature climbed with it, stifling the jungle with its humid heat. A new threat approached, unbeknownst to the juniors, creeping stealthily along on silent rays: mid-day sun madness.

Dissent began to break out in

Leadership Retreat..

to bond and get to know each other. “It was a good bonding experience; I got to know people that I would not have had the chance to know had I not gone,” said Unruh.

The Dorm Council joined in on the leadership retreat for the first time. Aunt Valerie Weidemann led the newly introduced group as its members received recognition for their positions.

“It was pretty cool that we as Dorm Council had the chance to go to the Leadership Retreat because we got to bond more and to know the members of the Dorm Council better through it,” Eunice Um (12) said thoughtfully.

Many of the students who had begun the retreat and had regretted even starting it changed their views. For them, after one night alongside their comrades, they changed their mental outlook from one of regret to one of accomplishment. As they slowly made their way down the hill, feelings of achievement and camaraderie replaced those of regret; and the retreat came to an end. •

(Continued from page 6, col. 4) the sweaty bunch marching up Penang Hill. Families of people as well as wild monkeys eyed the curious batch of students with their sweat-laden clothing and sunburnt faces.

Eventually the group of 37 students reached their destination, a rustic and isolated building with the name “Chinese Methodist Nature Lodge.”

After many heavenly showers and acts of territorializing beds, the staff members set up different sessions to help educate these leaders-in-training. Each session had its own impact on each person.

“They were awesome, the fact that we had time together as a group as well as having separate times with our own specific group was really good and helpful,” said Shelly Choi (11).

The sessions gave different input and information on the basis of leadership. Along with gaining valuable knowledge, each team had the opportunity Eagle’s Eye

the ranks and several miniature paint wars ensued between comrades. Friend against friend, the juniors waged war on each other, forgetting for a moment their true mission. The tides had turned against them.

Bespattered eleventh graders chased each other through the mess of buildings flinging paint and marking their victims with hand prints.

Soon after, the jungle struck another blow. The juniors’ water had run out. Captain Tse immediately knew what to do; he ordered one of his officials, Mrs. Anne-Marie Pagee, to drive down the hill to fetch them all more water. Her vital mission could not fail, and the fate of the juniors rested in her hands.

Or so they thought.

Just as the juniors began to despair, help arrived in the form of the senior class, who bore water, 100 plus, apples, and most importantly, Cornetto ice cream cones. Jubilated at the sight

By Ciera Nash of friends, the ranks of juniors retreated from the building to take a well-earned break.

When asked what he felt when the seniors arrived, officer Kirk Ladner said, “I think that at that moment the seniors were a gift from God because not only did they bring snacks but also a reason to have a break.”

All too

ICI

soon the seniors left, but the juniors attacked their work with renewed vigor and finished the job strong.

The historical war site reached its former glory. “The government wanted to redo the buildings, and we volunteered to do it for them. It will help focus on some of the historical places in Tanjung Bunga,” reported Johnathan Tan. With the battle finished, victorious ranks of juniors made their way home, covered in splatters of paint. •

Friendships Flour

By Stephanie Jones Bowls of flour, situated in front of the different middle school SAT groups, gave rise to a plethora of possibilities and questions about the upcoming activity.

In the end, it called for team members to blow into the flour, hunt for hidden rubber bands, and acquire them using only their mouths. Giggles permeated the SATs as they received these instructions and eagerly anticipated the coming hilarity.

The day before, Thursday 15 August, the seventh and eighth graders had travelled the one and a half hours up to Cinta Sayang by bus and, in honor of their seniority, spent the night at a hotel. On Friday, the fifth and sixth graders met them at the Cinta Sayang Water Park, where the staff had already conjured up a series of different team-building activities.

“The [Middle School] Retreat 7

was an opportunity to learn more about each other,” said Jaja Loverio (7), “especially through the different activities.”

Mr. Scott Uzzle, middle school coordinator and counselor, said, “We do this retreat in the first week of school. When we come back from the retreat, all the new students are different from when they left because of the chance to do activities together, get to know people, and have a good time. It makes them feel like a part of our middle school. That’s the most important thing for me.

“It also sets the tone for the rest of the year. It shows the students that we are in middle school to learn but also to have fun. The following Monday, the kids come back excited and ready to be part of this school.”

Embodying Mr. Uzzle’s main (Continued on page 8, col. 1) October 2013

Slices of Heaven

resorted to buying half a box in an attempt to insure satisfaction of their longing.

Sakong later elaborated, “We started with six pizzas, I think—two boxes per block; but now we order 12 pizzas every Friday.”

Finally the mob dissipated, and students moving to the black round tables to enjoy their

By Kate Sun Friday had finally come. Students crowded around the beige metal window shutter.

Anticipation and expectation hummed in the air as the students shifted and muttered impatiently.

All the while, more Dalatians poured into the Student Center to join the growing mob.

All eyes riveted on the fateful cold door. Suddenly, the mouth-watering aroma of food reached their nostrils. Nothing else mattered in this integral moment of destiny. The agonizing minutes rolled past like the slow growth of Greece’s economy.

Finally, after the long seven day wait, the badly painted gates of heaven opened for the deprived and famished sinners below.

The rush had begun for the oily, greasy, delectable slices of pizza.

A new addition to the StuCo’s growing list of weekly treats, Pizza Friday has quickly cemented its position as the most successful and s oug ht - a f t e r product so far.

No one can resist the allure of the irresistible, aromatic, conglomeration of crispy

pizza crust, tangy tomato sauce, and the thick layer of cheese that seals the flavor within. Brought in by StuCo, pizza Friday has transformed from a simple idea from Mr. Tom Miller and Yeon Woo Sakong’s (12) brainstorming session, to a necessity for every pizza lover on campus.

Hailed as a tremendous success by both students and teachers, this one event has changed the eating habits of most every student, and introduced to students, some for the first time, a sense of commitment and faithfulness. Every Friday, Thushara Kantimahanti (12) ritualistically arrives for pizza early to ensure her catch of the nectarous triangles.

“Pizza Fridays means challenging myself and trying to achieve new heights... Every Friday, I see myself incrementally improving. The first Friday, I only had three slices. The next one, I improved to five. And today, I had five slices in a span of five minutes...and I’m still hungry!” she adamantly asserted.

With this onslaught of pizza cravings, StuCo has undertaken a radical change to support Dalat’s intrinsic need for nourishment. Many times, gleeful students’ have had their hopes crushed when informed that the pizza had run out. Some even

Middle School Retreat...

buses pulled back onto campus, and parents collected their exhausted children. As the children left, parents heard bits and pieces of what had happened on the retreat; and, throughout the weeks following, students shared other impressionable events that occurred. Clark Thomson (8) told of when he had the opportunity to “see lightning bolts crack 100 yards away during a thunderstorm.”

Chand explained his favorite slide while simultaneously motioning the shape of the Boomerang, and Sarah Stoltzfus (7) described the flour challenge saying, “It was my favorite teambuilding activity. You should have seen everyone’s faces afterwards; it was hilarious!” •

(Continued from page 7, col. 4) thesis for doing the Middle School Retreat, Nathan Chand (7) said, “I enjoyed [the retreat].

My favorite part was the waterpark and going on the slide called the Boomerang. At the time I didn’t have any friends because I was new, but it did help me to establish new relationships.”

After a morning packed with activities and an afternoon of free roam in the park, the students piled back into the buses to make their way home.

Excitement still tingling in the air, conversations, card games, and quality time spent with friends filled the last moments of the retreat.

The trip concluded as the Eagle’s Eye

plunder as the StuCo storekeepers gasped for breath—another successful Pizza Friday had finally come to an end.

As she walked away with her “slices of Heaven,” Kantimahanti summed up many of her peers’ feelings: “Pizza Friday has basically made my Friday lunch time worth it, and I want to thank StuCo for this.” •

Ninja Contenders... and Ice-Cream Eaters

By Ana Mims

Shrieks and squeals emanated from the center court on the afternoon of 27 September.

Young eighth graders battled their senior counterparts in an intense game of Ninja on this scorching afternoon. The senior class that planned this activity, however, did not intend it to become a war between the classes.

Rather, this event signaled the kick-off of the traditional eight grade buddies.

On this Friday afternoon, the seniors of both high school and middle school skipped theirregular X-Block activities to meet on the center court to introduce themselves to each other, play games, and eat ice cream together. The afternoon began in a rush of confusion and excitement—seniors scurried to get there on time as the eighth graders poured onto the court.

Seniors stuck name tags on their shirts to identify themselves to the middle-schoolers; and once they found each other, the pairs sat together and began to get to know each other. “I’m excited to have a really cool eighth-grade buddy, and I can tell that it’s going to be a great year with him!” says Nathan Unruh (12) as he got to know his buddy, David Chinn (8). He asked him questions ranging from favorite superheroes to future occupations to hobbies, trying to uncover the common bonds between them.

As the get-to-know-you came to a close, senior class vice president and organizer of theevent, Reese Terry (12), struggled to get everyone’s attention so they could begin a round of Ninja.

Eighth graders made a name for themselves as they consistently and confidently slapped the seniors out of the game. One of the intense showdowns between Daniella Combrink (8) and Julia 8

Munson (8) took place, and the eighth graders battled to come out on top. As contenders continued to eliminate the opposition, seniors began to serve ice cream to the sweaty and hungry eighth graders. The afternoon event ended with seniors and eighth graders exchanging contact information, promising to get together soon.

“I enjoyed helping out with the eighth-grade buddy kick-off even though it took some time for everyone to actually listen to me,” Terry said with a laugh.

“I’m so excited for 8th grade buddies this year, since our class didn’t get senior buddies our eighth-grade year. It’s fun to get to know and make new friends even if they are younger than we. This year will be a whole lot of fun spending time with these youngsters! Reminds me of myself in middle school,” she said enthusiastically.

Other seniors echoed her opinions as they look forward to the year ahead.

Raymond Pow (12) gave words of advice though, mentioning how seniors need to step up to their new status as role-models and truly act in a way the eighth graders can look up to.

“All the preparations for the event paid off,” Terry said contentedly.

Hopefully, this year seniors and their buddies will find ways to bond and interact. In the end, though, seniors look back on the kick-off as a success. After all, what more do you need to make people happy when you have friends, Ninja, and ice cream? • October 2013

Cookies Unite Community

By Reese Terry

When turning onto campus, Dalat parents face a slightly unusual sight. Mr. Larry Chinn standing in the street with a smile on his face and cookies in his hands. “Today is the kickoff for the Annual Fund, and I baked some cookies just for you,” he said as he handed the driver a bag of baked goods and a brochure chuck full of important information about this year’s fundraiser.

From 7 October to 15 November Dalat International School hands out freshly baked cookies, performs polished concerts, and even lets students dunk their teachers in order to earn the support of parents and engage the students in a splash of fun.

The Annual Fund has always improved the campus and its

“I was so thrilled to find out about some of the money going towards the new chapel equipment,” Ana Mims (12) enthused.

“Spirituality is encouraged at Dalat, and I feel like worship is a big component for us to grow in God. I am really looking forward to using the new equipment in the chapel services.”

These great changes did help shape the school; however, the Annual Fun goes beyond the money it pulls in and the equipment it buys.

“The Annual Fund isn’t so much a fund-raiser as it is a community event when we all work together to achieve a common goal,” Mr. Chinn explained. “The best part is seeing the results, like the priceless expressions of the middle-schoolers checking out their new lockers or picking up

equipment, aiding both the staff and the students. Josh Lee (12) praises the idea of a yearly fundraiser. “A great example of how the Annual Fund has benefitted me is the new weight room.

They replaced the old blue carpet with new rubber floors, which are great for heavier weights, and added a new set of dumbbells, and even a new squat rack,” he enthusiastically reported.

“Chest day, e’ryday!” he laughed as he headed off towards the gym.

Dalat hopes to reach an astounding 125,000 ringgit for the year of 2013, wanting to use this money for numerous projects like iPads in elementary and middle school classrooms, chapel music equipment, and even a new weather station.

Setting the Stage Higher

siderably with new stairways and a greater room for learning.

“The kids love it. The new roof really provides a nicer environment and shields kids from the rain. It’s also cooler with the shade and breeze coming through, and the new stairways make it so convenient to get from class to class,” explained Mr. Scott Uzzle proudly. “We all just love the new science rooms.

I have not heard a negative comment yet.”

Built two stories high with two connecting walkways that bridge the two halves of the structure, the building provides a unique and more professional looking environment. It allows students to feel connected with their community and carries in a fresh atmosphere for knowledge and creativity. “They are luckier because they have a better environment than we did as middle schoolers,” said Sally Chang (12) upon seeing the new building.

The new arrangement of the building truly gifts the middle schoolers this semester and, in an abundant number of ways, set the stage higher. •

boys used five days of the week as time to hone and perfect their skills.

Each day, Coach Hall and Coach Edman would educate their pupils on the art of football using their experience to aid them. “[Mr.] Hall likes to watch us face plant into puddles of mud. But it’s OK because we have fun, and it builds passion within us to play harder,” said Tommy Mallow (12), victim to one of the innumerable puddles.

Coach Hall set high standards for his team to follow, one of which included punctuality.

Known for his “punctuality”,

Eun Hyo Chang (12) would often come later than most to practice for various reasons but, Chang stepped it up as the year progressed by making it on time. Practice sometimes made muscles ache with agony; but, other times, practice made the team eager to learn more. With a grin, Unruh remarked, “Soccer practice separates the men from the boys.”

The girls, with their of brightly colored clothing, sought to make a difference as a rebuilding unit under the leadership and guidance of Coach Robin Frohlich.

(Continued on page 9, col. 2)

By Jennifer Vo

The sound of the crisp morning bell echos throughout the school, signaling the start of a brand new day. The ringing of the bell resonates against a coloseum soon filled with the young warriors tackling the years of pre-adolescence. With most students, their lives return to the identical scene from which they left long ago before the summer; however, for the middle schoolers, their world stage changed drastically.

As the glittering sun rose upon the start of a new year, broadcast of the new middle school building spread like wild fire, proucing “Oohs,” “Ahhs,” and even a little jealousy from the upperclassmen. “While I was watching it being built, the only thought in my head was “How come we didn’t get that when we were in middle school?” stated Josiah Steinkamp (12).

The new structure grew con-

Mud Therapy “Hurry up guys, [Mr. Jason] Hall’s already up there!” yelled Nathan Unruh (12) as he hurriedly raced up the steps to upper field. Jerry Lee (12) and Shawn Lim (10) quickly donned their practice gear and followed their captain. Meanwhile, the lady eagles had just finished, ending their productive practice with a resounding “Hey, hey, hey oouu!” echoing off the surrounding buildings into the distance. Mud flecked and Eagle’s Eye

By Justin Lao

caked the girls’ clothing, leaving the boys to only imagine what lay in store for them upon this wretched field.

As varsity squads representing their school, each team had its own responsibilities for the season. The boys, fully geared with navy blue shirts and golden shorts, took it up a notch with the seasoned Coach Hall and the assistance of athletic director Mr. Chance Edman leading and guiding them into war. The 9

their new instruments.”

The school, staff and students alike, band together in events like the concert and the dunk tank to pull off this communal effort to enhance the school.

The Annual Fund has changed the face of the school by fixing places like the workout room and the student center, as well as uniting the Dalat community. It continues to enrich the education and experience of every student, from elementary through high school. As the Annual Fund kicks off for the year of 2013, the smell of freshly baked cookies infuses the cars of the parents, and the smile of Mr. Chinn stays stuck in their memory. •

October 2013

Point/Counterpoint Dictatorial Dorm-Dating’s Do’s and Don’ts

A Dangerous Fruit?

Dating: the hot topic of the dorms. Many controversies have arisen over the dating rules the dorms keep and whether the rules put too many restrictions on dorm students. Most dorm students find the strict policies stifling and complain constantly.

“Why should the school control who I go out with?” One twelfth grader complained with a sigh while walking to class.

Well, why should the dorms have such restricting rules? They keep students safe from potentially harmful situations, and they protects students’ integrity.

Many students may argue that they should have the right to go out on dates without a third wheel, and that the dorms should allow them the right to make their own decisions about going out. Dorm parents, however, should have the right to dictate such rules, because the responsibility for the dorm students lies solely in the hands of the dorm parents. When parents send their children to stay at the dormitories, they put trust into the staff of the school to protect the students. This trust drives the administrators to restrict dating.

The policies keep students from making poor decisions that they may later regret. The frontal lobe of the brain, the part of the cerebrum that makes decisions, in teenagers does not fully develop until 21 years of age. This means that students may not make the wisest choices. The rules about going out help prevent any negative experiences that students might otherwise have. It removes the possibility of getting carried away however unlikely such an act may seem.

By removing the possibility, Dalat protects the virtue of the students that parents trust them to protect. No parent wants to receive a call from the school about their child getting into trouble.

The administrators have to treat dating as a potentially harmful issue and place safeguards against it becoming that way.

Instead of taking such a negative view on the dorm rules students should focus on the positive aspects of them. As Justin Lao (12) aptly puts it, “I personally think that the rules are good because they give limits to the relationships that can happen for dorm students. I think that with the limitations, each date that the couple takes becomes more special because each of them has waited for it to happen rather than be impatient and disagreeing with the rules that the dorms have.”

When students take the time to understand the perspective of the administrators, they will find that a peace comes with the acceptance of the rules. Instead of complaining and feeling stifled, the dorm students should appreciate that they have people who want to look out for them, people who care about them. The rules about going out just show how much the dorm parents care.

By Ciera Nash

Butterflies swarm inside his stomach, testosterone streams all through his body. He perspires and quivers slightly, and in his mind he arranges what he will say in a few moments. With courage in his heart and flowers in his hand, he kneels down in front of the girl of his dreams and asks her, “I’ll be your gentleman, will you be my lady?” The girl, suppressing herself from jumping with joy, receives the flower and answers back with a smile, “Yes!” In modern society, we define such relationships as “couples”, and when they spend time together, we call it “dating”. Such love affairs prevail throughout high schools, for teenagers naturally generate hormones which build affections for the opposite sex. Dating has multiple benefits, such as: developing personality as one learns how to mature in relationships with others; gaining confidence with the opposite sex as one learns how to stay at ease with his or her companion; and providing a sense of “importance” by feeling pursued and desired by someone. But Dalat’s dating policy for dorm students, in which couples cannot go off campus together without huddling in a group, hinders the natural development of dating relationships to some extent.

“I think it [the dorm students dating policy] is okay; I don’t mind it honestly. I guess I’m used to it. But I think it would be better if more dating opportunities were allowed, you know, just the two of us going out. Then I could take her to some cool places in Penang, not just the usual “Gurney outing” I go with her and others as a group,” said Shaun P’ng (12) who currently dates Eunice Um (12), a resident of Jackson Dorm. One might argue, why not go to those “cool places” with a group? Well, take the Air Itam reservoir next to Penang Hill for example. The reservoir, surrounded by hills and mountains, emits sensational fragrances from the flowers around it; and the place has benches stationed for people to take a break and enjoy the exquisite scenery. The place does not offer any group activities, but provides a place for couples to sit and converse privately. Who then would want to go to such a place as a group, when Gurney has all the entertainment (movies, arcades, karaoke, and so on)? Although some people in a group might want to visit these quiet reservoirs, they usually choose malls with many different things to do, because one person might want to watch a movie, another person might want to sing at a karaoke; and most malls provide these different activities.

“On a date, it’s nice to go watch a movie and all; but I think it’s better and more important for couples to go somewhere where they can just sit for long hours, chatting about this or that without outside interference. After all, relationships get stronger as people get to know each other,” said Daniel Kim (12). The school has white tables near the football field, benches all around campus, and they indeed grant the atmosphere for couples to have private talks. But imagine staying in the same spots and looking at the same views every weekend. Couples cannot expect a change in mood, since the atmosphere stays the same all the time. To make matters worse, noisy students roam all over the campus, making it difficult for couples to enjoy private, quiet chats.

“Who doesn’t know the good intentions behind the dating policy? It’s effective in a way that it ensures safety and, I would say, “Christian-like” relationships. But those good relationships can happen even without the policy, and I find the policy somewhat too confining,” said Jerry Lee (12).

Yes, relationships could go wrong with undesired outcomes; however, students should take responsibility for their choices and actions. Instead of a policy that restricts dating outside campus, enforcing courtship and teaching the dangers of dating would work better for couples to stay in healthy relationships. •

By Hyun Soo Kang Eagle’s Eye

Football...

(Continued from page 9, col. 4) A relatively new team in comparison to the year before, they had much to learn. With the commanding presence of Yeon Woo Sakong (12), the towering presence of Michelle Chan (12), the destructive force of Joyce Lee (12), and the dangerous duo of Emma Chinn (12) and Ina Park (12), the younger members of the team needed to look no further for inspiration.

As seniors and returners from the past years, they carried the most valuable tool needed for football: experience. Also new to the team, Coach Frohlich took up the reins of the team 10

with determination. “I love playing soccer with Coach Robin.

She sets a wonderful example of what we should strive towards: sportsmanship, positive attitude, and character,” said Lee. The girls quickly left the field chattering about various dramas as the boys hurried up. For Coach Hall, punctuality topped the list of priorities for practice.

As all the boys gathered around to start practice, they began to focus their minds for whatever the devious duo of Coach Hall and Coach Edman had in store.

As the squad calmed themselves and quieted their minds, the smallest member of the team, Karsten Ladner (10), piped, “Hey, where’s Eun Hyo?” • October 2013

Eagles, What’s Your Profession?

Scorching heat beats down and blisters on the football pitch of Penang City Stadium as the starting line up of the boys’ varsity football team jogs out on to the field. All 11 starters lock shoulders forming a huddle before the start of the game. The players squint from the sun, stare into each other’s eyes, and gear up for their first game of the second annual Spike and Strike To u r n a ment. They have practiced and worked for this moment, and now the time has come to test their ability to work as a team. After a couple quick pointers from the captains, the team shrinks down and hushes into a silence as a voice roars out one terrorizing phrase: Eagles, what is your profession?!

Immediately following Student Council’s spirit week, the football tournament gave

Comfy Couture

By Alison Mays

The Dalat Newsletter of 31 May told of a change to the girls’ uniform, and this news sent shock waves throughout the middle and high school. Skirts would no longer stand as an option, and “skorts” now reigned as the predominant wardrobe choice for girls.

“When I first heard about the skorts, I was a bit skeptical. But

the varsity boys’ program the chance to play in fierce competition against five other teams, ranging from schools in Penang to an international school from Singapore. Different from other years, however, the venue changed; instead of playing on a regular high school field, all the teams had the unique chance o f

a fledged professional s t a d i u m , home to the local Penang football club. When asked about the venue, the starting goal keeper, Justin Lao (12), said, “I enjoyed every second of it; the thrill of playing in an actual stadium, the fun of playing against other teams, and the team bonding. All of it made the tournament quite special.”

Starting on the bright, hot, and humid morning of 4 October, all 16 players and their

coaches dragged themselves out of bed and played hooky from school in order to catch their first game against PEA FC at nine in the morning. Quickly rolling off to a fantastic start, the boys easily scored two goals, winning their first match of the competition. Their next game, however, would put them face to face against adversity as they faced MAZ in a tough and tenacious game later in the afternoon. The score remained tied throughout most of the game until in the last 10 nail-biting minutes when the squad persevered and defeated MAZ 1-0 to move on to the semifinals.

After that nail-biting game against MAZ, the Eagles came back the next day and fought hard and well despite losing to Uplands in the semifinals. Undeterred by their loss, the boys ended the tournament with a 2-1 win over MAZ, again securing the bronze trophy. Reflecting on the tournament, defender Shion Matsumoto (11) stated, “It was great for the team to be able to practice against tough competition before we head

off for our main tournament in ChiangMai.” Through the home tournament, the varsity football team learned better chemistry, teamwork, and gained precious experience from the multiple games. Co-captain Nathan Unruh (12) said, “The tournament was a great visual for the coaches and the team to see our strong points, and likewise, our weak points.” At the end of the day the Eagles stood proud with a bronze trophy shimmering in their hands, eagerly waiting for their next opportunity to play.

Sweat and grime dripped from the huddle as the boys swayed back and forth, back and forth, back and forth chanting from the bottom of their hearts.

Then suddenly, like a grenade, the huddle bursts with yells, screams, and roars echoing throughout the stadium as the starters broke away from the huddle. Each player jogged to his position in the scorching sun to await the whistle to signal the start of the game they came to dominate. •

now that I’ve gotten to experience them, I realize they’re more convenient to relax in without having to be cautious of how you’re sitting,” said Priska Sugianto (11).

Skorts consist of a unique combination of a pair of shorts with a piece of material over the front, creating the allusion of a skirt. The majority of girls who faced this sudden change, embraced it as refreshing and original. “I love how skorts are attractive yet easy to move around in,” said Hannah Graves (10).

The comfortable skorts just

brush against invisible point that lingers two inches above the knee marking the appropriate length, which eliminates any chance of a dress code violation and adds to the garment’s positive aspects.

With skirts comes a difficult challenge of finding a balance between modesty, femininity, and comfort.

“Having to constantly make sure my skirt is at an appropriate length gets terribly annoying, which is why I switched to only wearing shorts,” said

Hannah Bradnam (12).

Girls from all grades have, at one point or another, shared in Bradnam’s frustration at the exasperating discomfort of the skirt, which makes the breezy security of the skort only that much more appealing. With comments such as “I feel confident and carefree in the skort!”

by Kateria Cox (10), it remains clear that the decision made to switch from troublesome skirts to carefree skorts has simplified the nuisance of feminine apparel for Dalat girls completely. •

sold red ribbons in order to raise money for Care and Share. She encouraged all by saying, “Come along, don’t you all look lovely.

Remember this is all for charity!”

The day looked bright with the hundreds of colors floating around campus. In walking over to the lockers, it became easy to spot Amy Reimer (12) arranging four girls’ hair consecutively.

“Who’s next?” she asked exasperatedly.

Students’ personalities shone through the choices they wore.

Sandrine Thompson (10), for example, looked very original;

she commented, “I know, I am so fab. That is all.”

Obvious that the day stood as a mighty success, the teachers’ relaxed their watchful eyes keeping in the check the school dress code. This particular Friday hopefully remains in the forefront of students’ minds as a positive participation in raising money for Care and Share. Most participated, leading to the raising of 5210 ringgit—an incredible contribution from all—making this one of most successful “no uniform” days ever! •

playing i n full-

Dressed to Impress A new day began; students jumped from their cozy beds and ran straight to their wardrobes in order to find a perfect outfit. No Uniform Day took centre stage on 27 September, and the excitement rose as the morning wore on.

If one dared to enter the room of a female that morning, one might have faced piles of clothing after a desperate search for the perfect outfit. Hair curlers at the ready and makeup as their Eagle’s Eye

By Josiah Steinkamp

By Hannah Bradnam

main weapon, the ladies stood firm in a battle to look fantastic.

But if one had the grave misfortune to enter a male’s room, the scene often showed very little difference. The boys’rooms each held a mountain of T-shirts flung on the floor and a bounteous supply of hair gel, in the hope of improving their outer appearance.

After arriving at school, everyone rushed to the clock tower where Mrs. Anne-Marie Pagee 11

October 2013