Dalat International School, Tanjung Bunga, 11200 Penang, Malaysia
What’s Inside: Going, Going, Gone! . . 2 Juniors auction of themselves to raise class funds
Sleeping with Fishes . . 2 Eighth graders take annual trip, this time to Pulau Payar and Pulau Langkawi
Just Read It . . . . . . . . 3 Elementary students compete in “Battle of the Books”
Eagles in the Mud . . . . 4 Girls play softball in the “Mud Bowl”
A Western Taming . . . . 4 Middle Schoolers spoof Shakespeare in Rowdy Kate
Much Ado About . . . 5 StuCo sponsors Talent Night
An Empty Tomb! . . . . 6 Easter Celebrations!
So, Where Do We Go? . . 8 Seniors thank juniors for wonderful JSB Eagle’s Eye Staff Note: This copy of the school paper has been written by the students in the Advanced Placement English 12 class. Writers: Abbie Brake, Emily Brokaw, Nathan Danneker, Joel Kirk, Keegan Ladner, Karl Reeves, Joel Shafer, Jordan Strong, Winnie Tan, David Tse Adviser: Mr. John “Tommy” Tompkins
Eagle’s Eye
3, 2, 1, JSB! video game fame. Participants followed Martens and Yuthiwattana (“Mario” and “Luigi”) through exciting races as seniors competed for the win and demonstrated their own special abilities. The funniest—and freakiest—moments occurred while the audience watched as a normal looking senior face morphed into a “Mii” character in preparation for the race. Upon each video’s completion, juniors took the stage for the tributes.
As Luke Martens (11) and Ooychai Yuthiwattana (11), sporting suspenders and baseball caps, bantered back and forth in Italian accents on the chapel stage, murmuring rippled through the crowd. “What are they doing?” “What does this mean?” “Does anybody know?” On 20 April, students and staff gathered in the chapel to watch the introduction of the night and hear the announcement of next year’s junior sponsors— Mrs. Bethany Thomas, Mr. Jason Hall, Mr. and Mrs. Larry Chinn, and Mr. and Mrs. Karl Steinkamp. Freshmen helpers served iced lemon tea, and the initial background music of the night—taken from soundtracks like The Sound of Music and The Phantom of the Opera— proved successfully confusing. After loading up the buses, a 45-minute ride brought them to Trader’s Hotel, where up two escalators and into a lobby area revealed what the clues behind the Italian accents, the brightlycolored suspenders, and the hints about “racing” had meant: Mario Kart! Interspersed about the lobby and lining the walls of the ballroom stood a towering structure of Bowser’s castle, plenty of mushrooms, cut-out boards with the faces of famous characters, a Rainbow bridge, and other iconic symbols of unmistakable 1
By Abbie Brake
“My favorite part was listening to the tributes and seeing all the baby pictures! I never thought JSB would come. Since I was in 8th grade I only watched everyone else get ready—but then, it came!” said Joy Kim (10). “Since I know a lot of seniors,” said Ina Park (10), “it was exciting to hear the tributes about them and yet sad to think that they will be leaving.” Although not everyone had on racing-worthy gear, the (Continued on page 2, col. 1)
To Speak...or Not? On the morning of 24 March, 13 eager speech contestants bustled into the chapel to receive instruction from their dedicated coaches. “Make sure you show the other students to the classrooms and check the contestant numbers,” Ms. Jasmane Frans, the head of the Forensics Speech and Drama Club, reminded her students as they reviewed the order of events and the tasks allotted to each Dalat competitor. Six weeks after the annual SEA Forensics Tournament in Kuala Lumpur, the forensics group hosted its own local competition, inviting the Methodist Girls’ School and Tenby International School to display their talent in a small, friendly tournament. The tournament included
May 2012
By Emily Brokaw
five events: Oral Interpretation (OI), Original Oratory (OO), Impromptu Speaking, Solo Acting, and Duet Acting. “The tournament was much more relaxed and less stressful than that in KL. It was a great opportunity for those who didn’t travel to KL to practice what they had learned as well as to showcase a few pieces that had been performed,” said Abbie Brake (12), a finalist from the KL tournament who competed in duet acting during the March competition. Inviting the finalists and competitors from the KL tournament—including Karl Reeves (12), Juliet DeVette (12), Hung Ching Song (12), Emma Chinn (10), and Brittany Hurlbut (10)— (Continued on page 2, col. 3) May 2012
Going, Going, SOLD! “Welcome to the annual Junior for Hire,” Mr. Kerry Mahoney said into the microphone during the Food and Fun Fair on 23 March, when the Class of 2013 held a fund-raising event. But at this event the juniors did not sell cookies or freezies—they sold themselves! One by one, juniors climbed the elevated platform on the outside basketball court. One of the two announcers, Mr. Mahoney and Mr. Karl Steinkamp, then introduced the junior and explained exactly what work he or she could do. “I could not believe I was selling myself. My destiny was in these people’s hands,” said Ooychai Yuthiwattana (11). After the introduction, the bidding war began. Parents weighed their wallets in hopes of finally making their child do something helpful around the house. Teachers imagined their students mowing their lawn or cleaning their house. Students banded together in hopes of buying one of their friends. The bids began at rm100 but soon shot up in price. Evelyne Kiiza (11) described her experience, “I was kind of nervous because
Junior-Senior Banquet... (Continued from page 1, col. 4) seniors still felt like winners at the end of the night, treated to personalized mugs and laminated encouraging comments from staff members. Shuffling out of the doors, the class of 2012 assured the triumphant but tired juniors that they had had a wonderful night and never felt more honored during this JSB, often marked as the beginning of the end. Yu-Ting Lin (12) said, “The theme was creative, and they presented it well. We had a lot of fun. It was amazing to see that such a small class could pull off something so great, and I thank them for it.” The entire senior class joined Lin in giving thanks, laughingly shaking hands and taking pictures with “Luigi” and “Mario” as they returned home and reflected on the more than satisfying answers to their questions and on the matchlessness of the night. • Eagle’s Eye
them from getting their junior. Eventually, only one bidder would remain, and Mr. Mahoney would exclaim, “Going once, going twice, sold!” Each junior brought in about 800 ringgit on average for his or her three hours of work, but two juniors received over rm2000, the highest bids of the night. Amanda Leach (11)
everybody was staring at me, and I was afraid I wouldn’t get a lot of money. But I did, so I was happy.” As the bids began to climb near the rm1000 mark, most bidders stopped their bidding due to the price. Some hardy souls, however, strove onward, refusing to let the price prevent
By Nathan Danneker found this event “nerve-racking and exciting at the same time.” Once the final junior left the platform, Mr. Mahoney thanked everyone for coming. The Junior Class had made over 20,000 ringgit through this event. As each junior left, one word still rang faintly in all of their minds, “Sold!” •
Sleeping with the Fishes Early in the morning of Wednesday, 25 April, while the dorms slept in deep slumber, the eighth graders arrived on campus filled with excitement and anticipation, more than ready to leave for Pulau Payar and Langkawi on the trip they had anticipated all year. Travelling by ferry, the class of 2016 and four teachers—Mr. Scott Uzzle, Mr. Karl Steinkamp, Mrs. Missy Davis, and Mrs. Michelle Trescott—headed off on their three day trip first to Pulau Payar to spend the day on the platform and then on to Langkawi. “Our first boat was a really rough ride because it rained,” Angelene Woo recalled, “but we did spot a double rainbow on the way to Langkawi.” Even though the trip had a rocky start, the sky cleared as the ferry approached Pulau Payar. “We snorkeled the first day. A barracuda, a giant fish that bites really hard, swam past me; it was really big. I wasn’t scared because I didn’t know what a barracuda was until my friends told me,” Christina Kim said as she remembered her encounter with the fish. After spending most of the day on the platform feeding and swimming with the fishes, the eighth graders left for the night market after dinner to shop with their friends. As the night gave way to day, with most of the class still asleep upon the platform, Zachary Tan reminisced on the morning, “I woke up at 4 a.m. with a bunch of other guys, and we just whispered and felt the breeze. It was
so calming and peaceful and a treasured moment of silence and wind. But a storm came at 6 a.m. so we all got drenched.” After spending a day and a half on the platform the students and teachers left the platform by ferry to Langkawi to board a big tour bus which would take them around the many sites of Langkawi. “The tour guide let us use the microphones on
the bus, and we all had a blast singing at the top of our lungs to our favorite songs,” Nikita Pakiam recollected ecstatically about the tour. “It was one of those great experiences you have with your friends that was absolutely fun. Those are the kind of memories you cherish forever.” Like many other events throughout the year, the eighth graders followed this long(Continued on page 3, col. 1)
Forensics...
competitions, the competitors took to the stage eager to present their skills and watch others perform. “The March competition was a great reminder to keep honing the skills we learned through this past year,” said DeVette, a solo actress. “I also liked that it gave many new-comers the chance to experience a lighter, less intense version of a forensics competition—it helped me when I first began.” “[The competition] is also a good way to raise awareness about forensics. Unless you’re in it, not many people really know what goes on,” Brake emphasized. Although the forensics group had grown considerably in numbers, those who had dedicated their time and talents to the club for several years recognized the need for new performers to step up and take their places, and the March competition provided an extra nudge to help them. As the coordinators of the event gave their last thanks, Ms. Frans congratulated the students from all schools and all those who had helped the event flow smoothly. “We hope to see you all again next year,” she said. •
(Continued from page 1, col. 4) to set the example, the forensics coaches opened up the stage to the forensics students who had not competed and the whole high school. Not only did the competition help prepare the newer students to deliver their speeches in accordance with the competition rules, but it also gave students the chance to interact with other schools. Cindy Chiem (9) said of the competition, “I enjoyed being able to see people’s performances from other schools, and I actually made some friends. What I saw can actually help me do better next time—like not moving my body when I do my OI.” Ms. Frans also commented that “the March competition marked a successful step in the direction of raising the standard of public speaking through acting and speech delivery. It proved to be a challenge for all students participating from Methodist Girls’ School, Tenby International and Dalat.” With a good relationship built with these schools and the foundation laid for future 2
By Winnie Tan
May 2012
Golden Girls By Karl Reeves An explosion of applause shattered the air as the aptly named “Gold Winners”—the middle school girls’ volleyball team— stormed through their tournament, beating the two teams, Heng Ee and Sacred Heart, that had challenged them. Under the guidance of Mrs. Jill Girling, the team developed and matured
over the past year; and the games that took place on 5 May served to show how much so! When most high school students picture those in middle school, they imagine an unruly bunch screaming and shouting for no apparent reason. But Kathy Lee (8) said “When one of our teammates gets a good
Just Read It By David Tse Bursting with joy and laughter, excited elementary students bounced happily into the chapel to attend Dalat’s 10th annual Battle of the Books (B.O.B.) reading competition. Six weeks before the date of the game show, on 30 March, every student read and memorized the plots of at least five books. “The books were fun. They picked some great books for third grade. Everyone in my group read at least seven or eight,” said Isaac Uzzle (3).
Students from grade one to four separated into groups of four to six for the competition. Each grade had 24 books of differing levels of difficulty to finish before the end of six weeks. “I read books that I usually would not read,” said Will Girling (3). Ta g g i n g along with the exhilaration of the occasion, Mrs. H e a t h e r F i s c h e r, Mr. Brian Brewster, Mr. Karl Steinkamp, and other teach-
Eighth Grade Trip...
“I got to know a lot of people I don’t normally hang out with; it was nice doing different things with different people on the trip,” Kathy Lee fondly recalled of the time. Although most sparked new friendships with classmates, Rachel Hurlbut got to know her teachers better: “I got to know the people in my class more, as well as the teachers. I got to see what my teachers were like outside the classroom; they are pretty cool.” Late at night on Friday, 27 April, while the dorms slept soundly, the eighth graders returned to campus. “The trip was exhausting, but it was amazing,” Goh said as many tired eighth graders left for home. Despite their groggy minds and dirty clothing, the eighth graders agreed on one thing: “It was all worth it.” •
(Continued from page 2, col. 4) standing tradition of taking a retreat. “I think the purpose of the trip was [to give] eighth graders a break,” Kim mused. “Since we are moving into high school, we will be scattered; [it also] gave us some time to spend together [as a class].” Whatever the reason for the trip, the eighth graders agreed on one aspect: it helped kindle new friendships and allowed them to grow closer as a group. “We weren’t allowed to choose our roommates for the trip. I think the teachers decided to choose the roommates for us because they wanted us to mix around. This gave us a great opportunity to get to know someone better,” said Amanda Goh about the decision of the teachers. Eagle’s Eye
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serve we go in together and yell ‘1,2,3, ACE!’ This cheering is really motivating.” The enthusiastic cheering—that only middle school students seem capable of—actually played a leading role in the girls’ victories! This same cheering also powered the team as it faced two very different opponents on 12 May; after hearing about the formidable “Gold Winners,” Convent Green Lane and Union decided to try their luck. Dalat steamrollered its way
over the Union team, but struggled against CGL. In three hairraising games, CGL managed to show its skills, and eventually defeated Dalat two games to one—though the victory could have gone either way. Although the loss came as a shock, the girls congratulated their opponents and patted each other on the back for a great game. Despite their loss, the legend of the “Gold Winners” lives on, and the team hopes to achieve more in the years to come. •
ers and students put together a music video using the tune from Michael Jackson’s famous hit “Just Beat It.” Changing the word “beat” to “read”, students and teachers sang along to the groovy song. Mr. Brewster and Mr. Jonathan Horton even dressed up in silly outfits as they sang, “So read it. You can read it with flair.” As the day of the long-awaited game show arrived, the students hurriedly finished the last few books on their list. As they entered the chapel, the teachers lined the students in rows according to their grades. Parents sat in rows of chairs at the end of the chapel to watch the action and cheer for their children. “Kids sit by teams. The scribe of each team writes the answers on sheets of paper. The sheet is taken to the judges by a parent. The scores are displayed on the screen. At the end of 20 seconds, they have to give their answer,” said Mrs. Lori Horton, the organizer for the event. The students discussed busily as the questions flashed on the screen. Every time the answer flashed after a question, crazed cheers or disappointed sighs ensued. “It was fun because I liked working in groups. We didn’t know the answers of the other groups, so it was a surprise. You get all excited when you get them right. It’s good competition. Lots of teams tied,” said Girling. Shortly after the game show ended, the judges tallied the scores, and Mrs. Horton announced the winners of the 2012 Battle of Books. To no one’s surprise, the winners received books as prizes for their
achievements. Every student also received certificates for participation and special prizes for reading every book on the list. “[The game show] was scary but fun. I was nervous because we were against so many teams. I liked the books because they were really interesting. Some books didn’t have [good] titles, but they turned out to be pretty interesting,” said Aria Tan (3). “My group, the Rocky Mountain Trail Group won the B.O.B. I liked the questions, and I was forcing myself to learn more stuff. I liked the prizes as they were books,” said Carly Thomas (4). Parents also enjoyed this event as they watched their children get excited about reading. “My sons read a lot of different types of books that they wouldn’t normally read. They learned to pay attention to details,” said Uncle Harold Chan. After the award ceremony, the teachers put on Cock-ADoodle Do, a funny movie about a chicken who struggled to wake his fellow farm animals, for the students to watch. The young children laughed and giggled at the cartoon. As the lunch bell rang, the students bounced out of the chapel cheerfully with their certificates, prizes, and a newfound love for reading. •
May 2012
Eagles in the Mud By Keegan Ladner In what Mr. Mark Sasse, coach of the girls softball team, described as a “mud-bowl,” the softball Eagles, guys and girls, fought for victory on 17 May. They walked away from the games with silver, bronze, and mud. Both teams had qualified for the state tournament after winning gold in the island tournament. But in the latest contest, the varsity boys’ team won silver, having played better and harder than they had ever played before—and not only winning a state tournament game, for the first time, but also winning silver. The girls, although not making
history, also had a good season, finishing with bronze in the state competition. The teams first noticed that the field looked, felt, and smell less like a field and more like a mud-pit. Nicole Mauger (12) described it as “almost literally crap.” “ Y o u w o u l d be running down the first base line, and you would sink into mud almost ankle deep…then you’d get a grounder and it would roll through a
Labor Day: Freedom at Last! Students enjoyed a long weekend for the occasion of the Malaysian Labor Day. Having both Monday and Tuesday of that week off, students, parents, and staff had a greater abundance of time for activities. For most families, Labor Day, 1 May, proved nothing more than extra time with which to engage in rare activities. For other parents and students, the day provided a time to witness and participate in an important holiday for laborers of the country, especially for the migrant workers. On this occasion, the dorms visited the Lost World water
By Joel Shafer park in Ipoh. According to Ben Unruh (12), the water park boasted aspects beyond those of the conventional water park. In addition to the typical slides and fountains, the park also housed a petting zoo. Unruh described his favorite part of the petting zoo as, “When they fed the tigers…they threw chunks of meat at them. They had been kinda lazy before, but they snatched the chunks out of the air!” He further described his favorite experience in the water park, “This one slide was pitchblack and high-speed; and if
A Western Taming By Nathan Danneker Students, parents, and teachers eagerly filed into the chapel during X-block on 23 March. The actors nervously fidgeted with excitement backstage. Finally, Mrs. Valerie Brokaw, the director of the drama, walked onto the stage, thanked everyone for coming, and without further ado, introduced the play Rowdy Kate by Claire Boiko. The curtain opened and laughter soon followed. Based on William Shakespeare’s comedy, Eagle’s Eye
The Taming of the Shrew, the play put the story in the fictional Old Western town of New Paducah and gave it a Western twist. In this version, the rowdy ruffian Kate, played by Hannah Graves (8), would not let her younger sister Blanche (Amanda Goh, 8) marry until she has married. In frustration, Kate’s father, Big Bart (Noah Graves, 7), offered $10,000 to the man that could tame and marry Kate. This offer reached the ears of an escaping 4
huge puddle, splashing you—we were so gross!” Though they didn’t win, the girls concluded that they played an intense game, no regrets and no blame. “We played as a team and lost as a team,” Mauger said. Rebecca Wiesner (12) echoed her: “I am proud of our team and how far we have come. The teams that we lost to were good, strong teams; and I would rather lose to them than anyone else. I am going to miss this team when I leave.” The boys’ team also had its share of spills and thrills. Nathan Peace (12) said, “all of our games were really close and intense, and we made history.” Sam McIntyre (10) said, “I
really enjoyed the game—it was so intense.” Led by Mr. Chance Edman, their coach, the boys team made history with their second-place trophy. The teams walked away with more than just mud and medals— they left with the satisfaction of having played a good game. Even after washing off all the mud, which apparently posed quite a challenge, the teams could remember not only the games, but also the friendships they built on the teams. “I loved playing with everyone; it was so nice getting know people I really didn’t know before. I love that about sports,” said Mauger, reflecting on the season. They walked away from the games heads held high, medals shinning proudly, and friends bound tightly. Go Eagles! •
you hit it wrong, you would flip, which kept it exciting!” Nathan Danneker (12) seconded this opinion, “I loved the tube slides, especially the tunnel one because you couldn’t see where you were going, which made it thrilling.” When asked about his favorite part, Unruh mentioned another aspect of the park, “The most relaxing part was the artificial hot spring they had there.” Besides extra time out of school for students to have such adventures, the day also had great significance for migrant workers of the country. Mr. Dave Shafer, a parent, who assisted in engaging with these workers regularly, provided his insight into the meaning of the holiday for the Nepali workers,
“It’s nice for them to have a day off, which they don’t get very often, and enjoy fellowship with other Nepalese.” A fellowship organized by a collaboration of several parents’ ministries, YWAM, and Nepali pastors provided a day of recreation and evangelization for these workers through traditional Nepali music, dancing, songs, games, food, and Biblical storying. Mr. Shafer commented, “It was an opportunity for them to hear testimonies of Christians in a conversational atmosphere.” As the day drew to a close, dorm students returned exhausted but cheerful, and the migrant workers reflected back on the day as an invigorating respite. •
con artist, Pete Porter (Ayden Winsor, 7), who planned to marry Kate and then run away with the money. Hilarity ensued when Kate found out about this plan and schemed to stop Porter. The play came about through the work of the MS Drama Exploratory led by Mrs. Brokaw. These young actors learned how to project their voices and master the stage. Emma Hofer (8), one of the actors, enjoyed the play as she could “become someone who I am not.” Their hard work showed in the play as the audience continued to cheer and laugh throughout the afternoon. As the final curtain fell, the
audience applauded the actors and the play. Sabrina Ly (8) found it “...interesting and fun to watch.” “It was alive and humorous,” said Kia Thompson (9). Ooychai Yuthiwattana (11) said, “They acted very well, better than Johnny Depp.” The middle schoolers relaxed and congratulated themselves on a job well done. As the audience left the chapel, they continued to laugh at the very western taming they had just seen. • May 2012
Much Ado About Singing A crowd of students waited outside the chapel in anticipation for the last StuCo event of the year. Nicole Mauger (12) said, “I couldn’t wait to see Jeffrey [Hsiao, 12] rap and Christian [Park, 12] sing.” This event gave a chance for students to show off their hidden musical talent in front of the whole high school. The show took place on 18 May, a Friday night. The night started with Hank Wong (11) and Chi-Yuan Lo (12) introducing the three judges, Mr. Kerry Mahoney, Mr. Jason Hall, and Mrs. Valeri Brokaw. Emma Chinn (10) and Sally Chang (10) started the night with a duet, with Chinn playing guitar and Chang on the
piano. Their voices melded into a beautiful harmony and earned much applause from the audience. Rick Brake (10) said, “Listening to Emma and Sally sing was the highlight of my night; I was enthralled by the beauty of their voices.” After the performance, Lo and Wong interviewed the contestants, and then allowed the judges to offer their constructive criticism. The audience roared with laughter when Mr. Hall started speaking in Spanish and then finished his sentence in a Spanish accent. Mrs. Brokaw gave sweet words of encourage-
Fun Funds By Keegan Ladner The young evening dawned. The crisp, cool, clear day of Friday, 23 March, broke that long standing tradition of bad weather on the day of the Food & Fun Fair. Food stands from the junior class and the PTO lined the edges of the outdoor basketball court— food from dozens of countries: sushi, spaghetti, pizza, hot dogs, potato salad, kimchi, kimbab, sticky rice. Students, parents, and teachers, who represented even greater diversity than the food, gathered around tables—swapping stories, devouring delicacies, and ceaselessly chatting. The sounds
of excitement filled the air. The junior class and the PTO worked tirelessly both to raise funds and to make the evening fun for everyone. “It’s about everybody...it’s about making money, but it’s also about having fun,” said Sarah Uzzle (12). Many would agree that the night went well—Mr. Jon Horton dubbed it a “great success” and said the junior class had tentatively hoped for rm15,000, but reported earnings (when including the Junior for Hire) of approximately rm25,000. The PTO similarly reported fantastic earnings; Mrs. Claudia
Howls & Growls By Karl Reeves A sudden darkness swept across the student centre as the clock struck 6 on Friday the 13th of April. Only heavy breathing and the rustling of wrappers dared startle the silence that had descended upon a group of high school students, who sat huddled together on couches, their hands nervously clasping the leopard-skin blankets restEagle’s Eye
ing across them. The legendary story of the Lion King, one that has transfixed children, teenagers, and adults worldwide for over 17 years, blossomed onto the back wall with a magnificent swishing and dancing of colours; the wall, normally a dull, pallid white, transformed into a great gathering of animals—giraffes, elephants, monkeys, zebras, 5
By Jordan Strong
ment, and Mr. Mahoney gave his gentle but honest opinion. After a quick intermission between the third and fourth acts, the event continued to inspire the audience. After a string of wonderful per for mances, Shion Beak (11) and her brother David (9) took their turn on stage. Shion sang while David played the guitar, and the strong connection between the two resonated throughout the building. They formed a perfect partnership and gained much approval from the judges and loud cheers from the audience. Nathan Peace (12) said, “I was pleased to see such a high quality performance in my last StuCo event of the year.” After all the contestants finished performing, StuCo members passed out ballots, and
the audience had a chance to vote for the winner. Following an extended drum roll, Wong announced that Jerry Lee (10) had won second place, and Lo announced that the Beaks received the most votes to take the first-place prize. The night left the audience satisfied and content. Mr. Mahoney said, “I thoroughly enjoyed the evening; we had seven acts that demonstrated musical ability and provided an enjoyable performance.” A crowd of students shuffled out of the chapel with smiles on their faces and a sense of delight from discovering the hidden musical talent of their peers and classmates. Mr. Hall summed up the night by saying, “It was really cool to hear people sing who I’ve never heard sing before; I never knew that side of them.” •
Tse said the PTO raised approximately 14,000 ringgit. “[We] made more than we expected and had a great time,” said Jamie Thompson (11). Ben Unruh (12) attributed the success of the evening to “Dalat’s willingness to support Dalat causes.” Even if you didn’t want to spend money, there was something for you. Karsten Ladner (8) said, “I didn’t want to waste money so I played soccer and Four-square.” The fair was a buzz of activity—featuring activities such as carnival games and sand art, which even the youngest of Dalat enjoyed. “Kaitlyn [Ladner, 2] just loved the sand art,” said Mrs. Laura Ladner. The evening also featured the Science Fair, which attracted
virtually everyone to view the dedicated work of some of Dalat’s finest. “Trading cultural cuisine, slurping slushy Popsicles, meeting new friends, and selling over 300 slices of pizza made my first Food and Fun Fair a memorable time!” said Mrs. Tonya Mays, a new parent. “It was a great way to bring people together through the power of food and carnival games,” said Alison Mays (10) approvingly of her first Food & Fun Fair. The evening proved a smashing success with much profitability for the PTO and junior class and a great memory for everyone. The young evening slipped into a calm night as people trickled away from a time of fellowship and fun. •
and many more—bowing in reverence to the young lion-cub, Simba, brandished above all the other creatures at the top of a towering rock. The story of Simba and his journey through life managed to coax both bitter tears and hearty laughter from the audience, made up of freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. All in the room chuckled at the brashness of Timon the meer cat and Pumbaa the warthog, all gritted
their teeth as Simba growled and unleashed his mighty battle roar, and all shuddered and seethed at the piercing howls of the hyenas and the hissing lies of Simba’s Uncle—Scar. The night proved a huge success. Stuco President, Nathan Peace (12), watching the movie for the first time, commented, “Before I watched Lion King, I felt like I wasn’t part of society; but now I feel much less (Continued on page 6, column 1) May 2012
The Empty Tomb, the Risen Lord! The sun rose in all its glory on Easter morning, and although the students and their parents did not gather in the amphitheater for the traditional Easter Sunrise Service and Baptism, the day still proved worthy of remembering, as always. With Easter falling on the last day of spring break, the school decided against hosting the usual Easter Sunrise Service as campus remained closed, allowing students to enjoy their last day of freedom before resuming the strenuous task of school. Even so, students and staff alike celebrated the day of Christ’s resurrection
to come together at the end of spring break to celebrate the most exciting event of our Christian faith by praising God with songs and scriptures about what Jesus has done for us,” Mrs. Brokaw said. To make up for the lost Easter Baptism Service, Pastor Jonathan Bollback opened up an opportunity for students to take the next step in baptism some weeks later. Though only one student, Emma Chinn (10), chose to follow through with baptism, her baptism nevertheless served as yet another reminder of Christ’s promises through his death and his resurrection.
in their own special way. “We always make a big feast, with ‘Empty Tomb’ bread and some kind of Resurrection Day cake,” said Abigail Brake (12). “It’s a day of joyful celebration in my house!” Although many celebrated Easter at home and with family, another group of students, led by Mrs. Valeri Brokaw, met Easter evening to celebrate Christ’s resurrection in a night of praise and worship. “I felt that having an Easter celebration as a community was important. So the Ambassadors offered a Praise and Worship service that night. It was fun
A Moment in the Spotlight Waltzing into the room one by one, participants, parents, and friends all took their seats for the piano recitals on 7 May. Chitter-chatter filled the room as nervous participants quickly looked over their music— eager to play the pieces they had worked so hard on learning. Smiling parents and friends sat excitedly, waiting patiently to hear the music ahead and gave a round of applause as the first performer, Kalista White, took to the stage for her moment in the spotlight. Every student taught by Mrs. Noreen Khoo, as well as any student willing, had the opportunity several times a year to perform a selected piece in front of an audience. Events like these
fostered musical appreciation among peers, as well as encouraging growth in musical abilities in all students. “The little kids made such a huge impression,” Ina Park (10) exclaimed; “they even made me feel like I need to practice more!” Three special performances worked their way into the program this time, including Lana Brewster (2) on the violin, Christina Kim (8) on vocals, and a surprise performance by Roc Wu (12) on piano at the conclusion of the event. Each performance brought something different to the recitals, as most often the recitals are
Lion King...
through cinemas and houses and, not to mention, high-school student centres. The movie garnered equal praise from the Dalat audience, and many expressed a desire to see the movie again next year. As the movie finished, the lights in the student centre slowly flickered to life, and the gentle buzz of talking slowly hummed through the air. Tired, but happy, the Dalat students slowly fed out of the student centre, some chuckling, others rubbing at their eyes, as they headed for home after a night well spent. •
(Continued from page 5, col. 4) ostracized.” Fellow senior Joseph Kim, when the movie had finished, passionately declared, “Hakuna Matata,” meaning “no worries” as Juliet Devette (12) asked him about that day’s Bible homework. Probably most well-known for its catchy soundtrack, though just as loved for its absolutely adorable characters, the Lion King has accumulated two Golden Globe awards and countless other accolades along its journey Eagle’s Eye
By Joel Kirk
piano-centered. “I think it’s great for the kids to be able to demonstrate their music skills, especially when they have spent so much time and effort on their playing,” said Wu. The event concluded with awards that acknowledged a student’s success in completing a piano book, and a beautiful red rose as an acknowledgement of
By Emily Brokaw “I always thought of [Easter] as a day to share eggs, but Easter this year changed my view through the Easter greeting: ‘Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed!’” Sarah Hwang (12) commented. I was very thankful to be reminded of what Easter is really about.” Although the Easter morning sun did not rise upon a quietly gathered group of students and staff waiting in the amphitheater, it nevertheless reminded everyone, old and young, of the importance of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice on the cross and His glorious resurrection three days later. •
their work as growing musicians. “It’s always so fun to see the kids progress from semester to semester and enjoying the gift of music that God has given us,” commented Mrs. Valeri Brokaw with a smile. With smiles on their faces and the satisfaction of their performance, all the kids lined up with their red roses for the final applause, encouraged and cheered by the parents and friends in the audience. •
Senior Treat “This everybody? Well, let’s go!” said Pastor Jonathan Bollback to the group gathered around the van going to the Penang Home for the Aged and Infirm on Friday, 11 May. An earlier van had left for the Home to arrange the dumplings before they served them alongside the patients’ dinner. When the second van arrived, the new arrivals found students already feeding the infirm. Students handed dinner plates to patients well enough to feed themselves, and one or two others attended to patients too feeble to sit upright. Smiles beamed prevalently as the patients enjoyed a variation in their evening meal, the satay and Chinese dumplings augmenting their normal fare. The students sat with patients, chatting, nodding and smiling as the patients exchanged pleasantries and shared their past. Clearing the dishes, students then handed 6
By Joel Shafer
packaged cookies to their older friends who received them with much gratitude, exhibiting much surprise at the unexpected treats of the visit. As the dinner bell rang for the cafeteria, students made their way down the flights of stairs to the ground level to serve food to the remaining residents of the Home. Incorporating the dumplings brought by Care & Share, students walked around to the tables and served the smiling patients and proffered trays. As students inquired of the diners if they wanted a serving of the particular dish, heads inclined in response and fingers motioned to where the diners wished the serving placed. After all had received their fill, students presented packaged cookies to the diners as well as those reclining in their rooms who had not attended dinner. (Continued on page 7, column 1) May 2012
Einsteins Unite!
the judges could only pick one winner. Chareesa Usaha (11) and Yung Tsen Ooi (11) from Mrs. Jill Girling’s Chemistry class emerged as the winners for the high school category. Their project with the playful title “Drink Dye, Get Abs” involved studying the relationship between the color of dyes and the time it takes for bleach to decrease the dye’s concentration, thereby leaving it colorless. “Winning felt good. It helped me confirm what I did for my project. My knowledge wasn’t just for show. I think that it’s good to have a partner for the science fair even though it can be stressful because we have to work out our schedules. Our talents complement each other. For the next science fair, I don’t care if I win. I just want to challenge myself even more,” said Ooi. “Winning was surprising,
By David Tse
On 23 March, the Science Fair took place in the gymnasium before the Junior for Hire and PTO Food & Fun Fair. Groups of two and three in each science class researched, experimented, and reported on different topics ranging from crystal precipitation to acid-base reactions to light spectroscopy. Although no one chose to tackle Einstein’s theory of relativity, the projects served as a physical manifestation of the potential within every student towards science. “The science fair was the perfect way to demonstrate what students have learned as well as showing how science can be applied more practically and experimentally. It took an enormous amount of creativity and effort and made studying into something that could be used concretely,” said Abigail Brake (12). Three days before the fair, the middle and high school students had set up their multi-colored, vivid display boards, reports, and models in the gymnasium. The middle school science classes occupied half of the hall and the high school science classes, the other. “It was a good idea to have it in the gym because in previous years, everything was crammed into the chapel. It was easy to move around and look at all of the projects,” Xiao Leen Siow
(11) commented. Given the opportunity to pick virtually any topic they wanted, students explored bizarre phenomena such as how refrigeration affects the tastiness and crunchiness of pastries and the science behind a genuine smile and a forced one. “My project was on how different types of music affect plants. I learned that classical music helps plants grow even more than rock music,” said Allen Goh (10). “My project involved feeding hamsters drugs and observing the side effects,” said Ha Sung Cho (7) enthusiastically. For the next two days, students entered the gym freely to admire and appreciate the hard work of their friends. Some even wrote encouraging words on Post-It notes and placed them on the display boards. On the day of the fair, the judges, armed with pens and clipboards, walked from station to station to evaluate every project. Mrs. Jennifer Cruz, a teacher who has taught AP chemistry for several years in the United States, served as a guest judge for this event. The judges assessed each project for its use of the scientific method, depth of knowledge, and also visual appeal. Despite the immense amount of talent congregated in the hall,
Senior Treat...
ago. The accident had left him partially paralyzed. Maintaining a pleasant countenance, he recalled the many painful surgeries he had undergone and the recurrent bedsores he suffered; but he maintained with determination that he still hoped to regain the abilities that would allow him to function normally. At a request, he demonstrated how he strengthened his muscles despite his inability to grip. Using thick string attached to the ends of dumbbells, he hung them from his fingers and lowered and raised them to exercise various muscle groups. When the time came for the students to leave, the man enthusiastically thanked them for the visit, saying, “Thank you for the dum…[unsure of the word, Marco Lee (12) prompted him]...dumplings and satay— very nice.” •
(Continued from page 6, col. 4) In retrospect of the meal, Luke Martens (11) said thoughtfully, “I think they all appreciated not only the dumplings but that we were there to see them. Plus, the dumplings were really good, too!” Afterwards, students dispersed to various wards of the Home to chat with the residents and patients. Some helped the disabled ease out of their wheel chairs into their beds and chatted with them as they rested. One younger resident in his midsixties shared his experiences that had led to his placement in the facility with students who visited patients on the upper level. A friendly, engaging man, he recounted the injuries sustained from a critical motorcycle accident he suffered over a decade Eagle’s Eye
overwhelming, and surreal. Mrs. Girling and Mr. [Tom] Miller were both extremely over the top helpful and supportive. They were both kind enough to ensure the labs and necessary materials were available during or after school on their own time for the students and always offered additional help, advice, or answers via email,” said Usaha. “This experience taught me that I could take any path life sets me on; and as long as I am focused, the end results might be good.” As the students gathered around the winners to congratulate them for their accomplishments, Mrs. Lydia Roberts took pictures of them with their medals to commemorate this productive day. At precisely eight in the evening, the “Einsteins” collected their projects and went home, marking the end of a joyous celebration of science. •
A Legendary Journey By Jordan Strong “Hey, let’s kayak to Straits Quay!” Sam Eckman (11) suggested to a gang of bored and lethargic dorm boys who gathered around a table eating a Saturday lunch. On 28 April, a group of adventurous and inspired dorm guys joined Eckman and kayaked to Straits Quay, continued on to Gurney, and returned home in triumph. This motley crew that journeyed across the high seas to hunt mighty jelly fish and travel to distant shores included Eckman, Nathan Peace (12), Justin Strong (10), Nathan Unruh (10), Raymond Pow(10), Aaron Bengs (9), and Calvin Thompson (8). The original suggestion made by Eckman received several different responses. Some didn’t realize that he actually meant it, and so played along with the “joke”; others trembled at the thought of the sunburn and heat exhaustion they might suffer, but ultimately everyone agreed that nothing else could possibly better waste their time than a long kayaking trip. And so they 7
immediately gathered provisions (such as sharpened sticks for impaling jellyfish) and planned their epic voyage. After suiting up and rigging the kayaks, the seven swashbucklers cast off from Dalat’s beach and made their way down the coast towards Straits Quay. Surprisingly, the weather did not dampen their spirits. In fact, the wind blew a gust of fresh ocean air, and the clouds that blocked the shimmering sun also drizzled their heads with drops of pure water. In high spirits, the seven lads came upon a large rock formation inhabited by fisherman. They landed their faithful kayaks on a shore nearby and swam over to the stony platform. Eckman asked one fisherman, “Have you caught anything yet?” and he responded by showing off a large fish dangling on a string. After chatting amiably with the friendly fisherman the seven buccaneers continued their daring quest. They paddled and paddled like mad men consumed by an insatiable passion (Continued on page 8, column 1) May 2012
So, Where Do We Go?
to level up and figure out where they needed to go next. Following the drama, dessert dishes filled the room with sweet aromas of brownies topped with cookie dough. “In one bite, I was sent to heaven. The dessert was simply delicious!” said Xiao Leen Siow (12). The seniors rounded off the evening with a spoofed version of the Mulan song, “I’ll Make a Man Out of You,” relating the
By Joel Kirk into the chapel to sit at their assigned, Mario themed tables. Hung Ching Song (12) took to the stage and blessed the evening with a word of prayer. A unanimous “Amen!” echoed throughout the room as a dramatic turn of events took place. Several actors took to the stage dressed as various Mario characters and began to unfold the plot of the night. Plates of delicious food floated into the room to Mario-era video game music. Morphs of the juniors as “Mii” characters flashed on the screen, giving the juniors a good laugh while they ate. “The food was great, and I loved the drama. But the morphs were hilariously terrible,” said Evelyne Kiiza (11), laughing. Soon enough, more drama unfolded, showing the ever so cute baby Mario, Jordan Strong (12), and the adorable baby Luigi, Karl Reeves (12) finding their way
Journey to Gurney...
there I was sitting there in the kayak. My back was really getting sore so I adjusted my sitting position to get more comfortable. Unfortunately Justin saw what I did and tried to do the same. This caused the kayak to wobble and eventually spill me over.” He went on to say, “The feeling was actually relaxing… the water all around me cooled my muscles and allowed me to take a break from constant paddling.” As the sunburnt and exhausted dorm students finally arrived back on campus, they knew this trip would stay in their minds as one of their best memories at Dalat. As they gathered around a table eating Saturday night dinner, Peace summed it all up by saying, “Kayaking to Gurney is a much more exciting way to spend an afternoon then just going to Gurney and watching a movie. I wish I had done things like this more often.” •
(Continued from page 7, col. 4) for paddling. At last they washed up on the strange shores of Straits Quay. As they stood on the rocks overlooking the sea, Strong pointed and shouted, “I can see Gurney!” Thus they realized that they needed to dream bigger and go all the way to Gurney. And so they went. They paddled and paddled and paddled some more, but when they came upon the befouled bay of Gurney Drive they knew they could go no further. Bengs suggested, “We should put our jellyfish fishing sticks into the slime to test for depth.” Obviously convinced by this logical statement the others followed suit and drove their poles into the muck. However, the poles never reached the bottom. They realized that they had no place to land their kayaks and the prospect of getting stuck in the foul mud deterred them. They turned back to Straits Quay and strutted through the mall dripping wet with heads held high; soon after they started the journey home. The journey back perhaps took more energy as they paddled against the current. Nothing eventful happened on the trip back except when Unruh managed to fall into the water. He described the incident later, “So, Eagle’s Eye
Around the World in Seven Days By Abbie Brake Diversity, a word that defines and describes students and campus life to a “t,” certainly sets us apart from other schools. From home countries to hairstyles to native languages to names, students represent all different parts of the world. And the same remained true with Spring Break destinations. K.L. Thailand. The Cameron Highlands. India. Switzerland. Korea. Indonesia. Singapore. China. To name just a few. Dorm students snatched at an opportunity to fly home or catch a bus from 31 March to 8 April for a much-needed breather from the rigors of school life. “I think Spring Break is important to release stress and calm down,” explained Josiah Brake (7). “I love the food and I loved the family time.” As it approached, Spring Break seemed not only a comfort to which to look forward, but almost necessary as the weeks gradually crept by slower and slower and the clock’s minute hand didn’t seem to move as fast as it should. The excitement about Christmas and the new year died down, 2012 began more or less without ending, AP Calculus tests grew increasingly difficult, World History assign-
Clipart Sources
The lights dimmed, the doors opened, and the Mario theme song sounded as the juniors all excitedly walked into the elaborately decorated chapel wondering what sort of strange things the seniors had pulled off. After a phenomenal JSB, the seniors put together a small dinner, throwing in actual JSB decorations, that spun off the theme of the JSB to honour the juniors and their work. Casey Chen (12) commented, “It was great to be able to show the juniors how much we appreciated the hard work they put in through this after-JSB event.” This year’s after JSB theme, “Where do we go?” (adapted from the JSB theme, “Here we go”), took the message to the juniors in a whole new direction; where do the juniors go from here? The seniors smiled, clapped, and cheered enthusiastically as the juniors paraded
lyrics to the juniors and their past adventures as a class, as well as those to come. Keanu Lee (11) commented, “It was really funny and the food was pretty good, I loved how they desecrated our decorations too.” That night, the Juniors exited the chapel with warm smiles and full bellies, satisfied with the work they had put into the JSB, and the results that had come from it. •
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ments piled up, and labs for Chemistry seemed longer. When 31 March arrived at last, the dorms and campus officially closed. Scattered about the globe, students visited family and met up with each other. “I went to Bangkok with Joseph Kim (12), Hung Ching Song (12), and Dylan Frans (12). We went there to have some time of fellowship. I got to eat some delectable Thai foods and also got a chance to celebrate Joseph’s birthday! I think it was really worth it, because I got to spend my last holiday with my friends, because I don’t know when I will see them again,” said Sam Yeo (12) of his short visit to Thailand. The variety of Spring Break destinations spoke volumes of the variety of campus itself. David Toh (12) put it this way: “Dalat integrates a buffet spread of unique cultures and creates its own blend of those into a harmonious melting pot. Diversity is important because alone we will never be able to experience what God has prepared, but when we are thrown together with each other’s experiences, our mutual interactions enable us to fulfill parts of ourselves that were never there before.” •
JSB Program http://www.coated.com/nintendos-mario-turns-25-years-old-looks-how-heschanged-0914201006/ Fishes http://www.petcaregt.com/blog/types-of-fishes-for-aquarium.html Books http://www.lafayetteelementaryschool.com/ Reader http://www.d64.org/subsite/fie/teacher/248/guided-reading-9262 Softball http://scipp.ucsc.edu/~haber/softball/coed10s.html Masks http://www.clubfreetime.com/vieweventdetails.asp?ID=146340 Singer http://explow.com/singing Lion King http://lionking.wikia.com/wiki/The_Lion_King_Wikia Pianist http://www.clipartclipart.com/pages/100406-153349-322057.html Scientist http://www.clipartof.com/gallery/clipart/scientist.html Kayaking http://dir.nvtech.com/Sports/Recreational/Kayaking/kayaking2.html Lockin http://youthatccc.blogspot.com/2012/03/middle-school-lock-in_14.html
May 2012
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sneak
“You’re all sworn to secrecy! Whatever happened during this lock-in, stays in the lock-in!” several commanded as the night gave way to day and the seniors looked back gleefully—and some disgustedly—on the events of the previous night 10th April, their last and possibly most memorable lock-in. The memories of the night forever etched in their mind, and the pictures forever used as blackmail. “It’s truly a great feat to have finished all the decorations and costumes in such short notice,” David Toh exclaimed as he and several others finished up the final touches of the chapel decorations and character outfits the afternoon of Tuesday, 10th April. As the clock stuck six, the remaining seniors in the chapel headed up to the Student Center to meet the rest of the class all dressed in their team colors to head out in their respective vans to Straits Quay for the first event of the night, the scavenger hunt. “This scavenger hunt is so tricky!” Nicole Mauger complained ecstatically as they ran around Straits Quay looking for QR-Codes that went along with clues such as training grounds (Subway). “The whole time we were saying to each other ‘Think like David Toh.’ It didn’t really work,” Mauger recalled afterwards. Though the clues of the scavenger hunt gave everybody a headache, the odd looks given to Jeffrey Hsiao, who was already dressed in character as Seneca, stood out prominently in most senior minds. “What most people don’t realize is how much pride I carried around while I was walking around Straits Quay.
Eagle’s Eye
...er...
Lock In –
Yu-Ting Lin raved. “It was a rather unique experience to see [him] dressed up like an old woman and to hear his girlish voice.” As the opening ceremony came to an end, Park in his best an Effie Trinket-voice-impression made the final announcements of the upcoming event, the costume contest. With his voice high pitched and soft spoken, he ended his reign on the stage for the night with, “May the odds be ever in your favor.” If anybody had thought Park’s outfit at all, outrageous, the costumes the five teams had put together for the upcoming costume contest gave Park a run for his money. Standing to the left of the stage, Jennifer Park, dressed in a beautiful white flowing gown with a long white boa wrapped around her neck and a powdered white face. She walked down the catwalk slowly and elegantly only stopping at the edge to blow gently at the feathers she had captured in her hands effectively portraying the theme of her team, air. While Jennifer Park had landed on the far left, the more normal side of the spectrum of costume designs for the night, the other four costumes presented in the forms of Dylan Frans, Ben Unruh, Jordan Strong, and Karl Reeves landed so far past the right of the spectrum that what had once been Christian Park marking the most outrageous outfit of the night and the spectrum of outfits, nothing but a pink dot. Frans representing the purple team themed outer space, dressed in sparkly purple floor length ball-gown strutted on next. Rather seductively Frans walked down the aisle in a well-practiced catwalk with a feather crown upon his head,
I felt invincible, I felt amazing, I felt lofty, I felt powerful. As soon as I put on my costume, the character came onto me like a ghost. It was an unforgettable experience, and I loved it,” Hsiao, who was dressed in a red dress shirt with shoulder pads and a fake penned beard, said confidently. The oddity of the outfits did not end there; upon their arrival back to the campus, the seniors were surprised by a completely made over chapel, decorated in green vines and star lights with a beautiful chalk drawn mural
of the capitol at the back. However, the senior’s eyes quickly caught onto the man, or in fact woman, standing in the middle of the stage completely outfitted as Effie Trinket in a bright pink dress coming right below her knees to show off her lengthy legs, a curly afro-esque blonde wig to hide her shy eyes, and a face powdered so white and lips painted so red that it resembled that of the Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland: Christian Park. Together with Hsiao, he stood arm in arm, head held high in the middle of the stage welcoming the tributes to the Capitol. “[Park] was the most stunning beast I have ever seen,”
9
By Winnie Tan
a glorious purple cape flapping at his back, white linen gloves wrapped around his delicate hands and stars painted on the side of his face. The beauty of his being had everyone awed in silence. As Frans strutted off the stage, Unruh of the Earth team replaced him in the glorious spotlight, exchanging the silence for a roar of laughter. Waltzing on stage in army clothes, vines wrapped around his thick neck, and a world map as a mini skirt Unruh banged his hand lightly on the tambourine as he crawled deceivingly up the catwalk, handing the judges the flowers he had picked in his garden. Next to take up the spot light: Strong. The uproar that he caused vibrated through the whole room as he walked timidly up the catwalk in a blue frilly mini skirt, a 70’s women’s jacket dubbed with shoulder pads, a blue pashmina, and a big blue bow upon his blonde head. Strutting left and right Strong shot his makeshift arrows left and right all across the chapel as everybody keeled over roaring in laughter. Joining Strong in all his glory, Reeves, dressed in a Spartan’s war suit, dabbled with a leopard patterned skirt, and a turban and a tie-dyed eye patch upon his head. He swaggered down the catwalk doing his ohso-famous taxi dance. With the details of the night forever immortalized in text and the pictures forever used as black mail the seniors looked back upon the glorious night of dress up after dress up. As everybody packed up the chapel, returning the many out fits to the drama closet Sarah Lawrence looked back on the night one last time, “The highlight of the evening was Christian Park’s willingness to dress up as Effie Trinket! We were a little tentative about having a themed lock-in, but it ended up as a lot of fun” •
May 2012
