Dalat International School, Tanjung Bunga, 11200 Penang, Malaysia
What’s Inside: A Trip to Sing About . . . . 3 Fifteen young ladies head to Bangkok for Choir Festival
Spike and Strike . . . . . . 4 New tournament celebrates both football and volleyball
Balls of Fury . . . . . . . 6 Ping-Pong, the latest high school fad, hits Jaffray Dorm
Melon Murder! . . . . . 7 StuCo’s first event this year: a beach party!
Close Call! . . . . . . . . 7
PTO Barbecue helps juniors raise money and brings bonding to community
Jingling Juniors. . . . . . 8 Juniors wow seniors with an Arabian Nights party
Playground Pirates . . 9
Juniors paint playgrounds for serve-athon
Liberating Ribbons . . 10
No-uniform day raises funds for Care and Share 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: Sam Eckman, Evelyne Kiiza, Chan-Yang Kim, Keanu Lee, Wesley Lee, Sophie Ly, Reagan Mahoney, Yang Yang Sim, Xiao Leen Siow, Kendall Thompson, Ben Weidemann Adviser: Mr. John “Tommy” Tompkins
Eagle’s Eye
October 2012
Snapshots of Sneak
By Chan-Yang Kim
flying next to him asking for a share of his breakfast. For the next four days, classmates chilled out by their own paradise that far exceeded the standards of “Rainbow Paradise.” Students occupied themselves with exciting beach activities like sailing, body surfing, and kayaking on the gorgeous, mile-long private beach. Kendall Thompson, Hank Wong, and Jarrod Forsdick courageously let a sailboat, directed by the one and only sailor of the class, Luke Martens, carry themselves away towards
Gently carried across by a ferry, the seniors voyaged to the beautiful tropical island of Pangkor on 14 September. “It still doesn’t seem real to me that Senior Sneak is finally here! I’ve been waiting for this trip for so long!” exclaimed Wesley Lee. Watching the golden sunset with the tender touch of wind sweeping through their h a i r, t h e students soaked in the joy of sneak’s arrival and snapshotted precious moments in their cameras and hearts. Upon the arrival, friends quickly raced to their rooms, eager to see their temporary homes. With stomach growling after the full day of school and a long four-hour bus ride, “prawn-queen” Ji Won Park hurriedly raced down to resort’s restaurant where she eagerly feasted on plates of unlimited shrimp, steak, ice-cream, and other luxurious food. Sleepily strolling out of her room the next morning, Esther Kim stood in awe when she discovered the fine beauty of the resort, uncovered by a slowly approaching sunrise. On the way to breakfast, she rushed after peacocks with camera in hand, trying to snap the splendor of their feathers. On the contrary, the brave man with bird phobia, Jee Ho Han, yelped out a screeching scream and darted away when an intimidating hornbill came gently
the horizon. “It was so much fun until the boys started roughhousing, and Hank shoved me into the water,” exclaimed Thompson, remembering the moment. Many students, after hours of rigorous activities under the blazing sun, lay low by the pool and showed off painful farmer’s tans while sipping refreshing cups of lemonade. In effort to bring balance between individual chill-out and class bonding times, the excom planned enjoyable activities like beach volleyball or (Continued on page 2, col. 1)
Gimme Some Love, Bro
By Reagan Mahoney
In the weeks leading up to the greatly anticipated SEW, Biebo Suncloud made many ostentatious entrances into chapel looking for “Soul Food.” Laughter erupted when Biebo (Mr. David Thomas) went looking for “Seoul Food” at Korean Barbecues as he did not quite understand the English idioms of Pastor Jonathan “PJ” Bollback. As this occurred, half way around the world, Mr. Rudy Sheptock boarded a plane, his destination, Penang, Malaysia. Stepping onto Penang soil, Rudy made a grandiose entrance in chapel on 25 September. “The greatly anticipated SEW event is finally here!” Ina Park (11) exclaimed, on her way down the steps to chapel. 1
With the SEW crew in classy black apparel standing on the stage awaiting Mr. Brandon Orr, people filed into the chapel for the first session. Kick-starting the whole week, Rudy shared about his family and God, while jumping on chairs and running around tirelessly. The bell rang; and the students got up out of their chairs to walk out, but something extraordinaire happened during the paramount session that mysteriously called them back that evening. “Give Me Some Love, Bro!” With a pounding drum, Biebo randomly slipped into each session, sporting a crazy afro and queer pants. The week flew by in a frenzy, (Continued on page 2, col. 1) October 2012
Kids, Flour, and Maggots—Oh My! Day one started as any other. Everyone dressed in his uniform, gathered his books, and came to school. “It was like the longest day of the year,” said Lillian Li (8). “I thought the final bell would never ring.” But like all longawaited trips, the bell finally did ring; and the trip began. The seventh and eighth graders had the opportunity to leave first and enjoy a whole extra day in Cinta Sayang Resort on the mainland. Together, these
upper classmen of the middle school celebrated a boisterous and wild pool party, letting their new-found maturity sink in on the Middle School Retreat from 16-17 August. “We went to bed smelling like the bus,” said Kevin Kim (8), “but the travels were definitely part of the fun.” The next morning the older kids greeted the incoming bus of fifth and sixth graders outside a water park. “The rides and being able
Spiritual Emphasis Week...
Tayah Lee (9) said. Old and new kids alike described the week positively, “SEW was a new experience for me. I really thought it was cool that Dalat dedicated a whole week [to focus] on God. It was great!” said Alexa Cahal (10), new to Dalat this semester. “Rudy had a powerful and profound message, which was emphasized by his humorous stories and flying spittle,” Luke Martens (12) noted. With the end of the week arriving, the Eagle athletic teams got ready to participate in their newly founded annual tournament, Spike and Strike, with the goal of showing love to those around them, truly living up to the whole week’s focus. •
Continued from page 1, col. 4) and at the end of the last session one heard comments floating around the chapel, for many people kept repeating them: “Wow, it’s already over,” or statements like, “I don’t want it to end!” The week, however, didn’t end without changing people. “SEW this year was really amazing. Having Rudy as a speaker was so great—he was so captivating, and you found yourself always listening to what he had to say. He got your attention from the get go, and he didn’t give it back until he ran out of time! I found God really speaking to me this week through Rudy,”
Senior Sneak... (Continued from page 1, col. 4) beach soccer. With sandy balls flying through the air, painful squeals exploded from here and there as the balls rubbed against painful sunburned shoulders. Circles of friends enjoyed the breezy evening air as they watched the sun sneaking back into its home with cones of ice cream in their hands after dinner. Overwhelmed by silliness, Sam Kes dumped his cone on his head and yelled, “Unicorn!” making the girls burst with laughter. Under the gorgeous sky, splashed with water paints, Mr. Kerry and Mrs. Robin Mahoney strolled together, leaving footprints on soft sand and stamping memories in their hearts. After a full day of blasting fun, the class gathered together each evening and spent quality “knitting” time together. Here friends discovered novel stories Eagle’s Eye
By Kendall Thompson to hang out with all my friends was a huge highlight of the trip,” Areeya Kunawaradisai (7) said. After returning from the water park, everyone took part in teambuilding exercises. David Chinn (7) blew a little too hard in a bowl of flour and ended up with a very white face. As everyone laughed at his expense, the teachers rushed to clean him up. Another event that really stuck out to the students’ minds happened when Mr. Bob Pagee ate a maggot. Everyone
cheered, gasped, and wheezed as he swallowed the squirming thing whole. With two days filled up with tandem biking, bungee jumping, and swimming, everyone climbed back on to the bus home, tired, drowsy, but still ecstatic about all the new friendships they had formed. “The bonding that took place on this trip was revolutionary,” said Maverick Kirby (7). “I wish it could never end,” said Aaron Worten (5); but like all long awaited trips, the teachers finally called everyone in, and the buses rolled toward Tanjung Bunga. •
Into the Wild On the morning of 31 August, 10 lads started out on an excursion to the waterfalls looking for their passage into manhood. “Make sure to bring plenty of water unless you plan on dying in the middle of the jungle,” exclaimed Sam Eckman (12) to dorm brother Micah Martens (10). To celebrate the long Merdeka weekend, the boys decided to head into the wild to explore the beautiful, tropical island of Penang instead of going to Gurney Plaza like everyone normally did every weekend. Without looking back, the 10 musketeers headed
of their classmates that they did not realize even after long years of going to school together. Reflecting on these unforgettable memories, Xiao Leen Siow said, “Hearing other people’s stories really made sneak meaningful. We erased all of our presuppositions, lifted labels off one another, and just listened. Some people really opened up their hearts and shared about moments in their life they had a hard time just thinking about.” Gathered together as a class, each told stories of his or her life, including Mr. John “Tommy” Tompkins’s mile-long history at Dalat, which brought tears and laughter and made, “...sneak so much more precious than just a vacation,” Siow said. Leaving one last precious day left in paradise, the group of jolly seniors broke free from the walls surrounding the resort and went out to explore the local market. They settled down at a chicken rice shop after aimlessly
By Sam Eckman
into the wild, hoping to find adventure and to make lasting memories together. Starting at the clock tower early in the morning, they headed out towards Teluk Bahang with water bottles in hand and enough money for the bus rides. Seniors Luke Martens, Sam Kes, and Eckman along with fellow teammates Josiah Steinkamp (11) and Tommy Mallow (11) led the pack out the front gate and into the wild. First, the boys needed to find a mode of transportation and (Continued on page 3, col. 1)
wandering around in search for Horton—picked out Pangkor a restaurant and joyfully ate island T-shirts which the class and watched Yang Yang Sim wore later on that day to take chuck spicy soy sauce down his group pictures. Last rounds of pool throat after losing games and Ping-Pong “rock, paper, matches summed up a and scissors” in Pangkor Island Beach Resort memorable five days on a dare. Pangkor. As they boarded After lunch, the ferry once again, the the cheerclass gave a last glance ful tourists at their private paradise, peeked into films of the sneak playing shops, looking for in their minds. a little something “I felt almost dethat would repressed when I realmind them of ized that sneak was this precious coming to an end. Now trip. Grace I am going to start lookKim, Shion Beak, ing forward to a miniJane Yook, and sneak!” said Evelyne Chareesa Usaha Kiiza. picked out glitHesitant to leave tering rings as a such a beautiful resort, the class group so that they slowly packed up their belongcould forever treasure memories. As the girls hap- ings, memories, and snapshots pily shopped, the lady class of the unforgettable trip that sponsors—Mrs. Mahoney, Aunt marked the beginning of their Jan Hogan, and Mrs. Lorry senior year. • 2
October 2012
A Trip to Sing About
the auditorium. “In the end, the choir was a wonderful experience in which we learned about each other, how to work with large groups of people, and how to use our voices to bring glory to God,” said Alison Mays (11). After two days of straight singing, Ms. Goh led the exhausted but cheery girls to explore the streets of Bangkok. They feasted on an amazing dinner at the Baiyoke Tower and explored the multi-theme decorated floors of the shopping
By Sophie Ly “Ladies, I have an announcement!” exclaimed Ms. Joyce Goh at the beginning of choir class. The class, a choir of 15 vibrant and lively girls, slowly quieted down at the eagerness in Ms. Goh’s voice. Barely containing her excitement, she announced that due to special circumstances, the school has given permission for the choir to travel to Thailand to perform and attend the 18th annual Choir Festival at the International School of Bangkok. For the next few weeks, the girls worked their hardest to memorize and learn the various pieces of music for the trip to the Thai capital. On 4 October excited but nervous laughter echoed among the girls as they boarded Air Asia to embark on their journey. “Sitting in my plane seat, it struck me how after all this preparation, we were finally going,” stated Priska
Sugianto (10). After hours of hard work, the girls finally left Penang bound for Thailand and a few days of vocal enrichment. Joined by students from 10 other schools, a 300-person choir filled the ISB auditorium with their voices. With an open attitude to learn and grow in their singing, all the choirs practiced and rehearsed for the huge performance the next day. “I felt overwhelmed. A 300-people group sounded fantastic. I felt like I had an experience that I will never forget,” said Eunice Um (11). On 6 October, the day finally came for the girls to display all their hard work. Performing the timeless song “Amazing Grace,” they started the night with their individual performance as each of the schools attending the festival did. Led by the conductor Ms. Dinah Hegelson, all the choirs then combined to form an angelic sound, moving the audience in
Flaring his arms around with a smile up to his ears, Peter Tan (10) bounced on the stage. “Yeah, everybody!” said Tan, encouraging the crowds. After three sweaty days with Pastor Rudy Sheptock, the Ambassadors carried on the energetic worship at the After-SEW Party on 28 September evening. Huddled in the chapel at 8:00 p . m ., students from different grade levels celebrated what God had done for them.
Merdeka Day Celebration...
Martens started to complain, a bus came rolling around the mountain; and the boys let out a sigh of relief. After a short 10-minute ride, the boys had finally reached their destination. At the sight of cold drinks and scrumptious snacks, they hurriedly whipped out their wallets and bought 100 Pluses, bananas, and Twisties, fulfilling their hungry appetites. After a short snack break, they began their hike into the jungle down to the waterfall. The sound of rushing water and singing birds made the anticipation greater, and they speedily crashed through the jungle until they finally arrived at a gorgeous, shimmering pool. The boys quickly jumped in the freezing water and, after a while, began to adventure downstream. “The natural rock slide was exhilarating, but I couldn’t walk the next day because my butt hurt so much!” exclaimed Kes. The boys went splashing about adventuring down the river enjoying God’s magnifi-
cent creation. “I loved bonding with the guys in the pool that had been created by nature,” Steinkamp said while reminiscing the moment. Since Steinkamp needed to get back to campus to take care of some work, the boys packed up their belongings and headed back out to the main road. From there they caught a bus going back to Teluk Bahang and after a 20-minute ride, arrived just in time to catch a bus going to Dalat. Even though they came back smelling horrific and had acquired a few cuts and scratches from the hike, they had enjoyed their time making memories. “We should definitely do that another time, but with even more people!” exclaimed Luke Martens to the group of guys about to split off and go their separate ways. Until the next long weekend, Gurney Plaza would have to suffice; but each boy left knowing that he would, in the near future, once again enter into the wild. •
(Continued from page 2, col. 4) after waiting for a while caught a feeder bus heading to Teluk Bahang. After a long, winding ride through the perilous Batu Ferringhi hills, the boys made it to their drop off point close to the other popular hiking spot, Turtle Beach. At the bus stop in Teluk Bahang, the boys jumped off the bus following Rick Brake (11), Shion Matsumoto (10), Nathan Unruh (11), and Justin Lao (11); and the adventure began. From climbing up steep, treacherous hills to observing the beautiful, sparkling reservoir, the boys soaked in the much needed break and kept walking into the horizon laughing and cracking jokes with each other. “Bonding with the guys was a great experience for me, and I had lots of fun doing it,” Lao said enthusiastically. After two-and-a-half grueling hours of non-stop walking, the boys finally decided they needed to catch a bus if they wanted to arrive home before sunset. Fortunately, after 15 minutes from when Mallow and Micah Eagle’s Eye
mall Terminal 21. “I’ve never seen girls eat so much in my life!” exclaimed Ms. Goh. Upon returning to Penang, the choir of 15 vibrant and lively girls, reminisced on their adventure. Straight into preparation for the fall concert, they once again rehearsed the well-memorized songs. “After standing and singing for so many hours, I’m surprised that I’m not sick of the songs. But I still love them! I will definitely go again,” concluded Megan Sun (9). •
Flaring Faith, Bouncing Bodies By Xiao Leen Siow
3
“I’m really pleased that so many people came. I heard last year only four people showed up,” said Zachary Tan (9) looking at the crowd before him. Starting with “You Are God Alone” by Philips, Craig and Dean, the students lifted their hands and voices towards Heaven, not caring about how they looked or sounded. “Sometimes I want to raise my arms but don’t because I don’t want my friends think I’m lame, but now I realize that I shouldn’t worry and just worship God,” said Joe Brake (8). In between songs, Mrs. Valeri Brokaw opened up a time where students could share what they had learned from Pastor Sheptock. With the number of raised hands surpassing her expectations, Mrs. Brokaw said with a smile “Well, I’m sorry. We were planning to let you guys go at 8:45, but I guess we’ll just have to keep you for another half hour!” “It doesn’t matter how young I am,” said Danielle Combrink (7) with microphone in her hand, “God can still use me.” “I realized that even when I feel like people don’t care about me, God does, and He thinks I’m beautiful,” shared Colleen Mims (9). For the last time, or at least for a while, Pastor Sheptock stood at the front of the chapel and shared what the Lord placed on his heart. “Have you guys ever seen the Paralympics?” asked Pastor Sheptock. “I have two brothers with Down syndrome. They couldn’t even beat a snail in a race, but you oughta see ‘em. They are just winners.” Illustrating the pure love of (Continued on page 4, col. 1) October 2012
Striking Fear to Spike Victory With whistles blowing all across campus and on Penang Free School’s fields, the boys and girls of both the volleyball and football teams competed with schools from various places in the Spike & Strike tournament on 29 September. The smack of volleyball players spiking on t h e courts a n d t h e swoosh of football players striking the ball i n t o goals excited the players as well as the fans. The girls’ volleyball team played their first game in the gym against International Christian School (ICS) but lost with a set score of 1-2. “It was an exciting and challenging game, and I must say we played the best against ICS. It was unfortunate that we lost,” said Amanda Leech (12). Despite the loss, the girls’ varsity team managed to finish the tournament strongly with three wins out of five games, placing third. The boys’ volleyball team also played their first game against ICS and lost with a set score of 0-2. Although they had lost, they did not give up and improved game after game, winning two out of the four games they played. The boys ended the tournament with bronze medals
around their necks, proud of their accomplishment. As for football, the games took place at Penang Free School where the boys’ varsity team made a tremendous achievement. The Eagles took their first and second victory against MAZ International School and ACS Singapore with a final score 5-1 and 2-0 respectively. “I felt really positive after the first two games. As a captain, I knew the team could take on the challenge,” said Sam Eckman (12) with pride in his team. On the second day of the tournament, the boys continued their winning streak, beating Han Chiang, Saint Xavier, and Han Chiang again in the final, finishing the tournament on top with a total of 18 goals scored and only one conceded. The girls’ varsity football team only played two games as some teams decided to withdraw at the last minute. They played on the second day against Uplands and Sri Pelita International School, which they tied 2-2 and won 3-0 respectively. Although many teams had dropped out of the tournament just before the start, every athlete who participated enjoyed the lively atmosphere here on campus and at Penang Free School, strengthening their rela-
After-SEW Praise...
Kim (10) stirred up the audience with their heartfelt singing and genuine praises. “I really felt like everyone in the room was united,” said Kim. Students roared and jumped as Joel Halbedl (9) pounded the drums, playing the recognizable beat of the final song, “One Way” by Hillsong. Joining Peter Tan in jubilation, Jonan Ng (8) pumped his fists into the air while screaming praises. “Jonan was so adorable! He was so free and just danced with joy!” said Ji Won Park (12). Followed by thundering applause, the last chord rang and marked the end of the night. Now sweaty but still bouncing, Peter Tan said, “Thanks for coming, everybody!” •
(Continued from page 3, col. 4) his brothers, he asked Hannah Graves (9) to run a slow-motion race with him across the front of the chapel. “Now fall!” commanded Pastor Sheptock. As Graves fell to the ground, the pastor scampered back to her and said “C’mon! You can do it! We can do this together! We’ll make it together!” His voice cracked as he cried his words of encouragement. His intense eyes and honest words pierced everyone’s heart. “I hate the word ‘disabilities.’ Don’t let them tell you what’s perfect and what’s not,” he ordered. After the pastor’s quick message, Zachary Tan and John Eagle’s Eye
tionships with other schools. “I really enjoyed the tournament. I loved the way we met all the people from various regions and how we got to play together,” said Reese Terry (11). Moreover, the athletic department saw prospects this year as well as areas it could improve on. “In the future, we might try to change the tournament a little bit, separating volleyball and soccer on different dates so that fans could enjoy both tour-
By Wesley Lee naments without having to worry about going to one over another. Overall, it was a success; and I would love to continue the tradition!” said athletic director Mr. Chance Edman. As all of the teams cranked up their gears for the upcoming tournaments in Philippines, Thailand, and Taiwan, they hope to make themselves known to other countries in the area. Let the sounds of the spike and strike ring all over the world! •
Blessings Through Thornes By Ben Weidemann As the jam-packed white dorm van unloaded with chatty and excited kids on a drizzly 7 October evening, everyone filed in the quaint, cozy home of the Thorne family. “Welcome to our home,” Pastor Bob of Penang International Church greeted everyone warmly. “We hope you enjoy the Mexican food and then afterward we’ll play a game and talk for a few minutes at the end.” This year Pastor Bob decided to invite every dorm into his house for a meal, a game time, and also a time for people to ask questions about their faith and Christianity in general. He shared his goal of getting to know the dorms more personally and in a more comfortable environment than the church setting. Evelyne Kiiza (12) remarked, “I loved it when my dorm went to the Thornes’ house. It was great getting to know my pastor outside of church, and the Mexican rice bowl was amazing!” Mrs. Karin Thorne prepared a delectable Mexican feast with rice, shredded chicken, corn, and tomatoes among numerous other toppings. Everyone enjoyed this treat thoroughly due to the rarity of Mexican food in Penang. After everyone had eaten his or her fill, the group prepared for an intense game of Bunco. This simple game had 4
people pair up and attempt to roll certain numbers on a pair of die. When the team reached 26 points, they advanced to the next table; the losers stayed put, hoping for better luck next time. Despite its easy, simplistic nature, the game turned out everything but relaxed. Only a few seconds after the game had started, all three levels of the house resounded with shouting, laughter, and shrieks of victory. Aaron Bengs (10) commented, “When playing Bunco at the Thornes, I realized I was the best Bunco player that has ever lived!” After the game came to a close, and the decibel level dropped down to a bearable amount, everyone gathered together again for a quick time of sharing and prayer. Pastor Bob opened up the floor for people to ask any question of him, the church, or Christianity. Several people spoke up, and Pastor Bob discerningly answered their questions to the best of his ability. “The sharing time at the end went really well. People asked good questions, and it was really interesting hearing Pastor Bob’s responses,” Luke Martens (12) observed. After a prayer from Pastor Bob, everyone headed out of the house to once again pack into the white dorm van. Everyone left that evening with full bellies, smiling faces, and content hearts, thankful for the blessing from the Thornes. • October 2012
An Unexpected Journey By Keanu Lee Puzzled student presidents Joshua Thorne (12), Ben Weidemann (12), and Josiah Steinkamp (11) each received a mysterious envelope from Pastor Jonathan “P.J.” Bollback after school on Thursday, 6 September—each containing individual instructions for their executive committee [excom] to seek “the next clue” from different sources around campus, sending them on a wild unexpected journey. Dazed and confused, StuCo and the junior and senior excoms trundled blindly towards their next clue, thus marking the start of the Leadership Retreat.
Sam Eckman (12). “One big thing we struggled with was the all-important question: to shower or not to shower? We didn’t know if we were about to embark on a sweaty adventure or sit under a fan and plan for two hours,” said Reagan Mahoney (12). Not knowing what came next kept the leaders on their toes and prepared them for the upcoming year where they would have to make quick yet solid choices. The next day piled up with as much adventure as the previous one, the highlight of the day coming when the fearless
The next envelope instructed the leaders to find their way to the Christian Convention Center [CCC] in Batu Ferringhi, organizing their own transportation. StuCo and junior class excom used the money they received to ride the bus, but the senior excom managed to convince Uncle Brian Weidemann to give them a ride. Throughout the day, students endured long hikes, fierce games of Crab Soccer, and the uncertainty of what would come their way next. “That was one of the hardest and most frustrating things—not knowing the schedule,” said
leaders had to conquer Adventure Zone. The ominous red slide loomed below Sophie Ly (12) and Ina Park (11) as they slowly built up the courage to plunge down a straight ten-foot drop. “I was really scared, but I knew that if I didn’t do it now, I would regret it later; so I built up the courage and finally did it,” said Park reminiscing over her painful experience. Over the course of the retreat, student leaders grew not only as individual excoms, but also, as a whole, learning to work together and to expect the unexpected. They learned to plan for unforeseen obstacles and stay on their toes, battling what represented the year to come and conquering unexpected journeys. •
Open Homes, Smiling Faces, Bonding Families By Evelyne Kiiza As a gaggle of giggly boys approached the girls’ hallway in Jaffray Dorm, Aunt Val Weidemann shouted out, “It’s not time yet!”
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they walked in, and Mr. Brian Brewster made sure the process flowed smoothly. Parents experienced the rush of getting from class to class on time without
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I gained a new perspective serving others rather than being served.
Students, parents, and teachers eagerly filed into campus on 24 October ready for Open House, an event that usually gave parents and day students a clear idea of life in the dorms. During this time, parents had the opportunity to go to school once again, or in other words, relive their son or daughter’s daily schedule. Student Council members handed out schedules to parents and guardians’ once
receiving a tardy. At this time dorm students like Ruby Noh (7) felt sad because her parents could not attend. “It was emotional seeing other kids walking through their schedules with their parents because as a dorm kid my parents are not always around,” she said. Before dorms opened for visits, the kitchen staff had slaved all day to prepare three different kinds of food: nasi kandar, char
koey teow, and sweet and sour pork with rice. “Although the portions were too small, and we could only choose one set, I still really enjoyed the food,” said Calvin Thompson (9). Dorm students decorated their rooms with photos of family, friends, and places that they cherished. Some even placed a donation box in their room as a joke. “I enjoyed decorating my room and letting people see where we dorm students live,” said Shelly Choi (10). After masses of people had exited, dorm students could once again take a deep breath. The junior class had diligent workers switching in and out throughout the whole event. They sold freezies, bubble tea,
Bubble Tea & Banana Bonanza By Reagan Mahoney Sporting incredibly long and colorful socks, the president of the junior class, Josiah Steinkamp (11) battled the harsh jungles and traffic of Malaysia to make a grandiose entrance on 14 August in chapel to bring the good news to the student body. With the six different kinds in the store, they showcased the starting ten flavors of bubble tea, Eagle’s Eye
in our store is super enjoyable because we don’t have to go out to get bubble tea,” Steinkamp expressed. Not only benefiting the public, the juniors themselves have also enjoyed their product. “The bonding in the junior class store is fantastic, and trying out our new flavors and ideas is phenomenal!” Ana
to try out an idea that many had wished for over the long summer break. “Besides the one time I nearly choked on the bubbles, I have really enjoyed the bubble tea the juniors make. I think it’s a great way to increase revenue and eventually make a better JSB,” said Luke Martens (12). “Having this special product 5
and candy; and they made a lot of money. “As a junior, I gained a new perspective serving others rather than being served,” said Justin Lao (11). Although some juniors enjoyed the full open house experience, others like Ina Park (11) treasured class bonding at the junior store. “I was making bubble tea the whole time, so I didn’t really enjoy open house; instead I got to bond with my class which was so worth it, ” said Park with a big smile on her face. As the night came to an end, students, teachers, and parents journeyed home preparing for the weekend; and the giggling boys got a good laugh out of the girls’ rooms. Open House had turned out a success. •
Mims (11) expressed joyously. “With new products at the store, we have new chances to build character, responsibility, and even relationships,” said Matthew Lawrence (11). The frenzy of the first day sales called for a new tactic: queues. With a waiting line and signs, the juniors frantically tried to keep up with the hungry customers awaiting their precious bubble tea and (Continued on page 6, col. 1) October 2012
Balls of Fury
separated themselves from the rest as the best players. Ben Weidemann (12) and Sam Eckman (12) proved the cream of the crop among the boys as they constantly smashed balls past their opponents. “Sam would play games on his iPad in one hand as he played Ping-Pong against us with the other. It was crazy. We still couldn’t beat him, and he constantly won,” Aaron Bengs (10) said. Even the girls got involved as Melissa You (10) and Kendall Thompson (12) tried to hone their skills. As the Ping-Pong madness continued to spread throughout the dorm, other students also jumped in to test their own ability. Lee, Reagan Mahoney (12), River Tabor (11), and Calvin Thompson (9) all became regu-
By Luke Martens The paddle slammed against the bright orange orb and caused it to hurtle through the air towards Micah Martens (10). With a tricky backspin, the ball escaped his paddle and spun to the floor. Wesley Lee (12) pumped his paddle in the air in victory as he retained his status as “king” as Martens dejectedly walked to the back of the line of Ping-Pong enthusiasts to try once more. The table tennis revolution
on campus started when Uncle Brian Weidemann set up Jaffray Dorm’s Ping-Pong table in the living room for the enjoyment of every individual who walked through the dorm’s swinging doors. “Ping-Pong hooked all of us really fast. At first it was just a couple guys, but now pretty much every Jaffray guy plays. We often came straight back after school and started smashing balls together until dinner. Now we’re all really pro,” said Raymond Pow (11). From the beginning, some
“Do You Have a Team?” “Do you have a team? Do YOU have a team?” asked Lukas Martens (12) as he ran across campus anxiously as time for Indoor soccer approached, urgently looking for a team. Every Friday night, dorm as well as day students formed teams and played against each other in the gym. Indoor became a popular routine on Friday nights as dorm students searched for ways to spend time together. It became a regular activity which the boys could display and practice their talent in football in an enclosed space. Sam Eckman (12) said, “The best is when you have
By Wesley Lee
tertaining to have different combination of players each week. Moreover, players on the varsity squad took this as a chance to improve their team chemistry. Since indoor provided a suitable environment and situation where they could bond together as a team and practice their tactics, it helped the football players a lot. “Perhaps I could say that indoor is one of the benefactors that contributed to our success in multiple tournaments,” said Eckman as he looked back on his
a team that could pass and dink the ball around the opponent until a perfect opportunity comes.” “The feeling is absolutely indescribable when you score a wonder goal. It feels as if I am Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi,” said Nathan Unruh (11). Not only did indoor provide joy to the dorm students; day kids joined in the fun as well. With more diversity in choice of teammates, students found it en-
Eagle’s Eye
team’s accomplishments. The girls in the dorms often came to watch the game too, boosting the morale of the players. “I feel so proud when I score and see the crowd cheering for me!” said Martens. “Although it is not a real match, the intensity on the court feels like the players really are in a tournament. I wish I could do some of the tricks the boys do in my soccer game,” said Sophie Ly (12). Some girls even took the initiative to join with the boys to play together. As long as the tradition continues, students will ask, “Do you have a team?” when Friday comes back around. •
Striking New Memories
Bubble Tea... (Continued from page 5, col. 4) and chocolate-covered bananas with the catchy title, Arctic Monkeys. “Covered in delicious chocolate, the Arctic Monkeys create smiles that created a warm fuzzy feeling in the hearts of those that make them,” said Lawrence. The shouts of affir mation towards Steinkamp and the juniors for this newfound idea of bubble tea and Arctic Monkeys still echo in the hearts of all. •
lars in Jaffray as they tried to beat the best players. Just like all the Jaffray students, they quickly grew addicted to the action. “Now I have to buy my own Ping-Pong table so I can play anytime,” Tabor shouted as he put down his paddle after a long rally with an opponent. Martens wiped the sweat from his brow before launching into another heated match with the great Lee. After hitting the ball back and forth multiple times, Martens’s moment had come. The ball rose high in the air and he ferociously smashed the orb with all his might straight down onto Lee’s side of the table. With a wide smile of victory, Martens took his fallen adversary’s place as the “king” and prepared to conquer his next opponent. •
By Kendall Thompson at this event is awesome,” said Chan Yang Kim (12); “even though we all live so close, the craziness of our lives interferes with all the potential relationships.” After a quick dinner, everyone geared up to play some fast and ferocious bowling, forming new friendships and discovering new talents. Micah Martens (10) played an almost perfect game, putting his team far in the lead. “It was overwhelming,” Micah said. “I really would never have guessed
“I can’t believe it’s been a whole year since we did this last” Joyce Lee (11) said in the van sporting all her fellow Jaffray-ites. As the van sped down the lanes on its way to the bowling alley, everyone laughed and reminisced about all the crazy memories from the year before. The day had finally arrived where all the dorms gathered together in a high intensity game of bowling. Here the dorm parents split everyone up, mixing grades, genders, and dorms. “The bonding that takes place 6
that bowling would be one of my strong suits.” Of course, not everyone could play at the same level as Mr. Martens. “Hey, I never claimed to be a bowling champ,” Sam Eckman (12) said after getting teased about his low score of 20. The whole alley buzzed with the sound of excitement as everyone cheered for strikes, spares, and gutter balls all the same. Winning and losing stopped mattering as the night drew to an end. The dorm parents passed out prizes for the (Continued on page 7, col. 1) October 2012
Melon Murder!
By Keanu Lee
“Three, two , one, go!” shouted Josh Thorne (12) sending three individuals careening towards three helpless and oiled watermelons, sending howls of laughter through the crowd looking on. Emma Hofer (9) smashed her watermelon on the ground and began to devour its contents, rapidly gaining a lead against Keanu Lee (12) and Josh Graves (11) as the crowd looked on in disbelief at Hofer’s insatiable-melon killing hunger. The sound of joy echoed throughout campus, drawing students into the first StuCo event of the year: the Beach Party. After school on Friday, 21
September, Student Council opened up the beach to host this year’s first event—the post S.E.W. beach party. Students came to the beach to play games, listen to music, and roast multicolored marshmallows over a simmering bonfire. “It was a really fresh idea that StuCo did this; it was great fun. Also it kept me entertained for more than 30 minutes which is pretty amazing, honestly,” said Aaron Bengs (10) wistfully. The beach party gave students the chance to socialize and enjoy the night. Apart from the opening wa-
Close Call! The juniors and the Parent Teacher Organization representatives looked on in fear as the winds picked up speed and a heavy torrent of rain poured down on campus. On 15 September, the Dalat community geared up for its highly anticipated annual PTO BBQ; but the chances looked grim as the weather continued to worsen. The thought of missing the BBQ haunted all those who had eagerly anticipated this exciting tradition. “The wind was so strong that Tommy Mallow (11) was being thrown around like a rag
Bowling... (Continued from page 6, col. 4) groups who, not only had the highest score, but also for more subjective things like most creativity and zeal. “SO rigged,” Luke said in disdain after his group placed second for enthusiasm. But finally after all the rift-raft died down, everyone walked back to the vans, no longer separated by grades or dorms, but all together. As Areeya Kunawaradisai (7) climbed back in the van, she smiled and said, “It’s time to make our own crazy memories THIS year.” “And tonight will be one of them,” Grace Thompson (8) responded. • Eagle’s Eye
By Sam Eckman
doll trying to keep the junior class tent grounded,” chuckled River Tabor (11) jokingly. As if by miracle, the wind and rain subsided right as the setting up of the PTO BBQ began; and after a few minutes Class of 2014 of quick preparation, the night began. The event got off to a slow start, and it looked as if the rain had gotten the best of the event; but after a slow, tedious 30 minutes, the campus started to liven up with the laughs and giggles of young children and the friendly, warm conversation of adults. As the minutes ticked by, the social gathering increased exponentially until hundreds of people crammed onto campus. Before long, an intense football match erupted between the parents and children, and afterwards everyone jumped in line to eat, tired from the energy-draining game they had just played. The PTO hosted the BBQ and supplied meat for the junior class to prepare and sell to hungry guests looking for a cheap yet tasty meal. This event provided the juniors with an easy way to make money for the upcoming year and the big events they would put on like the JSB and its much anticipated trip next year, senior sneak.
termelon smashing ceremony, the event had no other planned activities; and students had the freedom to socialize or eat when they pleased. The party goers even organized themselves to do the “Cha Cha Dance and Electric Slide.” Looking around the beach, Thorne analyzed the party with a smile on his face. “I think that the party was a success—at least 25 percent of the high school students turned up which is a success in my mind,” he said as he watched Kenji Lee (10) dance along with a group of his friends shouting “best party ever!” As the fire died down and the last marshmallows slid down the
throats of overly stuffed students, groups slowly sauntered back up the stairs to upper campus, still chattering and laughing as they went. The first of many StuCo events had proved successful: students murdered watermelons, ate heartily, and managed to dance their way through the night. The sound of joy permeated campus that night, ending the last day of school of the week on a high note. People left the party having their thirst for fun sated, resting reassured that StuCo could definitely throw one mean beach party. •
“I was really proud of the juniors and their hard work. It was wonderful to see how those who had never grilled before jumped in on the occasion and helped grill the large mounds of meat not yet prepared. The food turned out amazing, and it was a great night for them,” said Aunt Valerie Weidemann of Jaffray Dorm. By the end of the night, the juniors had sold most of their candy, drinks, and meat. Junior class president, Josiah Steinkamp said, “It was great to see so many parents and families come out and support the junior class and the PTO. The night ended up being a huge
success. It was an awesome new opportunity to grill and give back to the community.” At the end of the night, Steinkamp and the juniors packed up their “shop,” and everybody crowded around the large outdoor screen that had Home Alone playing on it. The crowd slowly dwindled down as the night progressed, and after the movie, parents gathered their exhausted children and left for home. Each child remembered the intense football game he had scored in, and each adult, grateful for countless friends, felt thankful that the rain had not kept them from continuing this great tradition. •
Recharging at ReCONNECT By Sophie Ly A chair moves, a laugh echoes, a smile travels as students rush into the student center. ReCONNECT stands as a time set aside in the middle of the week for students to pursue what God revealed to them in chapel and throughout the week. Open to both high and middle school, students of different ages can gather and recharge their relationship with Christ. Every Wednesday at 6:30, students scurried into the student center to engage in more worship and growing from chapel earlier that day. “ReCONNECT is an opportunity for students to begin to experience their own relationship with Jesus once again,” said Pastor Jonathan 7
“PJ” Bollback. Discovering the love of God through laughter, the students engaged in various compelling games such as “No-Hands Cheeseburger Eating,” “Wacky Football,” or “Bob, Phil, and Sam.” “It’s a lot of fun acting silly and laughing while getting to know younger classmen through intense games of Fruit-Basket,” said Evelyne Kiiza (12). As the evening progressed, students gathered together to worship. Taking time from his busy schedule, Mr. Jason Selvanayagam dedicated his evening to ministering to the students through singing. PJ then challenged and encouraged the (Continued on page 8, col. 1) October 2012
Jingling Juniors and a Wobbling Wong By Xiao Leen Siow “This is so boss!” exclaimed Hank Wong (12) to Evelyne Kiiza (12) and Luke Martens (12) while wobbling in excitement to see the After-Sneak Dinner invitation pop up on his iPad for the twentieth time. “I just want to scan it over and over again!” Jingling across the seniors at a white table, Alison Mays (11), Thushara Kantimahanti (11), and Ana Mims (11), with their embroidered costumes, scurried down to the chapel a few minutes before 6:30 p.m. on 19 September to prepare for the After-Sneak Dinner. Tolerating Wong’s continual amazement at junior’s innovative Quick Response (QR) coded invitations, Kiiza and Martens discussed the theme of the dinner: the Arabian nights. “I hope there’s hummus!” said Martens. As minutes passed, more and more seniors gathered and proceeded to shuffle down the flight of stairs to the dinner. At 6:30, Dong Jae Koo (11) popped his white turban and beady eyes out of the chapel, and the seniors snatched a glimpse of the dimly lit room. “Is everyone here?” asked Koo. Too excited to even look around to check attendance, the seniors nodded and slid into the chapel. Little did they
Prayer Meeting... (Continued from page 7, col. 4) group through a brief passage of scripture to foster thoughtful discussion. An atmosphere of devotion fell on the students as they attempted to grasp God’s message. “A lot like mini-chapel, ReCONNECT is a smaller group which makes it more personal,” said Grace Thompson (8). After a word of prayer, evening blanketed campus as ReCONNECT slowly came to an end. Lockers slammed, cars squeaked, and hands waved as students left campus for the night. Excited for next week, they went home to their homework and nightly routines. Until they returned for the next round of “Wacky Football,” students would snicker at the thought of what to expect next week. • Eagle’s Eye
know that a completely foreign atmosphere awaited them on the other side of the door. Candles hung from the ceiling, sonorous music lifted up the mood, and in-character juniors greeted and guided the 40 guests to their unusual seats: low tables and pillows. With spice sacks and baskets filled with shawls in one corner and pillows of different colors and brass vases in another, the room’s new look overwhelmed the seniors. Delighted, Martens devoured the pita bread and highly craved hummus. Seniors also enjoyed kebabs, tabbouleh, sweet rice, and chocolate brownies with vanilla ice cream. Flavourful dishes filled with spices and herbs perfumed the room and added to the theme. “The decorations made the atmosphere mystique. The food was very authentic. The juniors transported us out of the chapel and into the Middle East,” said Keanu Lee (12), “on magic carpets!” The transformation of this room involved no magic but just plain hard work. “I had to move a butt load of sand and rocks in and out of the chapel!” said Matthew Lawrence (11). Surrounded by sand, the “oasis” had frequent visitors, the juniors, coming back to retrieve water for the thirsty seniors. A large painted cave in the front of the room, decorated with rocks, had the seniors wondering about the program of the night. The chattering and gasps stopped when Ali Baba, or Justin Lao (11), emerged from behind the curtains and stumbled onto the floor. Finding a lamp, he rubbed it excitedly; and as expected, a genie appeared, a genie also known as River Tabor (11). “I will grant you three wishes”; Tabor said the famous line to Lao. Foolishly, Lao wished that nobody would know the password to the cave that held precious treasure. After warnings from Tabor, Lao still persisted with his wish. At the snap of the genie’s fingers, Ali Baba realized his own mistake. “Oh, nasi lemak! I don’t
know the password to my own cave!” exclaimed Lao. With that began the set of challenges that the juniors had set before the 40 thieves (the 34 seniors and their six sponsors): a bubble-tea pearl-shooting competition, a game of charades, and costume competition. Each challenge winner received a clue and a chance to guess the password to the treasure cave. After having selected the most adequate candidate from each table, the senior class gulped as their representatives tried to shoot a pearl out a straw onto a drawing of a camel on the wall. Jee Ho Han (12) proved his spitting skills to his class by accurately hitting the bull’s eye, or camel’s head, on the target every time. “No, sorry. I’m pretty sure Abracadabra is not Italian,” said Tabor to Jarrod Forsdick (12) after his unsuccessful attempt to guess the correct password, given the clue “the words of a f a mous Italian explorer.” Forsdick sighed sarcastically after his expected result. In the game of Charades, Martens quickly guessed “Lawrence of Arabia” correctly after Lawrence repeated pointed at himself; however, their table did not have the same luck when coming up with the correct password after receiving their clue of a bowl of canned
peaches on their table. Seniors had to dress up a member of their table in Bedouin style before they could get a taste of the last hint. Roaring with laughter, Ji Won Park (12) and Wesley Lee (12) made a toilet-paper diaper for Martens to wear. “I don’t think that’s very Bedouin, guys,” said junior class sponsor Mrs. Bethany Thomas on their creativity. Despite Park and Wesley Lee’s efforts, the senior class sponsors won victoriously with an unrecognizable Mr. Jon Horton. With the last hint “JSB” given by Tabor the genie, Mr. Kerry Mahoney went up and confidently guessed, “Here We Go!” (last year’s JSB theme). Mr. Mahoney’s resounding voice opened the cave, revealing a chest filled with chocolate treasure. The night ended in a thrilling rendition of the song “Friend Like Me” from the movie Aladdin. “I loved it when I got to see Mr. [Jason] Hall, Mr. [Larry] Chinn, and Mr. [Karl] Steinkamp dance when they were singing the song!” said Chan Yang Kim (12). After snapping their final photos, the senior boys left with their chocolate treasures and the girls with their glass candle holders. “That was way better than our After-Sneak Dinner!” said Chanel Huang (12). Jingling around the chapel, the juniors picked up baskets and pillows while indulging in leftover kebabs and hummus. After all the excitement, a very impressed Wong said, “That was seriously beyond my expectations! Now I wonder what else I can scan.” •
All Hyped Up Sam Eckman (12) walked to campus in a blue and yellow shirt with a number 10 printed on the front and back. Josh Thorne (12) and Amanda Leech (12) burst through the door, entering Media Literacy class in blue shirts with a number 12 printed on them. The numbers, the shirts, the colors could mean only one thing—Spirit Day! The 28 th of September marked the second day in a row without having to wear a 8
By Yang Yang Sim
uniform. Students and teachers, however, had to abide by one condition: students had to wear blue and/or yellow shirts, reflecting the colors of the Dalat Eagles, or to wear a school varsity jersey. With another day of mitigated dress codes, streaks of blue and yellow permeated the campus. Why 28 September of all days? The day also marked the beginning of the Home Football (Continued on page 9, col. 1) October 2012
Playground Pirates
Fiery Eagles Under Sprinkling Sky
Evelyne Kiiza
As the majority of people snatched two extra hours of sleep, a crew of 55 juniors accompanied by six sponsors, gathered at 8:00 a.m. by the clock tower, hopped into four vans, and by 9:00 a.m headed out for the playgrounds— to work, of course. On the morning of 22 September, the juniors prepared themselves to leave school for a day of toil and bonding. “I was afraid that we would have to reschedule the serveathon because the weather wasn’t looking too promising, but when the sun started to come out I was so relieved,” said Ina Park. The junior class excom, led by Josiah Steinkamp, worked extremely hard to split the class into efficient working groups of 8-10 students. “We tried to mix and match juniors and sponsors in order to encourage class bonding,” said Steinkamp. “The serve-athon really worked on my patience because I had to accommodate seven other people,” added Eunice Um. The juniors cleaned, painted, and polished the playgrounds in eight hours, leaving them bright and flawless. Even though some juniors whined and complained
about the heat, Josiah Mauger said he enjoyed the serving aspect of the project. “Through blood, sweat, and tears, we were able to appease the neighborhood,” exaggerated Nathan Unruh. As the juniors entered campus after their exhausting adventure, the seniors cheered them on, welcoming them back with ice-cold drinks and tasty Magnum ice cream bars. “Although they looked tired when they came back, they were all smiling because they had so much fun—and the serve-athon was finally over,” said Keanu Lee (12). “It was scary seeing the juniors at first because they were all covered in blood, but then I realized it was just red paint,” said Shion Beak (12). When working, the juniors incorporated fun activities like paint wars to make work entertaining and pleasant. “River Tabor and Simon Karing attacked me with red paint and slapped my back; I still have red hand mark stains on my shirt,” said Michelle Chan with a subtle smile. The day proved a smashing success with much bonding and serving for the class of 2014. As juniors continued to share their achievements with the seniors, those two extra hours of sleep in the morning did not matter at all to any of them. The day ended with smiles, hugs, and rain at last. •
Spirit Day...
support and enthusiasm of the whole school! At quarter past two, the football team members left their classes and headed towards the locker room, dressing themselves up in their cleats, blue socks, blue shorts, and jerseys. Mr. David Thomas gave his words of encouragement and shepherded them to the van, leaving to Penang Free School, the venue of the tournament. The volleyball players braced themselves as they warmed up for their first game. Eckman, Thorne, and Leech, all hyped up, looked forward to their intense tournaments. And part of the excitement lay in the blue and gold colours that blanketed campus. •
(Continued from page 8, col. 4) and Volleyball Tournaments, a long anticipated day for varsity football player Sam Kes (12), volleyball players Shaun P’ng (11) and Charlotte Combrink (9). “The colors, the spirit, the encouragement—they all make me feel special!” said P’ng. The school dedicated that day to uplift the morale of the boys’ football team and the boys’ and girls’ volleyball teams as they faced some of the most formidable opponents, such as the St. Xaviers football team and the ISKL volleyball teams. After all, the Dalat Eagles couldn’t keep their heads up without the Eagle’s Eye
By Chan-Yang Kim “Let’s do this, guys!” yelled Calvin Thompson (9), on fire with determination. Trapping a heated football, Thompson took a short breath, eyed his target, and struck the middle of the ball with muddy cleat. It swished by Tenby’s defenders, slipped by keeper’s fingertips, and flew into the net. On 4 and 5 October, Dalat’s JV boys’ football A and B teams set their cleats on slippery field of Uplands under a sprinkling sky to fight for victory in a mini-tournament. Uplands welcomed four schools from around Penang—Dalat, Tenby, Prince of Wales, and Sri Pelita—and staged young athletes, shining their newly discovered talents. Two teams of Dalat Eagles each played eight short games that lasted eight minutes. Under Coach Robin Frohlich’s careful instructions, youthful Eagles quickly scattered around the field, dashing into their positions. As field players wholeheartedly ran for victory, goal keepers Jonathan Chinn (7) and Ben Finlay (8) eyed the ball with piercing stares and stood on their guard, ready to block anything that even attempted to cross the goal line. “They are sick goal keepers! They are going to be boss goalies by the time they get into the varsity team!” exclaimed Justin Lao (11), amazed by talent of young players. Competing against teams with ranging skills, the Dalat boys reaped variety of results. In their first game, the boys
got so close yet so far from the victory and ended the game with score of 0-1 against Sri Pelita. In sharp contrast, the second game against Tenby B team ended with a total triumph of 2-0. In between the games, Eagles chugged icy water down their desperate throats and huddled in a circle to reflect on past games and to encourage one another. Regardless of scores, future leaders of Dalat football gave pats on each other’s backs, knowing that they had fought with their best effort. “I think we won the place we deserved. Whether we lost or won, we stepped off the field knowing that we had played our best. It was exciting to reap what we sowed,” said David Unruh (8), reflecting on the tournament. The tournament reached its climax when Dalat played their last game against Tenby A team. Burning with ambition, players from both teams sprinted back to back with fans singing “Let’s go Eagles” on the sidelines. The audience let out a sigh of relief when the final whistle blew, and the scoreboard recorded a 0-0 tie. Exhausted Dalat Eagles, happy to finally escape from the sprinkling sky, hopped into the van. “We were quite pleased with ourselves even though we didn’t win the last game,” commented Thompson on the way back to campus, all hyped up by the day’s accomplishment. •
Tapping into Technology
By Luke Martens
Deftly jumping over the giant tree root, Tommy Mallow (11) sprinted straight on as the monsters chased him. He took a sharp left turn and leaned down to gather the gold coins by the wayside as he rushed onward. But suddenly a chasm appeared at his feet, and he stumbled into the thin air. “No! I almost beat 9
my record!” Mallow said as his Temple Run score popped up on the iPad screen. Across campus students took advantage of their n e w f o u n d technology for uses beyond the intended academic purposes. The iPad gave them the ability to play a vast array (Continued on page 10, col. 1) October 2012
To the Ends of the Earth and a Fishing Village By Ben Weidemann In 2010 a group of staff and students banded together to bring help and love to a group of struggling people. Gertak Sanggul, a small Muslim fishing village on the far side of the island, fell into dire need of assistance after the tsunami of 2004 caused much destruction. Along with many basic needs, the children also needed support and aid. Although the children of this remote village received some English teaching from their school, they needed more practice with conversational skills. A diverse group of students began the ministry on every Saturday afternoon, traversing
through the towns and jungles of Penang for over an hour to reach the empty concrete building where the magic took place. Despite the less than top-notch facilities, the groups always found a way to connect with the kids while still having fun. Ever since that first trip in October of 2010, a team has faithfully ventured to the remote village to bring them the love of Christ along with their English lessons. Micah Martens (10) commented, “I went because I
wanted to experience the local culture. The kids were super cute, and I really bonded with my class. They were shy at first but opened up eventually.” Each week the team split up into pairs to teach grades one to six, class sizes ranging from about four to 12 children. Reagan Mahoney (12) stated, “It was exhilarating to be able to interact with the local Chinese and Malay kids. I even got to put into practice my Mandarin I skills!” The teams used a simple English curriculum meant for different school grades as a base along with other activities and games they planned each week. After only a few weeks, most teachers learned to really love and care
for their class on a personal level, transforming their time each weekend into a priceless opportunity to love God’s children in the community. Although the group had to give up their Saturdays to make the long journey to the far side of the island, they knew their sacrifice meant so much more than any other activity they could have done when they saw the bright smiles on the faces of the children they built relationships with each weekend. As the students and staff banded together to pray, thanking God for opportunity to serve, they prepared themselves to live Jesus’ love to the ends of the earth—or to the fishing village down the road. •
T he Green Ribbon of Liberation
By Yang Yang Sim
The alarm clock rang at quarter past seven as sunlight gleamed into the Ziemer Dorm on 27 September. Rick Brake (11) began his usual morning ritual with devotions, followed by a refreshing shower, teeth-brushing, and his morning shave. Stepping out of the bathroom and to his wardrobe, Brake, with a green ribbon in his hand, asked himself for the
very first time, “What shall I wear to school today?” The entire school faced the s a m e dilemma. T h e green ribbon of liberation, purchased for 10 ringgit from Care and Share—a student club that serves the community in various ways—
possessed the power to unfetter students and teachers from Mr. Brian Brewster’s uniform radar. Students and teachers made their way to the campus with the ribbon pinned on their casual T-shirts. For the first time this semester, extravagant colors flew across the fields and classes of the campus like fireworks in a night sky, unlike specters of the
Technology...
intended them to, they found a wide selection of helpful apps and tools which helped them in their classes. “In Physics we used our iPads to measure how high our bottle rockets went. We bought an app called Multi Measures HD and then we attached a straw to our iPads to look through. It’s hard to explain, but Mr. [Brian] Brewster came up with it,” said Joy Kim (11). Students found many alter native ways to use their iPads as Samuel Kes (12) and Keanu Lee (12) planned to make cutting board and boomerang apps in order to broaden the use of the digital device.
Lee eventually settled for using his iPad as a Ping-Pong paddle during an intense game in Jaffray Dorm. “The Ping-Pong idea still needs to get some of the rough edges ironed out. I lost multiple times, but I think with some fine-tuning it will prove to be an instrumental tool in the future of the sport,” Lee said after looking back on the occasion. As students found an excellent balance between academics and enjoyment, the iPad became an integral tool throughout school. With the bell still ringing, Mallow used a swift five-fingered pinching motion to close Temple Run and took off on his own dangerous dash to his next class. •
(Continued from page 9, col. 4) of games ranging from soccer management simulators to street racing games. “During lunch a bunch of freshmen guys just sit around in the student center to play N . O . V. A . or Asphalt 7; but we civilized seniors play cultured games such as Football Manager Handheld 2012 and Fish Tycoon,” said Sam Eckman (12). When students actually used their iPad the way the school
Eagle’s Eye
10
depressing red and blue gloomily roaming the eight-acres throughout the rest of the semester. “This is a fun way for students to contribute to the community,” said Shion Beak (12). Everybody won on “No-Uniform Day”: the Dalat community served the local society, and Mr. Karl Steinkamp did not have to choke himself with a tie. At the end of the day, Care and Share had accumulated an astounding sum of rm 4971, including rm 1831 from high school students and teachers. “We’re not sure what to do with it yet,” said Luke Martens (12), member of the group. The 3:45 bell rang, changing the ribbon of liberation into a regular one. Brake retreated to his dorm at the end of the day, sad as he unpinned the nowfutile green label from his shirt. Looking forward to the Home Football Tournament the next day, Brake sprang into sudden excitement with an epiphany. “Wait, tomorrow is Spirit Day! No uniform again!” •
October 2012
