VALOR TIMES 2023 NOVEMBER VOL. 1 NO. 3
“IF I GAVE EVERYTHING I HAVE TO THE POOR AND EVEN SACRIFICED MY BODY, I COULD BOAST ABOUT IT; BUT IF I DIDN’T LOVE OTHERS, I WOULD HAVE GAINED NOTHING.” CORINTHIANS 1 3: 3
THANKS GIVING Thanksgiving Day is a holiday blessing the harvest of crops and the preceding year. It was primarily held in the United States and Canada. The origin of Thanksgiving Day first originated from the feast between Pilgrims and Native Americans from Plymouth, Massachusetts. On Thanksgiving Day, people typically enjoy meals featuring dishes like mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and a centerpiece of roasted turkey. Families and friends gather to express gratitude for the blessings in their lives. On November 22, 2023, at Valor International Scholars, many parents actively participated by preparing meals for all the students and staff to commemorate Thanksgiving Day. During the celebration, students and staff gathered to share reflections and blessings from the past year, expressing thanks for new relationships and opportunities that had emerged.
DONGOH HAN
P1
ANSEONG MARATHON The eagerly awaited Anseong Marathon took place on November 5, 2023 at Anseong Machum Land. Upon arriving, participants gathered at the Valor booth where students and teachers came together. They warmed up by running 1-2 km and offering a prayer. Once ready, the 10km runners set off first, followed by the 5km runners. The top 3 runners in 5km by gender were: Male: Mingi Shin, Mr. McCulloch, Mr. Evans Female: Minjin Shin, Michelle Yang, Minseo Shin We hope that this marathon serves as an opportunity to strengthen bonds, focusing not just on rankings or individual times. A special thanks to the middle schoolers who dedicated their mornings to training in the Trimester 1 morning programs, as well as the high schoolers and teachers who chose to participate in the marathon. Thank you all for your hard work!
MINJIN SHIN|DAYUN CHUNG
P2
FORBES KOREA Valor on Forbes Korea On November 23, 2023, Mr. Jeffrey Ahn, Ms. Sarah Byeon, and Valor were featured in Forbes Korea. It is a great honor to introduce Valor’s mission and vision to society, especially at a time when our school is attracting international attention. How did our school, recently introduced in Forbes magazine, achieve this recognition? Valor is renowned for its outstanding educational programs, particularly its practical and convergent self-development curriculum, leading to international acclaim for academic achievements. HTTPS://JMAGAZINE.JOINS.COM/FORBES/VIEW/338681
Mr. Jeffrey Ahn, our head of school, also mentioned, “Students learn a lot of life skills because they study, exercise, receive counseling, and mentor with nativespeaking teachers at boarding schools.” For more information, you can check the Forbes article link or visit our school's official Instagram account. This news fills us with pride in the success and future of our school. We are committed to working together towards more achievements and international recognition.
YEJIN CHO
P3
SCHOOL EVENT Valor Citizenship Committee The Valor Citizenship Committee (VCC) has wrapped up the past trimester with a successful fundraising event! From 12:10 to 12:50 on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, the VCC offered a delightful array of treats, including Dakgangjeong (Crispy Korean Fried Chicken), Fish Bread, and Ice Cream. The fundraising took place in the area between Mission Hall and the cafeteria, and its primary goal was to raise funds for future events and contribute to essential school facility improvements.
Pepero day The Valor Student Council organized its first annual fundraising event of the school year, celebrating Pepero Day! From November 8 to 10, students enjoyed a variety of Pepero treats, made even more delightful with exclusive pre-order discounts. Furthermore, 25% of the funds raised are donated to mission sites, showcasing the Student Council's commitment. Students actively participated and engaged in Pepero Day by sharing and trading Peperos among themselves. It's safe to say that Pepero Day has now become a cherished traditional event at Valor!
Trimester Final As we approach the end of Trimester 1, our esteemed students at Valor have successfully completed their final exams. Every student tried their best studying for tests, and preparing for projects day and night. We, Valor Times, tribute all the students who have put efforts on finals, and their non-stop challenging spirit. Whether your final results were outstanding, or faced difficulties, we believe that this final exam has shown each student’s academic voyage through trimester 1, and became a stepping stone to success for the upcoming new trimester. Thank you for everyone’s hard work! JAMES LEE|YUJIN LEE|SHINHOO KIM
P4
TUTOR- TUTEE Did you know that Valor has a peer tutor program? The peer-tutor program helps each of the tutees and tutors learn from each other. As T1 ended, peer tutors received a certificate as an expression of gratitude and appreciation for their hard work. Now, here is the reflection of a tutee and a tutor. Tutor- As you have been tutoring for a trimester so far, how do you feel?
Tutee- As you have been tutored for a trimester so far, how do you feel?
Dayun Chung(9th) It was my first time being a peer tutor for someone else, and I knew that being a tutor was not just an easy thing to do. However, I believe that being a peer tutor was a great opportunity for me to experience new things—teaching peers, something I had never done before in other schools but at Valor.
Minseo Shin (6th) It was good, because my grades went up, and I think my English also improved!
What do you think about the peer tutoring program?
What do you think about the peer tutoring program? It is good, because I was able to ask my tutor questions I couldn’t ask, and they taught me accurately, so I think it is good!
Peer tutoring program is an awesome program for students who struggle with one subject and want to learn more of it.
P5
HAYEON SON
World Course Leadership World Course Leadership class utilizes Design Thinking in order to enhance student’s leadership skills and give hands-on, real life experiences to lead. In this class, students were asked to lead out projects in marginalized communities by using the Design Thinking process. Throughout each step, students had opportunities to practice various leadership skills such as listening, collaboration, and receiving feedback through activities, simulations/role play, and projects. The class was divided into five groups, each assigned to interview different organizations, including Jong-gyo Church, VMK (visually impaired marathoners in Korea), Sookja (community for homeless people), Education USA, and migrant workers.
MICHELLE YANG
P6
Start of T2 Welcome back, Valor community! As we approach the new trimester, the first trimester of our school year is a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we've embarked on together. Each day has been a step forward, and your dedication, resilience, and hard work have made this trimester truly special. As we embrace the second trimester of the school year, Valor Times is thrilled to bring you the latest news and updates from our vibrant community. With only a few days of 2023 remaining, we are committed to keeping you informed about the exciting events and stories that unfold at Valor.
Let's extend a warm welcome to our new Valor students! 10th Seoyeon Jeon 9th Miel Park 9th Jiwoo Kim 8th Yumin Han 8th Chung Heeyeon 8th Hagyeom Kim 8th Dohyun Eun 7th Eunjo Lim 7th Sungyoon Park 6th Hyunjung Lee
P7
JAMES LEE / DONGYUN HWANG
STUDENT LIFE EVENTS Tutor - Tutee pizza bread night On November 14th at Vision Hall, tutors and tutees had a pizza party to celebrate the end of Trimester 1. Everyone worked really hard and volunteered their time to help each other out. Many teachers came and prayed for us. And people made their own pizza according to their taste and waited to bake. There were also photo zones, a coloring section, etc. This short party showed how we can enjoy the good times together after putting in effort to learn and support one another.
P8
MINJIN SHIN
VALOR SPORTS/CLUB Kendo Team On November 1st, the Valor Kendo team participated in the 21st Anseong Kendo Competition. This competition featured 1v1 fights, so the Valor Kendo team had practiced for about a month to adapt. The Valor Kendo team is a relatively small sports team in Valor, comprising three members: 10th grader Sojeong, 11th grader Yunwoo, and 12th grader Hyuk-kyu, who participated in this competition. Sojeong finished in 2nd place, earning the silver medal in the high school girls' category, while two Valor boys were eliminated in the quarterfinals.
According to Sojeong, she was nervous because it was her first time participating in the competition, but she was happy with the good results. Despite the Valor Kendo team's small size, they are dedicated to learning and practicing Kendo, finding it worthwhile. If you are interested in the Valor Kendo team, do not hesitate to ask their leader, Hyuk-kyu.
JONGCHAN YOON
P9
Medical club On November 4th, members of the Valor Medical Club traveled to Seoul to obtain the Emergency First Response (EFR) certificate. During the session, the club members received comprehensive first aid training, covering topics such as human rescue, CPR, artificial respiration, and more. They practiced CPR on a human dummy and gained hands-on experience operating a cardiac defibrillator machine. After attending all the training lectures, the medical club members took the EFR certification test, demonstrating their understanding of the material, and successfully passed all components to complete the certification.
P10
Triathlon Team Triathlon Team’s Winter Training Has Begun! Since November 6th, our triathlon team has made adjustments to their training schedule to adapt to the winter season. Previously, we had running sessions on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, but with the onset of cold weather and winterspecific training, we've switched to indoor cycling on Monday and Friday, and running on Wednesday. The cycling team is also putting in dedicated efforts during the winter to prepare for the upcoming 2024 season.
HAJOON PARK|MICHELLE YANG
GOOD COMMENTS Jooyoung Kam, Caden Paik and Hosung Chang Michelle Yang The best club leader :)
They are just the best and more supportive people I know
Healynn Cho She is so good at sharing.
Minjin Shin Mrs. Cho I will miss you ;( -from algebra 2 -
Joseph Woo He is one of the most fabulous students in Valor. I feel that he deserves a compliment for several reasons. He contributes to the creation of a cozy and warm atmosphere in the dorm by always sharing food with his friends, which stabilizes and nicely enhances the dorm mood.
Jungmin Yoon Always works hard in my class & is faithful in the little things
She is very nice and helps me a lot
Mr.Christopher Moroshan works so hard & keeps our office clean even though I'm really messy.
Ms. Hazel Baek always make sure everyone is taken care of and makes sure we all eat!"
P11
TALENTS OF VALOR Jiho Lee In the 35th Incheon Metropolitan Association President's Cup National Men's and Women's Fencing Championships held on November 25th, 8th grader Jiho Lee secured 3rd place in the middle school boys fleuret category. Congratulations to Jiho for his hard work and excellent results! . Mingi Shin Mingi Shin has finally achieved the Grand Slam title, becoming the first person to accomplish this feat in Valor. The Grand Slam entails completing all the cross-country cycling courses, including the Bukhangang Bicycle Path, Ocheon Bicycle Path, East Coast Bicycle Path (Gangwon), Geumgang Bicycle Path, Ara Bicycle Path, Hangang Bicycle Path (Seoul), Namhangang Bicycle Path, Saejae Bicycle Path, Nakdonggang Bicycle Path (upstream & downstream), East Coast Bicycle Path (Gyeongbuk), Jeju Fantasy Bicycle Path, and Yeongsan River Bicycle Path. Mingi has dedicated significant efforts to this achievement since the 7th grade.
P12
MICHELLE YANG
VIS ALUMNI SEWI JUNG CLASS OF 2022 ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE, STUDYING LIBERAL ARTS AND PHILOSOPHY
Can you introduce your name, grade, and the major you're studying? My name is Sewi Jung, a sophomore at St. John’s college, studying Liberal Arts and Philosophy.
How did Valor help you as a person? I’m grateful that I met such great people of faith. If I didn’t have those people around me, I wouldn't have been able to know how to go through struggles. I say this because I believe knowing what to make of struggles and how to go about them is a very important skill for living and thriving. Do you have any academical and personal advice for Valor students? Martin Luther King Jr. said “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically.” What’s different about me after studying in college is that I do not consider myself to understand a subject just because I got an A. If you truly want to learn and know the joy of studying, keep digging in. The grades only tell you where you’re at in the standards set by the world. But you alone can discern whether you’ve grown.
What are some memorable memories you had in Valor? I had the most fun in club activities such as the Valor soccer team, Spiritual Committee, JNC guitar club. Having a common goal and working as a team to achieve the goal was a great experience not only because I was able to enjoy each other’s company, but also because I was able to learn more of my own value as an individual and others’ when working as a team.
P13
Do you have any message for the remaining Valor students and staffs? What I love about Valor is that there’s a sense of community, and that we value it. Although I myself also once doubted why we’re doing this in the beginning, I now realize learning the value of community and taking the action of serving really do something to yourself more than you imagine. Ones who know how to love are the ones who are loved.
What were some of your struggles in college and how do you think Valor can help students prepare better for college? I struggled a bit with making friends in the beginning. It may be due to a lack of understanding of American culture. If you consider yourself a pure Korean and an introvert, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to learn and expose yourself to American culture. Try to befriend students from abroad! Secondly, read English books more especially if you’re a Korean. The more you prepare yourself in verbal intelligence, the better you will learn in college.
P14
THE BIBLE IN COMIC 2. NOAH’S ARK
God said to Noah, “I am going to destroy all flesh because the world is full of violence. Build an ark of gopherwood, with rooms inside, three decks, and a door. Cover it inside and out with pitch.” And Noah did exactly as God commanded him ( Genesis 6:13–22 )
P15
DONGYUN HWANG
VALOR WATCH “ It is a project that Valor Watch, a brand that is trying to create a Korean microbrand, launched its first product and even succeeded in selling it. “ “ Original design, popular reliability parts quality, and a new watch that gives you something special at an affordable price ”
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An accessible fun watch A new design watch for original moments The perfect combination of price and quality, a low price of 230,000 won
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It uses sapphire glass, which is the second most intense after diamonds, so few scratches occur. AG (anti-glare)/AR (anti-reflective)/AF (anti-fingerprint) coating further improves the quality of the glass.
P16
Valor Times
Editor-in-Chief Michelle Yang Managing Editor Junsoo Lee Journalists Dayun Chung Hajoon Park Hayeon Son Jongchan Yun Minjin Shin Shinhoo Kim Yejin Cho Yujin lee
Designer Soorin Choi Heaylnn Cho Yejin Cho Comic Dongyun Hwang
We are recruiting advertisers (all advertising fees will be used for the development of the Newspaper team and mission trips). If you are interested in placing an advertisement in the Valor Times, please contact us at michelle.yang@valorschool.org.