Eagle’s Eye Dalat International School, Tanjung Bunga, 11200 Penang, Malaysia
What’s Inside: Nobody Got Time . . . . 3 Survey shows the truth about this paper: very few read it!
NoNoWriMo . . . . . . 3
Students spend a month working on their own novel
Bro, Do You Even Lift? . . . 4 Students and staff enjoy the new weight-lifting room
Pit Stop: Dalat! . . . 5 Student Council’s “A-Mazeing Race” provides a night of keen competition and a little confusion
Pumpkins and Ping-Pong. . . 5
Seniors and their eighthgrade buddies spend an evening together
Bittersweet . . . . . 7 RLT Players put on challenging performance at PAC; but it was the last for many Eagle’s Eye Staff Note: This issue of the school paper has been written by the students in English 12, B-Block. Writers: Aaron Bengs, Hee Ra Chung, Morgan Guthrie, Marshall McManus, Jet Oh, Jamie Ooi, Tim Phan, Tesa Sasse, Rebekah Steinkamp, Joseph Stoltzfus, Priska Sugianto, Peter Tan, Hui Min Tang, Kia Thompson, Benjamin Tse, Joseph Um, Jacob Uzzle, Adviser: Mrs. Carin Roylance Eagle’s Eye
Bold Enough?
nifer Yook (12), “as we admired the dancing lights as well as the glowing backdrop.” Delineating this year’s theme, Mr. Sheptock described bold moves as things people cannot do without God. Entertaining and energetic, he would often joke about people seated in the front rows getting spat on. His animated presence reeled in the attention of many as he would either change his accent into a squeaky, amusing tone or suddenly lift a student up to illustrate and emphasize his points. Through his meaningful and poignant messages, he warned the audience against the complacency of Christian living, encouraging them to devote themselves to God daily and to crave His Word. In addition, he expounded on the idea of
Spiritual Emphasis Week. Long anticipated. A moment to relax, rejoice, and refresh. An occasion to hear the Word of God. An exciting time to worship and sing praises to the Lord. Food for faith. Liberation from burdensome assignments. Phenomenal stage decor. Dazzling spot lights. Guitar grinding. Cymbals crashing. Sweet-sounding singers. An enthusiastic and passionate guest speaker. SEW 2014! “Every day should be a bold move for God!” exclaimed Mr. Rudy Sheptock, the speaker of this year’s SEW, as he introduced the theme for the week. A curious and elevated atmosphere filled the chapel. Eager to know what God may reveal to them this year, the crowd stood up from their chairs in response to electric guitar riffs by John Kim (12) and drum beats by Peter Tan (12). Mr. Brandon Orr and his band led the entire room to an upbeat song, “Counting on God” by Desperation Band. Many were amazed and awed at the newly fashioned stage. Indeed, the worship band had worked diligently in preparation for this event, practicing worship songs before and after school and spicing up the stage with an appealing and original taste. “Every SEW has a personalized element to it—whether it is the speaker performing skits or the band singing new songs. This year, I particularly enjoyed the stage props. Though I do miss the SEWs in the hotel ballrooms, the SEW of 2014 induced the gasps of my friends and myself,” complimented Jen-
December 2014
By Benjamin Tse servant-hood, challenging the crowd to surrender boldly to God, wait on Him, and initiate a servant heart. Truly, his sharing stirred up much laughter; yet in essence, he revealed the gold nuggets concerning true faith in Christ. Concerning true faith, Zachary Tan (11) shared, “During SEW or MEW each year, I observe a certain trend of spirituality rise throughout the week. It is great to see students feel God moving in their lives; however, it is as if God is only invited to move during these weeks and not throughout their daily lives.” He termed this particular trend as the “spiritual highs” and “spiritual lows” of Dalat, describing students’ irregular, inconsistent behavior towards (Continued on page 2, col. 1)
Musical Bonding By Morgan Guthrie The choir had the privilege of participating in the 20th International Choir Festival with eight other schools from three different countries. This opportunity provided much enjoyment to 23 high school students whom Ms. Joyce Goh, proudly directs each day. They worked hard in preparation for this event as they performed five unique chorus pieces in unison with students from various schools represented in Bangkok. This event not only gave the students 1
a chance to learn new vocal skills, but also a time to build stronger relationships. The opportunity to perform with students from different countries provided an atmosphere of unity among fellow high school students from Asia. It also offered the students an opportunity for growth in their technique as singers. Rebekah Steinkamp (12) said, “The choir trip was an amazing experience because we had the opportunity (Continued on page 2, col. 3 December 2014
The Need to Feed Students ploughed each other down in ruthless contest, all thoughts consumed by an overwhelming desire to distance themselves from their previous location, class, and to reach lunch, the long awaited, much anticipated goal. For seniors, however, lunch offered a chance not just to eat and socialize but to escape the campus for 40 precious minutes and bond with other seniors over a meal of their choice. Many seniors preferred outside food to lunch on campus
The choice often proved daunting and seniors met it with mixed responses: some strove to avoid eating the same dish every day, but others embraced familiarity. Most of all, students relished the opportunity to bond with their classmates. The stress of college looming only a year off coupled with the hard reality that they would likely never see many of their dear classmates again helped seniors to see lunch as a time to bond together, and to make just a few more memories
for the more delectable variety available without the responsibility of bringing a lunch. The cafeteria tended to get a bit old after three years, and sometimes they spent those years of lunches waiting for this one, final year to eat a meal chosen not by necessity or economy but by simple desire. Some students realized that so much variety did have a downside. Juliet Suen (12) said, “The hardest thing about lunch isn’t getting back on time—it’s figuring out where to go.”
Forward Looking College essays, transcript requests, recommendation requests, application forms, financial statements… Struggling to juggle between bulks of homework and tedious college applications as December rolls around the c o r n e r, seniors, like every year, rush to get their college requirements ready before deadlines. Contrary to popular belief, college applications are more tedious than they sound, requiring much more time and effort from both seniors and teachers. Every year, teachers remind seniors to avoid procrastinating and get materials ready at least a few weeks before deadlines. Nevertheless, most seniors—being seniors—fail to listen, resultSpiritual Emphasis Week... (Continued from page 1, col. 4) God—at one moment they would be crying out in their heart to God; and the next time, they would return to their old ways as if nothing had happened. The theme of SEW 2014, “Bold Moves,” served not only as a charge for people to seek for His strength and confidence, but also as a reminder to them to reevaluate their walk with God. Have you continued to dwell in your spiritual highs and lows? Or have you showed boldness by engraving God’s Word into your hearts and living it out daily? • Eagle’s Eye
By Aaron Bengs
By Hui Min Tan
ing in teachers scurrying around trying to help students compile their list of needed things. “Compiling school information and personal profiling are the most
themselves facing more stress as time slowly slips away. “I had to sit down in front of a computer on weekends and force myself to get my college applications done. If not, finding time on the weekdays is close to impossible,” stated Melissa You (12). As laborious as the applicaChoir Trip to Bangkok...
tedious tasks in the application process,” explained Ziwei Moey (12), who spent chunks of her time researching universities that fits her criteria. Some colleges only required an academic profile, shunning the lists of extra-curricular activities students possess; but others emphasized the college essays. These distinct specifications might sometimes throw students off regarding which areas to focus on. With most universities setting their deadlines for the first of December, students grapple their way to balance between homework, tests, and college applications. Since different colleges required different items, students sometimes found themselves lacking the required examinations to complete an application at the last minute. Although rare, schools occasionally expected students to submit their SAT subject tests scores; and some seniors may not have taken the examination yet! Students, who need to find time on their own to study for the tests outside school, find
(Continued from page 1, col. 4) to sing in a very large choir with a very talented director teaching us new things.” Joseph Stoltzfus (12) stated, “As a choir we really bonded. The choir director taught us lots of techniques and inspired us to be passionate about singing.” Clearly, the trip offered various aspects of growth for the students in areas beyond singing. Although the experience offered a unique opportunity for students to learn and perfect their skills, the aspect of bonding appeared to have the strongest impact on them. With the hours of practice, rehearsals, travel, and a three- day stay in Thailand, students became more unified as a choir; as a noteworthy result, they created a strong bond amongst themselves. It became clear that each student recognized the importance of representing Dalat International School well; and in doing so, each person put his or her best foot forward, creating 2
before being whisked away from home and into a brand new chapter of life. Jonathan Chandra (12) said, “The best thing about senior lunch is the opportunity it gives you to bond with your classmates.” Seniors found that lunch could be one more way to make memories—the only things that really last—and to impact each other’s lives one last time. •
tion process may be, seniors remained bittersweet when discussing plans and college applications. Some could barely wait for the arrival of graduation day to move on to a new chapter in their lives--university. Meanwhile, some simply wished for time to freeze so that they could enjoy the last moments of high school with friends. •
an atmosphere for the students to unite as friends. A worried Ms. Goh had departed from campus with two vans full of sick students. The week prior to and the days leading up to 3 October, most of her students had missed school due to illness or struggled to recover from cold symptoms—singing with a cold is quite a strain on the vocal cords. Despite these obstacles, she believed her students would persevere. And in the days to come they proved her belief as they sang confidently before an audience of hundreds. Ms. Goh had not only dedicated herself to her students during each 45-minute class period, but she had also made herself available to help them after school as well. With this inspiration, the choir memorized five musical pieces which they performed in Bangkok with enthusiasm and passion. As students grow and learn, having occasions such as this choir festival can only further their maturity, preparing them for adulthood. • December 2014
paper due to its common format—words, words, and more words. Even those who read often did not go through the entire newspaper. “I don’t really read through the whole thing, but some articles do catch my attention,” Jong Min Park (7) admitted. Avid readers from middle school eagerly gave suggestions on how to increase the number of Eagle’s Eye readers by including book reviews or forums about a debate of the week from forensics class. Teachers highly hoped to see articles and literary works of students from diverse grades. “I think this is mainly a high school newspaper, and the contents are good for that purpose,” Ms. Shawna Wood, the middle
By Hee Ra Chung Hot Issue! Where do you look for a detailed account of the recent school drama? How did everyone respond to the meticulously
planned STUCO event, the Amazing Race? To get in touch with the latest events, the articles of the school newspaper, the Eagle’s Eye, would be of worth. In 1949, the Eagle’s Eye began with black and white.1 Today, a new age has arrived! The school newspaper is now published every quarter under “Resources” on the school web. How often do you read Eagle’s Eye? What does the student body think about the school newspaper? The prevalent secret is finally revealed through the surveys, voting, and interviews of students and staff! Though the elementary school, regretfully, did not participate in the voiceout on Eagle’s Eye, we were able to evaluate and determine general attitudes from the wide variety of responses towards the school newspaper. As expected, most of the students in both high school and middle school did not read or Eagle’s Eye
rarely read the school newspaper. Driven by curiosity for their students’ perspective of various events, more teachers read the Eagle’s Eye regularly relative to the percentage of students who did. But, be surprised; quite a few teachers have admitted their lack of participation in reading it! Some expressed appreciation. “It helps me understand what goes on at Dalat so I enjoy reading it,” Aaron Chand (10) noted. Others, like Mrs. Carin Roylance, provided suggestions. Some even expressed no particular interest, like Hung-Jie
school principal, pointed out, “However, for it to be a Dalat newspaper, there needs to be a better balance between high school, middle school, and elementary articles. I also think a school newspaper should include articles written by a greater variety of students.” A form of communication between students and staff, Eagle’s Eye has a crucial role to report school issues that encourages students and staff to acknowledge and understand the significance in these reported events that contribute to the current ennobled school culture. As more students and staff become involved in the accessible communication through the newspaper, more will read it; surely, we’ve got time for that. •
(http://www.dalat.org/main/academic-programs-and-information/ welcome-to-high-school/eagles-eye/)
1
The Month of
50,000 Words
By Jacob Uzzle
On November first, thousands of people all over the world participated in a month-long event. The name? National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo for short, during which participants attempt to write 50,000 words in the space of a month. Teenagers to adults participated in the NaNoWriMo, each for different reasons, and each flying through typing a story to get to the goal. “When NaNoWriMo came up,” said Ysabel Loh (11), “I thought it was a great opportunity to put my thoughts into a story so that I could share my characters with others.” To make sure everyone can share his or her stories and participate in an orderly fashion, the NaNoWriMo even has its own website where anyone can sign up for to track his or her progress. Sporting a creative crest on its main page with coffee, computers, and various appliances, it says that NaNoWriMo “...is a novel-writing project that brings together professional and amateur writers from all over the world.” The site includes resources like forums to discuss stories as well as motivational quotes. Of course, the website mainly helps with self-motivation, as validating your novel takes little effort beside copying and pasting the
Song (12), who responded, “My relationship with the Eagle’s Eye school newspaper is like a tyrannosaurus rex. I know it exists, but I wouldn’t get near one unless I had to.” Among the participants, an overwhelming surge of responses similar to the one of Mrs. Roylance echoed: “Articles always cover the same topics. We need unique ideas or topics!” Moreover, many expressed concern for the school news3
novel into a word-counting program. The website still provides a great excuse, however, for anyone to work on that novel he or she always wanted to write and let the commitment on the website keep them on track; or it provides an outlet just to start on a whim so people can brag that they finished it. “It’s not that hard,” said Sarah Uzzle, a long time NaNoWriMo writer and Dalat alumnus. “If you plan an outline before, it makes everything much quicker. I got done by the 10th of November.” Whatever their reasons—like bragger’s rights or commitment—the NaNoWriMo writers all either see it to the end...or get slowly behind, which becomes even more difficult when trying to writing a coherent novel. “It was hard to balance [NaNoWriMo] with drama,” said Kimberly Horton (10). “I had to write a lot at night, so I lost sleep. I gave up a lot of free time or any time to relax.” Students planning on jumping in should take this warning: if you cannot type fast and cannot focus on a story for long, it stands to reason not to aim for the full amount of words. Although it can get difficult to write when school work gets in the way, writing and watching a (Continued on page 4, col. 1) December 2014
Bro...Do You Even Lift? “Give me one more!” cried Mr. Brian Brewster to his team of CrossFit kids attempting to finish up their last circuit. Since last year, the weight room has gained popularity from students of all grades; as a result, coaches encouraged basketball players to work out and lift, and students and teachers found time on their own after school or during X-Block to release some stress and build strength. The word “sweat locker”was written in bold across the chalkboard-like walls along with individual goals, as the sound of clashing metal, grunting, and their determination echoed from the weight room. It comes as no surprise that
students used newly renovated room, thanks to the Annual Fund. New equipment such as more weights, elliptical machines, rowing machines, squat racks, a stereo system—and others that will also come later this year—make this place more enjoyable for those working out. During X-Block, students came in for Mr. Brewster’s CrossFit Club, started by the legendary Shaun Png, a Dalat alumnus known for his passion for the gym. “I wasn’t really a gym person,” said Mr. Brewster, “until Shaun asked if I would be willing to sponsor him for this CrossFit X-Block. At the same time, Mr. Tom Cura gave a speech about setting goals
By
Jaime Ooi
during chapel, and that sparked a new found interest for me.” Other students joined Mr. Brewster in his interest, such as Jerald Ooi (9), who after constant urging from his close friends and family members to work out, finally agreed and went to Mr. Glenn Fraser for advice and help in the weight room. Mr. Fraser, known for using techniques that differ from others, helps the varsity basketball guys train to enhance their performance at their sport. He focuses on old techniques (like slow movements) t h a t helps students gain more awareness of their movements, thus
having proper form--one of the most important things when it comes to exercise. “My training is for both strength and proper mobility,” said Mr. Fraser. “I want to be able to bend over without pain, and there is no point in destroying my shoulders at the gym if I can’t do much outside of it.” Training or staying active in this day and age where people seem sedentary paves the way towards a healthier and better life. Staying fit and active helps one physically and mentally because it increases the amount of endorphins produced by the brain, which in turn helps one in managing stress. Students during their high and middle school y e a r s constantly learn; this makes it the perfect time to find a fun and beneficial new hobby. •
United We Stand...for Breakfast! At the end of every week on a Friday morning, when exhausted students feel like giving up on school, Mrs. Deana Arnold, Mr. Chuck Arnold, Mr. Scott Uzzle, and Mr. Brandon Orr kindly started a breakf a s t group in the student center for basketball players in order to help them relax. They brought different kinds of breakfast every week to sate the irrepressible hunger of the students. During this time, Mr. Arnold also gave out a small devotional about God and taught important life lessons. “The 30 minutes of friends and basketball in the morning
NaNoWriMo ... (Continued from page 3, col. 4) story unfold becomes its own reward. Many do not achieve their goals for writing, but at least they tried. For others, a failure to do it one year results only in a drive to complete it the next. Indeed, difficulties arise to maintain the word count and keep up motivation, but thousands of people from all over the world still participate in NaNoWriMo. They unite by a common motivation: to write like the wind in the month of 50,000 words. • Eagle’s Eye
and took pleasure in the game of basketball. As the players enjoyed themselves, Mr. Arnold prepared incredible breakfasts that packed a punch to their taste buds. The exotic food gave players the energy to last till lunch time. Players Shawn Lim (11) and Andy Ewe (11) devoured theirs in a matter of seconds. After or during breakfast, players continued to watch basketball games; however, once in a while, Mr. Arnold either pulled up a funny video that cracks hilarious jokes or an inspirational video that leads to his lesson for the day. The most important part of this time comes at the end, when Mr. Arnold gives his devotions and teachings. As Sarah Tan
gave me a jump-start to the rest of the day. The devotions also taught me how to live a better life through basketball,” said Shion Matsumoto (12). The mornings usually started out with some NBA basketball action. Players, who came earlier, watched and studied NBA games, gaining more basketball wisdom every time as they observed the fundamental offense and defense of the game. They had fun cheering and jumping on the couches when big plays happened. Even without breakfast being served, players woke up from their traumatic week of torture
Striking Silver
By Marshall McManus
Ten minutes remained in the game. Hudson McManus (10) dribbled the ball up field past the last line of defenders. With blazing fury, they pounded the ball from the corner of the box towards the upper left corner of the goal. The keeper dove, desperately trying to reach the ball before it entered the goal, but at the following “swish” of the net, he knew his efforts were in vain. This example illustrates one
of many exciting and thrilling moments at the Dalat Soccer Invitational Tournament on 8 November. Teams from all over Malaysia showed up to play; Dalat itself, sent three separate teams, one varsity girls and two boys’ teams. All three teams represented and played well for the school, the varsity boys and varsity girls bringing home silver and bronze medals, and junior varsity returning with no prize but an “build4
By Jet Oh
(11) said, “I really treasure it as a time of bonding with each other and devotion to God where we apply the lessons we learn in basketball to the rest of our lives.” Basketball, being more than just a sport, helps guide players through their lives with Mr. Arnold as their leader. Players learned new, valuable, and challenging ways to live their lives for God. Every Friday morning, basketball players gather in the student center to jump start their day so they can finish the week strong. They learn new basketball fundamentals, enjoy breakfast and each other’s company; most importantly, they devote their time and life to God. •
ing” experience. Many of the varsity boys’ seniors did not play in the tournament so as to nurture and grant experience to the next tier of players in Dalat’s football program. Next year will certainly prove to be a test with the loss of longtime players, such as veteran goalkeeper, John Kim (12) and middle defender, Shion Matsumoto (12). All in all the players made some amazing memories. The players gave everything they had on the field, and all who attended left satisfied with the days outcome. • December 2014
Pit Stop: Dalat School “Where they count the metal hoops, you will fight against a warrior armed with an instrument of sleep,” read one of seven mysterious clues. On 31 October, scores of high school students gathered in teams of seven to compete in the “A-Maze-ing Race” event created by our Student Council (StuCo). Paralleling the CBS show “The Amazing Race,” StuCo members split the event into seven stations, each with a different challenge to test the students’ physical and mental prowess. Teams started on the shady basketball court to receive their initial instructions and a clue to one of the seven stations where they would start. Contestant Charlotte Combrink (11) commented, “Since there were a variety of events, we were able to experience and see people do things they don’t normally do.” The events ranged from
or after 15 minutes if they didn’t finish. If teams completed their task in under five minutes, the StuCo representatives rewarded them with a bumper stopper, effectively stopping any team from competing for two minutes if they chose to do so. The system itself sounded like an interesting concept, but it didn’t completely work out in the contestants’ favor—nobody knew how or where they could use the bumper stopper. Students later ate a small meal of pepperoni pizza and sausages to replenish their energy in the middle of the event. Though initially well thought out, the event had several setbacks—mostly due to miscommunication. During the pyramid biscuit game, the StuCo representatives forgot to give their clues to the teams and did not send them to the right stations. Most teams would have to wait for their turn
mentally working out puzzles in the chair puzzle and ice bucket puzzle, to simply bashing a bolster pillow against an opposing team member at the “thumpthump-boom” station. The kind of activity would then drastically change to a speed race of slip-n-crawl— similar to a crab walk race but with soapy water and muck in the way. Contestants then had to choose two to three reluctant teammates to dive into the pool to collect unknown objects in the swim-or-die game and come out completely drenched. Finally, the pyramid biscuit game tested the agility of those competing to see if they could take a bite from a biscuit, held at a high altitude, without the use of their hands—as well as build a sturdy human pyramid once they had finished with the biscuit. Students rotated to the next station either when they finished
Pumpkins, Ping-Pong, and Peter! Oh, My! By Joseph Stoltzfus
At 4 o’clock on 31 October, a meandering horde of students migrated towards the basketball court, the meeting point. In a mad flurry, the highly animated teams hurriedly put finishing touches on their elaborate costumes—accessorizing, polishing, and perfecting with last-minute additions. The mass of decked out eighth graders and their senior buddies amalgamated by the bleachers when the feedback from the speakers began to rumble. Ziwei Moey (12) took the microphone and climbed to the top of the bleachers to address the excited crowd, “Welcome to our very first Senior Buddies kick-off event, the RIPPP!” With a brief introduction to the Really Imaginative Ping-Pong Party, the presentation of the senior gift, and an explanation of the proceeding events for the night, the party had officially begun. The costumed buddies then grouped up into teams of eight and went off to tackle various Halloween-themed stations across the upper campus inEagle’s Eye
and expertly studied by a secretive panel of judges and were all along competing for a coveted spot among three winning duo costumes: the most alike, the most convincing, and the most creative. Moey, mic in hand, took the stage again and, once the judges had aligned, announced the winners: “For Most-Alike...Ruben Nyul (8) and Micah Martens (12), soccer players! “For Most-Creative...Sara Stoltzfus (8) and Jaime Ooi (12), Candy Rappers! “And for Most-Convincing...Esther Kim (8) and Lucia Combrink (12), Katniss and Rue!” The winning buddies then received gift-vouchers to the junior class store to spend at a later date. Lucia Combrink (12), mudcaked and complete with convincing bruises and gashes on her arms and legs, would later say, “I enjoyed working with Esther because she was so ex-
cluding “pin the bow-tie on Mr. Bones,” crime scene investigations, watermelon Jacko’-lantern carving, a spongetoss, and broom-stick races. With each fun and occasionally tedious task accomplished, the teams received little treats and generous rewards. At the turn of every quarter hour, from the high perch in a twisted tree, Peter Tan (12) let out a truly blood-curdling shriek signaling the changing of stations—the likes of which we shall probably never hear again. As the night went on and Tan continued to grace the partygoers with his signature talent, some would go on to compare it to something between that of a witch’s cackle and “the loud screeching of a dying goose.” Finally, when each station had been completed, the teams came back to the court for a special announcement. People shuffled around and re-adjusted their costumes. Little did they know that, from the very beginning, the buddies’ costumes were being closely examined 5
By Tim Phan at the event, especially in the “thump thump boom” event, even though they used a bumper stopper. It also rained near the end of the event, so most contestants got drenched and clung on to their friends for warmth. Tayah Lee (11), StuCo member, recalled, “[The night] was really stressful because everything seemed to go wrong, last minute. But everyone worked together to succeed, and in the end, everyone had fun.” The dinner proved meager, yet extremely enjoyable. The rain felt cold, yet thoroughly refreshing. The event’s progression confused everyone, yet everyone had fun. Against all odds, the event ended up as a success, no matter how frequently plans messed up. CBS couldn’t have done it any better. StuCo did a superb job in carrying on the event through the mishaps, and has garnered students anticipating the next event to come. •
cited about being Rue; and she was ready to dress up, apply dirt stains to her face, and put on a wig…... All the costumes were vibrant, brilliant and made me smile. I had fun goofing off and playing games with everyone.” When asked why she felt these bonds created were so valued by both the eighth grade and senior class, Sara Stoltzfus (8) said, “As unlikely as it may seem for eighth graders and seniors to be friends, I’ve genuinely appreciated the relationships and bonds we’ve made. Everybody needs a role model and a friend to count on. I’m really grateful for this fun opportunity to work together.” The RIPPP finally came to a wrap with a thrilling game of Dodge-ghoul, a spooky Halloween twist on the classic game of dodgeball. Black-tailed dodge balls flew through the air as buddy groups, occasionally linked at the arm, scattered across the floor and ran from incoming ghouls! The night, while rather short, was chocked-full with fun activities and memories to be made. The enriched relationships and unique bonds created that night will certainly not be soon forgotten. • December 2014
bringing relaxation to the boys’ fatigued bodies. Even though Dalat came sixth in the tournament, their level of excitement outside the football field definitely proved them champions. With buffet dinners—treated by Shelly Choi’s (12) and John Kim’s (12) parents—and the trip to Gangnam, otherwise known as the Beverly Hills of Korea, the team strolled through the concrete jungle after satisfying their rumbling tummies. “It was really awesome to play, but for me, the highlights w e r e when we went out to dinner every night and had great food; and we all got to bond as a team. That was really great,” said Ben Finlay (10). Apart from the amusement in Gangnam and the exhilarating games, the football boys participated in a mandatory service project. Split into three groups, the boys headed to Shalom House of
A Call to a Ball By Joseph Um Stepping off the plane with excitement in his eyes, David Unruh (10) felt enthusiastic about the annual Asian Christian School Conference (ACSC) Soccer Tournament hosted by Yongsan International School of Seoul (YISS) in South Korea. Mr. Daniel Hale, the athletics director of YISS, greeted the football team as it arrived at Incheon International Airport. Getting on the bus bound for the host school, the boys itched to kick some footballs. The ACSC includes six schools from across Asia. Annually, the athletics director of each school comes together to decide the venue of the ACSC tournaments for the following year. The ACSC conference not only plans football tournaments, but also organizes tournaments for other sports such as volleyball and basketball. This year, YISS hosted the ACSC 2014 football tournament on their campus. The cool weather of Seoul greeted the boys upon their arrival on YISS’s campus. Jack-
ets zipped and hands tucked into pockets, the Penang boys scurried into one of the middle school classrooms for warmth and shelter. “The hardest part of the trip was sleeping in the same room with 19 guys. It was lots of fun, but the air gets a little stale. Korea was great; the weather was refreshing,” said Coach Chance Edman. “I just can’t say the same about our room.” Despite efforts to ventilate it, the smell lingered throughout the entire week. The room also provided opportunities for entertainment and team bonding such as when Shawn Lim (11) and Shion Matsumoto (12) tried to stuff tangerines instead of marshmallows in their cheeks for the game “Chubby Bunny”. The laughter of the team echoed through the nights in Seoul,
Adding a Relationship
is a great idea to have another adult to talk to. Sometimes, you need a third person who is not involved in anything—and that is your mentor.” In interview, Choi emphasized her bond with her mentor and how her coach has encouraged her. Another opinion comes from Jonathan Chandra (12), our yearbook editor, who said, “I’d definitely recommend discipleship to other people because I think it’s a great way to grow spiritually; and it allows you to iron out your problems with an adult who’s maybe been through similar struggles.” As displayed by Chandra,
By Peter Tan Have you ever felt like you needed reliable adult wisdom for all the homework in your life? Well now, with the mentordisciple program launched by Mr. Tom Cura, students and teachers can meet and just have time together, doing literally anything they want—as long as it follows the handbook rules, of course. From all perspectives the mentor-disciple program benefits both students and teachers in inspiring ways. Firstly, to understand this program, we must discover it, and how it originated. As the name states, the program gives one mentor and one, or several, disciples a chance to associate with one another in various ways. This can include going for a walk, talking about life, reading the Bible, or praying. Some groups even go out for meals together—that could even mean free lunch! Currently, more than 40 high school students and 30 staff members participate in this Eagle’s Eye
activity, so what are you waiting for? Hop on the bandwagon! Anyway, how did Mr. Tom Cura come up with such an idea? Well according to Mr. Cura himself, he did not know what a mentor was until about five years ago, when someone told him, “I would like to coach you.” From that experience, he realized how important mentorship was; and he began discipling people in his church. Experiencing the essence of mentorship, he acquired a passion for mentoring. He said, “It’s really important for people to have someone they can bounce ideas off and just pray.” Another idea to bounce off includes the many benefits that come with this activity. Both mentors and disciples profit greatly from these experiences: encouragement, resolving issues, and strengthening faith. Many student leaders participate in the mentor-disciple program. Shelly Choi (12), our StuCo president, said, “I think it
the Handicapped along with other groups from different schools. Despite physical or mental difficulties, the residents of Shalom House showed their skills in a friendly Ping-Pong match which shocked the team. As Matsumoto said, “I was especially amazed at how good they were at Ping-Pong, beating everyone who challenged them.” Efforts to win against the residents in the Ping-Pong match, the boys failed to accomplish their mission. Nevertheless, the trip to Shalom House opened the students’ hearts towards the handicapped. With Shalom House pamphlets and flyers in their hands, the boys head back to YISS, promising the residents that they would keep in touch with them. Bidding farewell to the chilly weather of Korea, the team sluggishly headed into the airplane as they wished they could spend more time in Korea. This year’s ACSC tournament in South Korea left a lasting memory for the boys to value. Even though the football season ended, the boys looked forward to the ACSC tournament next year. With excitement in their eyes, they itched to kick around more footballs. •
the program really helps resolve student struggles in life. Mentorship, a highly valued practice in this school, truly has improved the lives of students. Dalat’s leaders use these relationships to build themselves a stronger foundation to inspire others. It not only helps the student, but also the mentor as well. Advisership brings another person into your life whom you can trust and express your feelings to. Everyone should seek a mentor; and in the words of Benjamin Tse (12), “A person without a mentor is like Luke Skywalker without Yoda.” Oh wait! He is a president, too. •
A Sweet Treat Being a dorm senior provides a few extra privileges that the rest of the dorm kids yearn for. And do you know which wins the prize for the most envied of them all? Senior Treat! Dorm seniors get the opportunity to go to a staff house for a late-night snack once a week. At 9:30
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By Priska Sugianto
p.m., the seniors gather together, pile in a school van, and head off to satisfy their humongous appetites. Each home greets them with kind staff members, a mouth-watering snack, and exciting activities. Every year, the first treat takes place in (Continued on page 7, col. 1)
December 2014
Bittersweet Performance
emotions. The actors bolted onto the stage and gave memorable and life-changing performances. “I loved watching the RLT performances. It was so great to see how passionate the actors and actresses got about what they were performing. All of the performances had great lessons and historical backgrounds; it was a great way to learn about history in a fun way,” said Rebekah Steinkamp (12). After performing the three shows, the RLT Players had one more show. On Friday, 21 November at 8 p.m., they anxiously awaited, sadly mourned, and happily celebrated the final
By Tesa Sasse
Fear, nausea, and excitement all came together to create and give flight to an uncontrollable vibe of anxiousness throughout the backstage of the Performing Art Center in Straits Quay. The new collage of skits, written by author and director Mark W. Sasse, revolved around one main theme: For All Generations. The time has come for the RLT Players to put on their first performance. After many months of practicing every Monday after school, and after the few long Saturday practices, the RLT crew found themselves anxiously awaiting the big performance while they secretly peeked from behind the curtains to see the slow, steady stream of people marching through the open doors. “My stomach filled with butterflies at the thought of all the people filling the seats, but at the same time, I was exhilarated at the thought of performing for
them,” said Morgan Guthrie (12). Setting aside the difficult feelings, the students started their first show on Thursday night at 7 p.m., 20 November. With the first performance under their belts, the show was off to a great start. The crowd left an imprinted high in all 11 RLT members, preparing them for the next two nights to come. The 10 skits performed had different stories and messages. The plots ranged from war and fated love, to deep-rooted family ties, dysfunctional family woes, silly grandparents and naughty, sugar-induced children. “My favorite part about RLT is seeing how all the actors change characters throughout the night,” said Colleen Mims (home-schooler). The different skits and acting techniques caught the attention of all the audience members, both young and old, bringing laughter and thought-provoking
Senior Treat...
mouths have food crammed inside them. The hosts of Senior Treat play a huge role—even more than the food. They bless the dorm students with their time, money, and energy. Without them, Senior Treat would not be possible; they do terrific jobs at keeping the seniors entertained. “I like seeing the uniqueness and creativity our hosts present in the food and games we play,” said Kia Thompson (12). Activities vary from sitting down and telling funny stories in Ziemer Dorm with the Jenkinses to playing “Pictionary” at the Orr’s. Senior treat forms many enduring memories for seniors to keep forever. The privilege they greatly envied while in lower grades finally becomes a greatly appreciated blessing, routine, and tradition—bringing joy to everyone’s hearts and satisfied bellies to bed. Then again, perhaps, it is just a huge scheme to give the seniors the “freshmen 15” before they get to university. Whatever the case may be, Senior Treat is definitely one of the many fabulous indulgences a dorm senior could savor. •
(Continued from page 6, col. 4) Jaffray dorm, hosted by the Weidemanns. They welcome all the seniors and give a run-down of what Senior Treat is, why they do it, and other important matters. Aunt Valerie Weidemann said, “I feel it is important for seniors to connect as they anticipate their transition to university or college.” Throughout the year, the connection among the students grows; and by the end of it, the group will have a stronger bond than ever before. They will have become support for one ano t h e r, easily relating to one another’s anticipation for the future. “When you find out you have senior treat, it takes your day to another level because of the food you are anticipating that night,” said Joseph Um (12). Although food may not be the original main focus of senior treat, it definitely plays a significant role. The seniors love the food offered to them, whether it’s sweet, salty, homemade, or store-bought. Within a group of 12 seniors, silence simply does not happen unless everyone’s Eagle’s Eye
execution of a perfect night. And a perfect night it was! All the preparation, all the practicing, all the hard work came to a crashing halt. The flood of emotions overwhelmed the actors. Their happiness and accomplishment was met with hugs and kudos from the audience. Most of all, emotions erupted from the seniors and the cast from the original RLT performances of 2011. The 11 cast members had fun partaking in this production. The cast of the RLT Players touched many hearts with their fun and thought provoking performance for an audience of all generations. •
A Game Against All Odds
By Kia Thompson
On 22 October, the Dalat varsity girls’ football team traveled to ChiangMai, Thailand for the 2014, ASCS Tournament. All the girls knew that they were sacrificing their break for this, but with a strong team of girls and two great coaches, Mr. Kerry Mahoney and Mrs. Robin Frohlich, they kept their heads high. They lost the first game they played by a score of 1-2 against Grace International School. The next game they hoped to do much better with Faith Academy but finished with a score of 0-1. On the morning of 23 October, they made their way to breakfast, their stomachs growling from hunger and turning from nervousness. Just before the games started up, their captains prepared the team with a warm up. “Girls, time to warm up,” said Juliet Suen (12). When they finished, Coach Frohlich rounded the girls up for a pep talk. Determined to win, she said, “This is a game that is important to us. It determines where we finish in the standings and our final position in the ASCS Tournament. I want you to give everything you have.” From the benches rose shouts and cheers. As the game started, from the sidelines Rebekah Steinkamp (12), nervous and excited for the game, said, “I think at the beginning I felt that the game was going to be hard as we were going against one of the toughest teams in the tournament.” The girls prepared themselves for a tough game. 7
After 20 minutes, with one minute left before halftime, the girls fought hard. Asaka Mori (9) tried to score with a drive into the goal. She passed the ball, and then a quick assist came from Emma Hofer (11) to Christy Chow (10), who drove the ball into the goal just before her shoe flew off; she had scored with a shoe-less foot! Fans went wild, and cheering came from all over the field. The ball kicked off, the whistles blew for half time, and the girls rejoiced. The girls hustled into a huddle, unable to contain their excitement and determination for another goal in the second half. Quite excited at the chance to win, Coach Frohlich sent up the same line up of girls the first half. As the whistle blew, the girls gave a quick cheer and hustled out. “Let’s go girls,” shouted Andriani Sugianto (11). By this time, it had become dark which made it hard for them see all but their opponents and field as the bright lights blurred out the field lines. Captain Suen and Captain Sugianto told the girls: “This is what we have been waiting for.” As the game started, the back defense hustled back and forth. With the quick flick of the ball from a Morrison player, it headed towards Dalat’s goal with a quick flash of the back defense. Suen tackled the ball, kicking it out just before it scored. The girls sighed with relief but had a sense of distress. Dalat’s girls managed to keep the ball on Morrison’s side (Continued on page 8, col. 1) December 2014
Colorful Collaboration and Competition in ChiangMai Dalat’s girls’ football team had a wonderful time in ChiangMai, Thailand, where they participated in the Asia Christian School Conference (ACSC) Tournament. While there, the athletes willingly embraced a service project at a local school, where they played and crafted. They shared the story of God with local students using colored beads: black for sin, red for the blood of Jesus, white for newly clean hearts, green for new growth, and yellow for the Glory of God and Heaven. The athletes shared this tactile lesson with a classroom of brighteyed students, who placed the beads onto hemp cord to create bracelets as a visual reminder of God’s redemptive plan. Later in the week, Dalat’s team played multiple games against other schools in a tough
tournament, but one of the most meaningful parts of the trip was sharing God’s plan that leads to eternal life. The service project the teams participated in provided an opportunity to serve, to bond as a team, and to collaborate with girls from other ACSC schools. Meeting other young athletes added to the depth of the experience. Upon arrival, each Dalat girl was assigned to a classroom with the girls from the other schools. We taught God’s salvation story and made bracelets. The language barrier created a bit of a communication challenge with the local students; however, we overcame this problem with the help of ChiangMai teachers who translated when needed. Futsal with the children added to the fun! Spectators enjoyed cheering players when ACSC
teams played futsal matches. Everyone especially enjoyed watching an exciting futsal competition between coaches. All of these fun activities allowed the girls to get to know the children better along with the other girls that they would be competing against later in the week. The service project, where the players collaborated together, allowed them to get to know each other in a friendly way before the competition began. Growing friendships before the upcoming games helped them build respect for each other as athletes. Daniela Rana (9) put it this way, “My favorite part of the service project was playing with the children and getting to interact with them. It was really nice to see children from another country and how they liked to
Football in ChiangMai...
into their hands by watching both sides of the field, driving in and out, and watching the midfielders make their runs. As the ball rolled closer to the Morrison’s side, it bounced off their goalie’s hands. Rachel Wells (home-schooler) took the shot. Score! The girls went wild. Starting up again, they
seemed eager for a goal. Gleaming with determination, Morrison shot for the net just as the whistle blew. The goalie caught the ball in her hands. Dalat had won! With tears streaming down their faces, the girls embraced one another. Screaming and crying in a hard-won fight, they walked away with a 2-1 victory. •
By Rebekah Steinkamp play. It was also really great to interact with other girls from the tournament.” Asaka Mori (9) said, “The service project was really fun! I loved how the children really enjoyed being served. I felt like it helped to get to know the girls before we started to play soccer with them. It helped get rid of some of the stress that we had about the games that we would be playing.” All around, the service project provided a great opportunity for all the participants, both servers and those who were served. The players experienced the ChiangMai culture, bonded deeply as a team, and found new friends amongst competitors. The entire trip turned out to be an amazing experience; the service project just happened to be a highlight for many. • Clip Art Sources
(Continued from page 7, col. 4) although Morrison too battled with the ball trying to tackle it with all their strength. Screaming at the top of their lungs, the back defense, Sugianto, Suen, and Kia Thompson (12) started taking the game
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December 2014