True Knowledge | Faith in Christ | Godly Character
26th Edition/May/2013
contents Editorial Team PUBLISHER Yayasan Pendidikan Pelita Harapan ADVISOR Phillip Nash MANAGING EDITOR Hana Herawati
26th Edition/May/2013 3 Heavenly Home By Phillip Nash
4 We Need to Belong By Peter Wells
5 Second Home in the Finance Department
6 Second Home By Tjong Hana Kurniawati 7 Foreigners in a Foreign Land By Amy Jungemann-Hidajat
EDITORS Elizabeth Santosa, Nancy Indriyati
8 Second Home: My Reflection By Stephanie Elisabeth C. Sinaga
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Iwan Werlin
10 Second Home Reflections By SPHIKV Students
PHOTOGRAPHERS Hariyanto, Simon, Clifford, Dody, Melissa
9 A Home for the Sojourner By Andrew Darmawan 11 SPH International as a Second Home 18 What are we looking forward to, exactly? By Arif Hidajat 19 Be Thou My Vision By René Mario Unsratrianto Sompie
Address 2500 Bulevar Palem Raya, Lippo Village Tangerang 15811, Banten Phone: (021) 546 0233-34, Fax: (021) 546 9663 www.sph.edu
20 A Letter to My Future Child By Nicholas Sean Purnama 21 A Sense of Belonging By Sherri 22 Kupang Mission and Service Learning Trip 2013 24 Service Week 25 2013 SPH International Lippo Village PAG Events at a Glance
COVER
: Second Home
LOCATION
: SPH International Lippo Village
Kindy Kartini Day (22 April 2013)
regular
Heavenly Home
3
By Phillip Nash
Head of School SPH International Lippo Village and Coordinator of Pelita Harapan International Schools
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ These words from Jesus parable in Matthew’s gospel of the three servants are words most Christian’s hope to hear at the end of their lives.
S
HARING in the master’s happiness means enjoying the privilege of being part of the master’s household and family. It is clearly a home of celebration and joy, security and fellowship but also of responsibility and work. Jesus is talking about what the kingdom of God is like. In its both here and yet not fully here form, Jesus gives us an indication that, like the faithful servants, we will enjoy the celebration and peace of being at home but also continue to have work and responsibility. Our school theme this year has focused on our school’s relational context—a second home for your children. The key verse for our theme from 2 Peter 3:13 reminds us that we look forward to a home of righteousness found in a new heaven and a new earth. This home will be a safe haven certainly but also a place of fruitful work. So, as we have considered this theme, we remind ourselves that while school should be a safe haven for students, it will also be a place of responsibility and work. If school is a place of preparation, then we should be preparing students for faithful and fruitful
participation in the work and responsibility God gives to his servants. Only as we help them to see the value of participating in such work, will they truly be able to enjoy the home of righteousness.
God’s Spirit is with us to point us towards our heavenly home and God draws people around us; school, Church and friends to help us along the way to experience aspects of the heavenly home.
The unfaithful servant received nothing and was put out of his master’s home. Even what he had was taken from him and given to another. We do not want this to be the fate of the students in our care. So we commit ourselves as a school to help our students become faithful and fruitful servants of God. How do we do this? Well, Geoff Westlake, our theme speaker from Perth, Australia shared with us how we might work with students across K–12 to help them enter the home of righteousness.
As we draw towards the end of this year and its theme, I trust that the articles in this edition will remind you of what has been learnt, of what could be learnt and will help you to continue to focus on making SPH International schools places where students, parents, visitors and staff, can experience the welcome of a home of righteousness that reflects a future, perfect home.
We begin by helping younger students get to know this heavenly home and celebrate its values. We challenge older students to consider choosing this heavenly home as their own. We help all students to recognise that we can experience living in this heavenly home now and we also look forward to its fulfillment in the future. We acknowledge that not all of us live in good homes now but
If school is a place of preparation, then we should be preparing students for faithful and fruitful participation in the work and responsibility God gives to his servants. Phillip Nash
4
examples
We Need to Belong Too many people in this world live a disconnected life; remote from one another, and remote from God. The theologian Richard Rohr, put forward a simple diagram to show how one best finds meaning and fulfilment1:
The theory is this: If MY STORY is nested within OUR STORY, which in turn, is nested in THE STORY, I am a more complete and fulfilled person.
R
ATHER than living a life that is all about me, where all that matters is my individual satisfaction, there is another way. Western society has become preoccupied with self, and we see people get sucked down into a self-defeating morass of selfishness. All that matters is MY STORY. Asian society might have a greater commitment to collectivism, but perhaps we can see this same sad phenomenon emerging in the East. However, when we belong to a story that is bigger than our own, by being connected and committed to community, we find that serving the communal good is actually more satisfying than serving ourselves. We have identity, responsibility, purpose, relationship and other aspects of God’s good creation to
enjoy. Children can find this belonging to OUR STORY in family, school, teams, churches, cultural identity and many other ways. But the reality is, many children don’t feel deeply connected to any of these communities. Of course, social media now connect us to more people than ever before, but mere technology does not automatically generate authentic community. It might even create pseudo-communities, where the social media merely gives us a digital billboard to proclaim MY STORY, without true interpersonal care and concern. We need to belong to others. Alongside the great blessing of being a child of God, is the blessing of being one of God’s children. We are made for relationship. It is a blessing to be part of community, but community itself can go off the rails. Community works best when the communal story— OUR STORY—belongs to an even bigger story: THE STORY. This is God’s great story (The Biblical metanarrative), in which we can see that my story, and our story, are part of a meaningful unfolding of God’s great redemptive plan. We’re not in a random universe, or a godless unfolding of history. There is a Creator, Ruler and Redeemer in whom we can have faith and find immense hope. There is a beginning, a middle and an end to this story, and it is being constructed by a perfect and loving author who will see it through to a satisfying conclusion. Communities that recognise our place in God’s masterplan can live with true joy, peace and purpose in spite of the challenges of living in a fallen world. Of course, the prevailing thinking of the 21st century is characterised by post-modernism; the idea that THE STORY does not matter or does not exist. Each to his own, they say. One belief system is as good as any other if it meets my needs. Or, more subtly, there may be a denial of absolute truth or any singular God. It has been said that “Never before has the world been so desperately asking for answers to crucial questions, and never before has the world been
Rohr, Richard (2008), Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality, St. Anthony Messenger Press Attributed to Ayn Rand (philosopher and writer) in an interview with Time Magazine. She was asked: “What’s wrong with the world today?” 3 Joshua 4:1–9 1 2
By Peter Wells
Head of School SPH International Sentul City
so frantically committed to the idea that no answers are possible”2. Ultimately post-modern thinking explodes Rohr’s diagram in such a way that THE STORY (or any subjective version of it), if it exists at all, only exists to serve MY STORY. Any wonder that we face an epidemic of depression and disillusionment. If we look to the Bible, we can see that the healthy notion of self-concept described by Rohr aligns with God’s instructions for his people on entering the promised land. Joshua Chapter 3 describes the way the floodwaters of the Jordan were held back as the Arkbearing priests led the multitude of Israelites across the river and into their new home. It was a wondrous moment, a God-ordained, miraculous event that showed that the Israelite community were living out part of God’s great plan. The writer of Joshua records the collecting of the river rocks and the making of a cairn to memorialise this event. God instructed Joshua to make this happen, so the people’s place in THE STORY would not be forgotten.3 Can you imagine, generations later, young Israelite children asking their father “Why are those rocks piled up by the river?”. The answer would reveal that the child belongs to a community that was saved by God. “This is where our people came out of the wilderness, where the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant. God made a way for us to come into this promised land. You, child, belong to this community that God
examples chose. He brought us out of slavery, and gave us a new home here. We are His people, and we are called to His purposes.” Let’s fast forward three and half thousand years and swing our focus from the banks of the Jordan to Jakarta. How might our children be raised to be fulfilled and hope-filled adults, knowing and serving the Lord Jesus? A Christian education is a great way to do this.
Sekolah Pelita Harapan International offers children the opportunity to have a place in a community where they are valued and nurtured. And in that process of education, Christian teachers can impart to them a sense of their belonging to a story that is even greater than their own, and even greater than the story of SPH. They belong to the greatest story of all: God’s Story. Like the Israelite father on the banks of the Jordan, our staff can speak the truth into young people’s lives.
5
“You, child, belong to this community that God chose. He sent His son for us. We are His people, and we are called to His purposes.” In this way, SPH can be a second home to our children, echoing the messages of the Christian home. This sense of belonging; to one another, and to God himself, will enable another generation to be fulfilled and hopefilled people, playing their part in God’s great story.
SECOND HOME in the FINANCE DEPARTMENT
W
ITH the passing of time, the Finance Department has become a home for its members. When they arrive at work, they feel at home, they are missed when they are absent, receive continuous support and advice from knowledgeable colleagues and friends whenever they have to address difficult parents, they are cheered up when they are at the point of crying, not just about office problems but also personal problems. Sometimes peals of laughter ring through the Finance offices, a happy sound of close friends having fun and celebrating togetherness. What is most unique and very hard to find in other workplaces and even in your own home, is the fact that if one member shares her problem it becomes the problem of all members of the Finance Department. Advice and encouragement abounds and they pray together for God’s help. Is it any wonder that none of the Finance members think of moving anywhere—just like us, if we have come to love the pleasant home we live in we do not want to move unless forced. So Finance Department members do not leave—except when they must retire. Frida Karnadi: started work on 1 December 1994 and moved to SPHILV (SPH International Lippo Village) on 1 July 2010. “With the passing of time, members of the Finance Department have become like family. We share problems but also celebrate joys together like birthdays, eating out together and praying together. Just like in our own home, at SPHILV we also have a friendly neighbor—the HRD Department— which makes working at SPHILV even more like being home.” L–R: Theodora, Esther, Debora, Yani, Frida
Esther Indriati: started work in the Finance Department at SPHILV on 24 April 2011. She says. “SPHILV feels like my own home and I feel I am in the midst of family”. Debora Juliani: started to work in the Finance Department at SPHILV on 4 October 1993. “During my almost 20 years of service at SPHILV, I have come to learn and appreciate a lot of things especially how to live a better life for Jesus. I have learnt to fill my life with things from above and not just with earthly things. At the Finance Department we support and remind each other if we do things wrong, just like family. I have spent more than half my age at SPHILV, so how else can I describe it other than “It is my second home”. Theodora The: started work in the Finance Department of SPHILV on 4 October 1993. “To feel at home in a workplace where you have been working for almost 20 years, for 8 hours every day, from Monday through Friday— except on holidays—requires commitment. Therefore, at Finance, we function as a team, helping each other to finish our tasks on time. We have no secrets from each other,
share our problems and pray for each other. That is the serious part. However, at times, to unwind when we are stressed or because of complaints from parents, suppliers or colleagues from other Departments, we softly play spiritual songs. It relaxes us and makes it easier to solve problems. We are happy that we can work as a team. Because of the caring environment at SPH International, time just flies by.” Yani Suryani: started work in the Finance Department on 24 July 1995. Yani agrees with what all her colleagues have said about feeling welcome and at home because of the openness toward each other and the caring among the Finance Department members. She just wants to add that more important than that and more than the material compensation that all employees receive from SPH International is that which has eternal value i.e. the development of Christian character and spiritual development. “Thank you SPH International for developing in us who work at SPH International, ‘True Knowledge, Faith in Christ and Godly Character’.”
6
examples
Second Home There is no place like home. Home is talking about a place where we can feel comfort, safety, love and peace. Everyone of course always misses his or her home. Home also a place of sanctuary where everyone can share their thoughts freely and be corrected when mistakes happen. Home is where righteousness and love are the languages.
O
UR school has as its relational context statement—a second home for your children. After teaching for almost 11 years in SPH International Sentul City, I know that our school is a real second home for the students. Our school has proven to be a place where students gain knowledge, truth, and skills. Not only these but students also find love, comfort, peace and are welcomed by the teachers, staff and their peers. I believe that the feeling of being accepted by teachers, staff and their peers is because of the love of God that is being applied by the leaders at school, the teachers and staff. As a teacher, I personally think that SPH
By Tjong Hana Kurniawati, MPd. SPH International Sentul City Teacher
International Sentul City is my second home. I feel that I belong to school. The school gives me opportunity to express myself in teaching and ministry through my work. I have the freedom to do my work as a teacher to educate students with love from God. School provides the needs and tools to deliver lesson in my classroom, not only facilities but also support from the leaders and curriculum administrators.
It is not a coincidence that our school theme this year is “Welcome Home”. When I heard this theme mentioned for the first time, I was thinking of my own understandings about home which I have mentioned above. But when the guest speaker came to our school and gave us God’s message, he said that we need to think further. It is not about the house but it is about the “real home” that we are heading to, which is heaven.
The relationship I have been experiencing in the school environment really builds my character to help me to become a better person. All the people that I meet at school shape me in attitudes and ways of thinking. I believe all people in SPH International are sent by God to shape each other in spirit and relationship.
Our school as a second home for students is preparing the students for heading to their real home in heaven. Our school provides the ideal place to learn, study, to express themselves as the leaders, teachers and staff work together to create the best environment for the students with God’s guidance everyday.
examples
7
By Amy Jungemann-Hidajat Head of School SPH International Lippo Cikarang
Foreigners in a Foreign Land We speak of SPH International as “A second home for your children”. For many in our school community, school is not their only second home. Many teachers and students are living away from their home country and Indonesia is a foreign country. Even for Indonesian teachers and students, Java and Jakarta may be a new province or city.
B
EING away from home is not an unusual situation for God’s people. Abraham was called from his home to the land of Canaan. Jacob and his family were called from their home in Canaan to Egypt. Moses and the Israelites started from Egypt to their home in the Promised Land and instead spent forty years wandering without a home. Years later, God’s people were taken from their home in Judah to exile in Babylon. While living in exile in Babylon, God, through the prophet Jeremiah, sent a message to his people living away from their home. “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Jeremiah 29:5–7
God through Jeremiah encourages his people to settle down and make their lives in the country where they are living as exiles. He even encourages them to pray for the country they are living in knowing they will benefit from its prosperity. But, no matter how much you learn to love an adopted country a foreigner will long for his or her true home. God, again through Jeremiah, provides more encouragement for his people. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” Jeremiah 29:11–14
Even though God encouraged His people to flourish in a foreign country, He gave them hope of returning to their true home. God assured them that He had a plan to bring them back to the Promised Land. Jesus’ disciples are living as foreigners in this world. Jesus has also assured them that He is preparing our true home with him in the new heaven and new earth. “In keeping with his promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth a home of righteousness.” I Peter 3:13. What a homecoming it will be!
8
examples By Stephanie Elisabeth C. Sinaga SPH International Sentul City Teacher
Second Home: My Reflection “A house is not a home,” sang Luther Vandross. You can design your house so uniquely and build it with the best materials money can buy, but being at home in it, is indeed a different thing. So, SPH International which claims to be the second home for the students, should not be described by listing all the state of the art facilities the school has, but by the at home feeling in its atmosphere. However, before the school can provide that for the students, it’s also important for teachers and staff to embrace SPH International as their second home and be at home there as well.
We had just had this inspiring PYP training that made me want to put it into practice rightaway. She was so eager that she invested 4 hours of her time after school to help me putting my thoughts into a workable planner. Even after I moved to senior school, I still use some of the techniques she shared with me in teaching other subjects.
A
Home is the place where you feel safe
LTHOUGH I’ve only been in SPH International for 2 years—the first year as a junior school teacher at Lippo Village, and the second as a senior school teacher at Sentul City, I do feel that SPH International is my second home. As I reflect on my experiences, I find that love, safety and growth is important for this school to serve as a second home to everybody in it.
Home is the place where love abounds I remembered the day when I came to the Junior School Bahasa Indonesia coordinator to ask for her thoughts on my unit planner.
She was not the only experienced teacher and staff at SPH International to so willingly invest their time for my development, both professionally and personally. Some helped me understand the job, others helped me evaluate myself. By doing so, I experienced first hand their love and commitment for their work, their integrity, and more than that, their love for God who had called them to do it. Their love helped me to stand on my feet, and inspired me to help others stand on theirs.
It’s not only about the many securities and hi-tech alarm systems that matches the Bank of Switzerland installed in this school. This is more about safety from fear of failure for students, teachers and staff alike. I remember in my first year when I was so overwhelmed by teaching in English, by the IB program that I felt like I couldn’t do my job well enough. Then, an experienced teacher in my Grade level told me that everybody feels the same way too, but learning from new experiences and mistakes is so much better than being good enough and then stopping there. Then, there was another day when I had a problem
and my principal came all the way from her office to my classroom to ask me whether there was anything she could do to help me with. These are two of many experiences I have had when my colleagues at school stepped in to serve as a safety net for me. Being a safety net is not just about shielding somebody from the crushing pain of failure, but helping them realize that it’s alright to be human. This kind of support system allows me to reduce my anxiety, and then, to provide a safe classroom for my students. There’s comfort for the stressful over-achiever and encouragement for the under-achiever. Making mistakes becomes a part of learning process when there’s acceptance of weakness and limitation.
Home is the place where growth takes place
My students wrote a four-page essay about the things that make life in SPH International difficult. A grade 12 student even joked that if he can, he’ll sue the IB for premature aging. However, when the graduates came, they shared how they cherished the experience they once cursed, how IB had helped them to adapt and achieve in university. As I look back on my short journey in SPH International, I think about the time when I was asked to move from Junior School to Senior School for my second year. I am not a naturally organized person, nor I am a multi-
examples tasker. Moreover, every Friday when I wear my theme shirt, people think I am one of the grade 5 students! So, the prospect of being in a different system and having students twice my size really stressed me out. And stress and stretching did happen. However, after 2 semesters, I can say that I conciously learn the things I need to survive and enjoy it because I know that I’m growing as a person. “What does not kill you makes you stronger,” said Frederich Nietczhe and Kanye West. However, ‘stronger’ here can be bad. The stress can force students and teachers alike,
to be better at their job, but be angry at life. What’s even better than growing, is growing in God. It’s not merely adding flying hours on your CV, it’s about having the right sense of direction about how you can be a better person through all of your experiences. If love give us the energy to fly, and safety give us insurance, then, hope is the sense of direction that we gain through all those trials and tribulations and steers us to our goal. We hope that the lesson that we give to the students and being given to us will help us to develop our knowledge. We hope that
9
the changing nature of the IB curriculum will generate versatile teachers. We hope that the demanding workload will teach us to multitask. We also hope that the Holy Spirit will work on the students that are troublesome, and all the while, work in our hearts to help us be more patient. Then, that hope will direct us to grow in wisdom, righteousness and faith. As people who’ve been called by God to teach and serve, may we with love provide a safe second home for our students that enables them to grow in God.
A Home for the Sojourner I
T'S been three years since I’ve been last called an SPH student. Nowadays, I’m colloquially referred to as an “ah loom knee”. I clip below my belt a pass, which labels me as “visitor”. I quickly hide it under my shirt after exchanging it with my photo ID. Sometimes I stow it away in my bag and forget to return it, having to come back another day to retrieve my KTP. It’s slightly different each time I pass the Satpam post and walk towards the senior or fountain lobby. I do not think it is because of the fancy new toilets. I do not think it is because of the absence of familiar faces. I guess it is because I am different each time I visit my school. Mr Terence and Ibu Lucy, Mrs Charmaine and Ibu Evy, Mr Dan and Ibu Betty, Mr Eric and Ibu Etik, Mr Dave, Mrs Donna & Ibu Eva. Someone once said that people never forget the names of their elementary school teachers. Honestly, I had to go through my junior school report cards to fill in some gaps. I most certainly never forgot their faces or what they taught me. I may
never realize the full extent to which they all have shaped me into who I am today. The time capsule’s fading hue of red and blue begs the question of whether or not I will ever see my newspaper clipping of Osama that I put in it back in Grade 5B. I grew up here. I socialized with friends here. I revealed to them the depths of my insecurities by my frequent bursting into tears as a means of expressing my self-pity here. I had my first stint as a reporter for the junior school ‘Eagle Eye’ here. I first began to unravel the mysteries of the complex infrastructure known as the female mind here. I got into trouble for making fun of teachers here. I got suspended here. I got into trouble for bullying someone who I thought was too nerdy to be cool here. I got multiple after school detentions here. I was taught that bullying someone just because I thought they were not cool was wrong here. I led worship in chapel, treating it like a performance and lived a hypocritical life here. I attended my first prayer meeting here. I was shown the meaning of life here. I am embraced by the love of Christ here. I experienced the Church here. I am mentored and am asked difficult questions here. I first heard someone use the term “brainfart” here. “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:8 By Andrew Darmawan SPH International Lippo Village Alumni
10
examples
Second Home Reflections by SPH International Kemang Village Students SPHIKV has been a second home to me because everyone around me has made me feel safe and comfortable. As a new student, SPHIKV has been welcoming me with the comfort of a family. The teachers around me are very loving and kind, and most of the time; we can express ourselves in front of our teachers. So far, I have felt that people know me and like being with me as friends. Everyone in this school has seemed to accept me for who I am. And for me, SPHIKV has been like a family.
I feel that SPHIKV (SPH International Kemang Village) is a second home for me in many ways. Teachers and my friends are very kind, and help me when I have a hard time at school. It feels like a family because everyone is helping each other. I’m happy to be a SPHIKV student and the school helps me build my faith in God.
[ Harry Wijaya – Grade 8 student ] I consider SPHIKV as my second home because I feel loved and accepted. Here I feel wanted and protected from harm. Problems do occur in a family, but we support each other so that we can stand up again. It’s same at school. We will always have someone to go to when we need help. This shows me love.
[ Elexa Tanner – Grade 7 student ]
Home is where I feel comfortable and loved, and in SPHIKV, I feel both welcomed and loved. Whenever you walk down the hall or enter a classroom, you will see or hear people smiling and laughing. I personally love hearing people laugh because that means they are enjoying themselves. Of course, it’s not always happy at school, especially during term tests, but we still help each other to get through the week. I love coming to school because in this small community, everyone is accepting of each other, and happy. In the past two years, I have seen us grow as a community in number and maturity.
[ Amber Gazelle Lubbe Bakker – Grade 8 student ]
I feel this is a second home for me because I am surrounded by the people that accept and embrace me for who I am. These are the people who are in many ways my second family, and I look forward to seeing them each and every day. This is what makes SPHIKV a home.
[ Alexandra Coutts – Grade 7 student ]
Without love, how can I call this place home?
[ Alyssa Kangsadjaja – Grade 7 student ] SPHIKV has become a second home to me because it’s a place where I can be myself. I get to express my feelings, and not be judged. Over the past few months, I have made many new friends, and now they’re like family to me. They love and care about me and each other. We always share a good laugh every day. The teachers here are just like my parents. They care about us, they get mad, give us work to do, but they just want the best for us. SPHIKV is now a second home for me and I’m glad to be here.
[ Tiffany Priscilla – Grade 7 student ] SPHIKV has become a second home for it is a place where I am free. A home should be a place where you should have no fear to make mistakes, to love, and especially to be who you truly are. The feeling of acceptance and comfort we may find is a treasure of serendipity—the profound of happiness without trying to look for it. There will always be conflict and drama—there is no way to avoid that—but as math has taught us, every problem has a solution if we use the correct formula. Here it may not be as united as we wish, although it is filled with love. What amazes me though is how much relationships we found here; with teachers or peers. Most of us have found home in another person—romantic or platonic—from this school. Now that is a sigh of priceless serendipity.
[ Alana Malika Rukminto – Grade 7 student ]
examples
11
SPH International as a Second Home
PAG asked some parents: "In what way is SPH International your child's second home?� Here is what some parents answered:
ek, in the her time, 5 days in a we "My girl spends most of morning ery ev rly ea wakes up very e Sh . ity un mm co l oo sch e will ht and good spirit that sh but with a happy thoug nds and frie r at school, meets he have fun while she learns " every me s misses her "second ho teachers, even she alway she t ay. It is good to know tha time she has a long holid me." that SPH is her second ho enjoys school and feels ade 4 ] r of Cathleen Quinn in Gr the mo , no ru Ta y nn Fo [ Ibu
est who has ernational. In fact, my eld Int H SP to ing go e lov ll and help in "All three of my children there—to coach basketba ck ba go to s son rea ds s that catalogue the already graduated still fin house a host of memorie s ing ild bu ck bri red , the high and alumni activities! Those school as shy newcomers of y da t firs the s: live ir me or the crushing momentous events in the hard won basketball ga a of n tio ara hil ex the grew in knowledge low points in friendships, rcised their intellect and exe y the ere wh is It t. found their best disappointment of defea nfidence in themselves, co d ine ga y the ere wh ere they came of and critical thinking. It is rned to serve others, wh lea y, usl cio gra e lur fai t d home." friends, learned to accep God. It truly is their secon nd fou d an e, nc iste ex ry age, questioned their ve in Grade 6 ] Grade11 and Susannah in fan Ste of r the mo , [ Ibu Pek Swan Layanto
"There's nothing more familiar to my son aside from our house, than SPH International, the layout of the school, the turns and corners of the school, the trees by the school yard, and even the smell of the school. It's the place where he learned so many things for the first time. A place where he spends most of his time outside our home. The place he often refers to as "the best school in the whole world" is indeed his second home. And he is just a first grader ...." [ Ibu Diana Soeharto, mother of Artha Theodore Kendro in Grade 1 ]
12
special report
By Terri Davis
SPH International Sentul City Student Council Coordinator
S.O.U.L.
Arts Fest 2013 On February 8th & 9th, SPH International Sentul City hosted its biennial Arts Festival—S.O.U.L.! The title is an acronym for “Share Our Ultimate Love”, a theme developed by the student council so that the focus could be on using art to share love with others.
I
T'S hard hosting an event in February! It’s right in the heart of rainy season, and you just never know when it is likely to rain. But we specifically focused on praying for good weather, and God blessed us with two rain free days. Considering that events such as coloring, painting and mural were held outdoors, this was a very good thing! The event played host to over 200 competitors in events such as Coloring, Painting, Mural, Solo Singing, and Band. There was also a stage set up for an Encounter Friendship Concert in which anyone could perform simply for the fun of it. Competitors included students
from Kindy, all the way up to grade 12. The Band competition included a group from SPH International Lippo Village ... thanks for making the trip! For each event, artworks were to have a theme which focused on sharing love with those we tend to take for granted in our lives—cleaners, office boys, drivers, nannies, just to name a few. It was wonderful to see people really take that theme to heart. The event closed with a concert which included two bands: Simplikustik and The Overtunes. Simplikustic was formed by students from
UPH who really enjoy playing acoustic music. They were wonderful performers and enjoyed by everyone. The Overtunes (which features Jeremy Tobing a Grade 10 student from SPH International Kemang Village) performed a couple of songs and stayed to take photos with fans. S.O.U.L. was an amazing event artistically, and it also helped the Student Council to raise quite a bit of money which will help us organize what we hope will be just one of many outreaches during which we are able to share THE ULTIMATE LOVE with people in the surrounding communities.
SPELLING BEE 2013
T
HIS year’s SPH International Spelling Bee competition was from 25 February 2013 until 15 March 2013. The first two rounds were held at each campus with a written classroom round to identify the top 8 spellers at each grade level, followed by oral Grade Level Spelling Bee Competitions, and ending with the SPH InterSchool Competition on Friday, 15 March 2013 at SPH International Kemang Village. Enthusiastic first to third place finalists from each campus came to compete at the interschool
competition. The young spellers from grades 1 to 6 attending this event clearly showed their commitment in preparing themselves for this competition. They also showed great spirit and sportsmanship, recognizing that winning or losing was not the most important thing, but rather, sharing in the fellowship and celebrating of each other’s achievement throughout the day. They all gave it their best, showing confidence when standing in front of an audience of peers and parents, as well as judges, to spell the words; all valuable experiences for the participants.
The winners for each grade level of the 2013 SPH International Spelling Bee Competition are:
Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6
Dong Min (LV) William (KV) Merryll (LC) William (LV) Rosa (KV) Lala (LC)
By: SPH International Kemang Village Team
BIENNIAL CONCERT 2013 – “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” SPH International held Biennial Concerts on Friday and Saturday, 22–23 February 2013. The event took place at SPH International Kemang Village in South Jakarta and all campuses of SPH International were involved in both concerts. Each of campus presented different performances according to the concert theme
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!”. The concerts began with an opening prayer from Mr David Michel, Head of School of SPH International Kemang Village, then continued with the performances from students of Lippo Village, Sentul City, Lippo Cikarang, and concluded with the host school, Kemang Village. There was a variety of presentations as students prerformed with angklung & kolintang, handbells, violin piano, band, guitar, drama,
ballet and choir. Many junior and senior school students from all SPH International campuses were involved in each concert. Over 900 people attended both concerts and the musical finale featured a mass choir performance from SPH International Kemang Village singing, “One World, One Voice, One Song”.
By: SPH International Kemang Village Team
18
examples By Arif Hidajat
SPH International Lippo Cikarang Teacher
What are we looking forward to, exactly? This year’s theme verse raises some very important questions—Why will there be a new heavens and a new earth if we’re going up to heaven to stay in our Father’s house? What will this new earth look like, who will live there, and what will they be doing? And if we looked at the larger picture, why did Jesus care so much about the physical lives of people along with their spiritual and moral condition? Also, why was Jesus raised in physical form, and why will we have resurrected bodies as well? Where is it all going?
A
S the Bible says, everything will be revealed to us only when Jesus comes again to establish His rule fully and forever over everything. But because our final destiny determines what we do here and now, we need as clear a vision as possible for what it is we’re actually looking forward to. N.T. Wright urges us to consider much more carefully what God is doing and how He’s doing it. “The last book of the Bible ends, not with the company of the saved being taken up into heaven, but with the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven to earth, resulting in God’s new creation, new heavens and new earth, in which everything that has been true, lovely, and of good report will be vindicated, enhanced, set free from all pain and sorrow. God himself, it says, will wipe away all tears from all eyes. One of the great difficulties in preaching the gospel in our days is that everyone assumes that the name of the game is, ultimately, to ‘go to heaven when you die’, as though that were the last act in the drama ... But that’s wrong! Heaven is important, but it’s not the end of the world; God will make new heavens and new earth, and give us new bodies to live and work and take delight in his new creation. And the ‘good news’ of the Christian gospel is that this new world, this new creation, has already begun:
1
it began when Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead on Easter morning, having faced and beaten the double enemy, sin and death, that has corrupted and defaced God’s lovely creation.”1 (The Road to New Creation, a sermon) The Christian Gospel is much larger than God Himself defeating sin through his death and resurrection so that sinful people like ourselves can be reconciled and have eternal life with Him, although of course that is very important for us; the Good News that we’re called to witness to the world is that in Jesus Christ the God of the Bible has at last come to rescue His entire creation from the consequences of sin and that Christ is preeminent. And if that weren’t remarkable enough, His plan is and has always been for His people to bring about His Kingdom right here on His earth—as it is in heaven. As we know it all started with God creating Adam and Eve and continued with Noah, Abraham, the Israelites, and then Jesus and His disciples as he called all of them, and now us, to be the channels of God’s blessing to the entire world. He is redeeming this world through us, putting it back the way it was always meant to be, and so we build and foster communities of people who live entirely in His grace and by the power of His resurrection.
That last part is very important because, as the New Testament makes clear, God calls us to bring about His Kingdom with the same kind of suffering love He exemplified on the cross (see for example Mark 8, Romans 8, and Philippians 3). Declaring Christ as God and King to the world means declaring to the wicked rulers of this world that God will hold them to account, and for that God’s people will certainly face suffering. The only way we can endure the suffering we are told to expect is if we’re living in the power of Christ’s resurrection. In Mark 9:1 Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.” The last part of that verse does not point to Christ’s second coming but rather to his resurrection—in Romans 1:4 we read, “[Jesus was] declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” And so in keeping with His promise we look forward to the day when God completes the rescue mission, tabernacles with His people and enjoys perfect fellowship with them in this earth, made new, where His people will carry out His will and enjoy His Sabbath rest all the time, with no more injustice or suffering ever again, just as He always intended. This will indeed be the home of righteousness!
Wright, N. T. "The Road to New Creation." Ntwrightpage. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2013. <http://ntwrightpage.com/sermons/Road_New_Creation.htm>.
examples
19
BE THOU MY VISION After six years of teaching in a Christian school like SPH International, I think my educational experience can be summed up in one verse in the book of Micah. “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8). God is the originator of my calling to SPH International and He has showed me what is good in this school. Over the years, He has also made clear to me the things that a good teacher should be like. TO ACT JUSTLY For a student, justice is a virtue that is easily noticeable in their teacher’s life. One famous phrase I constantly hear from my students is: “... but that’s not fair!” Whether it is about a grade they receive or about the particular rule that is being enforced, they will be very much aware of the “injustice” around them. Even a slight act of favoritism will not escape their haughty eyes. I learnt that this is true, because once students know that the virtue of justice is not obvious in the character of their teacher, they will close their minds and hearts to everything that comes from the teacher’s mouth. I have to act justly (in the Biblical sense of course) in order to build trust in my students’ lives. TO LOVE MERCY As a disciple of Jesus, I remember Luke 6:36–38 when the master teacher said, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful ... do not be judgmental and you will not be judged ... stop condemning others and you will not be condemned ... forgive and you will be forgiven ... Give and gifts you will receive in return ... For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” In order to give mercy we must first receive it. I learned that many of my students don’t understand that principle. It is easy to gain popularity among students by showing a lot of ‘mercy’ to them. However, I realize that without pointing them back to the very reason we as teachers love mercy, we will end up glorifying ourselves by getting the reputation of being a ‘kind’
or ‘nice’ teacher. I have to constantly remind myself and my students that the mercy and the forgiveness they receive is not because I am a ‘good-nice-friendly’ teacher, but because I am a ‘bad-rude-rebellious’ person who is not worthy of God’s grace yet I receive mercy and the forgiveness through the cross of Jesus Christ. By the grace of God, I have learned to love mercy and not be judgmental or condemning of my students. TO WALK HUMBLY WITH GOD Humility is the hardest thing for me to learn. It often misunderstood as a feeling of being inferior, inadequate, or simply by not talking too much in a meeting. In Indonesian culture, the excuse that there is someone else better than me or I am not good enough for the task, creates a temptation to think that I am a humble person. But that is not what Micah was implying when he talked about walking humbly with the Lord. I learnt that a teacher who walks humbly with God is the teacher who prays. Prayer is the cornerstone of humility. God has taught me, that the more I depend on my ability, although I can look very humble, the Holy Spirit reminds me that actually I am not walking humbly with God. I want my students to see that I am weak and I need to depend more on God through prayer, so that I will not put the heavy burden of a high standard on their life thinking that they can do it all by themselves. I praise the Lord because he moved the hearts of some students to start a prayer meeting and also allow me to be part of that group. By René Mario Unsratrianto Sompie SPH International Lippo Village Associate Biblical Foundation Coordinator
BE THOU MY VISION Finally, I conclude that my educational journey must focus on glorifying Christ. Christ must always be the vision. I am so grateful to see our school vision and mission statement that really reflects the true meaning of Christian Education. My heart resonates with every word of the vision and mission of this school and my voice echoes with the old Irish hymn that I chose as my wedding march song six years ago: Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart ... Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word ... Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise, Thou mine Inheritance, now and always: Thou and Thou only, first in my heart, (God help me!) High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art. High King of Heaven, my victory won, May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun! Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
20
examples
A Letter to My Future Child By Nicholas Sean Purnama Grade 9 SPH International Lippo Village
Dear child, I tell you this because I know that you will need it when you grow up. If you want wisdom, you can ask it from God who gives generously to all without finding fault (James 1:5). To have a relationship with God starts when you search for wisdom. You need to accept God’s words and have faith in Jesus Christ to attain wisdom. You should start by respecting God and obey me and your mother because even though it is hard, God would later pour his heart into you and help you be wise. This is why I tell you that you should obey God through discipline, a prudent life, promote justice, and listen to God’s guidance as you listen to ours. Respect God through thinking about him in a correct way, please Him, and worship him. Through that, you will fear the Lord, recognize the fountain of life, ask it from Jesus and glorify Him. Dear child, as I have done before, it is very important that you read the Bible every day. It is very important that you hear His word because there are values and examples that will help you obey God. From the book of proverbs, we can see that foolishness brings destruction and wisdom brings life. I urge you
to learn from the Word of God because it will bring great benefit to you, teach you about how to get the fountain of life and saving you from trouble when you do not follow the Lord’s commands.
make the choices for you but I want you to pray to God and ask Him which path he wants you to take and ask Him to help you get there because only He knows which destination you should go on.
Without you realizing it or not, you always make a choice and there are two different ways to get to a destination. You may think that your intentions alone will get you to your destination, but the truth is, the direction you choose to take will get you to the destination, regardless of your good intentions in taking the path. How you think or what you wish to do does not matter as much as what you do to get to the destination. Let me clarify that this path in your life that you take could be interpreted as the path of relationships, dating, friendships, studies, and even work when you grow up later. That is why it is very important for me to know that you are on the correct path and it will lead you to the destination that is best for you. Taking your path correctly is an important judgment that requires time and experience. That is why I urge you to listen to wise men and God who will direct your path. This is why, because we have different perspectives, you may see something as an exciting event but I see it as a path.
Sex is a gift made by God to be enjoyed by a man and a woman in the boundaries of marriage. Right now, kids like you think that it is some kind of game or event and that worries me. Sex outside of marriage will cause you both physical and emotional consequences. I want to warn you to stay away from extra-marital sexual relationships and that is why I will tell you the physical consequences. This action outside of marriage can result in diseases such as Chlamydia, Herpes, HPV, HIV and AIDS. There is no such thing as ‘safe sex’ because if you think you can avoid these consequences, you are wrong. The emotional consequences hurt deeper, not only to you, but your partner and family as well. I urge you to have the integrity and respect to say no to sex before marriage. You must not agree to sinful pleasure because it is wrong and short term. You and your partner will be scarred for life if you do such a thing.
Playing games every day is fun but it will take you somewhere you do not want to go. So do your homework or study for incoming tests instead. I could support this from a proverb of Solomon’s (Proverbs 7:6–27) that talks about a man who commits adultery. Solomon looks at it and sees it as a path to destruction but the young man sees it as an event. This is why I want you to look at things from that perspective and seek wisdom from wise men with experience and God. Even though it is hard and that event looks very appealing, I want you to be able to stop and think and figure out where it would lead later on. I am limited to what I can tell you, I cannot Nicholas (with red shirt)
Dear child, in life you will find the media is showing things like pornography to you. It is sinful and wrong to watch pornography because a person who looks on a women lustfully commits adultery with the person in his heart. Porn will lead you to perversion and it would lead you to death. Let me tell you the tactics for fighting porn. First, you must have a strong relationship with God. That is key because the Holy Spirit will guide you out and tell you that it is wrong. The second step is to know that you are not alone in this struggle, I have struggled with this temptation too and I am willing to help you in these issues. You can also find a friend or a person that you can trust if you are too awkward to talk to me about this and
examples through that support each other out. Then you could watch over each other and stay stronger in a community. Another thing is, do not go into the trap. If you know that there is a room and a computer full of porn, do not enter that room. Stay away from the path and continuously pray and God will help you pass through that struggle. If you ever fail in this subject, do not lose hope, I will be there to help you and God is there too. There are many people in this world who, for their own benefit, cheat and bribe and make dishonest choices. That action causes sin to
happen and even though you think that you can hide the truth forever, God knows what you have done and it offends him. That is why let me tell you this so that you can develop your integrity while you are still young. I must tell you the reason from the Bible why you should live and honor God in all your actions. Walking without integrity may seem secure and good at first, but it isn’t. Proverb 10:9 says that those who pervert his ways will be known. Those who walk with integrity will have nothing to hide because they will be found blameless. Those who don’t will have to try to hide their guilt and will soon
21
be discovered guilty. I urge you to be a true believer and walk in integrity so that you can glorify God. In conclusion, I would like you to follow the guidelines of Philippians 4:8 that say, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Your loving dad, Nicholas Sean Purnama
A Sense of Belonging A
T the beginning of the 2012–2013 school year, they announced the theme for the year. “Welcome Home”. That’s where I first heard the phrase ‘second home’—or at least, the first time I’d ever heard it used in this particular context. A school, be my second home? What an odd idea it was for me. I was completely and utterly baffled and simply could not grasp this concept. Like many other girls my age, or at least those that I knew of, I didn’t exactly see school as warm or inviting or exactly what I’d always thought of as a home to be. I saw school as a place where I had to continously
take tests and learn things I could barely understand, some place where I couldn’t relax and be at ease as I would be at home.
had known for a much longer time. It was odd, to be welcomed so warmly, but in a good way.
Naturally, this meant that I didn’t exactly take the theme very seriously at the start— or in fact, for quite a long time. But I only have one, perhaps two, months left in this academic year, and therefore I must reflect on how it’s been, how I’ve been. So I have been doing a lot of thinking, and it dawned on me—the school sort of is a second home, isn’t it?
For me, a home is a place where you feel happiness. I do feel happy to be in Sekolah Pelita Harapan, Sentul City. I’m not always that enthusiastic about the work, nor many things, really, but I really am happy. The school is wonderful. I learned much more than I thought I would, and the best part is that I have friends to learn with me.
For me, a home is a place where you have friends. I was never the type to make friends, nor did anyone ever try to be friends with me. Most of the time I was miserably lonely. But when I arrived at Sekolah Pelita Harapan that was changed. People actually put in effort to talk to me, in the casual way that friends talked. They were kind and they were helpful. They treated me as they treated their other friends, who they
For me, a home is a place where you feel like you belong. I certainly do feel like I belong in this school. Whether it’s the people or the place, or perhaps both, making me feel that way, I certainly have a sense of belonging attached with this school. So yes, odd as it may sound at first, my school is my second home. And that’s good. It’s very good.
[Sherri – Grade 6 student ]
22
examples
Kupang Mission and
Service Learning Trip 2013 Sekolah Pelita Harapan International Lippo Village (SPHILV) and Courts for Kids from the USA partnered with the Lentera Harapan school in Kupang (east Indonesia) to build a multi-purpose sports court at their secondary school campus. The collaboration between everyone involved was an exciting initiative that reached beyond just the building project. Developing and enhancing relationships was extremely important and took many different forms including sports camps, classroom activities, school lunch program, library development, orphanage visits, and personal testimony sharing. SLH Kupang is shining as a beacon of light in the community and raising the standard of education for the families of the city. SPHILV and Courts for Kids were proud to experience and support this amazing mission. Here are some reflections from SPHILV students who participated in this mission and service-learning trip.
T
HE Basketball Kupang Mission Trip was a tremendous experience for me. It was actually my first mission and service learning trip, and it left me with a great impression. When we arrived at Kupang’s El Tari Airport, I was shocked. The airport seemed more like a bus shelter than an actual airport. It was very small and old. The city is immensely different from Jakarta, and you can see this from the infrastructure, their culture, and even in the way they drive! It was quite horrifying to see how they drove because the drivers can be very aggressive. Nonetheless, the basketball coaching at SD Sekolah Lentera Harapan was really fun as we were able to make new friends with the students there. We had a warm welcome from the students and teachers, and we enjoyed our time together. When we were giving testimonies to them, I was surprised that the younger ones knew the Bible so well, and some of them even memorize Bible verses. In the following days, we visited three orphanages. These visits truly made an impact on me. Even though the children are living in such bad conditions, they’re still able to rejoice and praise Christ. I could see that our visit gave them happiness. The orphanage visits also taught me valuable lessons for my own spiritual growth. Often times, I felt like what we gave to the children means very little compared to the lessons they gave to us. Ultimately, the Basketball Kupang Mission and Service Learning Trip 2013 has made me a better Christian.
[ Arnanto Januri –Grade 11 ]
E
ARLIER this month, I was in a mission and servicelearning trip to Kupang, a remote island in east Indonesia. Along with some friends and teachers, I was there to coach basketball and help build a basketball court in one of the schools. In between court building and lunch, I found myself in the back seat of a car with two ten year olds called Will and Erin. At a point, they grew tired of knock-knock jokes and decided to play a game of “I spy”. Will started and said, “I spy the color grey”. Consequently Erin and I started to call out all the grey things in the car—ranging from the steering wheel to the carpet. And as Erin and I blurted out all the different components of the car it struck me how there is so many aspect of the car that I did not see before. This incident made me realize that it is incredibly easy to ignore and overlook things when we are in a state of comfort, where the seats are comfortable and the air conditioner is working. I realized that this too is the case in my seventeen years of existence. I have been much too privileged and ignorant. The problems of education, poverty, and corruption have existed in my country for years. The other day, I found that at the age of twelve most kids in Brebes are forced to drop their pursuit of education so that they can work and support their family. Yet I have always managed to push these problems away to the back of my mind. It is amazing, once we start to look at things, how clear it becomes that there is something we can work on. With an open mind, things are not as hopeless as they
first seem to be. Well, I have a dream. I kept on erasing and retyping those four words, simply because it sounds so clichéd. And I suppose, in a lot of ways, it is. Because everyone has a dream and having a dream does not make you different. Rather, having a dream makes you common. And I am common. I am not different, because just like any other child in the world, I still dream of changing the world. And this is the dream I have: I dream of bringing a change in Indonesia’s education system, of eradicating poverty in the country, of bringing an end to the government’s endless tales of corruption. These are the dreams that I had long given up, mostly due to their impossible nature. These are also the dreams that have now been resurrected. After all, Nelson Mandela once said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” [ Stephanie Gerald Grade 12 ]
I
think our trip can be summarized in Psalm 46:10 - “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." The main thing that the Mission and Service-learning Kupang Trip taught me was God’s sovereignty. God was the one who closed and open doors for the trip to happen. He chose to close the doors to our original plan, to go to Lampung, and opened the doors to serve Kupang. It was amazing to see how by the end of the trip, we were able to serve 3 orphanages, 1 school and 5 libraries. Along with that, we were also able to work with a US court building team. This showed me just how much our planning is ineffective unless we allow God to intervene. His interventions are what make a trip meaningful. During the trip, God also showed me His grace and love towards orphanage kids. They did not have the best life and yet they were full of joy and love for each other. This showed me the true meaning of love – selfless surrender. It taught me that there is so much more to life than just satisfying our wants and needs. Rather, life is to be lived in full surrender to our God who loves us dearly – that is where, in the stillness, we will find fulfillment. [ Diana Darmawan – Grade 12 ]
A
day in the life of an IB student—jam packed with work, stress, and tiredness—is far from perfect. Yet neither is a day during a holiday without anything to do, where you loaf around all day, and when you realize the sun has gone down, you ask yourself, “What on earth did I do today?” A perfect day well spent, is one that is balanced. Every single day in Kupang, was a perfect day. A sports-focused mission and service-learning trip is one of the few environments where high energy people like me can achieve complete equilibrium and just have the perfect day. In Kupang I was confronted with challenging problems like sorting out transportation or teaching basketball to mischievous
first grade boys with short attention spans. I met all sorts of people from orphans to construction workers to American high school students from Portland, to an L-men champion (body building championship). I played and taught my beloved sport of basketball, and did simple, humble, manual labor like carrying buckets of cement. Lastly, and most importantly, I was able to fulfill my purpose spiritually, by being Jesus’ hands and feet to the people we met. Truly an amazing experience, I’m dying to go on another one! [ Stefan Layanto – Grade 11 ]
24
examples
SERVICE WEEK at Kemang Village
4–8 February 2013
“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be ... eager to serve ....” (1 Peter 5:2)
K
EMANG Village’s first-ever SERVICE WEEK was held between 4–8 February 2013 and each class in the entire school planned many activities. The theme of the week was ‘Heart to God – Hand to Man’. The Junior School was in session all week as usual; however, there were many field trips/ activities planned that provided service opportunities for the students. Senior school students were away from school this week: G7/8 students were involved in day field trips at the start of the week and then were off to an overnight Spiritual Retreat from Wednesday to Friday. G9 students were away all week working and supporting service projects in Malang (Turen), East Java; G10 in Palu, Sulawesi; and G11 students were in Bali. Reflections on Service Week (Mr. Dave) It was my privilege to join the G10 students who travelled to Sulawesi. The Salvation Army was a valuable contact and provided us with many opportunities to serve, including time in orphanages, schools and working at an agri-business project. All of our students come from privileged backgrounds, and for some, it was their first time working with disadvantaged children. Near the end of the week, it was interesting to observe a transformation occur within the hearts of our students. Maybe the following question sums up their e experiences: Was it about serving or being served? One of our students realized that she had been given so much in comparison to the orphanage and school children in the places where we visited. One evening, in our devotional time, she
shared that sometimes she complains, even though she has much more than what she really needs, while in comparison with the orphanage and school children, who in turn, are truly grateful for what they have. Another student realized how happy the children were even though they have so much less than us. He observed and shared that happiness does not depend on material possessions. This was an amazing opportunity for personal growth and to appreciate the importance of giving and receiving. Of course, the Salvation Army were wonderful hosts— a great example as they served us! Reflections on Service Week (Ms. Madison) “One G7 student from our school came from a school where she was severely bullied. Before retreat, she often shared with me how SPH is different—the teachers and students are more kind to her. On the last night of retreat, when Pastor Alex gave an invitation, this particular student had tears in her eyes. When I asked what was moving her heart, she said she used to be lonely and sad, but that she was not lonely anymore. I was able to share
with her that God loved her and she is never alone. God will never leave her, even after she has to move on from SPH. Even after retreat, she has shared with me how she does not feel lonely and how Jesus spoke to her heart that night! She is even praying on her own now (to Jesus!). Praise God for His powerful and pursuing love! (This is quite a step as she is from a Muslim family).” Reflections on Service Week (Mrs. Kari and Ibu Mega) “It was great to see just how excited our K3 SPH International students were awaiting the arrival of the SLH students. The kids all made welcome messages for them on their whiteboards and were thrilled when they actually got here. The students were so proud to share the snack they had made for the SLH students—cheese sandwiches, milk and cookies. They were happy to make new friends with kids who spoke only Bahasa. The SPH kids were kind, well behaved and so helpful to their new friends. It was awesome to see the love shared through their acts of service. We were so proud of them!”
pag
25
2013 SPH International Lippo Village PAG Events at a Glance In addition to being the channel of Communication between the Parents and the School administration, PAG also organizes several activities for parents over the course of the school year. Here are some highlights of what your PAG Committee have been up to in the past few months: February 2nd 2013 – Flood Relief in Muara Baru and Cilincing
After the severe flooding in Jakarta in late January, several parents from PAG accompanied the Junior School Student Council to Muara Baru in North Jakarta and Nagrak in Cilincing to help distribute goods that Junior School Students had collected, including used clothes, dry food, diapers and medicines. It was inspiring that despite their young age, our Junior School students could do so much for these victims who had been affected so badly by the flooding. We plan to give both areas continuing support, and foster a more long term partnership.
in the area. That was the PAG's inaugural SPH International Lippo Village Funwalk. After working up a sweat and burning enough calories, they settled down to a nice breakfast at the Imperial Golf Club and were given free health checks there.
and "Raising Up Teenagers". Ibu Elizabeth Konaniah, the Senior School Principal, talked about the Grade 7 field trip, and answered lots of questions and concerns from all the parents. Some of the Grade 7 parents, who had their older children go on to this field trip before, shared their children's experiences, too. Ibu Aileen then shared her insight and experience about raising teenagers in Godly ways. We all had a great time getting to know more parents, enjoying great food, having all our questions about field trip answered, and learned from Ibu Aileen how to raise our teenagers.
March 7th 2013 – Grade 11 Parent's Briefing on University Applications On March 7th 2013, Associate Head of School, Ibu Aileen Riady hosted over 50 Grade 11 parents to a lunch gathering where the school's Career Counsellor, Ibu Angeline was available to give a very informative briefing to parents about university application procedures. Ibu Aileen also shared with us her personal experience on helping her children to choose the right universities. Parents enjoyed the good food and opportunity to share experiences with each other.
February 27th 2013 – SPH International Lippo Village Fun walk If you were in the vicinity of Lippo Karawaci in the morning of Wednesday 27th February 2013, you would have witnessed a large gathering of 50 active parents decked in an assortment of colourful sports gear walking
February 22nd 2013 – Grade 7 Parents Gathering On Friday, 22nd February 2013, Grade 7 had their second Grade Level Parents Gathering. Ibu Aileen Riady had graciously offered her house to host this gathering. We had a very good response, as 50 out of 95 Grade 7 parents showed up at the gathering. The topics for the gathering were: The Grade 7 Field Trip to Situgunung, Sukabumi
March 15th 2013 – Free Dental Clinic in Cilincing On March 15th 2013, some PAG parents and students went to Cilincing to help with setting up a free dental clinic to help the people in a community there. Many people came with their children to receive dental treatment. It was a chance to build on the relationship with the people there who had been helped during the flooding in January.