W.I.S.T Times No. 9

W.I.S.T. TIMES

Washington modifies schedule to follow national standards

By Lucas Lin Editor-in-Chief

Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, Taiwan’s Ministry of Education (MOE) introduced several changes to the standards and schedules for secondary schools nationwide. In addition to shortening the time students spend in school, the new guidelines have encouraged schools to adopt a more flexible schedule with independent study hours.

As part of the ministry’s updated rules, schools cannot hold tests or assemblies before the 8:10 a.m. starting time. Students arriving before 8:10 are allowed time for independent self-study. The changes came about when a petition in December 2021 reached the threshold of 10,000 supporters and sparked nationwide debate. The petition had originally called for a starting time of 9:30 in the morning, but to accommodate public transportation and take into account parental concerns, the ministry settled on 8:10 as the official starting time for all secondary schools and clarified that no activities scheduled prior to the official starting time can af-

fect a student’s grades.

The reasoning for making morning study sessions no longer mandatory represents the government’s efforts to introduce flexibility to Taiwanese students’ lives. The ministry is open to adjustments by the end of the school year after a comprehensive review of how well schools, students and parents cope with the changes.

“Having students arrive at school early deprives them of enough time for rest and independent time for study and our new policy seeks to remedy that,” said Pan WenChung, the Minister of Education.

“We hope schools can abide by the guidelines, and when concerns are brought up, we will introduce rolling adjustments.”

In compliance with the MOE’s new guidelines, Washington International School in Taichung has extensively modified its class schedule. With the morning study session no longer required, students are allowed to arrive at any time before 8:10. Students are also relieved of their morning cleaning duties, which have been moved to lunch break. To further shorten the school day, classes now end at 5:10, twenty minutes earlier than the

previous end time of 5:30. Accompanying these changes is a rescheduling of each class period as well as reductions to the amount of time during breaks. Afternoon classes are now only 45 minutes long, and the afternoon breaks are now five minutes. Since the implementation of the new schedule, teachers and students have gradually grown accustomed to the changes.

“At first it was confusing, not remembering when each class begins or ends or sometimes even walking into the wrong classroom,” said Ms. Jessica Lin, School Dean. “But after taking some time to get used to it, I believe we are back on track with timekeeping.”

For many students, a shortened and more flexible school day offers some room for relief from the daily workload, but also extra time to work on homework or self-directed study either at home or at school.

“With the delayed start of the school day, I could get more sleep in the mornings but also gain the opportunity and time to finish my homework on time or even read a novel whenever I can,” said Daniel Liao, Grade 12.

Overseas Program introduces new AP courses

By Annie Lin Assistant Graphic Design Editor

At the beginning of the semester, W.I.S.T. introduced several changes to its AP curriculum, with AP Chinese and AP Seminar joining the list of available AP courses in the department.

AP Chinese students learn to apply communication skills by interpreting different types of written and audio texts, writing and speaking with others and developing an in-depth understanding of Chinese culture. AP Chinese is now mandatory for all Grade 10 students as part of the curriculum, though it is not mandatory for

students to take the AP Chinese exam.

“In AP Chinese, we learn about the meanings of Chinese idioms and their uses,” said Rachel Lu, Grade 10. “We also learn how to write and understand Chinese Pinyin not taught in traditional Chinese courses in middle school.”

AP Seminar is the course that replaces the standard grammar and writing courses normally taken in Grade 10. Only students who pass certain criteria based on academic performance in Grade 9 are qualified to take the AP Seminar course. AP Seminar develops students’ critical thinking, research, collaboration, time management

and presentation skills in preparation for college-level work.

“In AP Seminar, we guide students through writing college-level research in a group setting and individually to the best of their abilities,” said Kevin Brennan, in-

structor for the course.

With the new changes to the AP curriculum, students in Grade 10 are exposed to college-level work and are tasked with projects that require advanced critical thinking and language abilities.

Complying with the ministry’s updated rules, school now begins at 8:10 and ends at 5:10.

PHOTO CREDIT: LORENA CHEN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Students review Chinese texts in the AP Chinese course.

PHOTO CREDIT: LILLIAN HSU, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

W.I.S.T. TIMES

Student Council hosts Halloween

By Jasmine Hsu Staff Reporter

On October 27, the Student Council of the Overseas Department held the annual Halloween event. With the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions on campus, the Student Council was able to prepare and plan all activities and programs with fewer obstacles compared to last year when social distancing rules were enforced and the haunted house was canceled.

The theme of this year’s event was “The Abandoned School”, which encouraged students to search for relevant clues and investigate a murder on campus. The Student Council adapted this year’s theme based on the Korean drama ‘’All of Us Are

Dead”, which revolves around a zombie virus outbreak at an abandoned high school.

Student Council members and all

Grade 12 students spent time editing, rehearsing and preparing the night before and on the day of the event. Each classroom was decorated in a

different way and offered different games and activities.

“The Student Council and the entire Grade 12 worked diligently for everyone to enjoy the Halloween experience and create lasting high-school memories,” said Lillian Hsu, Grade 12, Student Council Vice President. “Throughout the event, students had fun with their classmates and peers.’’

The overall response to the event was positive, with many students appreciating the increased opportunities for fun now that COVID-19 restrictions have been relaxed.

“This year’s haunted house was very stimulating,” said Tina Tang, Grade 11. “Everyone enjoyed the games, especially musical chairs and charades.”

New course puts sustainability into action

By Lorena Chen Staff Reporter

Beginning in the fall semester of 2022, Washington International School in Taichung introduced a new course for Grade 9 students called the Sustainable Development Goals Volunteers, or SDGS Volunteers, a longterm project that requires students to contribute to the preservation of the community and the environment.

In class, Kay Chung and Queena Chen, Grade 9 homeroom teachers, discuss the 17 Sustainable Development Goals identified by the United Nations to tackle climate change, end poverty and improve education and health.

“The biggest issues facing us are social, economic, as well as environmental, and so solutions should address all three aspects,” said Yumi Wang, Grade 9. “I gained insight into how action must be taken to protect the planet and ensure sustainability and prosperity.”

The teachers also incorporate experiential learning into the curriculum,

giving students the opportunity to perform community service. Students are encouraged to take what they have learned in the classroom and apply it as part of service activities.

“We hope students can contribute to the environment and society by performing small acts in daily life,” said Kay Chung, 9-1 homeroom teacher and instructor of the SDGS course. “I want our students not only to learn from textbooks, but to get out there and support the community.”

To offer students a more diverse learning experience, Chung reached out and collaborated with N-MaoHui Co. Ltd., inviting the spokesperson of the company to deliver a speech on environmental sustainability. N-MaoHui Co. Ltd. is a start-up company that converts garbage into raw materials to produce daily necessities. One of the missions of N-MaoHui is to find reusable alternatives that are environment-friendly while providing convenience to households. The speaker also asked students to bring PET bottles and recycled items to

class. He could then take all the garbage back to his factory to create new products from the old.

“After listening to the speech, I realized that what we might think is trash can actually be turned into reusable, eco-friendly items that we use every day,” said Camille Lin, Grade 9. “This showed me that it is necessary to recycle properly because all products can find their way into new designs.”

In preparation for next semester, students are planning to volunteer at remote primary schools throughout Taichung to teach school children activities such as frisbee and drawing. Students hope that, through the SDGS course, they can also gain first-hand experience supporting rural children and put their knowledge of community engagement and sustainability into practice.

PHOTO CREDIT: ANDY HSIEH, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

PHOTO CREDIT: ANNE CHEN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Students dressed in costumes play musical chairs at the annual Halloween event.

Students gain volunteer experience by cleaning up waste on school grounds.

W.I.S.T. TIMES Christmas talent show gives students time to shine

By Sydney Hsieh Graphic Editor

In place of the annual Christmas party, the Student Council held a talent show in the school gymnasium on December 30. Over three periods in the afternoon, students and teachers volunteered to perform songs and demonstrations for each other’s enjoyment. The end-of-the-year event combined celebrations for both Christmas and New Year’s.

“The talent show offered me a moment to shine for once,” said Bryan Chen, Grade 10. “As a drum player in the band, I could finally bring my years of practice to the stage.”

A total of twelve groups performed at the talent show with a wide variety of skills on display. From flute-playing to pop dancing to singing, the talent show offered a platform for students to showcase their unique interests.

“It was enjoyable to watch all of

the performances,” said David Hsieh, Grade 7. “I was extremely impressed by Jasper Chou from 8-1’s solo dance performance. I have never seen anyone dance like that before.”

The talent show was held during school hours in response to the school’s continued COVID-19 restrictions. Due to the school’s measures prohibiting buffet service as part of a Christmas party, the Student Council opted to organize a talent show. In addition to the difficulties in complying with COVID-19 policies, the Student Council also faced parental concerns over students staying up late and needing transportation afterwards.

“We were only able to host the talent show after negotiations and constant adjustments in response to both COVID-19 precautions as well as parental concerns,” said Lillian Hsu, Student Council Vice President. “In the end, we were happy that the event

worked out and that the students celebrated Christmas and New Year’s with us.”

In addition to the Christmas-themed event, the Student Council hosted lottery raffles in between performances. Everyone in the school obtained numbered tickets beforehand, and 46 winners in total were drawn at random by performers on stage. The Christmas prizes included an Apple Home-

Pods Mini, Starbucks coffee mugs, free drinks and movie tickets.

“It was enjoyable to watch all of the performances,” said Hamilton Huang, Grade 12. “But I was also excited when I learned that I won an Apple HomePods Mini as part of the lottery. Including entertaining lottery games added a surprise element that made the students more than content with the event.”

Washington renovates the reading room

By Lilian Hsu Staff Reporter

With the start of the new semester at Washington International School in Taichung, the reading room was renovated into four main parts: a new meeting room, two consultation rooms and a printing area. Since the beginning of the school year, teachers and students have had to adjust to the new layout.

The new first-floor meeting room is incorporated into the classroom setting. Upon entering the room, students are met by walls re-plastered in white and brown. A long, rectangular conference table is set in the middle of the room. The original bookcases are situated beside the table, with some trophies filling the shelves. At the front of the room stands a moveable whiteboard that covers a new electronic digital screen.

Sarah Lee, one of the office staff

members, explained the reasons behind the renovation.

“Because the original layout of the reading room was not very convenient for teachers,” said Lee, “the school decided to install an electronic board and replace the cubicle tables with a conference table.”

Some of the students who have class in the first-floor meeting room say that the new digital screen improves the presentation of class materials.

“The electronic digital screen helps teachers to present their teaching materials, and allows instant access to the internet,” said Alice Wang, Grade 12, who takes AP Art History in the firstfloor meeting room. “That allows us to concentrate better on the lessons.”

Kerry Lee, the homeroom teacher of 12-1, agreed with Wang’s assessment.

“The new meeting room is a com-

fortable space, and it is more convenient for conferences and classes,” said Lee.

Although many students and teachers like the new meeting room, some students feel the layout of the old reading room offered more independence and a private atmosphere.

“The old reading room provided computers for students to search for online information and the partitions provided private space for us to study,” said Danny Su, Grade 12. “I like the new meeting room, but it would be better if it allowed students more space for studying.”

PHOTO CREDIT: ANNE CHEN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

PHOTO CREDIT: CLAIRE HUANG, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The interior of the new meeting room features a long conference table and digital screen.

A student rock band performs at this year’s Christmas talent show.

Drone club brings new tech to campus

By Andy Hsieh Staff Reporter

At the start of the fall semester, Washington International School in Taichung inaugurated a new drone club with Nick Chong as the instructor. Chong hopes that students can explore advanced technology while developing diverse interests outside the classroom.

“Our idea is to allow students to gain new and different interests, take part in group projects and let students develop innovative perspectives,” said Chong.

Drone flying is a fairly novel activity in Taiwan. In the course, students are expected to build their unique drones, learn to control them with

precision and prepare for state and national competitions.

Some students decided to participate in the club because it is related to

their potential college majors.

“I am so excited to join the drone club and play with the technology,” said Keynes Kao, Grade 12. “I spend a lot of time with drones because I hope to study aerospace engineering in college.”

Controlling unmanned aerial vehicles requires not only savviness with technology but also the mental skills for problem solving, observation and hand-eye coordination.

“Manipulating the drone is not only about using your hand to work the remote, but also about thinking and analyzing the route and movements,” said Timme Chang, Grade 12.

Currently, the drone club has enlisted ten students to take part in its inaugural semester.

Ultimate Frisbee team competes nationally

By Claire Huang Staff Reporter

The Washington Ultimate Frisbee team placed sixth in the Taiwanese national frisbee competition and second in the Taichung mayoral competition.

The national competition, hosted from November 18 to 20, included most of the high school and junior high frisbee teams in Taiwan. Both teams from Washington had been developing their physical strength and catching skills for months prior to the competitions. Although the Under-19 team won the first round against Wagor High School, they lost the second and third rounds against Tzu Chi Senior High School and the American School of Taichung, placing sixth out of 13 teams.

“We were faced with tough opponents throughout the competition, so we played below par,” said Jovi Chung, Grade 12. “Our team atmosphere lacked positivity, and we were not prepared to recognize our faults and weaknesses.”

Through their experiences in the national competition, the Ultimate Frisbee team realized that they need-

ed to alter their tactics and improve their throwing skills and catching pace.

Following the example of top performing schools such as Chang-Yi Senior High School and World Senior High School, Washington’s Ultimate Frisbee team sought to develop its team chemistry and revive the team spirit.

“Although we did not perform as well as we expected, we learned from our mistakes and gained valuable experiences,” said Perry Chu, Grade 12, the captain of the Ultimate Frisbee team. “We will focus on strengthening our mentality and not be afraid of meeting tough challenges on the frisbee ground.”

The mayoral competition, which took place from December 2 to 4, was the second major competition the Ultimate Frisbee team competed in this year. The competition was divided into senior and junior high school groups. In the end, the high school team outperformed other schools such as Dongshan Senior High School and Hongwen Senior High School to finish second in the competition out of a total of eight teams.

“The amount of practice time was limited due to the pandemic regulations, so we were glad our persever-

ance paid off in such an achievement,” said James Wu, coach of the Ultimate Frisbee team. “In the past three weeks, we have been diligently practicing backhand and forehand skills. We have also focused on maintaining

our stamina for long days of competition.”

Continuing to practice every Monday and Thursday, Washington’s Ultimate Frisbee team is looking forward to next year’s competitions.

PHOTO CREDIT: LORENA CHEN. STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Washington’s Ultimate Frisbee team faces Hongwen Senior High School in the Mayor’s Cup.

Instructor Nick Chong guides students through drone simulation.

PHOTO CREDIT: CLAIRE HUANG, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

W.I.S.T. TIMES

Overseas Department hosts microfilm contest

By Vivian Hsiao Staff Reporter

On October 30, the chief photographer for the Overseas Department, Frank Chen, held a microfilm competition open to students from all grades. The theme of the competition was “All About Love,” with participating students expressing gratitude for the people who have helped them and sharing their stories through film.

“I hope students can master the techniques of film shooting, storytelling and stimulating creativity through film,” said Chen. “Through this competition, participants gained and practiced the skills of script writing, filming and film editing.”

Chen wanted students to treat the event less as a competition than as a way to capture daily life on camera. Chen also advised that every scene should evoke a different mood, whether about friendship, love or future aspirations.

“It’s important to note, when pressing the shutter or record button that one must consider what an image represents and how they intend to convey that meaning,” said Chen.

The First Place award went to Michael Tsai from 9-2. His short film revolved around a main character who spends all of his time studying for exams in order to apply to his dream universities and land his dream career. However, this forces him to miss out and neglect his time spent in school with his closest friends and teachers.

“My story is not one of failure in pursuing dreams, but the tragedy that truly precious things will not withstand the flow of time,” said Tsai, Grade 9. “Seize the day and enjoy your life, then you will receive happiness.”

The biggest challenge of the competition was to film and edit each clip and scene using computer software while combining all clips together

into a complete, aesthetic film that visually appealed to the audience. While many participants were already familiar with filming and editing techniques, a few of the students were beginners unskilled in using professional equipment. Nevertheless, students accepted the challenge

and relished the results.

“I needed to use professional editing software in order to make it as perfect as possible,” said Steven Cheng, Grade 12. “The most valuable aspect of participating in this competition was seeing everyone’s smiling face as they watched the video.”

Students organize art exhibition in restaurant

By Ashley Chang Staff Reporter

On September 4, four Grade 12 students from Washington International School in Taichung opened an art exhibition in the Nantun District of Taichung. James Teng, Matthew Kao, Anne Chen and Peyton Hsieh chose to exhibit their works in a restaurant, allowing customers to see their artworks while dining. The students designed their own invitation cards and gifted them to teachers and students. There were over 80 participants at the opening of the exhibition at Hechino.

The exhibition was entitled “About that Dream.” The four students accumulated a total of 28 pieces of artworks from the past three years, ranging from traditional paintings to personal inventions and NFTs. They managed to organize this exhibition independently without the help of any teachers.

“We called the exhibition ‘About

That Dream’ because all four of us will be going on different paths to pursue our dreams,” said Peyton Hsieh, Grade 12. “This exhibition is a presentation of the results from our hard work over the past three years.”

The students’ artworks are related to their future majors. For example, James Teng, Grade 12, who will be pursuing product design, exhibited his own inventions, including adjustable coffee bags and ultraviolet cloth-

ing hangers.

“At first, we couldn’t find a traditional art gallery that would accommodate us because we’re just students,” said Teng. “So we changed our direction and looked into spaces that were more versatile, such as the restaurant we decided on.”

The students wished to create an artistic atmosphere for the customers dining, and also present their art to a more diverse audience in the community.

“This is my first time seeing a restaurant having an exhibition like this,” said a customer identified only as Ms. Tsai. “The mix between art, space and food makes eating here interesting.”

Even though the exhibition only lasted a week, the preparation for it took up to seven months. The students used all their leisure time to prepare and plan for the exhibition. In the end, the students were able to display their artworks and gain a wider audience.

The “About that Dream” exhibition is the brain-child of four students at Washington High School.

PHOTO CREDIT: ANNE CHEN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The winning microfilm entry explores the struggles of an ambitious student.

PHOTO CREDIT: LILLIAN HSU, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Suffrage at 18: A basic right for all citizens

By Ryan Chen Copy Editor

On November 26, a national referendum on lowering the voting age of Taiwanese citizens from 20 to 18 was held in conjunction with local elections. In order for the referendum to pass and the constitution to be amended, more than half the electorate, 9.65 million voters, needed to give their approval.

Despite a 109 to 0 landslide in the Legislative Yuan during the amendment proposal stage, the general public seemed more reluctant about granting voting rights to citizens 18 and above.

The effort to amend the constitution ultimately failed as the votes fell short of the benchmark. Roughly 5.6 million voters approved of the amendment, compared to 5 million votes against it. This means that, for the time being, Taiwanese who are

above 18 but below 20 will not be able to vote, nor will they be eligible to run as official candidates for legislative bodies.

The outcome of the referendum was rather disappointing and unjust for citizens who are over the age of 18. Taiwan, a country that prides itself on its reputation for being the “beacon of democracy” in Asia, did not live up to its reputation this time. The minimum voting age should be lowered to 18 as the adolescents of Taiwan are saddled with adult responsibilities but are denied the rights of political participation.

Taiwanese citizens who are over the age of 18 are faced with obligations and responsibilities that are the same as those faced by adults. Mandatory services such as military conscription and taxation are demanded according to Taiwanese law. However, these adolescents are denied the right to vote

and excluded from participating in any major decisions regarding Taiwanese politics. It is immoral for the nation to only recognize these adolescents as adults in certain respects and exclude them from the fundamental rights of political participation that define a Taiwanese “citizen.”

Citizens who are over the age of 18 will not be eligible for juvenile court, meaning that they are expected to follow all laws and are legally recognized as adults. Yet despite the expectations and burdens that are placed on them to be law-abiding citizens, they have no say in amending or creating new laws. Now that the referendum has failed, these adolescents have no choice but to blindly follow Taiwanese laws since they have no political rights to challenge the validity of these laws. It is hypocritical for Taiwan to see adolescents as adults when it comes to military conscription, taxation and

trial proceedings but simultaneously regard them as too naive to have political representation.

Looking at this issue through a global lens, Taiwan is lacking behind its Asian counterparts in terms of granting the fundamental voting rights that young people deserve. In neighboring countries such as Japan, India, South Korea, Malaysia and Thailand, the minimum voting age has already been lowered to 18. Taiwan, as a well developed and modern democracy, should catch up with other nations and provide the political representation that all legal Taiwanese citizens deserve.

With so many countries surpassing us in voting rights, Taiwan must face the reality that it is not as progressive as people believe, nor a beacon of freedom when the opinions of more than 410,000 citizens will be neglected and excluded.

A social life dominated by likes and dislikes

As someone who seldom uses Instagram, I find myself having to skim through students’ superficial stories and posts to catch up with the latest trends. The contrast between their social media appearance and actual presence in public is all the more apparent. Even as classmates, we barely know one another. This is not the best method to interact with a person, not only taking away the warmth of social interaction, but also reducing a person’s identity and personality to the arbitrary standards of likes and dislikes.

minuscule detail, at 20 different angles, she recorded my unwrapping, the cake’s decorative exteriors and the inner filling. Little did she realize that by obsessively trying to capture the moment, she had missed out on the joy and comfort that comes with the warmth of genuine interactions. Everyone has become distant from each other despite the drastic improvements in communication brought about by social media. Our experiences are now shaped by the scrolls of our fingers instead of living every moment to its fullest.

By Hank Yang Staff Reporter

At the end of the school day, most students are either scrolling through their social media page or texting their friends. With their heads covered by the school hoody, glancing down at cell phones while having airpods stuck in their ears, they reach out for a selfie, with the words “Leaving the school” or “Finally, the day is over” added to their latest story on Instagram.

Social media is controlling young people’s lives. Welcome to Gen Z. The likes and views on pictures and videos are becoming a basic need. Uploading social media posts has become a necessary part of life, not simply to share their experiences with others, but to maintain their popularity and show off their lives. Social media is a facade for people to give the illusion they want to portray to the public, even though in reality the illusion is false.

The issue not only affects Gen Z, but has extended to the elder generations as well. Last summer, I went to Taroko National Park with my uncle’s family. I sometimes think my aunt has “Obsessive-Compulsive Photography Disorder (OCPD),” the perpetual impulse to take photos of everything around her and upload them all to the internet. One time, when the hotel offered us cakes for their anniversary celebration, my aunt kept bothering me while I removed the wrapper. In

People should not rely on social media to maintain their facades. They are meaningless illusions, erecting a barrier that hinders meaningful interactions among people. The young generation, and increasingly the elder generation, have become accustomed to the “ideal image” perpetuated by social media. Only by embracing our true selves can we limit the harmful influences that come from living through screens instead of in the real world.

PHOTO CREDIT: ASHLEY CHANG, STAFF REPORTER

Social Media is increasingly controlling the lives of high school students.

Book Review: “The Woman in the Purple Skirt”

By Annie Lin Assistant Graphic Design Editor

The psychological novel “The Woman In The Purple Skirt” by Natsuko Imamura follows the lady Mayuko, who is referred to as “the woman in the purple skirt.” The story is narrated through the first person perspective by another woman who refers to herself as the woman in the yellow cardigan.

The narrator lives in the same neighborhood as Mayuko and notices meticulous details of her habits, preferences, dislikes and other trivial matters. One significant thing the narrator notices is that she does not seem to hold a permanent job, and sometimes is unable to find work, resulting in a cycle of being unemployed and employed.

The narrator’s motivation at first

seems to be to look out for Mayuko in her daily life, but then she starts to intervene in it. However it is never quite clear what the intentions of the woman in the yellow cardigan are, as she does not choose to reveal anything about herself to the audience until the very end.

At first it is small things such as trying to get her to use a specific shampoo brand, but then it is trying to get Mayuko to work at the same place as the narrator. Later on at work, Mayuko starts to shine as an employee. The narrator does not seem to like this, and soon the workplace is full of gossip about her love life and work ethic.

Throughout the story, the intentions of the narrator towards Mayuko remain obscured; whether it is friendship through a sense of shared loneliness, or an obsession on the narrator’s part, it gradually grows out of hand. As

the story continues, the reader starts to feel uncomfortable about the narrator’s motives as they become more intrusive to the point of sabotage. The core of Imamura’s novel surrounds one key problem that many of Japan’s social issues concern: the epidemic of loneliness – an inability but eagerness to initiate and maintain relationships. This deep-seated internal crisis is best explored through Yellow Cardigan’s goal of becoming friends with Purple Skirt, which slowly unravels but ends in disillusionment.

In many ways, the novel is also about how success brings about jealousy. The same co-workers who encouraged Mayuko when she was a shy newcomer hiding behind her messy hair, now talk behind her back, and shun her. Having risen too high, too quickly, and becoming a little too happy, there was a sense that she needed

to be brought down a notch, and there was no shortage of people willing to take on the task.

Hamlet’s Sweetheart: Millais’ Ophelia

paleness. She is depicted to be singing and chanting to “snatches of old tunes,” ignoring her tragic fate. The hopeless romantic is “incapable of her own distress” and would soon succumb to her “muddy death.”

The Tin Bath

speare’s heroine’s untimely death.

“Fallen Women”

By Sydney Hsieh Graphic Design Editor

“To Muddy Death”

With gentle steps and a broken heart, Ophelia mounts a willow tree. Disheartened by unrequited love from Hamlet and by her father’s death, the “poor wretch” drowns in a brook when the sound of a branch snap resounds. The poetic death of Ophelia in Hamlet IV, Scene VII, is one of the most famous subjects ro-

manticized by Victorian-era painters, namely, the Pre-Raphaelites. One of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, John Everett Millais, spent five summer months in 1851 depicting every ripple of nature, including flowers and leaves, that refer to the cycles of life and death. Floating on a river and surrounded by fresh garlands, the vibrant scene is in contrast to Ophelia’s

According to the Tate Museum, the boyish appearance and crimson-red hair of Elizabeth Siddal attracted the Pre-Raphaelites to make her their muse. Owing to her youth and beauty, she posed for Millais in a chilling bath for several months. For hours, Millais inspected the gleams of her pale complexion and the movements of her copper hair. Even when the small candles beneath her tin bath died out during freezing winters, she remained still and lifeless. Although Millais failed to notice, Siddal passed out with a cold and contracted pneumonia. The traumatic experience would cause permanent health damage to the young beauty, who would die at the early age of thirty-two. The story of Siddal drew parallels with Shake-

Victorian morality glorified women in their roles as mothers and respectable wives. Working women, especially artist models, were looked down on as less worthy. Often depicted with tragic ends in art and literature, “fallen women” frequented the streets as homeless squatters, threw themselves from bridges, and drowned in polluted rivers. The Victorian women “falling” out of grace described those who deviated from social norms and the domestic sphere. In the painting, the polluted river is transformed into a serene country stream, and the archaic gown is a symbol of Ophelia’s unfulfilled dreams of marriage. In connection to Ophelia’s tragic fate, Siddal experienced a miscarriage and suffered the many infidelities of her husband, Rossetti. She was abandoned and later died of an overdose. Millais’ imagination entwined the fates of Ophelia and Siddal as victims of love, both subjected to the worst that the heart has to offer.

PHOTO CREDIT: TATE MODERN

“Ophelia”, John Everett Millais, 1851-

Book cover of “The Woman in the Purple Skirt”

PHOTO CREDIT: GOODREADS

Original Comic: “Forget Something?”

W.I.S.T Times Staff Letter

Staff 2022-2023

Editor-In-Chief

Graphic Design Editor

Assistant Graphic Design Editor

Copy Editor

Photographers

Lucas Lin

Sydney Hsieh

Annie Lin

Ryan Chen

Ashley Chang

Anne Chen

Lillian Hsu

Claire Huang

Lorena Chen

Andy Hsieh

Reporters

Ashley Chang

Hank Yang

Andy Hsieh

Lorena Chen

Jasmine Hsu

Vivian Hsiao

Class Advisor

Andrew Valencia

To the students, parents, faculty and staff of Washington International School in Taichung,

Thank you for joining us for another issue of the W.I.S.T. Times, Central Taiwan’s leading student-run highschool newspaper. As we enter the year 2023, we are thrilled that we get to continue bringing you a succinct and informative breakdown of all the latest happenings at Washington. This issue, we are pleased to introduce a new section dedicated to students’ academic interests outside of the classroom. We also have a range of news and feature articles covering recent events on campus, our first ever editorial cartoon, a number of timely opinion pieces and a variety of photos documenting student life over the course of the semester.

Looking ahead to next semester and beyond, we would like to encourage

any student in Grades 10 through 12 who is interested in journalism, photography, editing or graphic design to sign up with us as an elective course. For the rest of the student body, we hope you will appreciate the commitment our staff has put into this issue and the dedication that we believe is evident on every page.

We would also like to extend our deepest thanks to everyone involved in supporting our efforts, including Principal Liu, Vice Principal Kuo, Brian Desmarais and all the other administrators, teachers and staff who make our publication possible. We look forward to a brand new year full of exciting events and opportunities for the entire Washington community. Happy New Year, and thanks for reading!

Sincerely,

W.I.S.T Times Staff

ARTWORK: ANNE CHEN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER