W.I.S.T Times No.10

W.I.S.T. TIMES

Government relaxes mask mandates on school campuses

By Lucas Lin Editor-in-Chief

On March 5, mask mandates on school campuses across Taiwan were relaxed, allowing students to decide whether or not to wear face masks in the classroom. Nation-wide mandatory mask regulations had been in place for over 800 days in schools at all levels, from kindergarten to elementary schools, junior to senior high schools, as well as cram schools and after-school institutions. With the continued decline in COVID-19 cases and the ready availability of medical supplies, face masks, although still mandatory on school buses and on-campus health centers, became optional for students at schools and universities.

“Under the lifting of the mask mandate, students have the freedom to continue wearing face masks or taking them off on school campuses,” said Yi-Chun Lo, head of the Central Epidemic Command

Center (CECC). “Our evaluation indicated that the relaxation of prevention measures will not lead to a significant rise in COVID-19 cases.”

Despite the updated guidelines for the mask mandate, most students on the Washington campus choose to keep their masks on in the classroom. Parents, teachers and students still maintain social distancing protocols out of fear of the possibility of infection. It may take some time for teachers and students to feel accustomed to not wearing masks in school.

“Masks have become the norm in the classroom and most students are afraid to take them off because they want to protect themselves,” said Ann Liou, 11-1 homeroom teacher. “There is also a group dynamic involved as most students prefer to wear masks when peers do so as well.”

For some students, on the other hand, the easing of mask restrictions has provided relief to the daily source of discomfort associated with wearing face masks.

Mask-wearing for a sustained period can cause slurred speech, sweating and difficulty breathing, making communication harder and less eloquent.

“Wearing masks all the time in school has been a nuisance for me as I often feel uncomfortable when I speak in class or with my friends and I get warnings when I accidentally forget to wear them,” said

Sean Hsieh, Grade 12. “Now that I have the freedom not to wear masks, it has been more convenient.”

As mask wearing has become a part of everyday life in school for the past two years, students and teachers will have to adjust to the loosening of restrictions and learn to feel comfortable again without masks.

Student body elects new representatives

By Annie Lin Assistant Graphic Design Editor

On April 28, the Student Council of the Overseas Department hosted elections for next year’s student representatives. This year’s election featured a total of fourteen candidates competing for eight positions on the Student Council. The newly elected Student Council consists of Judy Wu and Ethan Chen as President and Vice-President, Abigail Lee as Secretary, Ashley Liu as Treasurer, Ryan Chu as Sports Director, Tina Tang as Art Director, Tanya Chang as Activities Director and Claire Huo as Communications Officer.

This year, three separate tickets competed for the positions of President and Vice President. Judy Wu and Ethan Chen, who won the most votes out of the three, ran their campaign on building a more democratic school environment by having students decide on the field trip itineraries and assembly activities. They also proposed continuing the Talent

Show while reintroducing the YearEnd Party, which resonated with the opinions of many students.

“Overall, the competition was very intense because of how each pair of candidates had their own strengths,” said Judy Wu, Student Council President-elect. “Our victory is an indication of the student body favoring democratic expression and Ethan

and I will try our best to fulfill that wish.”

Whereas the presidential race was very competitive, candidates for the other offices ran unopposed. Nevertheless, each candidate promoted their campaign through social media, posters plastered around campus and by going from classroom to classroom to engage with students.

“Although there were no competitors for my position, there was still the worry that I wouldn’t meet the threshold requirement of 100 votes,” said Claire Huo, Student Council Communications Officer-elect. “This means that I still needed to campaign actively in school and on social media to appeal to the student body,”

On election day, instead of hosting the campaigns in the gym during assembly as tradition, the candidates’ final speeches and campaigns were shown during the assembly period and lunch time as pre-recorded videos. This allowed Grade 9 and Grade 10 students who were taking the TOEFL ITP to evaluate the different election campaigns .

“It was considerate of the Student Council to pre-record campaign videos for students like me who had to take the ITP exam,” said Emily Kao, Grade 10. “But I would still choose going to the gym because it is more exciting to watch candidates actively debate and engage with the audience.”

With the new relaxed Covid-19 policies, students nation-wide are no longer required to wear masks.

PHOTO CREDIT: HANK YANG STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

This year’s student council hands over office to newly-elected student repreentatives.

PHOTO CREDIT: LORENA CHEN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

W.I.S.T. TIMES

Students visit San Marcos for STEAM program

By Ryan Chen Copy Editor

During winter vacation, students from Washington International School in Taichung participated in the San Marcos STEAM program, an overseas educational trip that allowed students to experience life in California and broaden their base of knowledge.

During the two-week program, students stayed with local host families to experience cultural exchange and explore daily life in America. In the mornings, students attended classes at California State University San Marcos. The courses covered a wide variety of subjects ranging from typical STEAM topics like science, technology, engineering, arts and math to other topics such as business and marketing.

“I am grateful to have the opportunity to engage in university-level courses

in California and be in an educational setting that is distinct from Taiwan,” said Josephine Chang, Grade 11. “The project-based activities were very captivating, as we learned to combine

theory with practical applications.”

Besides academic opportunities, the program also provided abundant time for students to visit tourist spots such as the USS Midway Aircraft Carri-

er Museum, iFLY Indoor Skydiving, SeaWorld San Diego Aquarium and San Marcos City Hall.

“Although I felt dizzy afterwards, I had a blast on the full-motion flight simulators in the USS Midway Museum,” said Chris Wei, Grade 11.

Participating students also performed community service at the Oceanside Municipal Fishing Pier. This included cleaning up the beach by removing trash and other debris.

Teachers and students alike were enthusiastic about the benefits gained from the program.

“Students’ time in the U.S. was invaluable as they learned to appreciate the local culture and values,” said Jenny Shaw, 10-2 homeroom teacher. “After this remarkable experience, students are definitely more independent, confident, curious and grateful.”

Eighth graders display acting skills in drama competition

By Jasmine Hsu Staff Reporter

The annual drama competition took place on May 26 in the Washington High School gym with a total of nine participating Grade 8 classes.

The winning class adapted a wellknown comic, “The First Slam Dunk,” to demonstrate passion for basketball and the necessity of tacit cooperation. The plot revolves around a former basketball star who paralyzes himself in an accident during a basketball competition. Despite frustration and pain, the basketball star eventually rediscovers his talent and wins a wheelchair basketball competition.

While most domestic department classes focused on themes of encouragement and overcoming obstacles, the students in the Overseas Department explored social issues. One class

performed the story of a student who commits suicide due to the high expectations of his father who neglects his personal feelings and goals. Before the competition, the students spent a month and a half researching student anxiety and academic pressure.

“We spent a lot of time practicing together and listened to the advice of different teachers,” said Abe Chu, Grade 8. “This ensures that when we are on stage we can not only exude confidence but improvise when things don’t go as expected.”

Students learned to incorporate prop elements such as basketball nets, bus stops and a poster with the headline “Breaking News.” The competition also featured diverse settings ranging from an airport to a hospital to the woodcarving station that produced Pinocchio.

“The experience was encourag-

ing, especially seeing that junior high students have such interest and potential for acting,” said Douw Steyn, who served as one of the judges. “I

think what stood out to me the most was that the actors paid eye contact to the audience, a feat difficult to achieve even for trained actors.”

PHOTO CREDIT: HANK YANG, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

PHOTO CREDIT: HANK YANG, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Students complete STEAM courses at California State University San Marcos.

Students from the Overseas Department explore themes of teenage anxiety in their play.

W.I.S.T. TIMES

Food Fair offers students a taste of international cuisines

By Claire Huang Staff Reporter

On May 25, the Student Council of the Overseas Department hosted an international food festival during assembly, inviting all students and teachers to sample diverse cuisines from various cultures.

A week before the event, every homeroom was assigned a country at random. A total of eight classes participated in this event. Class 7-1 was assigned Italy, 7-2 was assigned Singapore, 9-1 was assigned Greece, 9-2 was assigned Vietnam, 11-1 was assigned Korea, 11-2 was assigned Mexico, 12-1 was assigned Thailand and 12-2 was assigned Spain. Students, as a class, then chose what they wanted to sell based on the cuisine and culture of the country they received.

During the festival, each class could choose up to three assistants to pre-

pare their food stalls. Junior high students and senior high students were assigned to separate rooms for preparation. Every student had work to do. Some students prepared ingredients while others cooked the food or advertised in front of the classrooms.

Students from 11-1, who were assigned Korea, prepared ingredients such as rice, seaweed slices, meats and vegetables and made fresh Korean army stew and rice rolls.

“The event was very successful, with students from all grades enjoying our food very much,” said Emily Chang, Grade 11. “The process of this activity was also very interesting, as we learned the importance of teamwork, the culinary scene in Korea and the process of preparing food for sale.”

Teachers also participated in the festival, with many lining up to purchase food from different classes. This helped facilitate casual interactions

and communication between students and teachers outside the classroom.

“The students planned this event weeks in advance,” said Purple Chang, 12-2 homeroom teacher. “Students coordinated their efforts both with the preparation of the food and with the promotion and sale of the food, with the common goal of selling everything available within that brief hour.”

Some of the students involved appreciated the chance to get out of the classroom and work together on something out of the ordinary.

“Not only did this activity encourage school spirit, it also improved students’ teamwork and cultural understanding,” said Jonathan Peng, Grade 9. “Students were also able to make lasting memories with their classmates and friends.”

Overseas Department hosts sports day off campus

By Andy Hsieh Staff Reporter

On April 12, the Student Council of Washington International School in Taichung hosted a sports day for the whole Overseas Department. This was the first sports day for the department since the outbreak of COVID-19 forced schools to institute health and safety precautions.

The events took place at the Taichung City Frisbee Competition Field. The Student Council organized a total of three activities: ultimate frisbee, the water cup challenge and soccer softball. All students had a chance to participate in all three activities and compete with their peers from different grades.

The combination of sports and other group activities not only allowed students who are athletic to demonstrate their skills, but also allowed students who are unfamiliar with sports

to participate in the team nature of competition.

“I don’t usually enjoy playing sports,” said Alice Wang, Grade 12. “But when our class won the frisbee and softball events, I learned the importance of teamwork and cooperation.”

In preparation for sports day, the Student Council traveled to the site beforehand to set up the venue and transport the required equipment and gear. Unlike with past sports events, the student council took on the responsibility of judging the competitions instead of hiring outside personnel.

“We have made a lot of preparations for sports day,” said Henry Chiang, Grade 12, Sports Director. “Such as communicating with several relevant departments, discussing with teachers and student council members for several weeks and finally successfully holding the event.”

Through intense competition, sports

day offered the opportunity for every class to learn the skills of communication and cooperation with their teammates. Students learned to apply skills acquired in the classroom in a real world setting.

“These games provided a platform for students to learn important life skills such as discipline, sportsmanship, the spirit of mutual cooperation and perseverance,” said Jasper Lin, Grade 11.

PHOTO CREDIT: VIVIAN HSIAO, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

PHOTO CREDIT: LORENA CHEN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Students participate in the soccer softball challenge on Sports Day

Grade 11 students prepare Korean army stew for sale.

W.I.S.T. TIMES

Diving club allows students to learn scuba skills

By Lillian Hsu Staff Reporter

At the start of the spring semester, Washington International School in Taichung began offering a new team sports club called the diving club. Currently, the club’s schedule is split between classroom theoretical knowledge and learning professional diving techniques.

Students attend classes in the school swimming pool to familiarize themselves with diving equipment and practice scuba skills. With the test fee included in the club fee, students can take the paper-based Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) exam after completing the course. If students pass the paper examination, they can obtain their PADI scuba diving license.

Unlike most team sports clubs, the diving club was founded by a student, Ansel Wu from Grade 9, who informed the school of his desire to start a diving club.

“I wanted to have more time to

learn about diving, so I decided to ask the school if I could start a diving club,” said Wu. “After I received a positive response from the school, I asked the diving teacher if he would be willing to come to the school to teach the course.”

Some students were attracted by the club because, with the approach of summer and the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions, they would

have the opportunity to scuba dive during summer vacation.

“I used to enjoy diving, so when I first saw this club, I was pleased,” said Lilian Wang, Grade 10. “In addition to improving my diving skills, I gained the unique opportunity to obtain a PADI diving license. If I master the skills and techniques, I can go scuba diving with my friends during the summer vacation.”

The instructor of the diving club, Chengshu Tian, is licensed as a PADI open water scuba instructor and also as an Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) personal fitness instructor and weight training instructor. He expects his students to strive for the best and apply what they have learned in the future.

“The current courses are all taught in the classroom, and I really enjoy that my students interact with me throughout the class,” said Tian. “I am looking forward to them coming to DiveCube for classes, where I can teach them solid diving skills using professional equipment so that in the future they can enjoy playing at the beach with peace of mind.”

Due to the time limitations during club time and the shallow depth of the school pool, students have the opportunity to make appointments with the instructor during weekends to go to the DiveCube—Asia’s first indoor deep dive pool—to practice their diving skills without paying an additional fee.

Student-produced graduation song recalls high school memories

By Sydney Hsieh Graphic Editor

Students from the graduating class of 2023 at Washington International School in Taichung directed their own music video for a song entitled “Time Flies By” and premiered it on graduation day.

More than twenty students, including all Student Council members, volunteered to make appearances in the video. Brian Liu and Kimi Chen from 12-1 were responsible for directing, singing and editing. Liu incorporated elements of pop music, such as rap and auto-tune to supplement his vocals.

“It was difficult to organize and direct a music video with a small team,” said Liu. “The students also had a tight budget for producing the

song.”

The song was the culmination of the efforts of both classes over a month’s time. Students organized rehearsals and prepared their own props for the video. They filmed in their apartments and drove their own cars to school for specific shots. Students coordinated with professional photographers to improve the quality of the film through better lighting, camera angles and editing.

“Filming the graduation video made me feel upset about leaving my friends behind for university,” said Alice Wang, Grade 12. “It was our last time working together as a team.”

The students were required to film the music video on school grounds, primarily in the hallways, the biology lab, the reading room, the library and homeroom classes.

“We faced multiple problems when filming the graduation song,” said Chen. “The school refused to let the students film off school grounds, and the team was not able to capture desired shots.”

The music video portrays scenes of the graduating class’ daily school life, including throwing paper balls in class, playing frisbee in the hallway, taking chemistry class and partying.

These shots hark back to the memories the students shared together during their academic years.

The song concludes with everyone celebrating their high school graduation by throwing up their test papers and hugging each other goodbye. The music video ends with scenes of the graduated students returning to Washington to visit their high school teachers.

PHOTO CREDIT: LORENA CHEN. STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Graduating students throw their test papers in the air for the music video.

Spring

PHOTO CREDIT: VIVIAN HSIAO, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Students practice scuba diving in the school’s swimming pool.

W.I.S.T. TIMES

Ministry of Education over-schedules students’ classes

By Ashley Chang Staff Reporter

Each day when I take the bus home after nine periods on campus, everyone is taking naps and looks as if they have passed out. Missing our stop has become a routine for most of us who are all too often busy sleeping. And yet in August 2022, the Ministry of Education announced that “even eight class periods a day is too much for students”. For the past six years I thought nine periods a day was the norm, but meanwhile students at other schools have less than eight class periods to manage. Why is this?

The issue of over-scheduling students’ classes is unfortunate, as according to the Ministry of Education, “the maximum number of classes per week is 35 periods, including compulsory and elective courses, group activity time and flexible learning

time.” The maximum daily class arrangement is seven 50-minute periods. Even with the regulations on extracurricular periods, there should not be more than 90 periods each semester, yet many schools still maintain a schedule with more than eight periods of class each day. On the surface, it seems like it’s the schools’ fault for packing students’ schedules as tightly as possible, but in the bigger picture, the real issue lies with the Ministry of Education.

The Ministry has promised to send supervisors periodically to ensure schools are complying with the rule, but due to a lack of human resources, the supervisors don’t have time to spend an entire school day with students. They stay in one school for only a few hours, and during that time the students are told to “behave themselves.” On paper, the Ministry of Education promises students a fair and balanced education, but without

strong supervision, we see that only a few public schools, such as the Taichung First Senior High and Taichung Girls’ Senior High, are in accordance with the law. Other schools such as Mingdao High School and Hong Wen Senior High School still have eight periods per day.

It’s understandable that, with over 3,000 schools in Taiwan, the Ministry needs an overwhelming amount of labor to keep its eyes on every school. It’s also understandable that schools are stuck between the regulations and the parents. However, it is unbearable that the students are neglected when they are the ones whom the law affects.

The Ministry of Education’s main purpose is to facilitate students’ proper education while maintaining their well-being. But with all the loopholes built into the system, not only is the government lying to students, it’s also taking away free time that belongs to

them. Students who stay in school for nine hours a day are victims of time theft. Education is important, but over-scheduling classes fails to promote a better quality of education. By enforcing their own rules, the Ministry will achieve its goals of promoting student well-being, namely by reducing unnecessary stress for students, and by allowing extra time for students to pursue their extracurricular interests.

To solve this long-avoided issue, the Ministry of Education should implement a long-term supervisor to guarantee that the law is being applied thoroughly. The Ministry should also review each school’s daily schedule and make sure that no school violates the law by requiring extra periods. As for students, we should find the courage to speak up for ourselves. Complaining without action is meaningless, but through concerted grassroot efforts, real change is possible.

Words from Vice Principal Joe Kuo to Class of 2023

I am so proud to play such an integral role in the Washington High School Overseas Department, which has a remarkable legacy of 19 years of innovation in the field of education. Established in 2004 from a humble beginning of eight brave pioneers in its first crop of students, our department has since expanded to encompass a dynamic group of 286 students in the year 2023.

In recent years, the Overseas Department has grown significantly and cemented its place as a leader in education. This success is attributed to our dedicated commitment to providing a supportive learning environment that fosters innovation, creativity and personal growth. We also have a team of competent educators, a comprehensive and well-structured curriculum framework and a range of

innovative extracurricular activities. This dedication to excellence has contributed to our department evolving into the largest overseas preparatory program in Central Taiwan.

We have again secured impressive application results for the graduating class of 2023. A brief list of leading universities which have accepted our students this year include Harvard, Princeton, UC Berkeley, Duke, UCLA, University of Washington, Purdue, UBC, University of Toronto, University of Melbourne, Waseda University, etc. Our students’ accomplishments span over 11 countries. These extraordinary achievements reflect the devotion of our faculty and student body here in the overseas department. It is a testament to their hard work, perseverance,and commitment to achieving their academic goals.

Our department’s success extends beyond university acceptance. What truly sets us apart is our ability in nurturing students to become exceptional, confident, vibrant individuals who are respected by their peers and teachers alike. We believe that every student has the potential to achieve greatness, and we are committed to helping them to reach their full potential and become leaders in their respective fields. Endorsed by parents, students and respected teachers from all backgrounds, our department is on the right path towards excellence.

I am filled with immense pride and gratification to see what we have accomplished today.

Although our journey towards excellence has been long and challenging, through unrelenting determination we have reached this exceptional milestone. The credit for this achieve-

ment goes to every member of our department.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to each and every one of you. To our brilliant students, who have tirelessly strived to learn and grow; to our dedicated faculty, who have worked hard to impart skills, knowledge and wisdom; and to every member of the Overseas Department who has played a vital role in making our department what it is today. Your hard work, unfailing support and tireless dedication have been invaluable in bringing us this far.

Looking ahead, we must continue to be steadfast in our commitment to education, persistently pursue excellence and stay abreast of the ever-changing times. I am confident that with our collective efforts, the Overseas Department will continue to thrive and prosper.

TIMES

W.I.S.T. Original Comic: Snowing Spring

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

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

Thank you for your support through another semester, and another successful issue of the W.I.S.T. Times, one of the few student-run high school newspapers in Taiwan. This semester we are proud to feature the works of many of the same students who began at Washington when we first started publishing the newspaper years ago. Now, as our Grade 12 students prepare to enter the real world, it is beneficial for all of us to reflect on what they have achieved since they first started out, and how much our department has grown in only a short time.

recent changes to the school-wide face mask policy, a new club that allows students to practice for divingcertification and other recent events and additions to our campus. On the whole, we feel that our newspaper has matured since its early days, and is now running like a well-oiled machine. Whatever happens in the future, we can be proud that we have been able to boast of a student-run publication that serves the interests of both students and the wider school community.

Once again, we would like to extend our deepest thanks and appreciation 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 would also like to remind students going into Grades 10, 11 and 12 next semester that we are actively seeking new staff for the coming school year, and that the extracurricular benefits of participating in the school newspaper can be advantageous when it comes time to apply for colleges.

Thank you all for reading. We hope you enjoy our newest issue!

Andrew Valencia

In this issue, we have revisited some of the recurring events that have made our department special, including the election for next year’s Student Council and the international food fair. Our reporters have also delved into some new features of the Washington Overseas Program, such as the studying abroad opportunities students received at California State University San Marcos, and the international food fair. Our reporters have also delved into some new features of the Washington Overseas Program, such as the studying abroad opportunities students received at California State University San Marcos,

Class Advisor Sincerely, W.I.S.T Times Staff

Artwork by Anne Chen, Staff Photographer