Crashing Uncle Keith's Birthday Bash

By Sophia Coker

You can spot Uncle Keith on Dalat’s campus from a mile away. The sun reflecting off his bald head can be blinding at first, but once you’ve recovered, he always meets you with one of his contagious smiles and a wave. Then he may make a joke, or comment on how “monkeys never cramp” or, worst of all, tells you to drink lots of water. Walking off with a look like he’s up to something, you know you’ll be doing lots of sprints and conditioning that day. 

“Uncle Keith, while scary on the outside and loud on the sidelines, is one of my favorite people, and I couldn’t be happier to have had three years on this team to learn so so much about soccer and life," said Marissa Elliott (12).

This may be surprising because Uncle Keith doesn’t look a day older than twenty five, but Uncle Keith’s sixtieth birthday was coming up and everyone was determined to make this birthday extra special. With two posters and notes in hand, the girls soccer team marched into the Ziemer Dorm, where Uncle Keith’s birthday party was being held, unannounced and yelled “Surprise!” 

But Uncle Keith is a dorm dad. You always think you’ve pranked him or finally surprised him, but that is never the case. This time, he claimed “the size of the carrot cake” gave away that his team was coming. 

Surprise or not, Rebecca Wong (12) said, “It was great to be able to celebrate uncle Keith’s birthday and be able to thank him for everything he has done for us as a coach. Crashing his party was funny even though he figured out we were coming."

When asked about the highlight of Uncle Keith’s Birthday Bash, Soniya Peters (11) remarked, “I wish I could say the best part was seeing your (Uncle Keith’s) reaction to the surprise but the carrot cake was the real highlight.” 

We love Uncle Keith and are so blessed to have him as our coach, Happy Birthday Uncle Keith!

Senior Transition Retreat: Preparing for the Future

By Juan Moon

During a two day event (March 27-28), Senior Transition Retreat, seniors got to skip school and learn valuable information that will help them as they step into adulthood. While there were some concerns about the trip, most seniors found it to be a worthwhile experience in preparing for life beyond high school.

Many students initially complained about the event being held on campus rather than at a hotel, but was it really that bad? In reality, this change turned out to be a blessing in disguise. According to Peter Hsu (12) “Honestly, hosting the Senior Transition Retreat at Dalat actually went better than expected.”

One of the benefits of staying on campus was the activities made possible by the cost savings. On the first day, seniors enjoyed an off-campus lunch at Gurney Plaza, followed by a bowling outing, which turned out to be a highlight. Additionally, staying in a familiar location, school, provided a sense of comfort. Being in a well-known environment allowed students to feel more at ease, making it easier to engage with the content of the retreat.

Perhaps the biggest concern was the sleeping arrangement, but even that turned into an advantage. Instead of being confined to assigned hotel rooms, students had the freedom to organize their own sleepovers, creating a more comfortable and social experience. Those who preferred a quieter setting could recharge alone, ensuring they were well-rested for the next day. In the end, the decision to hold Senior Transition Retreat on campus proved to be a practical and effective choice.

As for the learning aspect of the event, most students walked away with valuable insights. Topics covered included relationships, finances, faith, boundaries, and self-care. These discussions provided essential life skills that students might not otherwise encounter in a typical school setting.

Rebecca Wong (12) shared her thoughts on the experience: “I am grateful for the Senior Transition retreat because I learned a lot about things to prioritize, and I feel like I have clearer expectations of what university life will look like. Also, I now know what to do to prepare myself to leave well.”

Ultimately, Senior Transition Retreat was more than just an event, it was a meaningful opportunity for seniors to bond, reflect, and prepare for their future. Despite initial doubts, the experience proved to be both enjoyable and educational, leaving a lasting impact on the graduating class.

Striking down the Retreat

By Anju Takikawa

March 27 may have been just another usual school day for the juniors, sophomores, and freshmen. However, it wasn’t just another usual school day for us seniors. March 27th marked the first day of the Senior Transition Retreat! 

The seniors gathered in the first-floor hallways of Harbor Hall. Some students were excited about the upcoming event, which would be a gateway from the usual school routines. Some dreaded it, as they would have to sit through long hours of the sessions ahead. The door of the Heritage Chapel soon opened at 8:30 a.m., welcoming all seniors. 

Mr. Dobson soon started the first session, introducing us to the Retreat theme: Leave Well to Enter Well! Throughout the sessions, hungry seniors were met with delightful snacks: curry puffs and fruits. With their stomachs full, the next session began.  

The occasional erupt of laughter and the clattering sound were heard throughout the room. The seniors entertained themselves with the many interactive items, such as the wooden stacking rocks, aka the culprit of the clattering sounds, as they listened to the speakers discuss the transitions.  

Soon, the most anticipated time for many seniors begins- finally leaving the school campus! The students eagerly jumped off the bus at Gurney Plaza as they fled to different places and restaurants in no time to eat lunch.  

After nearly an hour, the seniors returned to the bus to head for the next destination: Penang Bowl! Some students were determined to show off their bowling skills, confident they would make many strikes. Others, including me, were less optimistic as their experience with bowling was limited. Nevertheless, a burst of laughter filled the alley as the bowling sessions began, showing that it was still a fun memory to cherish whether you are a beginner or a pro at bowling.  

Grace Cao (12) adds, “I had a really wonderful bowling experience because it’s my first time doing it.” 

Whether the students were anticipating or dreading the senior retreat, it’s safe to say that it was a fun and cherishing time, providing yet another memorable memory for the seniors. Not only were the seniors able to have fun, but they also gained life-worth advice as they prepared for the next stage of their lives.

The Impact We Can Make

By Aiden Jeong

Over spring break, students will go on impact trips to various places to serve, learn from, and engage with people of diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. These trips provided students with opportunities to make a difference while deepening their understanding of the world.

The first Student went to Indonesia, Yogyakarta. During that time the Group stayed at an orphanage run by a Korean missionary couple. This trip was a collaboration with OBAS. In the orphanage, the kids learn crucial knowledge and skill through homeschooling and outside institutions, which were less like a school and more like a tutoring place.

Throughout their stay, students planned activities such as music, writing/grammar, and games. These activities were rotated so all the children had the chance to experience each one. At night, the boys were all sleeping in one room with some Indonesian kids. The girls got their own room with an aircon.

The group also enjoyed fun outings like camping, hiking, visiting a waterpark, and participating in sports. They even held a talent show where students and the kids could show off their special skills. Through these activities the students were able to see how close-knit, supportive, and wonderful this community was. Students also shared their personal testimonies of their relationship with God.

Juan Moon (12) reflected on the trip: “Impact trips will have moments where it is tiring and hard but, in the end, it will be the most meaningful experience and memory of the whole year.”

Another group of students traveled to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where they worked with the organization OM to help less privileged children. The group spent time with homeschooled Chinese children, singing songs, performing skits, and teaching English in the mornings.

In the afternoons, they toured local villages and participated in activities like making crafts, teaching basic hygiene (such as brushing teeth and washing hands), and worshiping together. The experience allowed students to better understand the struggles of others and serve communities in need.

Stephen Branum (12) shared some of his thoughts: “This impact trip to Cambogia it gave me another chance to see the reality of other people are living in and showed me how some people struggle to get basic needs, so serving to people and kids was a great reminder for me that I am very blessed and I need to be going out of my way to help others who are less privileged.”

“I would definitely encourage anyone who is thinking about an impact trip, to go ahead and pursue going on one as not only does it benefit and grow you personally but you’re also able to get closer with God and give you the opportunity to serve people who would appreciate it all at.”

Both trips provided students with valuable experiences, fostering empathy and a deeper connection to the global community. As they returned home, they carried with them unforgettable memories of service, growth, and connection.

Visa Ate Us Up

By Ellie Park

“It all felt like a dream. Reality hit the moment I was sorting through calculus quizzes, realizing how much I had to catch up after a break that ended way too fast,” said Eleannor, still recovering from the whirlwind of our spring break.

This March, my friends Zoe Yeoh (12), Kiera Nichols (12), Eleannor Tang(12), and I packed our bags and our excitement to spend spring break at my house in Korea—a trip we had been planning for months. It was the first time I had my friends staying over in Korea, and I couldn’t wait for the late-night chats, endless shopping, and group activities I’d always dreamed of having there. 

But our plans hit a bump before we even boarded the plane.

Caught up in excitement, we forgot one important detail: the visa. Since Zoe and Kiera were still minors, they breezed through without issue. But Eleannor, who had just turned 18, needed special visa consent—and hers hadn’t been approved yet. We stood there in disbelief as she was turned away at the check-in counter. With heavy hearts and heavier suitcases, we watched her walk back home, hoping that her visa would be processed in time.

We landed in Korea to a blast of shivering unexpected cold. Spring? Not quite. We shivered under layers of thin jackets, completely unprepared for the snowy landscape that greeted us the next morning. Add jet lag and a missing Eleannor, and you could say our spirits were… a little frosty.

Then, something crazy happened.

My phone rang. It was Eleannor. We hesitated—was it good news or just another update on visa delays? But when we picked up, we saw her bundled up inside a moving vehicle, eyes sparkling with excitement. Before I could ask, she flipped the camera—and there it was. My house. Covered in snow. On her screen.

“Is this your house, Ellie?” 

Her grin said it all.

Within seconds, our screams of joy shattered the silence. She made it. Against all odds, just in time for the real adventure to begin.

That break may not have started how we imagined—but in the end, it gave us a story we'll never forget.

A Familiar Place, a Different Place

By Yong Xi Yan

This final spring break was a wild stretch for its unique activities. Throughout the past seven years, I have been to Kuala Lumpur seven times, almost as regularly as if it were a neighboring city. These trips encompass some of my incredible memories, with examples including a meetup with fellow cousins and creating collaborative YouTube videos, constructions of solo travel plans around the city, utilization of weekends for open campus events, and other errands. Just a day ago, on March 24, I embarked on yet another trip to the city, but this time with my friends: Daniel Willoughby, Hudson Brooks, and Iyan Sandahl. (12)

Outside school grounds, I have only been on vacation with my parents or relatives. I have never traveled with friends on this scale. After some hastened planning, we organized train tickets and an Airbnb, mitigating tons of costs otherwise presented by hotel booking and other factors. Plans for tourist attractions and other locations emerged over days of rigorous thinking. All that remained was the boarding and enjoyment.

Boarding the ETS Gold train at Butterworth, bound for KL Sentral, we found ourselves talking non-stop, taking dumb photos, enjoying the view outside, and more. Upon reaching, we were engulfed in a huge station incomparable to the tiny station at Butterworth, with a huge mall and elevated LRT trains. As a train enthusiast, I found in awe that KL, despite major shortcomings such as the presence of one central station and the lack of rapid service trains, still developed a system incomparable to Penang, which lingers with sickening traffic and slow cars.

Going to numerous towers and taking pictures, touring our large Airbnb with the perfect view outside, and checking out massive, four-times-bigger malls, were among our events. Particularly stunning were our photographs of the Merdeka 118 tower, where we got to take a ground shot of ourselves and the tower and some infrastructure-themed photos, and our lunch at one of the fantastic tens of Japanese restaurants surrounding the final floor at the Lot 10 and Isetan department store. Spending our time in various malls and towers meant an utterly distinct experience from what we had in Penang.

One trip organizer and great friend, Hudson reflects on our trip opportunity: “The most fun part of the trip for me was being able to spend time with my friends. We've been friends for a very long time, but we never really had the opportunity to do something like this.” 

Daniel also reflects on skills he practiced, “I was able to practice my planning and budgeting skills, since it was fully up to us where we went, and how much we spent on food and transport.”

As we headed back to Penang, we realized the opportunities we had taken to sharpen our management and cooperation skills and, most importantly, our strong friendship over these seven years. It wasn’t just about the break that allowed us to rest easy, but this fun trip that brought us to new places.

Picture of us at the Merdeka 118 Tower

Porkchops in Vietnam

By Darnell Dwumfour

March 18th is a special day for pork chops. It is the day the Porkchops travel to Vietnam, a group trip with eight handsome men who made it out of the group chat. 

They didn't know what to think of the trip. Would it be good, or would it be a flop? They were hoping it was worth the time they spent planning. Micah Pickett (12) said, "I thought it wasn't going to be as good because not all of our friends were coming." Little did he know that it was the opposite of that. 

As the Porkchops arrived in Vietnam and the Airbnb, everyone thanked Romeo Kontsas (12) for picking the most luxurious Airbnb. Then, the first thing they did after that was go outside and explore. Everyone was excited, so nobody thought about searching for good restaurants nearby to eat or go to a mall. Instead, they made it seem like they were stranded without money and the internet (even though everyone had data and money besides Jason Choi (12). 

Darnell Dwumfour (12), the navigator, searched for the nearest beach on Google Maps and led the pork chops along a dangerous 30-minute walk downtown. Of course, when Darnell led the Porkchops along this journey, everyone started to doubt him, mainly because they were walking along sketchy streets and pathways that looked like a dead end. Thankfully, Darnell was a good navigator, and he led everyone to the beach, and some of the Porkchops found food. 

However, everyone began to realize that there were no good food options near the beach. The beach was also not a recommended beach to go to because there are better beaches elsewhere. Therefore, everyone walked home in a joyful yet annoyed mood as they walked for 30 minutes to find food, not to find food but happy because the journey there made memories that will be cherished. 

The Porkchops returned to their Airbnb and ordered delicious Texas Chicken on grab food. 

And that's a wrap of the first day in Vietnam with the Porkchops.