Football Reborn

By Sam Owen

It’s football season. 

Again.

The international kind, not the American kind. At least, I certainly hope so, or else our girls are severely under-padded. Shin guards can only do so much against a linebacker.

The team started the spring season at a disadvantage; many of the original fall semester players could not return, forcing the team to have additional tryouts halfway through the year to find fresh blood.

And find it they did. The active selection of Laura Choi (9), Naomi Weidemann (12), Addie Elliott (9), Sophia Coker (11), and Isabella Coker (9), and return of Marissa Elliott (11) proved favorable as they are forces to be reckoned with and have greatly benefitted the dynamic of the team.

But the provision of new players didn’t mean the transition was easy.

Noella Seevaratnam (12), captain and footballer for over five years, explained that the gap between seasons presented a challenge as it required “learning to work as a team and rely on each other’s strengths in a short manner of time.”

However, she ultimately concluded that the short practice time with a new team “only made us stronger” and left her “excited to see how this team progresses after [she] leaves.”

We, as the supporters of Dalat Athletics, have to agree. All year, both the fall and spring, players have been training devotedly, honing technique, and posting reels regularly at the expense of Uncle Keith.

Alexia Nyul (12), one of the captains, articulated the team’s preparation: “We have been working hard in our daily practices, making sure we have our cardio up and our teamwork solidified.”

ACSC football didn’t start today. Our girls haven’t been fighting their hearts out for this tournament just this week but throughout the ups and downs of multiple seasons. This week is just when their work pays off. 

This is the throwdown. This is the last stand. This is the final countdown.

If the Basketball Court Could Speak

By Noella Seevaratnam

“It’s the end of an era, but I'm excited for what lies ahead,” said Alexia Nyul (12).

Thursday, April 5th, 2024, was Varsity Girls Soccer Senior Night. For many seniors in sports, senior night and ACSC is their last time playing on a team. It marks the end of their 4-day-a-week practices, the end of developing their craft alongside their teammates, and the end of being an Eagle. Sick on the sidelines during my senior game, I watched my team face a combination of Dalat staff, spouses, and boys for their last home game. I took in the beauty of our community, appreciating those who came to play on the opposing team and those on the picnic blankets, and reflected on my years at Dalat.

The outdoor court, gym, and upper field have watched me grow in interest and skill over the course of the last 15 years. They’ve seen me kick my first soccer ball in pre-school, shoot my first hoop in kindergarten, and continuously attempt and fail at racket sports. They’ve seen me do field days in track and run around the court playing dodgeball with fellow staff kids. They’ve seen me fall in love with being on a team, deal with pressures, face losses, and learn how to become more disciplined. They’ve probably seen tears, but I know they've seen a lot of laughter, and soon they will see a lot of “goodbyes.” The outdoor court is where seniors will grieve and hug and send each other off with tear-stained wishes, just like it was a place where many of us found our first friends during recess.

If places could say words, I bet these spots would speak thousands. Mocking students for their overcompetitive spirits, encouraging the underdog who thinks they aren’t good enough, but most importantly, relishing the community that gathers around them, and sharing memories about those who have left. If these places had arms, I bet they’d dominate at dodgeball and prevent soccer balls from leaving the field and entering the upper-field jungle. I also bet they would have flicked us off the court during those Friday nights in middle school, begging us to go home and stop playing basketball at 9 pm. They would have intervened with our elementary four-square, silencing our king of their corrupt rules. They would also unwillingly pick up the trash that has consistently been left behind on the bleachers by our lunch-ballers. Most importantly they would join the group hugs on our final night, feeling a similar and sorrowful loss. 

To these places, to my coaches, and to this community, I personally thank you and will miss you dearly. 

“There’s no community like Dalat; every student is a blessing. May you never let go of your child-like wonder and never give up on your dreams” (court, gym, upper field).

Spring Break Shenanigans

By Noah Brooks

Spring break is a time of rest, pain, and fun. A break many have thought about as it was slowly approaching. People planning with their friends what to do during a two-week holiday, like multiple parties that may have happened, sports, and beach visits with family, friends and co-workers. Besides all the planning of events to do with some kids, plans were already set with an Impact trip. The locations were Chiang Mai, Central Java, Phnom Penh. Each location had a different set of activities. Two teams worked with kids, and the other labored on a farm. 

Out of the many fun trips that Dalat hosts, Impact. One of the trips, Chiang Mai Thailand, was a hot and fun trip. There was lots of physical work like wheelbarrowing, hoeing, removal of a building, painting, and much more fun activities. One of the students who got to go on this trip, Himani Alagan (12) who is known for being outdoorsy, hard working, and constantly enjoying the sun, went on this trip. 

Himani, focusing on the relationships of this trip said, “I really appreciated getting to interact with students outside my grade. It was really nice to forge relationships with them and make an impact on others during my final year in Dalat.”

One of the many sports played by students over spring break was volleyball, if it's with a club or a Dalat open gym, volleyball is one that is enjoyed a lot by many over the years. 

Josh Stevens (10) mentioned, “Over the break I spent time with my friends and family, having fun for the most part. I would play volleyball a few times over the break. On the last day of open gym, I ended up slipping a few discs in my lower back but thank the Lord it’s slowly healing and should be fine in 6 weeks.”

Trips are always fun, and you are able to make lots of memories with your friends. In the future, you can boast about all the fun times you had to your kids.

Flossing in Central Java

By Kathryn Boyd

On March 18, 2024, the Central Java Impact team embarked on a journey they weren’t fully anticipating. Upon landing in Yogyakarta, our team boarded a bus set for Rumah Boas (a home and school for children who have been abandoned by their families). After four hours, the eleven tired students exited the bus and were greeted by thirty-two children aged 3-17, ready to meet and hang out with them. 

With a schedule pinned to the bulletin board, the students from Boas and Dalat awaited an exciting and busy week. The first full day was Sunday, which included church, games, and camping. Michaela Parsley (11) and I were asked to lead worship with some Boas kids. As we entered the room, we were met with some awkwardness and confusion as we didn't really know the children and some of the songs we were to lead. We were asked to help lead an Indonesian worship song, One Way, and Goodness of God. However, despite confusion and awkwardness initially, leading worship allowed us to connect with the older children through a shared love for music. 

Michaela Parsley (11) stated, “I liked leading worship with the Boas kids because I got to experience their kindness and generosity. Even though they were much more musically skilled than me, they still wanted to include me. They made room for me to try something new.” 

That evening, Boas and Dalat set out for the foothills of Bukit Tengtung, where we were to camp for the night. From nestling in tents to stay out of the rain to building, eating, and singing around a bonfire, the evening allowed Dalat and Boas to bond with each other. 

Douglas Koay (12) says his favorite part of the camping trip was “learning guitar chords in the tent with the kids and teaching them how to do a Rubix cube.” 

One of the older students from Boas, Zeva, stated, “I liked hanging out and camping with the Dalat students because we got to work together and have fun preparing the campfire.” 

By spending a lot of time and helping one another outdoors, we broke some of the awkwardness we felt at the beginning of the trip. 

The next few days didn’t follow the schedule pinned to the bulletin board, allowing our Impact team to demonstrate F.L.O.S.S (Flexibility, Learner, Observer, Servant & Sacrificial). This F.L.O.S.S acronym is taught to Impact teams before trips to prepare us for uncertainties we may encounter. On this trip, our team had to facilitate different stations (music, drama, art, & games) three times, and we were often told a few hours in advance that the next round of stations was to be done. Strategic and fast planning allowed our team to facilitate the stations to the kids and have fun in the planning and executing stages. 

On the fourth night, Teacher Kang (Rumah Boas) asked if the Dalat team could perform in the Talent Show, which our team had not anticipated participating in because it was not scheduled. However, we agreed and met to organize who was going to perform. We combined our talents and performed “The Cup Song,” solving a Rubix cube while being timed, a timed drawing, rapping, worship, and finally, a dance by our whole team to “Cupid” by FIFTY FIFTY. 

Towards the end of the trip, lifelong friendships and connections were made. During the evenings, before dinner, students played soccer, played on the playground, did parkour, and played group games. At dinner, conversations about life in Malaysia and Indonesia were exchanged, as well as laughter and jokes. 

Yohanes, one of the older kids at Boas, exclaimed, “I really enjoyed the stations and playing soccer with Dalat because it allowed us to get closer to one another and have fun.” 

On the last day, the Dalat and Boas kids exchanged prayers, tears, hugs, gifts, and notes. This week created an unforgettable bond between two groups of students from two different nations. We left with our hearts full of love for these children, and despite the exhaustion, we would miss these children deeply.

White Stripped Shirts

By Caleb Jun

Some dreaded coming back to school, others were excited to come back to a routine they were familiar with, but whatever we senior boys felt coming back, we all looked forward to one thing. DBA. The Dalat Basketball Association hails from the long traditional 3 on 3 lunch ball that we seniors have played since we wore those white and blue uniforms of our middle school days. Playing every lunch, even during the 10-minute middle school break times, was a time for our competitive spirits to clash with one another to bring the gold out of that furnace. Yet, after the academic challenges we faced during our high-school years, it slowly diminished as time could not be spared, and COVID disabled our talents.

Yet what we thought was lost was saved at last by Adam Silver, aka Aidan Leong, reigniting the spirit of our middle school hearts.

“At first, I wasn’t sure that people wanted it back, but when I released the DBA trailer, people got hyped and excited about it, which kickstarted the league," said Aidan Leong.

Complete tournament brackets were made, stats, shooting percentages, video services, and referees; we all gave everything we had for our one last run for the gold. On the first day back from spring break, we continued our tournament with the Bomberz vs the Black Sheeps, going into overtime with Bomberz’s Captain, Ezra, shooting the game-winning 3. 

“Our team might not be the best, but we want it more than others,” says the Bomberz’s Captain Ezra Latham.

We continue to enjoy these joyful moments we get to have as the year comes to an end, and we cherish them with memories that go all the way back to those white-striped uniforms. It is times like these we will look back to, and although it fills our hearts with sorrow that these moments will end, it brings us to enjoy and savor every moment.

Emphasizing the Mission

By Himani Alagan

At last, the year has rolled around to the counterpart of Spiritual Emphasis Week, known as Mission Emphasis Week, or more lovingly titled MEW. The many different student teams and classes, such as Leadership Development (LD) and Worship Band, are working around the clock to ensure a smooth week of chapel sessions and night sessions revolving around the “mission” for the week ahead. 

Savanna Choi (12), a drummer in the worship band, says, “The early morning practices have been incredibly useful for preparation with chapel worship.” 

Their excitement and readiness to praise the Lord through song most certainly shows in their performance. It fires the students up and gets them on their feet to praise Christ. 

Students from LD also contribute immensely to the MEW process. Kathryn Boyd (12) shares, “We’ve held lots of meetings to prepare for the upcoming week, as well as lots of prayers. We have crafted lots of material to use for the discussion of topics that we feel we want our student body to know more about as it relates to the missions and the calling that of has placed on each of our lives.” 

As shown, many students have been working around the clock to ensure the cohesive operation of the MEW chapel sessions to fit the elementary, middle school and high school. 

The night sessions also include many tailored talks from speakers outside our school and country, as well as the parents of a senior student. 

“There is so much insight to be gained from the talks in the night session. It definitely brings you closer to God,” says Noella Seevaratnam (12). 

So, if you’re looking for a spiritual gathering in which many valuable insights and words of wisdom are passed around, then the MEW night sessions are most definitely for you. In all, there is so much to be gained from hearing the plans and missions in both the chapel and night sessions.

Senior and Sophomore Bonding

By Sammy Jung

Last Friday the Seniors set up a party to bond with the sophomores at the Dalat campus. The senior ExCom came up with this idea in order for seniors and sophomores to bond and also get to know each other as well. The party consisted of dodgeball, color wars, and many more activities and fun. This was truly a night to remember and for both classes and with that came the opportunity to get to know each other better as well.

They played knockout and charades first where the classes were able to bond through competing but also working together as a team. 

After knockout and charades, the two classes went into the main gym and played dodgeball. They played free for all dodgeball first where it was every man for themselves, but there were alliances that consisted of three groups which were the senior boys, sophomore boys, and girls. The entire gym was chaotic and loud with students running around and throwing dodgeballs at each other. After the free for all dodgeball the two classes played normal dodgeball with just two teams going against each other. First it was the seniors against the sophomores where the game ended in a draw. Then it went onto girls against the boys where the boys won. Finally, the last game was against two teams that were mixed, consisting of both classes. The game had to include a doctor and a general where the doctor was able to revive the players while if the general got out it meant that the team immediately lost. 

After dodgeball the students went out to enjoy ice cream and drinks. There the students were able to bond with each other through talking and mingling with each other. 

Finally, the last part of the night was the most chaotic and fun, as Drew Worten said: “It was a fun time bonding with the sophomores by throwing color at their faces.” At first the sophomores were forced to sit in a circle and the seniors surrounded them and threw colors at them which gave the seniors a head start, but after that the entire place was chaotic with students just throwing colors at each other no matter what class they were in. This caused students from both classes to look like clowns and jesters. 

All in all, the sophomore and senior party was an unforgettable night with many students from both classes bonding together while also having a lot of fun and excitement. Through this event students from both the senior and sophomore class were able to bond and get to know each other better. This event was a true blessing for both classes and students from both classes hope to this again one day.