The End of the Endless Wait

 

By Jimin Park

 

Six months have gone by since the school filled up the liveliness of sports. There were no sounds of bouncing basketballs, hitting volleyballs, kicking soccer balls, and last but not least, the sound of people. Yet, this was all changed by an email sent by Mr. Davis on September 9^th: “HS Intramural Sign-Ups (Due Thursday @7: 00 pm).” That was enough to bring life back to Dalat. Everyone was talking about the Intramurals – deciding whether they would join either soccer or volleyball, persuading their friends to play the same sports, and expressing how they were so ready for this change.

 

58 people signed up for soccer, and 77 people signed up for volleyball, which exhibited the excitement of students playing sports with friends after school. The teams were mixed throughout the grade and gender, having everyone from freshman to seniors, girls and boys, and a few varsity players on each team. Some seniors were denoted as team captains to lead so that everyone can have fun and hopefully win. Teams were made, captains were decided, the schedule was out, everything was ready.

 

There was an unusual enthusiasm among students on Monday; everyone was ready to go and start out the 6-week season with a WIN. Starting from 3:15, teams started to warm up on the lower field and the gym – making sure there will be no cramps or injury from a sudden burst of movement that hasn’t happened in 6 months.

 

For soccer, the mustangs, the bobcats, and the storm took a win while the storm, who played two games, tied against the zips. For volleyball, the bruins, the titans, the cougars, and the waves won.

 

Yumin Kim (12), one of the team captains of the Mustangs, said, “It felt great to be back playing sports with friends. Although it’s not like an actual season, I’m thankful to still have the opportunity to play.”

 

Everyone was excited about the start of intramurals. It will be fun to watch how the next few weeks will play out.

The Happiness of Giving

 

By Yebeen Kil

The hallways of the Dalat high school buildings lit up colorfully as the students moved from one room to the next, trying to get to their next classes. On the 23rd of September, students donated RM 10 each to the Student Impact Club’s charity fundraiser in order to participate in No Uniform Day. The students received a ribbon—that they could pin to their clothes—after they made their donation, showing that they had paid to wear their own clothes. Students of all grades took this opportunity to express themselves and to have fun. The middle school students dressed up in animal costumes such as lions and unicorns, while some of the high schoolers wore matching outfits.

 

Students were to wear one of the corresponding colors, orange, green, white, blue, or pink. These colors all symbolized things that the students could support. If students supported the homeless, they could wear the color white. The color orange meant that the students supported orphans, green meant supporting animals, blue meant supporting the refugees, and pink meant supporting breast cancer victims.

 

Teachers enjoyed watching their students come to class in clothes other than their uniforms. “My highlight was seeing how much fun everyone had expressing themselves.  Everyone let out their inner fashion beast… This year’s senior guys reminded me of elementary kids. They had zero self-control in class and couldn’t focus at all,” said Mr. Kirk Ronzheimer. The senior boys decided to come in matching outfits—a pink shirt, blazer, swim shorts, ties, and clashing hats along with accessories. Wherever they went, they were the center of attention.

 

“Mycah Winsor (12) and I started it, and while we were talking about it during lunch, the other boys jumped in,” said Jeremy Kim (12). “So we made a group chat with all the guys, and everyone started throwing in ideas,” he added.

 

The charity fundraiser run by the Student Impact Club ended successfully, earning more than RM 10,400. Although simple, this event gave an opportunity for the students to give to the needy while being able to have fun at the same time.

Sports Are Back!

 By Kalia Brewster

Before lockdown happened, sports were one of the most time-consuming, important, and enjoyable parts of my day. After school, I could hardly wait to leave the classroom and get out on the field or court — to play a game that I loved with people that I loved and coaches who invested deeply in me. Nothing has quite impacted my life in the way sports has. It is hard for me to describe how something that has been part of my life since I can remember has been so formative.  I know that many others feel the same way about sports and how it has shaped them.

Esther Tse (12) said about sports and how it impacted her life, “Sports has helped me not only work on my personal skills but also work on communication skills and the ability to understand each other’s strengths.” Sports has a profound and sometimes unseen effect on athletes. Not only the physical aspect of sports, but the emotional, mental, and relational challenges that it presents helps athletes become more well rounded people. 

Recently, however, I have had many conversations about how the lockdown took away sports opportunities and how this has shaped lives in a significant way. Having down time after school is unheard of by Dalat’s athletes. Even the absence of the little aspects of sports is felt. My personal favorite little sports experience was the cheer at the end of practice that the basketball and soccer teams would do. It helped unify the team even in the smallest gesture. Other Dalat students have told me of their own personal losses as well.

 Lydia Geiman (12) said, “I miss the family-like bond that sports teams created throughout the season.” She then quickly added, “I also miss getting my booty whooped during scrimmages.” For athletes, it isn’t about the wins or losses, but about the team building experience. 

To make adaptations to the new standard operating procedures for lockdown, sports was at first not allowed. In recent weeks, however, they have allowed for intramurals, which have been an amazing breath of fresh air for students longing for some fun, physical activity. It allows people from all experience levels to join a team to play scrimmages once or twice a week.

Because of COVID-19, being intentional about building community has become increasingly important. Dalat’s intramurals season is one step towards the light at the end of the tunnel of COVID-19, and I hope to see people intentionally participating in community sports and activities to help us break through the loss and realize what we have to be grateful for. A reset is just what we needed to refocus our minds and hearts on all of the blessings we enjoy.

Music Gives Color to the Air of the Moment

By Esther Yang

Due to the pandemic, the Music Department announced recently that there would not be any live concert performances this semester. But students still get to perform what they have learned in class differently, by recording videos.

The current situation changed many aspects of our society, especially in the Music Department. Band trips and choir trips are canceled, and there is no showchoir or men’s and women’s ensemble rolling in this period.

So right now, there is only one choir happening: the concert choir. This year’s choir is filled with talented people from different grades. However, since the students didn’t get a chance to bond by going on the trip, the class’s vibe is different compared to the previous years.

Moreover, when school had just started, many students seemed like they gave up on having a concert. Students learned various songs without the certainty of having a performance. However, one day, Ms. Goh surprised the students by announcing that there would be a concert happening by filming videos.

With the news, she also introduced two new songs to the students: “Truly Brave” and “Music Changes the World.” Then Ms. Goh added, “In times like this, we should sing from our heart and give hope to the people. In our lives’ darkest times, music consoles us, gives us joy, and brings us back together. Music lives, no matter what.”

Although it did not go as planned, the concert is still happening. Students in choir got an opportunity to make a music video of  “Truly Brave” to make the music more exciting and directly deliver messages to the audiences. Some of the seniors are also sharing their experiences in the choir through a short interview.

It is hard to look on the bright side, but there is always a good part of the story when one looks closely with patience. As Amy Park (9) expressed, "I really like the fact that we still get to perform during this pandemic. However, it’s kind of disappointing that we don’t get to perform in front of many people. Still, on the other hand, if we make a music video, more people will get to see our performances (such as my parents, who are not living in Malaysia) with better quality and elegant performances."        

Music speaks what cannot be expressed with words, soothes the mind, and gives it rest. It also heals the heart, and connects our souls. It touches our emotions and comforts us. In the song “Truly Brave” it says,

I see your true colors shining through.

I see your true colors and that’s why I love you.

So don’t be afraid to let them show.

Your true colors, your true colors… are beautiful like a rainbow.

The choir hopes the concert this time will make you appreciate your moments, bring back your memories, heal your pain, and share happiness. Please join this journey with us and stay tuned for the concert!

 

8 Hours of Freedom

 By Joel Kelley

The never-ending question among students of whether or not uniforms should exist at Dalat will finally be answered this Wednesday on September 23rd -- but only for 8 hours.

For as long as anyone can remember, Dalat International School has had required uniforms that all students must wear throughout the school day. While they have changed over the years, two things have stayed the same: the Dalat logo on the right side of the chest and the portion of the student body who wishes they could wear t-shirts to school. However, the uniform policy does not exist to torment these wishful students. Rather, the policy exists to encourage unity within our school and maintain modesty and image on a large scale.

While a sense of unity on the school campus is a goal for the staff, yet another holds high value in their eyes: community service. Every year, students are encouraged to engage in service opportunities regularly, not just within the Dalat community but in the larger, Penang community. Students have served in churches, retirement homes, and local schools throughout the years and have learned the importance of looking outward, beyond their own needs and desires, to help those in more need than themselves.

With a required uniform policy and a heart for community service, Dalat is taking advantage of its unique opportunity to serve the community and provide the student body with a break in the monotony by offering No Uniform Day. No Uniform Day is a charity fundraiser run by the Student Impact Club that offers students the opportunity to wear their own, non-uniform, clothes to school for one day. Any students that are interested can make a donation of at least 10RM and receive a ribbon, color-coded for the charity they donated to, in order to participate.

Sumin Lim, a Dalat senior, said, “No uniform day is one of my favorite events in school. Especially because of the limitations due to the coronavirus, I think that the no uniform day is a good way for us to have a school event and raise money for charity. It is also fun and comfortable wearing whatever we want to school.”

While not eradicating the uniform policy, No Uniform Day offers students a chance to express themselves through clothing as they all get to see their friends in ways they may not have before. And let us not forget, each 10RM donation is put towards helping refugees, orphans, Mount Miriam Cancer Hospital, and more.

Coronavirus is on the loose and opportunities are being taken from us each and every day; but Dalat’s heart for the community cannot be quelled by a global pandemic. For 8 hours, Dalat students will get to experience an unusual type of freedom as hope is given to the elderly, orphaned, and sick in the community around us.

Return of STEP Students

 By OnYou Kim

Seven STEP students, who stayed an additional month in Korea due to the MCO extension, returned to school on September 14th.

The journey of the students began on the evening of August 29th at the Incheon Airport; the group involved OnYou Kim (12), Sieon Park (12), Grace Bae (11), Haeon Park (11), Sharon Kang (10), Hajin Kim (7), and Joseph Lim (7). The plane ride took approximately six hours, and their arrival at the KL Airport signaled their five hours of immigration. Downloading and signing into an app was the first step. The second step involved getting numerous documents verified and the COVID test done in the nose and mouth. The final step was the passport check, which took the longest with nearly four hours of waiting.

After claiming their luggage, the students were led outside where Uncle Brian Weidemann, one of the dorm representatives, was waiting to drive them to Penang. While wearing enormous protective suits, the students were taken to Penang in a van, arriving at the Paradise Hotel at five in the morning.

The arrival at the hotel prompted the students’ quarantine that lasted for two weeks. The inconsistent internet connection was one of their major problems faced in the hotel; however, the dorm parents bought them hotspots, which assisted them in completing homework. Also, many people supported them by supplying them with snacks.

Before the last day of the quarantine, the students had their last COVID test at the hotel, which involved extracting a small amount of blood from their fingers. Thankfully, everyone tested negative, which allowed them to return to the dorms on September 13th.

Their return to school on September 14th marked their transition from online schooling to face to face schooling. Fortunately, everyone adjusted well into school.

Grace Bae (11) commented, “Coming back to school made me realize the importance of the time together with friends and the community.”

The return of the seven STEP students was an arduous journey that required patience and endurance. However, with many others’ considerate help, they could return safely and adjust well back into school.

Junior Class Store Sales Challenges

 

By Jia Yi Sim

Restrictions from the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) that began in the June of 2020 have caused a slowdown in numerous businesses, one of them being Dalat’s Junior Class Store.

The MCO prevented the store from operating after school, which has generated the most income for the juniors in the past. Right now, juniors are stuck selling snacks in between classes, and the store only actively operates for about 15 minutes a day. Such a narrow window of time makes it difficult for the store to collect large amounts of income each day. 

Helen Jang, a member of the junior class office, voices her concerns about their sales: “We had a head start because last year’s juniors donated many goods to us, but with the restrictions of MCO, I am worried that we will not earn as much money as we hope to.”

For many years, working in the Junior Class Store has served as the long-awaited experience for juniors. Spending long days after school in the store can be tiring, but jamming to music with friends, scooping ice cream for enthusiastic elementary schoolers, and counting the money after work provide immense amounts of satisfaction. Restrictions on the store have currently removed such opportunities for the juniors, but these students are looking for other ways to boost their income and enjoy the full experience of working in the store. They are currently exploring some different options such as selling drinks and freezies during snack time, which has not been done before. The juniors are also looking to lengthen the store’s operating hours.   

Regarding the shortened operating hours of the store, student Cecelia Sheng offers a solution: “I hope we can sell snacks in the store during lunch so that we can sell for a longer amount of time and earn more money while satisfying the sugar cravings of hangry students.”

Granted, the COVID-19 crisis and Movement Control Order have lowered the sales of the Junior Class Store, but they certainly have not lowered the juniors’ enthusiasm and hope for their store. Challenges will arise, and juniors must learn to adapt to the ever-changing circumstances. However, if they persevere and maintain a diligent attitude, only success will await them. 

Quality Bonding Time with the Freshies!

 By Min-Song Ko

The seniors were given the opportunity to share, listen, and serve the freshmen on Wednesday, the 9th of September. The lunch line was crowded with an unusual mix of students, hungry for food. The seniors walked into the overcrowded gym with an excited heart to meet their arranged freshman partners, sitting patiently at their table. With their innocent eyes, the freshmen seemed nervous to listen to what story awaited them. 

At first, it took a lot of courage to bring up a conversation, striving to cut the awkward silence filling the area. Students showed their habits of grinding their teeth, biting off their nails, or scratching their scalp repeatedly every time the conversation went silent. While the seniors were hesitant, looking down at their lunch and showed signs of helplessness. The thought of an idea popped up. Grasping the white activity paper in between their lunch trays, the seniors thought of playing several games with their partners.

A few minutes in, slowly but surely, the mood lightened without even noticing as the seniors became comfortable with the freshmen. Slamming his deck of cards on the table, Seung Hwan Kim (12) asked, “Do you guys want to play a round of poker?” He then began to shuffle the cards with his tedious hands. 

While some of the tables considered playing games to lighten the mood, the others mostly gave back and forth advice to each other, building up their relationship as the conversation progressed to another. As the freshmen were asked about their dreams, Rhys Hofer (9) said with a face of uncertainty, “I want to major in music.” 

Sitting next to Rhys, Noah Brooks (9) smiled in response to the complicated question and said, “I still have no clue!”

Encouraging the young teens who are clueless about their current interests, the seniors nodded to their noticeable reactions, telling them not to worry. After all the serious talk was over, the focus shifted back to playing hangman and tic-tac-toe, where laughter filled the table again. 

This senior and freshman bonding wasn’t merely there to learn and teach, but it provided the time to be comfortable and stress-free while creating new friendships. Overall, it was a unique environment for us, seniors, to demonstrate the willingness to show leadership and bravery to the freshmen. Once again, we must be thankful for the ability to communicate and build relationships as it helped us improve not only as a teacher but also as a friend. 

Unexpected Chapel

 

By Zoe Seevaratnam 

Leadership Development is an optional class where students grow in spiritual truths while leading others to do the same. This year, however, has posed some challenges in ways the class can exhibit leadership practically. However, this past week has provided the course with a unique and creative outlet to demonstrate spiritual leadership--leading chapel. The process of planning to lead the chapel made students aware of the need for God's presence and the importance of gratitude.

A theme needed to be established, yet a whimsical idea cannot be enough when it comes to a chapel topic. Mr. Ronzhiemer told the class to pray before discussing ideas within groups. “Pray first” has become the unofficial class motto, as they have learned that they need to acknowledge God before planning anything. This motto proved evident during the class planning session as a common theme occurred during small group discussions--gratitude. Gratitude repeatedly appeared on the board as classmates wrote their ideas. Classmates blamed each other for the act of copying but soon realized that the coincidence was a God incident. Gratitude was decided on. The class saw the importance of prayer being demonstrated in such a transparent manner. God’s presence allowed for unity in thought and an understanding of what God was encouraging them to grow in.

The theme of gratitude presented itself to be the right antidote for the trials of the year. This year has affected everyone differently, but a sense of disappointment has come over each student. However, many great things have come out of these trying times; it has been a time for self-reflection and building relationships. Gratitude presented itself as the best way to find positivity despite the hardships; it offers the right motivation to take advantage of the year to come. A week of gratitude challenges were created by the class to encourage students to demonstrate their gratitude towards others in a practical way.

As Joel Kelley, a student in the class, says, “Gratitude is not a passive result but an active decision renewed day by day.” The goal of the challenge was to get the focus off of oneself while simultaneously encouraging others on a daily basis. A perspective game was also planned for the chapel. Several pictures were zoomed upon, and students were to guess what the picture was of. It was much harder guessing what the picture was when the entirety of it could not be seen. The purpose of the game demonstrates that getting bogged down by the disappointments of this season prevents oneself from seeing the year as a whole. Gratitude provides a perspective in which setbacks can be turn into comebacks

This unexpected chapel taught many lessons to a variety of people. The students in class learned the importance of acknowledging God and asking for His help. The high school learned that gratitude is the right tool in combating letdowns and provides the right outlook on life. Gratitude changes the trajectory of a year and finds the light amidst the darkness.

The Keyboard of Life

 By Alix Stuart            

Try this, hit the computer space bar, then scroll back up. Just try it. S P A C E. Hit it a few times. What if instead of putting a space into a document, it deleted a character. Now after years of using the keyboard one way, getting used to typing differently will take time. 

With space between normality and reality rapidly increasing amongst the new regulations with coronavirus, God is in control and always has His hands on the keyboard.

Mr. Brewster, Dalat’s high school principal, perfectly explains the struggles of social distancing, a new reality on Dalat campus: “Afterschool social-distancing has not gone well. It’s not surprising. It is unnatural to stand far apart; it is hard to hear each other through a mask; the rule does not always make sense, and sometimes you just forget.”

Change is hard. Changing habits is even harder. Not giving high fives and “hugging” from a distance is weird. Not being able to sit next to someone at a desk is not normal. On top of that, masks are required when talking to someone? Frustrating!

A space on the computer is just a few pixels. Social distancing requires more than just a few pixels of space but a recommended six feet between everyone! Now imagine being a STEP student, doing online school across the world from their friends, over ten thousand miles away. Space is relative. That six feet away from each other may feel like a mile, but it is keeping Dalat from closing again.

It may feel like God is miles away, living somewhere in the abyss above us, above space, far away. He has access to the “keyboard of life” to change events, but He doesn’t? He has His reasons, and He calls His people to follow Him anyway. 

Mr. Brewster further explains the situation with social distancing at Dalat, and the observation is discouraging: “A result that I dislike is that there has been a lot of frustration between students just hanging around and teachers who seek compliance [with the new social distancing rules].”

This whole situation is aggravating. School, something that isn’t always looked forward to, but was always there, bustling with students, is being threatened and changed. Change is difficult. All the activities students look forward to are being taken away: sports, lunch all together, SEW, normal chapel, and just hanging out with each other after school. These experiences were taken for granted. Not having them now, while frustration is a reasonable reaction to the situation, directing that frustration at each other does nothing. It is important to value being together. 

Remember, being a few feet apart is better than attending class through a screen all day. Enjoy being back. Enjoy being together.

A Day in the Life of a STEP Student

 

By Jared Douglas

Have you ever wondered what it is like to be in the STEP program?

Keilah Pickett, a Dalat 10th grader, is sadly stuck in her home country of Brunei. She has given us some insight into what her day as a STEP student is like.

We all remember the time when we had to do online school during lockdown. Those were the days of waking up late, procrastinating, struggling to understand some of the lessons, and wishing to be with our classmates. What is it like knowing everyone else is at school, and you are stuck in the STEP program ,1000 miles away, having left your previous school, and not knowing when you will be at school face to face? During these times, a STEP student must dig deep to persevere, stay focused, and remain positive during this lonely and uncertain time.

Keilah starts her day at 7:30 am with a walk around her community to get the blood pumping to the brain. Her first Zoom call is at 8.25 AM, and she does not leave her desk much until lunchtime. Unlike the students at school, she misses out on that reprieve that we all get when moving from one class to another while getting a change in scenery.

I asked Keilah what some of the challenging parts are about being a STEP student.

“There is an overwhelming workload,” she replied. She does not have much free time as schoolwork consumes her whole day. She also said that it is difficult not having friends to ask for help with assignments and homework, “It’s hard as I am new and do not have any peers to ask questions about the work.”

Keilah’s highlight is the Zoom calls. “I really enjoy the zoom calls,” says Keilah, as it “provides extra motivation.” These calls help get her through the day.

One cool thing Keilah has over the students at school is she gets to do school with her cat, Tez, which brings a bit of joy into her long and tedious days. 

Lockdown was a sad time for us as students, and we would hate to have to go online again. As Dalat students, we need to keep remembering that the STEP students are in the same boat that we were once in. We need to encourage and keep praying for our STEP students, that they may have the motivation and perseverance to keep working through the uncertainty that lies ahead.

MAP Testing Strikes Again!

 By Jirawan Tritham

 

On Tuesday, Sept 2nd, the upper floors of the Harbor were filled with nervous chattering and lockers opening and closing. It was the dreaded week of MAP testing for the freshmen and sophomores. Coming back from a long weekend of celebrating Merdeka, an air of laziness mixed with panic permeated the environment.

Unsure freshmen whispered in groups on the top floor of the Harbor. Many rushed to grab books and hoodies to prepare for the nightmarish 2-hour test. The more experienced sophomores stood around coolly on the second floor, checking their phones and cracking light jokes.

MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) Testing was a tiring ordeal that Dalat students of all ages must experience, unless you were a junior or senior. Students missed multiple blocks from their school day to take an online computer test. The tests consisted of multiple-choice questions in subjects like math, science, and reading. It was an aptitude test that allowed students and their teachers to view their progress as they gained knowledge over the years.

In two days, the horrendous MAP Testing was over! Once again, the relaxed and cheerful atmosphere of Dalat returned. Laughter and screaming were heard again on all floors of the Harbor.

As high schoolers gathered on the Deck to buy snacks, Chika Tsumagari (10) commented on her nerve-racking experience of the MAP test and said, “I got an easy question, and I started sweating.”

Standing next to Chika, Dominic Cheang (10) chimed in and added that though MAP Testing was exhausting, it was also “helpful because you can see your progress from middle school to high school.”

Esther Lo (11), a junior who had already gladly left memories of MAP Testing behind, joined the discussion. She eagerly expressed her opinion and said, “I don’t miss MAP testing because my butt gets numb when I sit for too long.”

MAP Testing not only provides a helpful standard that allows teachers to view the progress of their students, but it is also a growing experience where students can learn to handle examination stress.

 

Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone

By Esther Tse

 

The two most asked questions in 2020 are: How long do you think this pandemic will continue, and when will it end?

For the past weeks, Penang was proud to accomplish 100+days without a case; however, a first case appeared in the mainland, and since then, cases have slowly risen. As for Malaysia, the rising cases led to an emergency announcement. Three days ago, the prime minister announced that the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO), which was initially to end August 31, had been extended to December 31st. Under the RMCO movement, interstate travel is allowed; however, foreigners, especially in countries with high COVID-19 cases, are not permitted to enter Malaysia. Though the renewed RMCO had some approvals, some may differ and believe this enforcement is unnecessary. 

Thankfully, Dalat International School is still open with strict restrictions, and the STEP program continues to operate for overseas students. 

The good news is that the dorm students returning from Korea arrived safely back to Penang and are for now in quarantine. Once in a while, they might be poking their heads out of their balcony and play hide-and-seek with you. At least they will appreciate a kind wave or welcoming shout from you. Furthermore, the more good news is that sports and co-curricular activities are allowed to resume in schools from September 1st onward; however, there are strict SOPs that we need to follow. Hopefully, the full detailed SOP will be reported today, September 1. 

As for the overseas students who are still stranded, the STEP program has immensely helped them. STEP students have to overcome the odds of online including assignments and even time zones. Thus, teachers meticulously worked day and night, finding creative ways to include overseas students for their class.

Alix Stuart (12), a STEP student who is right now in America, said, "I am so thankful for the STEP program, to be able to continue going to Dalat. It has been confusing, but my teachers have been super helpful."

Either through Zoom Calls or Microsoft Teams, teachers have shown compassion and dedication every day. Additionally, students have sought to ease the teacher's workload by individually contacting them. As online working is time-consuming and tiring, the Dalat community has tremendously shown its efforts and diligence to involve everyone at this uncertain time.

"I miss being there in person! Don't take it for granted, enjoy it even with the mask and social distancing," remarks Stuart (12).

As Stuart presents genuine insight, Dalat students should utilize this opportunity wisely and enjoy the valuable moments in school. Although the STEP students are overseas, they are pushing their efforts to complete every assignment and to aim for an enjoyable year. As a Dalat community, we should strive to keep our school open, even though the SOPs' restrictions are easily forgettable. Importantly, we should enjoy the moments we have of each other in school.