Wednesday 31 May 2023

I’m Gonna Miss This Place

By Ray Lee

Fearful yet excited, anxious yet hopeful, wistful yet pumped; the myriad of emotions fill my head as that final day draws near. 

I am the last Senior Scribbler of the class of 2023. I can’t believe that Dalat is almost over for us. These will be the last few memories I make in this wonderful community. To commemorate my time here, I’ll be going on a narrated trip around campus and reliving a few memories defining the past 6 years of my life. 

Firstly, we have the middle school building. Its design feels so old yet so timeless. There was something unique about the building I never witnessed in my previous schools. After all, who could forget that world-renowned slide you either loved sliding through or considered a hassle? I remember being excited at everything I saw when I first came to Dalat, and this building I spent the next few years in was definitely the most thrilling to me. Having all these new unique classes and awesome teachers, what’s not to love? 

Next, there’s the building that finished construction when I first arrived in Dalat, the CASTLE, which I have only now found out is an acronym for the “Center for the Arts, Sciences, Technology, and Learning Education.” I think most students will say that the best part of the CASTLE is the library, where all ES and MS kids go after school and hop onto the computers for their usual games. Nitro Type, Poptropica, Animal Jam, and more! Though there have been attempts to prohibit gaming here, we all know that kids will find and already have found loopholes to do anything on there that isn’t homework.

And finally, we have, in my opinion, Dalat’s greatest building: the Harbor. This place has been my academic home for the past 4 years and is a work of architectural art. That grand staircase, the iconic floor compass, the unique and distinct shape, and the massive Harbor Hall, there are so many things to love about Harbor. And the memories I made during high school are truly the ones that will stick with me for the rest of my life. All the big events, like CB, JSB, the drama performances, and eventually graduation. From the beginning to the end of my time in Dalat, all these fun moments and the close friendships I've made will stick with me forever. 

“It felt like a fever dream.” said Hazel Chan, a fellow senior that’s been around since 4th grade, and I have to agree with that. Now that everything’s coming to a close, I wish I had more time here. I’ll be leaving my friends, my family, this land I’ve called my home all my life, as most Malaysian students will, and venture on to other countries across the globe! And I know, even after decades have passed since my graduation at Dalat International School, I’m gonna miss this place. Goodbye, Dalat. Thank you for the memories.


Skrible

By Luis Vieira

The time has finally come. It is the end of the school year. There are many emotions in the air, most of them coming from the seniors who, unfortunately, will no longer be in school with everyone else for the next year. At least these last weeks have been full of activities to show the seniors everyone’s gratitude and respect, and hopefully, they all leave with great memories of this school and all its students. The seniors thank everyone for all their hard work, from things such as the JSB dinner to Senior junior sunset. 

As they take in their last days in high school, you can feel how excited they are to go to a new phase of their life, but also see how sad they are to leave and how the transition can be stressful. To leave all their underclassmen friends and classmates. To all the teachers that have guided them throughout the years and created so many memories with them. Even though the teachers have put us through so much struggle, with the number of assignments and tests and quizzes to study for, we still appreciate them for everything they have done for us.

So as a note to all the years below that will one day be in the same position the seniors are right now, I advise you to cherish these moments in school. That you get the most out of school and the people you interact with. Appreciate all the help all of the teachers and staff do for you and recognize that they are here for you. Respect them, and make memories with them. Relax in the few months you’ll have of summer holidays. Take it all in so that whenever you come back to school in August, you’ll be ready for the new year

The Pinkening

By Trevor Nichols

On the night of the 21st of May, 2023, the entire Dalat High School was turned upside down as the Senior Prank occurred. As the academic year was nearing its end, the Seniors took one last effort to leave their mark before their departure.

Around 8:00 PM, the experiment began: seniors completely inconspicuously began filing onto school grounds, gathering in clumps much like little bacterial colonies on an agar plate.

T+ 10 minutes — these aggressive colonies began infecting the school ground: inflating pink balloons throughout the stairways and classrooms, throwing pink streamers all around the railings, painting posters pink, vandalizing windows with pink markers, and even rolling out a pink carpet. As Chris Jang (12) says: "We could've had more pink. Sorry, we SHOULD've had more pink."

T+ 1 hour — both auxiliary stairwells in the school have been fully infected are are no longer functional. The functioning pathways have been completely blocked with pink balloons, and in the words of David Kim (12), "it was very pink."

T+ 1.5 hours — the pink carpet has been taped down to the main stairway at school as the poster symbolizing Dalat's unity under a single motto gets completely defaced with imprints of each individual bacterial cell.

T+ 2 hours — the redecoration of school windows has finished, complete with inspirational and life changing quotes such as "The 11th commandment: Thou shalt not assume." At this point the cleanup almost concludes as the bacteria move on to a new host.

The morning after, the ultimate effect of the disease could be seen in full force. Initially the incapacitated stairwells were remedied by the school antibodies, however the other symptoms of infection were not treated till much later. As students flood in school gates, they find themselves surprised at what has happened to their own high school, and how badly they failed to protect their own. In the words of Moriah Winsor (12), she recommends that this prank is "not advised for the globophobic" as the balloons fly all around the school.

In retrospect, several seniors said they had hoped for a more impactful prank upon the school. As Chris Jang expertly formulates: "I was hoping for our prank to be more like the previous class's who's rubber duckies we still see around today. But maybe not as polluting." As much as we enjoyed the prank, the senior class collectively hopes that they set an example for future years.


Tuesday 23 May 2023

The Demise of a Dalat Generation

By Jay Lohman

With the end of the 2022/2023 school year en route, students feel there is much to celebrate. However, there is a growing worry about the state of Friday night open campus and their effect on Dalat culture. Although the covid 19 pandemic is long gone, it still has had lasting effects on the Dalat community. Most notably, Friday night open campuses, which are no longer every Friday night, have been restricted to 8:30 pm, and barely any students attend them. 

David Kilgo from the senior class says: "Think about it, we are the last remaining class that remembers what a true Friday night experience is. I mean, it is kind of sad to think that we are the last students of the Friday night generation."

Previously, Friday nights were the highlight of the week for students of all ages, and having the campus open for students, cultivated an environment of bonding between Dalat attendees not only in their own grade but with students of different classes and even DLRC students as well. It was not uncommon to see middle school students enjoying activities like soccer, volleyball, or basketball with high school students. Now, there is a big gap between grades and far less of a united family feel within the Dalat community. 

With the current state of Friday nights, I and many other students in the senior class are worried that future grades below us will not be able to experience these very fun and memorable open campuses. Although this news is quite scary, Friday nights can be revitalized back to their former glory and possibly even better than before. However, it will take enthusiastic problem-solving from parents and staff as well as a desire to strengthen the Dalat community and improve the quality of the Dalat experience for everyone who attends. 


The Gauntlet

By Lei Tee

As the year starts to draw to a close, the fruits of every student’s labor start to appear in various forms, whether that be exams, concerts, plays, and finally- exhibitions. Starting on May 15 to May 26th, the high school art exhibit will showcase the student’s work, from the foundation art class to the AP classes. Unlike a band or choir concert, the art exhibit lingers around longer, the pieces slowly being mounted and revealed until the big announcement on the 18th. Every year, Mrs. Nichols -the head of the high school art department- organizes the event, which consists of hundreds of pieces. Here are just a few of her thoughts on the event:

Q: What’s it like to plan and organize the entire high school art exhibit? 

Mrs. Nichols: “It is a combination of different departments working together, teamwork is key. I can't do it by myself.”

Q: What are you most excited about this year for the fine arts festival?

Mrs. Nichols: “The caricatures.”

This year, there is a commotion surrounding some of the AP students, as well as some students from the master studio class. Caricatures were drawn on the visual arts festival announcement- the first time as long as anyone can remember. Following in the footsteps of the experienced Steven Shen, Jeta Anderson, Joshua Morrison, and Lei Tee took on the gauntlet and participated in a live drawing session on the 18th. Experienced artists like Steven Shen drew full-on caricatures, while others attempted the difficult task of capturing a likeness for the first time- as accurately as possible. While artists like Steven have already done this multiple times, the others eagerly ask Steven for advice, which he enthusiastically dishes out.

“Every artist started out as an amateur, don’t be discouraged.” Steven begins, his apple pencil pointed in the air, an extension of his index finger. “Even someone as great as I have experienced defeat and setbacks, but I have persisted through hardship and challenges and came out the other end a greater artist. Yeah!” He pumps his fist into the air. The other artists listen in awe, hoping to glean from the seemingly endless confidence and skill that he exhibits.

“I think it (live caricature drawing) is a great way for young artists to bridge out into the larger artist community, and a humbling practicing experience for them to practice simulating real-life artistry.” (Steven Shen, 12) 

Humbling is an accurate word, as portrait drawing involves a large variety of drawing skills, such as proportion, linework, and shading. As the portrait artists polish up their skills, they and all the other students help set up the gallery. As they hung up and admire their art pieces, each piece brought back memories and the nostalgia of sitting down and drawing it, the conversations they had while drawing it, and the process that they went through to complete each piece. Seeing all the art in one place is a truly rewarding experience. With each year comes talent, hard work, and personal growth, and this year, the opportunity for artists to test out their skills.

Wednesday 17 May 2023

AP Exams

By Evan Kuan

From May 1st to 12th, the school bustled with a different type of energy. The library tables were filled with study groups and after school the nearby cafes would be filled. With AP exams around the corner, it was officially crunch time. The vigorous exams consolidated a course’s entire year into one test. The pressure was immense and a skittish air could be observed all throughout the school. 

For many seniors, these would be the last exams they would take in their high school career; they found it important to end their primary education well. 

When interviewing Soo Wei Goh (12) and how he felt about finals studying he stated, “I felt stress because my school gave me a conditional offer. This means that my acceptance depends on scores of AP results; a lot of pressure and a lot at stake.” This is a scenario that many UK senior applicants have experienced as they are given conditional offers to the schools they wish to attend. Soo Wei then stated that he “felt more motivation to study as it was the last push of studying in high school.”  

Over the span of 2 weeks, students filed into classrooms, ready to take their tests. While some students stated they felt comfortable with their performance and others felt they could’ve done better, at the end of the day everyone was thankful that they got their exams over with.

Post AP exams, the common phenomenon of “senioritis” seems to have swept the grade. With the majority of seniors wrapping up their school year, the long-awaited feeling of relaxation and leisure has finally reached them. 

With a smile on her face, Jasmine Hassan (12) stated, “After months of studying, I feel super relieved to have my exams over with.” 

When asked the same questions, David Kilgo (12) stated “I feel rejuvenated and as though a log of timber has been lifted off my shoulders.”

As the last year of high school wraps up for the Dalat seniors, they are finally able to relax and cherish the time they have left with their friends and Penang.

Do You Like To Play The Drums?

By Joshua Emmanuel

The Primary Arts Carnival (PAC) was hosted at Dalat on the 13th of May and was organized by Ms. Joyce Goh. The theme for this event was “We are One” and was upheld through the songs that were sung in the mass chorals and displayed through the enthusiastic participation of all the schools.  There were 5 schools that participated in the event, Dalat, POWIIS, Uplands, Tenby, and SCIPS. 

The event began with a drum circle of all 165 students playing a drum or a percussion instrument. The name of the piece was “Do you like to play the drums?” and it was directed by guest conductor John Hagedorn, a certified drum facilitator. 

Mr. Craig Roylance, who ran sound for the event, had a decibel meter app on his phone showing that the sound levels inside Harbor Hall; the sound level had increased to 115dB during the drum circle. After the drum circle, there was a mass choral in which all the schools participated and sang "Sisi Nimoja" written by Jacob Narverud. This was followed by individual school performances beginning with Dalat followed by POWIIS, then Uplands, Tenby, and ending with SCIPS. 

Adam Lim, a current senior at Dalat, was in charge of the light programming for the event. He said, “PAC was a fun experience that tested our technical knowledge and was a fun energizer with so many energetic kids and drums; I love to play the drums!!” Mr. Kanagaraj, who also helped out with the event and assisted Adam said, “Do you like to play the drums?” to anyone who walked into the sound booth, while Mr. Roylance said, “Ear protection is my friend” whenever the children started to play the drums. 

The event ended with another mass choral where all of the schools participated as well as some of the high school choir members. They sang “One Moment, One People” written by Beccy Owen for the Sing up day in 2019. Both the mass choral songs helped reaffirm the theme of “We are One” by including several schools and singing songs about unity and making positive connections with others.

In an interview with Ms. Goh after the event she said, “We truly witnessed the unwavering dedication and contagious energy of the young performer[s] as they strive to reach excellence in their performance.”

Tuesday 9 May 2023

Moonlight Revels

By Keiryn Sandahl

On Friday, May 5th, and Saturday, May 6th, the cast and crew of A Midsummer Night’s Dream gathered in their places for the culmination of a semester’s community and preparation, performed in its original English, though cut and adapted to a more suitable length for a student production. As our director, Ms. Geiman, told us afterwards, on those days we “joined a four-hundred year old tradition”. 

Like any Shakespeare play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream has several interconnected plots: a maiden called Hermia elopes with her true love, Lysander, of whom her father doesn’t approve, while her friend Helena pursues a man who also wants Hermia. Meanwhile, in the woods, Oberon and Titania, king and queen of the fairies, have an argument, so the king curses the queen to fall in love with a donkey-headed man, part of a group of craftsmen rehearsing a play to perform at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Athens. However complicated that sounds, it gave over twenty actors opportunities to develop their skills. Some returned from last semester’s production of Kokonut High, while others joined this semester and plunged headfirst into memorizing seventeenth-century English. 

A few hours before each performance, we collected in the band room, lent to us by Mr. Kearney. Ms. Geiman, with the help of Mrs. Ho, Mrs. Roylance, Mrs. Conklin, Mrs. Wood, and once, Mrs. Theriault, applied makeup and put up hair. Some of the actors could do their own makeup as well. This ranged from elaborate, colorful makeup for the fairies to simply facial coloring for others. Ms. Geiman provided a staggering variety of costumes, from ancient Greek nobility to Renaissance peasants, and a veritable army of rose-wrapped fairies wearing wire-and-cellophane wings. The wings, which our crew made by hand, took months of weaving wire over molds. The cellophane then had to be ironed on to each individual wing component, with the entire process only complete in time for our opening show. 

Our actors came a long way since we first butchered our way through the script in a reading. Backstage, amid crinkling fairy wings that were always in the way, I watched as my fellow thespians emphasized all the right words, and made the story come alive with their faces and gestures. I am so proud of all of them. This year has been the first full year of drama – two productions – since COVID, and hopefully will revive theater at Dalat.

After our final Saturday night performance, emotion struck everyone in force, especially Larissa Lee (12), who loudly protested against impending tears, having finished her last performance at Dalat. But as we came out of the hall, we looked up from the Harbor Stairs to see a full moon, wreathed in clouds. With Ms. Geiman’s incredible skills and the dedication of cast and crew, we and our audience sojourned briefly in a magical wood within the auditorium, but we emerged into a magical world outside as well, surrounded by our cast family. The play may be over, but its friendships remain. 

Tuesday 2 May 2023

Our Last Full Month

By David Kilgo

Long at last, here we are at the end. It only felt like yesterday that the seniors in the Class of 2023 went on Senior Sneak, After Sneak Dinner, CB, and various other events that marked our senior class experience. Because this is the last full month of our high school careers, this time also reflects on all the experiences and relationships built during this school year. 

The funny thing about senior year is how it feels so slow yet so fast. It only feels like we began our eighteen-hour journey to Telunas Resorts in Indonesia yesterday. For many, senioritis marks their senior year like an indelible stain. The slow, dragging days seem to go by in a blur, characterized by a lack of motivation and a yearning for the end of the school year to finally come. But when that last day of high school does come, it comes out of nowhere. It sneaks up on seniors even though they anticipated it this whole time. 

The emotions felt on that last day can vary from person to person. Some will feel excited to move on to the next chapter in their lives, and others will feel overwhelming sadness when they finally realize that their childhood is truly over. However, based on conversations with Dalat alumni, it seems most seniors will feel a mix of both emotions. Seniors must remind themselves that change is a part of life, and there’s no avoiding the turn of a new page. Even though high school seniors have no control over the ticking clock and looming graduation, one thing seniors do have control over is how they react to the upcoming change. The end of senior year is a time to get our priorities straight, plan our futures, spend as much time as possible with friends, set new goals, and eventually say goodbye. 

Seniors are also responsible for adapting to a new environment, regardless of their post-high school plans. Going into a new environment is scary and nerve-racking for everyone, but change allows us to adapt and grow. It’s an opportunity to make new friends, learn new things about ourselves and the world, and most importantly, it provides us a chance to build our futures. 

However, one day, whether it’s fifteen or fifty years from now, we will look back on this change, and we will realize that it helped shape us into who we have become. It may be uncomfortable, emotional, unsettling, and even downright ugly, but change is the agent of growth. Because there’s no avoiding it, we are better off accepting it with open arms. Even if our last full month of high school is emotional, it’s still one more month that we get to spend with our friends before we go. And when we do leave, our goodbyes will be bittersweet, yet meaningful.  


A Willy Wonky Dinner

By Luis Vieira

The Juniors enter the harbor hall for the After-JSB Dinner and have their creation turned into a chaotic mess. Tables turned upside down, seniors on all fours to be used as chairs, and a table surrounded by Milo cows. It was surely a sight for sore eyes. A Wonky mess. For the After-JSB Dinner, the seniors have a few hours to use the juniors’ theme's and play to create a parody of their event. The theme this year was Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, where then the seniors turned it into Willy Wonky. Being a Wonky adaptation to the well-known Wonka Factory, the seniors messed around with the table arrangements and the decorations.

The plays were mostly improvised, with some accidents that were lucky to be funny and add to the experience. The fast schedule changes added to the sense of chaos, and the seniors had to adapt as fast and well as possible. We also had an honorable tribute from Tae Woo Song (12) back to Daniel Lim (11) in the form of an epic rap covered by Trevor Nichols (12) on the trumpet, Noah Lee (12) on the saxophone, and Ryan Chew (12) on the cajon.

Breakfast for dinner was the junior's meal, with a promise of Milo. Just with every pour of a cup, the amount of milo became less and less, with the junior's faces more and more disappointed, due to the lack of Milo that was prepared for the dinner.

At least this time, Caleb Jun (11) prayed for our meal, unlike the night prior when he forgot. "The best part of the After-JSB Dinner were the disco ball and the fog machine", said Joshua Emmanuel (12) about his opinion about the evening.

As a new student at Dalat, I had a lot of fun both at JSB and the After-JSB Dinner and respect and acknowledge everyone’s hard work and effort to make those evenings unique and memorable for everyone.

 

A Memorable JSB

By Moriah Winsor

Entering into the extremely unfamiliar walls of Harbor Hall late Friday evening, seniors and sophomores were shocked by the overwhelming decor imitating Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. All four painted panels (beautifully done by some unknown juniors) really transformed the entire harbor hall. “It was truly like being submerged into Willy Wonka’s factory,” said Moriah Winsor (12). 

The green-haired Oompa Loompas made seniors of all ages question the true whereabouts of the banquet, making some believe they were truly teleported into a world of fantastic chocolate and sweets. The Oompa Loompas impacted everyone in ways the juniors may not have expected. Whether or not this was due to the strong pigmentation of their bright green hair, or Cullno’s intense dance sequence in a song towards the end, their antics were one of the highlights of the evening. 

Though the appetizers were somewhat disappointing for the gluten-free students of the high school body, the faulty water jugs were wetting table cloths and scaring children at every table. A frequent sound of ice slamming against the lovely foldable white tables filled the hall throughout the hour-long tributes. Despite the tea-soaked table clothes and cream-filled gluten traps that is bread, the main course was more than extremely pleasant. The juniors did an excellent job of providing a whole small half cup of rice and some “bussin' chicken” (Luis Vieira 12). Despite the somewhat small portion, the food was definitely a win in the junior's books, as was the self-motivated catering that led to juniors eagerly nagging and waiting for seniors (and whoever else was there) to finish their food. Some juniors even took the initiative of leaning over the table whilst seniors were still eating just so that they’d be ready to dump what was left in their food bucket. 

The entertainment of the evening was sufficiently entertaining. DJ performed very strong as Charlie, and Dominic Cheang was roasted a whole two times, so the evening was definitely a success. Good job juniors for not giving the entire high school food poisoning and making my feet hurt for 4 hours of tribute listening. 5/5 stars. 


Monday 1 May 2023

JSB

By Ben Yeoh

Last Friday, the class of 2024 put together a memorable JSB that temporarily pulled our attention from the stresses of finals and AP exams: a trip to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. 

Before the event, we did not know what to expect as the initial theme was Cars, though most people figured out it must have been a pseudo theme. Upon arrival, a large crowd of parents, teachers, and students gathered around the harbor hall stairs taking photos of each other in their nice, formal outfits. 

As we entered the hall, the bright purple decorations and greetings from our very own Oompa Loompas made it evident that the theme was in fact, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The event started off with several scenes to introduce the play before dinner, which was great; as Darryl Dwumfour (12) said, “The food was amazing, way better than what we had last year in our JSB.”

Throughout the night, most of the time was spent presenting an exceptionally entertaining play and taking countless amounts of pictures. The play starred Isaac Beaman (11) as Mr. Wonka and DJ Yost (11) as Charlie. Another important part of the night was the senior tributes. Although it was a long process, it was a meaningful one as every senior was honored to have a junior write a tribute to them.

In what seemed like a very short amount of time, several hours passed, and it was nearing the end. After the play ended, the juniors thanked their sponsors and everyone who played an important role in the making of this event, and the seniors thanked the juniors by inviting them to the After JSB Dinner the following night. 

Altogether, JSB was a highly anticipated event that certainly exceeded expectations. As a senior, this was definitely a highlight to shadow the upcoming storm of AP season.