The Hot Evening of Venice

By Yeonsoo Kim

As soon as the bell rang, the seniors ran out of their last classes to prepare for their last JSB - the Venetian Masquerade. Since it was a half-day, five hours was not enough to look their very best; we were all running out of school to get our hair and makeup done. On the other hand, the Juniors were all busy trying to prepare the perfect Masquerade for the seniors. Both grades were busy in their ways.  

By 5:30 p.m., the school was no longer flooded with tired zombies but with stunningly dressed ladies and neat gentlemen. Friends gathered together; they were busy taking group photos. Dates exchanged gifts that each of them had prepared. On the Harbor Hall stairs, grade photos were taken to cherish that moment. 

“It was really hot. I just couldn’t wait to go inside to feel the aircon- and see the decorations of course,” said Dora Liu (12). Despite the hot weather of Penang, smiles could be seen everywhere with a lot of flashes. People were posing for the camera to post on social media - and some for the parents. It looked like some took pictures after their shower, they were drenched, while others took a light shower. 

One by one, people started entering the hall. People were awed by the Hall of Venice - it was beyond expectations. “I honestly didn’t really expect much when I first heard the theme, but the Juniors pulled it off well. Their entertainment was super funny, and I was dying of laughter during the show,” said Aileen, Kim (12). The decorations were amazing, but the entertainment was the highlight of that night.  

Such A Spectacular Evening!

By Alyssa Kwok

Cars drove up to the school entrance, waiting in the long queue, and when I finally came down from my car, I saw a beautiful sea of vibrant colors from all the outfits people were wearing: blue, black, red, green, and purple. Everyone happily chatted, complimenting each other and giving hugs all around. The crowds of parents, cameramen, and friends surrounded everyone with their phones and Canons, blinding me with flashy clicks of the cameras.

Although I’ve been to JSB three times in my years at Dalat, it always amazes me how JSB can put me in awe and yet make me feel shy and self-conscious. I felt excited about the entertainment, the delicious food, and, most importantly, spending quality time with my friends every year. However, I felt shy about how beautiful everyone was, and I felt out of place. Soon we were all pushed and called onto the front of the stairs for a Class of 2024 group photo. Seeing the picture of all of us together, I could not have been more proud to have been part of such a fantastic group of people, and it makes me tear up, realizing that I soon won’t be able to see them again, possibly ever.

Pushing that sad thought out of my head, I held my head high and smiled big, thrilled to see what else the night had in store for us. I was pleasantly surprised with all the carefully planned decorations where antique frames held all our pictures, golden fake feathers at every table, and counterfeit candles beaming brightly while moving to the wind and music, proud to be part of such an important event. Dinner was ready after Act 3 of the play: large meatballs, pasta, and pizza bread with spaghetti bolognese. Lights got dim again, and it was time to continue the play: mystery, murder, and comedy of slaps, roasts, and accents combined. In the mixture of laughing, gasping, and feeling proud of all the juniors had done, it was hard not to beam and shout, “THANK YOU, JUNIORS!” or “I know that junior!”

Interludes between the play were for tributes, and I cannot describe the feeling I felt when I saw people from my class being talked about and hearing all the touching things shared about them. Nothing can prepare you or make you feel prouder until it’s your JSB. When the evening ended and photos were taken, it was a bittersweet moment. The night I had waited for since I saw my first JSB had finally ended and taken its place, and I was unsure how I felt about it. So, instead, I went home, tired from all the excitement and interaction, got ready for bed, and lay in bed, thanking God for such a spectacular evening and putting me in a grand palace called Dalat that will always impact me today and forever.

Passing the Baton

By Kate Lee

It was the Tuesday right after the Varsity Sports Awards when Senior Night for Varsity Track and Field was held (23rd April). Unlike other varsity sports, it was a historic night, because it was the first time in Dalat history with a senior night event for Varsity Track. Track and Field has always been categorized as an individual sport. But if it really was, why did this group of athletes feel more like a family, rather than merely a team? 

Senior Night started off with various relay events planned by their captains: DJ Yost (12), Kate Lee (12) and Isaac Beaman (12). But to make it more unpredictable and engaging for the parent audience to witness, a twist was placed on the races with the anything-but-a-baton relay. The first “baton” was a shot put, followed by a human chain, a water bowl, and lastly, the team’s personal favourite: passing the phone while recording. 

The night proceeded with tributes for the coaches and senior parents. Though the night was meant to honor the seniors, the team would not have been where they were that day without the adults’ involvement. Ending the season with silver in ACSC, numerous record-breaking races, and coming home with the sportsmanship award, the sacrifices, commitment, and discipline from Coach Keas, Peters, Guerrero, and Brooks will never be forgotten. 

The night ended with a feast prepared by the generous parents, which made up a three-course meal for everyone. It consisted of foods like sushi and kimbap to pork ragu to fruit tarts, filling out half the bar of the cafeteria. Lastly, the coaches said their tributes to each individual senior that touched everyone’s heart. Closing the night with a heartfelt speech from Coach Brooks with lessons and advice we can take on for the rest of our lives, the Varsity Track and Field 2024 season came to a bittersweet end. 

Hudson Brooks (11), one of the runners who contributed to a record-breaking 4x100m race, said, “This team has been so much fun to run on, and senior night was a very good way to end it. It was a great way to send off the seniors with whom we’ve had so much joy bonding with this past season.”