Dalat International School: Senior Scribble

By Anna Kilgo From the 19th to the 21st of February, Dalat School was visited by speakers who traveled from Canada to speak on the theme “Alight” for Missions Emphasis Week, or MEW. All students attended the day's messages and worship, and many returned for the evening sessions.  Each day began with heart-stirring worship songs accompanied by a daily themed message taken from John 8:12, where Jesus states that He is the Light of the world. At the night services, many games were played, including geography trivia and a chance to win a MEW shirt if a slip of paper was below your chair.  However, the last session of MEW looks a little different from the previous nights. Instead of the speakers coming up to tell stories and offer wise words, it is completely student-led, from the worship to the messages to the prayer time. Friday is devoted to senior stories. Members of the Leadership Development class were given 10 to 15 minutes to share a testimony from their lives that may rela...

By Sabrina Boyd 'Alight': this year's MEW theme. The topic was quite impactful for many students, staff, and families; however, some admitted that it is hard to feel 'Alight' when we live in a society with so many believers already.  In case you missed it last week, MEW: Missions Emphasis Week was from Wednesday to Friday. Many members of the Dalat community attended the chapels and night sessions to hear guest speakers from Canada and members of Dalat's senior class share their takes on what it means to be 'Alight'. The guest speakers, including Cara, Rick, Hanna, Ana, and Sam, came from Portico Church in Mississauga, Canada. Cara spoke to the elementary school, Hanna spoke to the middle school, Sam spoke to the high school, and Rick then shared with everyone who attended the night sessions. Uncle Keith, coordinator of the high school worship team, reports that "Hanna, one of the guest speakers, said, 'I have never seen an all-student worship t...

By Esther Jung As the lights went out at Harbor Hall, we were engulfed in complete darkness until one small light flickered in the crowd, shining light in the darkness.  This year’s Mission Emphasis Week focused on being alight for God. Tears were shed, and hearts were softened as the students heard the amazing, miraculous things God can do for us and how we can be on fire for God to fulfill the Great Commission. From February 19th to the 21st, speakers from Portico Community Church, a multicultural church in Mississauga, Canada, were invited to speak at this year’s MEW. They emphasized on the idea of how as Christians, it is important to not only keep the good news to ourselves but to share it with others. During the evening services, the worship team started off with powerful praise and worship, followed by a message from a guest speaker speaking, and ended off with prayer.      When asking Elijah Peh (12) what he thought about MEW, he said, “It was an inspiring ex...

By Onyou Kim Fueled with determination and teamwork, the varsity girls touch rugby team competed at the FOBISIA Tournament in Johor, Malaysia, displaying their skill and bonding like never before. It was Friday morning, and the 17 girls were excited to finally leave their B-block classes and head for the airport. With Pastor Bob giving a final prayer for the team, the girls were off to go to Johor. After arriving at Penang International Airport, most of the team ate at McDonald’s and waited to board their flight, eager for what was to come. Upon landing, their long and strenuous wait was coming to an end as they approached Marlborough College Malaysia. Even though it was a friendly match on the first day, the girls couldn’t contain their excitement. The clouds loomed over Johor, and heavy rain started to fall, but this wasn’t going to stop them from playing; instead, it was the perfect weather to dive. The rugby girls quickly changed into their uniforms and cleats, warming up to play t...

By Sean Lee “We are at least getting 3rd,” I said confidently before entering the tournament.  When the tournament ended, we finished in third-to-last place, which meant we ended up 6th. We had only one win throughout the entire tournament, a result I never imagined we would see. The first two days were the roughest I’ve experienced in my three years of varsity basketball. We lost all our games and found ourselves in the losers' bracket. In that bracket, we faced ICS Bangkok, the hosting team, and sadly, that was our one and only win. After that game, we had to compete against Grace to secure 3rd or 4th place. Everyone was exhausted as it was a back-to-back game. Unfortunately, just five minutes into the first quarter, Jaeyoun Kim (12), who had been performing well throughout the tournament, got injured and had to leave the game. From that point on, our team’s energy drastically dropped. We fought as hard as we could but ultimately lost to Grace, 46-58.  “If I hadn’t gotten in...

 By Shasha Menon The 2025 ACSC tournament was a rollercoaster of emotions for the Dalat Varsity Girl’s Basketball team. After nearly 4 months of dedication and perseverance, the girls had made it through to the semi-finals against Faith. Despite falling short with a final score of 21-37, the team displayed unwavering determination until the very last second. From the get-go, Faith had already come out strong, applying relentless pressure on Dalat’s defense. Despite the challenge, they held their ground, fought back, and caught up early in the game. Their defensive efforts and quick dribbles kept them in the game; however, Faith’s consistent shooting and fast-paced play caused a gap in the score. Even with the scores against them, our girl’s basketball team kept pushing forward.  One of the senior girls, Caitlyn Chan, reflected on the game, saying, “I felt overwhelmed with joy being able to end the season well and placing third in ACSC.” Placing third in the tournament was no s...

By Kyra Brewster This past week at Dalat, the school hosted the Girls Asian Christian Schools Conference Basketball tournament. 7 teams from Indonesia, Thailand, Korea, Philippines, Taiwan, and Hong Kong travelled to the school for a weeklong tournament with games spanning over a four-day period.  The week began with an opening ceremony and a trip to the Tuesday night market with girls from all different teams. That night, anxiety and stress were high as the athletes prepared themselves mentally and physically for the high-stakes competition that was to follow the next day. On Wednesday, Dalat girls faced SPH, a school from Indonesia first, playing tough and smart to eventually come out in the lead and winning their first pool play game. Many other games were played on Wednesday with some predictable outcomes and some surprising ones. During games, the crowd stands were filled to the brim and the entire gym filled with cheers and yells from the excited fans watching. When one team ...

By Andy Tan Intensity. Excitement. Nervousness. So many emotions and feelings flowed through DALAT this past week. The ACSC (Asian Christian Schools Conference) tournament for Varsity Girls Basketball was hosted on our very own Dalat campus this past week, welcoming 7 other basketball teams from different schools.  The battle was long and hard for our varsity girls who faced off against skilled and challenging opponents, using all that they had practiced and trained for this basketball season. From Wednesday to Saturday they played tirelessly, every game with its own difficulties and obstacles, and our Dalat Eagles struggled through it. They encountered close games and tight squeezes, with their position in the tournament on the line, enduring and persevering to make it through all the way to the semi-finals. Even games they lost, such as against the difficult team of FAITH, with physical opposition that seemed too much for them, Dalat proved that it wouldn’t let them stop their fi...

By Elijah Peh Last Friday was an incredibly eventful day, one filled with a myriad of surprises and fun that many of all ages enjoyed thoroughly. Firstly, it was the 100th day of school, where the elementary students dressed up as “old folk” and were rewarded for their hard work and studies with Freezies gifted by the Senior class. Much of the Senior ExCom stood outside the Sandycroft building distributing the freezies all dressed in a variety of “old people” clothing to fit the theme. In addition, many elementary students enjoyed the variety of amusements that were provided to them by their teachers and staff alike. While short, it marked a large milestone in this year for many individuals, not only students but staff as well. Secondly, the Senior Class hosted the annual Colour Wars event, where the Freshman, Sophomore, and Senior Classes all participated to redefine the definition of colour on school grounds. Beginning with a free chicken rice dinner, the night started with a trivia ...

By Nikita Sarhad With the second semester of the school year now in full swing, there’s no doubt as to what that age-old affliction beginning to creep up on many of us seniors is: senioritis. That, and having 99% of our conversations revolve around college. Jokes aside, every senior, at one point or another in their final year, feels the weight of college applications and the pressure to make some important life decisions. With college just around the corner, the stakes just seem to multiply. Grades, GPA, and AP exams are just some of the things that take up more space in our heads than ever before. Even so, the urge to take our feet off the pedal early is stronger than ever. The motivation that kept us going in previous years may be starting to sputter out now, with the end so near in sight.  In many ways, this semester feels like a kind of in-between for the familiar high school life we’ve always known and the life we envision for ourselves soon after. Sarah Loh (12) says that, “...

By Eleannor Tang Chinese New Year is not just a one-week-long celebration. It consists of 15 days of gatherings, fireworks, ang paos, and delicious foods! This year's festival was somber for me. I knew it was the last one I could spend home with my family and relatives since I'll be abroad next year. I got to spend time with my baby niece, which was something memorable for me because my cousin used to babysit me when I was younger, and now I babysat her baby daughter, which felt like a full-circle moment. She even said that I was her favorite aunt! One of the things we kids look forward to during Chinese New Year is money. In Chinese culture, when you get married, you automatically aren't the ones receiving ang pao anymore but who offers them. It's one of my favorite parts because who doesn't love money? On the other hand, fireworks aren't something I usually enjoy. It's loud, dangerous, and very smelly. With Penang's 35-degree weather, fireworks often m...

 By Ting-Yi Huang ACSC Basketball is right around the corner. What better way to anticipate it than to ask Mr. Van, one of the varsity basketball coaches, what his thoughts on the upcoming event will be like. With the team's amazing first place win during the Island Shootout tournament, Mr. Van confidently stated that “the Island Shootout tournament really galvanized the team, and showed us that we can be real competitors at ACSC.” This year’s varsity basketball team shows promising results in their performance, something that they will surely carry into ACSC. Diving into the team itself, let’s ask the captain, Sean Lee (12), what he thought about the recent win in the Island Shootout tournament. “I think overall, it was good. We did a good job on keeping the ball and attacking the basket. But, I think we are still struggling to communicate and move without the ball. Moreover, I think we need to work more as a team so that we have a better chemistry,” he said. With this in mind, th...

By Jaeyoun Kim Champion Gooners, how does it feel to win? “Erm, heh.. Nah, I’d win,” said Sean Lee. Up until the half, it was a close game, but bagless winners unite! Every member of the Dalat team played to secure the victory, the days were long but we were fit.  “I think the tournament was a great success because of the way each player on the team fought for each other. Rebounds, points, and steals were for the team and not for the individual player’s benefit," said Mr. Van. The coaches felt the victory in reach, so the players played while scratched and hit. Every team played long and hard to show they were strong, and crowds were created from all teams to make the experience belong. When scores were close, players were worried, and everyone felt the intensity. To pull away from a close game and to feel relief or despair. Each game won was evidence of their tenacity.  Between games, you watched other teams play, were nervous to play the next game or just tired and wanted to...

By Kiera Nichols This past week was a time teeming with celebration, festivities, and fellowship for our Dalat students. Having only 2 days of school, everyone was blessed with freedom and roistering thanks to the Chinese New Year holiday.  One major hallmark of the Chinese New Year holiday schedule is the bombardment of fireworks that enriches our night sky every night. The smell of smoke, booming of gunpowder, and flashing of vibrant, exotic hues offered exciting and exhilarating thrills of festive celebration. Many of the Dalat students took part in the fireworks, from our freshmen like Evangeline Fan, who said, “I visited my hometown and got some red packets and played with firecrackers. I had fun", to our Seniors like Braden Abrams: “I had fun being stupid with my friends this weekend and set off fireworks." People who celebrate Chinese New Year often have a torrential schedule, which usually entails evenings of preparation for meals, long days of visiting relatives, and...

By Liv Gohan Chinese New Year is a period of rest, rejoice, and reunion. It emphasizes that the people should take their days off from work and studies to come home to family and friends to celebrate the New Year together. One of the most significant factors that make Chinese New Year special is the food that sometimes is only served a couple times a year, such as Yee Sang, Bird Nest, Tang Yuan, and more. Did you know that the food we eat also have specific meanings behind them?  I spent about 60% of my Chinese New Year holiday eating, and it was definitely worth it. My family and I visited a lot of restaurants, and some of the food we ate was typical for every Chinese New Year reunion dinner. Chinese New Year Eve is arguably even more important than the first day of the New Year, because Eve is when all our family members get together and have dinner to welcome the New Year. Every year, my family switches up when to celebrate Chinese New Year; sometimes they choose my hometown Med...

By Romeo Kontsas The fuse was lit, and now we were all just waiting for the familiar firework sound, but instead, we got more than we could have ever asked for. My friends and I decided to meet at Gerald Yang’s (12) house to celebrate Chinese New Year with food and fireworks. After finishing our delicious food, we eventually made our way to his backyard, where the fireworks were waiting for us. We started off with the usual routine of starting off small and making our way to the biggest. We had a lot of fun (and horror) throwing around small fireworks that you light in your hand and seeing how far or high we could throw them.  As we were finishing off all the smaller fireworks, I came across a cylindrically shaped firework that was pretty small in size. Not being too worried about the sound or impact of the firework because of its small size, I lit it in my hand and threw my first bomb. After what felt like an eternity, the fuse was finally up, and then it happened. The sound and v...

By Gerald Yang Gong Xi Fa Cai! This Chinese New Year is the year of the snake, which is the 6th zodiac of the 12.  All over Penang, students, teachers, parents, and friends are kept awake by the fireworks the echoed night after night since the first day of Chinese New Year. The first day (Chu Yi) fell on Wednesday, the 29th of January and since then, Penang’s traffic has come to a standstill. Popular places like Georgetown, Gurney Drive, and The Penang Bridge were crammed with cars of those who were visiting relatives, and friends for the sought-after red packets.  During the day, temperatures hit a high of 33 degrees Celsius or 91 degrees Fahrenheit which contrasted the weeks following up to Chinese New Year which were littered with days of rain. As residents tried to catch a break in the cool evenings, the crackle of fireworks echoed through the night leading to sleepless nights. Instead of thinking they are an ear sore, join a friend! If you celebrate Chinese New Year, invi...

 By Ryan Khaw The only certainty in this world is change. For many, change is a difficult thing to accept, but only because it comes suddenly upon them. Slowly adapting to life is the key to moving on. I remember when there were constants in my life I was scared to lose, but growing up meant slowly accepting that nothing was forever. For a significant portion of my life there was always one constant. Every January or February, my family would visit my paternal grandmother (We referred to her as “Ah Ma”). Extended family that reached as far as Singapore would visit for one or two days and cousins from Johor would make themselves home in Ah Ma’s place for three days. The festivities were the rare time the family was all together. Before teenage-hood me and three of my first cousins removed would retreat to one of the bedrooms away from the noise of the adults gambling and entertain ourselves with a myriad of card games I cannot recall. When the older cousins brought out the illegal f...

 By  Grace Cao                                                                               What time can people hear fireworks every night? Chinese New Year! Dalat International School had a five-day weekend starting January 29 for parents and students to celebrate with their families. Chinese New Year is an essential holiday in Dalat because Chinese and Koreans celebrate the new year with their families. It is a time for people to connect with their families and talk about the wonderful things that happened in the year. No matter how far away people are from their families, they will always return. Delicious food is necessary during the Chinese New Year. There is food that has good meaning. For example, there will always be a big fish dish on the table, which shows “ 年年有鱼 .” ...

By Sam Boyle It was the morning of Friday the 17th of January, and the JV players, both the boys and girls teams prepared to embark on a bus trip to KL. It was a grueling 6 hour trip, but the players took it as an opportunity to prepare themselves and bond with each other.  "The bus ride was mega long but we got to talk and eat with each other as a team which helped us prepare ourselves," said Matthias Seevaratnam (11). Once the Eagles arrived in KL, they grasped the opportunity to hang out in the KL City Centre for the rest of the Friday as they were without any games until the following day. Saturday Morning It was 6:30AM at the Oakwood Hotel, and the players were fired up and equally as excited, boys and girls alike. After breakfast, the Eagles flocked over to the bus at 7:30 and left to ISKL for their first games.  As for the boys, their first game was at 8:30, a tough matchup with ISKL. The boys unfortunately lost their match against ISKL but it didn’t break them as they...