Dalat International School News - Penang, Malaysia
7 September, 2018 

 

Last year, through an extensive process, we replaced the existing “ESLRs” (Expected School wide Learning Results) with what we are calling our “flagships”. These flagships (scholarship, citizenship, discipleship, and relationship) include our student outcome statements (SOS) which are declarations of what we want our students to become. I want to briefly highlight each flagship over the next few weeks and unpack them a little bit each week in the Dalat News.

Our first flagship is that of “Scholarship.” With scholarship Dalat wants to inspire enthusiastic lifelong learners who are inquisitive, creative, and independent. This flagship is broken down further into two main categories - communication and thinking - with each one having distinctive outcome statements. During the first quarter of school we will be looking more deeply at these statements with our students in all three divisions.

For now I want to land on the word “inspire” in our description of scholarship. An important paradigm shift that Dalat is working towards is that we want to move from seeing ourselves as a school that simply teaches its students well, to aspiring to do much more than that. We want to not just teach our kids but also to inspire our kids to learn; to pursue their passions and explore this amazing universe around them. We want them to be filled with wonder and awe and to ask many questions because they want to learn. We want them to desire more than figuring out how to get a better grade.

Let’s be honest. School, as we know it and experienced it, was not always that inspiring. For many students school does not excite and inspire but instead it’s about a lot of hoop jumping and completing a host of requirements so that somewhere down the road they can do what they really want to do. Part of becoming an adult is learning self-discipline and having the ability to do the things you don’t feel like doing. This is one of the “hidden curriculums” of schools. It needs to be a part of growing up. My question is, can we somehow keep a little bit more of the awe and wonder we see in our littlest ones as they run to school, in our oldest ones? Part of the problem I believe is that we have unfortunately gotten the formula wrong for our older students. The formula they learn is that they need to study and work hard so that they can get a good grade instead of getting a good grade because they are motivated to learn. Unfortunately, we have subtly removed the inspiration of learning as the goal and replaced it with a grade. The grade is now ultimately the goal of school not the learning. This is why the most asked question in high school every day is, “will this be on the test?” What is subtly implied every time a student asks that question is, if it’s not part of getting me a good grade I don’t care.

We need to take a step back and see if we can change the formula. Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that high academic achievement is not a cornerstone of education at Dalat, the word scholar literally has that in its definition. But can we do a little bit more in the area of inspiring and letting the good grades be the byproduct instead of the product itself?

To do this, however, will take courage and we will need parents to help us make this paradigm shift. Our children want to please us and it is often a very big part of their motivation to do well in school. As parents we need to stop focusing so much on the grades and instead encourage and praise the learning itself. Until we, both as a school and as parents, start doing this, the formula will stay the same. It’s time for us to rewrite the formula.

Have a great weekend,

Karl Steinkamp
Head of School
School Calendar
View Dalat’s Website in Multiple Languages
Spiritual Emphasis Week (SEW) Next Week
Elementary School Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) Update
The Senior Scribble 2018–19
Seaside Café - Lunch Menu
The Last Laugh

 

School Calendar


학교 연간 행사표
校历

The calendar committee works diligently each year to set the school calendar and balance the needs of various groups within the school. At the same time, the school has certain requirements to meet regarding the number of school days and the number of instructional minutes each year.

This year, the committee had the additional challenge of allowing enough time over Summer Break to complete the Harbor and parking lot projects. School started one week later than normal. This resulted in us taking fewer holidays throughout this school year than normal, which you will notice next week when school is scheduled on two public holidays.

Our school absence policy has been created to allow families some flexibility. In elementary school, students may miss up to 20 days in the school year. In middle and high school, students may miss up to 8 days per semester. These are counted as absences, but there is no penalty. All missed work may be made up. Parents are asked to notify the school of absences, but the school will not declare absences “excused” or “unexcused.” This is left to the parents’ discretion. The goal of this policy is to allow families to be together on the days that are most important to them.

In the 2019–2020 school year, the calendar committee has decided to implement a two-week mid-semester break in the second semester. This is a busy time at school, and we hope that this will allow for some needed rest.

School Calendar for 2019–2020:
August 6, 2019 – First Day of School
October 14–18, 2019 – Semester 1 Break
December 19, 2019 – First Semester Ends
January 14, 2020 – Second Semester Begins
March 23–April 3, 2020 – Semester 2 Break
June 9, 2020 – Semester 2 Ends
June 10, 2020 – Graduation
 

View Dalat’s Website in
Multiple Languages


여러 언어로 달랏 웹사이트를 볼 수 있습니다 
使用多种语言游览Dalat 网站
方法:使用Chrome游览器,在Chrome Store 下载 Google Translate,安装完毕后右上角会出现相关的图标。
现在,您可以使用多种语言浏览任何网站,当然这也包括了Dalat 网站

 
Dalat’s website is published in the English language. But with the help of the Google Translate extension, the school’s website can be viewed in nearly 100 other languages. 

To access this extension, you must use the Chrome web browser on a computer. Using the Chrome Store, search for the Google Translate extension and install it into your browser. You will see a Google Translate icon appear at the top right-hand corner of your browser frame. 


You may now visit any website — including Dalat’s website and the Parent Portal on PowerSchool — and translate the text by clicking on the Google Translate icon. A small bar will appear, allowing you to translate words or short phrases, and below that is the option to “translate this page.” Clicking that link will reveal a list of languages you may choose from to translate the entire web page.
 

Spiritual Emphasis Week
(SEW) Next Week


영성 강조 주간(SEW)
下星期10至14日是培灵周
 
Spiritual Emphasis Week is celebrated on campus next week, September 10–14, with evening services beginning Tuesday evening. Daily chapels will be held from Wednesday–Friday (see schedule). Our speakers this year are Anthony and Stephanie Croft from Indonesia.  

Each semester we take one week to focus on our spiritual lives in order to grow in our understanding and relationship with God. There are normal classes during this week, but students are encouraged through the special activities to consider what they really believe and how to live in reference to God’s truth. Special chapels and evening services are held, an outside speaker is brought in, and time is dedicated to worship and reflection. All events outside school hours are optional, and families and community members are invited.
 

Elementary School
Parent-Teacher Conferences


초등학교 학부모 면담일
小学家长教师会议

 
On Tuesday, September 11, there will be no school for elementary students. Instead, teachers will be conferencing with parents. Your conference time has been scheduled and will be communicated via email and through your teacher’s newsletter. Here are a few ways  parents can make the most of their conference time:
  1. Be on time. The elementary division is unique in that we schedule appointments for parents. This minimizes wait time. Please be considerate of the teacher’s and other parents’ schedules.  
  2. Honor the time limit. If you need more than your allotted 15 minutes, please reschedule another appointment time.
  3. Ask questions. Your child’s teacher is happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.
  4. Be relaxed and be yourself. Teachers are looking forward to talking with you one on one. They value your partnership and want to get to know you better.  
  5. Ask for a translator. If you are not comfortable conferencing in English, please arrange for or ask your teacher’s assistance in securing a translator.
 

Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) Update


학부모회 관련 새소식
家教协会最新动态

 
We had a great turnout on our first coffee morning get together on August 21. Thank you for making time to meet up. I hope you know a little bit more about Dalat PTO and the many ways we help to support the school. This week, I want to highlight one of our most loved PTO initiatives, the POPCORN shop!
Every Monday, volunteers have come in as early as 2 p.m. to prepare and sell popcorn to more than 6,500 students and their families in the last 12–13 years!
The store has a brand-new popcorn machine this year, thanks to you, Dalat families! And a brand-new machine and brand new countertop and racks! Follow the aroma of fresh pops to our store next to the Student Center. Popcorn sells at RM1/- per pack until this semester. Price will increase next semester (January 2019).

Mrs. Ellsy Beh
PTO President
 

The Senior Scribble 2018–19


2018-19 12학년 스크리블
2018-19学长周记
Each week, seniors write journalistic articles about current events or individuals within the Dalat community. These articles are published on the blog, The Senior Scribble. If you would like to read their fantastic coverage, click on the following link:
http://seniorscribble.blogspot.my

This week’s articles are from Matthew Strong, Alex Shing and Annabelle Teoh who share their thoughts about last week’s Senior Sneak.
 
 

Seaside Café - Lunch Menu



 

September 10–14 

 
MONDAY
BBQ Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Corn
Fried Yellow Noodle
Sandwich Bar – Peanut Butter & Jelly
Salad Bar w/ Dressing
Juice & Water, Ice Cream 

TUESDAY
ELEM – Bite-size Mild Pork
Pineapple Pork, White Rice, Mixed Veggies 
Nasi Kandar Set
Sandwich Bar – Peanut Butter & Jelly
Salad Bar w/ Dressing 
Juice & Water, Fruit

WEDNESDAY
Shepherd’s Pie
Fried Rice
Sandwich Bar – Peanut Butter & Jelly
Salad Bar w/ Dressing 
Juice & Water, Popsicles

THURSDAY
Chicken Vegetable Stew, Rolls
Beef Rendang Set
Sandwich Bar – Peanut Butter & Jelly
Salad Bar w/ Dressing
Juice & Water, Cakes

FRIDAY
Spaghetti w/ Garlic Bread, Mixed Veggies
Bee Hoon Soup
Sandwich Bar – Peanut Butter & Jelly
Salad Bar w/ Dressing
Juice & Water, Popsicles
 

The Last Laugh



This could mean a variety of things:
"The moment you realise it is Friday"
"Phaerephants are awesome!"
"I have hi-speed Internet at home"

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