The International School of Kuala Lumpur

October 2014

MISSION STATEMENTThe International School of Kuala Lumpur provides

an exceptional education that challenges each student to develop the attitudes, skills, knowledge and understanding to become a highly successful,

spirited, socially responsible global citizen.

TAKE 1

EDITOR’S NOTE

Senior EditorsKailee Norcross

Safa Arshadullah

Staff Writers Allie Peschel-Keel

Alex DeanAya Ogasawara

Juni LeeMariana Felix-Kim

Nabil Bennett

Faculty SupervisorChamindika Hutterd

Faculty Advisor Paul Ubl

Design EditorSarah Kim

Have sometHing to say? send all feedbacks to

thetake@iskl.edu.my

TAKE

As the not-so-new year gears up to an excellent start, some students charge ahead while others are still stuck on summer-mode. Eager freshman can be seen running around from class to class, while seniors mope behind with a be-there-when-I-get-there attitude. In just the first two months of school it seems as if senioritis is already starting to hit, however that will all change in just a few short months when IB exams creep up, seemingly out of nowhere.

For many of us, one of the most exciting things about this upcoming year is the arrival of the additional week long vacation; fall break. As well as announcing this new holiday, we also have introduced a new leader into our school, Mr. Farrington. Inside this magazine you will find a piece on him, as well as an introduction to the rest of his recently appointed colleagues. They all appear to be embracing ISKL as their new habitat, and are enjoying their current lifestyle in this urban jungle, no matter what corner of the world they were recruited from.

In terms of newbies, our TAKE team certainly has a few of them too. With only three returning veterans, we welcome with open arms the aspiring group of talented writers that have joined us. Although we may have lost some of the driving-forces behind this publication, the TAKE continues to reign on, embracing everything that comes our way. In the upcoming weeks we will be facing some major changes, when our leader, Ms. Hutterd, leaves us to welcome her baby. We wish her all the best and know she will check up on us, even if it’s from afar. The pressure certainly lies on this TAKE team to continue to produce a top quality publication that will make her proud.

We will be producing a new magazine every few months keeping you up to date with what’s going on, and we hope you enjoy all the TAKE has to offer. We wish you all the best in the new year!

- Kailee Norcross ‘15

Copy EditorKaitlyn Hambly

51012131415161718

Meet This Year’s Take Team

Our Town

What Day Is It?

Let’s Be Clear

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Celebrating Mooncake Festival

Diversity of Thought

Pray for MH 17 + MH370

Drama Queen and Subjects

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Meet FarringtonFrom the Coliseum to KLCCMrs. FlaimMs. Stacie La GrowMr. MerryMeet Classy Mr. CeeA Tribute to: Robin WilliamsA Tribute to: Joan RiversAutumn Breeze

TAKE 3

The club fair held at the beginning of the school year allows students to look at the many different ways they can be involved on campus. We have all sorts of clubs regarding different cultures, service groups, fine and performing arts, and so on. If you haven’t joined a club yet, it’s not too late!

GRADE: B+

TAKE 2

Almost immediately after we came back to school , sports tryouts began. With first season sports being cross country, volleyball and soccer, our athletes have been working extremely hard at honing their skills. Our varisty teams are training hard for the upcoming IASAS tournament whilst our JV teams are just as dedicated.

SCORE: B

This year’s high school production was ‘Our Town’, a classic play by Thornton Wilder. The play follows the life of a group of people in a small town through their experiences of life, love, and loss. With only one month to prepare, the cast did a great job producing a fabulous show.

GRADE: A

After what felt like an extremely short holiday, we are back on our home turf. Although we may not admit it, being at school is somewhat comforting after being away for such a long time.The year will unfold slowly, displaying the new and exciting events that will create memories of yet another school year.

GRADE: A-

days until the Fall Break5

days until First Season IASAS3

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Mr. Farrington

IB Art Retreat

PG 14

PG 20

Safety First

IB Art Retreat

Fun in KL

Evolution of the iPhone

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people

The Numbered T R U T H

PG 26

01

02

03

04

the monthphoto of

H4H Jumble Sale17

days until Pac Shack4

days until AMIS Jazz in Beijing10

TAKE 5

Kailee Norcross ‘15Senior Editior

Mariana Felix-Kim is a half Mexican half Korean vegetarian member of this year’s senior class. Although she has only visited Korea four times, she has just as much Asian blood as any of her other family members. She has lived in the US and Mexico, and now finds herself residing in Malaysia.

More important than her heritage is Mariana’s passion for crew rowing, her main sport. Her position is known as coxswain, meaning she plays one of the most valuable roles on the team. She sits at the front of the boat and not only steers, but also gives direction to the rest of the team. “The reason I’m a coxswain is because I’m vertically challenged,” laughs Mariana. “Coxswains are typically shorter and lighter than rowers, who are taller and heavier.”

“Coxswain taught me a lot just because it makes

you think really fast. You have to think about how to motivate your rowers, what your coaches w o u l d want you to do, and how to get to the finish line as fast as possible. Plus you have to steer at the same time”.

In addition to rowing, Mariana’s other major hobby is music. “Music has always been in my life,” says Mariana. In kindergarten her mother put her into piano classes. Now, 15 years down the line, and she still knows how to play. Flute and cello are two other instruments that Mariana is familiar with, but nothing tops her love for the piano.

Mariana is certainly not just another voice in the crowd. She is full of stories and experiences that the TAKE team can’t wait to share with you!

Alex Dean ‘16Staff Writer

Living away from her home country of Canada her whole life, Kailee has embraced the unique cultures through traveling.

“Living in Asia, all the countries are so close together so you get to go around and see a lot of different places.” After a pause, she continued, “learning about different cultures is really interesting.” She has lived in four different places in three countries before moving to Kuala Lumpur: Singapore, two different locations in Indonesia, and Dubai. Naturally, her favorite by far is KL, which she

pretty much considers her home. Living around the world has made way for a new

hobby: traveling. She enjoyed India, with it’s mix of beauty, culture, and poverty “because it was somewhere that I had always wanted to go to. It was just really interesting to see how the other side of the world lives”.

Another one of Kailee’s more recent hobbies is tennis. She was on the varsity team last year, and can’t wait for her senior year on the team. ”I’ve played for three years or so. I started playing because my cousin was really into it and I always wanted to be like her when I was younger.”

Many people describe Kailee as friendly and fun. It took her a long time to answer what one word described her. She considered many different possibilities, ranging from talkative to energetic. After a long pause, the answer that stood out was, “I guess, maybe, indecisive.”

This years TAKE team is comprised of 11 talented upperclassmen who have a passion for writing and sharing their ideas. Throughout the year we will be keeping you up to date with current events occurring both within

school, as well as around the world. As reporters, we will be delivering the highest quality of information possible, and will make our best attempt to give it to you as soon as we can. Without further ado, we proudly introduce to

you, the 2014-2015 TAKE team.

FEATURES

TAKE 6 TAKE 7

Mariana Felix-Kim ‘15Staff Writer

Meet Sarah: cross country runner, art addict, and chocolate cake fanatic.

Sarah has been a part of the varsity cross-country team since her sophomore year. She started off with the mindset that it would be an easy way to stay fit, but immediately realized her passion for it. “I really love the feeling after running. Especially when you’re all sweaty and you just sit there and feel the breeze on your face. It just feels amazing,” Sarah expresses. This

feeling even kept her motivated to finish off her season last year after tearing her ACL as she was running down hill. Sarah is looking forward to having fun and making the most out of this year.

When she’s not on the running trail, Sarah is involved with art. This HL visual arts student loves to sketch, paint, and work with graphic design. Sarah has even designed the poster for the IB Exhibition. “Art is my life”. Sarah hopes to keep art in her life as she plans to study it at university in the US.

Two more of Sarah’s loves are chocolate and cake. Add them together and you get the recipe for Sarah’s cake diet. Yes, Sarah loves cake so much, she created a cake diet, however, she does not recommend it. “I would eat a piece of my favorite cake every morning, then work then work off the calories at the gym”. It is quite clear that Sarah really loves cake. Unlike the diet, Sarah does recommend the cheesecake from Secret Recipe.

While running, designing, and being head over heels with cake, Sarah keeps a positive mentality. For Sarah, positivity leads to happiness. When negativity begins to dominate her thoughts, she pulls herself together by reminding herself that being positive will make her happy.

Safa Arshadullah ‘16Senior Editor

Before you even see him, you will probably have heard him. Nabil Bennett is known for being an extremely lively and outgoing person who loves to chat; he says that “some would say ‘flamboyant’”. Unsurprisingly, Nabil has quite a few friends and truly enjoys being in their company. When asked what they like to spend their time doing, Nabil responded, “I like to do a lot of things, like going out to the mall and playing video games with them. It’s fun to play multiplayer.” He also said that he’s made quite a few memories with his friends, some that will stay with him for the rest of his life.“Once, my best friends Andrew, Terence and I were all at Andrews’ place and basically he was sleep talking and it was very, very, very funny.” He continues, saying, “Just hanging out with them is fun in general, especially with both my best friends.” It is very easy to realize that he truly values his friendships. When asked why he joined the TAKE Magazine team, Nabil said, “I joined because I preferred it over web design, and I like it because I like writing.”

Nabil Bennett is known for being an extremely lively and outgoing person

Kate Hambly ‘15Copy Editor

Allison Peschel-Keel, “Allie”, is no stranger to new situations. Four countries in seven moves could be stressful. But not for Allie. She has an incredible ability to find a niche wherever she is. Andrew Fernandez concurred, saying, “If she [Allie] wants to talk to a group of people, she can.” A new student to ISKL in 2013, Allie joined the cast of the musical, Legally Blonde, and quickly made friends. Andrew also mentioned that she can be with a group, “if she pleases.” He described her as an exciting friend, since she alters as her environment does.

Allie’s open-mindedness makes her an invaluable friend. “You can tell her anything,” Andrew agrees. She has

strong opinions, and isn’t easily swayed. When dealing with changes, Allie knows how to positively maintain control– she’ll restyle her hair. “It’s doing something for yourself that’s nice, and is completely your decision, completely in your control, that’s healthy.” “Well,” she laughed, “More or less healthy.” Allie decides, “I’m going to do this, and feel good about it”; she’s not one to shy away from the attention pink hair can receive. She’s been an actress since first grade, when she committed herself to memorizing lines for a class play. Allie remarked that it was something she wanted to do, “and keep doing all over again.”

When talking about her experiences, Allie is verbose and confident, yet works to put others at ease. “I’ve learned empathy,” Allie notes. Traveling has allowed Allie to hear people’s stories. She reflected on the pleasant people in Belgium, and the opportunities in California. She liked Pennsylvania the least, because it was small and closed-minded. Since then she’s worked to become more open-minded. When asked which location she liked best, Allie smiled and sagely commented: “everywhere there’s a piece of something that you like.”

Sarah Hyeon-A Kim ‘15Design Editor

Last year, Kate transferred back to ISKL after a few years at SAS. Despite the gap, her friendly personality has helped her become perfectly accustomed to the school once again. Ayla Bollom, a friend, described as “a good listener and a caring motherly figure.” Kate loves to listen to others, providing them with thoughtful advice.

For Kate, this year isn’t just the start of another ordinary school year; it’s her big senior year. Being a senior surely requires commitment, especially in terms of her HL classes (Psychology, English, and Theatre).

English is really fun because I like reading, a lot.” Kate eagerly reveals, and even goes as far as to describe herself as an “English dork”.

Kate’s interests include Shakespeare’s classics and other texts that require more effort than just reading the words. For example, her favorite book from the IB syllabus is “Crime and Punishment” by Dostoevsky, as she is intrigued by the esoteric characters. She explains, “I like it when the people in the stories are really intricate.”

Not only is Kate fond of challenging reads, but she also enjoys editing works, which is one of the main reasons why she has decided to join the publications team.

“I can definitely see Kate being an editor in

ten years,” Sarah Hambly (Kate’s sister) adds.However, Kate has another side to her. She likes

to keep her mind off school work by running cross country. “The running itself isn’t fun but I like the feeling afterwards,” she confesses.

As it turns out, Kate isn’t just an English dork, as she sees herself, but instead, is a kind, smart, and well-rounded individual. Her friends describe her simply as a remarkable person. “I have never met anyone as nice as Kate and honestly, I don’t think I ever will” Ayla Bollom ‘15.

TAKE 8 TAKE 9

Allison Peschel-Keel ‘15Staff Writer

Juni Lee, is eighteen years old and in her last year at ISKL. Many people know her to be very enthusiastic in whatever she does, and optimistic in the outcomes of everything. She shared a few things that she considered to be important and interesting about herself.

Of the things she’s most enthusiastic about is Mexican food. It wasn’t a lifelong favorite, for it was her first time really trying it after she turned eighteen. Mexican food appealed to her ever since she visited the restaurant, “On The Borders”, in Korea. Fajitas and enchiladas are two of her favorites. The lovely concoctions appeal to her because of the way that they are prepared.

As well as food, like most girls, she enjoys shopping for things to better her appearance. Juni loves to shop for makeup, shoes and all sorts of accessories. Having lived in so many places, the shopping is always different wherever she ends up. Chain stores, such as H&M, are drastically

different in various countries, even though they’re supposed to be the same.

Moving around from place to place, Juni sometimes feels like she’s lived in every single country. She said that nearly every time she’s moved, she has been to two schools in the same city. Juni loves to join clubs and sports in order to be a part of the community whenever she’s coming into a new school.

Joining different clubs has made her a very cheerful person. It would seem that because of her experience in team sports, such as volleyball, she feels that cheerleading would really interest her. It inspired her to get off the playing grounds and join the sidelines to cheer on teammates. Having known most of the rules and the people, this made her feel at ease when knowing when to cheer.

At ISKL, Juni does not participate in any sports due to her huge workload and determination to focus on her academics. Perhaps later in life she will end up picking her old high school hobbies again.

Aya Ogasawara ‘15Staff Writer

Safa Arshadullah is a confident and decisive young woman. At the same time, she is an artistic and creative person. She is passionate about drawing, prose, typography, and photography. Safa does a wonderful job, especially when writing poetry. A performer at heart, Safa can be seen in assemblies and competitions. On the stage of a poetry slam, she presented an original spoken word poem. She has been a part of SEA Forensics and IASAS Cultural Convention Forensics in Oral Interpretation. Safa is an extremely talented young person, as can be seen by her finalist position in both SEA Forensics and IASAS.

Surprisingly, Safa has only been writing poetry for a few years. She used to write stories but got bored,

so decided to try something new, a more fulfilling way of expressing her feelings. The poetry she writes is generally about her observations of society. She gets ideas from anything and everything that she sees or hears, or something that she likes or doesn’t like.

She finds herself writing down ideas no matter what time of day it is. Safa explains, ”Sometimes I write in the middle of the night, when I get the idea. Usually, whenever I get the idea, I write down the little pieces that I think of, and then I combine them later.” She notes that she focuses on how each phrase looks and sounds. Her experience with writing makes her a key member of the TAKE team, because she has sharp, developed instincts. She’s definitely someone to keep an eye on!

Nabil Bennett ‘16Staff Writer

Aya is an adventurous, anime-loving, overseas-living, Japanese high-school student living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In her spare time she enjoys participating in a variety of activities.

One of those hobbies is cooking Japanese food, but only “on [the] weekends”. She also enjoys dancing classical ballet, as she did in her childhood years, and occasionally she likes to dance around her home for old times sake. She regularly accompanies her dancing with her own singing.

Aya’s enthusiasm for moving around her house suddenly changed to moving around the world. Malaysia, truly asia, was her new destination. Her father has a business-oriented background, and as a result she has never been to a school for more than three years (with the exception of her birth place in Japan.) She was thereby asked to take an academic exam before moving to Kuala Lumpur to start her new life. Compared to the average person, Aya is considered to be very privileged to have the opportunity to explore the vast, beautiful world.

However, this isn’t the first time Aya has moved. Aya has lived Bangkok, and she mentions that she enjoyed living there mainly due to the amount of cheerful people

she saw on a day to day basis. “I like people in Thailand because they are always smiling and they are always kind to me.”

Aya has an observant, perceptive, and attentive personality that enables her to notice the small details in everyday situations. She has a passion for many activities, including dancing and singing in the comfort of her home, watching “entertaining” anime shows, and cooking authentic Japanese food when she has the chance.

“I’ve been to the Emergency Room more

than 10 times” -Alex Dean ‘16-

Juni Lee ‘15Staff Writer

Alex Dean is a delicate person with a strong sense of adventure. When asked 5 facts about himself, his responses were surprising. He has had many injuries throughout the last few years of his life. “I fell off a ski lift, and got hit in the eye with a baseball”. He broke his leg three times in two months, and has been to the emergency room more than ten times. Fortunately, he’s never been severely injured.

When not risking injury, Alex plays five different instruments. “I started playing instruments on my own. I had to take band in 6th grade, and I just kept doing it”.

Among a handful of other instruments, Alex currently plays the baritone saxophone in the wind ensemble here at ISKL.

The last fact about him was that he has lived in six different countries. His dad’s job, in an oil and gas company, is the reason for his frequent moves. His family has lived in Barbados, Venezuela, Brazil, Kazakhstan, India and now Malaysia. When asked which was his favorite place, Alex replied, “Probably Brazil or Malaysia”. Wrapping up the interview we questioned Alex, “If you were to describe yourself in one word, what would it be?” “Adventurous,” he replied assuringly.

Alex Dean ‘16Staff Writer

On the 12th–14th of September, ISKL put on a production of the play Our Town, directed by Mr. Howe. This play featured the cast of Jun Lin ‘15, Esme Edwards ‘17, Ashley Lobao ‘16, Liam Casey ‘17, and many more.

This group had a vigorous time schedule, since auditions were held last year and the cast only had four weeks to rehearse and put the entire play together. This process included many long after school rehearsals, in order to get ready for the first performance. The production’s rehearsal schedule received mixed reviews. When asked about it, Jun Lin, who acted as a main character, George Gibbs, said that he liked “how auditions were right before summer because we got the whole summer to memorize our lines.” However, when asked the same question, Ashley Lobao said, “It was a very unique situation in terms of we had four weeks, and that’s not enough time for a show. I think it was pretty rushed.”

Mr. Howe’s point was that, “Because GAP was so early in the year, and with fall break… if we didn’t do the show this past week, we could have had to wait [for] five weeks.” He added that it was a “rare occurrence that I would never want to happen again.”

Another challenge was the relocation of cast members. “Particularly the role of the narrator, Selena. She was cast midsummer, after one of the students that was [previously] cast in that part, moved.” He then stated

that everyone did a great job with the new scheduling this year.

Over 40 ISKL students auditioned last year, a large number for such a small selection of characters. Mr. Howe had the task of turning 40 roles into 16. “The typical audition process, I never choose alone… because one person can have one impression and one person has another.” He typically has four to six people observe the auditions and collectively, they decide who fits the part best. It was however, a difficult process.

The play was about a small town in the US, set between 1901 to 1913. The two main characters, George Gibbs (Jun Lin ‘15) and Emily Webb (Esme Edwards ‘17), are next door neighbours in their town: Grover’s Corner. They develop a relationship, and after graduating, they get married. The play was split up into three acts: Daily Life, where the audience was introduced to the town and people in it by the narrator; Love and Marriage, where the audience saw George and Emily get married; and Death and Dying, where Emily died from child bearing.

Our Town was a hit with everybody; cast members, the audience and even Mr. Howe had positive responses. “What was really wonderful is, I think, [that] the students truly fell in love with the story. The actual play is such a simple message, but its really powerful and I think because they fell in love with the text, it helped so much… they were really keen and really interested and really passionate about it.”

TAKE 11TAKE 10

TAKE 13

Kate Hambly ‘15Copy Editor

Last June saw the start of the annual slashing-and-burning, producing smog which filled the sky. From each grade, one student was interviewed – Wes Joslin ’15, Teshya Chow ’16, Partidi ’17, and Dorith sGravemade ’18– to get a picture of how the smog affected Malaysia and ISKL.

“Everyone had to stay inside mostly,” Dorith remembers. Teshya agrees, mentioning that few people ventured outdoors, because the smog caused breathing problems. Wes, too, brought this up, saying: “It was gross… and not very healthy.” “Walking outside, it was impossible to see anything,” Partidi recalled. In some places even the sidewalk across the street was hidden by the smog that blanketed Malaysia for months.

According to Dorith, the change in air quality caused various activities to be delayed or cancelled. Her basketball practice was cancelled, as was Wes’ softball practice. “I was doing track,” explains Teshya, “And we had to run in the smog, which made it really hard to breathe.” Personal activities had to be cancelled, like a weekend bike ride Wes had planned. Even walking across the road (with the use of the bridge) from school, to the McDonald’s, became a dangerous activity, as Partidi found out.

Opinions varied about what caused the smog to appear. Dorith was able to guess, “was it in Malaysia… how people burned their trash?” “I heard it was caused by some neighboring country burning stuff?” Teshya wondered aloud. She had the right idea, but Partidi was able to add, “Something in Indonesia? …Burning trees, or something?” Wes quickly provided the best answer, saying, “I’ve heard that it was caused by the burning of trees in Borneo and Indonesia.”

They all had the right idea, more or less. Indonesian palm oil plantations clear their land by intentionally starting forest fires. Both Singapore and Malaysia were affected in June this year by north-eastern winds which fanned the flames further than intended. While the “green-ness” of Indonesia remains, due to the planting

of palm trees in the place of the naturally removed trees, the amount of flora diversity is rapidly dwindling. And while the use of “slash-and-burn techniques” is technically illegal, Indonesia has yet to crack down on perpetrators.

The problem is that these tactics impacted more than just Indonesia. Multiple surrounding countries reported dangerously high air pollution levels. Partidi mentioned that “It’s kinda weird, because I’ve lived here for a long time, and it’s never happened before.” And she’s right, in 2014 Southeast Asia saw a record-breaking amount of haze. But this is far from the first time the region has been exposed to hazardous air conditions. In 2005, Malaysia experienced a level of haze that broke a decade-long record. That same year, the iconic Petronas Twin Towers were hidden behind a wall of opaque smog. Since then, the number of forest fires Indonesia cited in June has steadily risen. In 2013, over 20 million people were reported ill, and various collisions on both road and sea blamed poor visibility as the cause.

There seems to be no foreseeable end to the annual shroud of haze that Malaysia and Singapore are faced with. In June of this year (2014), Singapore attempted to reach an agreement, something that the involved countries have been working towards for half a dozen years. The island offered to provide aircraft support to aid Indonesia and neighbors to suppress the fires. While this year’s breakout fires may have been tamed, there’s no saying what the long-term effect of this alliance will be. Until a resolution can be found, we can expect June to be a hazy month for Malaysia.

Kailee Norcross ‘15Senior Editor

With a new school year comes new changes, and with any change comes both praise and criticism. It’s difficult to determine the overall reaction to the new schedule, because so many students have mixed reviews. The general consensus is undecided.

One person who doesn’t have a problem making up his mind is senior Kabir Peshawaria. “I actually dislike the new schedule system. I find it complicated, especially for new students. We have three different schedules for every five day cycle depending on the weekday, and I don’t think that’s a very smart idea. There’s a lot of ambiguity about when you’re suppose to go to class,” remarks Kabir. “I really think ISKL should revert back to the old schedule if that’s still a possibility.”

In the middle of Kabir’s rampage, along came Jaya Dehart, another member of the senior class. Upon hearing Kabir discuss the new schedule and the pointlessness of extended MyGroups, he chimed in saying, “I like it. I think it’s good. Except, yeah…. no MySessions, those are useless.”

MyGroups are nothing new to ISKL. After 4 years, the number one complaint is still about the same ten minute block in the morning, or the 45 minutes at the end of the day. The rest of the schedule, though, elicited no strong reaction from the students. The only concern seems to be that MyGroup haven’t been eliminated altogether, which is what many were hoping for.

Upon being questioned on the topic of MyGroups, Mr. Petersen explained the decisions the administration made in regards to the new schedule. Last year, teachers expressed a desire to remove the 15 minutes of MyGroup and passing time in the morning. That time, they argued, could be distributed to the class periods, allowing more instructional time. The administration listened to this feedback, and found a way to give the teachers what they

wanted. Rather than having those extra 15 minutes spent in MyGroup every morning, students would only meet twice a week gather to discuss the bulletin announcements. The 45 minutes that was saved would then be used for MySessions on Tuesday afternoons.

Before the MyGroup program was created, Mr. Petersen explained that “nobody knew what was going on– when the games were, when the clubs were meeting, when the college visits were happening… There were thousands of emails that went out and people didn’t read their email. Everyone was saying that that daily bulletin check in to keep students and teachers informed about what’s going on at school was incredibly effective, but maybe not every day.”

Throughout the high school, it is clear that there are mixed opinions about the schedule, some more positive than others. However this is not the first time the timetable has changed, and it certainly won’t be the last. It’s about time we start embracing the time that we have, because before you know it, it’ll all be changed once again.

TAKE 12

Aya Ogasawara ‘15Staff Writer

ISKL hosted a mooncake making activities in the the Chinese classes. All students who study the language made the treat, and learned about the Chinese culture during this period. The Chinese Cultural Club also hosted mooncake activities after school for anyone who had signed up on September 5th.

What is the “Mid-Autumn Festival” 中秋節 (Zhōngqiū Jié)? It is one of the four largest festivals in China. It is also referred to as the “Mooncake Festival.” Usually, it is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Lunar calendar –the calendar based on the lunar cycle, which the ancient Chinese used– which typically is in September or early October on the Gregorian calendar, which is the calendar that is generally used in Western countries. This year, it was held on September 8th.

The Mid-Autumn Festival began approximately in the 16th-10th century B.C., and occured after the fall harvest. People started holding a festival during the full moon to celebrate their rich harvest. They worshipped the mountain gods, giving thanks for their bountiful harvest. They also had to worship the moon because they believed that the moon, in addition to water, had the power to maintain the health and beauty of people.

While the purpose of the festival has changed, people still present mooncakes to their friends and family when they celebrate together. The term ‘mooncake’ may be familiar. It is a pastry that contains a sweet filling, with a thin skin. There are actually different types of this delicacy. Some mooncakes contain a whole salted egg yolk. This represents the full moon, a symbol of reunion of family members. There are special Chinese characters on the surface of the mooncake, which wish peace and longevity upon the receiver. A traditional mooncake is baked. Typically, these mooncakes have ingredients like lotus seeds or red bean paste. A jelly mooncake is another, contemporary, type of mooncake. This is a very popular type among young Chinese people. The skin and filling of this type of mooncake is made from different flavors –including western flavors like chocolate and coffee– and are often colorful.

Another traditional style, is the “ice-skin mooncake,” which is a non-baked mooncake. It is given its name because it is served cold. The filling is quite similar to that of a traditional mooncake, but the skin is made of glutinous rice.

If you were somehow unaware of the festivities this year, next time make sure to come out to celebrate and enjoy the mooncakes.

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Mariana Felix-Kim ‘15Staff Writer

The ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) Ice Bucket challenge has continued to grow exponentially, as more and more nominees get splashed with tons of buckets of ice water. This challenge has spread rapidly since the ALS Association initially challenged the public to the Ice Bucket Challenge on their website. The challenge begins with a nomination over any form of social media, Facebook being the most common. A nominee has 24 hours to donate or dump a bucket of ice water over their heads and post it online. It’s a chain reaction, so with each online post, more people are nominated to continue to spread awareness and encourage others to donate funds for research.

The Ice Bucket challenge has become one of the most viral phenomenons, but why? “I think it’s a good idea because it sends the message really quickly and also in a fun way,” Shu Mei Teh ‘15 states. Public figures such as Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and others have also participated in the challenge, nominating even more celebrities.

Although the challenge brings awareness quickly and easily, the ALS challenge has also been criticized for hurting the environment by wasting water. Sustainability Coordinator at ISKL, Lawrence Myers

expressed his concern “about how much water is being used and spent and especially if it’s normal clean water”. It’s understandable why this might be a concern for Mr. Myers, as Kuala Lumpur enforced water rationing to conserve the low quantities of water available just last spring. Mr. Myers believes that there are better alternatives that will achieve the same goals the ALS Association hopes to reach while conserving water. “If it’s going to be water used in the garden and you’re standing in a garden that’s going to be watered anyways, then that’s not much of a waste,” Mr. Myers suggests.

ALS is a neurological disease that affects the central nervous system which controls voluntary muscle movement. Both upper motor neurons and lower motor neurons die, which causes the nerves to be incapable of sending messages to the muscles. This causes the muscles to gradually weaken and eventually waste away. According to the ALS Association, “Approximately 5,600 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year.”

Overall, the ALS Association has earned over $100 million USD towards the research of ALS according to TIME, with over thousands of participants all over the world. Social media has played a major role as an enabler for raising further awareness towards ALS, as more participants take part. Many other organisations are now trying to follow suit.

VS“If you’re going to sit in your bathroom and use perfectly

good water and just dump it on your head and let it down the drain, then that’s a concern.” - Mr. Myers

TAKE 16

Safa Arshadullah ‘16Senior Editor

‘Ideas worth spreading.’ This is TED’s slogan. As hu-mans, we have the ability to think in many different direc-tions, and with that we can form our own ideas and even see them come to fruition. What matters most though, is being able to share them, being able to speak to an audi-ence and help them understand how your own ideas can create change. TED Talks are known far and wide for being inspirational speeches regarding not only current events, but also psychology, creativity, technology, and more. The organization’s TEDx division allows for independently organized talks to happen all over the world. This is what is happening at ISKL; our very own TEDxISKL. This is a strong opportunity for our community to learn from the many speakers discussing their relationship with creativity and how it affects their life. We also get to hear from student voices as well. Bringing this kind of conference to ISKL will put our school on the map; we will be seen as a group of hardworking people, driven to making ideas and perspec-tives heard and wanting to see change, starting locally and growing globally.

TED was founded in 1984 in Monterey, California, and initially started as a technology conference. What most people don’t know is that TED is actually an acronym for technology, entertainment, and design. TED became a non-profit organization under Chris Anderson, an entrepre-neur in 2001. With that, the conference became much more popular, garnering audience from around the world with notable speakers such as Bill Gates and Malcolm Gladwell.

At this year’s TEDxISKL conference, the theme is ‘the creative spark’. This already ignites a plethora of ideas and concepts in your brain. Just thinking about something creative gives you the motivation to actually do something creative. Moa Schafer, the senior who brought TEDx to ISKL said, “I was involved in the first TEDx in my previ-ous school and it was a great event. I love TED as an or-ganization and just TED talks, I find them very inspiring. I think they have a lot to say and not the everyday things you would hear. You get to see life in a different way, you

approach problems and challenges in different ways. I thought ISKL has a lot of different activities, athletics and clubs, so I thought starting TEDx here would suit the ISKL community.” Having a conference of this proportion at our school allows us to hear from prominent figures who deal with creativity on a daily basis. At TEDxISKL, we will be hosting some very interesting personalities such as poet Sheena Baharudin, and Dr. Jay Parkinson, who works in the field of innovative medicine. With ten speakers at the conference, we will be able to learn about many different people’s ideas of creativity, creative endeavors, and times where their creativity may have been stunted. When asked how the theme of ‘the creative spark’ came about, Moa said, “We wanted TEDx to be a product of ISKL in a sense, so first we brainstormed some ideas between us, and then we realized that we want TEDx to be about us, the student body. We sent out a survey last year, asking people to vote on their favourite options for the themes. Finally, when we were narrowing things down, ‘the creative spark’ we felt, left a lot of flexibility for speakers so they can interpret it in anyway they want.”

ISKL held auditions for two esteemed positions of stu-dent speakers. Junior Andrew Cox and sophomore Liesel Allen will be speaking at the conference about their per-spectives on creativity. Liesel’s speech will be regarding her Ulnar deficiency. She said, “Since I was born with an Ulnar deficiency, which means I’m missing three of my fingers on my right hand, I’m going to talk about how I do things differently than other people because of that. And even though it might be harder for me to do things, I know that if I work at it--for an incredibly long time--then I’ll be able to do whatever I want to achieve. I want to speak about this because it took me 15 years to figure out that I can achieve anything I want, and I don’t want it to take other people that long to figure it out.”

TEDxISKL gives our diverse community a chance to ex-perience new perspectives and ideas. Hearing voices from our student body as well as prominent figures in a myriad of different careers induces an environment that harbours inspiration and innovation.

* With a Creative Spark

Alex Dean ‘16Staff Writer

Over 500 people have been declared missing or deceased in the last six months due to two Malaysian Airlines disasters. On the 8th of March, 2014, Malaysian Airlines flight 370 lost contact with air traffic control somewhere over the South China Sea, on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Later, in July, Malaysian Airlines flight 17 was shot down over Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, during the war in Donbass, flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. These two accidents shocked the world and left many grateful for their lives.

Flight MH370 contained 227 passengers, two of which were ISKL alumni. Maria, 32, and Dina Ramli, 30, were traveling with their mother, Datin Biby Nazil Mohd Hassim. Maria graduated in 2001, while Dina, the younger sister, graduated in 2002. They both were on their way to Beijing when the flight went missing.

Just over four months after the MH370 incident, MH17 was shot down, flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. The flight was carrying 283 passengers, two thirds of them being Dutch. This incident unfortuantely occurred in the middle of the ongoing conflict between the Pro-Russian separatists and Ukraine. It was believed that Russian-backed Ukrainian separatists accidentally fired a missile at the Malaysian Airlines flight. There have been

several planes shot down over Ukraine since then, but

n o n e of them commercial jets. There was very little time for the world to recover from the loss of MH370 before the second catastrophe took place.

The slogan ‘Pray for MH17/MH370’ has been so popular, that a song was written in Chinese in honor of the missing aircraft. The song title, when translated to English, is “The Malaysian Plane’s Destination.” There have been many other songs written about MH17 and MH370, as a tribute to those who lost their lives.

A day of mourning for MH17 occurred just a few weeks ago, on August 22. It allowed family members of the Malaysian passengers from MH17 to be reunited for burial and gain a sense of closure. At this time of the grief, the nation came together in support and strength for each other. People across Malaysia remembered the victims of these tragedies through a moment of silence on the national day of mourning.

Many people lost their lives in the two Malaysian Airlines incidents. Malaysia, along with the rest of the world, has mourned the losses and will continue to pray for those who had to bear the pain of MH17 and MH370.

Dina Ramli ‘02 (left) and Maria Ramli ‘01 (right). ISKL Alumnis who went missing on MH370

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TAKE 17

TAKE 18

Allie Peschel-Keel ‘15Staff Writer

For years, theatrical students have combined with creative peers so that they can call themselves flesh and blood; these students are part of The Thespian Society. Thespians have weekly meetings, in which they try to come up with strategies for all sorts of things related to the theatre. There are several processes that are taken into consideration when deciding who gets to be in the Thespian Society.

Over the years, Thespian was more or less unknown to the majority of students at ISKL. Perhaps this is because of the process that exists in order to get into Thespian Society. Every year, there are students who graduate, move away, and withdraw from the Thespian Society. However, there are not as many students who are joining this club. Hopefully more people will be aware of the traditions and the fun that can be had by joining this esteemed society.

In order to get into this selective club, one must go through ‘inductions’. The inductions ceremonies vary in creativity and purpose throughout the years. Current members had to endure some humiliating processes they had to go through to be accepted into Thespians Society. President of the club, Ilaria Sammartino ‘15 says that there will be several changes in the tactics this year. She hopes to make this club more welcoming and stick solely to the theatre traditions as opposed to rituals similar

to hazing in past years. When questioned about her own personal feelings about the way it was run before being passed down to her, she responded, “In the past it was basically the same as it will be this year, except now people will be performing theatre-related tasks, unlike before, Thespians made the inductees perform embarrassing tasks on the deck. You might have seen some of us doing that last year…”

One of the most popular induction ceremonies that remains to be a part of the procedure is the memorization of the Greek alphabet. Hopeful inductees must be ready to recite it forwards and backwards, and arrive to school in a costume. Unfortunately, other induction tasks are not to be divulged to the public. Ilaria kindly stated, “I’m really sorry, but I can’t talk about night inductions.” If anyone would like to join Thespians Society, they can ask for a hand out from Ilaria and ask her about plans regarding the Thankfully,with Ilaria as president, rest assured that the rituals will be much less humiliating and the club will focus more on theatrical teachings and keeping the theatre alive in a creative and positive way.

Every year during the International Festival in October, students from the Thespians Society collaborate to create a terrifically shocking and frightful Haunted House for a small admission fee. Let’s hope that this year, Ilaria will reign over her committee justly, and keep the performing artists busy with many theatre related tasks. Keep your eyes peeled for the Haunted House entrance located by the side stage entrance of the Robert B. Gaw Theatre this October!

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Juni Lee ‘15Staff Writer

On September 3rd, 2014 at 1:02am there was a car accident in Korea on the Young Dong highway. A van carrying a K-pop girl group, Ladies Code, got into a severe car accident due to a wheel malfunction during a rainstorm. When the van was found, one of the group members, EunB, was discovered outside of the van. It was evident that she hadn’t been wearing a seatbelt, and ended up landing outside the car. None of the other members were wearing seat belts, and another band member ended up dying from a coma after the accident.

The accident reminded South Korean citizens of the importance of wearing seat belts when traveling in vehicles. Yoo Dam Son ‘15 said, “A lot of my Korean friends have been telling me how sensitive they are now with seat belts, and I will be more aware of wearing seat belts.” It is crucial for ISKL students to be aware of how vital it is to take caution, because one can never predict what will happen in the future. We should make efforts to prevent any kind of accident from happening.

It is becoming a trend to not wear seat belts when seated in the back seat, even among the ISKL student body. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), seat belts dramatically reduce risk of death and serious injuries. In terms of drivers and front seat passengers, seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45%, and cut the risk of serious injury by 50%. Seat belts prevent

drivers and passengers from being ejected during a crash. People who do not wear seat belts are 30 times more likely to be ejected from a vehicle during a crash, and more than three out of four people who are ejected during a severe accident die from their injuries. Mr. Godbout (ISKL’s Health and Safety Director) added, “By CDC’s statistics, seat belts have saved an estimate of 255,000 lives since 1975.”

The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research, in 2012, stated that there were 462,423 cases of road accidents in Malaysia. Amongst those cases, 6,917 of them were fatal. The MIROS study projected that if 20% of road users in Malaysia were to use rear seatbelts, only 21 lives could be saved per year. The rear seat belt is defined as a passive safety feature that prevents occupants from sustaining injury due to accidents inside the vehicle. Not only do seat belts prevent injuries, but they have also been proven to save the lives of passengers in the front and back seats.

Although this K-pop incident is very tragic, there is a lesson to be learned: people should be wearing seat belts at all times when travelling by vehicle. We should all take into account the words the MIROS and CDC have stated. ISKL students should be aware that accidents are unpredictable, and we can prevent them by following a simple and easy safety rule: wear your seatbelt.

TAKE 19

TAKE 21

Rionna Muniandy ‘15

Laura Habbig ‘15Amalie Skriver ‘15

Sarah Kim ‘15

“Creative printing and a lot of junk food”- Ms. Alderson

Sarah Hyeon-A Kim ‘15Design Editor

The grade 12 IB Visual Art students embarked on an artistic journey to Tyler Print Institute (STPI) in Singapore, on the 4th of September. Over the course of two days, they explored different types of printmaking styles, including Japanese woodblock printing, mono printing and etching.

In past years, the IB Visual Art students visited the Orang Asli villages in the suburbs of Malaysia, in order to create land art using objects found in nature. However, this tradition had been proclaimed as “boring and repetitive” by a handful of art students, such as Lisa Fischer ‘15. Even Mr. Davidson and Ms. Alderson, HS IB Diploma Visual Arts teachers, unanimously agreed and came up with an exciting new plan for students to experience the different printmaking processes. “This is sort of like an experiment for us this year, trying out printing in Singapore, but if it works out well, we’ll definitely go back next year.” Mr. Davidson explained prior to the trip.

Since June, students researched and analyzed prints, in order to prepare for the workshops. They were required to produce sketchbook pages of a basic background of each printing style, an analysis of prints from a chosen time period, and a comparison of two prints from different cultures. “At first, I was annoyed that we had research homework for the summer break, but when I got to the institute and started the printing, I realized that the research part really helped a lot. Knowing a bit about the history and the techniques of Japanese woodblock printing definitely helped.” Daniel Chong ‘15 states.

At STPI, students were divided into two groups of either Japanese woodblock printing or mono printing with etching. Each group was led by one of the institute’s senior printmakers, KC Poh and Li Sze Chong, who both have years of experience in leading different printing workshops.

“I didn’t know if they would finish all the printing in time, because the process is very long. But, I was surprised to see that they all produced amazing work and I enjoyed working with the ISKL students. They are all very creative and their own ideas are impressive.” Ms. Poh explained at the end of the workshop, with a pleased smile.

STPI, which officially opened in April 2002 under

the guidance of Kenneth E. Tyler, is a state-of-the-art printmaking workshop, paper mill and contemporary art gallery located in a restored 1921 warehouse. It was established as a non-profit printmaking institute with the support of the Singapore’s Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts (MICA), the Singapore Totalisator Board and the Singapore Tourism Board.

Mr. Tyler, the founder of the institute, is the foremost American master printer, who began the renowned print workshop, Tyler Graphics, in New York. For nearly 40 years, Mr. Tyler published major works as prominent international artists such as Anthony Caro, Helen Frankenthaler, David Hockney, Jasper Johns, Roy Litchtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg, James Rosenquist and Frank Stella, producing some of their finest works in a workshop atmosphere, while also celebrating creativity and collaboration. “I was amazed at how really famous artists, such as Rauschenberg, had worked in the exact same studio as I did and I’m actually quite proud of it,” expressed Lisa Fischer ‘15.

This trip surely was an unforgettable experience for the senior IB Visual Art students, and involved a lot of hands-on action. They all returned with at least one final product that they could proudly present. When asked to summarize the whole trip, Ms. Alderson remarked with a laugh, “Creative printing. And a lot of junk food. That’s all I can say.”

TAKE 20

TAKE 22

The quad biking venue is called ATV Adventure Park, and it is located 4.6 km from the Negara Zoo junction. Become a speed demon with this electrifying and invigourating experience; zip through the many paths the park offers! Don’t be afraid to get muddy, so make sure you’re not wearing your favorite outfit...

This vision-impaired culinary journey is called Dining in the Dark and is located in Changkat Bukit Bintang. There are plenty of exotic foods offered, and it’s always a surprise because you never know what you’re eating; nor can you see it! No point in trying to Instagram this dinner date because all you’ll see is a black screen.

Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie, and enjoy zip-lines and obstacle courses inside the deep jungles of Malaysia, or are a roadster who is into ATV riding, it’s time to get away from your daily routine, get out, and explore! Even if you’re more laid back and enjoy exploring testing out life’s culinary delicacies with your taste buds, KL has never been more fun! Still not satisfied? How about challenging yourself in the psychologically mysterious Escape Room? Then, there’s ice skating, trampoline-jumping, paintballing, bowling, go-karting, and the GSC’s gold class experience.

Nabil Bennett ‘16Staff Writer

2. ATV ADVENTURE PARK

3. DINING IN THE DARK

On to bouncing up and down, up and down, - the trampoline arena - Jump Street! Especially with friends, it is an awesome experience guaranteed to put a smile on that awesome face of yours. It is fortunately, suitable for all ages, so don’t be discouraged. Annoying younger siblings are welcome, too!

1. JUMP STREET

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TAKE 23

Escape Room, the mind game puzzle, is located at both The Curve Shopping Mall and Times Square Shopping Centre.It requires critical thinking and some great mystery-solving skills. Challenge yourself to try and get through as many levels as you can before using up all your hints!

Ice skating is an excellent experience, especially for anyone who hasn’t felt the cold ice beneath their feet all their life. Zip across the rink with your sweet skates! The skating rink is located in Sunway Pyramid Shopping Complex. After a long day of shopping you can switch to a new type of exercise. Don’t forget your gloves!

5. ICE SKATING

6. THE ESCAPE ROOM

The ziplining and obstacle course is known as Skytrex Adventure, and there are plenty of activities in the complex. Located in Shah Alam, there are three levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. There are more details on the company’s website, but the advanced level has you exploring a variety of ziplining courses, and allows you to attach your carabiner to different zip-lines, while crawling through a challenging obstacle course. If you’re an adrenaline junkie, go ahead and pick advanced - it will be quite the adventure.

4. SKYTREX ADVENTURE

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So, if you’re someone stuck in the boredom blues, dive into a world of fun by going to at least one of these places, you won’t regret it. Disintegrate any stress you have with the ample activity opportunities, for a not-too-shabby price! Whether your goal is to relax or to pump up your heart rate, these activites will do the trick - ATV riding, Dining in the Dark, the Sky-Trex Course, Jump Street, ice skating, or the Escape Room. Bring friends, bring family, cousins, and others. Have fun, but remember to be safe. Enjoy!

TAKE 18

Mariana Felix-Kim ‘15Staff Writer

Since the first generation of iPhones, each new model has advanced further. From new features to appearance redesigns, the evolution of the iPhone has been a long journey that continues to develop. In a school-wide survey, ISKL students’ responses revealed surprising trends on opinions about the new phones. Of all the iPhone generations that have been released --including the new ones, the preferred model was the iPhone 5s. This model introduced features such as a fingerprint scanner for faster screen unlocking and a new gold design that has never been available prior to this model. Deanna Williams ‘15 commented that it’s the “perfect size,” while Subin Hong ‘17 believes it has a “chic” design. Although this model seems to be the majority’s favorite for ISKL, it might have competition with the two new models Apple announced on September 9th, 2014 . Starting at USD 199 and USD 299, Apple addicts can now own the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. These newest additions to the evolution of the iPhone, have many new features, including a brand new exterior structure, camera, A8 processor chip, iOS 8 software, and a new app which encourages health improvements.

Apple has marketed the new models as “Bigger than bigger”. This is clearly seen as the iPhone 6 has a height of 138.1 mm and a screen of 119.38 mm (diagonal). The iPhone 6 Plus is even bigger, with a height of 158.1 mm and a screen of 139.7 mm (diagonal), making it the biggest iPhone yet. Not only is this generation of iPhone the largest but also the thinnest. iPhone 6 has the width of 6.9 mm and the iPhone 6 Plus at 7.1 mm which is still smaller than the iPhone 5s --7.6 mm width.

In addition to the new structure, the new camera promises an improved auto focus. The new models come with focus pixels, which are sensors that improve facial detection, and a new exposure control. “You can take a picture and let the iPhone 6 do the rest,” Apple claims. It’s clear that Apple is fairly confident that the new camera features differentiate the iPhone 6 and

iPhone 6 Plus from previous models.The new iPhone contains incredible new feature

such as: an A8 chip that boosts performance and a larger display. It’s even more power efficient than previous models, and supports a higher level of performance, allowing users to play graphics-intensive games, watch videos with a higher frame rates, all for longer periods of time.

iOS 8, a new innovative software, is featured on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Not only is this software faster, but it also has additional advancements such as an alternative horizontal view, similar to that of the iPad. Also, there are multiple iMessage advancements, for instance a new control system that allows instantaneous video capture. Locations are also easier to share.The keyboard, too, has seen changes; it now features the ability to suggest words.

A new app is included with the new iPhone models, called Health. This app is able to record activities and calories, helping people improve and monitor their health with the touch of a finger. The last, and maybe most

exciting innovation, is the opportunity to make calls over wifi. Although the initial release will only offer this feature to customers with certain carriers, Apple plans to expand this revolutionary opportunity to other carriers in the near future.

The excitement surrounding the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus might trick people into believing that the newest models are preferred; this assumption was proven wrong through the survey of ISKL students. 88% of the participants were not interested in the newer models and preferred the older models. It’s possible that people are starting to see a decrease in change between each generation. Individuals have mentioned that the newest versions of the iPhone are incredibly similar to that of Androids. Many participants of the survey commented that, had they been interested in the appearances and features of an Android phone, they would have purchased one. With these newest changes in mind, it will interesting to see how Apple evolves in the future.

iPhone 6 isn’t simply bigger — it’s better

in every way.

Allie Peschel ‘15, Juni Lee ‘15Staff Writers

ISKL is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and additionally welcomed a new principal, Mr. Jeff Farrington. He was eager to start his work here because of the reputation our school has. According to him, ISKL has been “on his radar” for quite some time. He comes to us from Mexico, where he was a principal for 12 years. Like ISKL, his previous school was extremely academically driven, with parents, faculty, and students all expecting a high level of performance. But that’s where the similarities end: “ISKL has 66 nationalities, my old school had 7. And the majority of my old school were the local national population.”

Not surprisingly, the community at ISKL has welcomed his entire family, opening their arms to his wife and two sons. Mr. Farrington adds, “the first day of school, my oldest son, in grade 2, was riding home with his mother and said, ‘I don’t feel like the new kid anymore!’And that was after the first day! So, the transition has been very easy for us so far.” He adds the reason why he left his old school and home country, Canada, was because he wanted his family to have a “global experience,” with the hopes that his boys will embrace being multicultural and multilingual.

Mr Farrington is a realist. Being his best as an educator has always been an expectation for a man in his position. His continued success in life, and in each school that he oversees has been because he is always “striving to get better!” In order to achieve all that he wishes, Mr. Farrington sets goals and then decides what the best way to create the desired results. He then reflects on the accomplishments of himself and his staff

which, in his opinion, is an important step. He finds it of utmost importance for a teacher to be continually aware of a class’s average, rather than just moving on to the next chapter in order to keep with the set curriculum. “There’s a craft in teaching, and there’s the science in teaching,” he declared.

Mr. Farrington has his own definition of what makes a improved educator. He quoted Theodore Roosevelt, in saying that: “Students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” He always questions if the teachers care about their students and how this manifests itself in the classroom. He feels there are many ways this is shown, such as how the teacher speaks, interacts, sets expectations, and chooses to intervene when class isn’t going as planned. ‘Professionalism’ is extremely vital to him. He likes to see that a teacher is “in class on time, up-to-date on grading systems, responding to emails from your parents and what not.” Despite his strong opinions, he feels that students should voice their own ideas of what is best for them.

His goal, for the high school, has already been set; Mr. Farrington knows all too well the struggle against becoming “complacent. ” ISKL already is a great school, but he wants everyone to think to themselves, ‘How can we do this better?’ “We aren’t perfect, but this is a pretty darn good school in a lot of aspects,” he confessed. “It is arrogant to think we are perfect.” He knows that the seniors, who will graduate, leave a lasting impression on the underclassmen. His message to the seniors is: “You guys are it. The year goes as the seniors go. And you guys are the leaders.” To the faculty and the rest of the student body, his message is “let’s not get complacent.”

TAKE 27

Safa Arshadullah ‘16Senior Editor

Ms. Alison Lewis has graced ISKL with her poise and presence as a new high school counselor. Originally from Chicago, USA, Ms. Lewis moved from the historic city of Rome, where she was also a high school counselor, to the bustling metropolis of Kuala Lumpur. Coming from a small school, Ms. Lewis said, “Even though its [ISKL] a bigger school it gives me the sense that there’s a strong community.”

Other than her job as a counselor, Ms. Lewis’s favourite thing to do is travel. “I worked a lot in Rome. I did not have a lot of down time, so when I was not working, I tended to be traveling.” One of her favourite cities to visit is Istanbul in Turkey. “I love Istanbul. I’ve been there only once but it was absolutely magical and I hope to go back, it’s gorgeous.” She also stated that one of the reasons why she moved to Kuala Lumpur was its central location and how living here allows one to travel to lots of other lovely places.

Being such an avid traveler allows Ms. Lewis to value and appreciate many different people and cultures. When asked how that applies to ISKL, Ms. Lewis said,

“It’s so international and I love that. It’s very vibrant; just the sheer number of clubs and activities on offer and students involved just shows me how excited kids are to be doing something for the greater good, and to be a part of a community.” Even regarding Kuala Lumpur as a city, she said, “There are so many different people in the city. It’s very friendly which is something that I absolutely appreciate. It’s easy to get around, it’s easy to do things; so that’s a relaxing feeling for me.”

“The only thing I haven’t liked so far is the Italian food; I mean I came from Italy so the Italian food has been pretty nasty.” Ms. Lewis is however, really enjoying the local Malay food like the many different noodle or rice dishes, the fruits, and things like roti canai. “I suppose I’ve just eaten the most delicious food I could ask for. It’s pretty exciting for me because I love food and I love eating, so it’s amazing.”

Ms. Alison Lewis is a fabulous addition to ISKL’s high school faculty. She is someone who appreciates the diversity of our community as well as the new things she is experiencing as she becomes acclimatised to her new home in Kuala Lumpur.

TAKE 26

TAKE 28

Kaitlyn Hambly and Sarah Kim ‘15Copy Editor and Design Editor

ISKL is excited to welcome Mrs. Monica Flaim to the new position of Academic Success Coordinator. Mrs. Flaim and her husband, Mr. Mike Flaim, have been in Malaysia for a year. Mr. Flaim is well known around ISKL for his roles as a high school social studies teacher and cross country coach. Before coming to Malaysia, Mrs. Flaim and her husband lived in the Netherlands for nearly a decade. Working in education support positions is nothing new for Mrs. Flaim. Before her role as the academic success coordinator, she was a middle school librarian and did public relations for the school in the Netherlands.

Mrs. Flaim grew up in Canada and experienced success in school but struggled after an international move to the United States during high school. Her new school was less rigorous than the previous one and she had difficulty engaging in the new curriculum. She admits she “got really lazy.” Mrs. Flaim notes that no one pushed her. “I think, had somebody been watching, they might have seen that I could have achieved a lot more than I chose to.” The school counsellors could have been the ones to notice, but there “weren’t systems like this in place,” at the time.

Although Mrs. Flaim didn’t think teaching a large group of students was for her, she noticed that Mr. Flaim often came home from teaching energized and really positive. In her new role, she will be able to work with students in a smaller setting and provide support she never had the chance to benefit from. She’s excited to start “working with people individually to help them succeed.” She has already found that working with students is very rewarding.

Schools, Mrs. Flaim pointed out, are “much more geared towards student’s success now.” ISKL is a “really supportive school,” engaging students both inside and outside the classroom. Mrs. Flaim knows the importance of a positive role model, she recalls, “I certainly had adults that were supportive of me outside of school and some teachers that I connected with. They were instrumental in making me go a certain direction with my studies.”

Mrs. Flaim admits that “this is the most intensive work with students I’ve done so far,” but she’s looking forward to the challenges her new position will likely entail. “If you’d told me fifteen years ago that I’d be doing this right now, then I would have said “No”, she laughs. “What I’ve learnt from my ambitions, from when I was your age, is that change happens and it’s okay and you can roll with it.”

TAKE 29

Nabil Bennett ‘16Staff Writer

Imagine yourself being in a new school with hundreds of students and having the responsibility of taking care of their emotional well-being - tough job, right? Well, what you’ve just imagined is, in reality, Stacie La Grow’s new job as school counselor for grades 9 & 11. So, who is this new counselor? What is she here for? Why should we care about her? The TAKE team recently interviewed her in order to try and get some answers to these underlying questions. “I was born in Syracuse, New York … that’s where I grew up” she explains. She continues on to talk about where she had lived before; exclusively in the United States: Colorado, North Carolina, and Massachusetts. She finishes off her introduction by saying that she considers Denver, Colorado home, regardless of the fact that she was born and raised in Syracuse, New York. She continues on to state that her ethnicity is half Irish and French-German, but nevertheless she considers herself an American. “My citizenship is American, my nationality is American, my parents were American.”

Moving on, she talks about her previous school location, “[I was] working at ISB, Beijing for two years, and then prior to that I was in Athens, Greece at an international school there.” Interestingly enough, students from her school in Beijing also moved to ISKL this year, and it was a great moment when they recognized one another and were greeted with hugs from a familiar

face. Ms. La Grow came to ISKL for two basic reasons: ISKL was a solid academic school, and people seemed really kind. She goes on specifically to say that it was also a place where she could grow professionally, and the city was in a convenient location that would enable her to travel to other nearby countries. Additionally, as crazy as it may sound, Ms. La Grow joined a peace corporation for a duration of one year while she lived in Eastern Europe - Bulgaria - and she even had two great internships, one as a district attorney, and one involving social work, albeit they were at different times of her life.

In her youth, Ms. La Grow enjoyed playing soccer and track and field in high school. She was also involved in other extracurricular activities, such as the Spanish Club and the well-known National Honor Society - she was certainly a studious woman. “I was in lots of little activities that took some of my time, but a bulk of my activities was spent [on soccer] in addition to studying” Stacie even got to work at a part-time job for the last two years of her high-school, and she comments “I was really lucky that I had a pretend job that worked around not only my school but my soccer schedule.”

Ms. La Grow is a friendly New Yorker who has lived in all sorts of places around the world. Being half Irish and German-French, her ethnicity is all over the place - nevertheless, she still considers herself a full American. She used to study political science, but later on decided to study counseling due to personal preferences. As an ISKL community, we are truly privileged to have such an experienced and enthusiastic counselor to help our students get through the year with ease.

Source: www.swktech.com

“I’m loving the food - I had the best bowl of noodles today that I’ve ever had in my life.”

- Stacie La Grow

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Mr. MerryNot Just an Average Math Teacher

Alex Dean ‘16 and Aya Ogasawara ‘15Staff Writers

This year, Mr. Jonathan Merry became a new member of the ISKL faculty. He teaches IM1 and IM2 along with coaching the Varsity girls volleyball team. Even though he is new to the school, he is feeling right at home already.

Before he came to Malaysia, Mr. Merry lived in 3 different countries: Melbourne, Australia, Mexico City, Mexico, and Whistler, Canada. This is his first time travelling to Malaysia, and his first impressions have been great. “I’ve found KL to be a really easy city to move to. Everything pretty much works and a lot of people speak English. That’s just really easy for a new arrival. It’s a bit hot compared to where I used to live but otherwise it’s really nice,” says Mr. Merry.

Mr. Merry is highly trained in the fields of both science and math, and while he was a science teacher, was required to teach math when he came to ISKL, as there were no science spots available for him. He had no intention of ever being solely a math teacher, however, once he started, he found he enjoyed the challenge. He

noticed that it was a good fit for him, and now he loves teaching the subject.

In his spare time, Mr. Merry enjoys outdoor sports such as rock climbing, rafting and most of all in his opinion, skiing. He has already found easy access to most of these sports pretty close to KL, and is enjoying having the ability to easily find them. In addition, he plays volleyball, and is the varsity girls volleyball coach for this year. He started playing volleyball when he was 16 years old, and trained regularly. He was passionate about volleyball throughout high school and university. However, in the last 5 years, he has not been able to play, as he was out in the countryside in more rural areas. Therefore, he couldn’t commit to the regular training in the city. Since he has been at ISKL, he is enjoying getting back to the sport and his regular training, both as a coach and player.

So far, Mr. Merry has felt very welcome as a teacher at ISKL, by both students, other teachers and even the parents, and he is looking forward to teaching here for a long time to come.

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Kailee Norcross ‘15 and Mariana Felix-Kim ‘15Senior Editor and Staff Writer

Vincent Cee is an adventure-loving, music-making, instrument-creating new addition to the ISKL faculty. Originating from the USA, Mr. Cee recently transferred to Malaysia from Fairbanks, Alaska, where he was working as an university professor. Mr. Cee confirms that this is indeed his first overseas posting, and he is incredibly excited to be with us here in Asia. “Malaysia has been really awesome so far and all the people have been extremely nice,” he said.

Before he became a teacher, he was pursuing his dream of becoming a famous musician. “I was a jazz freelance musician, playing professionally,” he explains. “I thought I was going to play it forever but I ran out of money one year.” Since then his teaching career took off in Mesa, Arizona, near Phoenix. That was where he first started teaching high school, and also taught middle school for five years.

Other than teaching music, one of Mr. Cee’s favorite hobbies is creating it. His favorite instrument is not the bass, piano, or cello, but instead is one that he constructed himself. He explains, “I like making my own instruments and maybe for an after-school activity I’ll have students

make their own electronic instruments and things like that.”

In the past he has made music by altering the microchips of toys in order to create sophisticated sounds, a type of electronic music that nobody knows much about. He explains that with enough of these types of individual instruments, you can create a sort of electronic band.

Besides Mr. Cee’s passion for music he also has a love for mountain biking. Even temperatures of -40 Cº in Fairbanks, Alaska, didn’t stop Mr. Cee from becoming an avid mountain biker. Mr. Cee was introduced to mountain biking from a friend four years ago. After he was convinced to buy a bike, he and his friend would ride together in the snow. “You have to have special clothes and special bikes and winter biking is really fun,” he explains. “ It doesn’t hurt as bad when you fall because of snow, and you do fall” he says with a laugh.

Mr. Cee is very excited to teach music at ISKL and hopes to help students understand how powerful music can be. As he believes that music “allows us to express multiple and simultaneous contradictory and complementary ideas.”

abcnews.com mambo-world.com pulp365.com

static.parade.condenast.com media4.s-nbcnews.comassets.nydailynews.com

Juni Lee ‘15Staff Writer

Robin Williams left us on August 11, 2014 with his legacy as well as the challenge of filling his shoes. He was an unforgettable filmmaker, actor and comedian. He was most famous for his performances in films such as Mrs. Doubtfire, Dead Poets Society, and Jumanji. Williams was a very modest individual who always credited the influence of other comedians he was inspired by.

When it was announced that Robin Williams had taken his own life, fans all over the world were both shocked and devastated. He suffered from anxiety and depression before his death; he seemed to have forgotten about his own happiness in his dedication to making other people happy.

According to Daily Mail UK, Robin Williams and Christopher Reeve were well known for their friendship. The two met in 1973, as roommates at the Juilliard School in New York City. They also started their careers in the same year (in late 1970, Robin Williams in Mork And

Mindy and Christopher Reeve in Superman). Williams and Reeve were there for each other throughout many personal hardships. Reeve discouraged Williams from looking down on himself, which motivated Williams to continue on with his career. When Christopher died in 2004, Williams struggled without his dear friend. He adopted Reeve’s son and took care of his wife. After Reeve’s death, whenever Williams received awards, he always dedicated them to Reeve, the Oscar amongst many others.

A lesson to be learnt from this sad story is that Robin Williams did not stop his career after the loss of his friend, but he strove to do his best. Williams was successful in satisfying his fans through his work. He would probably want us to do the same. He would not want us to mourn his passing with silence, but to celebrate his life with smiles and laughter. He became an icon of comedic film and was truly an expert in his field. Robin Williams will always be remembered as a man that made the world laugh.

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TAKE 35

Allie Peschel-Keel ‘15Staff Writer

As of this past month, the entertainment community has lost a few major personalities. On September 4th, 2014, Joan Rivers passed away at the age of 81 after going in for a “little procedure” to manage the condition of her vocal chords. Rivers went to her doctor to have it done, similar to the countless times she’d gone in to have plastic surgery alterations to her face and body. In the past she’d been known to have said, “I've had so much plastic surgery, when I die they will donate my body to Tupperware.” However, this time it proved to be fatal, as it resulted in her sudden shortage of breath and immediate death.

Though most people remember Joan Rivers for her sassy and outspoken personality on her most recent TV show, “Fashion Police”, she has been featured in many other comedic films. One of Rivers’ most famous roles was merely using her voice for the character of Dot Matrix in the screwball comedy, Spaceballs. She also appeared as a cameo guest-star on the movie, The Muppets Take Manhattan.

Joan Rivers brought laughter into the world through her own funny quotes and memorable remarks on those around her in the entertainment business. Joan Rivers’ humor was one of her best and most valued traits. Furthermore, her daughter, Melissa Rivers, was able to carry on the legacy of comedy in her own spirit. Melissa

grew up with a mother who was kind and thoughtful as well as the brassy and sassy commentator she was known as by the general public.

Through life and in death, Joan Rivers will always be remembered for her comedic stunts. One of the most recent things she had spoken out about was her own funeral. While many fans of Joan Rivers felt that this passing was tragic and devastating to communities everywhere, Melissa Rivers knew better. Melissa stated simply, “My mother’s greatest joy in life was to make people laugh. Although that is difficult to do right now, I know her final wish would be that we return to laughing soon.”

In order to ensure that everyone felt comforted in this sad moment, Joan Rivers often joked about her own death in the past. She discussed in her own books as well as with family members that she never wanted the traditional funeral setup. “I don’t want some Rabbi rambling on, I want Meryl Streep crying, in five different accents. I want Bobby Vinton to pick up my head and sing ‘Mr. Lonely’.” Joan Rivers wanted to live life as chic as possible, and leave this life in style. She never disappointed her loving fans, her critics who despised her outspoken nature, or her own family in sad times. In life and death Joan Rivers will forever be remembered as one of the sassiest women to walk this Earth. While Joan Rivers discussed and criticed fashion and many film icons, she became an icon of her own.

theguardian.com photos.toofab.com grownasslady.com

photos.toofab.com photos.toofab.com thewrap.com

TAKE 36

Black Gold - FoalsBlue Spotted Tail- Fleet FoxesWeather of a Killing Kind - The Tallest Man on EarthWetsuit - The VaccinesUs - Regina Spektor

Atomic Man - Portugal. The ManLights Out, Words Gone - Bombay Bicycle ClubAyla - The MaccabeesTighter - Fitz And The TantrumsPaddy - The Rubens

There Will Come a Time - Noah and the WhalePsychic Trauma - Cloud NothingsKomorebi - Craft SpellsWhile We’re Young - Department of Eagles

Wanderlust - Wild BeastsHolding On For Life - Broken BellsKindness - Bad VeinsTruce - twenty one pilotsMe and the Moon - The DrumsTrades and Tariffs - The Dodos

TAKE 32