What’s New?
For the first Dalat News each year I like to focus on “What’s New”.
The first week of school is always an exciting one as the campus finally comes alive with students and activity. All the work that has been done in preparation of the new-year starts to pay off as classes begin meeting and students get back to their studies. It’s fun to see our new students learning all about what makes Dalat a special and unique school and our new staff beginning to understand why we are so proud of our students.
In North America an expression that is used to say “hello” or greet someone you know is to ask the question, “What’s New?” At the beginning of each year that is a good question to answer in the first director’s message.
So what is new at Dalat this year? Quite a bit actually, as you will see in the list below.
New Students: Our enrolment for this year currently stands at 519 students from 25 different countries with 102 of them being new to Dalat.
New Staff: This year we have 12 new full time staff and 5 part time staff joining Dalat;
Eileen Buhr– 2nd grade teacher
Garth Buhr – Special Services teacher
Pam Hoffmeyer – Librarian
Paul Hoffmeyer – Sub Coordinator
Beth Reimer – ES Music teacher
Jay Reimer– HS Science teacher
Joel Roberts – Tech Specialist
Derek Smith– MS & HS Math teacher
Josh Anderson – HS Bible teacher
Jon Ronning – Tech Specialist
Rebekah Ronning – ES Computer teacher
Laura Danneker – MS & HS Music teacher
Robin Frohlich –ES Athletic Coordinator
Deb Gray – HS English teacher
Chance Edman – Athletic Director
Christine Lim – 1st Grade teacher
Shawna Wood – MS Principal.
New Facilities: A newly renovated and enlarged ES library, a new ES & MS art classroom, renovations of classrooms 6 -8, new bathrooms in the HS, a new drama classroom, a new HS bible classroom, and after 32 years of teaching in room 27, Mr. Tompkins has moved to room 3 at the front of the school.
New Theme: Our theme for this year as a school is “DISconnect” and as the year goes on this theme will be fleshed out in many different ways. Our “Focus ESLR” (Expected School Wide Learning Result) is Effective Communicator.
New Classes: This year we have added a second section of 2nd grade and 4th grade. New classes being offered this year in the HS include AP World History, Robotics, Digital Citizenship, 21st Century Skills, 3D Art, Algebra 3 (statistics), and a new drama class. In the ES Dalat is initiating a new math curriculum (Singapore Math) and Mr. Davis as the new math coordinator for ES & MS is involved in helping the teachers implement it.
New Positions: Dalat has increased its staffing in the counselling department, HS bible dept, a new ES / MS math coordinator position, a part time ES athletic coordinator added to the PE dept, increased teaching staff in the Music dept, and the adding of a 21st Century Skills coordinator in the high school.
New Technology: 1 to 1 iPad program in the high school implemented this year, upgraded wireless network, new robotics curriculum, 2 new Smartboards, and new point to view cameras for use in HS classrooms.
Other New Things: New textbooks and resources in all divisions, a new school sign out front, more umbrellas, etc, etc.
The list could go on with a number of other small changes but I will stop there. A lot of things are new around Dalat right now but my hope for our new families is that very soon it will no longer feel like a “new” school but instead will feel like “home.”
Have a great weekend.
Karl Steinkamp
Director
Karl Steinkamp is passionate about Dalat International School and training up young people to make a positive impact on their world, walk with integrity, and follow Christ. Karl was a student at Dalat and returned with a degree in education as a student teacher, high school principal, and now Dalat Director since 2006. 