Dalat International School

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Dalat International School
Logo; Dalat International School
Logo
Motto: Education for Life
Status American-style, college-preparatory curriculum
Official language English
Director Karl Steinkamp
K-8 Principal Brian Brewster
High School Principal Fred Colburn
Director of Development Larry Chinn
Population 380 Students
Location Penang, Malaysia
Currency Ringgit Malaysia

Dalat International School is a school in Penang, Malaysia.

Contents

[edit] History

Dalat School was founded in 1929 as a private Christian boarding school in Dalat, Vietnam to provide a North American elementary and high school education for children of Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) missionaries in Indo-China. Because of the Vietnam War, in 1965, the school moved from its original location to a temporary location in Bangkok, Thailand. Eight months later, the school relocated to Tanah Rata in the Cameron Highlands of Malaysia where it remained for six years. In June 1971, Dalat moved to its present location in Penang, Malaysia where it is today. The word "international" was added into the name in 2002 to reflect its student body. Today, Dalat is a renowned and recognized international school that is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). It serves not only missionary children but also children of overseas expatriates and the local community. The sea wall was damaged during the tsunami in 2004. [1]

[edit] Curriculum

Dalat International School uses United States standards of education that have been compiled by McREL Compendium of Standards and Benchmarks for K-12 education. Dalat also uses Expected School-wide Learning Results (ESLRs) employing teaching methods that focus on cooperative learning and activity-based content learning.

[edit] Some Interesting Statistics about Dalat

  • Student/Teacher ratio is 8 to 1.
  • Dalat students scored in the top 10% of all US schools in the ITBS (Iowa Test of Basic Skills, the US standard test for all students in Grades 1 to 9).
  • Students scored 15% higher than the US national average on the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test which determines acceptance into US colleges and universities). The US national average is a score of 1021 (503 verbal, 584 math). In 2005 Dalat students had an average score of 1144 (560 verbal, 584 math). In 2006 Dalat students scored 1179 (553 verbal and 626 math).
  • 94% of Dalat students go to a four-year college.
  • Recent graduates have been accepted to prestigious colleges and universities including: Stanford University, Harvard University, John Hopkins University, University of British Columbia and National University of Singapore just to name a few.
  • All of Dalat's 60 teaching staff have been educated in North America and a majority of them hold advanced degrees in their academic fields of study.
  • The average Dalat teacher has 4 years of Dalat experience and 12 years of experience in education.
  • Dalat's athletic program is very active and competitive within Penang and Malaysia participating at the highest level in soccer (football), basketball, volleyball and track and field. Dalat's boys varsity basketball team was the Penang State Champions in 2002 and 2006.
  • Extra curricular activities flourish at Dalat offering music, drama, forensics, art, cooking and games.
  • It is located right along a beach.

[edit] What Others are Saying About Dalat

Al Baeder - Chairman of the WASC/ACSI Accreditation Committee who has made over 100 accreditation visits for 35 years says, "Dalat is a warm, caring community that provides outstanding academic and residential programs. One of the strongest in my 35 years of accreditation." 15 March 2007

Richard Fragle - WASC/ACSI Accreditation Member, a retired Superintendent with 46 years of experience in education says, "I am very impressed with the staff and especially impressed with the curriculum. Dalat far exceeded my expectations as a WASC representative. I found the staff highly qualified." 15 March 2007

Jennie Blair - WASC/ACSI Accreditation Member and Science Teacher and Bandung Alliance International School says, "In my 4 days at Dalat, I heard staff, students and parents say that it was a school that was inviting, comfortable and FUN to be apart of! (Even the kids said it!) It seems to me that in most places, it would take awhile to get that impression of a place. But in my short time there, my thoughts resonate with theirs exactly! Each person I talked to (even when promised anonymity!) had really positive things to say about the school. The staff seemed really qualified and excited about what they were teaching. Several parents noted how they had kids who used to hate school until they came to Dalat and now they love it! To me, not only was the campus attractive in external appearance, but it was attractive in its programs, ideas, philosophy and its people! Truly a fantastic experience!" 20 March 2007

A junior says, "Dalat has been a great help in assisting my growth mentally and spiritually. I got to experience what many of my peers in the US don't get to experience: the international community. I've learnt so many valuable lessons from my friends who come from so many different places!" September 2007

A senior says, "The teachers here are totally awesome! They actually take time off from their busy schedules whenever you need help. Outside the classroom, they treat you almost like their own children."

A former ESL student-alumni shares her experience "When I first came to Dalat, my English was so poor that I could hardly read an article without stumbling and fumbling. Now I can read much better and I enjoy Shakespeare! Today I'm a second-year honors English major on a scholarship in America."

[edit] External links