Phoenix Flyer

2015/16 Issue 6
December 7, 2015

Korea International School

In This Issue:

Teacher Recruitment
Art Expo
Seoul Campus Thanksgiving
Pangyo Expo
Middle School Chess
High School Mock Trial
Phoenix Athletics - Cheer Team
Phoenix Activities - Model UN

KIS Today

KIS Faculty Recruitment!

Each year, KIS celebrates the amazing accomplishments and learning that our students exhibit. We are
constantly impressed with the caliber of their work and the support that their families provide them. Our
students are focused, dedicated, and smart. KIS student accomplishments are possible due to the support
systems that are in place to help them as they find their way from our school to higher-level educational
institutions.
Each students support system is made up of three important components: family, themselves (the student),
and the school. At KIS, we have direct influence on one important component that directly impacts each
students continued success: our school.
There are countless factors that determine our schools success. One area that KIS takes great pride in, is
hiring and retaining highly-qualified and trained faculty. Each winter, KIS is faced with the difficult task of
replacing many teaching and support staff who work diligently to provide innovative learning environments
for our students. Sadly, on December 1st, teachers are asked to declare their intent to stay or leave. Some
choose to leave KIS for a variety of reasons. Those who choose to leave will complete their contracts in
June, and then depart for other destinations at the conclusion of the school year.
Once we have identified departing staff, in early December, we begin the process of finding their replacements. This is the start of the annual teacher recruitment season. First, we share the available positions
internally. Internal candidates, who are certified in the position being posted, are then considered for interviews. For those positions that we do not fill internally, we post them using several school recruitment agencies and our KIS website. The agencies that advertise KIS positions host teacher recruitment fairs each year,
around the globe, that KIS leadership attends. A majority of our newly hired teachers are coming to KIS via
the recruitment agencies we use.
Once we identify strong candidates, we conduct several reference checks. We use reference checks as a
primary tool for safeguarding our students. We also ensure that our teachers: have deep content knowledge;
work well within teams; love and care for students; and can critically think, lead and contribute to our innovative faculty. Finally, we make offers and begin identifying the staff who will replace our outgoing teachers.
Coming soon, you will see displays highlighting the incoming staffposted in B3 and in each school building.
As we say goodbye to many of our talented teachers this school year, we are committed to finding the best
and brightest educators from around the globe. Should you have questions about our recruiting procedures,
please contact our our Assistant School Director for more details (prich@kis.or.kr).
Patrick Rich
Assistant Director

KIS Spotlight

KIS Art Exhibition: Perspective

One of the highlights for the Art Department and KIS is when artists from all schools (PK through to Grade
12) exhibit their artwork in one space. This year, students focused on showing different Perspectives of
who they are through a variety of mediums. From sculptures to paintings to circuit accessories, students
displayed their dynamic creativity and technique. The reception on Tuesday, December 1st, had a great turn
out of students, parents, and faculty. Artists were able to explain their processes and ideas to an audience,
and friends were able to see the talent of KIS students. The Middle School PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) was gracious in providing tasty snacks; and Middle School students sold their very first coloring book
as well. This coloring book was designed by 88 MS art students, with the theme of KIS student life. The Art
Department is excited to begin planning for the Spring Art Exhibition, which will be in April, 2016.
Candice Kim
MS Art

Seoul Campus
Elementary School

Family Celebration and Potluck at SC!

Last week, the JK class at KIS Seoul Campus
hosted a potluck and celebration to culminate
our Family And Friends Unit. Each Junior Kinder
family brought in a special food item thats unique
to their family or culture. We had an array of delicious food, including: fruit tea; mandu / dumplings
and sweet rice cakes from Korea; Arabic coffee;
sweet dates and pancakes from Saudi Arabia;
Spanish omelets from Spain; and an apple crisp
from America! We had a few siblings and many
parents attend our celebration. The JK students
sang a song, along with using sign language to
share how every family is unique and special. We
also shared a video of the students describing
who is in their family, what they like to do with
their family, and how they can be a good friend.
The event was a great way to celebrate culture
and diversity here at KIS Seoul.
Meredith Voss
JK Teacher

Highlights

Family Hike and BBQ

We wrapped up another great Saturday Sports season on November 21st with a family hike and barbeque. We
enjoyed a crisp fall morning trek through the woods near campus; our hike was filled with colorful leaves and
amazing views of the city. There was a great turnout for the event: over 40 students, parents, and staff hiked up
Daemo-san. Our students did an amazing job encouraging each other, and they were always positive and willing to lend a helping hand when someone was struggling to make it to the top. After the hike, we came back to
school and feasted on barbeque, and played a few games of kickball. It was a great way to finish the season.
This fall, our Saturday Sports participants played in multiple gaelic football and soccer tournaments, enjoyed volleyball, played basketball, ran cross country, and reached the summit of Daemo-san. During the season, we had
a chance to meet and compete against students from around Seoul and abroad. Our parent support was amazing. I want to thank them for taking time to come out and support the students. Special thanks to Mr. Kordich, Ms.
Sneller, Ms. Voss, Ms. Riedel, Mrs. Greene, Mr. Greene, Mr. Zhou, Ms. Bedessem, and Erickson. The students
had a great experience because of the time and energy you put into each event.
Now its time to ski and snowboard! See you on the mountain.

Justin OConnor
SC Principal

Grade Three Visits Tong-In Market

The entry event for Grade Threes Immigration unit occurred on Tuesday, November 24th. Students traveled to
Tong-in Market to experience an old-fashioned way to buy lunch through the use of an older style of coins from
the past. All food was prepared in a covered market where ten coins (5,000 Won) were used to purchase each
students lunch. To prepare the students way of thinking on immigration, we wanted to provide an experience
that was fresh, but possibly difficult to understand. Even our transportation through the subway was new for our
classroom population as many had a difficult time figuring out how to use a subway card.
Overall, the experience was entertaining, and it gives the children a basis to reflect upon as the teaching and
learning about immigration moves forward. There will be many future 2nd trimester projects in the works, including the 2nd Annual Immigration Simulation of Ellis Island held at Seoul Campus. In this future experience, the
students will walk through the process as immigrants hoping to enter through New Yorks gate to America.
The excitement and creative movement in these applied learning experiences give our children a foundation to
explore their ideas and help them take control of their learning. It is rewarding to know that this off-site excursion
stimulated my students minds, and I look forward to what they will bring to the table in the next few months.

Josh Greene
Grades 3-5
Social StudiesTeacher

Robo Ethics

Imagine yourself in the not-so-distant future: riding in your autonomous car while enjoying the view of the countryside as you zip along without fear that these distractions will impede your driving, because you are in fact not driving. Suddenly, just as you are about to enter a tunnel, a person out of nowhere dashes in front of your vehicle. He
stumbles and falls. Since you are only the passenger in a car that drives itself, you are uncertain of the outcome.
One of two possibilities could occur: you might hit the pedestrian, critically injuring him or worse; or option two,
you avoid the pedestrian, and instead crash head-on into the side of the concrete tunnel, which could result in
serious injury to yourself. However, the choice is not up to you. The autonomous vehicle has to decide. Moreover,
perhaps its really the designer and engineer who had to decide, long before the car even hit the streets.
On October 29th, KIS Seoul Campus Grade Five student Seojoon, and Grade Four students Alex, Sean, and Lucas, attended the Fourth Nationwide Elementary Schools Discussion Competition on Roboethics for International
Elementary Students, at the KINTEX Exhibition Center, to discuss and debate the ethics surrounding this same
dilemma. Also in attendance were a group of six, serious Sixth Grade competitors from the Seoul National University of Education Elementary School. The event was held on the center stage, in a large auditorium of the KINTEX,
that was surrounded by many robotics competitions, exhibitions, and vendor showcases.
Even though this was the first time that Seoul Campus students were competing in a debate such as this, they
all did a superb job of defending their opinions. All contestants had to choose between the two above options: of
whether to hit the pedestrian, or crash their car into the tunnel. Each student began by stating their opinion and
the reasons for their choice. All of them prepared speeches and questions regarding the topic of discussion in
advance. They even practiced with each other on the van ride to the site. Then, four predesignated contestants
questioned and discussed the first students assertion. This process was repeated until all ten students arguments were debated. Most discussions focused on the possible safety features that the autonomous vehicle could
have in place to prevent injury to both pedestrians and passengers. Most students believed that the car should
avoid the pedestrian and crash instead.
The Roboethics debate was a great experience for our Seoul Campus students. It took a great deal of courage
and confidence for them to be on center stage. They not only defended their opinions in front of a large audience,
but they also argued against students a year or two older than themselves. Afterwards, they all felt relieved to be
finished; but, at the same time, they were satisfied with what they had accomplished. Several of the debaters said
they would like to come back and do it again next year. Seoul Campus might have to start a debate club!
Russel Shaw
PK-5 Science & Design Teacher

Pangyo Campus
Elementary School

Thanksgiving Celebrations!
KIS Elementary School celebrated Thanksgiving in grand fashion! Our youngest students
gathered together on Monday, November 23rd
to have a feast with their families and share
what they were thankful for. Everyone had a
wonderful time enjoying the food and each
others company. Friends and family topped
the list of things to be thankful for, of course,
but our young gratitude givers didnt stop
there. Many were thankful for the turkey that
was actually chicken, but tasty just the same.
Toshiki and Yuan in Kindergarten A Class were
thankful for their toys, especially their Legos.
Endrik in Pre-Kindergarten gave a special nod
to Spiderman. Alicia in Kindergarten B Class
gave thanks to her pet hamster, and classmate
Liam expressed his gratitude for indoor plumbing. Ashley in Junior Kindergarten, with a voice
that could melt the Grinchs heart, simply said
Butterflies when asked what she was thankful for. Children know what adults too often
forget: its the little things in life that count! On
Thursday, November 26th, the fun continued
with the ES Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
treating students to pumpkin pie with whipped
cream. After that, everyone had a reason to be
thankful!
Travis Peterson
ES Associate Principal

Highlights

Global Buddies!

Students in the Pangyo Elementary School have been working hard this year to make new friends around the
world. Our students have connected with classes in the following countries: America, Australia, Bahrain, China,
Dominican Republic, England, Kenya, New Zealand, and South Africa.
A variety of activities have been used to introduce students to new cultures. In 5A, the students are part of a mystery buddy program where they create short videos asking and answering questions until they discover their new
friends location. Classes in Pre-Kindergarten, Junior Kindergarten, Grade One, and Grade Two have given their
new friends tours of KIS through pre-recorded videos; and they have sent them to America, South Africa, and
New Zealand. First Graders have used Kids Blog online to connect with a class in New Zealand. Buddy classes
in 1st and 4th Grade have worked together to create images that will be part of a traveling sketchbook that began in the Dominican Republic, and is now traveling to the Philippines after it visited KIS. Students in 5B will be
participating with a mystery class that is part of a 24-hour Skypethon.
Students are not only making incredible memories through their communication, but they are also trying to make
a difference in the lives of others. Kindergarteners had a live-video Skype with a school in Kenya. They learned
about the food they eat, what they learn, and about the minimal clean drinking water that they have available.
Now, the students are excited to try and help their new friends by creating ways to earn money for water filtration
systems in Kenya.
These connections are working to give our Elementary School students a better global perspective, and we are
excited to continue to connect every class throughout the year!
Megan E. Godek
ES Technology Specialist

Talent Show: Thankful for Amazing Students!

The Grade Three-to-Five Talent Show is held each year on Thanksgiving Day, and it has become a greatly anticipated part of our holiday tradition. While its true that the Pilgrims would certainly not have approved of any of
the K-Pop dance routines that graced the stage last Thursday, November 26th, there is really no better way for
us to appreciate what a gift it is to be a part of the KIS community than to showcase our students incredible talent. The word talent can be a bit misleading. Like luck, we tend to think of it as something that you either have
or you dont. This suggests that a person can just show up and give an amazing performance, which diminishes
the effort behind it. For each truly incredible 90-second act, there were hours upon hours of practice and buckets
of frustrated tears. There were a host of failures as well as little accomplishments. With persistence, poise, and
passion, our students persevered, resulting in performances that made it look effortless. Yes, KIS kids have talent, but they also have grit. And, thats something to be proud of. Perhaps next year well change the name to the
Work Ethic, Tenacity, and Talent Show!
Travis Peterson
ES Associate Principal

Elementary School Expo!

We live in a world of constant change. There
are jobs in existence today that did not exist in 2007. You could easily ask a student,
What do you want to be when you grow
up, and they could state that, The job
doesnt exist yet. KIS is aware of this and
fully understands that no matter what lies
ahead in the future, all of our students will
have to deal with problems and people. As
a faculty, we realize that no matter what job
our students choose to do, they will have to
work with people to form solutions to problems.
The 21st Century Learning Skills are an important part of the curriculum at KIS. These
skills are known as the 4Cs: Critical Thinking, Creative Thinking, Communication,
and Collaboration. The Elementary School
Expo that took place on November 12th
and 20th showcased students in Grades K
through to Five: all using their 21st Century
Learning Skills to come up with a solution
to a problem. Using the Stanfords Design
Thinking model, our students had to use
their knowledge, skills, and the 4Cs to generate and develop solutions to a problem.
November 12th and 20th at KIS were truly
days of learning and achievement. Our students were able to present their solutions
in many forms such as models, presentations, and videos. They also showcased the
knowledge they gained along the journey
of problem solving. Parents, students and
faculty came together to learn and show
our appreciation for the hard-working students at KIS.
Josh Hassler
KOLAB KORNER

Pangyo Campus
Middle School

Maker Space

This is the second year that the KIS

Middle School has had access to a
Maker Space. This space was created
to provide students with the tools and
workspace needed to engineer solutions to the needs created by projectand-problem-based learning opportunities. Currently, the KIS Middle School
is using this space in two primary ways.
The first primary use of the Maker
Space is as a classroom for two sections of a quarter-long, Grade Six
class: entitled Design Thinking. Design Thinking (DT) is an engineering
methodology used by a number of
companies such as Ford, Apple, and
even Google, to create new products
and services. KIS is teaching the Stanford University variant of the DT cycle.
Sixth Graders are taught the DT cycle
in an effort to empower them to take a
Do It Yourself (DIY) approach to solving problems that require an engineering approach. The difference between
science and engineering, workplace
safety, and applied creativity are also
facilitated by the use of our evolving
Maker Space.
Another intended use of the Maker
Space is to support project-and-problem-based units in the Middle School.
For example, Grade Seven Science
students are currently working in the
Greenhouse as part of a problembased unit entitled Grow-Up. The
goal of this project is to engineer a system that allows the students to grow
as much food as possible in a small
space. Mobile building-centers are first
assembled and equipped in the Maker
Space. Then, they are moved to the
Grade Seven classrooms to give the
student engineers some of the tools
they need to engineer a solution to this
real-world problem. We are looking forward to our continuing results in 2016.
Eric Nelson
MS Science Teacher

Highlights

MS KAIAC: Chess Club

KAIAC (Korean-American Interscholastic Activities Conference) has three chess tournaments
every year. This year, KIS plans to participate in
the Junior Varsity division, which is only for Middle School students. While there is no limit to how
many students can be in the club, there are strict
limits on how many KIS participants can compete
in tournaments. None of our current club members have ever participated in one of the KAIAC
chess tournaments; so, they are learning the
tournament guidelines in order to do well when
we finally participate in the second tournament
held in February, 2016. Players must know algebraic notation to record moves, use a timer, and
follow the Swiss-system Tournament rules.
The Chess Club has members from all three Middle School grades, and strong players from each
grade. These students have already shown the
dedication necessary to develop their abilities
by committing to attend every Wednesday after
schooleven though many are involved in other
activities both in and outside of KIS. Their dedication is already paying dividends by learning new
strategies and refining existing skills. Reflecting what KIS Middle School wants out its clubs,
students are learning more from each other than
the teacher involved. The group is an inquisitive
bunch that asks questions throughout our club
time to understand more about the finer points
of the sport. Every week, they always arrive early
and want to stay later than our scheduled dismissal time. These days, our timeline feels somewhat early since the next tournament is still three
months away. But, our club members are quickly
looking like a team that will win many matches
when they finally do participate in the next KAIAC
chess tournament.
Javier Hernandez
MS Social Studies

Spotlight on: Drama!

As KIS is winding down the first semester of this school year, Middle School Phoenix Drama is ramping up! Not
only are our classes preparing and giving final performances in the weeks ahead, but our Drama Two class is
performing for the entire Middle School during the assembly on Friday, December 18th (our last school day before
winter vacation).
MS Drama Two Students will be performing Aesops (Oh So Slightly) Updated Fables by Kim Esop Wylie. This is
a one-act play that weaves five of Aesops Fables into one show with just a few modern updates, creating a very
humorous retelling of these famous stories.
While Drama Two has been working onstage, the MS Technical Theatre Club has been working backstage on the
technical components of the play (such as costuming, lighting, props, sound effects, and scene painting) as their
culminating activity this semester.
As you start planning for next semester, please note that Phoenix Theatre will be hosting open auditions for the
Spring Musical, Peter Pan, on Tuesday, December 8th and the 9th (2015) from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. Call-backs will
be Thursday, December 10th and 11th. This is a joint production, combining both the Middle School and High
School. We are full of anticipation, and we cannot wait to showcase our student bodys many talents. Any MS or
HS student is welcome to audition. Students should see the postings outside Ms. Moores classroom doors for
more details. The show dates will be April 28th, 29th, and 30th of 2016.
Wendy Moore
The Spring semester will be full of more performance opportunities. Be on the lookout!
MS Drama

Self-Care: This Winter Holiday and in 2016

As I searched for the right message to share with the KIS family as we prepare for the winter break, I repeatedly
came across articles of self wellness.
Anyone who has flown on an airplane and listened to the flight attendant before takeoff has been cautioned
what to do in the event the oxygen masks fall from the ceiling: Put on your own mask first before trying to help
someone else. (Shallcross, 2011)
Counselor wellness experts say that idea has mileage on the ground, too.
Helping yourself first is a principle that applies directly to counseling and parents alike. If youre gasping for air,
you cant help other people. Those who neglect their own mental, physical and spiritual self-care eventually run
out of oxygen and cannot effectively help their clients because all of their energy is going out to the clients and
nothing is coming back in to replenish their energy. (Shallcross, 2011)
While this principle is relevant to counselors, I think it is ten times more relevant to parents. Often times, you try
to make sure that everyone in your family is taken care of, dinner is cooked, rent is paid, groceries are picked up,
dry cleaning is dropped off, homework is completed; but you didnt think twice of your own needs. While all of
those items on your list are important, please keep in mind that none of those items can be completed if YOU are
not cared for. Please take this time (our winter holidays) to not only enjoy your friends and family, but also as an
opportunity to recharge and reenergize for the 2016 year ahead of us.
If you need help / assistance with anything, please do not hesitate to contact your MS counselor.
Dr. Elethia Rhoden
MS Guidance Counselor

Welcome to the Greenhouse

Welcome to the Greenhouse! We are off
and running and looking forward to a wonderful year of exploration and experimentation. So far this year, we have had several
classes of students in the Greenhouse.

The First Graders came for a tour of the

Greenhouse to learn about what plants
need in order to grow. They received quite
the shock when coming into the Greenhouse and finding no soil (dirt) anywhere!
All of the plants in the Greenhouse are
based on hydroponics and aquaponics; no
soil required. They learned how fish are essential in creating the nutrients used by the
plants for their food.
The Eighth Graders have also come to
explore and observe the goings-on in the
Greenhouse. For a lot of our Eighth Graders, it was a return to the past. Most of our
Eighth Graders were instrumental in creating our Greenhouse. With fond memories
of their Sixth and Seventh Grade Science
classes, the Eighth Graders went in with a
sense of awe. Some of our Eighth Graders even had plants in the Greenhouse that
were still producing fruit, like our bell pepper (paprika) plants.
The Pre-Kindergarten (PK) students had a
blast in the Greenhouse as well. We talked
about what a plant needs to grow. They
had the opportunity to plant a variety of
seeds, which successfully sprouted. The
PK students also had the opportunity to
feed the fish, which brought a lot of giggles
to us all.
Hannah Hopkin
MS Greenhouse

Pangyo Campus
High School

High School Theatre: Departures & Arrivals

Highlights

Thank you to everyone who attended the High School Fall Play, Departures and Arrivals. It would not have
been as successful as it was, had it not been for the school-wide support. The cast and crew were very
proud of their performances, and thrilled to have such a large turnout to watch all of their hard work. Live
theatre is always such an adrenaline-filled process, especially on the nights of the performances. Each
night can be a different experience for the actors, technical crew, and the audience. This makes the theatre
experience such a unique moment for all involved. I believe that all of the students who participated would
unanimously say that it was an amazing experience where they formed bonds and made memories to last
a lifetime. The Phoenix Theatre Department hopes that the audience had as much fun watching as we did
performing!
If you missed Departures and Arrivals, please plan on attending the upcoming Middle School/High School
Spring Musical, Peter Pan. Auditions will be held the week of December 8th to 11th, and is available to students from Grade Six through to Grade 12. I am anticipating Peter Pan to bring in audiences young and old
for an event-filled theatrical evening. Dont miss out on seeing the extremely talented KIS theatre students
in an epic musical production! Put the following dates in your 2016 calendar, today! Peter Pan: April 28th,
29th, and 30th, at 6pm.
Lauren Cuellar
HS Theatre

11th Graders Stage: A Mock Trial

A seldom-quoted line from Shakespeare comes from King Henry VI, Part 2: the first thing we do, lets kill
all the lawyers. Some claim that western societies are overly litigious, and lawyers have recently become
the brunt of a great many jokes, but the fact remains that law and justice are cornerstones of democratic
societies the world over. A staple of interesting literature is conflict, and oftentimes conflict involves crime.
Conducting a mock trial for a fictional character is an ideal way to help students understand literature from
a variety of critical perspectives, and the role that justice has in a given society.
At the end of November, Grade 11 English students concluded a mock trial for the fictional character, Michael Zits Spirit, a Native American teenager from Sherman Alexies novel Flight. The students enacted
various rolesfrom judges to witnesses to lawyersand attempted to prove that Michael was either guilty
or innocent of the crimes depicted in the novel. Any act of persuasion is an act of interpretation, and the
text is particularly well suited to interpretation. It involves a fictional style known as magical realism, where
realistic events are portrayed alongside impossible ones, as if the real and the magical can be one and the
same. In this novel, magical realism is expressed through time travel when the protagonist enters different
bodies as a way to learn greater empathy.
The novel begins with the protagonist shooting innocent people in a bank. He then enters the bodies of various individuals who played prominent roles in the saga of Native American history, and he starts to understand the cycle of violence as well as the possibility for making the world a more peaceful and empathetic
place. The message of forgiveness is important for teenagers who are ceaselessly inundated with violence
and tragedy in the everyday news.
Students in English 11 explored the main themes of the novel over the course of a two-week-long project.
They were able to call witnesses from various places in the novel, and attempt to persuade a jury as to the
guilt or innocence of the main character from the book. Students had to critically and closely read the text,
and use the words of the author to support their main points. In addition, students were responsible for
acting, memorizing speeches, character creation, and numerous other creative acts which involved writing
and reading skills. They had public opportunities to display their knowledge of the text and their ability to
research for a real-life project.
Alexies novel showcases an apologist tone for criminal activity, and students demonstrated their opinions
on the thesis of the text through their arguments. Ultimately, the classes were polarized on their opinions of
the guilt or innocence of the protagonist of the novel, and heated debates raged back and forth across the
classroom (converted temporarily into a courtroom). Students discussed the book, formed opinions, used
the words of the text to support their ideas, and formed beliefs about the world at largeexactly the goal of
a more traditional, test-based classroom.
John Miller
HS English

KIS Habitat for Humanity Goes to Indonesia

From November 21st to 28th, students and
teachers in KIS Habitat for Humanity Club
journeyed to a small island called Batam in
Indonesia. Upon arriving in Batam, Habitat
members received an orientation from the
Indonesian Habitat staff, and started working the next day. They battled through heat,
mosquitos and heavy rain to help build a
house for their Indonesian home partners.
Members worked on different tasks while
rotating in cycles. During the four work
days, they measured and cut wires into
various sizes, shaped wires to accommodate sturdy pillars, dug a hole about 1.5m
deep, and laid stone bricks along the outline of the house.
Members also toured around the island,
visiting historical and religious monuments.
They visited Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya
Monastery, and an exhibition of an old refugee camp for Vietnamese people. Some
members also tasted Indonesian culture
through its spicy, salty food.
On the final day, the team shared their culture by introducing the locals to geong-gi
and tuho (two traditional Korean games),
and Gangnam Style (the famous Kpop
song and dance). In exchange, the locals
showed the team their own creative games
and dances. Then, the team distributed
their gifts to many local children. Everyone laughed and cheered during the cultural exchangewhich inevitably created
a deep bond between the Habitat for Humanity crew and the local people of Batam.
Jeong Joo
HS Chemistry Teacher
Steve
Grade 12 Student

Life-Sustaining Learning in High School PE

KIS High School students in the Advanced Physical Education coursestaught by Mr. Ryther, Mr. Lundardo, and Mr. McKelviehave learned some incredible, life-sustaining skills this semester. Students have had
the opportunity to become certified in First Aid, CPR, and Automated External Defibrillation (AED) through
the American Red Cross.
Students learning-skills ranged from administering CPR, how to use an AED (as well as where the AEDs
are located at KIS), and proper care for an injured person. The students also practiced First Aid, including:
controlling bleeding, wound care, splinting techniques, and care for sudden illnesses such as diabetic emergencies, stroke, and shock.
One of our main goals in the KIS High School PE Department is to provide our students with the skills,
knowledge, and super attitudes necessary to act in an emergency situation. Recognizing an emergency
is very important, but knowing how to respond to an emergency is what really matters. Students learned
that they have the power and ability to helpeven if their only action is to call Emergency Medical Services
(EMS) by dialing 119 (not 911). To personalize our learning, students were also asked if they knew someone
who had ever suffered from a sudden illness or had had an injury that required care. Every student had either
personally experienced an injury or sudden illness, or knew of someone who had.
The students completed this unit with more confidence in their ability to respond to a situation that requires
medical care: whether it was administering care themselves, or by summoning EMS. Our High School PE
Departments hope is that our students have this life-sustaining training, even though they may never
hopefullyhave the need to use it. Without question,
we do not want them to be in an unforeseen situation
where they suddenly need to care for someone, yet
not know what to do. This unit has addressed that
concern, and empowered each student to respond
to emergency health situations... for their years at KIS
and for many more years to come.
Thanks to Ms. Paula Cathers, our American Red
Cross Instructor at KIS. Also, our thanks to Ms. Verenna and Ms. Lovelin, who helped with skills testing
and training. They all provided great feedback and
insight from their many years in the medical field.
Sean Ryther
HS PE

Phoenix Athletics

Varsity Girls: Volleyball

Starting from tryouts to the last game, the players on the

Varsity Girls Volleyball Team have faced many challenges throughout the season. Although there were games
every single Saturday, and practices every week, the
girls maintained high spirits while continuing to encourage one another and work together. In practices, they
worked hard on a daily basis, and pushed themselves
to become better volleyball players. Every single girl on
the team was dedicated to making herself better for
her team.
While there were some ups and downs to the season,
the girls had a pretty successful outcome. The girls finished in second place at the AISA (Association of International Schools in Asia) tournament in Osaka. They finished in second place at the KAIAC (Korean-American
Interscholastic Activities Conference) tournament, and
they finished third overall in the KAIAC conference tournament. Award winners for the season include: Senior,
Sarah (AISA all tournament, KAIAC all conference and
all tournament, and KIS Most Valuable Player); Senior,
Faith (AISA all tournament and KIS Coachs Award);
Junior, Yujeong (KIS Most Improved Player); and Junior,
Yumi (AISA all tournament and KAIAC all conference).
In addition to the the award winners listed above, here
is the 2015 Varsity Girls Volleyball team: Sophomores,
Hannah, Yerina, and Amy; Juniors, Lisa, Lynn, and Hannah; and Senior, Gina. Great job girls!
This is the last year for the current Seniors, Sarah, Faith,
and Gina; and these girls will be truly missed on the
team. They provided a support system to the younger players on and off the court. The coaches are so
grateful for their hard work and dedication to the volleyball program over the past four years. Also, the team
was extremely thankful for their two managers, Erica
and Ellen. They dedicated so much time to the program; the girls and coaches were so thankful to have
them on the team.
The girls on this team should be proud of their great effort and work, and for ending the season strong. They
started off as strangers, but quickly bonded together
as a family, and now have memories that will last a lifetime. It was a great season, and everyone is excited to
see what the future has in store for the Girls Volleyball
Program.
Aly Kelley
MS PE
Varsity Girls Volleyball Coach

Hee-Hyun
Grade 10 Student
Varsity Girls Volleyball

Fly High: Phoenix Cheerleaders

The 20152016 Cheer Team is off to a great start this year with a total of 24 cheerleaders on the Varsity/
Junior Varsity (JV) squads, after a series of extensive tryouts. Ms. Abel has been appointed as the new
coach of the JV Cheer Team, and last years JV coach, Ms. Spitzman, has become the new Varsity Cheer
Team coach for this year. The biggest change in the squad this year is the addition of new members in both
the Varsity and JV teams, with a total of nine new members joining the Varsity team, and eight new members
joining the JV team.
The season started on October 27th, and regular practice started from October 29th.
This year, the team will weigh great importance on co-work and unity within both Varsity and JV squads.
Because many of the members are new, team-building activities are being done on a weekly basis. Big-Little
pairs, and other themed practices every Thursday, have become our new tradition starting this year. Also,
combined stretch time before actual practice helps break the ice between returning and new members of
the team. Our two squads frequently gather around after regular practice to share their personal interests:
which has brought an inclusive, positive attitude and solidarity to the team. Teams will continue to have
team-bonding activities, since unity is very important when it comes to cheerleading.
On November 14th, 19 Varsity and JV squad cheerleaders attended the 2015 KAIAC (Korean American Interscholastic Activities Conference) Fall Cheerleading Clinic, which was held at SFS (Seoul Foreign School).
Starting at 12:45 P.M., the cheerleaders dedicated their time to improving their tumbling and stunting skills.
Almost eight hours of cheerleading on Saturday was definitely challenging for our Phoenix cheerleaders,
both physically and mentally, but this event showed the dedication and motivated mindset of our cheerleaders this year.
On November 23rd, 15 Varsity cheerleaders and Philbert (our KIS mascot) opened the high school pep rally
with their high-spirited moves and cheers. Starting off with a ground-breaking chant, three stunt groups performed right after the powerful chant, and then we finished off with bedazzling dance moves. The students
were amazed by the flawless performances and the full spirit of our proud cheerleaders!
This years Varsity and JV Cheer Teams have amazing coaches and co-captains. Our student leadership
includes: Minji (Grade 12), Michelle (Grade 12), along with Varsity manager Kate (Grade 11), and JV manager
Christina (Grade 11). We are all looking forward to a very successful season this year!
Kate
Grade 11 Student
Varsity Cheer Manager
Angela Spitzman
Varsity Coach
Stephanie Abel
JV Coach
MS Science Teacher

Junior Varsity Basketball: Boys & Girls Teams

BOYS TEAM: Over the course of four days, 46 boys battled their way
to securing a spot on either the Varsity or Junior Varsity Boys Basketball team. Though tryouts were arduous, 14 boysled by captains
Ryan (Grade 10) and Thomas (Grade 10)secured a place on the
team. Ten of the 14 players are new to the team; but, ultimately, the
combination of perseverance, skill, and effort have driven the boys to
start yet another successful season. Their constant effort continues
to surprise coaches Mr. Selbo and Mr. Quade, who are pumped to
see the boys grow and develop from 14 individual players into one
team.
After the harsh battle of tryouts, the boys faced the new challenge of
practices. Everyday after school, the players come to the Lower Gym
for a demanding yet strengthening practice. The boys go beyond
the orders of the coaches, and practice just as if theyre in a game.
Although practices are challenging, the walls of the lower gym are
filled with the buzz of excitement. The team was formed not too long
ago, but the players have bonded like theyve been a team for years.
The perfect combination of helpful coaches and engaged players will
with no doubt lead the team to numerous victories.
GIRLS TEAM: The past three weeks for the Girls Junior Varsity Basketball have been both strenuous and delightful. At tryouts, thirty
girls entered the Phoenix Gym with emotions fueled by excitement,
nerves, and motivation. Following the three nerve-wracking days of
tryouts, the start of a new basketball season began. The Junior Varsity Girls Basketball Team now consists of twelve athletic girls: Grace,
Celine, Sarah, Sammie, Michelle, Tae-Young, Ah-Jin, Aris, Gyuri, Alice, Felicia, and Angela. Practices have been filled with sweat, dedication, injuries, and painful moments. However, the hard work that
these girls dedicate to these practices dwarfs the temporary growing
pains of the team.
The atmosphere of the practice environment is filled with such
positivity and excitement that every single player on the team has
proven themselves to be a talented and athletic individual. We hope
to see the captainsSammie (Grade 10) and Michelle (Grade 10)
lead, guide, and represent the team, which in turn represents KIS.
Of course, our coach, Mr. Brondel, is crucial for our team. With his
leadership capabilities and humor, everybody is able to improve and
laugh with each other, creating a proactive, motivating environment
to play basketball in. As this is only the birth of a new season, we
hope to see an accumulation of the the dedication, hard work, perseverance, and passion that will attain successes for not only our
school, but also for themselves as individuals.
Amy
Grade 10 Student
Elizabeth
Grade 10 Student
Ashley
Grade 10 Student
Kay
Grade 10 Student

Charlie Brondel
HS Social Studies Teacher
JV Girls Coach
Matthew Quade
MS PE Teacher
JV Boys Coach
Spencer Selbo
HS Art Teacher
JV Boys Coach

Phoenix Activities

Success Once Again: Olympkis III

We are two leaders of the High School Spirit Council, and so we were also leaders of the recent Olympkis
event. During the event, we were able to see the positive and happy faces of underclassmen who were preparing to get involved with Seniors and Juniors. It was also very nice to see the upperclassmen helping out
the underclassmen with a lot of support.
Physical activities, along with intellectual activities, engaged the students in various ways. Some students
were more active in playing sports, while others were having a lot of fun strategizing on how to win the
games. Either way, everyone enjoyed the activities and had a great time!
Some of the teachers were very outgoing, participating in the games alongside the students. Thanks to
those enthusiastic teachers, Olympkis became more vibrant and energetic because of their efforts!
Throughout Olympkis, at the various activities, there was evidence that students were making attempts to
break down those barriers between grade levels. Students were forming new relationships with those they
have not interacted with in the past. Different grade levels came together to form one team, thereby communicating, strategizing, and laughing with each other.
The most energetic moment of Olympkis was during the last ten minutes of the event. Four mixed-gradelevel teams screamed their lungs out to win extra points and become the highest scoring team.
Yes, Olympkis III was definitely a success! What happens when you bring members of our Spirit Council,
HS teachers, and students of all grade levels from the entire High School together to interact for a half day
of fun? The result is many new relationships, smiles, enthusiastic cheers, and enormous KIS spirit!!!
Rich Lunardo
HS PE Teacher
Spirit Council
June
Spirit Council
Kyungmin
Spirit Council

SEOMUN
With the start of the Thanksgiving break, students gathered at the Coex Convention Center, not to entertain
themselves, but instead to represent a country and debate on pressing, worldly issues. They arrived with
fervor to participate in the 18th annual Seoul Model United Nations conference (SEOMUN), proudly hosted
by Korea International School.
Familiar and unfamiliar delegates from various schools immediately filled up the seats of the Grand Ballroom.
SEOTV (similar to KIS PhoenixTV, but for this conference) gave an introductory video to begin the opening
ceremony. The Executive Secretariat members then proceeded with their own speeches. This years guest
speaker was Daejong Yoo, Director General for International Organizations from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In his speech, he accentuated this years theme, Freedom from Fear, connecting the topic to recent
incidents such as terrorism. The next speeches were from adviser Mr. Farley, and the editor-in-chiefs of
SEOTV and SEOLITE (SEOLITE is the print publication put out during the conference). Finally, Secretary
General, Olivia (Grade 12) made her way to the podium:
Were connected on so many different levels. Were born with the full capacity to empathize, born with
the natural inclination to care for one another, born with the irresistible desire to understand and help one
another, born to live on one anothers welfare, one anothers happiness, and not by one anothers misery or
failure. Its up to our will, and its up to our conviction. We can make a difference. As trite and commonplace
as it may sound, the podium is yours, so go ahead and take it.
At last, the sound of the gavel marked the beginning of the three-day journey of SEOMUN 2015. Centered
upon the main theme of Freedom from Fear, all 13 committees of the conference were assigned varying
global issues with unifying aims. Many issues emphasized the vital need of government transparency and
the protection of civil rights. Then, it was the duty of the delegates to dissect these issues from inside out
to tackle the issue from various perspectives. With this responsibility, all delegates passionately engaged
in lobbying sessions to cooperate in formulating original, pragmatic, and creative resolutions. After hours
of collective drafting, delegates began debating and critically discussing the plausibility of each resolution.
Regardless of a participants years of experience, all delegates bravely took the podium, proposing ways to
attain peace in the international community.
In addition to debating upon resolutions formulated in advance, delegates were also confronted with unexpected yet entertaining crises. These crises ranged from Ban Ki Moon becoming captured by ISIS in the
Security Council, to the Advisory Panel for Kim Jong-Un declaring the invasion of the Republic of Korea
during the Six Party Talks.
For all delegates, chairs, and secretariats, regardless of the roles they played, SEOMUN XVIII was definitely
an indelible experience. Young minds were able to explore prevailing issues and gain a broader view of the
international community, as well as make unforgettable memories with new friends. More inspirational than
it has ever been, this years distinguished SEOMUN conference came to a very successful end. Anticipating
the next SEOMUN conference, we say goodbye to a great SEOMUN XVIII.
Jim Farley
MUN Advisor
HS Social Studies
Yoo-Bin
Grade 10 Student
Hananh
Grade 10 Student

MIT Seminar January 4-8

For KIS High School Students

Apply Now To
Participate!
Korea International School will offer two one-week science and engineering
seminars taught by four advanced MIT students beginning Monday, January 4
and continuing through Friday, January 8.
These seminars will meet daily during the last week of Winter Break from
Monday through Friday. Students will have the option to take one of two handson workshops. A certificate for successful participants will be provided showing
completion of the MIT Seminar. Full participation is required.

Option 1: Engineering Robotics

Systems: Create a Robotic Hand

Option 2: Engineering and

Physics: Design an Airplane

The fundamentals of software &

hardware design.

The fundamentals of physics &

electrical engineering.

Deadline to apply is 8:00 am

Thursday, December 10

MIT Seminar January 4-8

For KIS Middle School Students

Apply Now To
Participate!
In this workshop
you'll get to extract
and analyze your
own DNA, dissect
animals, burn things,
and even make your
own ice cream! Join
us as we dive deeper
to explore biology
and chemistry in a
fun, interactive (and
even delicious) way!

Korea International School will offer a weeklong science seminar taught by two advanced
MIT students beginning Monday, January 4
and continuing through Friday, January 8.
These seminars will meet daily during the last
week of Winter Break from Monday through
Friday. Students will be working in a hands-on
environment to understand biology concepts
ranging from microbiology to macrobiology, as
well as integrating chemistry activities as
supplementary material. A certificate for
successful participants will be provided
showing completion of the MIT Seminar. Full
participation is required.

Deadline to apply is 8:00 am

Thursday, December 10

Korea International School

Korea International School

27 Daewangpangyo-ro, 385 Beon-gil, Bundang-gu

Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do
Korea, 463-420
www.kis.kr