Moonlit Masquerade

Last evening was the annual Junior Senior Banquet - the biggest affair and one of the longest standing traditions on our campus. Kaleb's junior class was in charge of putting together an evening to honor the senior class. The planning for this event began last November, went all through this semester with meetings and Saturday work days and culminated this week in 20 hours of work by nearly 30 people to get the ballroom ready and the program fine-tuned. On our end, it entailed dress shopping for the girls or trips to the tailor to have a suit made, hair and nail appointments, make-up sessions, averting last minute catastrophes with safety pins, helping to buy the perfect gift for dates and generally just affirming that, yes, everyone looks beautiful!

The evening began in the chapel where the secret theme, Moonlit Masquerade in Venice, was unveiled and next year's junior sponsors were announced...more on that later. After that, we were whisked away on buses to the secret location - this year, the lovely Park Royale Hotel in Batu Ferringhi. Upon entering the masquerade ball, we were asked to choose a handpainted mask and wear it as we chose throughout the evening. The ballroom looked elegant and magical - tealights in goblets, silver candleabras, beautiful pictures of masqueraders in gold frames, classical music in the background and hundreds of roses everywhere. It was enchanting and romantic to say the least. After the seniors were announced and seated, the evening began with appetizers and moved through four course meal and the captivating program seamlessly.

The highlight of the masquerade ball was to be the unveiling of a famed picture by Venetian photographer Paulo Pellizzari. However, the frame was empty - the masterpiece had been stolen and the senior class were the prime suspects! Through interrogation by detectives such as James Bond, Jacques Clousseau, Jackie Chan and Charlie's Angels, interviews with staff and friends, a collage of their life pictures and personal tributes, each senior was dismissed of any charges by the Police Commissioner, Uncle Brian. In the end, the picture was discovered, hanging in the Louvre in Paris!! For their troubles, the seniors were presented with a gift and to end the evening, some juniors sang a song from the Phantom of the Opera.

I cannot begin to say how proud I am of my Kaleb and our dear Abbie for all the energy, time and heart that went into last evening's gala event. As junior class vp, Kaleb has rallied the troops, worked as a servant leader when he felt like giving up and contributed his dramatic skills as James Bond. Being an incredible artist, Abbie painstakingly handpainted over half of the masks, which meant she was an indispensable part of the art team who worked every Saturday. (She's sleeping in today!!)

The whole evening was a night to remember and we will not soon forget the magical atmosphere and elegant festivities of this exclusive gala. Tim and I, however, will be also thinking about next year as we signed up to be junior class sponsors, meaning JSB '09 to honor Kaleb's senior class is our responsibility!! We have on our team Tim's partner in crime, Bill, the HS art teacher, and his PE teacher wife, Lisa, as well as Larry, the director of development, and his wife, Debbie, the head of the ESL department. We actually took notes and did a little brainstorming last night at our table :)

Since only grades 10, 11 and 12 plus staff attend this event, Annie was not able to come. But our thanks go to the Lee family who willingly took our 6 middle schoolers out to the movies and to their home for games and fun. Their gracious hospitality and generous hearts have once again blessed our lives.

Today, the senior class is preparing their thank you gift to the junior class - an evening meal in the chapel. So although most of us didn't hit the pillow til well after 1 a.m., we are up early, reminiscing over the amazing evening last night and the exciting one to come tonight. Some may say that JSB is a tremendous amount of work for only one evening but believe me when I say it's worth every minute to see unity across the cultures, leadership and teamwork being developed and talents being cultivated - all essential life skills that can't be taught in the classroom. At Dalat, JSB is excellent hidden curriculum in our desire to provide 'education for life'.

And I can't wait for next year :)

Some of our beautiful ladies.
My pretty Swiss Miss - life won't be the same without her next year.
One proud dorm dad and his lovely Canadian dorm daughter.Laura looked stunning in a dress handmade by her mom and weighing about five pounds due to so many layers of crinoline!
Another belle of the ball, our gorgeous redhead Kirsten.
Two prairie girls - one considerably older than the other :)
Out of plywood, styrofoam and countless tubes of silicone, Tim and Bill built this 16 foot gondolier boat.
It was used for photo ops.....
but unfortunately didn't last til the end due to a misplaced foot on a flimsy piece of styrofoam!
Me and my men.
Kaleb and his date, Min-ji, announcing the senior class.James Bond (aka Kaleb Archer) joined forces with the bumbling Clousseau to eliminate suspects.
This was Kaleb's favourite picture of the masqueraders.And this was my favourite!
How do you spell 'proud'? If I had buttons, they'd be popping :) I think he was the most handsome young man present...but then again, I might be biased!
The name is Bond, James Bond.
Min-ji tutors Kaleb in speaking Korean and as a gift, gave him a wonderful glass chess set. He bought her a lovely silver pendant in Thailand at Christmas time.

Who are those masked people?? Oh its just me and another good looking guy - my date to JSB!! OK, this is taken solely for selfish purposes - I loved the back of my dress and wanted a picture of the bow!!
Half of the dorm staff managed to get together for a picture before grabbing the first bus home.

The senior class of 2008!

Tim and Bill already discussing next year's JSB - I'm assuming Lisa and Debbie are doing the same.