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Quarter"‣ 04/11 Prance"‣ 04/17 Musical"

It’s that time of the year when roses are given to significant others, cute poems about love are written to one another, and chocolate is eaten guiltlessly. That’s right Geckos, Valentine’s Day, otherwise known as Single Awareness Day or National No-Diet Day, has arrived! Guys are searching for a valentine or for flowers or chocolate, and, girls are searching for a valentine

proposal or for c h o c o l a t e . Likewise, I am searching for a movie to watch on Netflix…and c h o c o l a t e .

However, Valentine’s Day isn’t just about chocolate; it’s about spending time with your significant other, whether that person is your boyfriend, girlfriend, best friend, mom, grandpa, or your dog! After all, what better way to enjoy chocolate than to share it with someone you care about?

SIS’ Valentine weekend was quite eventful with the Varsity Girl’s MISO Volleyball Championships, Parent’s Night Out, and Destino Peru Candy Grams (Yay! More Chocolate!) Aside from school, some of the students and faculty of SIS spent their Valentine’s Day going out on romantic dinners, jogging early in the morning, watching movies, commiserating with friends, etc. Others, such as Mr. and Mrs. Bray, remained within the comfort of their home and enjoyed the holiday simply by being together. How sweet! But you know what is just as sweet? CHOCOLATE!

BY: MINORI YOSHIDA

National No-Diet Day

Friday, January 23, 2015Once a Gecko, Always a Gecko!

Lunar New Years for Geckos

W h a t M a k e s S a i p a n International School so special? Diversity. Our community consists of students and faculty from all around the world, and today, we celebrated the Lunar New Year. This occasion might also be known as Chinese New Year, or Korean New Year. The Geckos celebrated this occasion by learning about Chinese traditions for the New Year, eating “nian gao” ( A traditional Chinese treat), wrapping and cooking dumplings, and gathering to watch a lion dance. The Chinese Association performed a lion dance in the driveway this morning, kicking off the day. The entire campus gathered around the driveway as the loud drums and clang of the instruments began. The lions danced around and performed their routine and jumped to grab a hanging cabbage, walked over the high school building and turned around back to the driveway. A chain of firecrackers were lit and the loud explosions started. Mrs. Jang, our Mandarin teacher, explained to us that the firecrackers were meant to “scare away bad luck” with all the noise. The purpose of lion dances is to scare away bad luck as well. After watching the performance, “nian gao” and radish cake were provided for everyone. For many people, it was the first time they tried the traditional “nian gao”. Most people enjoyed the sweet treat. Elementary and middle school classes learned to wrap and cook dumplings with Ms. Marshall. They got first-hand experience in learning and made their own delicious creations. The aroma filled the high school building as students from all classes clustered around trying to fill their stomachs with a few of those dumplings.

BY: WILLIAM FONG

The MISO High School Girls’ Volleyball had c h a m p i o n s h i p s o n February 13. The team ended up getting 2nd p lace and lo t s o f people were surprised about the result. One member of the team said, “The results were so unexpected! So many people, including members of the team didn’t have enough faith that we would make it to the finals but we did! And we played r e a l l y w e l l . ” F u r t h e r m o r e , o n e s en io r member o f Varsity team expressed her feeling about her last volleyball game at SIS, “It was a nice way to end my final season.” However, several were sad about the end of the season. SIS is famous for having a great volleyball team with great results from their games, and the team was well prepared for the championships. I myself have several friends who joined MISO Volleyball and the team always works hard for the school. The volleyball practice seems hard for me but the team was showing great effort on it. Despite their schoolwork, the team spent lots of times practicing for the school. Their efforts were made clear in the championships with an unanticipated result. Even though I can’t see next year’s Volleyball Championships here at Saipan, I’m looking forward next year’s results!

BY: ESTHER JIN JOO

Final Results of MISO Girls Volleyball Championship

! The SIS Boys Varsity basketball team started off the season great, with a win over MBA about a month ago. The team consists of six freshmen: Isaac, Timothy, Sophomores: Vince, Daniel, and Carter; two Juniors: Allen and Quintin; and six Seniors: Chris, Jehn, Andrew, Bob, Yong Kwang, and Jiabao. The team practices regularly at the NMC gym from about 3:30 to 5:00. The varsity team is coached by the MAN, Mr. Steven Beyer, and the wrestler, Mr. Adam Harris.

According to junior player Quintin Ramsey: “We have a lot of inexperienced players, but we also have a few experienced players on the team. With hard work and practice, I believe the team can make it far and give every other teams a hard time.” The varsity basketball team is going into the tournament this Friday with only two wins, but we are confident because we only lost by 5 points to the second place team, Mount Caramel, and were competitive with the first place team, Marianas High School. The SIS Boys Varsity Basketball team would highly appreciate as much support as they can get as they start their tournament next Thursday, February 26.

MISO Boys Basketball

MISO Tennis Tournament Our school has competed in most of the Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization’s (MISO) tournaments for volleyball, basketball, soccer, and golf, however the new year of 2015 brings attention to

Saipan International School’s participation in the upcoming MISO tennis tournament. The tournament will take place on March 21st at the American Memorial Park tennis courts (shown in the image below) from 8am to 5pm. Team manager Lydia Tan explains that “there will be a High School team and a Middle School team. Each team will consists of 3 boys and 3 girls. Boys and girls will play one singles match each, one doubles match and one mixed doubles match. There will be 9 points for each team to compete. If you win a match, 1 point goes to the winners however if you lose a match, no points will be awarded.” Alex Park, Clayton Izuka, and AJ Hudkins will represent the middle school boys’ team while Tania Tan, Ami Tsukagoshi, and Malika Miyawaki represent the middle school girls’ team…

…to be continued on page 3

#sisgeckosSaipan International School- MP, 96950

Miso Tennis Tournament…continued from page 2 The high school players include Colin Ramsey, Micheal Ren, and Luther Lizama to represent the men’s

t e a m , a n d Isabel Heras, J u l i a Ishikawa, and A d e l e Hudkins to represent the w o m e n ’ s

team. Each student mentioned is an avid tennis player and has played, or are still playing tennis outside of school. Not only is our participation in the 2015 MISO tennis tournament going to be a first, but it will definitely be exiting.

BY: ANDREW JOHNSON

On February 13, 2015, SIS held its annual Healthy Heart Walk. Starting at the Kilili Pavilion, students walked along Beach Road until the turning point near the tank and walked back to the pavilion. The perfect sunny weather or just the opportunity given to spend time with their friends might have invigorated the students, but they all had happy smiles on their faces. Miyawaki, a fifth grader, came in first, and Mr. Beyer came in second. Also, various prizes were given to the winners of the raffle. Mr. Bray, the headmaster of SIS, commented, “The Healthy Heart Walk is a good idea, because it not only promotes healthy lifestyle but it is also a good way to fundraise for our school. I am very happy that we are participating in this kind of event.” Having a healthy heart can mean having good health, but it can also mean having a magnanimous heart and possessing virtues. Although the whole walk was only about one and a half hours, it helped students get fit not only physically but also socially by allowing them to interact with one another in a whole-school activity. Healthy Heart Walk surely promoted a “healthy heart” to all SIS students. We look forward to the next Healthy Heart Walk and many more to come.

BY: JEE HYUN LEE

Geckos on a Walk

I love to read.. In the senior class, I am the one who usually has my nose in a book. To me, reading is the best way to escape reality and enter into different worlds of imagination and fun. It is also a great way to learn new information or a way to self-educate oneself. Reading is so important and people need to do it more often. I know it is difficult to figure out which books are the best to read, so I am here to suggest three fantastic books that people should read. All the books I suggest in this paper are not only a different variety of books, but they are all books that are extremely popular and very highly acclaimed. These books are the books teenagers at SIS have to read in Mr. Lee’s class and also books that teenagers should already have read by college.

The first book I am going to suggest is my favorite is called “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini. I absolutely love “The Kite Runner” and almost everyone in my class has read the story. The story is set in chaotic Afghanistan where the Taliban is in

control of the country. Amir is the protagonist of the story and he tells a lie that sets the destiny of every person in the story. The reason why the book is so popular not only to my class but to the general public is because it deals with real life events. The book talks about the problems with the Taliban -- violence, rape, and racism -- and underneath it all, there is a story about a boy who is just trying to be a kid and survive. I asked other people why they liked the story and Sophia Tenorio said, “I like the story so much because the situation in the books happens in real life, and the story is great in educating people on how violent and harsh the Taliban is in Afghanistan.”

… to be continued on page 4

Best Books to Read in High School (Take it from an Expert)

Best Books to Read …continued from page 3 !The next book I am suggesting is Shakespeare’s most famous play, “Hamlet.” This book is a play that everyone will have to read in their lifetime and if they don’t in high school, they will have to in college. Hamlet is so famous and so universal because it’s Shakespeare’s most dramatic play. Everyone can quote at least six words from the play. The line “To be or not to be…” is probably the most famous line in the play and possibly in all literature. It is a literary creation that focuses on the struggles and personal problems an individual faces, which is why people can relate to the story.

The play is about a man named Hamlet who has just lost his father, the king of Denmark, and Hamlet is mad because his mother has just married his uncle who Hamlet believes killed his father. The audience gets to watch Hamlet struggle with the question on whether he wants to avenge his father’s murderer or not. Readers will certainly ask what they would do in this situation. The last book I would suggest is a book called “All the Pretty Horses” by Cormac McCarthy. The book centers on a boy named John Cole who leaves Texas and ventures into the harsh environments of Mexico. In Mexico, John experiences love with a girl, a death of a friend, and violence towards himself, but when he returns to Texas he is no longer a boy, but a man. Hatsuko Bearden says, “At first I didn’t like the story because it was so descriptive and boring, but it turned out I really liked the story because it is a coming of age story about a boy who leaves his home, but he returns as a man. I can especially relate to John Cole because I am in a time of my life where I will have to leave home soon and go out into the world. Teenagers can definitely relate to this story.” The story really is a coming of age story and that is why so many teenagers can relate to it and why I really like the story. All three of these stories are great books to read. “The Kite Runner,” “Hamlet,” and “All the Pretty Horses” are books that are always on the list for best books. All three books are filled with suspense, violence, love, and happiness so there is never a dull moment in the text. I suggested these books because all three books are some of my favorite books to read and I could read them again and again. I would love to hear feedback on the books if anyone has read them and if people like my suggestions, I can always suggest more.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE BOOK REPORTS!!

BY: PHALAI FRINK

The pressure is on, an adrenaline rush occurs and excitement is in the air; the first step into adulthood begins for the senior class of SIS, because COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE TIME BEGINS. Stress builds up -- more than half the class is nervous about the process because our grades and our background ultimately decides which colleges will accept or reject us. There is also the sheer excitement we feel as we hope that we may get the opportunity to be accepted into the college of our dreams. Having already submitted our applications, the senior class nervously waits for the college’s responses. For some seniors, they have a l ready rece ived some feedback, good and bad. College applications are not difficult to do. They can be time-consuming and may require you to do a lot of writing, but overall it is not an impossible task. Sophia Tenorio, a senior in SIS, states that “I didn’t have a hard time applying to most of my colleges since I applied through the Common Application. I had a hard time writing my essays, and trying to keep up with the deadlines was stressful.” The Common Application is an electronically-based application that makes life for students much easier -- instead of filling out multiple applications, all a student would need is to fill out the application once and send it to any Common App Colleges. For more information about the Common Appl ica t ion , p lease ask Mr. Tessen…

… to be continued on page 5

College Acceptances

The Year of the Sheep, Usher a New Start

College Acceptances… continued from page 4

The most important advice that could be given to an upcoming senior would be that procrastinating will get you nowhere; your workload increases and stress builds up. FINISH YOUR APPLICATIONS ON TIME!!! After all the applications are completed, most seniors have to wait until March to receive any feedback. However, f o r t h o s e w h o applied early, the f e e d b a c k c o m e s sooner than most. I have interviewed two seniors at SIS and received some feedback from them from schools they got accepted to. Tiana Ranjo was accepted to Hawaii Pacific University, University of Redland, California Lutheran University, Portland University, and University of the Pacific. Sophia Tenorio was accepted by Colorado State University in Fort Collins and University of the Pacific. CONGRATULATIONS

GIRLS! When asked about their feeling after they were accepted, both had stated t h a t t h e y h a d b e e n “relieved” and “proud” that all their hard work has paid

off. When asked about being prepared for college, both students stated that they weren’t really ready to leave just yet, but they are thrilled at the idea of becoming something more that they are today. College may seem intimidating, it may be too big for some students, too small for the other populations, and may just seem downright difficult but that won’t stop anyone. Attending college will benefit in the future, it’s a stepping stone that is needed to become someone in society. The rush you get when you apply to colleges and the extreme excitement you receive when you get accepted into your first college will be worth your while. You may experience some ups and downs, but in the future nothing will be as praiseworthy as going to college and becoming someone you have always dreamed of becoming.

BY: HATSUKO BEARDEN

Happy Chinese New Year, and welcome to the year of the sheep! In SIS, the Chinese Association performed the gorgeous Lion Dance on Thursday in celebration of the

Chinese New Year. As a Chinese student, I am very happy to articulate more knowledge about the Chinese New Year to others and give them a better understanding to the culturally profound and influential Chinese culture.

The Chinese New Year is unquestionably the most important of holidays for all the Chinese people. It is generally defined as the first day of the first month in the traditional Chinese calendar. The Chinese have a tradition of using animals to symbolize each New Year and predict a person’s fortunes. According to the Chinese zodiac, the sheep becomes the animal of the year of 2015, and so we can also call this year the year of the sheep. Chinese New Year has a history of thousands of years and it has an enormous cultural impact on the people all over the whole Asia, including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritius, and Vietnam. With many myths and traditions, this great cultural event is continuously inherited by every generation and it significantly gains its cultural value in China.

Traditionally, the celebrations start from the New Year’s Eve. Before the celebration, people will usually clean their houses and decorate them with many traditional Chinese ornaments like a new year picture, Chinese knots, paper-cuttings and couplets. By doing these, people believed that they have completely discarded the bad things of the old days and start a new year with good luck. The most important part of the whole celebration is the reunion dinner, which is called “Nián yè fàn” in Chinese. The people will go back to their hometowns and celebrate the New Year together with their beloved families.

The days after the Eve, people will normally visit relatives and friends, do some shopping, launch fireworks… !

…to be continued on page 6

The Year of the Sheep… continued from page 5

…and watch traditional Chinese shows like the elaborate dragon dances and fire-eating stunts. There is no doubt that the Chinese New Year is also the happiest time for the Chinese kids. The elders will give them lots of red envelopes, also known as “hóng bāo,” which usually contains money, varying from a couple of dollars to several hundred. They wish the kids would not suffer from any disease and grow up happily by giving the money (originated from “yā suì qián”, the money used to suppress the evil spirit).

Getting rid of the unhappy memories you used to have before and planning New Year’s life, we will be able to let your dreams come true and reach a new climax in your life in this New Year. Hopefully, the coming of the Chinese New Year will expand the students’ cultural cognition and re-energize the students who are pressured by their workloads.

BY: JIABOAO XU

Are you ready for spring break? Are your plans for spring break all set or are you still deciding? Mark your calendars everybody because this year, SIS will have its spring break from March 19 to April 6. That’s 19 days off from school! Have you planned anything special? An off-island vacation? A part-time job? Or… studying for the upcoming AP exams? Some things a few of our students have planned are listed to the right: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! However you spend your Spring Break, always keep in mind to be safe. Yes, have the time of your life, but behave! This goes out to you teachers too… All your friends and family at SIS will be waiting to hear your Spring Break stories! !!!

BY: JEHN JOYNER

SPRING BREAK IS COMING!!Gio Hur (9th grade):

I’m going to go to Korea to change my visa. !Takumi Sugie (11th grade):

I might stay here on Saipan or go to Japan to see my family. !

Jabez Sebastian (5th grade): I’m going to play games everyday. !

Chris Cepeda (12th grade): Chew pugua and chill !

Jiny Yang (12th grade): What plans? When is Spring Break anyways? Am I

supposed to do anything? !Mr. Bray (Headmaster of SIS):

I am going to go visit my family in Montana. !Jehn Joyner (12th grade):

I am going to stay on island and spend fun times with my friends and family because I will be leaving to

college soon. !Andrew Johnson (12th grade):

I’m thinking about going to Palau but I’m not sure yet. !Hatsuko Bearden (12th grade):

I am going to spend time with my family and volunteer on island.

Happy Birthday, February! A Step Closer to your Purpose

When it is your birthday, you know it is your day. Your head is held a bit higher. Your smile is much brighter. Your step is a little lighter. Your ambience emits a cheerful and optimistic light on everyone you encounter. You ultimately feel like the most special person in the world. And in all honesty, you are. What makes you feel so special is a faint inkling to the ultimate purpose of your existence. And what is that exactly? Church of Scotland minister William Barclay said, “There are two great days in a person’s life - the day we are born and the day we discover why.” We are born on this earth with a sole purpose that we are unfortunately unaware of until it is either too late or eventually realized. Although it is unclear for each and every one of us, the remembrance of the date we are born brightens up our day because we are reminded of our eventful beginning, the reason why we are put on this earth. The day your mom struggled is the day that was meant for you to be in this world. Just imagine how much

joy you will feel when you do realize your purpose! So widen that smile and take a bigger bite of that cake because today is yours! In February we had a total of ten birthdays in the high school, one in the middle school, and six in the elementary school. Let us celebrate with our friends and classmates the days that were meant for them and the gradual approach of the realization of their purposes in life. Congratulations to the birthday celebrants of February, and Happy Birthday in advance to the ones in March!

BY: TIANA RANJO

Victoria Chentsova – Feb. 3rd

Sean Gille – Feb. 5th

Stephanie Kim – Feb. 6th

Andrea Jean Ranjo – Feb. 7th

Claire Park – Feb. 7th

Aca Xie - Feb. 9th

!!!!

Phalai Frink – Feb. 14th

Shirley Qian – Feb.17th

Sophia Tenorio – Feb. 24th

Thomas Lim – Feb. 25th

En Pa Wang – Feb. 27th

Kana Suzuki – Feb. 10th

Daniel Lim – Feb. 10th

Alex Joo – Feb.10th

P. “Arm” Benchakarn – Feb.11th

Jaden Castro - Feb. 12th

Carter Smith – Feb. 14th

The Gecko Times was brought to you by the students in the Digital Journalism

class taught by Mr. and Mrs. Bray. !Supervisors: Mr. and Mrs. Bray !News Paper Editor: Joey Nigh !News Paper Layout Design:

Nicole Arenovski !Writers:

Jia Bao Xu Hatsuko Bearden

Tiana Ranjo Minori Yoshida Jee Hyun Lee Esther Jin Joo Chris Cepeda Jehn Joyner Phalai Frink

William Fong Andrew Johnson

Saipan International School !

PO Box. 503121, Saipan, MP, 96950

Tel: 670 2889660 Headmaster: tim.s.bray@ gmail.com

The Gecko Times was brought to you by the students in the Digital Journalism

class taught by Mr. and Mrs. Bray. !Supervisors: Mr and Mrs. Bray !News Paper Editor: Joey Nigh !

News Paper Layout Design: Nicole Arenovski !Writers:

Jia Bao Xu Jiny Yang

Victoria Chentsova Phalai Frink

Hatsuko Bearden Sophia Tenorio Lynette Vasquez

Tiana Ranjo Ivy Yang

Minori Yoshida

Saipan International School !

PO Box. 503121, Saipan, MP, 96950

Tel: 670 2889660 Headmaster:

tim.s.bray@gmail.com