CHILLING-OUT IN EFTELING PARK AND GOOD NEWS FROM BOGOR AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
Editor Team – Wassenaar
The previous months have witnessed SIN Wassenaar’s hectic activities: academic, non-academic, public relations, facility improvement and maintenance, etc. However, April 2009 happens to be the busiest month for us so far, although it is at once the most enjoyable as well.
We entered the month April with a friendly visit and cultural diplomacy to the French School in The Hague, receiving special invitation to participate in the “joy sailing” of Indonesian latest corvette—KRI-368 Frans Kaisiepo—before its commissioning this month from the dockyard pier of Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding Vlissingen to Indonesia, and contributing 6 students to accompany our H.E. Ambassador during the Indonesian Pencak Silat Festival 2009 in Poeldijk last weekend. Most recently, we had a study tour to the Efteling entertainment park in Waalwijk/Kaatsheuvel, Northern Brabant.
Chilling-out and Final Exams 2009
As the final exams for Grades 6, 9, and 12 students draw near, SIN organised a study tour for the students on Wednesday, 8 April 2009. After a democratic process that involved all school’s “civitas academica”, it was decided to visit the Efteling for the chilling out and contextual learning activities. It is the largest theme and entertainment park of its kind in the Netherlands.
Among the aims of this programme was that for allowing the students to relax before taking the final exams and eventually, for some kids, the semester exams. Some students will complete their study at SIN and return or move to Indonesia or other countries to join their parents. It looked like giving them one of last moments to enjoy the days together as SIN’s students.
We departed from Wassenaar by bus at 09.30 and arrived in Efteling around 10.45. After passing the gate the students immediately dispersed according to their groups searching for the best entertainments they liked to try or experience first. Teachers accompanied and got along.
The Efteling is divided into 4 kingdoms or areas of entertainment: the Anderrijk (Other Kingdom, Orientals), the Ruigrijk (Rough Kingdom), the Reizenrijk (Travelling Kingdom), and the Marerijk (Sea Kingdom). All forms of entertainments suitable for kids of all ages were available here. At the assembly point by the gate we asked all groups and they answered that they had really enjoyed the day at the Efteling.
The only minor setback we experienced over there was that the rainy and still cold weather. Nevertheless, it is normal in the Netherlands that the weather in the month of April is unpredictable, as though it proved the rightness of a Dutch saying: “April doet wat hij wil.”
At 17.30 we arrived back to our school. After that everyone went home with memorable experience, happiness and of course, it was a bit tiring.
Without Admission Test to Bogor Agricultural University (IPB)
On that day SIN also received a letter of acceptance and confirmation that both SIN’s students who took part in the selection to study at the Bogor Agricultural University through the USMI (Undangan Seleksi Masuk IPB) scheme, Harumi Aini and Nadia Rizky, have been admitted to the University without entrance test. This is not only the new achievement, but also the new begin and opportunity for SIN’s students to be accepted at IPB under similar scheme after a reletively long vacuum in the past.
The only thing these two 3 SMA IPA students should focus to succeed is to pass the final exams. Mr. Saidan, SIN’s Director, congratulated both of them at the first instance, and promptly and personally announced and conveyed the happy news to the students, teachers, and the respective parents.
