Lincoln Boys' Basketball Team Make Another Finals!

Lincoln Boys' Basketball Team Make Another Finals!

The Lincoln School Boys' Basketball team turned on the heat and turned up the volume in the Lincoln gym last week as nine other teams came to compete for this year's SAISA title. In the first game of the tournament, our boys - the defending champions - played against a well-drilled and good shooting team from TAISM. Although the boys never quite hit top gear, they were still able to just do enough to grind out a 44-40 win, with Avi hitting some clutch free-throws towards the end of the game. In what would prove to be a very competitive pool, this win proved crucial. 

In our second game of the day, the Snow Leopards took on the latest addition to our league - the Scorpions from Amman, Jordan. This team turned out to be a powerful group of athletes and basketball players that proved too strong for Lincoln on this occasion. Final score: 56-42. 

With ACS Amman winning the rest of the games in their group, Lincoln needed beat both the Geckos from Colombo and the Eagles from Mumbai to finish 2nd in their pool. They did not disappoint. First, they took care of the Geckos in their first game on the outdoor court, winning 50-17. The Eagles from Mumbai were next and the Snow Leopards came out with an intensity that the Eagles were simply unable to match, eventually wearing ASB into submission and winning 45-29. 

Finishing 2nd in the pool meant that our semi-final was against seed 3 from the other pool, the Raptors from Chennai. This team played some well-structured basketball and had a difficult defense to breakdown. However, the resilience of our Snow Leopards continued to shine through, earning a place in the semis with a 39-30 win. 

Our semi-final game was a repeat of last year's final - the Snow Leopards vs the AISD Tigers. Dhaka was a well-rounded team with some strong guards and athletic big men making them difficult to stop. By three quarter time AISD was up by 10 points and it was not looking good for the Snow Leopards. However, a fast start to the final quarter showed that Lincoln wasn't going to give up without a fight and successive three point shots from Avi Rajkarnikar quickly closed the gap. As the clock ticked towards the end of the game, Lincoln took the lead with another Avi three and the crowd went wild. All the momentum was with the Snow Leopards and the atmosphere in the gym was electric. 

The final was a re-match of the LS vs ACS Amman game in pool play and the Snow Leopards started well, taking an early lead. However, the Scorpions would not go away and their top players started to catch fire with some excellent shooting and powerful fast breaks. Although our Snow Leopards could not defend the championship trophy, they played with dignity, skill and passion for the Lincoln shirt. Thank you to everyone who made this tournament such a smooth, exciting and memorable one. 

SAISA Girls' Football Team Rises to the Challenge!

SAISA Girls' Football Team Rises to the Challenge!

Karuna Sakya-Hooper

Our girls’ football team 2017 showed true determination and heart at this years SAISA Girls Football Tournament in Mumbai, India. Going into the tournament, we only had 11 traveling players, most of whom were in middle school. This meant we had very few options on the bench and we were in a stacked pool, just like last year, with the defending champions (ASB), Dhaka, as well as the SAISA team.

We started out with an easier game against the SAISA team, winning a cool 9-1 and after lunch we would face off against Bombay who had earlier tied Dhaka 3-3. A win in this game would assure us a spot in the semi-finals. We were the underdogs of the tournament and the Eagles came out confident that they could defeat us. Still upset from our loss last year, our team seized the opportunity to reclaim our pride and we defeated Bombay 3-1. This game gave us the boost we needed and carried us through our only game the next day versus the Tigers. It was a tough matchup played at the hottest time of the day, but we didn’t give up and eventually came out victorious, winning 2-0.

In the semi-finals, we faced off against a new SAISA team, the ACS Scorpions. This wasn’t our best game but we came in with a win or win mindset so we did whatever it took to keep ourselves in the game and did just that with a 1-0 win. We made it to the finals undefeated to face TAISM!

As we waited for the final match-up, we felt the butterflies build up in our stomachs, but when game time arrived, we were ready. We studied TAISM’s game and played a defensive strategy that helped us hold them to 0-0 at the half. We just had to score once and then hold them again. But unfortunately they scored 10 minutes into the second half and the game ended 1-0. It was a crushing loss, but throughout the tournament it felt as if we had avenged last year's terrible debacle and rose up to regain our confidence at this year’s SAISA tournament.

Snow Leopards Stay on Track in Colombo!

Snow Leopards Stay on Track in Colombo!

SAISA Track & Field was a very extraordinary experience. Although we had a small team this year, we made the best of it, and worked as hard as we could. I believe that all our hard work paid off in Colombo; we survived the blazing heat, and the very tiring plane ride there and back. We all stuck together like a team and we conquered our fears and personal best times together.

There were many memorable experiences from our time in Colombo. For example, watching Coach Craig run as the anchor of the SnowGeckos in the coaches relay! We also had some amazing wins for our team: Zoja Mancek won gold in the 15-19 girls high jump, and Isabella Murphy who won both the 10-12 girls 3000m and 1500m runs, as well as winning silver in the 800! The Powell sisters did incredibly as well, with Izzy Powell winning the girls 10-12 long jump and earning bronze in the 1500, while Niamh Powell won silver in the 400m. For the boys, Tomas Sharkey came 5th for the 10-12 800m and earned a bronze in the 3000!

We definitely improved on our performances from last year. During SAISA, we were half the size of the other teams, but the fight we put up and our energy was enormous. Our overall experience was amazing and I am lucky to have shared one of my favorite SAISAs with this particular group of people, and I’m excited for what’s to come from our team next year.

Akshara Singh

Both our girls' football and boys' basketball teams are in the finals!

Both our girls' football and boys' basketball teams are in the finals! The girls will kick-off on the livestream at about 4.55 pm KTM time. 

Because of the weather and the need to move outdoor games indoors, the boys final will be held in the Lincoln gym - expected start time between 6.00-6.30. 

It is a SAISA Weekend!

Follow the action! 

• Boys Basketball at Lincoln: http://saisa-boys-basketball.blogspot.com/p/welcome.html
• Girls' Football at Bombay: http://saisaliveasb.weebly.com/
• Track and Field in Colombo: http://osc.lk/saisa/

LS Ready to Host SAISA Boys' Basketball!

After a very successful SAISA Swimming Championships in October, Lincoln is all set to host its 2nd big SAISA event of the year - Boys' Basketball - this April 20-22.

The Snow Leopards are defending champions and will play the first game of the tournament vs TAISM on Thursday, April 20 at 9.00 am, just following the Opening Ceremony.

All the live action can be followed on our tournament blog here:
http://saisa-boys-basketball.blogspot.com/p/welcome.html

Results will be posted here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A6pjDzq28OjKt8Q8_HYpKPKDe3amnP2_2sKg-fA2hnc/edit?ts=58f59b50

Meanwhile, our Track and Field team will be competing at the Overseas School of Colombo, while our Girls' football team will be participating in the SAISA tournament hosted at the American School of Bombay.

Go Snow Leopards! 

Shashwat Finishes 2nd at RNGC 100th Anniversary Golf Tournament!

Lincoln's Shashwat Pradhan (Grade 7) came second in the junior section of the Royal Nepal Golf Club 100th Anniversary Tournament on April 14th, 2017. The Royal Nepal Golf Club is the oldest club in the country and most of the nation's top junior golfers participated in this tournament.

13-year-old Shashwat has been playing golf since the age of seven and is considered as a formidable player in the junior golf circuit in Nepal. Some of the other major tournaments he has taken part in in were the Nick Faldo Nepal Championships and the qualifier for the 2016 National Games after getting selected through the pre-qualifiers in both of these tournaments. We do expect to hear more about this young golfer in the future!

High School Service Nepal Video

Combined video of the high school Service Nepal journeys.

Middle School Service Nepal Video

The combined video of the grades 6, 7, and 8 Service Nepal trips.

Grade 12 Service Nepal

Service Nepal was a great opportunity for the senior class to explore the cultures and traditions of our host nation. The experiences and memories we’ve all made will remain with us for years after high school. The bonds formed between us, the students at Bachchhaladevi, and the All Hands Volunteers are stronger than hydrogen bonds, and has made an impact on our lifestyle and perspective. Over 6 days, we accomplished a lot from digging a hole to make the toilets, to pouring the foundations for a school building.

My highlight was:

• "While this trip was exciting and insightful, my personal highlight was when we went rafting. I was able to take a step towards overcoming my fear, by having people who supported and understood me. This trip was insightful because we got the opportunity to explore other cultures and situations, however it was exciting due to the activities we did the last two days." - Sneha.
• "Amidst the daily work that happened on site, the conversations with All Hands volunteers was an illuminating experience, which provided me with ideas of what to do after graduation and during college." - Swopnil
• "Rafting was an enthralling experience that contained a splashy adventure, synchronized collaboration, and a ton of laughs that will stay imprinted in my memory forever." - Norchen
• "The highlight of this trip was to enjoy the last Service Nepal for me and all of the 12th graders, and to be able to put a smile on the students and villagers faces, as well as enjoying the trip and making the most of it."  - Chakkapong
• "My personal highlight was to get to know the All Hands Volunteers and the Borderlands' staff. They’re doing a great job and it gave me a lot knowledge of how to get into an NGO and make a life out of it." - Lisa
• "Taking the cultural walk and being able to relax with an amazing view." - Miles
• "I really enjoyed playing the little quiz game with the third graders about telling time. Even though they already knew the days of the week and months of the year, I was glad we were able to teach them how to tell time." - Yashmit
• "My highlight for this Service Nepal was rafting and swimming in the river. I also enjoyed spending time with my class and being around a peaceful environment. It was much needed!" - Shree
• "My highlight was getting to know the All Hands Volunteers and learning about their backgrounds and their reasons to join All Hands. It was refreshing to see people from different places come together to help others." - Nikhil

I learnt to:

• "From just speaking to a few All Hands Volunteers, I learned that all you really need in life are basically clean water, food, and a place to sleep. With just these three things, they can enable us to have a good, healthy, and happy life." - Kannapat.
• "During the three days we worked with the All Hands organization, I learned how to use tools such as sifters, wheelbarrows, and shovels. Further, I strengthened my stamina due to the walking and working we did." - Sneha
• "I learned that little bits of help, even though it doesn’t look like much, can make a big difference." - Chakkapong
• "I learnt that we didn’t necessarily need our phones to entertain ourselves." - Rahab
• "I learned that during teaching it is important to adjust course content based on the audience that was listening and even to improvise from time to time!" - Swopnil  
• "I learned to dig a hole." - Lisa
• "I learned to use a hoe and shovel." - Norchen
• "I learnt how how you can be really satisfied by the simple pleasures in life. The All Hands Volunteers were a perfect representation of how helping others and being around new people who are all passionate about contributing can be satisfying." - Shree
• "I learnt to appreciate all the little things in my life that are otherwise very normal to me but are considered a luxury to others who are not as privileged as I am. Things like disposable pads, running water, constant electricity, etc." - Yashmit
• "I learned to use a sifter." - Paula
• " I learned to teach others about a subject that they have little knowledge of." - Nikhil

I enjoyed:

• "Being away from technology was something that was hard for me to picture, as I am so addicted to my phone. But I really enjoyed the nature and the sounds of nature were so pleasing to my ears. I felt like I really needed this trip to get through this stressful time of year." - Kannapat
• "I enjoyed spending time with friends in the eating area and just being away from technology." - Rahab
• "I enjoyed getting out of the city and seeing clean, green nature." - Miles
• "I enjoyed meeting people from the school, especially our buddies. It was fun to interact with the other students and to work with them. Further, I enjoyed spending time with my classmates during the afternoon and evening; our conversations, card games and dancing session were very fun. It was exciting to spend such a long time away from my family with my friends, and I loved this experience." - Sneha
• "I enjoyed the experience of being away from home for several days and gaining a feeling of independence and responsibility for myself and the work that I would be doing. It was a time of inspiration." - Swopnil
• "I enjoyed coming out of my Lincoln bubble and exploring an environment outside of my comfort zone." - Norchen
• "I enjoyed getting out of my dark personal space and actually doing something to help the community. Even though it might not look like much, I gave it everything I have." - Chakkapong
• "I enjoyed being in nature and breathing the fresh air again!" - Lisa
• "I enjoying talking to the All Hands Volunteers about how long they’ve been working with All Hands and what originally made them start." - Shree
• "I enjoyed the free time we got when we played twister or cards or just laying down on the twister mat under the sun and taking a small nap." - Yashmit

A challenge for me was:

• "A challenge was definitely the bridge, which I believed was as high as the Burj Khalifa. Crossing it for the first time was just pure disaster. But as the days went on, I believe that I got used to the height and am now comfortable with it." - Kannapat
• "Crossing the bridge on the first day was the biggest challenge for me." - Rahab
• "My challenge for this Service Nepal was speaking in front of students and mothers in a language that I am not that confident in, especially about topics that are considered taboo in that community." - Shree
• "My challenge was trying to do construction work and teaching while I was feeling under the weather." - Norchen
• "My challenge was to keep calm and be understanding of others' experiences. I’ve been trekking and camping since I can remember, and because of that it was hard to understand some issues people had." - Lisa
• "My challenge was feeling useful because I don’t know Nepali or how to do construction." - Paula
• "A challenge was facing my fear of heights to go canyoning." - Miles
• "It was challenging to make the jump when we were jumping from the large rock. I somehow mustered the courage to jump the first time and had a lot of fun but it was just as scary the second time. I'm glad I jumped twice despite my fear of heights." - Yashmit

I feel better prepared for college because:

• "I got first hand experience getting my hands dirty; something that comforts me before I enter the uncertainty of college." - Norchen
• "I was able to sort out my clothes (dirty and clean) nicely and improve my organization skills." - Yashmit
• "I learnt how I can live with just the bare basics: water, food, and shelter. This experience was a tough adventure, but it prepared me for tougher times to come and for the hardships that college might bring." - Nikhil  
• "I gained insight about college and life in the United States through conversations with All Hands volunteers so I had a better idea of what to expect in the future." - Swopnil

Grade 11 Service Nepal 2017

During Service Nepal week, the junior class participated in a service-learning program at Shree Kalika Primary School in Kalika, Ukhubari Sindhupalchowk. On this five-day trip students spent approximately three days engaging with local primary and middle school students working on two separate projects. One project focused on solar electrification and the other focused on educational lessons in the primary school. Once the service projects were complete, to pursue the goals of self-understanding, coping skills, and college and career readiness, they participated in a two-day kayaking camp. The students camped in tents right along the Sunkoshi River in Sukute. At night students spent their time bonding around the campfire, trust walks to the Banyan tree, and silly skits.

By Class of Grade 11

Highlights from a few grade 11 students:

“The highlight of my trip for me was teaching the students of the school math and art and seeing how excited and engaged they were in class. Teaching them was something new for me. It was fun teaching in Nepali because if you didn’t know a word my team was there to help.” Ritika

“The highlight of the trip was the people I surrounded myself with from Thrive and the Borderlands crew. They made me feel safe and confident. They would always smile and ask if I needed anything.” Prasant

"The highlight of the trip was the campfire every night. It was what brought everyone together.” Sangho

“Kayaking was by far the most fun, especially learning how to do the T-Rescue.” Garrett

“Getting to make a big difference for a community in a short span of time.” Athena

“Kayaking was amazing and it was an epic experience. I wish it was longer!” Hanul

Grade 10 Service Nepal 2017

For the 2016-2017 Service Nepal trip the grade 10 class traveled to Nuwakot, visiting Bachhala school to help with construction alongside the organization All Hands Volunteers. This trip was very engaging and required our class to dedicate their full energy to the tasks at hand. From working on the construction site, to hikes back to the campsite, for many of us sleep came easily. But the trip didn’t just give our 10th grade class a few blisters, instead we are left with memories that will last so much longer than the blisters on our feet. Our class got to teach other students, in lessons that vary from arts and crafts, to geography and menstruation. Each of these lessons not only taught our students the struggle of teaching, but also forced many to learn how to work around communication barriers, a skill which is getting further useful in a globalized world. It also allowed us all to bond with our fellow classmates and the students at the Bachhala school through a buddy system and cultural walk​ and also the volunteers of All Hands. In fact, whether it was bending rebar, painting, tying wire or shoveling gravel, we all had someone guiding us through it. We all learned new skills during the three days of construction work. As one student explained, “I learned how rebar support goes into buildings for concrete to be poured. And I learned how everything comes together to make a nice building.” Another student said, “ [I learned] what it really feels like to be dirty for 5 days in a row, and how much fun it is even though it may be tiring to be working on a work site with other people.” One student reflects on their interaction with their buddy as, “Though we’d only known our buddies for a short period of time it was easy to form friendships with our buddy. Talking with my buddy I got to see her village through a new perspective, and I especially enjoyed our short cultural tour with our buddies because it was unlike anything we’ve done in previous trips. It was an emotional farewell on our last day.” From these experiences the class of 2019 picked up more than a handful of skills.

Beyond working and hiking, the 10th grade class also created many great memories as a group. Some of these experiences, no matter how small, will never be forgotten by our class. These experiences ranged from the campfires every night, where many of our classmates told scary stories about backward feet ghosts, to joining in sing-alongs from Disney to hip hop; these nights were definitely worth looking back on. One of the most memorable moments of our trip was the 11 kilometer hike and subsequent arrival at the long awaited Famous Farm. And that last night, singing and dancing, and experiencing Mr. Anuj’s madal playing skills, his Nepali songs, and crazy dance moves was a highlight.

The class is definitely walking away with memories we’ll all remember. From things as simple as the animals in the area, to donating Bachhala our excess supplies and watching the amount of joy they got from something so simple, to learning how construction really works, to knowing that this school in the making has been impacted by us, we all took away experiences that were special to us in one way or another, and we are confident that these memories will shape us both as individuals, and as a class. See you next year!

By Tapashwi Karki and Connor Swanson
Noor Bajrachaya, collaborator

Grade 9 Service Nepal 2017

Twenty-two hungry and tired kids got off the bus at 6:30 PM as they reached their desired destination, Ratnanagar Gothauli Chitwan. There was a lovely ceremony that included the presentation of tikkas and flowers to welcome us, along with a traditional Nepali meal, which we helped prepare. Over the next four days, we helped local Nepali farmers build bio-domes, so that they could have a sustainable resource of gas for cooking. It was a long but rewarding process. First, we had to measure and dig the dome about ten feet across and six feet deep. Then, we had to lay bricks down, as well as make a wall of bricks around the circumference of the hole. Because the cement had to dry for a couple of days before we could make the dome, we went to another house to finish their dome. Once the template of dirt for the dome was complete, we proceeded to cover it in cement, with the engineer’s much needed guidance.

Apart from the building of domes, the class also took part in learning traditional Nepali fishing, late night dance classes, both Nepali and swing, and even a ride into the nearby village on ox carts. We were also able to take a traditional canoe ride to view wildlife that included:  crocodiles, spotted deer and the rare one-horned rhino. On the last night what looked to be the entire village came together to watch traditional Tharu dancing which In which we participated. I do believe that no one will contradict me when I say that it was one of the best Service Nepal trips ever!

By Maiya Justice

Our first sunrise on the plains of the Terai

Although the seats were hard, and the roads were rough, as Mr. Nielsen said, “It gives you character.”

Many people put their blood and sweat into digging this hole.

We can officially cross building a dome off of our bucket lists

An afternoon canoe ride filled with Rhinos and crocs

The ladies and gents dolled up in traditional Tharu clothing

The ladies and gents dolled up in traditional Tharu clothing