---
title: "Gala Auction Lot: The Amazing Race: INTL Edition, May 5th"
description: International School of the Peninsula hosts an annual Gala & Auction, the school’s largest fundraising event. On May 5th, a group of teachers and staff, led by Elementary School Principal, Lauren Christel, and Educational Technology Director and MYP Coordinator, Véronique Merckling, organized a one-of-a-kind Amazing Race to raise money for the auction.
image: https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hubfs/Miscellaneous/Imported_Blog_Media/DSC_0181-1.jpg
---

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# Gala Auction Lot: The Amazing Race: INTL Edition, May 5th

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![Gala Auction Lot: The Amazing Race: INTL Edition, May 5th](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hubfs/Miscellaneous/Imported_Blog_Media/DSC_0181-1.jpg)

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Each year, INTL\* hosts an Annual Gala and Auction, the school’s largest fundraising event. On May 5th, a group of teachers and staff, led by Elementary School Principal, Lauren Christel, and Educational Technology Director and MYP Coordinator, Véronique Merckling, organized a one-of-a-kind Amazing Race to raise money for the auction. This experience culminated in a five-course, wine-paired gourmet provençal dinner.

With the help of INTL parent Gary Meeker, who has a wealth of experience organizing races in the past, Lauren and her team prepared challenges to put everyone's physical and mental skills to the test.

| ![ISTP Amazing Race](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Miscellaneous/Imported_Blog_Media/20180505_143117.jpg?width=331&name=20180505_143117.jpg) |
| --- |
| "Stock Up": Teams bought materials required to construct key players in a chess game from our local Home Depot |

| ![20180505_152921](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Miscellaneous/Imported_Blog_Media/20180505_152921.jpg?width=331&name=20180505_152921.jpg) |
| --- |
|  "Savvy Wine Bar" Sommelier: Teams answered a series of questions that tested their knowledge of wine |

| ![DSC_0030](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Miscellaneous/Imported_Blog_Media/DSC_0030-1.jpg?width=438&name=DSC_0030-1.jpg) |
| --- |
|  “Standing Tower of Lego”: The goal of the task was simple – build a tower of Lego matching the picture given. The catch, however, was only one teammate was allowed to touch the pieces and build the tower, but he or she was blindfolded! The other team member verbally guided the blindfolded teammate to the pieces. |

| ![IMG_3427](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Miscellaneous/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_3427.jpg?width=331&name=IMG_3427.jpg) |
| --- |
|  “Checkmate”: Teams built nine chess pieces and a board using the supplies they collected at Home Depot |

| ![DSC_0100](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Miscellaneous/Imported_Blog_Media/DSC_0100.jpg?width=292&name=DSC_0100.jpg) |
| --- |
| *The Amazing Race: INTL Edition* Winners, Kai Ju and Patty, checking in at the mat! |

| ![DSC_0181-1](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Miscellaneous/Imported_Blog_Media/DSC_0181-1.jpg?width=438&name=DSC_0181-1.jpg) |
| --- |
| * The Amazing Race: INTL Edition* Contestants |

    

| ![ISTP Amazing Race](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Miscellaneous/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_8521.jpg?width=438&name=IMG_8521.jpg) |
| --- |
| Special thanks to the race team: Lauren Christel, Jacqueline Cody, Emily Warde, Aine McDermott, James Daly, Jessica Johnson, Maryam Shabani, Jeremy Johnson, Sylvie Jannonshields, Melanie Maynarich, and HsiaoYu Chang. Not pictured: David Huang. |

After the race, Véronique and her team of talented home chefs, aka INTL teachers, welcomed parents to an impressive multi-course wine-paired provençal dinner.

| ![IMG_5663 (1)](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Miscellaneous/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_5663%20(1).jpg?width=438&name=IMG_5663%20(1).jpg) |
| --- |
|  Provençal dinner menu with flowers arranged by Valérie Ribo |

| ![IMG_5665](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Miscellaneous/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_5665.jpg?width=438&name=IMG_5665.jpg) |
| --- |
|  Cheers! Creative menu printed on Amazing Race clue cards |

| ![IMG_3997](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Miscellaneous/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_3997.jpg?width=331&name=IMG_3997.jpg) |
| --- |
|  Kate Lussen and Roselyne Perron plating the *petit farcis provençaux* made by Janine Batal-Hakim |

| ![IMG_5668](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Miscellaneous/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_5668.jpg?width=331&name=IMG_5668.jpg) |
| --- |
| *Daube provençale* cooked by Arnaud Cabanel |

| ![IMG_5675](https://blog.siliconvalleyinternational.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Miscellaneous/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_5675.jpg?width=438&name=IMG_5675.jpg) |
| --- |
|  Mathieu Farrugia and Clothilde Labrousse presented guests with their expertly crafted desserts: *tarte au chocolat* and *entremet abricot lavande* |

   
Special thanks to the provençal dinner team for organizing a wonderful evening: Véronique Merckling, Corinne Butel, Arnaud Cabanel, Mathieu Farrugia, Janine Batal-Hakim, Clothilde Labrousse, Kate Lussen, Roselyne Perron, and Valérie Ribo.

As you can see from the photos, the experience was nothing short of *amazing*.

Thank you to our wonderful teachers and staff, as well as our parents for their continued support of INTL! We can't wait to see what's in store for next year's [Gala & Auction](https://gala.istp.org/)! Mark your calendars for the 31st Annual Gala & Auction on Saturday, March 23, 2019.

\*In 2020, the International School of the Peninsula (ISTP) formally changed its name to Silicon Valley International School (INTL) to better reflect its bilingual programs, location, and international values.

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