![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
School meeting recap–2/29
Michelle Honda Phillips speaks about her transgender daughter and the gender spectrum during the school meeting. This week is GSA’s club week and they will be selling coffee cake and pearl milk tea.
February 29, 2016
GSA will sell coffee cake and boba during lunch and after school for its club week. The club invited a guest speaker, Michelle Honda Phillips, daughter of senator Mike Honda, to speak during the meeting. Phillips spoke generally about the gender spectrum, then more specifically about her transgender daughter, who transitioned at 18 months of age.
Alumnus Jennifer Nyugen (11’) spoke about community service and her involvement in Key Club during high school and her current work with service organizations such as Sunday Friends. She described her experiences working with students at a Santa Clara elementary school.
Junior Meilan Steimle performed a rhyming speech about the Happiness Philosophy Seminar that will be held by Head of School Christopher Nikoloff during this week’s long lunch.
To commemorate Feb. 29 as leap day, Spirit held three activities, including leap frog, during both lunches, which featured prizes.
Senior Sahana Narayanan and Jane Keller spoke about how the chalk on the chalkboard outside of the art building was removed due to complaints of people erasing what other people wrote. The chalk has been returned to the chalkboard to make it a place for people to write their thoughts and emotions with the warning that the board is not for graffiti.
Boys basketball lost in the second round of the CCS tournament last Thursday at San Lorenzo Valley High School with a score of 47-67.
Baseball opened their season with a 16-3 victory over Livermore Valley Charter Prep.
The varsity swim team hosted its first meet of the season last Wednesday against Crystal Springs Uplands and The King’s Academy.
Girls lacrosse lost to Archbishop Mitty High School last Wednesday. They play Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory tomorrow at 3:30 p.m., Gunn High School on Wednesday, and York School on Friday.
Softball started their season with wins over Overfelt High School and Mercy High School. The girls travel to Palo Alto tomorrow and host Menlo-Atherton High School on Friday.
The cheerleading team is having practices on Wednesdays throughout March. Anyone interested must have a yellow card in order to attend. The team will not be taking any new members after the beginning of the next school year.
The Upper School will follow a special schedule tomorrow to accommodate an assembly.
Hoscars audition videos are due by Friday.
