![“[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)
Students plan for Halloween festivities
Assistant to Dean of Students Amy Hauck’s office is filled with Halloween-themed objects.
October 26, 2017
As the end of October draws nearer and nearer, Halloween excitement fills the fall air. Plastic witches, cloth ghosts and tinsel arachnids begin to appear on front lawns of neighborhoods. Spiders nest in the cobwebs that bedeck the Main hallway, eerie eyes peer out from classroom doors and pumpkins and corn cobs adorn Manzanita.
From trick-or-treating to handing out candy to attending parties, students of all grades have spooky plans.
“My friend and I are planning to go trick-or-treating dressing up as crayons, because I feel like it’s really easy to coordinate with your friends,” Shafieen Ibrahim (11) said. “We get candy, and then we eat it together.”
On the other hand, other students prefer staying at home to pass out and eat candy.
“I might hand out candy or eat a lot of candy,” Nathan Wang (10) said. “Well, I eat the candy that I hand out.”
Students will have the opportunity to showcase their Halloween costumes at school on Oct. 31 for a costume contest to win spirit points.
“Last year, we had a fall break day on the 31st, but [this year] we actually get to dress up on Halloween. So, for [the dress-up day], I’m probably going to be a mime,” Ayesha Baweja (10) said. “I might go trick-or-treating with my friends. Probably not, though, because I’m too old, so people won’t give me as much candy.”
Halloween parties are also a way for students to enjoy the holiday through wearing their desired costumes.
“A family friend is hosting a Halloween party that I’m going to, themed on the game Clue,” Allison John (9) said. “We’re all supposed to dress up as characters from the game.”
Student council spent Friday afternoon putting up Halloween decorations around the school, hanging cackling ghosts and cobwebs from ceilings and fixing sticky skeletons to glass.
Faculty and staff are getting into the spirit as well. Administrative Services Receptionist Luanne Stanley decorated her office with swaths of purple and green warning tape draped across the dividers.
“At home, we decorate the house. I usually have or attend a Halloween party or two,” she said. “It’s just a day for people to have fun. One of the really fun things [about working at Harker is], you get to be silly. You [can] wear pajamas to school and not get in trouble because you’re supporting the students.”
At the upper school, the student body will celebrate Halloween with spirit events such as the Pumpkin Carving on Oct. 27 during long lunch and the dress-up day and costume contest on Oct. 31.
On the large monthly calendar in Manzanita Hall, the Pumpkin Carving competition date is marked on a decorated poster. A representative from each grade level chose their class pumpkin during the school meeting on Monday.
Click on the image below to take a quiz. What should you be this Halloween?
