![“[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)
Assault and robbery at middle school leads to security increase
Provided by Cindy Ellis
Cards and gifts of support are left in the main office at the middle school. Security at the campus has increased following the robbery and assault that took place on Jan. 2.
January 19, 2018
Police arrested a suspect on Jan. 4 in the assault and robbery of a Harker teacher early on Jan. 2 at the middle school campus on Blackford Avenue.
In a press conference broadcast on Facebook Live at noon on Jan. 5 about the arrest, San Jose Police Department Chief Eddie Garcia announced that Andrew Bracamonte, 23, had been arrested in San Francisco, then transported to the Santa Clara County Jail, where he was booked on multiple criminal charges.
The administration is conducting a review of school security systems to see how the assault and robbery could have been prevented with future adjustments.
“We like to think that we do a pretty good job with security,” Head of School Brian Yager said. “Obviously, this event makes us question that; it rattles us, so we’re caught with this dilemma of feeling like we have things pretty well covered but obviously there’s some concern.”
While the review takes place, school administration has added an extra security guard and implemented earlier start hours for morning security, implemented nighttime patrol and added monitoring along the back fence at the middle school to establish security 24-hours a day.
Though there have not been immediate adjustments made for security on other campuses, the security review will encompass all campuses.
Bracamonte, who resided a half-mile from the middle school campus, had been arrested before. He is not a registered sex offender and he is not currently on parole, according to Garcia. Police believe that the attack was random.
“[The victim] did absolutely nothing wrong,” Garcia said during the press conference. “There’s only one person responsible for this heinous crime.”
Notes of support for the Harker teacher may be left at the front desk in Main at the upper school campus (or at any of the other three Harker campus front desks) and will be delivered to her.
A GoFundMe campaign has also been set up for the teacher, started by Harker parent Sholeh Diba Goetting. The campaign, which opened on Jan. 3, has surpassed its $50,000 goal.
English teacher Patricia Lai Burrows is covering the teacher’s classes during her absence.
