![“[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 1/7/2020: Student directed showcase, new basketball hoop and course selections
Members of the boys soccer team announce that their annual Kicks Against Soccer games are on Friday. The boys junior varsity team plays at 3 p.m. against Pinewood, girls varsity team plays at 4:45 p.m. against Notre Dame and boys varsity team plays at 6:30 against Priory.
January 8, 2020
Avi Gulati (12) started off the meeting by welcoming everyone to 2020 and stating his new year resolutions.
Roma Gandhi (12) announced on behalf of the Student Events Committee that the deadline to sign up for Hoscars is Jan. 20. Applicants need to submit their Hoscars submission form and email Roma their video audition. Roma also clarified that one person can participate in more than one act, as long as they are not the only person in both acts.
Adhya Hoskote (12) announced that there is a meeting in the team room at 1:00 pm during long lunch today for anyone interested in swimming or playing boys volleyball.
Boys soccer announced that their annual Kicks Against Soccer games are on Friday. Various goods will be sold at the game. On Wednesday, there will be a Chipotle fundraiser from 4-8 p.m. at the Chipotle on Saratoga Avenue. All proceeds go to Camp Okizu, a free summer camp for children suffering from or recovering from cancer. The boys junior varsity team plays at 3 p.m. against Pinewood, girls varsity team plays at 4:45 p.m. against Notre Dame and boys varsity team plays at 6:30 against Priory.
Simar Bajaj (12) announced a speaker event on behalf of Medical Club. Dr. Stephanie Harman, a palliative care physician at Stanford University, will be speaking from 12:45 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday in upper school biology teacher Dr. Matthew Harley’s room.
Julia Biswas (11) announced a guest speaker event on behalf of Female Empowerment Club (FEM). Cathy Cassady will be discussing growing up in the Bay Area in the 1960s and the lives of her parents at 12:45 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9 in upper school english teacher Charles Shuttleworth’s room.
Student Directed Showcase (SDS) directors Kathy Fang (12), Katelyn Chen (12), Joel Morel (12) and Shyl Lamba (12) played a video previewing SDS and announced that SDS will be taking place at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Tickets can be bought at tiny.cc/SDS2020.
The Campus Development Committee, comprised of student council members Michelle Jin (9), Rupert Chen (9), Aaditya Gulati (10), Mihir Sharma (12) and Andrew Lu (11), announced that there would be a new basketball hoop installed by the end of the week. Basketballs will also be available for students to borrow at the Dobbins office. In addition, student council will also install Four Square and a new white board in the Nichols rotunda.
Natasha Yen (11) and Karan Bhasin (11) spoke about their experience attending the People of Color and Student Diversity Leadership Conference in Seattle in December.
“The conference in Seattle was a really great experience,” Karan said. “We met some unique people around the country and heard from some amazing speakers.”
Upper school history teacher Mark Janda and upper school art teacher Pilar Aguero-Esparza announced that the Student Diversity Leadership Crodnonference will be taking place in the RPAC on Martin Luther King’s Day and encouraged both students and faculty to attend. Dr. Rodney Glasgow, a diversity facilitator, will be the primary speaker. Those who attend will have the opportunity to participate in workshops with Rodney and have conversations about diversity.
To end the meeting, Academic Dean Kelly Horan informed the students about schedule changes for second semester. From now to Jan. 15, students may request changes to their schedule. From Jan. 16 to Jan. 22, course requests are closed. Then, from Jan. 23 to Jan. 31, students may request changes again. All requests should be submitted to Director of Standardized Testing and Scheduling Troy Thiele through email at [email protected].
Horan also spoke about course selections for the next school year. After giving an anecdote about the paradox of choice, she announced the new history and social science semester electives: Civics, Social Psychology, Introduction to Ethnic Studies, Introduction to Social Justice, and, open to seniors only, Honors Modern International Topics. Kinetic Krew will be an extra period option and the Study of Technical Theater will also be added. There is also a new course called English 4: The Modern Essay.
Horan also announced that Course Selection Information night will be on Jan. 23 in the Nichols Atrium. Parents will be receiving an invitation in email, and students are not required to attend.
Lastly, Horan announced that she will be sending out the google form for next school year’s course selections next Monday and the form will be due on Jan. 28. Students will also have to fill out an academic plan on Infinite Campus with their chosen courses.
