![Setter Emma Lee (9) sets the ball to the middle during the match against Pinewood on Sept. 12. “[I’m looking forward to] getting more skilled, learning more about my position and also becoming better friends with all of my teammates, Emma said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSC_4917-2-1200x795.jpg)
![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasnt been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but Ive had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. Theres so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesnt exist, you can build it yourself, Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“Animation just clicked in a way. I had been interested in art, but that felt different. [Animation] felt like it had something behind it, whereas previous things felt surface level. I wasnt making that crazy of things, but just the process of doing it was much more enjoyable, Carter Chadwick (22) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-16-at-9.44.08-AM-900x598.png)
![“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 its played such a major role in who Ive 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 Im [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)
![“[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)
![“Im 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 theres a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyones 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)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you arent going to get those championships if you arent 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)
![“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)
Upper school community enjoys eagle painting, karaoke and candy at annual Spirit Night
Senior Student Activities Board (SAB) representative Kate Olsen fastens a headband with Shrek ears made of polymer clay onto the senior eagle.
October 3, 2021
Approximately 70 students and faculty gathered outside Manzanita Hall and the journalism room for the upper school Spirit Night from 3-6 p.m. on Friday. Hosted by the Harker Spirit Leadership Team (HSLT), Spirit Night serves as the precursor event to Homecoming Week, which begins tomorrow, Oct. 4, and ends Friday, Oct. 8.
Over the course of the event, students sang along to karaoke placed outside Manzanita and added final touches on their class eagles to meet the deadline at 6 p.m. after around two weeks of painting.
“Every single time during lunch, you see people outside painting and having a really good time,” eagle painter Alice Tao (10) said. “Contributing to something that kind of represents our class was just super cool to me.”
Freshman Mirabelle Feng also helped her class finish painting their eagle on Spirit Night, signing up for the spirit activity after receiving encouragement from her advisor, upper school history teacher Roxana Pianko.
“I usually don’t participate in anything spirited,” Mirabelle said. “I feel like I’m always too out front, but [eagle painting] was fun because anyone can participate in a not-as-straightforward way.”
In addition to eagle painting, students also enjoyed refreshments provided by HSLT and spending time with classmates. Junior Jacob Huang, who sang a variety of karaoke songs such as “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars and “Firework” by Katy Perry, performed alongside his fellow juniors under the name “Team L.”
“I thought we did great,” Jacob said. “I can’t really sing, so I was kind of shouting the lyrics. [Our team name] actually gave us a little more confidence—if we’re going to be Team L, might as well go for it.”
For both freshmen and sophomores, Friday served as a preview to their first-ever high school Homecoming experience.
“I just showed up to hang out with friends,” said Max Xing (10), who signed up for the dodgeball tournament taking place during the Homecoming rally on Oct. 7. “I’m looking forward to all the events going on.”
Spirit Night activities followed the morning Spirit block period, which provided students with the opportunity to either continue eagle painting or gather with their classes to practice for Homecoming Week activities such as the lip sync or tug-of-war competition.
Behind the scenes, HSLT has held meetings at least once a week for the past month to prepare for Homecoming and Spirit Night.
“My hope is that people enjoy everything that their peers, the Harker Spirit Leadership Team, has put together,” Director of Upper School Community Service and Student Activities Coordinator Kerry Enzensperger said. “While there is competition, it’s all about having fun and celebrating together.”
Homecoming Week kicks off tomorrow with mind games and eagle painting, followed by the Homecoming parade and tug-of-war preliminary rounds on Tuesday, trivia on Wednesday, the Homecoming rally on Thursday and a scavenger hunt on Friday.
“This truly is a Homecoming—it’s coming back home for the first time in over a year and a half,” Director of Student Organizations and Assistant Activities Director Eric Kallbrier said. “Seeing how many people are out here and talking together and hanging out and building relationships, it means that we’re back in the business of being together.”
