![“[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)
Upper school enforces frequent COVID-19 testing after two students test positive
Orchestra member Alex Zhong (9) receives a COVID-19 test. The upper school COVID-19 policy currently requires unvaccinated students and those in the instrumental music or indoor athletic programs to undergo weekly testing after a sophomore and a freshman tested positive in October.
November 19, 2021
The upper school COVID-19 policy currently requires unvaccinated students and those in the instrumental music or indoor athletic programs to undergo weekly testing after a sophomore and a freshman tested positive in October. 6 students across all Harker grades have tested positive since August.
Orchestra, jazz band and lab band members started regular testing after their classes moved indoors. They initially rehearsed outside the Rothschild Performing Arts Center (RPAC) to prevent the risk of transmission.
“I think it’s a good idea [to test these students frequently],” said orchestra member Alex Zhong (9), who has gotten tested every Tuesday since Oct. 19. “With these protocols, hopefully [the community] won’t have to go back to [online learning].”
The nurse’s office has administered 4,351 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests to high school students since August, according to upper school nurse Jennifer Olson. Sophomores underwent mass testing on Oct. 15 after a 10th grader tested positive for COVID-19. Students identified as close contact cases for a ninth grader who tested positive on the week of Oct. 25 also received tests.
In compliance with Santa Clara County county and California state guidance, students who test positive or experience symptoms of COVID-19, even without exposure to an infected individual, must quarantine for 10 days. Vaccinated students without symptoms or who did not come into contact with the virus can also contact the nurse’s office to get tested, according to Olson.
As the flu season approaches, Olson advises students to “get vaccinated, wear your mask indoors, wash your hands, and stay home and rest if you are sick.”
