![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 holiday-themed activities in first ever Winterfest
Anish Jain (10) hugs Justin Chao (10) under a flurry of fake snow during Winterfest on Nov. 29. A snow machine showered the outside of Manzanita with fake snow, while HSLT members offered hot chocolate to the upper school community and HSLT co-adviser and Director of Student Organizations Eric Kallbrier hosted a holiday-themed karaoke, inviting students and teachers to sing along to holiday tunes.
December 9, 2021
Over 80 students and faculty participated in gingerbread house decorating, tree decorating and karaoke during the first ever Winterfest, hosted by the Harker Spirit Leadership Team (HSLT) and Student Activities Board (SAB) outside Manzanita on Nov. 29.
While these spirit competitions have been held in past years, HSLT decided to tie together the entire series of events with the name Winterfest this year for the first time.
“HSLT has always been trying to expand and do new things especially now that we’re back in person,” HSLT president Alysa Suleiman (12) said. “Going along with this whole theme of bringing cheer and unity to the upper school, Winterfest was a collective idea to bring holiday spirit to campus. Especially nearing finals, we wanted to give everyone a break and welcome everyone back from Thanksgiving break.”
During lunch, students and teachers built and decorated gingerbread houses using materials purchased by SAB representatives, with the four classes competing for spirit points in the gingerbread house decorating contest. The juniors took first, followed by the sophomores in second, the seniors in third and the freshmen in fourth, while the teachers’ gingerbread house was not judged.
The after school portion of the event occurred from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. A snow machine showered the outside of Manzanita with fake snow, while HSLT members offered hot chocolate to the upper school community and HSLT co-adviser and Director of Student Organizations Eric Kallbrier hosted a holiday-themed karaoke, inviting students and teachers to sing along to holiday tunes. Students also adorned their class tree with ornaments, ribbon and other decorations for the tree decorating contest held throughout the week. HSLT decided to postpone the holiday movie showing due to lack of participation.
When you see those people and join them together, it’s a really special feeling being able to see everyone enjoy themselves and have that smile on their faces even though there’s so many changes going on. That’s the whole point of spirit: to give people a break [and] to be together.
— Alysa Suleiman, HSLT President
“[My favorite part of Winterfest] was the fake snow,” HSLT community events committee member Anish Jain (10) said. “It really felt like snow, and it felt like it was actually winter, so that was cool.”
Students also helped paint their class’s window pane in the back of Manzanita for the annual window painting class contest. Throughout the week, students from each class continued to participate in tree decorating and window painting.
“Winterfest was very fun,” SAB representative Harshini Chaturvedula (10) said. “There was actual singing, and there was really fun singing where people were voice cracking, and overall it was a very nice vibe. I think a lot of people enjoyed that atmosphere.”
Teresa Cai (12), who participated in Winterfest, appreciates collaborating and competing with fellow students through spirit in person again.
“It’s so much more fun [than] online spirit,” Teresa said. “Having people right there next to you physically and seeing people work together on something, whether that’s the window painting or the gingerbread house, it’s a lot more fun and engaging. You feel like you’re making friends, you’re getting to know the people in your grade more.”
Planning for Winterfest began a few weeks before Thanksgiving break. The HSLT community events committee organized the community-based events such as karaoke, which was modeled after the successful karaoke booth during Spirit Night; the HSLT competitive events committee organized the spirit competitions, and SAB representatives from each class encouraged their respective classes to participate in the competitions.
“We try to keep the morale up and get everyone into the festive spirit,” Anish said. “It’s probably the best event in the year in terms of spirit because the winter vibe in general is just really nice.”
Alysa reflects on her joy in bringing together the upper school community through Winterfest and other spirit activities.
“Sometimes when you’re doing so much planning for HSLT, you forget what it feels like to be someone part of the crowd who’s enjoying it,” Alysa said. “When you see those people and join them together, it’s a really special feeling being able to see everyone enjoy themselves and have that smile on their faces even though there’s so many changes going on. That’s the whole point of spirit: to give people a break [and] to be together.”
In the future, HSLT plans on making Winterfest an annual event that takes place after Thanksgiving break while incorporating more diverse competitive events that do not necessarily require artistic ability.
