![“[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)
BREAKING: Harker announces end of indoor masking requirement starting April 18
Brendon Hayes (9) and Akul Goyal (9), members of Harker Robotics’ mechanical and machining team, wear masks inside Nichols as they run the router during Robotics’ weekend work session today. As of April 18, Harker will no longer require middle and upper school community members to wear masks indoors.
March 5, 2022
Harker will no longer require wearing masks indoors for middle and upper school students starting on April 18, according to an email sent by Head of School Brian Yager on Thursday.
This announcement follows Santa Clara County’s decision to comply with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s mask mandate removal in schools starting on March 11 at 11:59 p.m. Masks are recommended but not required. According to Yager, the school’s decision to remove the mandate starting on April 18 is due to uncertainty surrounding testing, quarantine, isolation, positive COVID-19 cases and the spread of COVID-19.
Masks will still be required indoors for one week after spring break so that students can take COVID-19 tests before the new mask guidelines go into effect. According to Yager, for the remainder of the school year, students will wear masks during indoor athletic and performing arts events, although performers are not required to wear masks. According to upper school nurse Jennifer Olson, class meetings can be in-person or remote.
According to Yager, bus passengers must wear masks, and some teachers may require masks during class due to health risks. The school will not require students to remove masks.
Students must wear masks during standardized testing, and students of teachers with health risks may be required to wear masks. Weekly COVID-19 testing on Fridays will continue for the rest of the year, and it was first implemented on Feb. 4.
“I feel slightly uncomfortable about removing masks indoors despite it being two years since COVID-19 has broken out,” Ipsita Mandal (10) said. “It feels unclear what might happen in the future. I feel that once we remove masks cases will start rising, and after a couple of weeks things could become worse again.”
According to Yager, if the county or state does not implement guidelines regarding masking in schools, Harker will not require masks during the summer or next school year.
A previous version of this article stated that Head of School Brian Yager’s email was sent today instead of Thursday, March 3. The article has been updated on March 5, 2022, to reflect the correction of this error.
