School meeting recap 1/11/23: Pasta Party, Make Our Schools Safe and Winter Instrumental Concert

Public+Health+Club+officers+Fiona+Yan+%2811%29+and+Johnathan+Mo+%2812%29+speak+about+Chinas+newest+COVID-19+policies.+The+Public+Health+Club+held+a+discussion+about+these+topics+on+Friday+during+long+lunch.

Vika Gautham

Public Health Club officers Fiona Yan (11) and Johnathan Mo (12) speak about China’s newest COVID-19 policies. The Public Health Club held a discussion about these topics on Friday during long lunch.

by Vika Gautham, Assistant Features Editor

Content warning: This article mentions gun violence. We advise readers who may be sensitive about these topics to reconsider reading this piece.

Associated Student Body (ASB) Vice President Gordon Chen (12) opened the school meeting on Wednesday.

Juniors Gordy Sun, Ella Lan, Anaya Mandal and Daniel Lin introduced “Pasta Party,” which will be held by Truffle Shuffle. Pasta Party is a pasta making class for Harker upper school students, and will be held on Jan. 19 through zoom. During the event, students will be making pasta from scratch at home, and can sign up at tinyurl.com/harkerpasta.

Next, Public Health Club officers Fiona Yan (11) and Johnathan Mo (12) discussed China’s most recent COVID-19 policies. To provide a space for those who have either been personally affected, or wished to talk about these recent events, Public Health Club hosted a group discussion about these topics on Friday during lunch in Main 2.

Then, Dance Club president Nupur Gupta (12) notified students that Dance Club will be holding Bollywood dance workshops to prepare for the Culture Week showcase during the week of Feb. 27. Those who are interested can sign up, and there is no previous experience required.

CareerConnect speakers Callie Yuan (11) and Carey Chang (11) announced an event featuring Atit Jariwala, who is the CEO of Bridgeton Holdings. The event was held during the second half of long lunch on Wednesday, and attendees learned about Jariwala’s experiences in the field as an investor and CEO.

Co-founders of Make Our Schools Safe at Harker, Katherine Fields (11) and Divya Venkat (11), then showed a video about Alyssa Alhadeff, who died in the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2018. Make Our Schools Safe is a non-profit organization, created by the parents of Alhadeff. Their first meeting will be held during long lunch on Jan. 18 from 1 p.m. to 1:25 p.m. in Dobbins 209, where they will be going over what the club is about as well as planning for projects.

Green Team continued with the “Starcups” raffle, where Rick Lu (12) won a $10 Starbucks Gift card. Green Team reminded students and faculty that if they take reusable cups to the Starbucks across the street, they will get a 10% discount and will be entered into the raffle. Those who do not have reusable cups can get one in upper school Spanish teacher Diana Moss’s room. Green Team will be holding their next meeting on Jan. 20.

Harker Conservatory representatives Samvita Gautham (12), Richard Zhang (12), Luke Mehta (11) and Sam Parupudi (10) went on to announce that Dance Production tickets will go on sale on Jan. 16, and the shows will be held on Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m. night, as well as on Jan.  28 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.. They then showed a video about the Winter Instrumental Concert, featuring Orchestra, Jazz Band, and Lab Band. Flutist Ashley Ma (12)  held her concerto at the concert, in addition to four other string soloists. Tickets are free, and the concert took place on Friday at 6:30 p.m.

Finally, students  put their eagles up for the weekly Eagle Update, and ASB Treasurer Abhi Namala (12) dismissed the meeting.