![“[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)
The annual Family Picnic this past Sunday, themed “Paws, Jaws, and Claws,” attracted many students, faculty members, parent volunteers, and their families.
This year’s picnic featured a skit taking a primal twist on classic reality television shows like So You Think You Can Dance, American Idol, and Dancing with the Stars. Performance groups included JV Dance, Showstoppers, Belcanto, High Voltage, and Dance Fusion, each reflecting the theme of animals through their music and costumes.
Many students enjoyed bonding with their groups and performing on stage.
“It was fun [sitting] in the holding room getting to talk with friends,” said Madhu Nori (10), a member of the JV dance team who performed in the show.
In addition to featuring student performers, the picnic provided volunteer opportunities for clubs, including WiSTEM and National Honor Society (NHS), and parent volunteers. Besides the numerous booths where players could win prizes, many of those attending participated in various animal-themed activities, which included a dunk tank, a bounce house, and a miniature train that took people for rides around the picnic.
Heather Wardenburg, a parent who volunteers every year, enjoyed working at a booth named “Grabby Cans.”
“My kids go to school here. [I love] the sense of community and how everybody from Harker comes together; it’s just a really fun time,” she said. “Everybody has a great time together [watching] the performances and seeing all the other parents.”
The picnic was also popular among faculty members who volunteered at various booths and attended with their families.
Upper School chemistry teacher Dr. Smriti Koodanjeri also found the picnic to be an opportunity for family and community bonding.
“My parents are here for the first time. My daughter’s here. My husband’s here,” she said, proceeding to say that her favorite part of the picnic was playing the games. “I got a bottle of wine, a stuffed teddy, [and] a balloon!”
Apart from being dedicated to families, the picnic was also held in honor of alumni, who when registering were encouraged, although not required, to donate the cost of their ticket to the Annual Giving Campaign.
Advertised at the picnic, the annual fashion show will be the school’s next large fundraising event.
