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The student news site of The Harker School.

Harker Aquila

The student news site of The Harker School.

Harker Aquila

The student news site of The Harker School.

Harker Aquila

Kinetic Krew senior Vedant Yadav, junior Demitri Ajlouny and sophomore Ryan Miao chat and stretch. KK and Harker Dance Company members helped run and evaluate the audition.

Record 122 students audition for Dance Production

by Disha Gupta and Janam Chahal September 18, 2024

An unprecedented 122 students auditioned for the upper school Dance Production, ‘All You Need is Love,’ in the Patil Theater on Sept. 6 from 3:15-5:30. The performances will be held on Jan. 31 and...

Delightfully naughty and nice: “Short n’ Sweet” portrays Sabrina Carpenter in her purest form

Delightfully naughty and nice: “Short n’ Sweet” portrays Sabrina Carpenter in her purest form

by Lily Peng, Reporter September 17, 2024

A flirty wink, a casual toss of her hair, a dazzling voice. And from that voice comes simple melodies. Silly tunes ring clearly in my head, ready to erupt from my lips in off-tune shrieks and compel...

Michael Jin (9) uses TRX during his  workout in the weight room. For high school students, fitness generally comes in the form of weight lifting, cardio exercises and the classic squats, crunches and pushups.

Building bodies, building minds: Students find sanctuary in the gym

by Young Min and Charlize Wang August 31, 2024

In a fast-paced world filled with chaos, there exists a haven where people become the architects of their own bodies, shaping their physique with grit and determination. This is the realm of working out....

Jason Shim (12) speaks during the inaugural Conservatory Kick-off panel and is joined by Iris Cai (12), Luke Mehta (’24) and Maria Gong. The panelists shared their experiences in the Conservatory program and offered advice to the students and parents.

Conservatory welcomes students and parents with kick-off

by Tiffany Zhu, Co-Sports Editor August 29, 2024

Conservatory teachers and students presented this year’s initiatives and opportunities at the annual kick-off to parents and students in the Patil Theater on Aug. 21.  Upper school performing arts...

Book Corner: Escaping the vacuum

Book Corner: Escaping the vacuum

by Suhani Gupta, Co-A&E/Lifestyle Editor August 18, 2024

Content warning: This article contains mentions of suicide and depression. Botanists often use a glass bell jar to protect samples of delicate plants. These jars serve as vacuums, cutting the samples...

After focusing much of her career on creating chart-topping pop singles, Swift now embraces synth-pop styles. It’s difficult to pigeonhole TTPD into a singular category, and Swift, who has tackled almost every genre throughout her career, would probably uphold that sense of ambiguity.

Taylor Swift shares poetic poignancy in “The Tortured Poet’s Department”

by Ashley Mo, Tiffany Zhu, and Kairui Sun May 11, 2024

31 tracks, two hours — the longest album singer-songwriter Taylor Swift has ever released. Swift dropped “The Tortured Poet’s Department” on April 19, breaking the record for most streams in 24...

Maggie Rogers' new album “Don’t Forget Me” largely hinges on experiencing a complicated relationship with love itself. Outside of her lyrics, Rogers unites diverse instruments under a cohesive sound in her newest work. S

‘Don’t Forget Her:’ Maggie Rogers etches herself into singer-songwriter legend

by Gabe Sachse, Co-Aquila Managing Editor May 3, 2024

“Everybody’s going crazy / See them walking down the street” croons Maggie Rogers as she opens her new album “Don’t Forget Me” with an existential twist. Right away, the indie singer-songwriter...

Poetry offers students a place to express themselves, whether through writing, reading or reciting it. "You can just use words and use the feelings of those words to create a painting," Eric Zhang (11) said.

Poetry empowers student voices

by Suhani Gupta, Co-A&E/Lifestyle Editor April 30, 2024

Adolescence often feels like a struggle. In these turbulent years, teenagers may feel the need to express themselves, to make their voices heard. Poetry is one such mode of expression, allowing for a release...

Café Gratitude, a restaurant in Kansas City, Missouri, offers a homey dining experience and encourages customers to appreciate themselves and their community. The staff consider each other family to further foster inclusivity.

Café Gratitude graces vegan food with positivity

by Young Min and Charlize Wang April 6, 2024

“Family!” A chef shouts from behind the wooden counter, signaling that a new dish is ready to be served. Waiters rush to receive the order, navigating around wooden tables and scattered greenery....

All aboard: Union Station wows locals and tourists alike

All aboard: Union Station wows locals and tourists alike

KANSAS CITY — With its century-old architecture and central location, Kansas City’s Union Station remains one of the city’s iconic sites, boasting bustling shops, restaurants and specialized attractions.  Harker...

Zachary Hampton fashions a wig that an actor playing Goldilocks will wear for the theatre's dress rehearsal. Zachary is playing the Papa Bear role for the company's upcoming show.

Fifty years of performance and production: Theatre for Young America leaves lasting impact

by Jonathan Xue and Kevin Zhang April 6, 2024

KANSAS CITY — A ferocious wolf creeps toward the home of an oblivious Big Pig. Though she pretends not to hear the kids’ cries of concern, the actress' heart fills with emotion, moved by the audience's...

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