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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

Dancers in the "Way Down We Go" routine strike a pose during a dress rehearsal for this year's dance production, Blast from the Past. 130 students performed in the shows on Jan. 28 and Jan. 29 in the Rothschild Performing Arts Center's Patil Theater.

‘Blast from the Past’: Dance production 2022 reimagines music from past shows

by Sally Zhu and Michelle Liu February 7, 2022

A hush of excitement falls over the audience as the lights dim in Patil Theater. The curtains draw back. Regal trumpet sounds blare from the soundtrack, announcing the dancers spotlighted in formation...

Upper school’s first artist-in-residence Britta Clausnitzer advises students via Zoom on the Jan. 11 art workshop. Students had the opportunity to create painted paper masks at two workshops held by Art Club which they wore during the "Tiger on the Loose" performance on Jan. 19.

Upper school launches new visual arts endowment with first artist-in-residence

by Anika Maji and Catherine Wong February 6, 2022

Wearing brightly-colored decorative masks fashioned out of paper shapes, a cohort of students strides out of the art building. As they make their way across campus, stopping occasionally to pose for pictures...

Four Downbeat members sing towards the audience during their Santana Row "Spirit of the Row" performance. Downbeat, an upper school performance ensemble of 13 students, qualified for Varsity Vocals quarterfinals in November.

Downbeat returns with cheery holiday season and qualifies to Varsity Vocals quarterfinals

by Katelyn Zhao, Assistant Sports Editor February 3, 2022

Lights dim in the Rothschild Performing Arts Center theater and as the opening line of "Twelve Days of Christmas" rings out in the air, students, either dressed in shimmering gold a-line dresses or velvet...

Michelle Liu (12) reads "Maus," a graphic novel by Art Spiegelman about the Holocaust. A Tennessee school board banned the book for eighth graders in January, a move that threatens to erase the real history of the Holocaust.

‘Maus’: Banning what challenges you doesn’t change you

by Michelle Liu and Sally Zhu February 1, 2022

harkeraquila · Aquila Audible of "‘Maus’: Banning what challenges you doesn’t change you" A Tennessee school district board unanimously voted to ban the Pulitzer-winning graphic novel...

Lucas Chen (12) plays Cello Suite No. 3 by Johann Sebastian Bach for the virtual Tri-M Music concert held at the Cupertino Senior Center. Last Wednesday, the Harker Tri-M Music Honor Society received several student-submitted pieces for this concert initiative.

Tri-M Music Honor Society prepares for virtual concert at Cupertino Senior Center

by Edward Huang, Reporter January 28, 2022

The Harker Tri-M Music Honor Society received student-submitted recordings for their virtual concert initiative this past Wednesday, which aims to spread music within the local senior citizen community. The...

Pacific Catch's Japanese Wasabi Original Ahi Poke ($16 for small, $19 for regular), which includes a wakame seaweed salad, sushi rice and Ahi poke, sits on a table. The restaurant's Cupertino Main Street location operates from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

A fusion of Pacific flavors and fares

by Olivia Xu, Reporter January 28, 2022

Are you craving the soft tortilla and juicy fillings of a taco? Or do you hunger for some simple yet appetizing rolls of sushi? Or both?  At the heart of Cupertino’s Main Street Plaza resides Pacific...

Upper school director of instrumental music Dr. David Hart conducts Jazz Band at the instrumental concert on Jan. 14. The winter vocal concert took place on Jan. 13, both in the Patil Theater of the Rothschild Performing Arts Center.

Choral and instrumental ensembles kick off the year with first concerts of 2022

by Ella Yee and Julie Shi January 25, 2022

Upper school choral and instrumental ensemble members performed in the annual winter choral concert and winter instrumental concert, which took place in the Patil Theater at 7:00 p.m. on Jan. 13 and Jan....

Music Monday is a new installation featuring a different category of songs on a weekly basis.

Music Monday: Throwback to childhood theme songs with Aquila

by Sally Zhu, A&E and Lifestyle Editor January 24, 2022

Music Monday features a different category of songs on a weekly basis. Each Monday, Harker Aquila will release seven songs, one song for each day of the week. “Hey, Jessie! It feels like a party every...

Students in "Governing Alice" played by Sidak Sanghari (9), Leyla Artun (12) and Arianna Weaver (12) wave their hands. Four student-directed plays performed in the Rothschild Performing Arts Center on Jan. 7 and Jan. 8.

Annual Student Directed Showcase production entertains audience amidst COVID-19 pandemic

by Sally Zhu and Kinnera Mulam January 20, 2022

Where can you learn about all of American history and grow inspired by a basketball team’s hunt for new players in one sitting? Or enter a fictitious world of shunned “lefties” and sympathize with...

This is the second installment of Musical Musings, a podcast where Aquila staff members review and discuss music albums. In this episode, Erica and Irene share their thoughts on the soundtrack of Disney’s “Encanto,” released Nov. 24.

Musical Musings Episode 1: ‘Blue Banisters’ by Lana Del Rey

by Arely Sun and Michelle Liu January 15, 2022

This is the first installment of Musical Musings, a podcast where Aquila staff members review and discuss music albums. In this episode, Arely and Michelle share their thoughts on singer and songwriter...

Photos provided by Teresa Cai, Anya Warrier, Alan Jiang, Aniket Singh, Anya Chauhan, Miki Mitarai, Aria Jain, Ava Arasan, Kris Estrada, Anika Pandey, Shayla He, Katelyn Hsu and Varun Bhupathi. National, All-State and Regional Honor Choirs welcomed 13 upper school students in December, the highest number of Harker acceptances yet.

13 upper school students accepted into National and All-State Honor Choirs

by Kinnera Mulam and Sally Zhu January 9, 2022

National, All-State and Regional Honor Choirs welcomed 13 upper school students in December, the highest number of Harker acceptances yet. Seniors Teresa Cai and Anya Warrier, juniors Alan Jiang and...

Richard Zhang (11) plays with the orchestra during the Big Assembly Day opening number, "Sleigh Ride." Big Assembly Day occurred on Friday, Dec. 9.

K-12 performing arts students shine at in-person Big Assembly Day

by Alysa Suleiman and Sally Zhu January 9, 2022

Crack!  Heads turn, and the audience erupts into peals of laughter.  The infamous slapstick, two wooden boards that upper school orchestra percussionist Yejin Song (12) clapped together to imitate...

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