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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

Upper school Intro to Journalism teacher Whitney Huang sits at her desk in the back room of the journalism classroom, holding her "Harker Journalism" mug. Huang, a 2008 alumna and Harker "lifer," returned to Harker due to her deep connection to the school's culture and environment.

Meet your teacher: A return to Harker, 20 years later

by Sarah Mohammed, Features Editor October 3, 2021

Thumbing a photograph from 2000, new upper school journalism teacher and Harker alumna Whitney Huang (‘08) laughs with upper school activities director Kerry Enzensperger, recalling fondly each of their...

Upper school Latin teacher Scott Paterson shows his son, Virgil, holding some Amanita Muscaria mushrooms in Jan. 2020.

Meet your teacher: Mad for mushrooms

by Sally Zhu, Humans of Harker Profiler March 24, 2021

Upper school Latin teacher Scott Paterson kneels in a large forest in camping gear, holding a bright red Alice-in-Wonderland mushroom with his son Virgil. He’s featured in more photos, smiling and holding...

Upper school economics teacher showcases the myriad of board games he enjoys playing, whether it be with friends, family or his advisory. "The big draw to me is that board games allow you to connect with people in ways that you normally wouldn't be able to," Lizardo said. "Because sometimes we're just looking at a screen or playing video games, you don't actually get to see or talk to these people."

Meet your teacher: Economics teacher finds joy in board games

by Arely Sun, Winged Post Lifestyle Editor February 18, 2021

Behind his desk, upper school economics teacher Dean Lizardo keeps a stash of board games, stuffing the cubby of his tall bookshelf full of multicolored boxes.  “It would probably be pretty clear...

“I have a habit to live in the moment, whether that's taking a bunch of photos or writing down in my journals specific little moments that I thought were really nice,” Roberts said. “I think more and more now, really trying to live in the moment and trying to appreciate every single aspect of what's going on around me is definitely something I try [to] live by.”

Meet your teacher: Journalism teacher finds confidence through skiing

by Sally Zhu, Humans of Harker Profiler October 11, 2020

Imagine looking out at the beautiful Colorado mountains, which rise high above the rest of the world, covered in a blanket of snow. Imagine standing at the top of a slope with hundreds of feet of snow...

Gesturing with her hands, computer science teacher Anu Datar shows an Indian dance move. “I feel that dance actually makes me a better teacher because when I go to my dance teacher, and she teaches me something really complicated, I realize that it takes a while to master something,” Datar said. “So I think I developed empathy toward students who were struggling with things in class because I myself experience that when I go dance.”

Meet Your Teacher: Computer science teacher embraces the culture of Indian dance

by Anna Vazhaeparambil and Catherine Feng October 17, 2018

Cheers erupt from the crowd at the NrityaGuru Annual Show as the curtains slowly open, revealing 11 dancers clad in brightly colored salwar kameezes, which are traditional Indian garments that consist...

Biology teacher Dr. Thomas Artiss tends to a beehive. "I could stand and watch the hive for half an hour," Artiss said.

Meet your teacher: Biology teacher experiences joy of beekeeping

by Jessie Wang, Reporter September 2, 2018

A low buzzing fills the air as biology teacher Dr. Thomas Artiss approaches his beehive. Clad in traditional beekeeper wear — wide brimmed hat, mesh faceguard, white full-body suit and all — Dr. Artiss...

Meet your teacher: History teacher strives for inner balance

Meet your teacher: History teacher strives for inner balance

by Mahika Halepete and Helen Yang May 14, 2018

Silence seeps into the air as a group of people sit together, meditating—then, chants begin to echo as they recite the names of gods in Hebrew through a harmony of songs. When the clock strikes exactly...

Stahl dances the evening away with tango partner Sam Safadi. “If you want something challenging, then challenge yourself with Tango,” Stahl said.

Meet your teacher: Math teacher moves to the music through tango career

by Rose Guan and Kathy Fang March 31, 2018

A singer fills the air with a plaintive melody. Dozens of tango dancers locked in tight embraces sway in time with the rich music, covering the room with intricate series of steps. Among them is...

Allersma demonstrates her frisbee skills. Allersma has played both competitively and recreationally.

Meet your teacher: Physics teacher plays in tight-knit Ultimate Frisbee community

by Helen Yang, STEM Editor March 8, 2018

Aside from being a full-time mom and physics teacher, Dr. Miriam Allersma is also an ultimate frisbee lover. Having participated in the sport for over fifteen years, she has had many exciting experiences...

Theater teacher Jeffrey Draper in his classroom.

Meet your teacher: Theater teacher reflects on his performing arts career

by Kathy Fang, Photo Editor December 5, 2017

Beyond his work as a theater teacher and a director at the upper school, Jeffrey Draper also performs as four vastly different characters in Center REPertory Company’s annual production of Charles Dickens’...

English teacher Ohad Paran poses for the camera each day of the week. "No matter what you choose to wear, be yourself," he said.

Meet your teacher: English teacher flaunts colorful, unique style

by Tiffany Wong, Aquila News Editor November 16, 2017

With his color-coordinated dress shirts, endless drawer of patterned socks and rainbow of Apple Watch wristbands, English teacher Ohad Paran takes on every day in style. Whether he’s sporting his...

Agüero-Esparza uses a sewing machine to fashion traditional Mexican sandals,
known as Huaraches.

Meet your teacher: Art teacher features original work at Getty-sponsored exhibition

by Neil Bai and Jessie Wang October 12, 2017

When she was a child, upper school visual arts teacher Pilar Agüero-Esparza would always receive art supplies as holiday gifts and birthday presents, leading to a lasting passion for drawing, painting,...

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